The people in the courtroom were also somewhat bewildered.
"Xiaosan" should mean a third party.
Is this scholar in a relationship with the top-ranking scholar, a third party in the relationship between the official wife and the other woman?
That would be even more unbelievable.
Xue Lin looked at the clerk and said, "Go and prepare the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone."
The clerk paused, then said, "Yes."
After the clerk left, Xue Lin called Sichen over and gave him a few instructions.
Sichen nodded and disappeared without a sound.
The clerk arranged the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Xue Lin looked at Xu Wenzhi, "Let him write."
Xu Wenzhi felt uneasy. This Heir of Prince Yong was younger than him, but he couldn't see through him. Oh well, he might as well write it. It's not like he couldn't write it.
After Xu Wenzhi finished writing, the clerk brought it closer and showed it to the officials one by one.
Deng Jianxin said, "I remember the essay written by the third-ranked scholar last year; it is indeed this one."
Xu Wenzhi straightened his back.
Xue Lin told the clerk to put the article down, then pointed to the student beside him and said, " Zou Ran, you write it again."
Zou Ran was stunned, his face turning deathly pale. "I... I don't need to write anymore, right?"
Tong Aobai saw through Xue Lin's thoughts and said, "If the young master tells you to write, then write."
Zou Ran's legs went weak, but the clerk helped him to the table.
Xue Lin said, "It must be the same as your article from last year. I will have someone check it."
That left him absolutely no room for maneuver. Zou Ran said in a trembling voice, "Yes."
He picked up his pen, and halfway through writing, Sichen returned.
Xu Wenzhi and Zou Ran were both surprised to see the people around Sichen. Zou Ran even broke the pen in his hand.
Xue Lin: "Give him a different pen."
Zou Ran was filled with anxiety. After finally finishing writing, his back was soaked with sweat.
The clerk presented the document; Xu Wenzhi's writing was placed on the right, and Zou Ran's writing was placed on the left.
Aside from the different handwriting, the articles are exactly the same.
There's definitely something wrong with these two people.
[Is this Xu Wenzhi's wife?]
[Yes, host, this article was actually written by her as well.]
[Good heavens, the mistress ghostwrote the article for the wife, it's actually the wife's work... Doesn't that make them two thieves?]
Lou Yingyu watched Xu Wenzhi and Zou Ran's retreating figures, her disdain growing even stronger. Aning was right; they were just two thieves.
Hearing Tong Aning's thoughts, Xue Lin secretly raised an eyebrow. "Wait a minute."
The clerk, who was tidying up his writing materials, stopped and looked at Xue Lin, puzzled.
Xue Lin said, "You write it."
Duan Zhen was stunned. "Me?"
Xue Lin nodded.
Duan Zhen, at a loss, said, "Shangguan, are you mistaken? I am just an ignorant woman."
Xue Lin looked at Duan Zhen and said meaningfully, "Have you thought this through? You only have this one chance."
[Agree quickly, and give them both a good slap in the face.]
The voice that suddenly appeared in Duan Zhen's ear was very anxious.
Duan Zhen also sensed a hint of disappointment in his voice. Yes, she had such a rare and wonderful experience; was she really going to give up?
Duan Zhen straightened her back and walked to the table. She said softly, "Thank you for your trouble."
The clerk shook his head and handed her the pen.
Duan Zhen began to write.
[The phrase "writing with divine inspiration" perfectly describes someone like Duan Zhen, doesn't it?]
What merit or ability does she possess to deserve such praise?
Duan Zhen finished writing.
All three articles were exactly the same.
Xu Wenzhi said, "I confess, Zou Ran seduced my wife. At that time, I was in the crucial period of preparing for the imperial examination and had no intention of interfering. However, I did not expect that my wife would actually obtain my articles related to the imperial examination and give them to Zou Ran."
Xu Wenzhi looked at Duan Zhen and said indignantly, "Do you like Zou Ran that much?"
Duan Zhen frowned. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Xu Wenzhi: "You still won't admit it? Let me tell you, sitting in the hall are the Heir of Prince Yong, a marquis, and two prime ministers. You'd better think this through."
[Tsk, threatening him to his face! This third-place scholar is not only an imposter, but also a bully within his own ranks.]
Duan Zhen withdrew her gaze and said frankly, "I have had dealings with Zou Ran."
Xu Wenzhi exclaimed excitedly, "Your Highness, did you hear that? She's admitted it!"
Xue Lin said in a cold, hard voice, "This young master isn't deaf."
Xu Wenzhi: "..."
Tong Aning was also somewhat surprised.
Is Heir Xue angry?
It's not Tong Aning's fault; Xue Lin has always been calm and collected, and she has never seen Xue Lin angry.
Miss Tong noticed it?
Xue Lin immediately adjusted his posture, his face calm, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.
Xue Lin said, "Continue."
Duan Zhen nodded and continued, " Xu Wenzhi, before you married me, you swore that if you went to philander, I could also find other people."
Xu Wenzhi's brow twitched. "When did I go out and philander?"
Sichen had long disliked Xu Wenzhi. He said, "On the 20th of the first month, you were at Spring Breeze House and didn't return all night. On the 25th of the first month, you were at the Cold Mist Pavilion and didn't return all night. You really are a cunning rabbit with three burrows."
Xu Wenzhi, feeling guilty and at a loss for words, could only erupt in impotent rage. "You..."
Sichen: "Give up struggling. Before I even invited you here, I had already thoroughly investigated your background."
[ Sichen, well done.]
Wuhu.
