Ji Xiaolan: Kill Qianlong at the beginning

Chapter 568 Winning Zhao Qing Back

The officers and soldiers are distributing examination papers to the officials in charge of the curtains, one paper per person.

Seeing this, Mo Li said, "Gentlemen, please begin grading the papers."

The official opened the scrolls and began grading them.

……

afterwards.

Emperor Gaizhang looked at someone's exam paper and laughed, saying, "Interesting, interesting, very interesting indeed."

There were other people's exam papers on the table.

Heshen walked up to Emperor Gaizhang and said, "Indeed, Your Majesty, the imperial examination went very well. It's all thanks to Your Majesty personally setting the questions. These scholars are truly fortunate; they've suddenly become the Emperor's students, so they..."

Mo Li pretended to cough twice.

Heshen looked at him.

Mo Li coughed again.

Heshen looked at him and said, "Mo Li, what do you mean by making such a commotion? Are you dissatisfied? The Emperor himself is selecting talented people, what are you jealous of?"

Mo Li calmly said, "Your Majesty, may I have the privilege of looking at a scroll?"

Emperor Gaizhang picked up someone's paper, handed it to Mo Li, and said, "Here, take a look at this one."

Mo Li walked over, reached out and took it, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

He looked at it for a while and said, "Oh dear, this exam paper has a strange smell."

"The taste?" Heshen was quite curious. He walked over to Mo Li, looked at the scroll in his hand, and asked, "What does it taste like? Is it bitter? Is it salty?"

Mo Li said, "It tastes like the Hanlin Academy."

Emperor Gai Zhang chuckled to himself.

Mo Li continued, "Lord He, can't you smell it?"

Heshen looked puzzled.

Mo Li continued, "The writing is too mature, and the allusions are too cautious."

Heshen said, "Mo Li, you're being suspicious again. You're not unaware of the rules. When the officials review the papers, they circle the ones they're satisfied with and cross the ones they're not. Look at this paper, so many circles—it was selected from a large number of papers. And each department reviews them separately. How could they possibly collude to cheat?"

Mo Li folded the scroll neatly and said, "With Lord He involved, what is impossible for him, Lord He?"

Emperor Gaizhang watched the two debate with great interest.

Heshen said, "Mo Li, I'll take your words as a joke for now. If you're serious, then I can't take that responsibility."

After saying that, he looked at Emperor Gaizhang and continued, "Your Majesty, since Lord Mo says so, why not send all these papers back for retrial?"

Mo Li immediately replied, "Okay."

Emperor Gaizhang said, "That won't do. The imperial examination is meant to be a joyous occasion. How can we allow suspicion to cause turmoil throughout the land?"

Heshen nodded vigorously.

Upon seeing this, Emperor Gaizhang burst into laughter.

Mo Li thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, please consider this carefully during the palace examination." He then cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

Emperor Gaizhang gave a strong "hmm".

……

Zhao Qing was drinking alone when Du Xiaoyue came over and said, "Oh, Miss Zhao Qing, why are you drinking alone?" She sat down with a smile on her face.

She poured herself a glass, took a sip, and continued, "It's not as good as your plum blossom wine."

Zhao Qing did not react.

Du Xiaoyue continued to try to find a topic of conversation: "Speaking of your plum blossom wine, it reminds me of my brother Li. I really envy you."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qing asked in confusion, "What do you envy about me?" in a calm tone.

Du Xiaoyue said, "If my brother Li treats me with half the kindness you treat me, I'll be content."

Zhao Qing said sadly, "I know in my heart how he treats me."

Du Xiaoyue gently shook her head, "You don't know, not only do you not know, but you've also misunderstood him."

Zhao Qing turned his head and stared blankly at Du Xiaoyue.