The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 401: To Have Such a Dream (6)_1

Chapter 401: Chapter 401: To Have Such a Dream (6)_1

It seems that Magistrate Wu has already started to make his move.

Zhao Yaocheng had been investigated before, but this time, Wu Dongsi’s investigation clearly carried a malicious intent, as if determined to find something to pin on him. Few in the Government Office were clean—if one were to purposefully scrutinize him, certainly some minor faults could be unearthed. Even if they couldn’t convict him of any crime, it would still be enough to give him a hard time!

The Zhao family members began to grow anxious, fearing that Pei Qin was scheming behind their backs to bring down Zhao Yaocheng as retribution for helping Pei Wenli achieve his Scholar status. They still intended to bring Pei Qin into their family through marriage, but if this incident escalated, or if Zhao Yaocheng lost his position at the Government Office, and Magistrate Wu stood by Pei Qin’s side, then even if they held a marriage contract, without backing, they couldn’t win the lawsuit!

People of Old Pei’s House also became extremely nervous. Pei Qin, with her fierce and overbearing temperament, had received rewards that should have rightfully been Old Pei’s House’s; yet, she had not lashed out or caused a scene, and had instead bided her time until now, apparently planning to strike surreptitiously. Magistrate Wu was undoubtedly on her side, and now by investigating Zhao Yaocheng, wasn’t this a move against Zhao Yaocheng and then Pei Wenli?

If Pei Wenli’s academic accolade turned into a problem, it would indeed cause a significant scandal!

Pei Wenli, although unafraid, was somewhat worried. Indeed, his honors had been aided by Zhao Yaocheng, but he hadn’t cheated in the examination—he didn’t dare take such a risky move, nor did he have the means. He had the knowledge; his scholarship was certainly not inferior to Fang Fu’s. It was only Wu Dongsi who, sticking to his guns, wouldn’t let him pass. Zhao Yaocheng had helped him polish his essays, rewriting them in a manner that catered not to Wu Dongsi but to the preferences of the educational officer. He had made changes in several places that were different from both his previous and usual style, so naturally, his paper was mistaken for someone else’s and passed.

But as the saying goes, "Three men make a tiger," and many voices can melt gold. He was concerned that if rumors of his cheating in the examination surfaced, given the uproar, even if he hadn’t cheated, it would be as though he had, and his academic title would have been unfairly won.

Soon, new information emerged: it was discovered that people related to the examination at the County Government Office had accepted Silver Tael gifts from Old Pei’s House. Although it was only a few dozen Silver Taels, who could say for sure it wasn’t actually hundreds of Taels!?

Zhao Yaocheng had also accepted silver from the Pei family before. Even though he denied it and had acted discreetly, he was betrayed by someone in the know. The County Government Office decided to open a case for investigation and suspended Zhao Yaocheng, starting a slow and leisurely investigation.

This kind of investigation was unacceptable; with the spring examinations in February, Zhao Junchao was set to take part in the exams, relying on Zhao Yaocheng’s support. At this crucial time, he was suspended and under investigation by the Government Office, which would definitely affect him! If he attained the Scholar title, negotiating marriage and winning Pei Qin would be easier, but without it, even delaying a year could make things vastly different!

The Zhao family was frantic and went to Pei Zongli seeking urgent help. The Qian family was able to secure the rewards for Sister Peiqin and her brother, and helping them would be just a matter of extending a hand.

However, Pei Zongli found it difficult to take action personally, and even less so to ask Pei Wenli, his nominal elder brother-in-law, to do so. Getting involved at this point would only make things murkier.

The Zhao family, driven to a desperate action and fearing that Zhao Yaocheng would be implicated, threatened Pei Zongli to lend them assistance with the marriage hanging in the balance.

If Pei Zongli made a move on their behalf, rumors would spread about their collusion in corruption, bribery, and examination fraud. Pei Zongli had already been shameless and brazen—Old Pei’s House had coerced Lady Fang into Jian Xiao, Pei Zongli had married a wealthy family’s daughter and refused to return, and once he did come back, he pressured the original wife to death and drove Pei Qin and her brother out of the house. With no shame, he even took their awards for himself. What kind of secrets wouldn’t he get involved in!?

Soon it was the second day of February—Dragon Heads-raising Day—and with it came a thunderous downpour of rain, followed by a letter from Shen Songming, instructing Pei Qin to wait at home for her rewards.