The Young Marquis Regrets Too Late - Chapter 38

After meeting Jiang Runchu and Jiang Jinghui, neither Chen Muqing nor Jiang Jingchun were in any mood to continue strolling around. As such, they soon returned to the Chen family residence together.

After they returned, Jiang Jingchun asked Huayun to visit Shen Tao’s courtyard and deliver a small cat-shaped lantern she had purchased earlier.

Shen Tao was lying idly on a rocking chair in her courtyard, enjoying the moonlight, when she heard a knock at the gate. She instructed a servant to open the door.

Huayun handed the lantern to Shen Tao’s maidservant, saying, “This is a lantern Miss Chen bought. She asked me to deliver it to the madame.”

After delivering the message and the lantern, Huayun left.

Shen Tao saw her maidservant returning, happily clutching the cat-shaped lantern. A hint of surprise flickered in her eyes.

The maidservant chirped excitedly, “The one who just came is Miss Jiang’s maid. She said the lantern was sent by Miss Chen for you. Since they’re currently living together, it seems she asked Miss Jiang’s maid to send it.”

Shen Tao took the lantern, held it in her hands, and played with it for a moment before suddenly laughing softly. 

Her maid confusedly asked, “What’s so funny, Madame?”

Shen Tao replied, “So many Mid-Autumn Festivals have passed since I first married into this family, but this is the first time I’ve received a gift from that girl.”

Shen Tao noted that night had already fallen, so she stood and walked back into the house. The lantern she carried swayed gently with her steps, and her face softened with a rare smile, which was very different from her usual cold demeanour.

Chen Muqing couldn’t possibly have sent her this.

How could she not know who really sent the gift?

That night, Shen Tao seemed to suddenly understand why Chen Muqing always enjoyed spending time with Jiang Jingchun.

Two days passed quickly. The sun rose slowly from the horizon, and the sky grew brighter.

Today was the day that the provincial-level imperial examination candidates entered the examination compound.

The examination compound that Song Xuan’an would go to was the one in the southeast of the capital. After finishing breakfast, Jiang Jingchun and Chen Muqing decided to go and see Song Xuan’an. Judging by the time, Song Xuan’an should also be heading towards the examination compound.

After some quick preparations, the two left the house.

They arrived at the examination compound in the Chen family’s carriage. At its entrance, carriages from many different families gathered. Parents clung to their children and gave them endless advice. The scene was packed with people and carriages, so much so that the Chen family’s carriage blended seamlessly into the crowd, unnoticed by anyone.

They arrived slightly earlier than Song Xuan’an. No one from the Song family was anywhere to be seen in the crowd.

They must still be on their way.

Only Madame Song and Song Xuan’an came that day. Madame Song feared that Song He might say something unpleasant and stir up unnecessary trouble, so she decided not to bring him along. As for Song Xuanjing—she absolutely didn’t want him to make an appearance here today.

Madame Song also felt nervous. She repeatedly checked to ensure that Song Xuan’an had brought everything he needed.

“Brushes, ink, paper, inkstone, paperweights, water flask, candles… Have you brought everything?”

The provincial-level imperial examinations would last for three days. For that entire duration, the candidates would be confined in their examination compound. If they’d forgotten any item that they needed, it could cause them significant trouble.

“Yes, I’ve brought everything. I’ve checked it a hundred times already.”

A servant nodded repeatedly, as he was clearly terrified of forgetting anything.

Meanwhile, Song Xuan’an responded absentmindedly to Madame Song’s nagging. His gaze was fixed on the view outside the carriage window.

As they approached the examination compound’s gate, his eyes scanned every carriage they passed.

Madame Song noticed his distraction and the way his head was practically hanging out of the carriage window. She was about to scold him but stopped herself. Today was an important day for him, so she softened her tone.

Gently, she asked, “What are you looking at out there? Do you think there’s gold lying on the ground?”

Before she could finish her sentence, Song Xuan’an suddenly called out for the carriage to stop. He hurriedly prepared to get out, which prompted Madame Song to exclaim, “Where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?”

Song Xuan’an replied, “Jiang Jingchun and Chen Muqing are here. I’ll go meet them.”

With that, he disappeared without a trace.

Madame Song watched his retreating figure and muttered, “He treats her like she’s closer to him than his own mother.”

As soon as Song Xuan’an spotted the Chen family’s carriage, he got off and walked over to it. He knocked on the carriage frame, and the curtain lifted to reveal Jiang Jingchun’s face.

