In the afternoon, Pei Tan was in his study looking at the article of the deceased Liu Yong. Relying on his memory, he copied out half of the article, which was another essay on the same topic as Fan Wenjun's.

  A runner came flying in to report: "Your Honor! Something's gone wrong!"

  I don't know why these people like shouting "the adults are no good", when in fact the adults are standing right here doing just fine.

  The yamen of the Dalishi Temple is already so restless, it can be imagined what other government offices are like.

  "What's wrong?" Pei Tan asked lightly.

  The official was still panting and said: "The people on the street are all talking about it, saying that they saw a dead person come back to life!"

  The dead have come back to life, this statement itself is quite alarming and intimidating.

  "What dead person?"

  The official said: "It was a scholar who used to live in Wenxi Inn, named Fan Wenjun!"

  "Is what you said true?" a gentle female voice sounded.

  Jing Wan'er didn't know when she walked in from outside the door, her eyes seemed to be thinking as she looked at the bailiff.

  Pei Tan's pen tip paused on the rice paper and slowly said, "Are you sure it's not just a rumor among the common people?"

  Such things can be heard every day on the streets and alleys of Chang'an, with many strange ones, basically derived from the stories of Mr. Shuoshu.

  "Sir," Jing Wanyu said, "if it's just a rumor among the common people, there's no need to mention names."

  To them, Fan Wenjun's name is well-known, but to ordinary people, who Fan Wenjun is might not be as memorable as the impression of a girl occasionally glimpsed on the street in front of Cuīyún Building.

  Pei Tan stared at the girl's face, with a profound meaning in his eyes.

  Jing Yuanei stared at the bailiff and said with a serious expression: "How many people heard that?"

  The officer hastily said: "Even if you say less, there are more than a dozen people." More than a dozen mouths passed on again, and it was really faster than growing wings. If this is true, wouldn't the case suddenly turn around, and everything would be different?

  The official's eyes flickered, staring at Pei Tan's expression.

  "Go down."

  Jing Wan'er's gaze coincidentally met with Pei Tan's. Then, the girl lowered her head and stared at her toes.

  After a long while, the girl slowly smiled and spoke first: "Wan'er thinks that this matter should be directly told to Lin Niang."

  Pei Tan said lightly: "It's a bit too early." If Lin Jingjing knew this news, her reaction would probably exceed her endurance.

  Jing Wan'er saw Pei Tan's concerns: "If the master is worried about Lin Niang, I think it's unnecessary."

  From the moment Lin Jingjing started beating the drum in front of the Dali Temple, Zhen Ruoer saw this woman for the first time, and what she saw was her pair of eyes that seemed to have lost all hope.

  If Lin Jingjing were to find out from someone else's mouth, the situation would be out of control.

  Pei Tan looked at Jing Wanyu and slowly opened her mouth: "Wanyu is willing to go as the spokesperson."

  Just as she stepped out of Pei Tan's study, a figure flashed by in the corner of the wall.

  ——

  Zong Chuke stood in his bedroom, the curtains shrouding the dim light, staring straight at the memorial tablet of "Zong Huo" across from him.

  "Find out how he got into the city?"

  The servant who had been kneeling behind him all along finally spoke in a trembling voice: "Not yet."

  Zong Chuke picked up the incense stick next to him and lit it: "Now that the gates of Chang'an are closed, if he didn't come from outside the city, then it means he is someone inside Chang'an." Then how could he possibly be 'Fan Wenjun', it's truly laughable.

  Zong Chuke looked at the memorial tablet in front of him: "Huo Er, you said it was true?"

  This must be another one of that villain's tricks.

  Just find someone to pretend to be a scholar, is it okay? He won't be fooled again for the second time.

  "Harness the horses, I'm going to the Chancellor's mansion."

  Since Zong Huo's death, this memorial tablet has been placed at the head of Zong Chuke's bed, which is somewhat eerie.

  Zong Chuke sat in the carriage on his way to the Prime Minister's mansion, with his eyes closed, like a monk in meditation. But the outer garment stained with power and desire, this life would not be clean.

  May attain enlightenment instantly.

  The carriage suddenly shook violently, which was unprecedented in the past. After the shaking, the carriage stopped.

  A flustered voice from outside: "Sir, someone is blocking the car."

  The carriage bears the emblem of the Shangshu Fu, who dares to intercept it?

  Zong Chuke opened his eyes and heard someone outside say: "Sir, it's someone from the Liu family."

