Yang rushed over, panting, looking at Li Yue Shu with triumphant eyes, as if waiting to see her make a fool of herself.
Under everyone's gaze, she shouted, "This result is fake. Shen Yi Min and Mo Lian don't have the ability for this!"
As she spoke, she pointed at Li Yue Shu, "This woman is on good terms with the county magistrate. I even saw them visiting each other during the New Year!"
"The county magistrate is in charge of the county exam. They colluded, which is why these two could easily get the top two spots."
Yang's face was filled with righteous indignation, "Other scholars wake up early and study hard just to get good grades and embark on official careers. But you used such dirty means to cheat. Are you worthy of your conscience? Are you worthy of so many scholars!"
Seeing how righteous she sounded, Li Yue Shu almost felt like applauding her.
The sudden turn of events shocked everyone. Those who had been surrounding Li Yue Shu moments ago instinctively shifted to the side.
Old Man Liu and the others were furious, and even the usually gentle Mother Mo's face turned red with anger.
Li Yue Shu, however, remained calm and walked directly towards Yang.
Perhaps it was her aura, or perhaps it was the deep impression her previous actions had left, but Yang subconsciously stepped back, a flicker of fear crossing her face.
Li Yue Shu's lips curved into a smile, her sarcasm undisguised. "Don't you know that slandering an imperial official is punishable by arrest, imprisonment, or even a beating?"
Yang shivered, suppressing her fear, and shouted, "I am speaking the truth. The entire Tong Mu County knows the magistrate is in cahoots with you. If he dares to arrest me, it will only prove your guilt!"
Cheng Cai had told her to make sure everyone knew in public that if the magistrate tried to arrest her, it would be their attempt to cover up the truth and confirm their collusion and cheating.
This was why she dared to come today and slander the magistrate and Li Yue Shu.
In fact, it wasn't slander. Cheng Cai had said that Shen Yi Min, that bastard, only focused on pleasing teachers at the academy, and Mo Lian was just a page boy. There was no way they could have achieved such good results!
Thinking this, Yang suddenly gained confidence, her chin lifting higher.
Her words did indeed sow doubt in the minds of the onlookers. Some parents of scholars who hadn't made the list even completely believed her.
"I've always heard that Madam Shen is highly favored by the county magistrate. Whenever her pharmacy or restaurant opened, the magistrate would visit with generous gifts."
"I heard that during the New Year, the magistrate solemnly introduced Madam Shen in front of everyone, implying that people should take care of her in the future!"
"This is too much. My son studied diligently, staying up until midnight before the county exam. How can someone be so shameless and seek favors!"
...
The whispers around them grew louder. Although some people who had interacted with Li Yue Shu didn't believe Yang's words, such voices were quickly drowned out.
For a moment, Li Yue Shu seemed to have become the target of public criticism.
Mother Mo, who had been in a good mood, never expected things to turn out this way. Her face turned red with anger, and she almost lost her balance. It was Mo Lian, who was quick-witted, who caught her.
Shen Wei, in the carriage, also darkened his expression, his usual foolish demeanor replaced by a chilling coldness.
His gaze at Yang held a hint of killing intent.
With Yang's intelligence, she shouldn't have come up with this idea. Was the Li mansion behind it?
Yang vaguely felt a chill down her spine but didn't know why.
Seeing that Li Yue Shu didn't respond, she thought she had gained the upper hand, her nostrils flaring in arrogance.
"Li Yue Shu, you're afraid my Cheng Cai will block your bastard's path, so you colluded with the magistrate to kick him out of the academy, you..."
"Slap!"
Before she could finish speaking, Li Yue Shu suddenly strode forward and slapped Yang across the face.
Everyone was stunned. No one expected her to dare to physically assault someone in front of so many people.
Li Yue Shu's face was as cold as frost. "Didn't I tell you that if you don't clean up your mouth, I'll rip it apart?"
Her tone was calm, yet it inexplicably sent a chill down people's spines.
Yang's face instantly swelled.
She looked up in anger, but her gaze met Li Yue Shu's, and she immediately deflated.
"You... Don't try to change the subject!" Yang secretly shuffled backward. "Even if you beat me to death today, I will expose your shameful collusion with the magistrate!"
Shen Wei's eyes were icy. He made a gesture to someone in the shadows.
As Chai Yang, who had received the order, was about to leave, he saw Li Yue Shu step forward again and deliver another slap.
"Slap!"
With a crisp sound, Yang was sent to the ground. Her ears buzzed, and it took her a long time to react.
Li Yue Shu shook her hand, regretting having thrown her horsewhip to Shen Wei.
Her hand hurt!
She looked down at Yang with a mocking expression, "This slap is for ruining my Ah Min and Ah Lian's good day and spoiling everyone's mood."
Yang took a while to recover. When her ears could finally hear, she heard these words.
She turned her head to look at Li Yue Shu in anger, "You..."
"Since you're so sure that the magistrate and I colluded, then summon the magistrate here to confront me directly!"
Li Yue Shu interrupted her and turned to a nearby constable. "Please trouble yourself, brother, to invite the county magistrate."
The constable, who had been standing by the notice board, had come over upon hearing the commotion. After hearing the sequence of events, he was already planning to report to the magistrate, so he didn't refuse Li Yue Shu's request and hurried into the county office.
Seeing her candid and composed demeanor, Shen Wei's fingers moved, causing Chai Yang to abandon his intended action.
A bad premonition suddenly arose in Yang's heart.
No, it shouldn't be like this.
She should have been afraid, begging me not to say anything else, and then agreeing to let Cheng Cai return to the academy, perhaps even including Cheng Cai on the list of successful candidates. It shouldn't be like this.
Yang subconsciously looked around, but saw only unfamiliar faces watching the spectacle, and her panic grew.
A moment later, the constable from before returned from the county office, accompanied by a man in official robes.
The surrounding crowd parted automatically.
The new county magistrate walked directly up to Yang, his face stern. "You say the results of this county exam are unfair, and that this official colluded with the parents of the candidates. Do you have any evidence?"
Yang's body trembled. A terrifying guess appeared in her mind. "You... Who are you?"
The new county magistrate was a stern-looking man. Hearing her words, his eyes widened, and his demeanor became even fiercer. "You confidently claimed to have seen this official colluding with someone, and you don't even recognize me?"
Yang's face turned pale. Even the swollen slap mark couldn't hide her terror. "You... You are... Impossible, you are not the county magistrate! I've seen the county magistrate, and he doesn't look like you at all! You... you were hired by Li Yue Shu! Yes, you're a fake hired by her! You're a fake!"