The provincial examination takes four days and three nights, but the candidates can only sit in the dormitory, so if they want to go to the toilet, they can only stand up the court sign on the table, wait until the examiner sees it, and then order the servant to carry the chamber pot
, for convenience and fear of spreading the smell, each chamber pot has a wooden lid, so before the clerk hands it to the examinee, the examiner will check the inside and the wooden lid to prevent someone from putting the answer inside, but often ignoring the bottom
.
But just knowing this was not enough. Tang Ji had to confirm. In order to prevent the two petty officials from revealing his inspection of the chamber pot, he ordered the imperial army to control the two people, and then found Su Qing in the main courtyard in the south: "
Was there anything unusual last night?"
"Not found." Su Qing shook her head.
Tang Ji raised his eyebrows slightly and continued: "In this case, you first call over the imperial guards who were watching those people yesterday, and I will go take a look around the Gongyuan."
"Okay." Su Qing responded, then turned and left.
After a long time, the two met by the pond in the northwest. Tang Ji, without any ink marks, asked the Imperial Guards straight to the point: "Did you notice that they were in contact with anyone else last night?"
All the Yunxiao Guard soldiers shook their heads.
Tang Ji continued to ask: "Then how many times have they asked for chamber pots since last night?"
The soldier standing opposite didn't expect Tang Ji to ask such a question, but he didn't think much about it. After thinking about it, he answered truthfully.
"If I remember correctly, it was twice, once in the middle of the night and once in the early morning."
"The same goes for my subordinates."
"I want one more time."
"..."
Tang Ji raised the corner of his mouth slightly. From everyone's answers, he could tell that the nineteen officials' disciples had used the chamber pot at least twice, which proved his suspicion.
Su Qing blinked and asked doubtfully: "They used the chamber pot to cheat?"
Tang Ji nodded slightly and explained: "I just turned around and found that many of them have filled in the law and arithmetic questions, which means that the answers must have been passed in last night, since the Imperial Army did not find that they had been in contact with anyone else.
However, if the clerk wants to pass on the answer, he can only use candles or chamber pots. Since there is no problem with candles, it can only be the latter."
After listening to his words, Su Qing clenched his hands. Last night, he saw that the clerk carried the chamber pot and passed the inspection of the invigilator and the imperial army. He didn't pay much attention to it. He snorted softly: "I will take people to collect the chamber pot in the Gongyuan now."
Check all the pots."
"Hey, hey, I told you not to alert the enemy!" Tang Ji quickly stopped him, sighed, and continued: "Even if you can find out the problem, you can't prove that it was those nineteen people.
, I just noticed during my inspection that most of their political topics are still empty, which means there will be answers coming in tonight, so let’s stay calm and try to uproot them.”
"What does Brother Tang mean?" Su Qing asked confused.
Tang Ji rolled his eyes: "What I mean is that we can not only catch these nineteen people, but also find out how the answers came in through such a strict search. Then we can bring together the people behind this fraud."
Catch him!"
Hearing this, Su Qing finally reacted, stood there and thought for a while, and said, "Okay, then I'll go investigate now."
"Wait!" Tang Ji stopped him again and asked instead: "What is the strength of the forbidden troops inside and outside our Gongyuan?"
Su Qing replied without hesitation: "Third rate."
Tang Ji frowned slightly. He had heard Old Man Sun say that if he wanted to follow an ordinary person quietly, he would have to have second-rate or above strength. If the person who contacted the petty official knew martial arts, then the forbidden army who followed him secretly would also have to have martial arts skills. He has first-class strength, otherwise if he is discovered, all his previous efforts will be wasted. He asked tentatively: "Is it too late for you to find your father and ask him to send you a few first-class masters?"
Su Qing quickly understood what he meant, but still shook her head: "If you want to mobilize troops, you must get Prime Minister Shen's consent. Besides, that will cause trouble. How about I go and track it myself?"
