The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 374

Chapter 374 -195: Protecting the Shortcoming (Two Updates in One)_5

Xiao Liulang reads. He writes.

The main gist is that Xiao Liulang agrees to take his provincial exam for him, specifically each would put the other’s name on their paper. Xiao Liulang promises to get him into the top three in the exam, and in exchange, he’ll pay Xiao Liulang a fee of five thousand taels of silver.

“You can’t wrong me and cause trouble for me and my family.”

“You can’t demand your fee back.”

“You can’t get someone to steal it back.”

“You can not rob me.” _{ƒreewebɳovel.com}

...

He Jinghong: “…”

Finally, an agreement was written and signed by He Jinghong.

Xiao Liulang also marked his signature.

He Jinghong said coldly, “In case you don’t make it to the top three…”

Xiao Liulang cut him off, “You’ll be refunded half of the fee. If you don’t pass I will return the full amount.”

He Jinghong sneered, that seemed fair enough!

Two copies of the same agreement, each party held one. He Jinghong first paid half as a deposit, the remaining fee would be settled after the results were announced.

After keeping the document safely, He Jinghong stood up, patted Xiao Liulang’s shoulder satisfactorily: “Study well, don’t disappoint me.”

Xiao Liulang rarely let out a smirk, “Don’t worry.”

Xiao Liulang rarely smiled, but when he did, it was enchanting enough to captivate even He Jinghong, a tough man.

He quickly gathered himself, cleared his throat awkwardly, and walked out.

As Xiao Liulang looked at the document in his hand, his smile gradually turned cold.

He then went to the Jingzhao Residence and reported He Jinghong to the court with a statement!

Before He Jinghong could even return to the Duke’s Residence, he was arrested by the government officials for the Jingzhao Residence.

He Jinghong looked bewildered, what was happening?

“Yes, that’s him. He forced me to establish an agreement, making me take the exam for him. He also threatened that if I didn’t agree, he would torment my entire family.”

In the court, Xiao Liulang said heartbrokenly.

Xiao Liulang, with his scholar’s reputation, did not need to kneel.

He Jinghong didn’t need to kneel either, but he was too emotional. One angry attitude to the Jingzhao Residence had him forcibly knelt down.

He Jinghong was about to go mad!

Who is blatantly lying here? Who exactly forced whom to create the agreement?

Xiao Liulang sighed: “He said his cousin is the famous Duchess, I can’t fight him. Unless I want to die, I must obey him. Otherwise, he could kick me out of the Guozijian tomorrow.”

He Jinghong fumed: “I never said that! Don’t believe his fabrications! It was him who made me write the agreement! He voluntarily offered to take the exam for me! He set me up!”

Xiao Liulang asked: “Why would I set you up when we have no grudges?”

He Jinghong answered angrily: “Because, because… because your wife beat me up! You were afraid I would take revenge on her, so you agreed to take the exam for me!”

As soon as he let out the word “agreed”, He Jinghong realized he had misspoke.

Xiao Liulang said sadly: “Sir, this matter has nothing to do with my wife. She has never met him. I don’t know who he offended to the point where he threw mud at my wife and threatened me.”

To Xiao Liulang’s surprise, it was the first time he tried lying without a hint of shame, and it went more smoothly than he expected—

Was he innately talented in this respect?

The Jingzhao Residence Magistrate had seen all sorts of scam artists and could easily uncover the truth.

He called over He Jinghong’s servants. Not one of them had seen Gu Jiao.

He Jinghong’s scam was exposed.

Jingzhao Residence Magistrate: “Do you have any other witnesses?”

“No!”

“Yes!”

The two spoke simultaneously.

The Jingzhao Residence Magistrate looked at the two, his eyebrows furrowed: “Xiao Liulang, you said there’s a witness. Where is this witness?”

Xiao Liulang replied, “At the residence of Lord Zhuang.”

The heart of the Jingzhao Residence Magistrate sank: “Which… which Lord Zhuang?”

Xiao Liulang answered with a serious face: “The fourth son of Grand Tutor Zhuang, Zhuang Xianzhi.”

Oh God, the Zhuang family was getting involved!