Female Supremacy and Rise to Power: Lin Shu's Imperial Examination Adventures

Upon hearing this, Lin Shu frowned. One hundred and eight people? Does that mean Ling Wanzhen kills at least three people every month?

As a nobleman, he enjoys the adoration of the common people, yet he easily tramples on them and manipulates them at will...

"Continue," Lin Shu said with a displeased expression, closing her eyes and sighing.

“However, a few days ago, I heard that the eldest son of Lord Liu, the ‘Six Ministries Censor,’ who went to his estate to recuperate, went missing a month ago… He is now in Ling Wanzhen’s backyard.” Zi Yi reported, his tone revealing undisguised schadenfreude.

Although these "Six Departments Censors" are only fifth-rank officials, they are responsible for supervising and impeaching high-ranking officials. This young master of the Liu family is the only son of Lord Liu, and it is said that he will be marrying into the family in the future.

Ling Wanzhen has committed many unjust acts, and this time she will likely suffer the consequences.

Lin Shu nodded in satisfaction and said, "Then let's print an extra issue of the newspaper tomorrow! The profit can be less, but we must make sure that everyone in the capital has a copy, especially that it reaches Lord Liu..."

"Yes! I'll take care of it right away." Zi Yi replied and walked to the door, then turned back.

Lin Shu looked puzzled and asked, "Is there anything else?"

Zi Yi hesitated before speaking: "Master, I have also found out that your mother... Lin Dafeng from Peach Blossom Village has entered the capital, and... she has been adopted as a goddaughter by the old master of the Dingbei Prince's Mansion and renamed Ling Huabei."

"Understood. Take care of the newspaper matter first, then you may leave!" Lin Shu said, narrowing her eyes.

After everyone left, Lin Shu was the only one left in the study. She closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair, seemingly deep in thought. After a moment, she got up and walked towards Xue Wen's courtyard.

Xue Wenyuan.

At this moment, Xue Wen was holding a small hoe and planting scallions in the yard.

Seeing Lin Shu arrive, he didn't even look up and muttered, "Shu'er's here? Why don't you spend more time with your husband? You only get one day off a month, they miss you terribly..."

"Father..." Lin Shu was interrupted before she could finish speaking. She seemed to have a lot of questions, but when the words reached her lips, she didn't know where to begin.

"Shu'er, what's wrong?" Seeing that Lin Shu had called him but remained silent for a long time, Xue Wen looked up in confusion.

Lin Shu looked slightly conflicted, but finally spoke up: "Father, tell your daughter about your past."

Xue Wen's expression froze. He knew Shu'er's intentions; she must already know what happened yesterday.

So he put the hoe he was holding in the winnowing basket, went to the water vat, scooped up a basin of water, washed his hands, approached Lin Shu, gently stroked her eyebrows and eyes, and said in a deep voice:

"My daughter has grown up and looks more and more like your mother!"

Seeing that Lin Shu showed no surprise, and knowing that she probably already knew he was not Lin Dafeng's daughter, he continued:

"She and I were childhood sweethearts. My Xue family was once a prominent family in Jiangdong. Her father was a descendant of a branch of my Xue family in Jiangdong, and could be considered my cousin."

When I was seven, I ran away to the back mountain after arguing with my father. I thought he would come looking for me, but I waited and waited until nightfall and no one came. I was scared, so I went home, but there was no home left! Everything had turned into a sea of ​​fire…

Later, I came to the capital to seek refuge with this cousin—Lord Ji Yan, the Marquis of Dingbei. It was after that I met your mother, Ling Huanan. She was only ten years old at the time, but just like you, she always had a cold and stern face, which was quite frightening...

However, gradually, she would bring me my favorite pastries, teach me to write, and punish the wicked servants who bullied me...

We had pledged our lives to each other, and she had said that she would marry no one but me in this lifetime.

But I am of lowly status and am not worthy of her. My uncle's preferred son-in-law is not me either, and he even threatened to kill himself...

At that time, I did not know that I was pregnant with you. I did not want to make things difficult for her and planned to leave. However, I received a letter from her saying that she was willing to give up everything and wander the world with me. I was overjoyed. However, what awaited me was the guards from the mansion who came to silence me.

After narrowly escaping death, I learned that I was pregnant with you. After many twists and turns, I arrived in Dongshan Town and met Lin Dafeng. She promised to treat you as her own child and would not force me to accept her.

In order to ensure my daughter Shu'er can grow up safely, I agreed...

But she betrayed me. Not long after I gave birth to you, she tried to take advantage of me while drunk. I injured her with a wooden pillow. The next day, she brought Du Ruo back from the brothel. The following year, she gave birth to Lin Yue and treated you coldly as well...

Even worse, after Lin Yue caused trouble, they drugged you and made you take the blame, causing my Shu'er to suffer a head injury and be confused for five years...