  Liu family, a large clan of Liu in Chang'an.

  "Your Excellency," said the man outside the carriage, forcing himself to speak, "I've come to pass on a few words from my young master."

  The Liu and Wei families of Chang'an had long been allied before they dared to intercept the carriage of Zong Chuke.

  The Liu family servant spoke up: "Recently there have been some rumors in the city, some of which are clearly different from what the Minister promised earlier. The young master hopes that you will do a good deed afterwards."

  Zong Chuke finally spoke, coldly saying: "This is all a trick of the Pei family's son from the Dalisi Temple. If you fall for it, you will be playing right into his hands."

  Fan Wenjun must have been dead and died thoroughly.

  The people outside the carriage whispered: "Whether it's a trick or not, the young master said that the imperial examination is imminent. If the Liu family can't win the top prize as scheduled, or if something goes wrong in between, I'm afraid even the Minister will not be able to escape responsibility."

  Zong Chuke clenched his fist and glared coldly: "Your family's young master dares to threaten me!?"

  The man outside the carriage muttered to himself. Since he had no children, Zong Chuke's temper had become more and more irritable, which was well-known among the nobles in Chang'an.

  "The young master is hopeful, no matter if that person is really Fan Wenjun or not, it's best to..." Two words were swallowed back into his belly, and the rest was left unspoken.

  Zong Chuke said coldly: "What if this is a trap set by the Temple of Great Rites?"

  In Zong Chuke's heart, he never believed in this matter. Such a coincidental time, and then someone claiming to be Fan Wenjun appeared, which was simply the dog jumping over the wall of that villain, still wanting to deceive him once again.

  Outside, a servant of the Liu family said: "The Grand Court is just a puppet controlled by the Ministry of Punishment. The power of the Pei family in Chang'an is nothing more than that."

  "Is it necessary for the alliance between the Liu and Wei families to worry about a small temple like Dali?"

  "The evil fire in Zong Chuke's heart burst out: 'You all don't understand that boy.'"

  Zong Huo's death was a lifelong regret that he could never speak of, and even the fact that Zong Huo died in Wuzhou, the sheltered place he had carefully prepared for his son, was still reached by Pei Tan's hand, assassinating his only child.

  Outside the carriage, Liu's servant was silent for a moment before saying, "Young Master wants to know if Minister Shang has become timid because of your matter?"

  Zong Chuke glared at the front gate of the carriage, his killing intent surging as he said: "Say one more word and this official will kill you!"

  Don't forget who arranged the trick of hiding heaven and crossing the sea, sending articles that could be highly praised by Zhongzong to Liu's family. Liu's family has not yet truly topped the imperial examination, but dares to show off in front of him.

  The Liu family's servant looked at Zong Chuke's approaching claws with a frightened expression, speaking incoherently: "Young master just hopes to...to achieve a win-win situation with your lordship..."

  Win-win, daydreaming fool.

  All for their own interests, the Liu family bought the champion with real gold and silver, where did the same progress and retreat come from.

  The Lius' servant was dismissed, a fleeting look of resentment appearing on his face.

  The Ministry of Works is nothing but a dog attached to the Wei family, what right does it have to look down on the prestigious Liu family like this.

  ——

  Jing Wan'er opened the door and walked out, only to see Pei Tan still standing outside in the same posture as before.

  She smiled: "Obviously Lin Niang is stronger than adults imagine." With her love for Fan Wenjun, this weak woman had obviously trained herself into a diamond body.

  Jing Wan'er's eyes rolled: "Lin Niang said that she thanked the adults for their protection these days, but she didn't want to continue hiding, she wanted to go back to her original place."

  "Do you know how dangerous it is to go out now?" asked Pei Tan after a long pause.

  Jing Wan'er said calmly: "Lin girl said that she had long put life and death out of her mind."

  Don't underestimate a woman who can give up her life.

  "Pei Tan lowered his eyes: 'When does she want to leave?'"

  Jing Wan'er's eyes were dim and distant: "She wants to leave immediately." Once the heart has made up its mind to leave, it will be like an arrow returning home.

  "But we also need to know where 'Fan Wenjun' is now?" A smile floated in Jing Wanyi's eyes.

  The runner was quickly called over, still the same one as before, and was dispatched to "keep an eye on" that Fan Lang: "Reporting to Your Honor, that person slept under the bridge last night, claiming he had no money and couldn't afford a hostel. This morning, he went to that Cuicui Building again..."