Chapter 1315: Chapter 1312: Being Calculated

He became furious with heartache, “Someone deliberately wrote to me about this. They said they would expose it!”

“You just wait to be paddled and dismissed from eligibility!” Master Zhong said, his chest heaving uncontrollably.

Madam Zhong turned deathly pale, reaching out to grab his trousers, “Master, think of something. Yan’er only made a mistake this time; he’s not entirely untalented. You must save him, we only have this one son.”

“Save, how to save!” Master Zhong slapped Zhong Yan’s face, “How have I taught you? Now that this has happened, even your uncle might be implicated!”

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhong let out a wail, “No, we cannot let this get out.”

Although Master Zhong’s position was not high, holding only a minor position in the yamen, Madam Zhong’s elder brother was the Tongzhi of South Origin Prefecture.

Because of this connection, Zhong Yan had been very influential in Prefectural City, and few dared to provoke him.

“Master, the person who sent the letter must be seeking something. Ask him what he wants; as long as he doesn’t reveal this, we will agree to anything,” Madam Zhong said through clenched teeth.

Master Zhong heard this, did not immediately agree, and first scolded Zhong Yan again.

Then he spoke of the matter at hand.

“That person said he wants to meet with Zhong Yan first, needs to ask him a few questions, and then, with the payment of a thousand taels of silver, he might agree to keep silent about this matter,” Master Zhong said, looking at his eldest son with disappointment and asked angrily, “Who was it that gave you that exam paper? Think carefully.”

“Master, do you mean that we should not agree with him but instead find him and silence him?” Madam Zhong asked, somewhat confused.

Master Zhong’s face looked grim, “This matter is more complicated than you think.”

“If he were just setting up Zhong Yan, why would he risk meeting him?”

“Moreover, there must be something important that he insists on meeting him, willing to take such a big risk, surely his aims are significant.”

“There might be some conspiracy or something we do not know, in any case, we must be very cautious. If we could learn more about him, it would be better for us.”

“Even if we give the silver, his word must be reliable, otherwise, with continuous threats, life would be impossible,” Master Zhong said, growing more agitated, and instructed Zhong Yan to explain every detail meticulously.

“Father, I did not lie, truly. Initially, I had no intention of buying any exam papers. I thought the papers were produced by the scholars or maybe the Master. Hasn’t there been a case where scholars produced questions that appeared in the exams? It’s rare, but possible,” he reasoned.

“I learned of this from a classmate three days before the exam. I asked him to help me contact the person. The person met me in secret, wearing a mask, and even his voice was hoarse, obviously feigned.”

“But at that time, I did not realize the exam papers he had were so similar to the real ones. After buying them, the person just left.”

“We met in a restaurant; I gave him the silver, and then he left. I really couldn’t recognize who it was.”

Master Zhong looked grave, “It seems he came prepared.”

“Do you know anyone else who bought these exam papers?”

Zhong Yan shook his head, “No, I don’t know.”

“Then, after you bought the exam papers, to whom did you show them?”

Zhong Yan did not dare to shake his head this time; he named several scholars who were present at that time.

“Wait, father, I remember something,” Zhong Yan said, now thoroughly frightened by Master Zhong and no longer daring to be evasive.