Shu'er is probably already aware of what happened next!

After saying this, Xue Wen was already in tears.

This was the first time Lin Shu had seen Xue Wen so heartbroken, and her heart ached. She gently patted Xue Wen's back and comforted him, "Father, it's all over now."

"Yes, eighteen years have passed. But why? Why does she still want to kill me?" Xue Wen's eyes were blurry with tears, as if the grievances of the past eighteen years had finally found an outlet.

After the other person finished crying, Lin Shu said, "Father, how can you prove that it was the Prince of Dingbei who wanted to kill you? As far as I know, this Prince of Dingbei is stationed in the Northwest and has not returned for several years..."

Xue Wen was taken aback. He hurriedly went inside, took out two pieces of paper, and handed them to Lin Shu, saying, "This is her handwriting. I would never mistake it."

Lin Shu took the two sheets of paper and compared them. One was yellowed Xuan paper, and the other was the silk paper popular in Beijing at the time. The handwriting was indeed from the same hand.

Unexpectedly, Xue Wen has kept the letter from eighteen years ago to this day, and in such good condition.

Lin Shu looked at Xue Wen, who had a pained expression on his face, and said, "I will investigate this matter thoroughly. Father, please do not trust others easily in the future. The capital is a complex place, and it is hard to guarantee that you will not be taken advantage of by people with ulterior motives."

"Father understands, and will certainly not cause Shuer any trouble in the future," Xue Wen replied, wiping his face with a damp handkerchief.

After comforting Xue Wen, Lin Shu returned to her study, her mind in turmoil.

Yesterday's assassination attempt can be confirmed to have nothing to do with the Prince of Dingbei. Was the letter from eighteen years ago really written by her, or was it at her behest?

If it wasn't her, then why was her father so certain that the handwriting came from the Prince of Dingbei?

Furthermore, how could the Xue family of Jiangdong have perished in a fire, with not even a single servant escaping except for the father?

This is getting more and more confusing...

The next day.

A piece of news quickly spread throughout the capital in the newspapers, and the gate of the Prefect of the Capital was packed with ordinary parents who had lost their sons. After reading the newspapers, they went to the mass grave with some skepticism:

Some of the corpses were so old that they were difficult to identify, but they could still be roughly identified by their accessories and clothing; others had been abandoned in recent months and, after being exposed to the sun, had begun to stink, with flies constantly swarming over them...

A moment later, a heart-wrenching wail echoed from the mass grave, sending chills down one's spine when heard from afar.

Magistrate Zhou, looking at the crowd at the gate, was extremely anxious, his cold sweat pouring down his face. He hurriedly sent someone to report to the Prince's residence, only to be met with Feng Rui's reply: "Just throw those lowly people out! If that doesn't work, kill them as an example to warn a hundred. Do I need to teach you how to do this?"

She cursed inwardly. This was the capital city, and she was just a minor official. How could she compare to the other party, who was a member of the imperial family...

If His Majesty finds out, not only will I lose my official hat, but I'm afraid even my entire family will be in danger...

……

at dusk.

The Six Ministries' Censorate.

Lady Liu had just taken the newspaper from her husbands, who usually loved reading the serialized version of "The Story of the Stone," but today they were anxiously urging her to read it too.

"Outrageous! Who is this Prince Dingbei? How could his daughter be like this...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Lord Liu's husband said urgently, "My lady, Kang'er has been missing for over a month. Do you think it's possible that..."

Upon hearing this, Lady Liu's eyes widened and her pupils contracted sharply. This Liu Kang was her only son. She had suffered a health injury in her early years and had only this son in her life. If anything were to happen to him, the Liu family line would be cut off...

"I will submit a memorial impeaching her tomorrow. If that happens, I will risk my old life to never let her go..."

……

The next day, at the Golden Palace.

The head maidservant in charge of the imperial court announced loudly, "If you have something to report, please do so; otherwise, the court may adjourn."

Just as Feng Han was about to announce the end of the court session, a man dressed in a blue official robe stepped forward, knelt down with a thud, and kowtowed, proclaiming in a loud voice:

"Your Majesty, I have a matter to report. I wish to impeach Ling Wanzhen, the heir apparent of the Prince of Dingbei..."

-

【Small Theater:

Xue Wen (looking heartbroken): This is her handwriting. She wanted to kill me, sob sob (as she spoke, she pulled out a crumpled letter from eighteen years ago).

Lin Shu (surprised): How can a letter from eighteen years ago be preserved so perfectly?

Xue Wen (looking indignant): Of course, this is the evidence I use to file my accusation.

Ling Huanan (with a puzzled look): ...When did I want to kill you? Why don't I know?

Xue Wen (humphing): Don't try to argue...

...]