She leaned out of the window to look at him.

Song Xuan’an was dressed today in a black long robe with a jade and gold hairpin holding his hair. His ponytail swayed freely behind his head in the autumn breeze.

The morning sunlight fell upon his face and made clear his youthful spirit and vigour.

Jiang Jingchun had felt some apprehension before coming here. Although she always said that she believed he’d pass, when the day for provincial-level imperial examinations to start finally came, she couldn’t help the worry and anxiety seeping into her. However, upon seeing Song Xuan’an, all her worries seemed to vanish entirely.

He looked at her with a bright smile on his face and said, “I knew you’d come today.”

Jiang Jingchun replied to his words with a warm smile. Then, she teased him, saying, “Even if we weren’t talking about getting married, shouldn’t I still come as your friend?”

Hearing this, Song Xuan’an’s grin grew even wider. He was about to say more when Chen Muqing popped her head out of the carriage and said, “Song Xuan’an, if you don’t pass this time, I’ll lose all respect for you.”

“Don’t jinx me with that mouth of yours,” he retorted.

The three of them laughed and chatted for a while. The area was bustling, and no one paid much attention to their little group. They kept talking until, suddenly, the noisy crowd fell silent for no apparent reason.

The trio exchanged puzzled glances and gradually quieted down as well.

Someone from a nearby family broke the silence. “Why is Young Marquis Gu here today?”

Jiang Jingchun followed the crowd’s gaze and turned her head to see Gu Huaisheng stepping down from a carriage. He was dressed in his crimson official attire, and his tall and upright figure stood out even more because of it. Every gesture he made was calm and composed, and he exuded an aura of brilliance and elegance. He also had a cold demeanour, as usual. These made everyone feel like even glancing at him was an act of blasphemy.

Wasn’t he supposed to be working at the Censorate? He’d already passed the imperial examinations and certainly wouldn’t need to take it again, so what was he doing here? 

Jiang Jingchun thought back to their last meeting at the Jiang family residence. At that time, she had resolved to sever ties with him completely. She immediately averted her gaze and refused to look in his direction again.

Around her, people were still discussing him.

“What is Young Marquis Gu here for today? Why has he even shown up wearing his official robes? And with such an attitude…”

Someone with some inside knowledge explained, “Don’t you know? He’s the exam overseer for this examination compound this year.”

This person had a family member working in the Ministry of Rites, so they had caught wind of some details.

Gu Huaisheng lifted his robe and stepped off the carriage. He ignored the eyes of the crowd fixed on him and maintained a composed expression and walked straight towards the gate of the examination compound.

He had noticed Jiang Jingchun and Song Xuan’an while he was still inside his carriage. The two had been laughing and chatting together, and Gu Huaisheng had watched them for a long while before finally stepping down. Yet, when he passed by them on foot, he kept his gaze fixed ahead and didn’t spare them even a glance. He acted as if he was completely indifferent to their presence.

Only after Gu Huaisheng had walked past did Jiang Jingchun, watching his retreating figure, seem to fall into thought.

She mused that, after her last conversation with him, he really had stopped bothering her.

That was just fine.

She didn’t seem to take Gu Huaisheng’s deliberate distance to heart. In fact, she even felt relieved by it.

After all, Gu Huaisheng’s pestering wasn’t something she could handle.

She and Chen Muqing chatted a little longer with Song Xuan’an. Eventually, Song Xuan’an was called back by his mother for some last-minute reminders before he too headed towards the gate of the examination compound.

The provincial-level imperial examinations would last three days, and they had agreed to meet back here to fetch him once it was over.

After Song Xuan’an left, Jiang Jingchun and Chen Muqing didn’t linger. They exchanged greetings with Madame Song before returning to the Chen family residence.

Meanwhile, Song Xuan’an entered the examination compound and underwent the standard security check at the gate.

Every year, there were always a few individuals who tried to cheat, despite the dynasty’s harsh punishments for examination fraud. The allure of a successful official career and a chance to rise to power was too great for some to resist.

It was precisely because of the rampant cheating that Emperor Taihe had issued a decree some years back. Anyone caught cheating, regardless of the method or whether the attempt succeeded, would be severely punished. 

The policy was so strict it deterred most would-be cheaters, though there were still a few who dared to risk it all.

The candidates’ methods of deception grew more sophisticated each year, so inspections also became increasingly thorough. Before entering the examination compound, all the items that the candidates brought, including brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, water bottles, and even candles, were meticulously checked. If anyone appeared suspicious, they would immediately be taken to a separate room for a full body search, down to removing shoes and socks.

