After Rebirth, I Married my Archenemy - Chapter 87

Late at night, the lights in both the east and west halls of Yimei Pavilion had long been extinguished.

The newly built west hall, surrounded by pine and cypress trees, was assigned to the scholars recommended by Meng Guanlou. Its secluded surroundings and the rhythmic drip of melting ice from the eaves made it an ideal place for rest.

Wang Xi was one of the eighteen scholars.

Just a day ago, he had received word that he had advanced to the reexamination. Yet now, as he lay on his bed, he couldn’t sleep. His mind churned with restless thoughts, his brows knitted in deep contemplation.

Noticing a shadow moving outside his window, he quickly shut his eyes. But then, a light knock came at the window frame.

After a brief hesitation, he pulled on a cotton robe and opened the door. To his surprise, the visitor was not Yumei, but a woman in palace attire whom he had never met before.

Alarmed, he moved to shut the door, but a slender hand stopped it.

“The palace is under curfew. I don’t know who you are looking for, but please conduct yourself properly,” Wang Xi said, lowering his gaze.

The next moment, his expression changed drastically. The woman was holding a partially burned scrap of paper—one that still had legible writing on it.

He had watched Yumei toss that very paper into the brazier, thinking it was completely destroyed. But somehow, it hadn’t been fully burned.

The woman, Qun Qing, glanced at him. “Someone came to Yimei Pavilion just now. What did they tell you?”

Wang Xi couldn’t determine her rank, but the fact that she knew his name unsettled him. Cold sweat formed on his back as he worried that Yumei’s involvement would be exposed.

“I just stepped out to relieve myself. No outsiders entered,” he said quickly. “You must be mistaken.”

Qun Qing’s gaze was piercing, reflecting the moonlight with a chilling clarity. She didn’t call out his lie, instead saying calmly, 

“You are a bright man. You entered the county academy at five. If not for your family’s poverty and your mother’s illness, which forced you to farm for several years, you wouldn’t have delayed taking the provincial exam until now.”

“You refused your classmates’ financial help out of pride and independence. So why do you now accept leaked exam topics without guilt?”

Wang Xi’s face flushed with anger and shame.

Seeing his reaction, Qun Qing felt a slight sense of relief. He was the only one on the list who had left a good impression on her. In her previous life, he had held a high position yet remained steadfast in his principles. Even now, despite being drawn into Meng Guanlou’s circle, he might not truly align with their ways.

Wang Xi lowered his voice coldly. 

“Since you know so much, you must also be aware of everything else. I am just a lowly scholar being used by those in power. If you want me to confess, that would ruin my future. No fool would do that. You should leave before I call for the guards. There are people outside Yimei Pavilion. If I shout, you’ll be in danger.”

He turned away, his expression grim. But before he could step inside, Qun Qing grabbed his sleeve.

“You passed the preliminary selection, but you haven’t taken the provincial exam before. Without Yumei’s help, you know your chances of success are slim,” she said. “If you truly didn’t care, you wouldn’t be losing sleep over it. You wouldn’t have come out to talk to Yumei.”

Wang Xi had no desire to argue with a woman, but her words were too blunt, striking a nerve. Frustrated, he snapped, 

“What does this have to do with you?”

“If you rely on Yumei and let Meng Guanlou hold this over you, do you think you can refuse them in the future?” Qun Qing said. “Your mother and teacher’s guidance—will it all be for nothing?”

His expression stiffened. Then, with a cold laugh, he yanked his sleeve free.

“My mother is ill. The only way to take care of her is to become an official. Do the principles of Confucius and Mencius put food on the table? As for being controlled, what can a mere scholar like me do to resist?”

“I can offer you a way out.”

Qun Qing’s face remained composed, her gaze sincere under the moonlight. 

“A way to uphold your integrity without offending the Meng family. Think it over.”

Without waiting for his response, she stepped closer and whispered her plan, pressing a folded silk handkerchief into his sleeve.

Just then, she heard faint footsteps rustling through the trees. In one swift motion, she flicked a small stone in that direction.

Wang Xi shot her a look before retreating hastily into his room, spooked by the presence of unseen eyes.

