This year, there are over a million candidates gathered in Chang'an. Among them, some may have talent, but not all of them will be on that yellow list now. And what can represent their existence in the end may just be these articles and sentences.

  And now the water stain on the desktop is slowly fading away. Once it's completely dry, these words will also disappear thoroughly.

  There was once a scholar named Liu Yong, whose traces in this world disappeared like the yellow sand of the northern desert.

  It's really desolate, Jing Wan'er was stunned.

  "Liu Yong can be said to have committed suicide, but it can also be said that he did not." At this time, Pei Tan suddenly spoke up in a low voice.

  Jing Wan'er looked back in surprise.

  Pei Tan said: "The chair has the same marks as being dragged on the ground, and the person who sat at the table in the corner of the first floor came to the third floor and sat opposite Liu Yong."

  Jing Wan'er looked towards the empty space in front of her at this moment.

  Pei Tan said again: "This person is not here to drink with Liu Yong, nor is he a friend of Liu Yong's."

  If it were a friend, there would definitely be wine and water on the opposite side, just like Liu Yong's. However, the opposite side is almost spotless, clean to an unusual degree.

  Jing Wantong thought, who would be so ruthless as to eradicate every trace of existence, leaving no hint of their presence?

  Culprit.

  She was shocked and finally understood why Pei Tan said that Liu Yong could be said to have committed suicide, but also could be said not to have.

  Because it seems like Liu Yong jumped down by himself from the scene, but what about that person opposite him, did he just stand there and watch?

  Those who watch others being killed without rescuing them are also murderers.

  Jing Yuanyu suddenly thought that the other party was not only unrescued, but also pushed a hand in Liu Yong's death.

  "Liu Yong died at the exact time when the list was posted, two hours too coincidental. During this period of time, all those who failed to pass the exam were extremely uneasy in their hearts." The verdict of the Temple of Justice is not just a case, but also a reflection of people's minds.

  Jing Wan'er seemed to have understood Pei Tan's meaning. At this time, people's hearts were most vulnerable to manipulation.

  "If the other party had taken the opportunity to provoke and intentionally stimulate Liu Yong..."

  Liu Yong chose to end his life in despair.

  Jing Wan'er had seen many palace maids choose to end their lives in the palace every year. Many of those who committed suicide were almost all tortured at the moment of their death.

  This kind of torment is not physical, but the straw that crushes one's spirit.

  "But Zi Yan'er said that no one else had come up." Jing Wanyan hesitated, this was also the place where she couldn't figure out how to clear the suspicion for Zi Yan'er and her husband.

  Pei Tan's eyebrows furrowed, and he suddenly said, "It's not that no one came up, but the person who did come up wouldn't attract attention."

  Jing Wan'er's eyes lit up and she almost blurted out: "Buddy!"

  Waiter in a wine shop.

  In a tavern, like an invisible person, which drinker and reveler will pay more attention to the waiter. To them, the waiter is just someone who serves tea and water.

  They actually forgot about these things, Jing Yuanyu hopes to return to Dali Temple now.

  The wine house has been sealed off, but if any of the brothers from that day were to go back and ask Zilian now, they would immediately know.

  Bai Tan, however, did not show the same excitement. After a long silence, he said, "Even if we ask them, it's useless. They have already been convicted as suspects and according to the law, suspects do not have the right to testify."

  Moreover, saying they are partners now will only make people think they are mutually dependent on each other and won't believe it at all.

  Jing Wantong's newly ignited hope was shattered again.

  "Adult..."

  "Besides," Pei Tan said after a moment of silence, looking at the girl, "the Great Temple is no longer under my control now."

  This is truly helpless.

  Jing Wan'er bit her lip, now even the Da Li Temple Master had to sneak around to get here, how could she still expect Zi Cuan'er and Wen Lang to be...

  Released without charge.

  "It's just that we should indeed hurry back to the temple now." Pei Tan said calmly.

  Barefooted, it did not affect Pei Gongzi's elegance at all.

  They had been out for quite some time and were always at risk of being discovered.

  Jing Wan'er secretly took a deep breath.

  Before leaving, Pei Tan pulled the chair back and quietly restored the table to its original state. The two walked barefoot downstairs and put on their dirty socks at the door.

  The two walked to the front of the grass pile at the foot of the wall and found that it was more difficult to turn out than to turn in.

