Ji Xiaolan: Kill Qianlong at the beginning

After sitting for a while, Heshen stood up and said, "Gentlemen, a banquet cannot be without wine, and wine cannot be without poetry. I am not very talented, but how about I recite a poem on behalf of the top scholar?"

Everyone agreed and applauded.

Heshen slowly said, "The imperial edict is issued in the Jade Palace, and the emperor's favor is bestowed upon the top scholar. Three hundred heroes will follow me to Yingzhou."

Everyone agreed and applauded.

The top scholar, Li Ping, stood up, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Thank you, Lord He."

Heshen asked him to sit down, and then said, "You have all worked hard. You are all pillars of the nation. I would like to offer you all a toast." After saying that, he picked up his wine cup.

At this moment, someone shouted:

"The Emperor has arrived."

Everyone rose from their seats, knelt down, and bowed, saying, "Greetings to Your Majesty."

Emperor Gaizhang said, "Today is a joyous occasion, everyone please rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." After saying this, everyone stood up.

Emperor Gaizhang said, "Sit down, sit down, everyone sit down."

Everyone sat down.

Heshen approached Emperor Gaizhang and said, "Your Majesty, you have come at just the right time. The scholars are eagerly awaiting to see Your Majesty's face."

Emperor Gai Zhang said, "I just came to see... this subject... this subject... seems to have some unfinished business."

Heshen immediately stopped smiling.

At this moment, Mo Li walked over and said, "Your Majesty."

Emperor Gaizhang said, "Mo Li, don't bother talking to me anymore. Without you, there would be no imperial examination."

Mo Li walked up to Emperor Gai Zhang, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."

Emperor Gaizhang said, "The proclamation has already been issued, what else is there to report?"

"This..." Mo Li was speechless for a moment.

At this moment, Zhao Qing called out "Your Majesty!" and stood up.

Emperor Gai Zhang and Heshen turned to look at her.

Zhao Qing continued, "Your Majesty, I have something to report to you."

He jogged up to the Emperor who had stamped the seal.

Emperor Gai Zhang laughed and said, "Gan Xiaoxu."

Zhao Qing said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."

Emperor Gai Zhang said, "When I saw your exam paper during the palace examination, I thought it was very impressive, so I gave you third place in the first class. What? Are you still not satisfied?"

Zhao Qing said, "No, Your Majesty. I feel guilty. Everything I did was a lie."

Emperor Gaizhang nodded and said, "I know. Didn't you take the exam on behalf of your friend Gan Xiaoxu? Didn't I give you a special decree?"

Zhao Qing said, "The name is fake, the article is fake, and the poem is also fake."

Emperor Gaizhang turned his head and glanced at Heshen.

Zhao Qing continued, "Your Majesty, please ask Lord Mo Li to check the exam papers again. If you find mine, you will discover that I used the character '一' (one) four times in the first two lines of the exam paper. 'A scholar is one in principle but not in practice; the sages used one admonition and one reminder to uphold this principle.'"

She looked sad.

Emperor Gaizhang shouted, "Bring the examination papers here immediately!" Then he turned and left.

Mo Li and Heshen were at a loss for words.

……

After Emperor Gaizhang finished reading Zhao Qing's exam paper, he threw it on the ground and said, "I don't need this exam."

Heshen knelt down and said, "Your Majesty."

Emperor Gaizhang looked at him and said, "Heshen, what do you have to say now?"

Heshen said, “Your Majesty, it is not up to Zhao Qing to decide who she colluded with to cheat. Even if there was a reason for cheating, if Zhao Qing accuses me of cheating, I cannot admit to something I did not do.”

Emperor Gai Zhang took a sip of tea and said, "It's written very clearly here, just like what she said. What else do you have to say?"

Heshen said, “Your Majesty, please open all the examination papers. If there is another paper that has four 'ones' in the first two sentences of the opening paragraph and thus gets the answer, Your Majesty may immediately punish this servant.”