Chapter 252 - 109: A High-Stakes Gamble
"I’m afraid that’s not possible right now," the First Madam said. "The Concubine mentioned that she misses you terribly, but we’ll probably have to wait until after this business with the examination is resolved."
"As long as we can meet, it doesn’t matter when. The main thing is, once I leave, who knows when we sisters will see each other again," Song Guiyi said slowly. Marrying so far away had its downsides; seeing family was never easy.
"As long as your husband is ambitious, he’ll become an official in the capital sooner or later. When that day comes, what’s to stop you sisters from meeting whenever you please?" the First Madam said, comforting her daughter with a smile. But she knew in her heart that even if Zhong Yingzhang was exceptionally driven, becoming an official in the capital within a few short years would require some extraordinary political achievement. Otherwise, he would have no choice but to slowly work his way up the ladder.
Best case, it might take eight or ten years. Worst case, twenty was not out of the question.
Still, one had to have something to hope for.
With Anshun’s help, Song Buran’s efforts progressed smoothly. They had witnesses and evidence. Add a crowd of passionate, idealistic students to the mix, and the situation quickly escalated.
Many of the students who felt they had performed poorly were planning to return home without even waiting for the results to be posted. But when this news broke, they stayed. If the exam questions had truly been leaked, the matter certainly wouldn’t be brushed aside. Many felt that they might get another chance to take the test.
Countless candidates swarmed the government office, demanding justice. As these men held scholarly ranks, the government couldn’t simply arrest and imprison them. The situation immediately came to a standstill.
After Xie Jinshu heard the news, he immediately summoned his sister. "Go see the First Madam at once. Ask her if she can get her hands on one of the purchased exam papers and lend it to me."
"Brother, what are you planning to do?" Xie Linlang asked, puzzled. ’What’s the use of an exam paper at a time like this?’
Xie Jinshu replied, "Haven’t you seen who’s leading the charge? It’s Mr. Song."
"I know that," Xie Linlang said, not immediately grasping his point.
"For Mr. Song to dare cause such a scene, don’t you think he must have backing?"
Xie Linlang was stunned. "You mean the Concubine is supporting him?"
"Something like that. If the Concubine is bold enough to make a move, she must be confident of success. This is when we need to lend a hand. Very few people could afford to buy one of those exam papers; most have never even seen one. We’ll get our hands on it and have it engraved and printed overnight. Even if we can’t give everyone a copy, we have to make sure the masses know what this fraudulent paper looks like. Seeing the proof with their own eyes will give them the courage to raise hell and demand a full investigation for justice."
Xie Linlang saw the logic in his plan. "I’ll go right now."
’This is a major issue; there’s no time to waste.’
Xie Linlang rushed to the Song Mansion to seek an audience with the First Madam. Meanwhile, Xie Jinshu arranged to pay a hefty price to hire engravers. Fortunately, he had a friend in the publishing business with several skilled engravers on his staff who could be temporarily borrowed.
In the palace, after informing the Emperor of the matter, Song Yunzhao asked no more questions about it. Even Anshun, after introducing the necessary contacts to Song Buran, stopped leaving the palace. Wangyou Palace seemed to return to its usual tranquility.
「After two peaceful days」 The first person to seek her out was Han Jinyi.
"Yun Zhao, something terrible has happened! Have you heard?" Han Jinyi’s forehead was beaded with sweat, her expression anxious.
"What’s wrong?" Song Yunzhao feigned ignorance, though she knew perfectly well what it was.
"It’s about the exam questions being leaked! Hasn’t your family sent you a letter? Oh, you must ask about it. Your cousin is the one leading the protests this time." The anxiety in Han Jinyi’s eyes was plain to see. "I hope he’s not being used by someone. A leak in the Autumn Examination is a huge deal. If anything goes wrong, I’m afraid your cousin will be sacrificed as a pawn."
"Oh, so it’s about that. I already know." After letting Han Jinyi finish, Song Yunzhao put on an expression of righteous fury. "You have no idea. Before the exam, my cousin was introduced to someone and bought a supposed ’prediction paper.’ He never imagined that every single question on it would be on the actual exam. It terrified him. He didn’t dare write a single word and just turned in a blank sheet. When my aunt came to the palace to tell me, she was so furious she was in tears. Tell me, isn’t that just a deliberate attempt to ruin his future?"
Han Jinyi was flabbergasted. "Something like that actually happened? Someone is selling the actual exam questions for a high price?"
Song Yunzhao nodded, her face grim. "Yes. To make some Silver, these black-hearted people have thrown their consciences to the dogs. A decade of arduous study, through the harshest winters and most sweltering summers, only to be beaten by incompetents who can pass just by spending a bit of money. Tell me, who could possibly stomach such an injustice?"
Han Jinyi echoed her sentiment with a pained expression. "Indeed, who could accept that?"
She paused, then looked up at Yun Zhao. "Since you know all this, does that mean you support your cousin’s protest?"
"Of course!" Song Yunzhao declared, her indignation flaring again. "My cousin has always been a man of integrity. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have turned in a blank paper rather than stoop to their level. And it wasn’t just him. My cousin-in-law is just as foolish. He completed the first day’s exam, but then he turned in blank sheets for the last two sessions as well."
Han Jinyi was speechless.
’I never would have thought the scions of the Song Family possessed such backbone,’ she thought, a sense of admiration blooming within her. ’It’s no wonder they raised someone with Yun Zhao’s character.’
’Most people would never be willing to turn in a blank paper.’
With that in mind, she now understood why Song Buran was leading the charge for justice.
Still, she couldn’t help but worry. "But you may not get the outcome you’re hoping for."
"Oh, there will be a result," Song Yunzhao said with utter confidence.
"How can you be so sure?" Han Jinyi eyed Yun Zhao skeptically. ’This isn’t some squabble between concubines in the harem that can be resolved so easily.’
"Because I reported it directly to the Emperor, of course!" Song Yunzhao declared matter-of-factly.
Han Jinyi was dumbfounded. She stared at Song Yunzhao in shock for a long moment before nodding in admiration. "Of course you did."
Song Yunzhao and Han Jinyi met each other’s gaze, and both of them broke into laughter.
"Now that I know you have a plan, I can rest easy. I was worried your cousin had been set up and that it would implicate you. But with you backing him, what is there to fear?" Han Jinyi let out a genuine sigh of relief, her entire body relaxing.
"Jinyi, thank you," Song Yunzhao said with heartfelt sincerity. "You’re the only one who worries about me like this."
Han Jinyi shook her head. "We’re friends. Once I found out, I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing."
"Then let’s just wait and see," Song Yunzhao said. "I’m sure it will turn out well."
’As long as the Emperor delivers justice for these scholars, he’s certain to win their support and adoration. His righteousness will earn him a new faction of loyal, important officials.’
’His reputation as an enlightened ruler will begin to take hold. It won’t take long—after another two or three years of maneuvering, he’ll be able to place these men in useful positions. Then, the tides of power at court will slowly begin to turn.’
’And for the next two or three years, the most important task Song Yunzhao set for herself was to give birth to a Prince.’
’It wasn’t that she favored sons over daughters, but only the birth of a Prince could secure her own position. Once she had that status and power, she would be secure enough to have a daughter without any worries.’
’This was a high-stakes gamble, and no one involved had it easy.’