  They can climb back up the haystack and flip over the wall again. Ignoring the fact that the haystack has been crushed by the weight of the two people.

  The height is no longer enough.

  Pei Tan slowly lowered his eyes and said in a dimly lit tone to Jing Wanyu, "You stepped on my shoulder to get here."

  Jing Wan'er looked surprised.

  Pei Tan had already hesitated for nothing, one leg bent on the ground, his whole person half-kneeling down.

  Jing Wan'er's heart skipped a beat.

  "Come on up," said Pei Tan.

  It's pointless to waste time on this matter. Jing Wanyu walked up to him and slowly raised her foot to step on Pei Tan's body.

  Pei Tan was the kind of slender and refined man, with a subtle waistline, somewhat like the Wei Jin beauty in paintings. Even in the open-minded Tang Dynasty, physical contact between men and women was rare, especially for someone like Jing Wanyan who had access to high-ranking officials.

  And she stepped on Pei Tan's body, only to find that he was motionless, steadily supporting her.

  Jing Wan'er no longer hesitated and quickly gathered her thoughts. She stepped on Pei Tan's shoulder and swiftly climbed up the wall.

  "Adults." She stood on the wall head, turned around and beckoned to Pei Tan.

  Pei Tan slowly looked around at the stacks of hay beside him, first walking up to them, then looking up at the wall that was still some distance above his head. He first grasped it with his hands and then, using force, jumped up, one foot somewhat laboriously finding its footing on top.

  Jing Wan'er didn't hesitate and grabbed Pei Tan's hand, helping him climb up.

  Two people on the wall looked at each other, and the warmth of their fingers was still on each other's body. They both lowered their heads again, looking under the wall root, and suddenly found that there were still two pairs of shoes left.

  The two of them jumped down from the wall one after another and left to return to the Temple of Great Rites before anyone on the street noticed. The only thing that might represent their experience was perhaps the socks stained with mud from the courtyard, but it's unlikely that anyone would dare take off the shoes of a noble from the Temple of Great Rites to check his socks.

  Jing Wan'er, today she came out with Temple Qing's true body, wouldn't she be worried that Pei Tan would expose her?

  Hehe, thinking about it this way feels especially comfortable.

  On Chang'an Street, ordinary people are still living their own lives.

  The three top scholars' names were announced, and it seemed like a grand occasion in Chang'an, with the whole country celebrating together. However, the common people looked at the list of names with dull, expressionless faces.

  On the bustling Dong Street, a disheveled man appeared, with sparse hair and a pale complexion. As if he hadn't eaten in ten years.

  His eyes, which had turned green with hunger, saw the steaming buns on the side of the road and his whole body trembled for a moment before he rushed over, grabbed one and stuffed it into his mouth.

  "The owner of the baozi shop suddenly came to his senses and shouted: 'You little thief! Stop!' "

  The slovenly man swallowed the bun with all his might, regardless of anything else, and didn't care that his face was choked red.

  The owner of the baozi shop immediately shouted loudly, and several strong men rushed out of the store, firmly holding down the man who was stealing baozi.

  The boss rolled up his sleeves, coldly laughing at the man, "In broad daylight, you dare to eat a tyrant's meal, now I'll take you to see the official!"

  The man immediately raised his eyes and stared at the boss, "Don't, don't see the officer, I didn't mean to!"

  The boss was furious and pointed at the man: "You've eaten it all, I've never seen such a shameless thief like you!"

  That scoundrel was indeed shameless, but as he hastily revealed his face, amidst the dirt and grime, a few strands of refinement shone through.

  "I see there's a mistake on your shop sign. If you don't take me to the authorities, I'll correct it for you."

  The boss thought it was the most ridiculous thing he had heard all day, a thief stealing buns and not only showing no remorse but also having the nerve to say that there were typos on his sign?!

  The boss became even angrier: "Tie up this thief and take him away to see the official at once!"

  "That thief" seemed to have panicked and immediately said: "Your shop sign uses words that imply treason, if you really take me to see the official, I will definitely report you!"

  The boss's face changed color, and he believed that he had caught a madman. He scolded angrily: "You scoundrel, how dare you spout such nonsense? Where on my signboard is there any hint of treason? Do you believe me or not, I'll cut out your tongue right now?"

  The boss was threatening, but that "thief" suddenly turned pale and coldly said: "You are openly displaying the character 'Zhou' on your forehead, have you forgotten whose dynasty this is now?"