Qun Qing pushed aside the branches and confirmed that the eavesdropper was a palace attendant, still too far away to have overheard their conversation. Only then did she step lightly over the fallen leaves and slip away.

—

The next morning, the final round of examinations took place in the palace hall.

Qun Qing dressed early and stood by in the hall, waiting.

One by one, the scholars filed in, taking their places at the prepared desks. There were eight of them—none missing.

Wang Xi had also arrived. Qun Qing watched his back for a moment, then remained still. Her fingers lightly gripping the edge of her robe.

Nearby, Zhang Qiru and the others sat with their heads lowered, occasionally wiping cold sweat from their brows. All of them were visibly tense and sleep-deprived.

But the rest of the hall showed no reaction.

The final examination was more rigorous than the preliminary round. There were more examiners, and sometimes even princes and princesses would observe. The papers would be graded publicly, adding to the pressure for scholars unfamiliar with the palace. Their nervousness was expected.

Four examiners, dressed in official robes, sat at a raised platform. Their expressions stern. They occasionally turned to flatter the man seated at the center—a scholar in a red robe.

Qun Qing recognized him. His surname was Lin, a fifth-rank academician.

She recalled that Lin had once been a student of Prime Minister Meng.

Su Run had told her that years ago, Lin had been present when Su Run was punished for exposing Meng Guanlou’s corruption. He had stood by in silence as Su Run was demoted to the inner palace. 

At that moment, the hall was filled with murmurs as people exchanged greetings. Princess Danyang entered, accompanied by a family servant wearing a golden mask. She was still idly twirling a fan when Scholar Lin bowed, his gaze carrying a trace of disdain.

Princess Danyang merely flicked her fan, signaling for the examination to begin. The test was long and silent. Halfway through, she casually stretched out her arm in front of Su Run. He remained silent for a few moments before pressing the door shut.

A young eunuch struck a bronze bell, and Qun Qing, along with several other female officials, stepped forward to collect the exam papers and hand them over to the examiners.

She saw the faint smile on Scholar Lin’s face. After staring at the exam papers for a long time, he lifted his eyes to look at her again. His indifferent gaze fell on her face, seemingly piercing through her.

“Why does Scholar Lin reveal such an expression?” The voice of Princess Dan Yang came from behind. “Could it be that this year’s candidates are too unqualified?”

Scholar Lin replied calmly, “Your Highness, it is not that they are too poor, but rather that they are too perfect.”

He then exchanged a few words with someone beside him. Soon after, a young eunuch stepped forward and grabbed Qun Qing’s wrist. 

“Official, Please Stay.”

Scholar Lin held the exam papers in both hands and stood up. 

“Your Highness, I fear that there has been a case of leaked exam questions in this reexamination.”

The moment those words were spoken, the hall fell silent, so quiet that even a pin drop could be heard. Zhang Qiru and the others turned deathly pale, gripping the table for support just to remain seated.

Last night, just as they were about to sleep, a message was slipped through the window. When they opened it, they found not a letter, but a set of exam questions.

They naturally dismissed it as a prank. There was no way these could be the actual test questions. But since they had already seen them, they couldn’t help but think about how they would answer them as they lay in bed.

Yet now, as they held their exam papers, they saw that the questions were exactly the same.

Scholar Lin’s voice struck like a hammer to the heart. 

“Take Zhang Qiru as an example—his responses to the policy questions were flawless. His essay was composed with such confidence, as if he had already prepared it in advance.”

Scholar Lin paused, his dark eyes shifting toward Qun Qing. 

“Yesterday, an attendant reported seeing the palace official Qun Qing visiting Yimei Pavilion at night, speaking with an examinee.”

“I originally had no intention of mentioning this, but given today’s results, I have no choice but to ask—Qun Qing, as an internal examiner with access to the test papers, why would you engage in such suspicious conduct?”

At once, shocked gazes from all around the hall landed on Qun Qing.

“Did you really go to Yimei Pavilion last night?” Princess Danyang’s expression shifted slightly. She summoned Qun Qing forward. “What were you doing there?”

What made Princess Danyang even more anxious was that Qun Qing, after stepping forward, glanced at the examinees, then at her, before lowering her gaze, as if hesitating to speak.

