After arresting the two back to the yamen, the prefect Tong put down the matter of reading the file of the Gongyuan and went straight to the government prison for interrogation overnight, trying to pry clues from the mouths of these two people. The prison at night always has a strange atmosphere. Rows of candle flames lit up in circles on the ground, 'crackling, crackling' to blow up the charred core, and then blown out by the wind of the Yongdao wind.

Governor Tong sat in front of a long table, his slightly calloused fingertips slowly lit on the table, and there was a great depression between his eyebrows.

Zhou Ming and Guan Dong were escorted to lie on two torture benches, like two live fish with scales scraped on the board, dying, and were served by more than ten large boards. From the miserable and miserable cry of forgiveness and injustice at the beginning, to the whimpering at the end, a fishy sweetness surged up in the throat, overflowing between the clenched teeth.

Guan Jingcheng was in tears, his fingertips were cold and shivering, and he watched his son being tortured, which was distressing and angry. He held a humble position in the palace, and he was hoping that his son would be able to fight for his good luck and glory to his ancestors, but he didn't know that this time he was going to break his life in the autumn test. If you don't die, you won't die, in addition to lamenting, he only hopes that the prefect Tong can stay, so as to leave his son's bloodline.

Zhou Ming lowered his head, his hands were cut by the officials on both sides, beads of sweat appeared on his face, and strands of messy ink hair were pasted. The taut skin under the back, crackling with the board, had already oozed blood and stained the soap-gray trousers.

In a burst of tinnitus, his mind drifted to his home in a trance: I don't know if I scared my mother, and I don't know if I have the life to go back to fulfill my filial piety...... A volume is finalized, and I know that I regret it at the beginning.

Guan Dongren over there couldn't bear it anymore, and with a little strength, he turned his head in the direction of Guan Jingcheng, and shouted hoarsely and with tears: "Dad, Dad!" Save your son......"

Guan Jingcheng was frightened when he heard this, and was about to speak out to help, but he was frightened away by a look from the prefect Tong's mansion.

"This matter is far beyond your father's control. Isn't it, even the management of the economy is also implicated? Governor Tong's voice slowly became stronger, with a straight face, staring at Guan Jingcheng urgently.

- He is the official of the government, and he is extremely suspicious in this case. However, the test questions have always been kept tightly guarded, and he cannot easily access them. Or did the two students bribe the other examiners?

Governor Tong thought secretly. The practice of cheating in the field has been around for a long time, and the imperial court has always been strict against it, and once it is caught, it will be severely punished. What kind of impersonation for the exam, entering the entrance with a cheat sheet in the clothes, and even more daring to take the opportunity to change papers in the examination room, there are countless tricks.

Guan Dong saw that his father couldn't save himself, so he was really disheartened, but he was unwilling to die like this. Before he could think of a way, he was preempted by Zhou Ming.

"My lord, I've recruited you!" Zhou Ming slowly raised his head, and his eyes gathered a touch of survival thoughts.

Governor Tong looked at him and asked, "You are allowed to speak in detail, but you are not allowed to lie half-sentences." ”

Zhou Ming was let go of his arm by the official, and he felt a little looser in his chest, and he replied slowly: "Yes, it's Lu Yun from Yushu Academy." He told me that there was a big boy in the official school who needed someone to do the fuss for him, so he handed me the test questions. It was only when I was in the exam room that I discovered the overlap of the exam questions, but I was fascinated by the ...... at the time."

Tong Zhifu stroked his long beard and ordered the master to write it down. asked again: "What do you mean, Lu Yun knows the origin of the test questions?" That big family son is-" He turned his gaze and turned to Guan Dong: "Do you know Lu Yun?" ”

Guan Dong nodded, shook his head again, and said with a knot in his tongue: "My lord, I know Lu Yun." In fact, he often secretly helps the students in our school to write articles to earn some money, and this time the test questions were given to me by him! He didn't seem to have told me more, maybe the people around me didn't believe it, but I was suspicious and took it to memorize. How do you think about it, you really use it! ”

What he said was really strange. Governor Tong and Master glanced at each other, and they both looked at Guan Jingcheng with a heavy look.

Guan Jingcheng touched their sight, and immediately knelt down and shouted: "My lord is clear, even if the lower official wants to steal the test questions to his son, I don't have the ability to do this!" ”

"It's not stealing, it's hard to guarantee it's not a bribe." Governor Tong pondered, and there was no patience in his tone. Seeing that the list is about to be released at dawn, this fraud case has a little clue.

Guan Jingcheng took the opportunity to say: "How much does the official earn a year, the adults are very clear. It's enough to eat and wear in a tight manner, so how can you have any extra money to bribe others! Besides, who dares to help fraud easily in recent years! ”

This is true, and it is found out that the official is involved in the seizure of the house, so I would like to ask who dares to take such a big risk.

The master put down his pen from the side and whispered: "If you catch that Lu Yun for questioning first, the problem lies with this person." If you pull out the radish and bring out the mud, you can find out who he got the test questions from. ”

The prefect of Tong bowed his head at this time.

It's just that unexpectedly, the official sent to Yushu Academy to arrest Lu Yun but pounced. As if he knew the wind in advance, he hid silently.

Governor Tong was finally angry, and ordered the officials to immediately search for Lu Yun in the city, and the four city gates were also set up to take people. It was only later that he reported the matter to Bai Zhou.

The people on the side listened to it, but Bai Zhou's face was calm.

"This case will be handed over to Mr. Tong, and it will be thoroughly investigated. By the way, the matter of today's list must also be done. ”

The autumn test began, and several adults stayed in the Gongyuan and were not allowed to go out. This is the rule set by the imperial court, except for the Tong Governor's Mansion, which was released by Bai Zhou to investigate the case, the others have already looked hollowed out. As soon as the nomination came out, they were finally able to say goodbye to each other and go back to their respective provinces to rest.

Bai Zhou turned his head after giving the order and summoned the attendants.

"How many are these, can Ji Li be in the back house of the mansion?"

The attendant lowered his eyebrows and bowed his head and said, "Lord Hui, Mr. Ji has been in the back house of the mansion and rarely goes out. ”

Bai Zhou's elegant face looked unfathomable, and he raised his eyebrows slightly, before waving his hand and saying, "Let's go too." ”

The so-called few families are happy and a few are sad.

Wang's house.

"Congratulations to the second son, congratulations to the second son! You've been lifted! ”

The messenger came to the house, and for a while the news spread in the courtyard. Wang covered his mouth and wept with joy, Wang Shouyi was steady after all, he took out the hand of the person who reported the money to the guest, and when he turned around, he ordered his subordinates to hurry up and set off firecrackers.

Dogleg Zifu ran quickly under his feet, and hurriedly came to report the good news to Wang Jue in the room.

Wang Jue threw away the notebook in his hand, his mouth grew in shock, and he was closed by Fu's third hand.

"Is the second son so happy?"

Although Wang Jueping is like a stuffy gourd, his heart is surging at this moment. What the hell! He clearly scribbled the test questions, except for the neat handwriting, how can he still get a lifter? Is it the examiner's slanted eyes or a convulsive brain?