For My Aunt (4)
The exam hall stirred at the Emperor's words.
"Quiet!"
"……."
"Until now, we've conducted the exams by having candidates write their opinions on paper and submit them. But affairs of state aren't managed solely through writing. Moreover, I believe it's necessary for each ministry to select the talents they desire directly. Therefore, you will now present and debate your views orally before me and the ministers."
"……."
"Furthermore, since consistency in one's opinions is crucial, we'll also review the answer sheets from previous exams and question you on them."
The faces of those gathered for the exam paled at the Emperor's declaration.
Writing answers in front of the Emperor and officials was nerve-wracking enough, but to speak and debate directly before them!
Among the hundred or so candidates present, a few turned ghostly white for entirely different reasons.
Song Chi and Ko Seong-il.
'Damn it!'
'We're screwed.'
In truth, they had studied for the civil service exams. But they lacked the skill to pass on their own.
The reason they'd passed previous exams was that someone else had taken them in their place.
They had entered the exam hall, of course.
But the proxy who actually took the test had written their names on the papers.
For such men, the Emperor's words struck like a bolt from the blue.
Honestly, they didn't even know what was written on the answer sheets submitted under their names.
"Let the exam begin."
"Yes."
"Present the topic."
At that command, officials from the Rites Ministry unrolled a large silk scroll inscribed with the exam topic.
"We'll proceed in random order. Attendant Jeong."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The man called Attendant Jeong brought forward a box. The Emperor reached in, drew out a small wooden plaque, and read it.
"The candidate from Guizhou Province, Woo Min, step forward."
A man shuffled forward, trembling, and performed the proper bows.
The Emperor waved him off.
"Rise. Those coming before me for the exam need only bow once and stand—that will suffice as courtesy. This is to save time."
"Yes."
"Now, bring them into the throne room at random."
"As you command."
The Emperor entered the throne room, followed by the called candidate, Woo Min.
The exam proceeded more smoothly than expected.
Even with nerves frayed before the Emperor, these were individuals who had survived brutal competition and advanced through the provincial rounds.
The attendant called out from the front.
"Song Chi of Shandong Province! Song Chi of Shandong Province, enter!"
"……!"
Song Chi's face drained of color.
It was his turn.
There was no escaping it.
With the resigned heart of an ox led to slaughter, Song Chi stepped into the throne room.
"Are you Song Chi?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Then, expound on this topic."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
He began discoursing on the topic in a quavering voice.
But the Emperor and ministers looked distinctly unimpressed.
"And so, in conclusion……."
"Enough. Regarding the answer you wrote for this provincial exam……."
At that moment, the Emperor's expression hardened. He looked up at Song Chi.
The Emperor quickly rifled through the answer sheets in his hand, then let out a sigh.
"Do you think the civil service exams are a joke?"
"Pardon?"
The Vice Minister of the Cabinet, standing nearby, asked,
"What is it, Your Majesty?"
"They say this is the answer sheet he submitted before. Look."
The Vice Minister took the sheet and began reading. It was an excellent response.
'I must find what's wrong with it. If I don't, my position's done for.'
As he fretted, he noticed something off.
'Huh?'
Not one to have lucked into his post over drinks, he quickly spotted the anomaly.
"The handwriting is different."
At that, the ministers turned shocked gazes on Song Chi.
How could answer sheets from one person have different handwriting?
"Have you ever seen such insolence! Daring to deceive my eyes with cheating?"
The ministers chimed in eagerly.
"I thought something was off."
"This is an insult to Your Majesty. He deserves punishment for high treason."
"Punish him for high treason to set an example."
At their words, Song Chi flung himself to the floor in supplication.
"M-Mercy, Your Majesty!"
"Throw this man in prison immediately!"
"Yes!"
Song Chi was dragged away by the Gold Guard. As he went, he pointed at the stack of answer sheets beside him.
"Attendant, examine these answer sheets and find any with mismatched handwriting."
"Yes!"
The attendants soon dug through the papers and uncovered more irregularities.
"Here are more suspicious answer sheets."
"Whose are they?"
"They belong to a Ko Seong-il of Jiangsu Province."
"Throw him in prison too."
"Yes!"
After the commotion, the remaining candidates proceeded with the exam on eggshells.
"Next, Hong Seon-il of Beijing."
"Yes!"
Hong Seon-il entered the Taewha Hall with trepidation.
The name he'd written on his own answer sheet was Song Chi's.
And that Song Chi had just been hauled off by the Gold Guard to prison. Ko Seong-il as well.
He had no idea what to do in this situation.
After bowing and rising,
"Then, on this topic……."
"A moment."
"……?"
"Your provincial exam answer caught my interest, so first……."
Before hearing his discourse on the topic, the Emperor questioned Hong Seon-il about his submitted provincial answer sheet.
Trembling yet coherent, Hong Seon-il replied,
"That is……."
His answer was remarkably clear.
It had to be—he'd written it himself.
"Then, in this answer sheet, you……."
As the question-and-answer with the Emperor continued, greed flickered in the ministers' eyes toward Hong Seon-il.
'He's a shoo-in for top honors.'
'A definite talent! A true talent!'
'Just the man our ministry needs.'
'The Six Ministries are already poaching our talents—no way we'll let the Hanlin Academy lose one.'
Meanwhile, the Emperor boldly recalled the man who'd requested a private audience and enabled his incognito outing.
Eun Seo-ho.
He was first the one who'd saved the life of Jin U-rim, the merchant leader whose grace had allowed the Emperor to ascend the throne.
