Chapter 103 The Imperial Examination Scandal

When Tang Zhonglong was brought in, he had no idea what was going on.

Hearing Zhao Liting's question, he naturally nodded, "I said that."

Zhao Liting asked again, "Why are you so confident?"

Tang Zhonglong said, "Because the questions for this special imperial examination were not difficult, and I answered them very well."

Zhao Liting continued to ask, "If the questions are not difficult, then all the scholars should feel the same way. Why do you think you answered better than the other scholars?"

"This…"

Tang Zhonglong couldn't answer.

Zhao Liting's expression became stern. "Can't answer? Then this official will answer for you."

"Because you already knew the questions for this special imperial examination before the exam!"

Tang Zhonglong was shocked and quickly said, "No, I didn't!"

"Didn't know?"

Zhao Liting sneered, "Then how could you be so confident in winning the top spot? Only if you knew the questions beforehand and prepared in advance would you dare to say such arrogant words!"

"I didn't!"

Tang Zhonglong argued, "I never knew the questions for the special imperial examination. Besides, I don't have the money to buy the questions!"

Wen Fengli, who was extremely nervous, said upon hearing this, "That's right, Lord Zhao, this scholar's family is ordinary. Even if he wanted to buy the questions, he couldn't afford it!"

"Oh?"

Zhao Liting looked at Wen Fengli with a sneer, "Lord Wen, you seem to know a lot about this scholar's situation."

Wen Fengli's expression couldn't help but change.

In his anxiety, he seemed to have said the wrong thing.

After thinking for a moment, Wen Fengli said, "This person is an outstanding scholar. There's nothing wrong with me investigating him in advance, right?"

After speaking, Wen Fengli cupped his fist towards Jiang Chen and said, "Your Majesty, what Zhao Liting said is completely untenable. It's nonsense and a preposterous idea!"

"I implore Your Majesty to end this matter immediately, lest this scholar be affected."

Zhao Liting sneered upon hearing this, "Lord Wen, you seem to be in a hurry to end this matter?"

As he said that, Zhao Liting cupped his fist towards Jiang Chen, "Your Majesty, I haven't finished asking yet."

Jiang Chen said, "Continue to ask."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After receiving permission, Zhao Liting looked at Tang Zhonglong again.

"Tang Zhonglong, this official asks you, before the exam, did you accept invitations to banquets from others?"

After speaking, Zhao Liting said sternly, "Tang Zhonglong, this is the imperial court, and the one sitting above is the current Emperor. Don't lie!"

Tang Zhonglong finally understood what he was brought here for. He quickly said, "Someone invited me to a banquet, but it was just eating and drinking. I didn't buy any questions."

Zhao Liting said, "Answer what I ask. You don't need to say irrelevant things."

After speaking, Zhao Liting glanced coldly at Wen Fengli and cupped his fist towards Jiang Chen again, "Your Majesty, I would like to request another witness."

Jiang Chen said expressionlessly, "Granted!"

This time, Zhao Liting didn't loudly announce the name of the witness. Instead, he walked outside the hall and whispered something to Shi Ping.

Soon, a young man who was already terrified was carried into the hall by the Imperial Guards.

Seeing the young man's appearance, Wen Fengli's face instantly turned pale.

Just as he was about to speak, Zhao Liting said indifferently, "Lord Wen, I haven't asked yet."

As he said that, Zhao Liting looked at Tang Zhonglong, "Tang Zhonglong, is he among the people who invited you? You must answer truthfully!"

Tang Zhonglong glanced at the young man, looking very surprised. After hesitating for a moment, he nodded.

"He invited me."

Zhao Liting laughed heartily, then said to Jiang Chen, "Your Majesty, I have already found out the truth!"

Tang Zhonglong was so anxious that he was sweating profusely, "I didn't buy any questions from him! I didn't know him at all before. He invited me to dinner, so I went."

"Didn't buy questions?"

Zhao Liting sneered, "Do you know who he is?"

Tang Zhonglong said, "He said his name was Li Gong."

"Li Gong?"

Zhao Liting's expression became cold. "His name is Wen Ligong! He is the grandson of Wen Fengli, a first-rank official and the Minister of Rites in charge of this special imperial examination!"

"What?!"

Tang Zhonglong was shocked, then his face turned pale and he collapsed to the ground.

He wasn't stupid. The other party was Wen Fengli's grandson, so regardless of whether he bought the questions or not, he couldn't escape the relationship.

The hall was silent. No one expected this result.

With the matter being investigated to this point, regardless of the truth, Tang Zhonglong could not escape the suspicion of cheating.

After a long while, Tang Zhonglong regained his senses, rushed to Wen Ligong, grabbed his collar, and roared, "Why did you harm me! Why did you harm me!"

Wen Ligong was so frightened that he was weak.

He murmured, "I didn't harm you. Grandfather just asked me to treat you to a meal."

Wen Fengli's expression changed drastically, and then he suddenly prostrated himself on the ground, "Your Majesty, I confess my guilt!"

The hall instantly became extremely silent.

Everyone looked at Wen Fengli in disbelief.

Wen Fengli had actually organized cheating!

Wen Fengli raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, I deserve to die, but I have a few words that I must clarify."

Jiang Chen looked at Wen Fengli indifferently, "Speak."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Wen Fengli said, "Your Majesty, I did not leak the questions for this special imperial examination. I only had him chat with Tang Zhonglong about Guan Zhong when he invited him to the banquet."

"Furthermore, I haven't said anything to anyone else."

Jiang Chen didn't doubt this. Wen Fengli wasn't a fool and wouldn't be so stupid as to blatantly leak the questions.

But even so, it still constitutes cheating!

Jiang Chen looked at Wu Zuo, "Wu Qing, this matter will be handled by you!"

"As you command!"

Jiang Chen stood up, looked at Tang Zhonglong, and said, "Furthermore, the results of this exam are all voided!"

After speaking, Jiang Chen looked at Zhao Liting again, "Zhao Liting, from today onwards, you will serve as the Minister of Rites and prepare for the re-examination."

"Yes!"

The ministers were all stunned.

It wasn't until Feng Jin shouted "Retreat the court" that the ministers came back to their senses.

But everyone's face was still full of astonishment.

The way this matter ended was too peaceful.

In the past, His Majesty would have definitely punished everyone severely.

What's wrong today?

Jiang Chen returned to the Hall of Diligent Governance, his eyes slightly closed, and his expression somewhat conflicted.

He successfully overthrew Wen Fengli, a pillar of support for the southern scholars, but the price he paid was also extremely heavy!

Several of the most outstanding southern scholars, including Tang Zhonglong, would have their careers ruined because of this matter.

For them personally, it was a devastating blow.

And for Great Wei, it might mean losing several good officials.

What Jiang Chen was thinking about was how to minimize the impact of this matter on Great Wei.

Directly pardoning Tang Zhonglong and the others was definitely not an option.

Even if Wen Fengli himself confessed that he only had his grandson chat with these people about Guan Zhong and didn't leak the real questions.

It was hard to say what other scholars would think.