Xuan paper formed the base, and vermilion ink was used for notes and comments.
Nearing the end of the nearly two-meter long scroll, the places where the paper had been pasted over and then peeled off showed the name Xu Mo written neatly in squares.
But he said it wasn't him, so it wasn't him.
His younger siblings didn't doubt it, Qi Huai didn't doubt it, An Jun didn't doubt it, and Zhao Yuan didn't doubt it either.
Their pupils enlarged and then contracted as their expressions froze, and countless guesses drifted through their minds.
"Could it be... Could it be the Ghostwriter again?" An Jun was the first to speak up in a trembling voice.
Qi Huai's face underwent a drastic change. He hurried everyone to a corner and arranged for the servants to stand guard all around before frowning and saying, "This is definitely not the work of a Ghostwriter."
Ghostwriters would write out excellent articles for buyers to silently read and memorize before personally presenting them at the exam site.
To put it bluntly, those who hired Ghostwriters still had to put in some effort to memorize the writing.
But Xu Mo this time was clearly directly plagiarizing the fruits of others' labor.
"Could it have been the copyists who caused issues?" An Jun muttered. "They're really too bold. This is an offense punishable by death."
Qi Huai's thoughts became clearer. "The most urgent matter is to find Brother Xu's exam paper roll. Everything will naturally come to light then."
Only those who failed the tests displayed annotated copies in the Dayu Dynasty, to aid their studies and improvement for the future.
The scrolls of those who passed and became Imperial Examinees were sealed and stored in the archives of the Imperial Examination Hall, with few able to access them.
Of course, few didn't mean no one had access.
Zhao Yuan turned his head with his gaze settling upon Qi Huai.
An Jun came to a sudden realization and similarly looked towards Qi Huai.
Xu Mo, Jiang Sheng, Wen Zhiyun and Chang Yan all stared blankly at him too.
Qi Huai gave a wry smile, along with a hint of determination. "Fine, today Qi will risk getting a beating from my father to get him to find Brother Xu's exam paper roll."
Who made his father the Minister of Rites in charge of overseeing the civil examinations?
"Brother Qi is righteous." Zhao Yuan cupped his fist in the other hand. "In the future if Brother Qi needs anything from me, Zhao Yuan, just say the word. I will go through fire and water and never refuse a request."
"Brother Qi is virtuous and just. We are lacking by thousands, no, tens of thousands compared to you." An Jun promptly put on another high hat.
When it came to Xu Mo, he had thousands of sentiments but they were all condensed into a single sigh, "Brother Qi..."
"Enough, enough. Stop praising me and don't look at me with those guilty eyes." Qi Huai cursed with a smile. "Not to mention we are all sworn brothers, but didn't we expose the Ghostwriter scandal because we hoped every student could take the tests fairly and honorably? Now corruption has seeped into our own exam papers right before our eyes. How can we let it slide?"
It wasn't just for Xu Mo, but for this fair world, for countless talents who worked hard only to have their achievements stolen by shameless thieves.
One's family is their own family, but the nation belongs to everyone under heaven.
As men and youths aspiring to great deeds, they defended their families but also fought for the nation that belonged to all.
Qi Huai turned his head to look at the gates of the Imperial Examination Hall. His flawless face held a shallow smile as more than his jaw rose; so too did his crimson burning heart.
"It'd be good if a light breeze came." Zhao Yuan provided additional narration from the side. "A small gust that sends his great sleeves fluttering. Brother Qi's spirit and courage are truly unparalleled in this world."
Qi Huai nearly broke character and shot a glare back while laughing.
"In any case, we have to thank Brother Qi." Xu Mo finally spoke, his expression solemn. "In the future, whatever Qi needs this Xu for, please ask without hesitation."
"Right, our Nine Treasures Bakery's snacks and pastries are all free for Brother Qi to enjoy, not a cent charged!" Jiang Sheng nodded earnestly.
"Treatment at our Wen Clinic will also be free." Wen Zhiyun clenched his fist tightly.
Chang Yan pursed his lips and ruefully echoed, "Yes, all free of charge."
Qi Huai laughed at their antics, and felt sincerely happy for Xu Mo having such good younger sworn siblings.
But they couldn't delay.
Since they discovered the switched exam scroll, finding the original was now the most important matter.
