After Rebirth, I Married my Archenemy - Chapter 85

During the day, Qun Qing stood in the hall alongside several female officials from Shangyi Bureau, but her mind was still occupied with that list.

Li Xuan had allowed her to see it, and she had found an excuse to take it back and study it thoroughly several times, to the point that dark circles had formed under her eyes.

She was now certain of one thing—aside from herself and Lu Huating, someone from the Meng family also knew about the future. They knew exactly who Prince Yan was trying to recruit.

In the previous life, these officials hadn’t all entered government service in the same year or batch. That was why the Meng family had devised this plan—changing the provincial exam into a “public recommendation” system. Their goal was to ensure that Prince Yan’s supporters could be gathered under the Crown Prince’s faction.

Now, the words of Zhang Qiyan, the scholar who had fallen into the water, suddenly made sense. This entire imperial exam was, from the start, a carefully orchestrated selection. The real question was how Lu Huating planned to deal with it.

Even after figuring it out, Qun Qing didn’t speak up.

If the Crown Prince truly used this list to select officials, Prince Yan’s chances of seizing the throne—just as he had in the previous life—would be greatly diminished. And for Qun Qing, that was undoubtedly a good thing.

However, there were still problems.

First, those future high-ranking officials—since they were recruited early in this life—might turn out differently. Their characters could change, and among them was even a notorious corrupt official named Wang Kuan, who had been executed in the third year of Shenglin’s reign.

Second, scholars like Zhang Qiyan, who should have been able to participate in this year’s palace examination, had now lost their chance…

Qun Qing’s thoughts were interrupted by the stern voice of Chief Attendant Zhu.

“According to palace regulations, the Spring Imperial Examination’s final selection is held in Delin Hall. The tasks of overseeing, collecting, transcribing, and anonymizing the exam papers are handled by female officials selected from Shangyi Bureau. These officials are called ‘examination officers.’ This is done, first, because female officials are meticulous, and second, to prevent new scholars from colluding with court officials.”

Qun Qing, dressed in the same gray outer robe as the others, recited the palace rules and then began preparing the examination hall. She carefully placed incense burners on the empty desks. Remembering the nervousness she had felt when taking her own Six Department of Palace Services exam, she suddenly looked up and asked Chief Attendant Zhu, 

“Has the list of candidates been finalized? Is there still a chance to change it?”

“What kind of question is that?” Chief Attendant Zhu shot her a displeased glance. “The scholars have already entered the palace and are staying at Yimei Pavilion near the Hanlin Academy. How could the list be changed now?”

Qun Qing said no more.

When Xiao Jingxing stepped into Prince Yan’s residence, he saw Lu Huating washing his hair in the courtyard.

Even in weather cold enough for breath to turn into mist, Lu Huating washed his hair without hesitation. His long, jet-black hair was soaked in a golden basin as he listened to Xiao Jingxing’s report.

“Our people checked the recent reports—there was indeed unrest among scholars in Jiannan Province. A local official, Registrar Xue, admitted fault, saying that there were supposed to be only six recommended scholars from Jiannan. However, due to his poor eyesight, he mistakenly copied an extra six names when posting the results, leading to twelve scholars being selected.”

“The six extra scholars were overjoyed at first, thinking they had made it to the final selection. But the next moment, they were told it was a mistake. Naturally, they didn’t believe it and suspected that someone had taken their spots. Zhang Qiyan was one of them—he even forged his identity and traveled to Chang’an to protest. Registrar Xue has already submitted a memorial to the Emperor, admitting his mistake and requesting to resign. Now that there’s a scapegoat, the Crown Prince’s side will likely take action against him.”

“An accidental mistake copying six extra names?” Lu Huating rubbed his hair dry and, after a pause, said, “Tell Prince Yan to submit a memorial—petition for these six scholars to be allowed into the palace examination. Also, make sure to protect Registrar Xue. He’s a good man.”