“I did go to Yimei Pavilion,” Qun Qing finally admitted, “but I absolutely did not leak the test questions. As an examiner, I have no access to them unless I enter the Literary Archive. The keys to the archive are with Chief Attendant Zhu—I have never handled them.”

She continued, “If a test leak truly occurred, should I be accused just because some examinees performed well? What about the two candidates recommended by the court? Did they not also perform well?”

Another examiner responded, “Their answers were slightly weaker than Zhang Qiru and the others, but at least their performance matched their abilities. That is why we believe they did not receive outside help.”

Qun Qing’s heart sank slightly.

Last night, she had copied down the words from the torn fragments and sent them via a flying message to the Eastern Hall. If a leak had to happen, it should at least be distributed evenly.

She had assumed that the two court-recommended candidates, having received Yumei’s complete answers, would surely perform even better. She hadn’t expected them to hold back.

She hadn’t even exposed their cheating yet, and Chancellor Meng was already using this situation to drag her down with him.

At this point, Qun Qing turned to Princess Danyang and said, “Since Scholar Lin accuses me of leaking the exam but has no proof, I absolutely refuse to admit guilt. I have a way to prove my innocence—Your Highness, please issue a new set of questions and have all eight examinees sit for an additional test on the spot.”

The examinees exchanged glances, their expressions uneasy.

Scholar Lin was about to object when Princess Danyang clapped her hands and smiled. 

“Very well. What I enjoy most is watching scholars face a challenge. But I am no expert in literature—how could I dare question the future pillars of our nation? Summon His Majesty. Let him be the one to set the questions.”

Immediately, several palace attendants drew the plain screens into position, while others prepared ink and brushes.

Before long, Emperor Chenming entered the hall, and the previously spacious chamber suddenly felt crowded.

The emperor was followed by the Crown Prince, Prince Yan, and several close ministers. They had been in Xuanzheng Hall discussing state matters when they heard of the issue with the palace examination, prompting the emperor to bring them all along.

Li Xuan had already heard what had transpired. Seeing Qun Qing kneeling before Princess Danyang, accused by all, yet hesitating to speak, he wanted to step in—but Emperor Chenming was speaking, so he could only glance sideways.

Just then, Li Xuan noticed that Lu Huating was also watching Qun Qing.

Lu Huating’s expression was unreadable, his gaze fixed intently on her, as if trying to discern what she was planning.

Qun Qing lifted her eyes and watched as Lu Huating followed the emperor toward the examinees who were already writing.

The plain screens were soon covered in flowing ink. The scent of fresh calligraphy filled the hall as Emperor Chenming moved from screen to screen, carefully inspecting each one.

When they reached Wang Xi’s screen, Lu Huating suddenly asked, “Did you write this essay yourself?”

Wang Xi’s back stiffened. “Yes, I did. May I ask, Chief Advisor, why you question me?”

Lu Huating glanced at the screen and chuckled. 

“This passage about Emperor Chu Xuan’s governance of the mulberry fields—I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before.”

Emperor Chenming’s gaze shifted. Wang Xi lowered his head even further. 

“It is common for examinees to prepare and memorize materials in advance. I ask Chief Advisor not to make things difficult.”

Li Xuan interjected, “Yun Ming, you yourself have never taken the examination. You shouldn’t speak carelessly.”

“But just because I have no official title doesn’t mean I can’t read.” Lu Huating smiled. “I saw this exact passage in last year’s palace exam.”

The moment he said this, Wang Xi’s hand twitched, and a brush fell from his sleeve. He hastily picked it up and repeatedly muttered his apologies.

“Last year?” Princess Danyang frowned. “But Wang Xi didn’t take the exam last year.”

“Turn around,” Lu Huating said to Wang Xi. “Let me take a look at you.”

Li Xuan asked warily, “What are you trying to do?”

Lu Huating stared at Wang Xi’s profile. “Your Highness, I once observed last year’s eighteen palace examinees from a distance. I have an exceptional memory and recall Wang Xi as a forthright gentleman. Why, then, does he keep his head down today? Is there something on his face that he doesn’t want me to see?”

As he spoke, he cast a fleeting glance at Qun Qing.

His upturned eyes carried a faint smile, yet his gaze was piercingly sharp.

