After rebirth, the Queen of Madness has gone against the will of Heaven

Murong Cheng felt a chill in his heart. "Minister Wang, your nephew's death was indeed due to my failure to protect him properly."

"You admit it too? You admit it too?!" Minister Wang laughed heartily. "See, Your Majesty, I did not wrongly accuse the Crown Prince!"

"You're wrong!" Murong Yan replied crisply, interrupting Minister Wang. "It was your nephew, eager to claim credit, who disobeyed the Crown Prince's orders and left the team to pursue the enemy without authorization, which led to his death. You can ask the men who left the team with your nephew; they can all testify."

As Murong Yanhui spoke, he sighed in his heart. Now he finally understood why those men in black had chased Wang Shipan. It was most likely Murong Feng's doing. Only by killing Wang Shipan and then asking for credit and reward for him could he insert his own people into Murong Cheng's well-connected invigilation team. If Wang Shipan had not died, how could Minister Wang be so desperate?

"Nonsense! You're talking nonsense!" Minister Wang yelled loudly, and suddenly rushed to Murong Cheng and opened his mouth to bite him. Who knew that halfway through the rush, the unconscious Tanhua on the ground suddenly woke up, stretched out his hands and hugged Minister Wang's legs, muttering: "Damn it, you dare to snatch the girl from me, you're looking for death!"

The tragic scene suddenly became funny, and everyone looked at each other and couldn't help laughing.

The guards arrested Minister Wang and took him to jail as Murong Shiling requested, pending a decision.

The palace returned to silence again. Murong Feng was unsure this time and didn't dare to say anything.

"Prince, since you have already discovered the leak of the exam questions, have you made a decision regarding the candidates for this imperial examination?" Murong Shileng asked coldly.

Murong Cheng lowered his head and pulled out a booklet from his bosom. "Father, these are the names of the candidates who bought the test questions. I have recorded them one by one. We only need to remove these people and hold another exam."

"Expelled?" Murong Shiling.

"Father, while the court values talent, it should prioritize character even more. If a person's character is not right, even if they are full of talent and learning, their intentions are not right. Therefore, those who buy the questions are taking chances, disobeying the law and breaking the rules. Not only can they not be forgiven, but they should be severely punished!"

Murong Shiling nodded when he heard this, "Then you can get started."

The scandal of leaking exam questions came to an end. Amid the cheers of the candidates, the prince posted a notice personally written by the prince, announcing that the qualifications of the candidates would be reviewed again and the exam would be reopened soon!

However, Murong Feng was not in the mood to join in the bustle at the city gate. He looked at the poisoned wine in front of him with a frown.

"Your Highness, why don't you go and see him? This fellow refuses to take the poison, and something bad will happen sooner or later."

"Can't you force him to eat?" Murong Feng said coldly.

"Your Highness, this cannot be forced. If there are traces of a fight, it will sooner or later become a source of gossip. If they poison the food, it will be a clear case of murder. This..."

"Okay, okay, lead the way!" Murong Feng stood up in a distracted manner, put on a huge black robe and followed the person.

Xiluo glanced in their direction, smiled coldly, and went back to report to Yu Qingli.

Yu Qingli smiled faintly upon hearing this. "If you have nothing to do, then go along and take a look. I'm actually quite curious about what Minister Wang said to Murong Feng before he died."

Sighs and wails were heard everywhere in the prison. The straw on the floor rustled underfoot, and the iron chains made strange sounds against the walls. The sounds were filled with anger and resentment in the long and narrow corridor.

Murong Feng frowned slightly and put the silk handkerchief close to his nose. The prison was filled with all kinds of unpleasant smells, which made him feel uncomfortable all over.

"Your Highness, it's just ahead." The man led the way to a cell. In this huge prison, this was the only one that was silent.

Murong Feng stopped, put down his hand, and asked, "Minister Wang, do you have anything else to say to me?"

Minister Wang slowly raised his head, looked at Murong Feng, and asked, "Your Highness, what you said this morning about what happened by Daming Lake, is that true?"

Murong Feng's eyebrows jumped, and looking at Minister Wang's earnest gaze, he said calmly, "Of course it's true."

Minister Wang, who had been as silent as death, suddenly rushed to Murong Feng and reached out to grab him by the collar. "So, is it true that Ying'er is pregnant with my child?"

"How dare you!" The people on the side were about to separate Minister Wang.

Murong Feng stopped him and said calmly, "Yes, Ying'er is pregnant with your child, a boy. I have already redeemed her and settled her. Don't worry, I will take good care of them from now on. When the child grows up, I will take him to the capital to recognize his ancestors!"

Murong Feng said as he handed over a jade pendant.

Minister Wang stared at the jade pendant and gradually loosened his hands. He took a few steps back with the jade pendant and sat down on the ground dejectedly. Murong Feng was patient and just stood at the door waiting for him.

I don’t know how long it took, but Minister Wang looked up. He seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, and his fat body was like a deflated ball, becoming increasingly lifeless.

Murong Feng didn't have any mercy at all. He just felt annoyed. Why was this old man always reluctant to die?

