allonlinenovel Chapter 28: So wise and so close to a demon
Chapter 28: So wise and so close to a demon
The main hall of the Lin residence.
The good news arrived, and the entire Lin family was overjoyed. Lin Zheng, Xu Yanrong, and others came out to greet them. Even Lin Ruobing was present. Seeing that Li Lan was indeed at the top of the list, she felt somewhat complicated.
This guy is getting more and more amazing.
But when the Secret Service agents arrived... everyone's expression changed.
"Lord Qin, what's going on?"
Lin Zheng's face darkened as he looked at Qin Wu, who had barged into the mansion.
Qin Wu sneered and said, "General Lin, why ask a question you already know the answer to? Heh, Master Cen Jingchi has already confessed everything. You spent a lot of money to have him teach your son-in-law and son, didn't you?"
Lin Zhengdao said, "So what if it is?"
"Cen Jingchi was one of the key figures in this year's major exam. He was bribed by someone and leaked the exam questions to Li Lan in advance, which is why Li Lan was able to top the list!"
Qin Wu spoke loudly!
Immediately, an uproar erupted inside and outside the Lin residence!
"What? Master Cen gave Li Lan the questions?"
"How could this be? Master Cen is of advanced age and high moral character; he shouldn't do such a thing, should he?"
"No wonder! No wonder I said that 'Five Vermin' was magnificent and extremely skillful in its writing, unlike something a mere young man could write. Perhaps it was written by Master Cen for Li Lan in advance!"
Too many scholars and students followed the procession welcoming the top scholar to the Lin residence, and the news spread like wildfire.
"I remember now. On the day of the written exam, Li Lan said outside the exam hall that his 'Spring River Flower Moon Night' was copied, and that he was going to copy an essay from the Wendao exam!"
"Not bad!"
"The top scholar was actually awarded through cheating; what a disgrace!"
It seemed as if someone was secretly stirring things up, and the crowd was instantly agitated!
"Hehe, Master Cen and Li Lan are not related by blood. The reason he leaked the exam questions to him and helped him write the essay is because the General's Mansion holds a high position of power!"
"Lin Zheng can't escape either; he's guilty too!"
"Cheating in the examination room is an unforgivable crime!"
In an instant, shouts and cries rose and fell!
The Lin family members in the hall all changed color, but Lin Zheng said coldly, "Qin Wu, Li Lan is my son-in-law. You can't just say he cheated in the exam and ruined my son-in-law's future with your words alone!"
Li Lan is unable to practice martial arts, so literature is the only foundation for her to make a living. If Li Lan is really smeared with this filth, then her life is over.
Whether they can even survive is another matter.
Moreover, the other party's intention was not only to capture Li Lan, but also to take this opportunity to severely damage the General's Mansion!
Qin Wu smiled upon hearing this: "Before the literary examination, Master Cen sent a pile of books to your Lin family, didn't he?"
"Cen Jingchi himself has already confessed that the exam questions were hidden in those books. Men, search them!"
He waved his hand.
Tie Poshan roared, "This is the Lin residence! How dare you run wild here!"
He was about to stop him, but Qin Wu flashed the Secret Service's token and sneered, "Does the Lin family intend to oppose the Secret Service's investigation?!"
Tie Poshan was unable to move.
A cold glint flashed in Lin Zheng's eyes, but he said calmly, "Po Shan, there's no need to stop them. Just take them to see those books."
Tie Poshan led his men there, and before long, all the books sent from Master Cen's residence were brought out. Qin Wu picked up one of the books, turned to a certain page, and saw that some of the text had been marked with some barely visible annotations: "Look, everyone, these are this year's exam questions!"
Everyone in the room was shocked and in uproar.
"It really is a test question!"
"The evidence is conclusive: the exam questions were leaked!"
"Li Lan, that fraudster!"
The insults intensified immediately.
Xu Yanrong and Lin Ruobing were both getting anxious, but Lin Zheng became even calmer at this critical moment. He finally understood that the Jin Yang Palace's poisonous scheme had actually landed here!
First, they stirred up resentment among the scholars in the capital towards Li Lan. Then, they sent him books, and as soon as the civil service examination was over, they immediately exposed Li Lan's alleged cheating.
