Episode 21 recap: Yang Wanli and three others became disciples of Fan Xian.
Lin Ruofu revealed to Fan Xian that he had recommended many of his students to the imperial examiner over the years, and asked Fan Xian to start investigating from him. A lady came to accuse Lin Ruofu of causing her husband's death during the imperial examination. The Empress heard that the impersonator of Yang Wanli was a disciple of Li Chengqian, so Li Chengqian accompanied Fan Xian to file a grievance with the Emperor. The Empress was anxious for Li Chengqian and had someone summon him to inquire about the reason, only to find that Li Chengqian had been framed.
The Empress learned that Emperor Qing had entrusted Fan Xian to investigate the cases of corruption and favoritism in the imperial examinations over the years. She became wary of Fan Xian, though she did not express it openly. Li Chengqian saw Fan Xian as the best partner.
Fan Xian tasked Wang Qinian with revising the examination results list. Wang Qinian thought simply removing the impersonator and replacing him with Yang Wanli would be enough, but Fan Xian asked him to personally transcribe a copy of the list. Seeing the densely packed list of names, Wang Qinian lamented.
Deng Ziyue made disparaging remarks, angering Wang Qinian, who dared not disobey Fan Xian's order and had to meticulously copy the list, fearing he would make a mistake.
Fan Xian had Guo Youzi brought to the Scrutiny Bureau's prison, and Guo Baokun kept him company, worried that Fan Xian would eliminate Guo Youzi to cover his tracks. But when Fan Xian visited the prison to inquire about the examination fraud case and promised to release Guo Youzi soon, Guo Baokun felt relieved.
Guo Youzi provided Fan Xian with important clues and suggested starting the investigation from the victims of past examination frauds. Lin Ruofu sent Yuan Hongdao to invite Fan Xian, and Lin Dabao was eager to see Fan Xian, insisting on going with Yuan Hongdao. Seeing the delighted Fan Xian, Yuan Hongdao made an excuse to leave first, reminding Fan Xian to protect Dabao.
Fan Xian readily agreed and returned home with Lin Dabao. Hearing that Emperor Qing had entrusted the examination fraud case to Fan Xian, Lin Ruofu knew the Emperor intended to cultivate him and prepare him to take over the inner treasury. Aware of the case's complexity and the risks involved, Lin Ruofu advised Fan Xian to target him, for which Fan Xian was deeply grateful.
Lin Ruofu wanted to play chess with Yuan Hongdao but found he had gone, suspecting Yuan Hongdao had a mistress. Lin Ruofu then shifted the blame to Fan Xian, bringing up the rumors about Fan Xian and Hai Tangduoduo, causing Fan Xian to frantically explain himself.
After arduous efforts, Wang Qinian finally finished copying the examination results list, exhausted. Fan Xian even mocked him for it.
Fan Xian was puzzled and did not understand why Emperor Qing had handed over the case of the rigged imperial examinations to him. Wang Qi Nian felt that Emperor Qing wanted to cultivate Fan Xian into a leader in the literary world.
Chen Ping Ping, through the powerful Judicial Review Office, found the evidence and witnesses for the examination rigging case, and Emperor Qing had him hand these over to Fan Xian to facilitate Fan Xian's investigation. Both Chen Ping Ping and Emperor Qing had high hopes for Fan Xian, but their intentions were different. While Fan Xian was Emperor Qing's biological son, Emperor Qing wanted to use him to find the secrets of the temple and consolidate his imperial power, while Chen Ping Ping wanted Fan Xian to take over the Judicial Review Office left behind by Ye Qingmei.
Emperor Qing had Chen Ping Ping shoot an arrow, and Chen Ping Ping missed nine times. Emperor Qing ordered him to shoot one more time, and this time he had to hit the target. Chen Ping Ping, helpless, secretly placed the arrow in the quiver when Emperor Qing was not looking, and used the opportunity to demonstrate his loyalty. Emperor Qing was very satisfied and reaffirmed his supreme royal authority. After Chen Ping Ping left, he crushed the arrow quiver with his palm.
Today was the day for the imperial examination results to be posted. Candidates had arrived early at the examination hall. In the past, the Ministry of Rites would post the results, but this year it was the Judicial Review Office. The candidates were discussing the matter with great interest, saying that Yang Wanli had been impersonated, and Fan Xian had personally filed a complaint with Emperor Qing to seek justice for Yang Wanli, which had delayed the posting of the results.
The Judicial Review Office staff posted the list, and the candidates had mixed feelings. Yang Wanli, Hou Jichang, and Cheng Jialin all passed the examination with distinction, but only Shi Chanli failed. Shi Chanli was depressed, but Yang Wanli and Hou Jichang consoled him and encouraged him to try again next year.
Hou Jichang wanted to invite Cheng Jialin to visit Fan Xian together, and Shi Chanli also wanted to go with them. However, Cheng Jialin was injured in the crowd while looking at the list and could not go. The three of them came to pay respect to Fan Xian as their teacher, hoping to serve him wholeheartedly. Fan Xian prepared a gift for Hou Jichang and Yang Wanli, with the words "Be a good person, be a good official" written on it. They left joyfully.
Fan Xian kept Shi Chanli behind and showed him the official notice, which revealed that Shi Chanli's hometown of Shijie had been burned down, and his family had not survived. Shi Chanli was devastated, as he had left his hometown early to take the examination in the capital, never imagining such a tragedy would befall his family. Now he had no home to return to.
He Zongwei accompanied a woman in mourning clothes to file a complaint with Fan Xian. This was the woman that Yuan Hongdao had secretly visited. Fan Xian was unaware of this. The woman's husband had been impersonated in the imperial examination by one of Lin Ruofu's disciples and was later cruelly killed. He Zongwei claimed to have given up the examination to seek justice for the candidate.
Fan Xian summoned Yan Bingyu to discuss a plan of action. Yan Bingyu was worried that Fan Xian would cover up the case, so he wanted to take over the investigation of Lin Ruofu's examination rigging and murder. But Fan Xian insisted on handling it personally, and went directly to Lin Ruofu's mansion.
Yuan Hongdao went to a roadside restaurant to eat, and even had the waiter open the window facing the river.
Comments(Episode 21)