On a day in late February, a rumor suddenly began circulating in the official circles of Kyoto: the reason why the spring examination fraud case was solved so quickly and accurately was entirely due to the Overwatch Council possessing a list of students who had bribed their way into the exams. This list, it was said, was provided to the Overwatch Council by the current chief examiner, the esteemed “Poet Immortal,” Lord Fan. It was rumored that Lord Fan Xian deeply abhorred the corruption in the examination halls and was extremely indignant that diligent scholars of the world, after ten years of hard study, could not have a fair chance to advance. Therefore, he disregarded the layers of intrigue in officialdom, courageously petitioned the Emperor, and even stooped to selling himself to corrupt officials in the court to obtain that important list.

In short, the rumors were bizarre. Fan Xian in the rumors was portrayed as being immensely wise and brave. The list, which was not really a secret, was described as the most sinister piece of paper in the Qing Kingdom's officialdom. Fan Xian immediately recognized this tactic as a smokescreen created by those guys in the Eighth Division of the Overwatch Council.

As soon as this rumor spread, Fan Xian immediately became a thorn in the side of the officials of the Ministry of Rites. However, on the other hand, his reputation among the people of Kyoto and the scholars of the world rose another step. Although the Imperial College and the Hall of Universal Truth maintained their silence, the Fan Xian of today had become a veritable spiritual leader of the literati.

…

…

Fan Xian straightened his collar and sleeves, and then chuckled self-deprecatingly, "This leader is a bit too new, isn't he?" Then he gently patted his worried sister's face and said, "What's there to worry about? Your brother is one of the Qing Kingdom's most powerful Crown Prince party members." His voice was very soft, and his words were peculiar, but Fan Ruoruo still understood, though she didn't quite grasp the deeper layers of meaning.

Lin Wan'er didn't hear him, and even if she did, she probably wouldn't understand. In any case, she wasn't as worried as her sister-in-law. She smiled sweetly as she tied the jade ruyi pendant bestowed by the Empress to her husband's belt, pretending to dust it off, and said, "Come back early."

As Si Nanbo had said, Fan Xian was indeed too immature in his actions, leaving behind too much trouble. As soon as the rumors spread, Kyoto was shocked, and everyone's attention fell on Fan Xian. Although the figures behind the officials who had fallen due to the fraud case were wary of Fan Xian's background, they were still beginning to stir. This morning, several young censors from the Censorate had submitted memorials to the palace, accusing Fan Xian of also being involved in fraud and of unethical conduct.

Fan Xian was now leaving to be interrogated by the Ministry of Justice. Originally, the Overwatch Council had been investigating the examination fraud case, but the officials who had suffered heavy losses due to the case were unwilling to let the Overwatch Council deal with Fan Xian, this tarnished witness. So they used the Ministry of Justice route. The Ministry of Justice had never been on good terms with the Prime Minister, nor did it have any particular friendship with Fan Jian.

Stepping out of the small courtyard, Sisi gave a half-squatting bow, saying respectfully, "Young Master, have a good trip." Fan Xian looked at this big maid, whom he hadn't seen much of lately, and laughed, "I've said since I was a kid that the words 'have a good trip' are not very auspicious." Sisi covered her lips and smiled, "Then I wish Young Master a quick return."

"Alright, brew me a bowl of millet porridge, with some sweet corn from Danzhou. It's been a while since I've tasted your cooking." Fan Xian suddenly turned his head and asked, "How's the copying of those things going?"

In these days, Fan Xian didn't know how to deal with Sisi, who had grown up with him, and he didn't want her to continue working as a maid in the Fan residence, so he simply arranged for her to go to the study to help him copy books. Sisi had spoken to the young master very little these days, and she was naturally a little uneasy deep in her heart. Now, hearing the young master ask, she said joyfully, "It's almost finished."

"That's good." Fan Xian nodded and walked out, smiling at his wife and sister beside him, "See, the maid I raised is different, more composed than even you, Ruoruo."

Fan Ruoruo whispered worriedly, "That's because Sisi doesn't know how serious things are today."

It was indeed serious. Fan Xian had offended too many people by exposing the fraud case. Seeing that the officials of the court were willing to tear open their relationship with the Prime Minister and Si Nanbo to impeach him and use official documents to summon him to the Ministry of Justice, one knew that this matter was quite serious.

Leaving the main gate of the Fan residence, the usually quiet South City Street seemed very crowded today. The officials from the Ministry of Justice who had come to arrest him wore distressed faces, hiding behind the stone lions like thieves. At the main gate, Fan Sizhe was leading a group of guards and servants from the Fan residence, wielding long brooms to beat the officials, behaving extremely arrogantly.

Many scholars and commoners who had heard that Fan Xian was to be interrogated also surged onto the street. They already knew about Fan Xian's involvement in the examination fraud case that had shocked the officialdom of Kyoto. The simple minds of the commoners wouldn't consider what was hidden behind this matter, they only knew that Lord Fan had good talent and a good heart, and was a good person. A good person was going to be interrogated today, so they all felt wronged for Fan Xian.

Fan Xian stood at the door, smiled, and glanced at the crowd outside the residence. He noticed that most of them were young scholars, and knew that Chen Pingping's trick had worked. He whispered to Teng Zijing beside him, "Where are Shi Chanli and those four now?"

