FID – Chapter 221

Liu Zhixia nodded lightly towards the speaker, “Thank you very much.”

After all these years of studying together, he knew Liang Yu very well.

They only had a misunderstanding at the beginning, but he hated him for several years. Now that he humiliated him in public, things would definitely not end easily.

Hearing someone else’s point, Chen Xiulan and Liu Dalin frowned. “Zhixia, would that person really use any tricks to prevent you from entering the examination room?”

They wouldn’t stir up trouble but weren’t afraid of trouble.

However, it was another matter if they were facing a villain. It was impossible to guard against villains. If not careful, one might suffer losses.

Now was an important juncture for the child to take the imperial examination, so the couple couldn’t help worrying.

“Father, Mother, do not worry. As long as I am more careful, at times like this, they rather do not dare to be too blatant.”

Qian Wanjin also added, “These kind of people, if they don’t deal with Zhixia today, they will seek an end for him sooner or later. For now, it’s better to take more precautions against him.”

Liu Yusheng nodded, agreeing with Qian Wanjin’s words. His IQ would automatically come online when it came to serious matters. “Father, Mother, relax. Big Brother isn’t nervous, but you might affect his mood for the exam. Let’s just be more careful in the next few days.”

This was their only avenue.

“If they want to sabotage Liu Zhixia’s reference, there are only two places they can do it. One is to prevent him from entering the examination room, and the other is to use underhanded tricks in the examination room,” Shi Xianrou spoke lastly, “During the examination period, Liu Zhixia had better move to the inn to live with us. It won’t be easy for them to move with someone watching over you. As for the examination room, you can only rely on yourself.”

After some discussion, their meal was a bit tasteless.

Luckily, the next two days were calm, then soon came the time for the candidates to enter.

The provincial examination was divided into three, for a total of nine days. One exam for every three days, and they could only come out once.

Throngs of people were at the entrance of the imperial examination hall with students lining up to be checked for entry.

It was not until they watched Liu Zhixia successfully enter the gates of the examination hall that Mr. and Mrs. Liu let out a small sigh of relief.

Then greater worries surfaced again.

After passing the first hurdle, they didn’t know if everything would go well inside the examination hall. Hence, they could only simmer and wait.

Because of the worries in their hearts, the family did not feel like hanging out and stayed in the inn, waiting for Liu Zhixia to come out of the examination room once every three days.

Time passed in a flash, and he finished two exams safe and sound. The last one was a poetry test.

“There are still three days left. After these three days, everything will be fine.” Chen Xiulan looked from the window in the direction of the Palace, the folds on her brow locked.

Up until now, she still couldn’t rest assured.

“Aunt Liu, don’t be so worried. As far as the imperial examinations are concerned, they’re very strict inside the examination rooms. Besides, the invigilators are honest and fair this time. It wouldn’t be so easy to carry out underhanded tricks in the examination room. Don’t scare yourself. Look at the past few days, Zhixia did not lose weight as an examinee, but you have lost a circle,” Qian Wanjin comforted.

Chen Xiulan nodded but was still uneasy deep inside.

Her appearance also infected Liu Yusheng. Unless her mother saw her brother walk out of the examination hall safe and sound with her own eyes, she would remain uneasy no matter what others say.

First day, second, the last day.

The family waited early at the entrance of the examination hall. When the time for the candidates were about to leave the examination rooms, a sudden commotion erupted inside.

Liu Yusheng’s heart sank, and an ominous premonition emerged. 

Chen Xiulan’s hands were shaking, looking straight at the closed door of the examination hall.

Liu Dalin’s thick eyebrows also frowned tightly, his fists clenched till they were white.

Qian Wanjin groaned deep inside. There shouldn’t really be a mishap at this time, right?

If it were true, that prefect’s nephew was a son of a bitch who wasn’t even worth a death penalty!

Today was the last day. If he wanted to rectify someone, doing so on the very first day wasn’t the most insidious.

The most insidious and detestable thing was to make you suffer so many days of hard work. Then after grinding away, give a fatal blow at the last minute and kick you into the abyss!

The examination hall gates were opened, and a familiar figure was thrown out.

The invigilator then announced in public, “Xiangshan Cangwu student, Liu Zhixia, cheated in the imperial examination, and the chief examiner ruled and punished him! He is sentenced to 30 strokes of the cane, expelled from the examination hall, his title as a scholar revoked, and will never be hired, and his next three generations will be forbidden to take the imperial examination!”

The man on the ground appeared to be unconscious, motionless, and blood stains could be clearly seen on his clothes.

The crowd gathered at the entrance of the examination hall were shocked, pointing and gossiping.

Chen Xiulan’s eyes went black, and she almost passed out.

“Mother!” Liu Yusheng quickly held her in place. “Father, Young boss, go first and help my brother back to the inn. All things can be discussed later!”

The group hurriedly returned to the inn with the unconscious person on their backs. Liu Yusheng fed Liu Zhixia some medicinal water, and he woke up after a few moments.

As soon as Liu Zhixia opened his eyes, Chen Xiulan burst into tears.

In the end, he didn’t escape the villain. Zhixia must have been greatly aggrieved in the examination room.

Thirty full canes, ah! They beat him into this state!

“Mother, I’m fine.” Liu Zhixia braced himself to comfort her.

“Tell me first. What exactly happened at the examination room?” Liu Dalin sat at the headboard, his face sullen.

Their child would never do such a thing as cheating. Once he found out what happened, he would beat the drum at court and appeal for justice.

Before Liu Zhixia could speak, Qian Wanjin kicked the bench next to him. “There’s no need to ask, it must be that son of a bitch! That bastard is really absolutely lawless, relying on his magistrate uncle!”

“Let’s listen to Liu Zhixia tell us what happened first, and then decide what to do after that.” Shi Xianrou stopped the man, lest he immediately storm out.

Liu Zhixia took a breath and slowly told what had transpired today.

When he entered the examination room, he kept his head buried in the examination and did not pay attention to anything else.

There were inspectors in the examination room, who would always patrol the examination room and randomly check the candidates for fraud at any time.

When he happened to finish the exam, he was spot-checked. He didn’t even understand what happened, but the inspector came over and overturned his exam seat, pulling out a piece of tape from under the desk and reporting it to the chief examiner.

The handwriting on the tape was the same as his!

The chief examiner decided that he cheated and immediately sentenced him to punishment!

He could not argue at all!

The punishment for cheating was severe. Flogging and his name being removed were considered light. Something more serious would be sending him to the border or even beheaded!

Liu Dalin was so furious he couldn’t breathe and heaved violently. “They have no respect for the law! Their bullying has gone too far!”

This matter was a no-brainer. They knew who was behind it.

“I can’t let Zhixia carry this stigma for the rest of his life! I want to go to the court and beat the drums to voice my grievances!” Said Liu Dalin and rushed to the door.

“Father, it’s useless to go to the government office!” Liu Yusheng pulled him back, “Since Liang Yu dared to do this, there must be someone behind him. The government office and he are in cahoots! We naturally have to redress this injustice, but we have to think long and hard about it!”