Do you know the long song of laughter?

Chapter 171 Something is wrong

Li An frowned and took the invitation. He knew who sent it without looking at him. When he opened it, it turned out to be the invitation from Zhao Xian inviting him to the banquet.

"He hasn't left yet?" Li An asked.

"No, I'm waiting outside." Desheng said.

"When you reply to him, just say that I have been feeling unwell these days and cannot go. Then tell Niu Jing that if anyone comes to me again, this is the reply." Li An said.

"Yes." Desheng responded and then retreated.

Li An shook his head and looked at Texue.

Texue thought Li An wanted to play with it, and shook his head excitedly.

Li An rubbed Taxue's head and murmured: "Dogs can understand human speech, why can't humans understand it?"

……

"boom!"

When Zhao Xian heard Li An's refusal, he was so angry that he threw the tea bowl out.

"I don't know how to praise!"

Chen Shaofan waved his hand and asked the people who came to report the news to go down, and said: "Why is your highness so angry? Li An may have some talents, but he doesn't have to win over him. I think your highness should focus on the county examination fraud." That’s right.”

Zhao Xian took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in his heart, and said: "Aren't you saying that the official family sent me and Zhao Tong here, seemingly to inspect us, but in fact it was because hundreds of officials have recently discussed the matter of establishing a crown prince. Are you trying to test us on purpose?"

"Haha, Your Highness, there was really nothing to investigate about this matter originally, but now we can investigate it." Chen Shaofan said with a smile.

Zhao Xian looked at Chen Shaofan in confusion and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Your Highness, not long after we returned to the inn last night, Yangzhou Zhizhou and Yangzhou Xuezheng came over to ask for an audience with Prince Yong, but Prince Yong did not see them. Today, when Prince Yong went to Tongpan Yamen to read the county examination answer sheets, The magistrate of Yangzhou went to the Tongpan Yamen to meet with the Crown Prince of Yong. The specific conversation was unknown." Chen Shaofan said with a smile.

"So what? The wife of Yangzhou Zhizhou Guyi's surname is Wu, and she and Princess Yong are of the same clan. Guyi has already taken refuge with King Yong, why is it so strange that he went to see Zhao Tong?" Zhao Xian said nonchalantly.

"If you just went to see him, there would be no problem. The problem is that Prince Yong didn't see him. He chased him to the Tongpan Yamen today. Doesn't His Highness find it strange?" Chen Shaofan said.

Hearing this, Zhao Xian said thoughtfully: "It's indeed a bit strange when you say that."

The clan of Queen Yong's mother is a powerful clan in the south, while the clan of Queen Yan's mother is a general clan in the north.

This is also the reason why King Yong is more supported by civilian officials, while King Yan is more supported by military generals.

Although they were imperial envoys this time and it was inappropriate to contact local officials alone, Zhao Tong and Gu Yi were related, so it would not be a big deal if they really wanted to meet.

"Your Highness, the fact that there has been such a big scandal in the examination fraud in Yangzhou County should not be groundless. If only a few people cheat, there are many people who can do it. But if the matter is so big, it is obviously not a minority. In this way, there are many people who can do it. But there are not many. Except for Yangzhou's academic administration, Tongpan and Zhizhou, there should be no one else who can do it."

"Last night, the magistrate of Yangzhou went with the academic administration to ask for an audience with Prince Yong. I think they were the ones leading the fraud," Chen Shaofan said.

Zhao Xian heard this and said excitedly: "Are you saying that Zhao Tong will protect them?"

If Zhao Tong really protects them, it will be very beneficial to him.

Unfortunately, Chen Shaofan shook his head and broke his illusion.

"Prince Yong is not that stupid. This matter has come under the official's attention. There must be a result no matter what, and we have to throw out someone with status." Chen Shaofan said.

"Then what's the use of all this? Do you still want to throw the dirty water of Yangzhou County's test fraud on Zhao Tong's head?" Zhao Xian frowned.

"It doesn't make much sense to do this. The officials will still suspect that we deliberately framed it." Chen Shaofan shook his head.

"Then what do you mean?" Zhao Xian said impatiently.

"Your Highness, if Prince Yong wants to throw out a scapegoat, do you think he will throw out Gu Yi?" Chen Shaofan asked. "Impossible." Zhao Xian said without even thinking.

Gu Yi was the governor of a state and his rank was not low, so how could he give up so easily.

"Since it's not Gu Yi, it can only be Yangzhou Xuezheng. He may not be willing to be the scapegoat." Chen Shaofan said with a smile.

"You mean to incite rebellion against him?" Zhao Xian said in surprise.

"Yes, he may have evidence in his hand. If he can get it, he might be able to bring down Guyi. Although it is unlikely to implicate King Yong, but Guyi is a member of King Yong, the officials will definitely know. If so It is firmly established that the fraud in the examination in Yangzhou County was done by Gu Yi, which will definitely affect the official's view of King Yong." Chen Shaofan said.

"In seconds, your talent is far superior to Zhuge's." Zhao Xian praised.

"Your Highness has given you too much praise. How dare I compare with Marquis Zhuge Wu." Chen Shaofan said modestly.

"Haha, sir, there is no need to be modest. This time the matter is done. When I return to Bianjing, I will ask my father for credit for my husband." Zhao Xian said.

"Then thank you, Your Highness." Chen Shaofan said, suppressing the excitement in his heart.

"Sir, you don't have to be polite. But how can we incite rebellion against the academic administration in Yangzhou?" Zhao Xian asked.

"Let Liu Xuewen and Prince Yong investigate first. The more they find out, the more scared he will be. That's a good time to contact him." Chen Shaofan said with a smile.

"Then I'll wait for the good news from sir." Zhao Xian smiled.

……

Liu Xuewen spent a few days reading all the quiz answer sheets of the candidates who were on the list when they were studying in Yangzhou Academy.

We have basically figured out who is cheating.

Of course, some of the people who won the exam are no longer studying in Yangzhou Academy. If you conclude based on this alone that they failed the exam and cheated, there is absolutely no basis.

Liu Xuewen spent a few more days reading the county examination answer sheets.

By comparing the two, people suspected of cheating were identified.

A person's knowledge can be improved, but his writing style will not change much.

Although we can't completely confirm that they cheated through this, we can invite these people back for questioning.

This time when I came from Bianjing, the officials sent a group of forbidden troops to accompany them.

Liu Xuewen directly ordered people to take the students he suspected of cheating back to the inn and hold them incommunicado for questioning.

……

Since the imperial envoy arrived in Yangzhou, Xu Shigao has been sending people to monitor him.

Liu Xuewen's actions naturally could not be hidden from Xu Shigao.

When Xu Shigao learned that Liu Xuewen had brought back the cheating students, he couldn't sit still anymore and hurriedly ran to find Gu Yi.

But Gu Yi comforted him and told him not to panic. Prince Yong had promised to protect him and nothing would happen to him. Now he was just pretending.

Xu Shigao was a little doubtful about this, but seeing Gu Yi's promise, he had no choice but to believe him first.

Guyi comforted Xu Shigao and sent him out personally.

Xu Shigao was sitting on the carriage, but his heart was beating so hard that he couldn't calm down.

Although Gu Yi said it with full sincerity, he always felt that something was wrong.

(End of this chapter)