As the exam overseer, Gu Huaisheng had been temporarily assigned to the examination compound by the Ministry of Rites and was responsible for overseeing all affairs there.

He sat on a chair nearby and kept a watchful eye on the inspection process.

After about the time it took for one stick of incense to burn, it was Song Xuan’an’s turn to be inspected.

He placed his belongings on the inspection table, spread his arms, and stood with a calm expression, while allowing himself to be searched.

The inspectors meticulously checked his belongings and examined every item in his luggage. At first, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But one inspector suddenly picked up a wolf-hair writing brush—the gift from Song Xuanjing—and began scrutinising it intently.

This was Song Xuan’an’s first time participating in the provincial-level imperial examinations, so he wasn’t aware of the tricks usually used by would-be cheaters. But the inspectors, who had dealt with countless cases over the years, immediately noticed something peculiar about the brush.

Yes, there was something odd about it.

The inspector looked up to see who the owner of the brush was and found that it was a young master of the Song family. After a moment’s pondering, he turned and brought the wolf-hair brush over to Gu Huaisheng.

Song Xuan’an was puzzled by this sudden turn of events and couldn’t help frowning at this. What could be wrong with the brush? It was just a brush—what about it could possibly be suspicious?

Meanwhile, the inspector presented  the brush he’d found after inspecting Song Xuan’an’s belongings to Gu Huaisheng and said, “Sir, there’s something odd about this brush.”

Gu Huaisheng had already noticed the commotion. Something must have gone wrong if the search was taking this long.

He glanced at Song Xuan’an and saw the young man staring back at them with a frown on his face. His confusion and disbelief were evident.

It didn’t take long for him to understand what the inspector meant by ‘odd.’

At the tip of the brush handle, there was a faint seam.

The seam was so small that an ordinary person wouldn’t notice it. Even if they did, they might assume it was part of the brush’s design. It was an innocuous item under normal circumstances, but in the context of the imperial examinations, it would naturally arouse suspicion.

Gu Huaisheng fiddled with the top of the brush, and sure enough, the seam widened and revealed a small cap that could be removed.

When the inspector saw this, he could already conclude that there must be something wrong with this item. He held his breath and felt his heart race as he watched Gu Huaisheng.

The owner of this brush was Song Xuan’an, a young master of the Song family and a grandson of Secretariat Elder Song. If he were caught cheating… The situation that would be its result would be difficult to handle.

The inspector couldn’t help but feel relieved that Gu Huaisheng was presiding over the matter. Since he was here, no matter how difficult the situation after this turned out to be, he’d definitely be able to handle it.

His eyes remained on Gu Huaisheng as the latter pried off the cap. The cap opened with a popping sound and fell to the ground.

Not far away, Song Xuan’an’s pupils widened in shock.

What was going on? Why was the brush like this!?

He stared at Gu Huaisheng’s actions with disbelief written all over his face.

Gu Huaisheng glanced at Song Xuan’an, and their eyes met briefly. Then, under Song Xuan’an’s stunned gaze, Gu Huaisheng expressionlessly flipped the brush upside down. A few sheets of gold foil fell out of the hollow handle.

Gu Huaisheng picked them up and inspected the few sheets of gold foil that had fallen out of the hollow handle. The sheets were covered in tiny, densely written characters. Gu Huaisheng squinted slightly as he held up the sheets to the sunlight, and realised that the characters were passages from the Four Books and Five Classics.

The inspector’s face turned pale at the sight of the gold foil sheets.

Though he couldn’t see the exact content of the writing, the mere presence of such an object was enough to make him think that Song Xuan’an was attempting to cheat.

Smuggling cheat sheets inside a brush handle wasn’t unprecedented.

Gu Huaisheng held the gold foil sheets in his hand and studied them for a long time without saying a word.

The inspector had to call out to him before he seemed to snap out of his thoughts.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile curved Gu Huaisheng’s lips as he looked towards Song Xuan’an. The young man’s face was still filled with shock.

From his reaction, Gu Huaisheng could tell that Song Xuan’an likely hadn’t known about the hidden cheat sheets beforehand.

But so what? The evidence had been found on him. No matter how he tried to explain, he wouldn’t be able to clear his name.

Gu Huaisheng turned back and told the inspector, “Song Xuan’an was found with suspicious items concealed in his brush, and he is now suspected of examination fraud. Detain him and place him in the holding cell.”