Tang Ji exhaled: "There are hundreds of petty officials in the Gongyuan, and we don't know who has problems. How long are you going to find out by yourself?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a figure walked out from behind the woods beside the small pond: "Master Tang, can I help you?"
Hearing this somewhat familiar voice, Tang Ji turned around suddenly, only to find that Tianxuan was smiling, and the jade hand on his chest was gently waving to him twice.
Seeing this, Su Qing and the soldiers present clasped their fists and saluted: "Greetings to Governor Tianxuan."
"Yeah." Tianxuan responded casually. She was wearing a red satin dress today, walked slowly to Tang Ji, dragged her chin with the back of her hand, and blinked her big crystal eyes: "Master Tang, no Underestimating the investigative capabilities of my Star Guard, just report it directly if you know someone is committing fraud."
Tang Ji couldn't help but remember the day he broke into the palace and was pulled out of the grass by her and carried away a long way. He swallowed nervously: "Master Tianxuan, why are you here?"
Doesn’t it mean that once the gate of Gongyuan is closed, outsiders cannot come in without permission? I bet these rules are bullshit!
Tianxuan raised his eyes slightly and looked at Su Qing behind him: "I happened to pass by and saw that Captain Su was not outside. After asking, I found out that he had not come out all day and night, so I guessed what was going on and came in to take a look. , I’ve heard your conversation now, okay, I’ve left this matter to my officer, don’t worry.”
Seeing that she was about to leave, Tang Ji quickly asked: "Master Tianxuan, what are you going to do?"
Tianxuan twisted her body, the tempting marshmallow trembled twice, her red lips slightly opened, and she said with a smile: "Of course, we will arrest people directly. We will arrest all the candidates and clerks who participated in the fraud and enter the Xingchen Division. There is no mouth that cannot be pried open."
Tang Jidao did not doubt what the other party said. After all, he had witnessed with his own eyes the way Xingchen Division treated prisoners, but all his efforts would be in vain, and the interrogation would also be a waste of time and energy. His eyelashes trembled slightly and he said quickly: " The provincial examination is in progress, so it’s inappropriate for you to make such a big noise, why not follow my method? With your help, Master Tianxuan, I think we can catch them all tonight.”
Tianxuan put her hand on her chest and stood there thinking for a while: "Okay, I will obey you just once. It can be regarded as compensation for my previous rudeness to you. I will check whether there is any problem with the little official first. You guys wait. My letter!"
After saying that, she blinked at Tang Ji, jumped up on the wall of Gongyuan, and quickly disappeared from everyone's eyes.
Seeing her leaving, Tang Ji suddenly felt a lot more relaxed, sighed, and stretched again.
At this moment, Su Qing, who was standing aside, suddenly asked: "Brother Tang, why is Governor Tianxuan so rude to you?"
Hearing this, Tang Ji touched his lips and coughed twice. He didn't expect Su Qing to be so gossipy. She glanced at him and left quickly: "With Tianxuan's intervention, we should feel much more relaxed. I'll go and look around first."
."
Looking at his back, Su Qing smiled lightly and shook her head, then she and her soldiers planned to patrol outside the Gongyuan.
...
At noon, it is already the third day of the provincial examination, and there is still one and a half days left before the end. Some candidates who answered the paper quickly have already finished writing, and started to check the paper one by one or rest on the table.
Tang Ji sat in the northern courtyard and finished eating two steamed buns. In the past two days, he either ate steamed buns or drank white porridge. At most, he added some minced meat to the white porridge. His stomach began to protest. He planned to finish the provincial examination well.
Replenish the body.
At this moment, Su Qing hurried over, looked around, and said in a low voice: "Governor Tianxuan has found out that there are indeed small officials in contact with the outside world, and followed the clues to find out where the answer comes from, but if you want to know
The person behind the scenes still needs to be interrogated. She asked me to tell you that if the person who committed the fraud is not handed over with evidence before tomorrow morning, she will arrest him directly! "
Hearing this, Tang Ji coughed twice and sighed: "This woman is too fast!"