The civil service examination was originally a stepping stone for people to advance their careers, but once it was seized by the powerful and wealthy, everyone in the world hated it.
In this way, Li Lan and the Lin family will be condemned by everyone and cursed by the world, making it truly impossible for them to recover!
“I will submit this matter to His Majesty and ask him to investigate thoroughly. Li Lan, you cannot take him away today.”
Lin Zheng spoke in a cold voice.
He wasn't particularly afraid. Although the situation was also dangerous this time, it wasn't as perilous as the last time the Lin family was framed for colluding with the Northern Hu.
Last time, if there had been a single misstep, the Emperor would likely have been furious and executed the entire Lin family, because a general colluding with a foreign enemy is an inviolable bottom line.
But this time, even if the emperor is furious about the cheating in the imperial examinations, he will definitely not execute the general directly. There may still be room for maneuver.
However, given the enemy's meticulous planning, overturning the verdict will likely be an impossible task...
At worst, we can use our decades of meritorious service in battles across the country to find a way out for Li Lan.
However, in doing so, his lifelong reputation would be completely ruined, and he would inevitably suffer disgrace and ruin in his later years!
But in that instant, he had already made his decision.
Li Lan, you deserve it!
Upon hearing this, Qin Wu's face turned cold. Just as he was about to say something, Li Lan's voice came from the back room:
"Lord Qin, there's no need for further words. Li Lan will return to the Secret Service with you to await trial!"
Everyone turned their heads in unison, and where their gazes were focused, Li Lan appeared calmly.
"Li Lan, go back. I'll handle things here!"
Lin Zheng spoke in a deep voice.
But Li Lan bowed to him and said, "Father-in-law, I believe that justice will prevail in this world, and the Secret Service will clear my name!"
"Please don't worry, father-in-law!"
He was very certain, but Lin Zheng, seeing this, felt a slight doubt in his heart.
Li Lan's composure suggests he might have some other plans.
Suddenly, he noticed the jade pendant on Li Lan's waist and his heart skipped a beat. This jade pendant was a wedding gift that Zhao Tanyue had given to Li Lan!
It represents a favor.
If Li Lan went to the Secret Service, given Zhao Tanyue's personality, she probably wouldn't stand by and watch Li Lan be tortured into confessing. This would also give Zhao Tanyue time to maneuver in court. So she nodded and said:
Be careful in everything.
Li Lan turned around, smiled at Qin Wu, and said, "Lord Qin, let's go."
Qin Wu sneered: "Men, put on the shackles and chains!"
A flash of coldness crossed Li Lan's eyes, but she said nothing.
Immediately, his hands and feet were shackled and he was put in shackles, just like a prisoner.
"Let's go, new champion! Hahaha..."
Qin Wu laughed triumphantly and led Li Lan out of the Lin residence.
As for the ceremonial guard and officials who came to offer their congratulations, they were already dumbfounded and hurriedly went back to report the news.
We left the Lin residence.
"What a treacherous scoundrel who cheated on the imperial examinations!"
"That damned thing!"
"Kill him!"
In an instant, countless people on both sides of the street were cursing loudly.
Being condemned by thousands and despised by tens of thousands... Anyone in this situation would probably break down, but Li Lan remained calm and silent!
Qin Wu deliberately made the procession walk very slowly, as if he were parading Li Lan through the streets. He sneered, admiring his masterpiece. He recalled the humiliation he had suffered at Li Lan's hands on the day of the Lin family wedding, and felt great!
"One move to steal a poem and the world is turned upside down, the top scholar becomes a prisoner... Li Lan, Li Lan, when you were at the height of your glory at the Drunken Moon Pavilion, did you ever think of this day!"
Li Lan saw Xu Ruyu, whose talent was indeed remarkable, second only to Li Lan, having achieved the second-highest score in the imperial examination. Now, seeing Li Lan in distress, he had completely returned to his former spirited self.
He is still the number one among the younger generation in Kyoto. The mountain that is Li Lan has been removed from his heart!
"Poet Li Lan, you really make me laugh! Haha, Brother Li Lan, come here, look at me, I have something good for you!"
