The gatekeeper at the door couldn't stop him, nor could he not stop him, so he had to look at Pei Tan and say: "Sir, this..."

  Pei Tan didn't not want to stop her, but as for him, he actually had no grounds to stop this Lin young lady.

  Jing Wan'er stared at Pei Tan and said in a low voice: "Sir, are you going to let her go just like that?"

  Pei Tan's poster attracted people, but he never expected it would turn out like this. It's really hard to predict the affairs of the world.

  "Leave." Pei Tan slowly shook his head.

  Jing Wan'er caught up with Pei Tan in the backyard, "Sir."

  Pei Tan turned around and looked at Pei Xian behind him. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "You go take care of something."

  Just as Pei Tan whispered a few words, Pei Xian coldly left.

  Jing Wan'er looked puzzled and turned to Pei Tan. Pei Tan said to her, "Your identity is inconvenient in many ways. The Dalisi Temple is not a place where everyone listens to my arrangements. From now on, don't appear in the public hall again."

  Jing Wan'er's eyes met Pei Tan's, and today she directly brought Lin Jingjing to the main hall. Although no one questioned her for the time being, it was obvious that there wouldn't be such a good opportunity in the future.

  "Wan'er understands, thank you for pointing it out, sir."

  Pei Tan looked at her delicate face and didn't mention how dangerous her identity was. If it were really exposed, even the Dali Temple couldn't protect her.

  Jing Yuanyu finally couldn't help but speak out the words in her heart as she saw Pei Tan turn around: "Before Yuanyu entered Chang'an, I had no choice but to linger outside the city for several days. Outside the city, I met a fishing girl who said that she had seen the newly appointed Minister of Justice, who had taken the side of a humble commoner and sentenced the noble son Zonghe to death. Yuanyu remembered that the fishing girl said, 'On that day, she saw Temple Minister Pei, it was as if she had seen the reincarnation of Di Gong.'"

  Di Gong Huiying, once called "Pearl of the Ocean" by Wu Zetian, was promoted to Dalisi Temple during the Yifeng years. Within a year, he judged 17,000 cases, unprecedented and never repeated. After Di Gong, no one dared to offend the powerful officials for the sake of ordinary people.

  Pei Tan was also about a year ago, when Zhong Zong was restored to the throne, and the court was in chaos. He was appointed as the Minister of Justice by Zhong Zong at that time, but all the officials were busy fighting for power and position, who paid attention to this young man from the Pei family?

  But he encountered the case of Zhong Huo as soon as he took office, and three times entered the palace to ask for an imperial edict to reduce Zhong Huo's sentence. In the end, Zhong Huo was executed, which shocked almost everyone. Although everyone in their hearts understood that Emperor Zhong had dealt with Zhong Huo by borrowing the hands of the Supreme Court, cutting off one arm of the Wei family, however, Zhong Huo was dead after all, and died in a case at the Supreme Court.

  Pei Tan looked at Jing Wanyu and said, "From now on, don't say such things again."

  A generation of famous ministers cannot be replaced by others at will, and when it comes to Di Gong, people can't help but think of that Empress Dowager again.

  Jing Wan'er's lips moved slightly, "Wan'er just wanted adults to hear the sound outside."

  Now Pei Tan is famous in Chang'an, and just now that green-robed Lin dared to strike the drum, I'm afraid it's not a sudden impulse.

  "Listening to too many outside voices isn't necessarily a good thing."

  This time, Emperor Zhongzong appointed Wei Xuanzhen as the chief examiner of the imperial examination, with Zong Chuke, the Minister of War, serving as his deputy.

  It's only half a month before the imperial examination, and the courtyard of the Shangshu Mansion is already filled with gifts from various families, which are sent by aristocratic families who have candidates taking the exam.

  So-called deputy examiner, even has the power of sealing and signing. Who doesn't want to fawn on him?

  Zong Chuke returned from his early morning court session, took off his official robes and asked coldly: "Who is it today?"

  The humble servant lowered his head and eyes: "All the various gates of Jing and Guang have sent over their gift lists, and also the newly appointed Guanglu Daifu that you mentioned earlier has sent two boxes of rare treasures from the south and north."