Miss Tong praised him, which made Sichen even more smug. Only after receiving a warning from his own young master did he become a little more restrained.
Honestly, it's because the Miss Tong that they're targeting him.
Duan Zhen said, "You've found several, but I've only found one. That's more than enough."
Xu Wenzhi was so angry that his veins bulged. " Duan Zhen! What kind of wife is like you, so unchaste?"
If you don't uphold the duties of a husband, then I can disregard the duties of a wife.
[Okay, that's a good answer.]
Zou Ran's face turned ashen. She tugged at Duan Zhen's hand, "Stop talking, stop talking."
[How strange, why Zou Ran so afraid... Ah, it turns out Xu Wenzhi already knew about their affair. He used this to blackmail Zou Ran Zou Ran writing for him, but he didn't expect that what Zou Ran wrote for Xu Wenzhi was copied from Duan Zhen's work. His talent all comes from Duan Zhen's articles... You old swindler, aren't you?]
Duan Zhen's eyes widened, and she shook off Zou Ran's hand.
Zou Ran looked at her with remorse, "I didn't... I didn't mean to."
Xu Wenzhi frowned. "What do you mean?"
Tong Aning said loudly, "He means that the article he wrote for you was actually written by your wife."
Xu Wenzhi paused.
He suddenly remembered certain details.
The family's writing implements, ink, paper, and inkstones were always used up quickly, and Duan Zhen often coaxed him to buy more. Duan Zhen would pester him to compose poems with her, but he would say that Duan Zhen was just a country woman and what could she possibly know?
We can't give ourselves away.
Xu Wenzhi managed to compose himself, "What ghostwriting? That's completely fabricated."
Tong Aning: "Why are you so stubborn!"
Xu Wenzhi, "This young lady is so ignorant of manners."
"Hey, you..."
Xue Lin said, " Xu Wen, your article mentions water conservancy for people's livelihood. I now order you to draw the water conservancy tools mentioned in the article on the spot."
Xu Wen stammered, "I... that was just my idea."
Duan Zhen said, "I can draw."
She took the pen from the clerk and, within a quarter of an hour, drew the tools.
Deng Jiantong exclaimed in admiration, "Wonderful, wonderful indeed!"
Xu Wenzhi panicked, "Impossible."
Duan Zhen: "This article was written using tools."
The imperial court had been urging Xu Wenzhi to expedite the production of such tools, offering him the best craftsmen in return. Xu Wenzhi went to Zou Ran, but Zou Ran told him to wait again and again.
Xu Wenzhi finally understood, and he cursed viciously, "What an idiot I am!"
Duan Zhen said, "You really are an idiot. You look down on me for being a country woman, but you don't know that I've been running around in the fields with my grandfather since I was five years old."
Tong Aning cheered for Duan Zhen, "Good, well said!"
Duan Zhen smiled at Tong Aning, silently saying in her heart, "Thank you, fairy."
Xu Wenzhi and Zou Ran were both imprisoned.
Although they acquired a talent like Duan Zhen, the trail went cold.
"Go to Radiant Youth Garden to move flowers?" Tong Aning looked at Xue Lin, Xue Lin nodded. Tong Aning agreed, "Okay."
Tong Aning and Xue Lin boarded the carriage one after the other.
Tong Aobai said unwillingly, " Aning, what should I do?"
Tong Aning lifted the carriage curtain and exclaimed, "Father, isn't our carriage over there?"
"It's there, the problem is..."
"That's good then."
The prince's carriage sped away.
With a stomp of his foot, Tong Aobai became a lonely old man!
Radiant Youth Garden.
How about this one?
Tong Aning held a flowerpot, the swaying flowers in it reflecting her face; she was more beautiful than the flowers.
Xue Lin coughed lightly, "Very good."
"Then let's choose two more."
"Good."
Xue Lin quietly walked up to Tong Aning and said, "Actually, I don't get angry often."
Tong Aning: "Huh?"
Xue Lin stammered, "It's nothing."
Whether you're angry or not, whether you cry or laugh, it doesn't matter.
Xue Lin paused, "What?"
"Because everyone does that."
" Miss Tong..."
"Your Highness, you've always suppressed yourself. You're suffering too much. You stubbornly shoulder everything, which is understandable, but you can rest occasionally. If you're feeling bitter, eat more sweets; if you're feeling cold, wear more clothes; if you feel the room is gloomy, well..."
Tong Aning picked up another potted plant, her eyes sparkling, and said, "Let's put up a few more potted plants. Life is our own, we have to live it well, Heir Xue, do you understand?"
Does he understand?
He didn't seem to understand.
But now, looking at Tong Aning's face, a fire seemed to surge within him.
Xue Lin said, "I will try my best to understand."
Tong Aning nodded, "Okay."
On the way back, Tong Aning patted herself down and pulled out a handful of candy, which she handed to Xue Lin.
"Want to try some?"
Xue Lin nodded.
Sweetness blooms freely on the lips and tongue, just like Tong Aning's smiling face.
Tong Aning suddenly realized something, " Zou Ran wrote the imperial examination essay for Xu Wenzhi in advance and had Xu Wenzhi memorize it... How did Xu Wenzhi know the questions for the imperial examination?"
Xue Lin's gaze sharpened.
The carriage suddenly stopped, Tong Aning, losing her balance, fell into Xue Lin's arms. Xue Lin steadied Tong Aning and asked, "What's wrong?"
Sichen: "If I'm not mistaken, Your Highness, Miss Tong, we've been assassinated."
Tong Aning: "..."
[Even assassination can become a skill through practice!]