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.