"Your Highness, I will leave first, but I hope you will keep your promise." Minister Wang's hoarse voice was filled with despair.

Murong Feng nodded, "Don't worry."

Minister Wang finally stopped hesitating and swallowed the poison in one gulp. He rolled on the ground with a frown, struggling silently, and finally kicked his feet and died.

Murong Feng looked at the dead Minister Wang and turned away without hesitation.

On the way, the man who followed him asked, "Your Highness, what about Xiao Cui and her son?"

"Do you need me to teach you how to do it?"

"Yes, yes, I understand."

Murong Feng was busy taking a bath as soon as he returned home, while Xiluo followed the man to an inn and rescued a mother and son. Upon asking, he found out that they were Ying'er's old friends. Ying'er was beautiful but had a tragic life. She fell seriously ill a year after Minister Wang left. Before her death, she entrusted the jade pendant to Xiao Cui, asking her to return it to him if she had the chance to see Minister Wang.

Without the child and Ying'er, everything was just another play, and this play fulfilled Murong Feng's secret and freed him from worries.

Yu Qingli sighed and put down the book in her hand. "Minister Wang is indeed a pitiful man."

There must be something pitiful about a pitiful person. If he hadn't been obsessed with passing on the family line and continuing the Wang family's incense, how could he have ended up like this?

If you have no desires, you will be strong. The ancients were not deceiving me.

"By the way, Miss, I met Master Lin when I came back. He said that the imperial examination will be retaken tomorrow."

Yu Qingli nodded, "He'll be fine."

As if to confirm Yu Qingli's words, when the exam was retaken this time, Lin Yutang was still the top scorer.

Murong Shiling was particularly happy and felt that Lin Yutang was very much to his taste. For this reason, he found an excuse to hold a unique evening banquet.

The banquet was held in the palace, and all ministers were allowed to attend with their families. It was called a banquet, but in fact it was a way for the daughters of the ministers to see if there were any talented people who suited their tastes.

Lin Yutang naturally could not escape. He was still dressed in blue, sitting upright in a corner. He was not deliberately high-profile, but also not deliberately low-profile. He just sat there, as if it had been like this for thousands of years.

He completely ignored the favor of the noble ladies, the women with graceful dancing skills and outstanding literary talent, and even did not notice the pair of beautiful eyes shining behind the curtain.

Seeing Lin Yutang so popular, Murong Yanhui felt uncomfortable all over. He took a big gulp of wine and said, "I should have written Lin Yutang's name in the book earlier."

Changkong glanced at his master who had spoken harshly, rolled his eyes, and continued to stand still like a sculpture.

At this moment, the person behind the curtain quietly walked out and knelt at Murong Shiling's feet, "Father, it's so lively today. I want to dance to liven up the atmosphere."

"Oh? Yuan'er, your dancing is truly rare. How could Father not respond?" Murong Shiling clapped his hands and stood up, saying, "Everyone, Princess Murong Yuan's dancing is truly beautiful. I have to wait until she's in a good mood to watch. You're in for a real feast for your eyes today."

Everyone thanked her in unison, and many scholars were eager to see her true face. Only Lin Yutang continued to drink in silence without raising his head. He had not seen Yu Qingli since the first palace examination.

A day without seeing her felt like three years. He missed her so much but had no idea where to find her. Now he was no longer the same helpless man he used to be. He had originally planned to confess his love to Yu Qingli with full passion, but it had been left unanswered for a long time.

The longer you wait, the more worries you have and the more anxious you become.

"Good!" Everyone applauded, and as they watched Murong Yuan spinning and flying like a disc in the field, they all felt admiration for her.

After Murong Yuan finished her dance, she turned around and asked, "I wonder if you talented people know the name of the dance I am dancing today?"

The scholars shook their heads and were about to answer when Murong Yuan said, "Wait a minute, everyone. Why don't you write down your feelings about this dance in poetry to add to the excitement?"

After Murong Yuan finished speaking, she turned to look at Murong Shiling in a naive manner, "Father, what do you say?"

Murong Shiling nodded in agreement, but Murong Feng noticed that Murong Yuan's eyes were always secretly looking in the direction of Lin Yutang. Thinking of Murong Yanhui's difficulties with Lin Yutang in the court, Murong Cheng's attitude towards Lin Yutang and Murong Shiling's implicit preference for Lin Yutang, Murong Feng suddenly realized that he was deliberately trying to win over this person!

Lin Yutang is not only talented, but also disliked by the young uncle and the prince. Isn't this a perfect person for me to use?

"Yes, yes, yes, you are all new talents. You will definitely be able to bring forth new ideas and feast our eyes." Murong Feng said immediately: "Especially the new champion. Don't enjoy yourself alone and neglect others."

When Lin Yutang's name was called, he could only stand up and bow, but he did not express his opinion. Those talented people wished that he would not participate so as not to steal their limelight, and they all hurriedly found pens and ink to write.

One after another of the excellent poems were presented to Murong Shiling. He handed them all to Murong Yuan with a smile, "Your idea was awful. You choose first place yourself."

Murong Yuan accepted the poem with a smile, but only looked at Lin Yutang.