Qi Huai told Xu Mo, "With over a hundred students placing into the second round, it’s not feasible to take out everyone’s scrolls for you to read through. You can only write a segment from memory for me to verify with."
Xu Mo lowered his head in agreement. "I will have it delivered to the Qi residence tomorrow."
The two walked in front with straight backs and steady strides.
Zhao Yuan lagged behind with An Jun, whispering. "Who do you think swapped out Brother Xu's paper roll?"
An Jun didn't dare reply, only gazed from afar at the spot listing the test top scorer.
If it really was the Fang family, switching Xu Mo's exam paper would be the biggest mistake they ever made.
Wei Yuan ah, did they really dare think that?
Also looking towards the top scorer spot was Chang Yan. Compared to the optimism of Zhao Yuan and the others, his knitted brows and taut frame showcased the most anxiety.
"Little Five, Big Brother will be able to prove his innocence right?" Wen Zhiyun tugged anxiously at his sleeve.
Chang Yan came back to his senses and forced a smile. "He will."
That day, Xu Mo didn't even eat dinner. He sat upright at his desk, brush flying as he wrote furiously.
Jiang Sheng brought over a bowl of piping hot rice, but when she came to retrieve it half an hour later, it had gone cold, still completely full. She wanted to speak several times but swallowed the words back upon seeing Xu Mo's diligent appearance, turning to silently take her leave.
Wen Zhiyun and Chang Yan kept guard in the yard. Hearing movements they hurried over. "Still didn't eat? Big brother only had two bites at lunch. If he skips dinner too, it'll be too hard on his health!"
Jiang Sheng mutely shook her head.
"If he doesn't want to eat then forget it." Chang Yan sighed. "Big brother is upset in his heart. Of course he can't swallow any food."
This time, the greatest blow from the switched exam paper was dealt to Xu Mo. Not only did he lose the opportunity to stand out, but the fact that aside from Ghostwriters, there was also a way to corrupt the exams through scroll swapping was shocking.
Back then, they had expended tremendous effort just to uncover Ghostwriter fraud. They even nearly dragged the Minister of Rites into it.
And now there were implications of switched second round exam scrolls, with even vaster networks and benefits tied behind the scenes.
Did their group, filled with vigor and aspirations, truly have the capability to uncover fraud of this scale? Or would it be like last time, making a huge commotion only to let it go with a whimper?
It was like clouds of worry and frustration weighed upon his head, with no clue how to distinguish the path before him.
Other than firing off essays from memory, Xu Mo couldn't find any way to vent the complex feelings bursting within.
The two simple words of “fairness” and “justice” were easy to write but difficult to accomplish.
So very difficult!
The small estate burned bright with lamps that night.
Xu Mo didn’t sleep, so his younger siblings didn’t sleep either, accompanying him until the break of dawn.
Only when the final strokes tapered off and Xu Mo rested the writing brush on his desk, thoroughly exhausted, did banked fury ignite within the youth’s depleted body. Through the open window, he gazed out at the dim lightening sky as if seeing the obscured court.
Exam corruption wasn’t merely decided on impulse or copyists resenting him; daring to commit outrageous acts that shook the world hinted at enormous figures and connections behind the scenes, too horrifying to imagine.
But so what?
After studying bitterly for over a decade, was it just to make bridal clothes for others?
Xu Mo refused to accept it!
He was willing to stake everything for clueless Ghostwriters he didn't even know. Now that it was his own prospects at stake, how could he not bravely fight with all his might to regain what belonged to him?
On New Year's Day before the Imperial City gates, Prime Minister Dou Wei Ming's words still rang by his ear.
Only by advancing further could he administer over a greater territory.
Even if the journey was bumpy, even if difficulties barred the road, he had to march forward with head held high!
The long night burned away not just restoring Xu Mo’s memories of his exam essay, but also steadied his heart to vow fighting corruption to the bitter end.
Come! Who fears who?
Impoverished student Xu Mo owned nothing, merely a life easily crushed, merely an indomitable soul kindling raging wildfires within. Even if it meant mutually assured destruction, he would safeguard what fairness remained in the mortal realm!
He pushed open the door and placed the dried second exam paper covered in ink markings into the hands of the startled Jiang Sisters, personally seeing them off to deliver it to House Qi.
The sky still wasn’t bright when the three children in the next room had all collapsed into messy heaps. Xu Mo gave a knowing smile. Taking some clothes, he gently draped blankets over them.
