In the years of famine, I led a comfortable life with my husband

Su Peizhi's words made Su Zhizhi feel uncomfortable. Su Zhizhi had always treated Su Peizhi as a child, but now, Su Zhizhi realized that Su Peizhi had grown up without her knowing when, and even his thoughts had matured a lot.

Xie Chengjin pondered for a moment, a look of relief in his eyes. He looked at Su Peizhi seriously and asked, "Then how do you want to deal with this matter?"

Su Peizhi thought for a moment and replied, "Let's first investigate what happened, and then we'll take care of it. I'll take responsibility!"

After these words were spoken, Su Zhizhi looked at Su Peizhi, feeling heartbroken. Xie Chengjin stood up and looked Su Peizhi in the eye. "Okay, then I'll do as you say. But you have to think clearly. Once this matter is exposed, you will be the one who benefits. No matter whether you did it voluntarily or under duress, you will be despised and scorned. Are you sure you can bear it?"

Su Peizhi nodded without hesitation, "I can!"

Since Su Peizhi had said so, Xie Chengjin stopped trying to persuade him. He simply called his men in in front of Su Peizhi and said, "Go investigate the previous exam, especially the invigilators. Focus on the investigation."

After these people left, Su Peizhi sighed heavily. Although he had just spoken with great righteousness, he was still a little unsure in his heart. It was just that the arrow was on the string and had to be shot.

Xie Chengjin did not want to hide this matter, and soon, public opinion began to ferment. Just as Xie Chengjin said, many people began to curse Su Peizhi, especially those who were only a hair's breadth away from the admission but still failed. Almost all of them hated Su Peizhi.

Many officials also took this opportunity to bring the matter before His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, even implicating Xie Chengjin in it, accusing him of abusing his power and using it for personal gain...

Su Peizhi had also been closely observing the direction of the wind outside the mansion. Seeing that things were developing in the direction he least wanted, Su Peizhi immediately regretted it. However, when he came to Xie Chengjin again, he could not say anything.

Seeing this, Xie Chengjin just smiled and said comfortingly: "Don't worry, I will be fine. This situation is reasonable and will pass soon."

Su Peizhi held it in for a long time, and finally uttered only three words, "I'm sorry."

Xie Chengjin laughed in silence and asked Su Peizhi to go back to his yard to have a good rest.

The results of the investigation came out soon, just as Xie Chengjin had expected. Although Su Peizhi took the initiative to speak out, he was still implicated. All the results of this imperial examination were invalidated, and he was not allowed to take any imperial examinations in the next two years. This was equivalent to cutting off Su Peizhi's path to becoming an official.

Su Peizhi accepted this with pleasure, as this was the most ideal situation he had expected.

Su Zhizhi was very dissatisfied with the result. She complained to Xie Chengjin, "Peizhi knew nothing about this, so why punish him? Peizhi is clearly the victim, too. Besides, why weren't the two invigilators affected at all?"

Xie Chengjin looked at the slightly irritated Su Zhizhi and soothed her, "Don't be angry yet. Those two invigilators were arrested early this morning. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has said that they should be stripped of their official positions, expelled from the capital, and never employed again. This is a much more severe punishment than what was done to that kid Peizhi."

Seeing that Su Zhizhi was still a little unwilling to give in, Xie Chengjin had no choice but to explain, "Ultimately, this matter is also because of me. Some people see that I can now have a say in front of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, so they want to use this to curry favor with me. Then there are those who dislike me and want to kill me. In the end, Peizhi was also implicated by me in this matter. After all, I have let him down."

Seeing Xie Chengjin blaming himself so much, Su Zhizhi didn't know what to say anymore. She just shook her head and said, "Never mind. Being successful isn't just about studying. Peizhi wasted too much time when he was young, and now this has happened. I don't know what Peizhi will think. I want to go see him."

Xie Chengjin knew that Su Zhizhi was worried about Su Peizhi, so he nodded and said with a smile, "Go ahead. I'm also worried that Peizhi might be having trouble getting over it. With you by his side, I think Peizhi will feel better."

Hearing Xie Chengjin say this, Su Zhizhi smiled, and then took the cakes she made herself to Su Peizhi's yard.

At this time, Su Peizhi was staying alone in the house. When the servants in the yard saw Su Zhizhi coming, they all had happy expressions on their faces.

"Madam, you are finally here..." The leading man came to Su Zhizhi and saluted her with a wry smile.

Su Zhizhi waved her hand. "Get up first. No need to be so polite. What's going on? Why are you all waiting outside? Isn't there anyone waiting inside?"

The steward shook his head and quickly explained, "Madam, you have misunderstood us. We would like to serve inside, but Master Su..."

Su Zhizhi shook her head. She knew her brother's character, so she stopped bothering the servants and walked into the house. "In that case, you guys wait outside. I'll go in and take a look."

Su Zhizhi took the food box handed to her by the servant beside her and pushed the door open and walked in.

Sure enough, Su Peizhi was sitting in front of the table in a daze, his eyes looking nowhere.

Hearing the sound of the door being pushed open, Su Peizhi suddenly came back to his senses and couldn't help but frowning and looking outside, "I didn't mean..."

Before he could finish his words of reprimand, Su Peizhi saw who was coming and immediately shut his mouth.

Su Zhizhi smiled at Su Peizhi, then casually placed the things on the table in front of Su Peizhi and said, "What's wrong? Don't you welcome me?"

Su Peizhi's face immediately changed into a smile, "Sister always makes fun of me, how could I not welcome you? I am so happy that you can come. What delicious food did you bring? It smells so good."

Su Zhizhi was so delighted by Su Peizhi's coaxing that she opened the food box. Inside were several plates of cakes. Su Zhizhi took these out and placed them in front of Su Peizhi, "I just made these. They are all your favorites. Come and try them."

Su Peizhi couldn't wait to pick up a piece and put it in his mouth to taste it. A familiar fragrance spread in his mouth. Su Peizhi suddenly remembered that when he was still preparing for the exam in the mansion, Su Zhizhi would often prepare some cakes for him. Thinking about it, Su Peizhi felt extremely aggrieved, his nose was sore, and tears couldn't help but fill his eyes.