"According to your instructions, they are currently being secretly protected by the adults of the Overwatch Council. Lord Wang Qinian suggested that these four should be sent to the Jing Prince's residence to prevent those short-sighted officials in the court from framing you using this matter. But your subordinate believes that you wouldn't want to create an association with the Heir of the Jing Prince on this matter, so I refused," Teng Zijing replied in a low voice.

Fan Xian glanced at Teng Zijing with some surprise. He hadn't expected him to guess the situation he least wanted to see. If he sent those four scholars to the Jing Prince's residence, it would seem safe, but in the eyes of the Crown Prince, his exposure of the fraud case would no longer be purely out of a sense of justice and the Emperor's will, but rather an attempt to stand on the Second Prince's side to attack the Crown Prince. In that case, his relationship with the Crown Prince would no longer be able to be eased.

Seeing Fan Xian walk out of the residence gate, the surrounding scholars burst into cheers, rushing forward and shouting loudly, expressing their admiration and support for Lord Fan's sense of justice.

Fan Xian smiled like a star of his previous life, waved his hand, and said softly to Teng Zijing, "The biggest problem with scholars is that they are too naive."

Teng Zijing smiled without saying anything. Fan Xian suddenly laughed happily, "If there is a chance in the future, would you like to leave Kyoto to become an official? With the family's influence, guaranteeing you a sixth or seventh rank position as a local official shouldn't be a problem."

Teng Zijing was stunned. He thought that although he had studied, he had always worked as a bodyguard. Why was the young master talking about becoming an official? But he immediately realized that the young master might need someone he could trust in the prefectures and counties of Qing Kingdom. After a moment of surprise, he replied, "I will follow Young Master's arrangement."

"My arrangement?" Fan Xian laughed, "Unfortunately, there is no Baling Prefecture in Qing Kingdom."

Fan Xian's face was already beautiful, and his cheerful smile now was even more radiant, like a spring breeze, making the scholars who had come to support him feel very gratified. The Poet Immortal Fan Xian should look like this.

He ruffled Fan Sizhe's head, told his younger brother not to make trouble, and then politely greeted the officials from the Ministry of Justice, got into his own carriage, and drove towards the Ministry of Justice.

…

…

The crowd gradually dispersed, and those scholars who were rushing to take the exams also chased after the Ministry of Justice. No one noticed that the Fan residence's strong guards were protecting another carriage as it left South City Street and headed towards the Imperial City. Sitting in the carriage was Lin Wan'er. She had discussed it with Fan Xian in bed last night, and today she had to enter the palace to explain the situation to the Crown Prince and other palaces, and to smooth things over.

On the other side, Fan Xian had already entered the hall of the Ministry of Justice alone and somewhat lonely. The hall was a bit gloomy, with the wind whistling inside. The weather in early spring made him feel a bit cold. But he still smiled slightly, cupped his hands in a salute to the three people sitting on high, and said, "Greetings to the three lords."

The spring examination fraud case was a major matter, and Fan Xian was a key figure in it. So, in addition to the Minister of Justice, there were also two high officials from the Court of Judicial Review and the Censorate here today to hear the case. On both sides of the hall, there were rows of officials and yamen runners from the thirteen departments of the Ministry of Justice, looking very frightening.

Fan Xian frowned and noticed that the other side hadn't replied for a long time. After a while, he suddenly heard a sound of "Silence!" and the Minister of Justice, Han Zhiwei, coldly asked, "Is the person standing in the hall Fan Xian, a fifth-rank Fengzheng of the Imperial College?"

The Fan Xian of today was no longer the naive calf who had just entered Kyoto and only knew how to smile in the Kyoto Prefectural Office. He glanced at the Minister and said lightly, "This is indeed your subordinate."

"We have summoned you here today mainly to inquire about the spring examination."

Fan Xian smiled and blocked the words back, "As far as your subordinate knows, the spring examination fraud case should be handled by the Overwatch Council under the Emperor's order. I don't know if the Ministry of Justice is also involved."

The three lords sitting above were angered by these impolite words, but they knew that the person in front of them was currently popular, had a Prime Minister and a Minister behind him, and was respected by the scholars after the fraud case. They couldn't do anything to him. This Minister of Justice, Han Zhiwei, had always prided himself on being upright and couldn't stand such arrogance the most. He snorted and said, "This official is here to assist in handling this case under the Emperor's order. Don't try to evade."

Fan Xian shook his head and said, "Your subordinate is not trying to evade, but I don't know what matters the Minister has summoned your subordinate here to inquire about. If you are asking about the details of the spring examination fraud case, I am truly sorry, the Overwatch Council has long issued a strict order that your subordinate is not allowed to disclose anything to the outside world before the case is concluded."

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review laughed in anger and said, "Are you not answering even if the Imperial Court asks you?"

"The Overwatch Council is a subordinate of the Imperial Court, and the Ministry of Justice is a subordinate of the Imperial Court." Fan Xian sighed, "The three lords also know that this matter involves too much, and your subordinate really doesn't know how to handle it. There is no clear explanation in the Qing Laws."