The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 89

Chapter 89: 85 Going Home (Third Watch of the Night)_3

At that moment, no one knew what he had just experienced in his heart.

“All these candidates who passed are innocent, right?” he suddenly said.

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Luo was taken aback, and then after a moment, he murmured, “Yes, since you didn’t fail, there’s no reason to believe that any of them took an unfair spot in the examination.”

Xiao Liulang looked at those candidates and said, “If they were to retake the test, some of them would fail, right?”

Magistrate Luo sighed and nodded. It was inevitable. The pressure of having to retake an exam would affect their performance.

“And what about you, Magistrate Luo?” Xiao Liulang asked.

“I…what?” Magistrate Luo was taken aback.

Xiao Liulang said, “I’ve heard that your term is nearly up. A reexamination is a serious matter and needs to be reported to the imperial court. This would negatively affect your chances of reappointment, wouldn’t it?”

Magistrate Luo reluctantly nodded in agreement.

The dynasty had strict control over examinations. If the need to retest arose because of cheating, his official career would be over.

Without haste, Xiao Liulang asked, “How much do you think your career is worth, Magistrate Luo?”

Magistrate Luo was taken aback!

Was this young man openly blackmailing him?

Without rushing, Xiao Liulang said, “Magistrate, being an honest official, certainly has not much silver to hand. However, the person who bribed the examiners must have spent a considerable amount of silver, right? As the one who effectively suffered, shouldn’t you compensate me with that silver?”

He could buy back his own future without spending a single coin and still maintain the good reputation of an upright official.

What a profitable deal!

Magistrate Luo fell right into the pit Xiao Liulang had dug: “Yes, yes- a thousand taels. I’ll make sure to deliver it all to Candidate Xiao!”

Xiao Liulang continued, “Also, if no one had tampered with the examination papers, I would have been the Little Sanyuan. This is something Magistrate Luo does not deny, right?”

Magistrate Luo nodded like a pestle: “Absolutely! Candidate Xiao’s ability is recognized by myself and the governor!”

Xiao Liulang sighed softly, “But the Little Sanyuan comes with a cash prize. And now, I cannot claim it.”

Magistrate Luo: “…”

Why did he feel that this pit was getting bigger and bigger?

The cash prize for the Little Sanyuan is granted by the imperial court and distributed by the government office. Each level of the bureaucracy, from the prefecture to the imperial college, to the county office, awards a part – in total, a full one hundred taels.

Moreover, because no one from Pingcheng prefecture had achieved the Little Sanyuan in ten years, the prize money had since doubled.

Therefore, Xiao Liulang should have received two hundred taels.

But under the current circumstances, it would be impossible to make this transaction through official means.

In other words, Magistrate Luo would have to pay the amount out of his own pocket.

Magistrate Luo: I innocently thought that I could get out of this without spending a dime, how foolish of me!

The cheating issue ended with Magistrate Luo coughing up a substantial amount.

The prefect of the village was a distant relative of Magistrate Luo. As the affected party chose not to press charges, the prefect also chose not to report the matter to the imperial court.

Therefore, Magistrate Luo kept his official position, and the candidates were free from the pressure of a reexamination. Everyone was pleased.

As for the culprit of the cheating scandal, it was most likely another candidate who, out of jealousy of Xiao Liulang’s results, wanted to bring him down.

Magistrate Luo said he would continue to investigate secretly.

When Xiao Liulang returned to the village it was early April, and the warmth of late spring filled the air. The willow branches around the pond had sprouted new buds, hanging down over the surface of the water like a curtain of floating emerald beads.

The crops in the fields had also begun to grow, appearing a lush green as far as the eye could see.

He had come to the village around this time last year, and he could hardly believe a year had already passed.