The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 448 The Trick Exposed
"These candles look good to me, I'll take them back and use them first. Besides these candles, I also prepared some more, so I'll use the ones I prepared this time!"

Everyone was extremely surprised. Zhu Xiong Ying's refusal to use this batch of candles clearly indicated that he had discovered something amiss with them.

This is troublesome. If Zhu Xiong Ying investigates these matters later, they will probably all be found out.

Zhu Xiong Ying then investigated the ink used in this imperial examination.

There are also quite a few defective inks among them.

If this ink were used for the imperial examinations, some characters might not even be visible.

Next, it was discovered that much of the water these test-takers were supposed to drink had gone bad.

The Western Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard had been monitoring and investigating this matter.

Fortunately, as expected, no major mistakes were made in the end. After all of this was completed, Zhu Xiong Ying stretched and looked at the Grand Academician beside him with a smile.

"I am very grateful for the help of the Grand Secretary this time. Without your supervision, there would probably have been many problems!"

The university president burst into laughter upon hearing this.

"Your Highness, that's too much. I'm just an old man, and I might pass away at any time!"

"How much use can it be? Today, I've just been sitting here without saying a word. It's all thanks to His Highness the Crown Prince's keen insight that these problems were discovered!"

"His Highness the Crown Prince is so young yet so meticulous and conscientious in his work; he is truly a blessing to our Great Ming!"

Zhu Xiong Ying laughed after hearing this.

"Actually, things aren't that difficult. If some people can cooperate instead of deliberately sabotaging us, then things will be much easier. Don't you think so?" The Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy smiled, said nothing more, and left the place.

Seeing his confident demeanor, Zhu Xiong Ying frowned. Could he have other tricks up his sleeve? He felt a little uneasy.

After all the exam papers were anonymized...

The selection was handled by several ministers in the imperial court.

After you've made your selection...

Zhu Xiong Ying frowned as she looked at the contents of the document.

At first glance, there doesn't seem to be any major problem. The articles written by the top-ranked people are indeed very good, and their answers to various questions are also excellent.

However, twenty years later...

There are quite a few articles inside, and reading them is rather unpleasant.

But it's acceptable to put up an exam paper like this; that's what he should really be serious about.

"Strange, all the exam papers have already been covered with names. Normally, they shouldn't know whose papers are whose."

How did they cheat?

Yu Huatian whispered from the side.

"Your Highness, in our Western Depot, there is a way of transmitting orders. On a specific page of a book, there are special markings. Once the people under our command see these markings, they will know where to go next to search for and deliver the information!"

"Do you think there might be something like this in their exam papers that makes them stand out from the others?"

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded after hearing this; it was indeed possible.

Moreover, most of the examiners were from the Hanlin Academy; surely they wouldn't ask him to grade so many papers himself.

After thinking of this place, he sighed. In the end, even the most careful plans can have flaws. At this moment, Crown Prince Zhu Biao arrived at this place. He looked at Zhu Xiong Ying in front of him and said with a smile.

"Well? This isn't as simple as it seems, is it? Those guys are all seasoned veterans!" "This kind of thing is a piece of cake for them!"

Zhu Xiong Ying sneered after hearing this.

"Indeed, I was a bit careless. I didn't expect these guys to be so difficult to deal with, but they're not completely untouchable."

"The imperial examination system has been around for so many years, and if they don't even have this much ability, then it can only be said that they haven't accomplished anything all these years!"

"However, they are very familiar with the process they frequently encounter, but they may not be so familiar with other things!"

The officials in the Hanlin Academy were overjoyed. This time, not only had they mixed in some scoundrels into the list of candidates for the imperial examination, but they had also undermined Zhu Xiong Ying's confidence.

If this matter hadn't been leaked out, it would have likely caused a stir throughout the government and the public.

The Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy frowned as he looked at the excited expressions of these people. Among the crowd, only the young man who had guessed his thoughts earlier looked worried.

Seeing this, the Grand Secretary smiled and said.

"Everyone else is so happy, why are you frowning? Is there something you're worried about?"

The man nodded upon hearing this.

"That's true. What we've done so far has gone too far. I'm thinking about what His Highness the Crown Prince should do next. His Highness's personality is exactly like His Majesty's; he definitely won't suffer this loss in silence!"

"No matter what methods His Highness the Crown Prince uses next, I'm afraid our days will not be easy!"

The officials of the Hanlin Academy listened.

The man frowned at his words.

Why say something so discouraging when you're so happy?

"Sir, your words are a bit excessive. Regardless of the circumstances, we are all learned scholars from the Hanlin Academy. Even if His Highness the Crown Prince wanted to take action against us, he should consider the consequences, shouldn't he?"

"I think he can only swallow this bitter pill and will never dare to retaliate against me!"

The Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy snorted coldly.

"None of you are capable of discerning His Majesty's intentions with mere reading words. Do you really think His Highness the Crown Prince wouldn't dare to deal with you?"

"Know when to stop. What we did this time was to show His Highness the Crown Prince that we are still useful. Do you really want to oppose His Highness the Crown Prince?"

At this moment, he looked at the young man and said with a smile.

"It's been so long, and I still haven't had a chance to ask you your name?"

The young man said.

"Your Excellency, my name is Ru Chang!"

"That's right, what do you think we should do about this?"

After thinking it over carefully, Ru Chang said.

"My lord, from my humble perspective, this matter should not be escalated. Now that His Highness the Crown Prince has seen our abilities and usefulness, we should take the initiative to assume responsibility for this matter, declare our loyalty to His Highness the Crown Prince, and support the new imperial examination system. We do not have any major grudges with His Highness the Crown Prince, and I believe that His Highness the Crown Prince will not take it too seriously!"

"I can continue to play a role in the Hanlin Academy!"

Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in uproar and shook their heads in disapproval.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! I will never bow down to His Highness the Crown Prince!"

(End of this chapter)