Chapter 642: Chapter 357: Dragon Tiger? Exchanging Pointers

Chen Yi mused over the Painted Boat at North City Quchi. Ma Shuhan had gone there late at night, which was perhaps related to the Annual Examination the next day. No, it was highly likely related to the Annual Examination.

Looking at Lou Yuxue thoughtfully, Chen Yi asked, "Do you know the identity of the person who met with Ma Shuhan that night?"

Lou Yuxue shook her head. "Ma Shuhan left suddenly. By the time the Iron Banner Officer investigating him found him, he had already walked out of the Painted Boat.

"Following that, the Painted Boat traveled north.

"However, we checked the vessel entry and exit logs with the Moat garrison, and that Painted Boat never left the Prefecture City." She then asked, "Do you know something?"

Chen Yi nodded, then shook his head. "It’s just a guess."

Lou Yuxue’s expression shifted in surprise. "Tell me."

She knew exactly how formidable the man before her was; describing him as infinitely resourceful was no exaggeration. Many times in the past, Liu Wu would figure out things before the White Tiger Guard even caught wind of them. This was true for the Five Poison Sect spreading the plague poison, Liu Hong committing treason by colluding with the enemy, and the Ji State Trading Company manipulating grain prices.

Chen Yi thought for a moment, carefully choosing his words. "How does the White Tiger Guard view the policy question Ma Shuhan assigned during the Annual Examination?"

Lou Yuxue paused, slightly stunned. "Is there... a problem with that question?"

Seeing the smile surface on Chen Yi’s face, she realized she had asked yet another stupid question. She huffed in annoyance, "During the day, Lord General did mention this matter.

"He also said that before Ma Shuhan’s death, he scolded the Xiao Family’s live-in son-in-law over that policy question.

"But how does this..."

At this point, Lou Yuxue caught on. "Are you saying that Ma Shuhan’s death is connected to that policy question?"

Chen Yi gave a slight nod. "On the surface, that question tests those scholars on the ways of war and conquest, but in reality, it’s far too abrupt.

"Although the Annual Examination isn’t as rigorous as the imperial civil service exams and does include questions on current affairs, it shouldn’t directly ask about fighting in the north versus the south like Ma Shuhan did.

"For one, scholars constantly harbor the ambition to regulate their families, govern the state, and bring peace to the realm. When asked in such a manner, naturally, some will pour out their true feelings.

"Whether advocating for the south or the north, it ultimately involves slaughter. It incites too much hostility, which is entirely incompatible with the ’elegance’ expected of the Annual Examination.

"Secondly..."

Chen Yi looked at Lou Yuxue with a half-smile and said meaningfully, "If you were the chief examiner, would you act in place of the current Holy Emperor to ask whether to conquer the south or war against the north?"

He had previously mentioned that Confucianism valued "harmony" above all else. What was harmony? Harmony with the world, harmony with one’s parents, and harmony between sovereign and subject.

For Ma Shuhan to secure the position of Academic Administrator of Shu State, his moral conduct might be secondary, but his mastery of the Confucian Dao definitely wasn’t lacking. How could he not know that such a question violated the harmony of Heaven?

Chen Yi believed he wasn’t the only Scholar to see through this, but trapped in the examination hall and forced to compete for fame and rank, they had no choice but to throw themselves into the whirlpool of northern and southern conquest.

Lou Yuxue nodded, seemingly half-understanding, then raised her brow. "It seems you’ve read quite a few books."

Chen Yi instantly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "You don’t know such a simple principle?"

"Who—who doesn’t know?" Lou Yuxue turned her head away, a flush of red quietly creeping onto her tender, pale cheeks. She cursed inwardly, "This bastard is calling me uneducated. What a prick."

After a long moment, Lou Yuxue calmed down and pondered, "Do you suspect he assigned that question on purpose, or that someone instructed him to do so?"

Chen Yi nodded. "That should be the case. Therefore, we have to find a way to track down the person who met with Ma Shuhan that night."

Lou Yuxue made a mental note of the matter. "I will report this to Lord General later and ask him to arrange for it.

"However, it will take some time.

"Lately, we’ve all been interrogating Liu Hong’s group, and we will be sending them to the Capital Prefecture in a few days."

Chen Yi understood clearly. After some thought, he asked, "Have there been any unusual movements from the Ji State Trading Company these past few days?"

"The Ji State Trading Company?" Lou Yuxue shook her head. "After that night, several grain merchants in the East and West Markets suffered heavy losses. Coupled with the death of the Ji State Trading Company’s Shopkeeper in Shu State, no one has come to take over for the time being." She then asked, "Do you suspect that someone from the Ji State Trading Company is playing tricks behind the scenes?"

Chen Yi gave a hum of agreement. "Perhaps."

That policy question concerned attacking the Southern Barbarians or Bei Mang. Aside from someone connected to the Ji State Trading Company, he couldn’t think of a second person who could compel Ma Shuhan to leak the secrets of Heaven even at the cost of his life. Not to mention...

The events from earlier that day surfaced in Chen Yi’s mind—the Imprisonment Department demanding Li Sanyuan from the old master. If the mastermind behind all this came from the Ji State Trading Company, then this matter made perfect sense. It seemed necessary to make another trip to the Imprisonment Department and ask Fang Hongxiu about it.

After a brief chat, Lou Yuxue was just about to stand up to look for Lord General when she saw Chen Yi’s smile fade. He raised a hand and said, "Someone is here."

"Who?"

Right then, Lord General pushed open the door of the Quiet Chamber and walked in. He was still dressed in the same dark brocade robes. Unadorned and completely natural, his demeanor was refined, righteous, and extraordinarily striking.

Seeing Chen Yi and Lou Yuxue, Lord General smiled and cupped his fists in greeting. "Lord Dragon Tiger, it has been many days. I trust you’ve been well."

Chen Yi leaned back in his chair, tilted his head to look at him, and gave a casual nod. "Lord Golden Banner Officer, you are as imposing as ever."

A hint of amusement flashed in Lord General’s eyes. "I cannot compare to Lord Dragon Tiger. To pierce through Yan Jingchen with a single strike and disrupt Heaven and Earth’s Spiritual Mechanism with the lingering might of your Spear Dao... That was truly a terrifying display of power."

Chen Yi smiled but didn’t say a word.

It seemed that after his deadly battle with Yan Jingchen that night, Lord General had visited the upper reaches of the Chishui River. Thinking about it, it made sense. As a Golden Banner Officer of the White Tiger Guard, and with his Cultivation having reached the Upper Three Grades Realm, if he had rushed there in time, he would indeed have been able to detect the slight fluctuations in Heaven and Earth’s Spiritual Mechanism.

Lou Yuxue looked at the two of them, then immediately invited Lord General to take a seat, recounting what they had just discussed regarding Ma Shuhan.

After listening, Lord General’s expression didn’t show the emotional shift she had expected; instead, he stared straight at Chen Yi.

Lou Yuxue asked in confusion, "My Lord, is something wrong?"

Lord General ignored her. Fixing his gaze on Chen Yi, he asked in a serious tone:

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