TFWYH – Chapter 516 Fire Breaks Out in the Scroll Pavilion

“Right, right!” The emperor snapped back to his senses and quickly called out into the air, “Shadow Leader, are you there?”

As soon as his words fell, a ghost-like figure appeared in the shadows not far away—only a vague outline could be seen.

The emperor immediately ordered, “Did you hear that? Investigate thoroughly, and under no circumstances let this leak out!”

In the next moment, the Shadow Leader vanished without a sound, as if he had never appeared at all.

At this point, the emperor very much wanted to see Ling Yu—to see with his own eyes whether he really was his precious eldest grandson.

“Grand Tutor, I’ve already been to Xiangxi Town twice, and I’ve met Wan-niang many times. Why didn’t I think to meet her husband back then? I truly want to see that child right now.”

“Your Majesty, there’s no need to rush. Good things take time. I have met that young man—he is indeed handsome and extraordinary, clearly no ordinary person.”

What he really wanted to say was that compared to the Heir of Rongsheng, it was like heaven and earth apart.

But the Heir of Rongsheng was, after all, the emperor’s grandson—he didn’t dare offend the emperor.

Hearing this, the emperor grew even more eager to meet Ling Yu!

Just then, Eunuch Wan hurried in. “Your Majesty, forgive me. Minister Sun from the Ministry of Personnel requests an urgent audience!”

“What is it now?” the emperor said impatiently.

He was in a good mood!

Couldn’t they just let him enjoy it for once?

Hearing the displeasure in the emperor’s tone, Eunuch Wan quickly ushered Minister Sun inside.

As soon as Minister Sun entered, he fell to his knees and performed a full prostration, saying anxiously, “Your Majesty, Grand Tutor—something terrible has happened. The exam archive at the examination hall has caught fire. All the candidates’ answer papers have been burned!”

“What?!” The emperor and Grand Tutor Yi looked at him in shock.

“Your servant is guilty,” Minister Sun said, his voice trembling. “I failed in my duty. Please punish me, Your Majesty!”

The emperor roared, “Explain to me clearly—how did the archive catch fire?!”

Minister Sun’s voice almost broke into sobs. “I… I don’t know. It just… suddenly caught fire.”

“Nonsense! How could it catch fire for no reason? Guards, take this—”

“Your Majesty!”

Grand Tutor Yi quickly interrupted him, hinting meaningfully, “I suspect a certain candidate may have offended someone important. Please allow me to explain in detail.”

“Oh?” The emperor narrowed his eyes dangerously. After a moment of thought, he decided to spare Minister Sun for now. “You may leave. Investigate the cause of the fire thoroughly. I give you three days!”

“This guilty servant thanks Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty!”

Long live, my foot!

If not for my strong heart, I’d have been angered to death by you useless fools!

The emperor waved his hand impatiently.

Go, go, go!

Get out of my sight!

Minister Sun shot a grateful glance at Grand Tutor Yi before tremblingly retreating.

Eunuch Wan, knowing the emperor still had matters to discuss, also withdrew.

Once the hall was empty, the emperor asked, “What exactly is going on? Who offended whom?”

“This matter,” Grand Tutor Yi said, “is related to the Ling Yu I mentioned earlier. After the provincial exam ended yesterday, he brought County Lady Wengnai to visit me…”

He didn’t hide anything—opportunities to trip up Prime Minister Gu were rare.

He immediately recounted everything in detail: how Gu Chengwen had used hidden agents to make things difficult for Ling Yu, and what schemes Prime Minister Gu had been plotting.

After hearing this, the emperor was furious, almost beside himself with rage. “Good! Good! That Gu Hengcang—how many times has he defied me in public and private? I tolerated it because of his age and years of service. But it seems my leniency has only emboldened him! Does he still respect the law? Does he still recognize me as the emperor?!”