It was almost a warning.

With such a heavy hint, Qun Qing fixed her eyes on Wang Xi’s back. Her eyelashes quivered, and the uncertainty in her heart suddenly became crystal clear.

“Your Majesty,” she hesitated, “there is something I must report.”

“Speak.”

Qun Qing looked at Li Xuan. “Last night, I did go to Yimei Pavilion. That was because, during the preliminary exam, a few tiger-faced wasps flew into the hall. Wang Xi was unfortunately stung on the shoulder and developed a fever. I heard that his condition had worsened, so I brought him a special medicinal balm, fearing it would affect his performance today.”

Princess Danyang said, “Then you must not know much about tiger-faced wasps. If the fever had already set in, the venom would have spread. A person would be bedridden for three days, vomiting and suffering from severe diarrhea. Ordinary balm wouldn’t help at all.”

“Your Highness is right,” Qun Qing replied in astonishment. “When I saw him last night, he was already feverish and dehydrated, unable to walk. I was worried he wouldn’t make it to the exam. Yet today, he not only arrived but looked completely healthy, as if he were a different person.”

At these words, the examinees’ expressions changed, and all eyes turned to Wang Xi.

Lu Huating chuckled. “Yesterday he was too weak to take the exam, yet today he is perfectly fine. Did a miracle doctor save him, or was he simply replaced?”

“Qun Qing, why don’t you step forward and see if this person is truly Wang Xi?”

The hall erupted into chaos. A substitute examinee in the palace exam? The audacity was unthinkable!

In the end, “Wang Xi” couldn’t withstand the pressure. His legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees, his face twisted in misery. “I… I didn’t…”

Qun Qing’s heart stirred slightly. Last night, she had given Wang Xi a handkerchief wrapped around a hornet—her way of hinting that he should feign illness to avoid the re-examination. It seems that he did choose to pretend to be sick last night.

But Meng Guanlou was even bolder than she had anticipated.

Seeing Wang Xi burning with fever that morning—muttering deliriously, curled up in bed, barely conscious—Meng Guanlou hadn’t hesitated. Since Wang Xi couldn’t even stand, let alone take the exam, he had ordered Yumei to sit for it in his place.

Qun Qing had heard whispers that Yumei had been raised in the Meng household since childhood, serving as Meng Guanlou’s personal scribe—grinding ink, preparing paper. She kept a low profile and rarely interacted with outsiders. But her greatest skill was imitation. She could copy others’ handwriting and mannerisms flawlessly. Seeing her in person today, Qun Qing had to admit, she was truly impressive. If she hadn’t been paying close attention to Wang Xi, the deception might have gone entirely unnoticed.

Her thoughts raced.

How had Meng Guanlou pulled off such a switch under so many watchful eyes that day? Had Yumei been involved back then as well?

Then Lu Huating spoke. “Doesn’t His Highness Danyang have a master of calligraphy and painting at his side? We can have him compare the handwriting from the first exam and today’s to confirm if they match.”

All eyes turned to Danyang. Beside him, a figure cloaked in gold foil trembled slightly as he knelt.

Emperor Chen Ming’s gaze landed on the man, his brows furrowing. “Su Run, why are you covering your face? Do you also have some birthmark you need to hide?” His tone carried a trace of displeasure—he did not appreciate such secrecy in the presence of the emperor.

At the command, Su Run hesitated before slowly peeling away the gold foil, revealing his face.

Master Lin took one look at him and nearly fell out of his chair, his trembling finger pointing in shock.

Behind Li Xuan, Su Xi also flinched, instinctively taking a step back. He leaned in and whispered something urgently to Li Xuan.

Su Run’s face flushed with a mix of grief and tension. He knelt, bowed low, and declared, “Your Majesty, I, Su Run, am guilty. I entered the Hanlin Academy last spring, specializing in calligraphy and painting. I recognize this handwriting. This person is indeed an impostor. Moreover, he is the same one who took the exam in Meng Guanlou’s place last year!”

Li Xuan’s expression sharpened. His gaze lowered, scrutinizing Su Run.

“What are you saying?” he asked coldly. “Meng Guanlou is brilliant—why would he need a stand-in for the exam?”