“Why? Wouldn’t that mean going directly against the Crown Prince?” Xiao Jingxing asked. “Do you suspect that the so-called ‘recommendation fraud’ was actually real?”

Lu Huating replied, “Registrar Xue has served as a registrar his whole life. Do you think he doesn’t know that Jiannan Province only gets six spots each year? How bad must his eyesight be to mistakenly copy six names into twelve?”

Xiao Jingxing continued, “So you’re saying his ‘poor eyesight’ is just an excuse—he deliberately made a huge mistake to express his dissatisfaction with his superiors and expose the corruption… but doing so might cost him his position.”

Lu Huating wrung the water from his hair. “Meng Guangshen holds great power in court because he is the Emperor’s strategist and a founding contributor to Dachen. But that doesn’t mean everyone in the provinces bows to him. An old man still willing to resist injustice—if he’s not in office, who will be?”

Xiao Jingxing was silent for a moment before speaking. 

“You’re clearly thinking this through carefully. Why don’t you just tell His Highness yourself?”

Lu Huating finally looked up. His innocent black eyes met Xiao Jingxing’s gaze. His damp black hair curled slightly at the ends, frost forming on the strands. Water droplets dripped steadily down as he said playfully, “That’s not something you should say. Xiao Shaoqing, you’re both a loyal minister and a flatterer.”

Xiao Jingxing stared at him for a long time before responding solemnly, “The palace examination is coming up soon. Even if we manage to get those six scholars in, it might not work. Isn’t Qun Qing serving as an examination officer? Why not ask her for help?”

Lu Huating’s smile slowly faded, leaving only a calm expression in his dark eyes.

He reminded, “Qun Qing is not on our side.”

If he had figured it out, then the Crown Prince must have also known. She hadn’t told him anything—because if Prince Yan’s faction took a hit, it would only benefit the Crown Prince.

He also understood that aside from their shared goal of dealing with Meng Guangshen and Li Pan, there was nothing else between him and Qun Qing. She had her own plans, and he had never harbored any expectations.

Who would place expectations on a political adversary?

Moreover, this woman was adept at feigning weakness while harboring a ruthless heart. In the future, he would have plenty of time to cross swords with her.

Xiao Jingxing found it hard to accept. “Not on the same side? Then why did you… sleep with her before?”

Lu Huating seemed to have lost his patience. His face turned cold as he shoved him straight out the door.

“Just do as I say.”

The exam hall preparations lasted three days, leading up to the day of the palace examination.

At dawn, Ruo Chan was still asleep. Qun Qing struggled to get up. She breathed warm air onto her frozen fingers as she quietly dressed. Stepping onto the snow-covered path, she made her way to knock on the gates of Changqing Palace.

Every time Song Chun saw her, she would light up with joy and eagerly present new embroidery patterns for guidance.

Qun Qing visited every few days, using these embroidery lessons as an opportunity to observe Consort Chen De. 

“How has Her Highness been feeling lately?”

Song Chun replied, “His Majesty had the imperial physician prescribe some calming medicine. Now, she can sleep well at night without needing prayers.”

Though Consort Chen De still sat by the bedside, unmoving like a clay statue. Qun Qing held onto a sliver of hope—hoping she might come to her senses, hoping for a clue.

When a young eunuch brought in the medicine, Qun Qing picked up the bowl to feed her. But Consort Chen De kept her lips tightly shut. After a moment’s thought, Qun Qing took a spoonful herself.

It was bitter—but harmless.

Consort Chen De’s dark, glassy eyes reflected Qun Qing’s calm, pale face like a mirror. This time, when Qun Qing offered the spoon again, she opened her mouth.

Spoonful by spoonful, Qun Qing fed her. Glancing up, she noticed Song Chun reading by the window light. 

“Are you preparing for the inner court selection?”

Song Chun smiled. “Ever since you spoke to me that day, I swore to prepare well for next year’s Six Department of Palace Services exam. I even sleep hugging my books. I just have this feeling—I’m going to pass next year.”

