Chapter 252:
Ji Chengfeng listened attentively to the young lady across from him throughout.
Before, he only knew the general circumstances of her encounter with danger; this time, hearing the person involved recount it in detail, he inevitably felt even more shocked and thrilling.
When he heard that she jumped toward the window to dodge the cleavers of those thugs, and perilously grabbed that iron chain, his always calm and composed facial expression unconsciously tightened.
Only after she safely escaped and entered the room next door did he slowly exhale that held breath.
When he heard that the madam turned her back to shield her, Ji Chengfeng felt sincere gratitude well up in his heart.
Because he was too nervous and focused, he didn’t catch the last question clearly.
Xie Wanning waited a moment, and seeing the person across from her looking dazed, she couldn’t help but wave her hand. “Cousin, what are you thinking about?”
Her skin was fair and lustrous, her finger joints slender and elegant; Ji Chengfeng glanced at it and snapped back to his senses.
He picked up the teacup and took a sip before saying, “Wanwan, this ordeal of yours really made one break out in a cold sweat.”
It was all in the past now, so Xie Wanning waved her hand nonchalantly. “It’s over.”
With that, she brought the topic back. “The Lin Family as the mastermind behind the scenes—was it for Second Young Master Lin? What kind of punishment will their family receive?”
Ji Chengfeng slowly shook his head. “Second Young Master Lin is already over thirty, and these years he hasn’t focused on studying, with no intention of taking the provincial examination. The Lin Family’s actions this time were for the eldest legitimate grandson, the Lin Family’s third-generation young master who is just eighteen.”
An eighteen-year-old scholar—though not as stunning as Second Young Master Lin at the time—was undoubtedly heaven’s compensation for the Lin Family, which had already lost its prodigy in Second Young Master Lin.
To produce a recommended scholar from the family, especially one with a high ranking, they would do anything possible.
As for that top scholar in the county examination from Anle County, he was born in the countryside with no backing; even if he missed an examination due to food poisoning, no family would step forward to investigate thoroughly.
For the Lin Family, a little scheme could eliminate a major confidant threat, making it well worth doing.
Who could have imagined that this case would be personally handled by the Prefect?
The Li Family, the most unremarkable one in Bianzhou City, actually managed to connect with the new Prefect—something no one could have anticipated.
Ji Chengfeng said, “Since this case didn’t result in any deaths, and there’s an antidote for the poison, the few scholars involved were settled with a sum of silver money paid by the Lin Family, with the consent of the victims.”
Xie Wanning frowned deeply upon hearing this, and before she could speak, the young man across from her looked over.
As if knowing what she was thinking, he smiled. “Beyond that, the Lin Family’s eldest legitimate grandson and Scholar Xu have been stripped of all official titles, and for three generations, no direct or collateral branches of the Lin Family may participate in the imperial examinations.”
The imperial examinations are the only legitimate path for commoners to become officials.
For the Lin Family, which sought to change its family prestige through the imperial examinations, being barred for three generations was almost like losing half its life.
To achieve that change in family prestige, when Second Young Master Lin showed promise, they felt Miss Liu was not good enough for him, forcibly ruining their marriage and driving them to elope.
Their own prodigy had wasted over a dozen years in vain.
And now, three generations had lost eligibility for the imperial examinations.
Truly gratifying.
In a good mood, Xie Wanning didn’t stint on praise. Her lips curved slightly as she smiled. “Cousin, you are impartial and selfless, judging cases like a god; no wonder Your Majesty personally selected you as the Top Scholar.”
Words that would sound flattering and sycophantic from others took on a subtle meaning from her mouth.
It was praise, still praise.
Just a bit too casual.
Not that forceful.