But the more they met, the more his true colors shone through.
Hong Seon-il before him was talented, but in the Emperor's eyes, the real genius was Eun Seo-ho.
'Thanks to him, we caught those trying to infiltrate as officials via cheating.'
He remembered Eun Seo-ho's words.
"Reviewing the answer sheets these metropolitan exam candidates submitted in past exams will aid in selecting true talents."
It was impossible not to think he'd known this would happen.
'I should summon him sometime and pry more out of him.'
Hong Seon-il hyung returned home.
Aunt and the family encouraged him, saying he'd done well.
Hyung smiled brightly at me.
"Just as you said."
"……?"
"Just as you said, something good happened today. Must be the nice weather."
Looking at hyung's face, it seemed my plan had gone off without a hitch.
"I'm glad."
And two days later.
A man emerged from the imperial palace and read the Emperor's edict aloud.
It was a congratulatory edict for topping the exam.
Perfect.
Who knew what trials awaited hyung working in the palace.
But remembering this, he wouldn't turn into the cynical, unmotivated man from my past life.
Truth be told, the biggest gain was derailing the Murim Alliance's scheme.
Of course, they wouldn't abandon their plan to plant someone in the palace—they'd keep trying.
But this incident would make the Emperor more vigilant in everything.
It wouldn't be easy for them now.
A man clad in martial robes with a sword at his waist hurried along.
Arriving at a splendid yet understated hall, he addressed the guard.
"I have a message for the Alliance Leader."
The guard reported inside, and a reply came promptly.
"Let him in."
"Yes."
He opened the door and entered, immediately prostrating himself.
"I see you, Alliance Leader. A report from Beijing."
The Alliance Leader, tending to flowers in a vase, nodded.
"Yes, things were progressing in Beijing."
It was the matter of planting a Murim Alliance member in the imperial palace.
Aimed at preventing future imperial interference in alliance affairs, the Leader had watched closely.
"How did it go?"
"It failed."
"……What? Failed?"
"Yes."
The Alliance Leader's aura swept the office; the subordinate broke into cold sweat.
"Explain in detail."
"Y-Yes!"
The subordinate recounted the events meticulously.
"So, we're investigating the participants now, but Song Chi and Ko Seong-il—the ones we aimed to place in the palace—seem unlikely to escape execution. And several of our prepared fallback spots may have to be abandoned."
"I see."
The Leader gazed at a flower in the vase, then slashed it with the dagger in his hand.
Petals scattered to the floor.
"No helping it. Eliminate them before our tail gets exposed."
"Understood."
Once the subordinate left, the Leader glared at the vase.
Had the Emperor not changed the procedure, it would have gone as planned.
'But suddenly altering the format?'
He'd need to look into this incident.
With our business concluded, we decided to return to headquarters.
"Why not stay longer?"
Aunt asked, but I shook my head.
"I'd love to, but I have a lot on my plate."
"True, you're making a name as the lord of Hyeonpung Province."
I turned to see them exchanging reluctant goodbyes.
Hong Seon-il hyung, Kwak Hyeong-jin, and Seok Il-song.
"Dedicate yourselves even more to your studies. I guarantee with your skills, you can top the exams."
"I'll keep your words in mind, hyungnim."
"Little brother, noted."
Bringing those two along was the right call.
"Time to head out."
"Yes!"
Grandfather and the two climbed into the carriage. As I moved to follow, hyung called me.
"Seo-ho."
"Yes, hyungnim."
"Thanks for helping our merchant group this time."
The Yeonjun Merchant Group had hit a snag when a trading partner suddenly cut ties.
I'd connected them with alternatives, leveraging Jin U-rim the merchant leader and my Beijing connections.
Hyung handed me a pouch. It felt heavy.
"……?"
"Buy something tasty on the way."
"Ah! Thank you."
I never turn down pocket money.
"Take good care of those two as well."
"Yes."
Feels like this is for treating those two to snacks too?
"Hope to see you in the palace next time."
"Yeah, we'll see."
I boarded the carriage and set off for Eunhae Merchant Group headquarters.
Now it was really time to go home.
.
.
.
On the road back to Hubei Province.
I was reviewing documents.
Work had piled up, so I handled it en route.
Soon, we'd launch the self-propelled cart Gongbong invented.
In my past life, those little self-moving toy carts were popular not just with boys but adults too.
I planned to apply the same gimmick as the automated dolls—make different designs for collectors.
No sense letting such a product be a one-off.
The carriage rolled toward Hubei.
.
.
.
We finally arrived at Eunhae Merchant Group.
Home.
Since we traveled with Grandfather, I'd sent a messenger ahead with our ETA.
As we pulled into the carriage house and disembarked, Father, Mother, and Jeong Ho hyung with his wife welcomed us.
"Was the journey smooth?"
"We got back fine. Oh, first things first—Seon-il topped the exam this time."
"Wonderful news."
But I noticed the family's expressions were oddly somber.
"Jeong Ho hyung, something wrong?"
"Huh?"
"The mood feels off. Something's definitely up."
At my question, hyung sighed.
"Well…… Jin-ho hasn't come back yet."
"What do you mean Jin-ho hyung hasn't returned?"
When I'd returned from Shaanxi Province, Jin-ho hyung wasn't at Eunhae.
He'd gone to Yunnan for tea leaves.
By the timeline, he should have been back.
"We sent people to investigate, and word just arrived."
Grandfather pressed,
"So, what happened?"
Father sighed and said,
"It seems Jin-ho has gone missing."
After resolving Aunt's family matters, trouble had struck our own home.