Time was up. As Qun Qing prepared to leave, she suddenly felt a tug at her sleeve. Turning back, she saw Consort Chen De pressing something into her hand.

It was just a piece of ginger candy.

She wasn’t disappointed. Instead, warmth spread through her heart. Wrapping the half-melted candy carefully, she stepped out into the snow.

As she walked, a memory surfaced—back when she had to drink bitter medicine, her mother would always prepare ginger candy for her…

As soon as she entered the palace hall, her steps quickened.

It was noisy inside.

The cause? Besides the scholars scheduled to take the exam, a eunuch had brought in six more candidates, claiming they had Prince Yan’s written order allowing them to participate.

Naturally, the original examinees were displeased. They pointed fingers, whispered among themselves, and soon the hall was in an uproar. Even the examiners behind the screen found the situation puzzling.

The six newcomers looked overwhelmed, their expressions full of unease. And who could blame them? Their hair was unkempt, their worn cloth robes still dripping wet. Among them, Zhang Qi was even thinner than when Qun Qing had last seen him, his face gaunt, wracked with a persistent cough. Compared to the other scholars in their pristine snow-white robes and wide sleeves, they looked like refugees fleeing disaster.

Qun Qing overheard a female official whisper, “They say they traveled here by fishing boat, and even capsized along the way. They must not have had time to change.”

“Officer Qun, what do you think we should do?” Official Chen asked, glancing at her.

Qun Qing looked at the newcomers, her expression calm. “You are only fulfilling your duty. If order isn’t restored by the time the bell rings, wouldn’t that be the examiners’ fault?”

With that, she picked up an empty desk and carried it outside.

Seeing her take action, the other female officials quickly followed suit. Official Chen glanced at the doorway and ordered, “Bring them some outer robes—wouldn’t want them soaking their answer sheets.”

Once the six put on the robes and sat down, gratitude showed on their faces. The other candidates, though still dissatisfied, had no choice but to kneel before their own exam papers.

The bronze gong sounded. The incense was lit. The six scholars picked up their brushes, their demeanor shifting as they immersed themselves in their exams.

Qun Qing silently watched them write. She knew Lu Huating must have gone through a great deal of trouble to bring them here.

In the end, an exam was just an exam. Since they had arrived, she had no reason to stop them.

Yet at that moment, she noticed a young concubine standing at the entrance.

She wore a golden hairpin—a side consort of Prince Zhao, Lady Ruan, Li Pan’s favored concubine. Her gaze was fixed intently on the examination hall.

Suddenly, Qun Qing heard a faint buzzing.

The other female officials also looked around in surprise. “Flies? Surely it’s not because those six smell bad enough to attract them?”

Looking over, she saw several black insects hovering near the six scholars. Some of them were shaking their heads, swatting at the air—clearly distracted. But the insects wouldn’t leave.

Official Chen Dianyi glanced at the window and frowned. “Official Qun, seems you forgot to close the windows properly. Go chase them away.”

“That’s right. Chief Attendant Zhu made all the arrangements clear—if this affects the exam, the examiners will be punished.”

Qun Qing narrowed her eyes, an uneasy feeling creeping up her spine.

Those insects weren’t ordinary flies. They were hornets.

If they weren’t dealt with in time, their stings could cause dizziness, even fever. If one of the scholars got stung, their exam would be over.

Yet if she moved to drive them away and disrupted the exam, someone would surely place the blame on her.

Official Chen watched her intently, waiting for her next move.

Without a word, Qun Qing walked over to the incense burner.

“Official Qun, where are you going?”

She pinched a bit of rosemary between her fingers, brushed it lightly over the back collar of her robe, then stepped forward into the rows of desks.

Her footsteps were light and steady, her posture composed.

To any observer, it looked just like a routine inspection.

According to palace regulations, the exam supervisor would patrol every quarter-hour. The examinees paid little mind to this, only noticing that the female official carried a faint, refreshing fragrance as she passed by.