Meanwhile, Zhang Jian, who was with Xu Ruyu, maliciously picked up a rotten egg and triumphantly threw it at Li Lan!
Just as Li Lan was about to be hit in the face with a rotten egg, suddenly, with a whoosh, an arrow came from afar and shattered the rotten egg three steps away from Li Lan. The arrow even pierced through to Zhang Jian's feet and disappeared into the bluestone slab!
"What's going on..."
For a moment, the onlookers were all horrified. Zhang Jian was even more pale, his body stiffened, and he didn't dare to breathe!
Li Lan looked back and saw that at the back of the group, Lin Ruobing, dressed in white, was riding a horse at a distance, holding a bow in her hand and standing with her horse reined in.
"Lin Ruoxue, what do you want to do?"
Qin Wu shouted, but when he saw the bow and arrow in Lin Ruoxue's hand, his expression changed, and he became somewhat timid, his palms sweating slightly!
Lin Ruoxue's marriage and retirement from the martial arts world do not mean that her extraordinary martial arts skills have disappeared!
Lin Ruoxue, hailed as the most talented martial artist in the world, has already surpassed many veteran masters in strength!
If this person really wants to do something, there aren't many people in Kyoto who can stop her.
But since Lin Ruoxue got married and announced her retirement from the martial arts world, many people have forgotten this.
Even now, that bow and the arrow that has completely sunk into the bluestone have transformed this newlywed woman, who has been married and devoted to her husband and children and has rarely left the Lin residence, back into the once powerful and proud woman who once dominated her generation. They have also rekindled the long-lost fear and pressure in everyone's hearts.
At this moment, Lin Ruobing appeared incredibly domineering; she was extremely composed, calm, and serene.
“Li Lan is my husband. Before he is convicted, no one shall be allowed to insult him.”
I will protect him all the way!
Her clear and beautiful words instantly reached everyone's ears.
"...Lin Ruoxue, even after retiring from the martial arts world, is still so arrogant!"
"The number one prodigy of martial arts, she truly lives up to her reputation."
"The ruthless man who single-handedly suppressed the heroes of Kyoto back then..."
For a moment, many people had mixed feelings.
Lin Ruoxue left behind too many legends and had too great a reputation in Kyoto. For a time, many people quietly put down the rotten vegetable leaves and stones they were holding.
Forget it, I'll just curse a few times and that's it.
Even Qin Wu hesitated to speak, and ultimately said nothing!
Seeing this, Li Lan couldn't help but chuckle.
He was prepared to suffer some humiliation, but he didn't expect Lin Ruobing to rush out... and, judging from her appearance, she was really quite domineering and cool.
Is her world-famous older sister really so domineering and capricious in her actions?
A thought suddenly flashed through Li Lan's mind: Did she really want to protect Li Lan at this moment, or was she just trying to play the role of her domineering and unparalleled sister so as not to arouse suspicion in the world?
do not know.
As he walked down the long street, the girl in white, riding a horse and carrying a strong bow, guarded him the whole way. He was shackled on the head and chained on the feet, and despite the constant cursing from both sides, not a single vegetable leaf or a drop of spit landed on him.
That made me feel quite at ease.
Finally, they soon arrived at the gate of the Secret Service.
Meanwhile, within the Secret Service.
Behind a desk, Zhao Tanyue, dressed in a tight black outfit, with a clear and beautiful figure, was deep in thought.
"Master, Qin Wu has captured Li Lan and is already at the front."
Xi Xia said with a slightly complicated expression, "This young master Li... really seems like he can tell fortunes!"
She recalled the night before the literary examination, when Li Lan volunteered to investigate in prison. Zhao Tanyue was troubled about how to get Li Lan in there smoothly, but Li Lan told her that someone else would take care of it, and Zhao Tanyue just needed to guide the situation accordingly...
I didn't expect it to happen so quickly.
Is this Li Lan a human or a ghost?
At this moment, Zhao Tanyue raised her head, a hint of sighing and emotion flashing across her cold and beautiful face, and said:
"Indeed, he is almost demonically intelligent."
"Let's go. The show has already begun, the enemy has been on stage for a long time, and it's time for our decisive move to be made."
"Come with me to fetch Young Master Li."
She got up.
……