  Each family that sent gifts would have a gift list, and on the list, they would write the name of their family member who was taking the exam this year. Everyone knew that Wei Xiang was clean and incorruptible, so he wouldn't accept any gifts, therefore they all targeted the deputy chief examiner, Zong Chuke.

  Zong Chuke's face was expressionless: "Take these things and return them all according to the gift list."

  "That person's eyes widened in surprise: 'Sir, are they all... retreating?'"

  Zong Chuke said coldly: "Withdraw all of them, don't leave a single one."

  He lowered his eyes and said: "Yes."

  Just as Nucai was about to retreat, Zong Chuke suddenly had a profound gaze: "Wait."

  "The slave paused: 'Is there anything else you would like to instruct, sir?'"

  Zong Chuke said slowly: "Arrange a few more servants, carry these gift boxes, and deliver them door-to-door. If they don't accept them, just throw them on the street in front of their doors, no need to bother."

  The servant's eyes were even more surprised and uncertain: "Sir, isn't this going to offend?"

  Zong Chuke's icy face showed no emotion: "Carry it out."

  He didn't dare say anything else and left the hall with his head down. Since Zong Huo's death, Zong Chuke's temperament had become increasingly eccentric and strange. This time, he was able to become the deputy examiner only because Wei Xuanzhen recommended him and Zhong Cai agreed.

  At this moment, the people of Chang'an Street are shocked to see one big box after another being carried out from the Shangshu Mansion and heading in different directions.

  This is going to be embarrassing, you know that every prominent family has at least a few eligible sons taking the exam, and it's customary to send some gifts to the examiner, whether it's out of habit or courtesy. After all, they're all colleagues in the imperial court, so it's only natural to help each other out behind the scenes - you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours, and everyone wins in the end.

  Each family was still making optimistic calculations in the morning, but in the afternoon, they were shocked to hear that the door boy reported back that the things they had sent over had been returned. It's not just that it was returned, such a big commotion naturally attracted many common people to point and whisper, causing a sensation in Chang'an for a while.

  "This Chu Ke is really crazy..."

  No one expected Zong Chuke to be so ruthless, and by rights he should have at least considered the dignity of some of his colleagues.

  Every family was on the one hand abusing and scolding, while on the other hand hastily dispatching people to clean up the miserable scene at the door.

  It was only natural that this matter reached the ears of Zhongzong, who was furious. The officials under him openly bribed the imperial examination candidates, and this Son of Heaven unleashed his thunderous anger. On the second day's morning court session, he severely scolded all the families who had sent gifts and fined them half a year's salary, only then did his anger subside.

  Then, Zhong Zong's gaze involuntarily fell on the silent and unresponsive Zong Chuke. Zong Chuke had previously lost Zhong Zong's trust due to his son Zong Huo killing someone in the street and then having a fake substitute take the blame. This time, recommending him as deputy chief examiner was also done out of consideration for the Wei family and Wei Xuanzhen's face, and Zhong Zong had no choice but to agree, fundamentally not trusting the Ministry of Works.

  It was unexpected that Zong Chuke would actually refuse the gift boxes sent by various families in person...

  Then Zhongzong said, "In the past, Taizong established the imperial examination system to select excellent talents from among the people. You group of people are really good, for the sake of promoting your own sons and daughters, you have used every means possible, it is simply a shame to the Tang Dynasty!"

  The civil and military officials of the court all fell silent, hanging their heads in shame; as for those whose names had been mentioned by Emperor Zhongzong, they were utterly humiliated, their faces burning with shame.

  Emperor Zhongzong sent out a fire, and finally looked at Zong Chuke and said: "Zong Qing did the right thing this time. The great Tang Dynasty needs people like Zong Qing to preside over the imperial examination and select real talents for the great Tang Dynasty."

  Zong Chuke immediately knelt down on the ground: "I have eaten your salary, and I should worry about you. I dare not accept your undeserved praise."

  Zhong Zong's expression was complex, and after a moment, he said, "Withdraw from court."

  All the officials left the grand hall one after another. Naturally, no one dared to approach Zong Chuke, and various resentful eyes were filled with hatred that had not been vented.

