Shocking! Five men are in love with the same woman!

As time went on, more and more students noticed something was wrong.

Why are there so many students from Jiangnan on the list this year? This is unprecedented.

Instantly, a strange feeling began to spread among the crowd.

At this moment, a student with slightly disheveled hair looked at the list and his brows gradually furrowed.

He began to mutter to himself, "How could this be? So many students from Jiangnan made the list. Is there something wrong with this?"

A slender student next to him was biting his lip, his gaze shifting back and forth between the list and the smug students from Jiangnan.

A glint of doubt also flashed in his eyes.

She gently tugged at the sleeve of her classmate next to her and whispered, "Look, isn't the proportion of students from Jiangnan who made the list a bit too high? And the way they look at each other really doesn't seem like the humble scholars we're used to."

After hearing this, his classmate also began to re-examine the list, then nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face.

There was also a student with an upright and honest demeanor, who always considered himself fair and upright.

After hearing the discussions around him, he also focused his attention on the students from Jiangnan.

He crossed his arms and looked coldly at the arrogant students from Jiangnan, his doubts growing stronger.

He cleared his throat and said loudly, "There must be something fishy about this. The imperial examinations have never seen such a one-sided situation before."

His voice rang out amidst the noisy crowd, immediately resonating with even more students.

Some students began to whisper among themselves, expressing their doubts and dissatisfaction.

"Yeah, this is really unusual. Is there something going on?"

"How could so many students from Jiangnan make the list all at once?"

Although their voices were not loud, when they came together, they formed a wave of questioning that could not be ignored.

The crowd began to stir. Everyone looked at each other, seeing the same doubt and unease in each other's eyes.

At this moment, an older student stepped forward.

He stroked his beard and said in a calm and powerful voice, "Everyone, please calm down. We cannot rely on speculation alone. We need to gather more evidence and information before making a judgment."

His words calmed the somewhat chaotic situation down a bit.

But the doubts in the students' minds could not be dispelled.

Everyone stared intently at the list and those students from Jiangnan, as if trying to find the answer in them.

If there is indeed more to the story, then it is likely a very serious matter.

This matter is closely related to them, and they are determined to find the answer.

As a result, many students left the gate of the examination hall.

The students from Jiangnan all left with smiles on their faces.

The area in front of the examination hall gradually quieted down.

However, many test takers were unable to calm down.

Some impulsive candidates who failed the exam are already thinking of questioning those students from Jiangnan about what exactly happened.

But most people just waited and saw, not daring to take any action.

I dare not think about this matter too deeply.

If one thinks too deeply about it, it will cause turmoil in the court. How could they, mere students, possibly be involved?

Although most people were unwilling, they chose to protect themselves.

But some students are desperately trying to find out information.

Xiao Muyao naturally noticed something amiss with this scientific expedition immediately.

Without hesitation, he went to the palace to explain the matter to Emperor Jingzhao.

Emperor Jingzhao was both furious and afraid after hearing this.

What's infuriating is that this matter likely involves many people, and there's even a possibility that someone leaked the exam questions.

What I fear is that such a big case was covered up by superiors and subordinates, and that there wasn't a single clue before the scientific expedition.

This suggests that if someone is plotting something, it could easily go undetected.

When did his control over the court become so weak?

So he immediately gave Xiao Muyao a solemn order: "You are in full charge of this case. You must investigate it thoroughly and clearly for me!"

Xiao Muyao immediately replied, "Your subject obeys the decree."

After leaving the palace, he immediately arrested sixty-five students from Jiangnan on charges of criticizing the government.

A total of 300 people were dismissed during this scientific expedition.

Dan Jiangnan actually took up so many spots.

This is truly extraordinary.

However, it's also possible that the scholars who participated in this scientific expedition were exceptionally talented in literature.

Therefore, Xiao Muyao made two preparations.

If he truly wronged them, the charge of criticizing state affairs could be considered either light or heavy.

He would release them immediately, and they dared not utter a single complaint.

The main point is that they did indeed do this.

But if he didn't wrong them, then their imprisonment was deserved.

But they must be controlled beforehand in any way to prevent them from passing on messages and escaping.

Inside the Shadow Division, the dim candlelight flickered, illuminating the panicked faces of the inhabitants.

These students from Jiangnan were terrified after being captured and taken to the Shadow Division.

They all looked terrified, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

Especially when you hear the screams and whipping sounds that come from time to time, and the bloodied, dying people being dragged in and out.

They were so terrified that their souls nearly left their bodies, and their hearts almost jumped out of their chests.

They huddled in a corner of the cell like frightened birds.

They dared not move an inch, nor utter a single word.

Panic and confusion, filled with fear.

His face was pale and he was drenched in sweat.

They no longer had the slightest bit of the arrogant and smug look they had at the entrance of the examination hall.

Just as they were filled with fear and anxiety, the prison doors suddenly burst open.

The Shadow Messengers, as cold and ruthless as messengers from the underworld, dragged them out one by one.

The crowd screamed in terror, thinking they were about to be beheaded.

The shouts of more than sixty people made the heads of these officials buzz.

Then, with icy expressions, they looked at the crowd and shouted, "Shut up!"

The gazes fixed on them seemed to pierce their souls, sending chills down their spines.

Instantly, all sixty-odd people shut their mouths and dared not make a sound.

The officials then quietly led the group to a very large interrogation room, bowed, and quietly withdrew.

At this very moment, inside the interrogation room.

Xiao Muyao and Lu Yanqing sat at the head of the table, expressionless, watching the group of people who had been brought in and were now huddled together in fear.

Xiao Muyao's voice was deep and powerful, piercing the heart like a winter wind as he asked, "Do you recognize me?"

His brief words struck like a heavy hammer, causing several students who recognized him to tremble as they replied, "Yes, we know you. You were the former Prince Rui, and now the Crown Prince."

These people had all seen Xiao Muyao's portrait at home.

After they finished speaking, the remaining dozens of people also learned about it.

They all knelt and bowed to Xiao Muyao, their reverence evident in their expressions.

Just then, a meaningful smile appeared on Lu Yanqing's lips.

He deliberately slowed his speech, making sure every word was clearly heard: "Then do you recognize me?"

This simple question, however, was like the whisper of death, plunging everyone into an ice cellar, their faces turning as pale as paper.

Even breathing became a cautious affair, for fear that the slightest mistake might offend this Yama-like being.

They seemed to have their throats choked, unable to utter a single word.

He simply lowered his head in terror, trembling and remaining silent.

Seeing their reaction, Lu Yanqing smiled even more happily and said, "It seems you recognize them."

Upon hearing his voice, everyone trembled even more violently.

How could they not recognize the fearsome Commander of the Shadow Division?

Everyone should know this demon, right?

Ironically, the person the people of Dazhao feared most was not Emperor Jingzhao, but Lu Yanqing.

He seemed to be everywhere, utterly wicked, and terrified everyone.

Therefore, no one dared to provoke him, and they deeply remembered his appearance, telling themselves to stay away from him.

Lu Yanqing was aware of his reputation, so he deliberately threatened, "Since you all know me and His Highness, and you know your own situation, I don't want to torture you. So you'd better be sensible and confess the details of this cheating case as soon as possible, or you'll be subjected to severe torture."