Official Chen kept her gaze on Qun Qing, only to realize that she never once disturbed the examinees. Instead, she merely walked past them at an unhurried pace. Strangely enough, the seven or eight hornets that had been hovering around the scholars suddenly followed her, gathering at the back of her collar.

Once the last wasp had landed, Qun Qing lowered her gaze and quickly stepped behind the screen. The female officials there gasped in fright when they saw the swarm clinging to her clothes and instinctively stepped back.

With practiced ease, Qun Qing slipped off her outer robe, wrapping the wasps inside it. Just then, Official Chen reached out, unintentionally brushing against her. One wasp broke free, stinging Qun Qing on the neck. She immediately caught it in her palm.

A young lady stung like that would normally cry out in pain. But when Official Chen looked into Qun Qing’s eyes, she was stunned—those sharp, upturned eyes were staring back at her coldly, as if unfazed by the sting.

“Are you alright, Official Qun? I only wanted to help…”

“I’m fine,” Qun Qing replied, opening her palm to reveal the crushed wasp. She smiled. “See? It’s dead.”

Chen nodded, her face pale with lingering unease. She didn’t notice that Qun Qing’s fingers had swiftly slipped a small piece of ginger candy—infused with rosemary—into the back of her collar.

“I’ll take these wasps outside and burn them,” Qun Qing said, holding up the bundled robe.

Chen nodded in agreement.

Qun Qing exited the hall, walked to a secluded spot, and with a flick of her wrist, released the wasps before returning as if nothing had happened.

Moments later, Official Chen hurried over to Concubine Ruan, and whispered in her ear.

Concubine Ruan’s expression darkened. She had been entrusted with this task by Li Pan himself, yet this low-ranking ceremonial official had been far more difficult to deal with than expected—escaping completely unscathed.

Before she could respond, Concubine Ruan suddenly saw fear flash across Official Chen’s face. A buzzing sound grew louder behind her. Without turning, she already knew—a swarm of hornet wasps had appeared out of nowhere, flying straight at them.

Panicked screams rang out as people flailed desperately, but no matter how they tried, they couldn’t drive the wasps away. Official Chen was stung several times and clutched her face in pain.

Concubine Ruan fared no better—her elaborate hairdo was now a disheveled mess, and she was completely flustered.

Hearing the commotion, Chief Attendant Zhu rushed over, prepared to scold Official Chen. But upon seeing Prince Zhao’s side consort in the midst of it, she merely ordered a few young eunuchs to catch the wasps. Concubine Ruan took the opportunity to slip away.

Someone soon discovered a half-melted piece of ginger candy in Official Chen’s robes. When she caught its faint scent of rosemary, she was at a loss for words. 

“This… this attracts tiger head wasps! I told Qun Qing to get rid of them, but instead, she…”

Before long, Qun Qing was summoned. She glanced at Concubine Ruan briefly before turning to Chief Attendant Zhu, who was seething with anger.

“Chief Attendant, someone released wasps to deliberately disrupt the imperial examination. If this person succeeded, Shangyi Bureau would bear a grave crime.”

A cold sweat broke out on Chief Attendant Zhu’s back.

“How could there be so many hornets outside in winter, and how did they just happen to fly into the room? The only way is to buy them from a beekeeper and release them indoors. Chen Dianyi is terrified of bees, so she likely wouldn’t dare touch them without permission. If the beehive is on her, a search will confirm it.”

Qun Qing’s gaze sharpened. “One thing puzzles me, though—why did the wasps only target those six new examinees?” She smirked. “Then I remembered—the protective robes Official Chen handed out earlier. I wonder whose orders she was following to ruin those scholars’ futures.”

“Enough,” Chief Attendant Zhu cut her off, already understanding the situation. The power struggle between the Crown Prince, Prince Zhao, and Prince Yan was not something Shangyi Bureau could afford to be involved in. 

“Official Chen, return and receive your punishment. Qun Qing, you should also take a rest first.”