  A small official who had lost his gift box at the door, couldn't help but come to Zong Chuke's side with a gloomy and sarcastic tone: "Indeed worthy of being Minister Zong, you've regained imperial favor once again. When can we achieve what Minister Zong has achieved? As long as one's power and position are secure, even the life of one's own son is but a fleeting cloud."

  The people around heard and stared at this side, but Zong Chuke ignored the provocative person and continued to walk forward with an expressionless face.

  That little official secretly harbored resentment and thought: "Indeed an old fox."

  ——

  In the study, there was tea and candles. Although Pei Tan did not attend court, he also heard about this lively scene.

  Jing Wan'er poured tea for Pei Tan again, as if it would be unseemly if she didn't let her do these things.

  Pei Tan used to be at the Pei family home, so naturally he had drunk all sorts of famous mountain spring water. But after coming to the Dali Temple and drinking this coarse boiled tea water, his eyebrows didn't even twitch.

  Jing Wan'er couldn't help but sneer: "The gift box that was thrown back, not a single adult relative, the Pei family is indeed a rare and noble clan in the Great Tang Dynasty."

  She believed that a big family like the Pei's would definitely have someone from their clan participating in the imperial examination every year, but there had never been any rumors of anyone from the Pei family bribing officials. Not in the past, not now. Being able to achieve this was something that Jing deeply admired.

  Pei Tan held in his hand the files accumulated by the Dalin Temple, which had almost become his essential pastime. He shifted his gaze to the girl, and it was clear that he had nothing to say for a while.

  Jing Wan'er put a petal into the tea water and handed it to Pei Tan: "Sir, please have a taste."

  Pei Tan took a sip of the tea and found it had just the right temperature and a unique fragrance.

  Jing Wanyu's gaze shifted, "Actually, I don't quite understand either. Since Your Majesty has the heart to reform the imperial examination system, why choose an examiner like Zong Chuke instead of someone from a more prominent background?"

  Unexpectedly, she was trying to steer the conversation in this direction. Pei Tan's hand holding the cup paused, and his gaze collided with the girl's eyes.

  "You're wrong." Pei Tan put down his cup and looked at the girl's eyes, "Zong Chuke was able to become Shangshu because he was a jinshi in the Gaozong era."

  It's worth noting that it's not easy for a commoner to rise to prominence through the imperial examination, and in the entire Tang Dynasty, there might not be a second person who could rely on the imperial examination to become a first-rank minister besides Zhuque.

  Everyone knows that Zong Chuke relied on the Wei family's big tree to rise to prominence, but before the Wei family's tree, he was a true commoner scholar of the Tang Dynasty.

  Jing Wan'er said quietly, "Wan'er has always believed that talent and learning cannot cover up evil deeds." Her father, Jing Zhe-ren, was also a product of the imperial examination system.

  The Tang Dynasty has many talented and learned people, and it's not that Zong Chuke is particularly capable, but rather he happened to be in the right place at the right time.

  "Anyway," said Pei Tan slowly lowering his eyes, "the examination grounds are not under the jurisdiction of the Temple of Great Wisdom."

  For Pei Tan, he was granted the position of Da Li Temple Master, so everything he did was for this position. He killed Zong Ho like that, and judged cases like that.

  As for his personal feelings towards Zong Chuke and the Ministry of Works, Duke Pei's heart was undisturbed.

  Jing Wan'er poured Pei Tan another cup of tea, her mind somewhat elsewhere. "As the saying goes, 'the greatest hiding is hiding in plain sight.' After this incident, everyone inside and outside the imperial court will surely think that no one would dare to interfere with the imperial examination again. If someone were to go against the grain at this time, they probably wouldn't be discovered."

  It is a dangerous move, but it's for long-term peace and stability. That's why it's considered the best strategy in military books.

  But things have become so serious that it's a time when everyone is in danger.

  Pei Tan's eyes deepened. He slowly put down the case file and looked at Jing Wanyan: "What do you want to say?"

  The young girl speaks with a maturity that belies her tender years, hiding her true thoughts behind an innocent face.

  Jing Wan'er looked at him, seemingly covering up with a faint smile, "Wan'er was just casually guessing. Just like an old fox, if one day it suddenly disguises itself as a rabbit, it's hard not to make people feel strange."