The Imperial College.
In the dead of night, a little gray rat scurried furtively along the base of the wall in the east wing of the Imperial College before slipping into a room.
The little gray rat climbed up to a certain bed, raised its head, and let out a couple of squeaks. Then Su Yuanyuan sat up.
On the opposite bed, Qiu Han was in a deep sleep. Su Yuanyuan looked down at the little gray rat on the ground and asked, "Well, what did you find out?"
The little gray rat squeaked, telling Su Yuanyuan everything that had happened in the Wang family's study.
Learning that the person who wanted to kill her was none other than Wang Chongling, the head of the Wang family and the current tutor to the crown prince, and that Wang Chongling had been tricked by her and almost bitten to death by a poisonous snake, and would be a lame man for some time after being cured and thus unable to stir up trouble, Su Yuanyuan was so delighted that she doubled over with laughter. She felt extremely gratified.
But then, when she heard the following news, the smile on her face vanished in an instant, and anger welled up in her.
[The woman they mentioned must be the master of Little Eight! They've really locked Little Eight's master up in Jiutang Mountain! Sob, the master is injured. What should we do!] Little Eight squeaked anxiously at Su Yuanyuan.
[Don't worry. When we find the right opportunity, we'll set off for Jiutang Mountain to rescue her!]
From what the Wang family said, it seemed that they were using the mechanism weapons made by Cang Xuan's mother to trade with others? Were they trafficking in weapons for profit?
No, it was likely that they had captured Cang Xuan's mother not just for this. There must be other motives.
The little gray rat was still squeaking. It had one more important piece of news to tell Su Yuanyuan.
After hearing it, Su Yuanyuan was so angry that she almost ground her teeth to pieces.
The Wang family had even set their sights on her second and third elder brothers. Why didn't that poisonous snake just kill that old scoundrel Wang Chongling? She had felt so pleased just now, but now she thought that just making him lame for a while was far too lenient!
Different from the examinations at the Imperial College, the position of a lieutenant in the 3,000-strong battalion of the Imperial Guard was the most sought-after position in the martial examinations. Due to the large number of participants, a five - day round - robin tournament was needed to decide the candidates. The final day's examination would be held on a wrestling platform in the city. The top ten winners from among numerous candidates would compete for the first place together. This match would be open to the whole city, and everyone could go and watch.
There were also quite a number of candidates applying for positions in the Ministry of Justice. The examinations for the Ministry of Justice were held in the prefectural yamen and were not open to the public. The candidates had to go through tests on criminal laws, case - investigation, and interrogation. The examination would last for four days.
They still had a chance to stop it! They had to tell Brother Yunjian this news as soon as possible.
Su Yuanyuan immediately found some paper and a pen and wrote down the news she had obtained today.
However, after writing about how she and Shu Moyun had almost been assassinated, Su Yuanyuan suddenly stopped writing. After thinking for a while, she put the paper in her hand on the fire and burned it. Then she took out another piece of paper and only wrote about Wang Chongling's plot against Su Huaiyuan and Su Huaisheng.
Little Eight wondered, [Why didn't Little Yuanbao tell Cang Xuan about the master's situation?]
Su Yuanyuan sighed, [The Wang family's goal is to ruin the imperial examinations. But the imperial examinations are so important to Brother Yunjian. If he knew that his mother was injured and couldn't get treatment, I'm afraid he would leave Shengjing regardless and rush to Jiutang Mountain to kill them. Wouldn't this just play into the Wang family's hands?]
When Tianxuan brought back that set of sleeve arrows from Jiutang Mountain, Cang Xuan had been deeply self - reproachful. If the news was told to him at this time, it would only add to his anger.
[What about your own situation, Yuanbao? You almost got killed by a poisonous snake. Why didn't you tell him about this?] Little Eight asked again.
[The imperial examinations at the Imperial College haven't ended yet. There's no way I can tell Brother Yunjian about this. I'm a candidate for the imperial examinations, and he's the chief supervisor. If he rushes to the Imperial College because he's worried about me and the Wang family seizes this opportunity to accuse him of showing favoritism, wouldn't I just be dragging him down?]
[I'll tell him everything after the examinations at the Imperial College are over.] Su Yuanyuan said seriously.
Before long, a little gray rat bit a letter in its mouth and quietly left Su Yuanyuan's room. It scurried along the base of the wall, slipped through a hole in the wall, and scurried out of the Imperial College on its short legs towards a certain place in the city.
In the Prince Cangjun's Mansion in the dead of night, the lights were still on. In the specially - opened council hall, Cang Xuan was now discussing matters with Su Qing and the chief supervisors of various examination halls.
The man sat in the main seat, propping his chin with one hand. He listened indifferently to the report on today's examination situation of the Ministry of Rites.
He hadn't slept for almost two nights.
After the imperial examinations started, he was even busier than before. Every night, just like now, he would gather the chief examiners of various examination halls to learn about the day's examination situation so as to keep track of the latest progress, adjust the examination content and strategies, and nip in the bud all possible variables that might affect the imperial examinations.
After listening to the report from the Ministry of Rites, Cang Xuan nodded, gave a couple of instructions, and then ordered everyone to disperse.
The officials heaved a sigh of relief and got up to leave one by one. Only Su Qing and Cang Xuan were left in the council hall.
After making sure that everyone had left, Su Qing said, "Yunjian, do you know that a big event happened in the Wang family today?"
Cang Xuan looked up at him and smiled, "Are you talking about the incident that Tutor Wang was bitten by a poisonous snake?"
Su Qing didn't know that Cang Xuan had an intelligence organization like Liuyun Pavilion in his hands. He was stunned for a moment, "You've heard about it too?"
Now that there was no one around, Su Qing showed a gloating smile on his face. "Hehe, I really didn't expect that old scoundrel to end up like this. It's a pity that the poisonous snake didn't kill him. I heard that he was saved by a doctor from the East Palace. It's really too lenient on him."
Cang Xuan squinted his eyes. "This man's name is Tuoba Zhe. He's from the Qiangyou tribe. He was recruited by Wang Chongling four years ago. He was initially kept by his side and then sent to the East Palace. This man is unknown in the Qiangyou tribe, but since he can be so trusted by Wang Chongling, he must have some skills."
"It's really a pity that Wang Chongling wasn't poisoned to death. But I think after being poisoned by the snake, he'll need some time to recuperate. That's enough for us."
Before long, Su Qing also bid farewell. Before leaving, Su Qing said earnestly, "Get a good rest. Don't push yourself too hard so that you'll have the energy to deal with what's coming next."
After seeing Su Qing off, Cang Xuan stood in the courtyard and looked up at the bright moon that was half - covered by dark clouds. A delicate and lovely face involuntarily appeared in front of his eyes.
He hadn't seen his little girl for two days. He wondered how she was doing inside?
At this moment, there was an impulse in his heart to rush to her side immediately and take a look at her peaceful sleeping face. But he was worried that his appearance would affect her state and mood during the examinations.
Just as he was about to go back to his room, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a small black shadow approaching him.
Leaves turned into hidden weapons between his fingertips and shot towards the shadow. With a few "squeaks", a little gray rat was so frightened that it stood up, and the note in its mouth also dropped to the ground with a patter.
Cang Xuan's gaze stayed on the trembling little gray rat for a moment, then he looked at the note on the ground, walked forward, and picked it up.