"Your Majesty, I beseech you to investigate this matter thoroughly and give the northern scholars justice!"
A minister from the north stepped forward and spoke.
"I second the motion!"
The other northern ministers echoed him.
The southern ministers hesitated, uncertain which of them might have been responsible. But then they reconsidered. Now that matters had reached this point, a thorough investigation was inevitable, so they might as well get to the bottom of it.
"I, too, beseech Your Majesty to investigate this matter thoroughly!"
The southern ministers joined in.
At the same time, they exchanged meaningful looks with their colleagues. Whoever had done it had better step forward and confess. If the investigation exposed them later, their punishment would be all the harsher!
Yet no one stepped forward to confess.
"In that case, first bring us the essays of those who made the list and those who did not. Let us compare them and see where the problem lies."
Once Jiang Yunsheng finished speaking, eunuchs brought out the scholars' Imperial Examination papers.
Meanwhile, he glanced at the silent Jiang Nuan, hoping to hear what her inner voice had to say.
[Host, I've checked everything. No one cheated or showed favoritism in this Imperial Examination. We didn't miss any culprits!]
Guagua carefully checked the gossip on everyone present once more before speaking.
[I knew this would be the outcome. It looks like the situation now mirrors the famous Southern and Northern Lists Case from the Ming Dynasty.]
Jiang Nuan was not surprised in the slightest. To ensure this Imperial Examination was fair and impartial, she and Guagua had checked the gossip countless times. She had even wandered around outside during the examination, afraid of missing anything.
As for these ministers, she had already checked them over as well, but had found