Zhang Shun looked at the tightly closed front gate and asked, "Should we just go in and catch people directly now?"
"No, if we just rush in like this, Xu Gouzi would have already run away," Li Yao said. "You guys stay around and stand guard. I'll go in alone first."
At this time, Yang Chang was in the study receiving Xu Gouzi.
He was very satisfied with what Xu Gouzi did this time and happily gave him ten taels of silver as a reward.
Eating a loss at the Yangming Academy yesterday caused him to lose money he could have earned. He knew it was all Li Yao's idea, so of course he had to think of a way to get back at her.
By coincidence, his eldest grandson Yang Huai was also participating in this county exam. Yang Huai happened to be familiar with Xu Youcai and knew about the embarrassing thing that happened to Xu Youcai in Baichuan County.
So Yang Chang came up with a plan to kill two birds with one stone.
No, it should be killing three birds with one stone.
It turned out ginger was really spicy when it aged.
Now Li Yao's son Wang Er had lost his exam admission ticket, and Xu Youcai had been taken to the government office, so neither of them could participate in the county exam anymore.
Then his eldest grandson would have two fewer strong opponents, and might even become the county first.
Li Yao probably couldn't even imagine in her dreams that he would secretly plot to harm others and shift the blame.
Thinking of this, Yang Chang felt extremely proud of himself, constantly thanking his ancestors for their blessings, and at the same time feeling fortunate for his own wit.
After doing business for a lifetime, he still had some tricks up his sleeves.
"I've given you the silver," Yang Chang said to Xu Gouzi. "You know what to do next, right?"
"I know, I know," Xu Gouzi put the heavy silver into his clothes. "I'll go hide out somewhere else right away and come back after a year or two."
"Mm, good as long as you know."
"Then Master Yang, I'll get going first."
"You don't need to leave now."
At this moment, the study door suddenly opened, and Li Yao appeared before the two.
Yang Chang was shocked. Although he was a businessman, he had no shortage of strong family guards that guarded the whole house tightly.
How did Li Yao get in?
"Guards!"
Yang Chang shouted loudly, but the family guards who were usually quick to respond did not react at all this time.
"No need to shout," Li Yao said. "The dogs you raised have all fallen asleep already."
"Li Yao, what are you trying to do?" Yang Chang's face turned pale, and he retreated a few steps. "Do you believe I will sue you for trespassing a private residence!"
"The county magistrate Song is right outside. Shall I invite him in for you?"
Yang Chang panicked a little.
If the matter of him getting someone to steal Wang Er's exam ticket was exposed, it would be terrible!
What's more important was that with Li Yao catching him red-handed now, he couldn't find anyone to take the fall for him!
"Xu Gouzi, why are you still standing there stunned? Hurry up and run!"
Xu Gouzi finally reacted and relied on his agile limbs to flip out the study window and disappeared without a trace.
Seeing Xu Gouzi escape, Yang Chang finally let out a breath of relief.
Without Xu Gouzi, there would be no corroborating witness!
Even if Li Yao sued him in court, he wouldn't have to admit anything!
But before he could feel happy, there was a muffled grunt from outside, followed by a series of miserable screams.
Several agile guards quickly brought Xu Gouzi back.
It was all over.
Yang Chang only felt his heart sink to the bottom of a valley. There was no way he could argue his way out of this now!
"Yang Chang, do you have anything else left to say?"
"Li Yao, Li Yao!" Yang Chang suddenly laughed. "No doubt, I have fallen by your hands this time, but so what? Instigating Xu Gouzi to steal stuff isn't a serious crime. Yet your son will now be unable to participate in the county exam. Hahaha...if you think about it, I'm still the one who benefits more here!"
"Is that so?" Li Yao said. "Ask Xu Gouzi and see if what he tore up was really the admission ticket?"
Yang Chang's expression changed. He glared at Xu Gouzi and asked, "Tell me, are you sure you destroyed the admission ticket?"
"I..." Xu Gouzi said timidly. "I tore it up, but I don't know characters and didn't know if it was real or not..."
"You..."
Yang Chang was so angry he almost spat blood.
He had painstakingly come up with such an ingenious plan, and now he might even end up behind bars. Yet in the end, all he had stolen was a fake?
"Right," Li Yao said again. "County Prefect Song just released Xu Youcai. He's about to take the exam right now."
Yang Chang's whole body went limp and he slumped directly on the ground.
This time it was truly a case of not accomplishing anything and ruining everything. After this, he probably wouldn't have good days left in Yizhou city.
"Young Madam Li," Yang Chang finally said. "I don't think I have any injustice or enmity with you. Why must you oppose me like this?"
"What? You did wrong yourself but want to blame it on others?" Li Yao said. "You didn't want to donate to the Yangming Academy and I didn't force you. You made your own choice and have to bear the consequences. I would have let it go if you just stopped there, but you even used some shady means to try and harm me. I won't hide it from you. In Baichuan County, I, Li Yao, am famously short-tempered. The fact that I didn't publicly scold you until your nose and eyes bleed already gave you a lot of face."
Seeing that he had nothing more to say, Zhang Shun said, "Master Yang, come with us to the government office."
...
Outside the examination hall.
One candidate after another came forward. After accepting the search from the government clerk, they entered the solemn and serious examination hall.
"Go on in," Song Prefect brought Xu Youcai to the entrance. "Your things are over there."
"Thank you, sir."
The earlier false alarm still left Xu Youcai in a panic.
But Song Prefect had already explained the situation to him. It turned out that everything was Yang Chang making trouble in secret. To think he had always been on good terms with Yang Chang's grandson Yang Huai. Who knew the other party would scheme against him like this!
Truly a case of befriending the wrong person!
Now that he thought about it carefully, Wang Er who did everything openly and uprightly was still good. His conduct was truly gentlemanly.
So he didn't rush into the exam hall but waited until Wang Er arrived.
"Brother Wang Er, I must apologize to you," Xu Youcai said.
"What crime has Brother Xu committed?"
"It was all because of me that got you into this disaster for no reason," Xu Youcai said. "Luckily your lady mother had foresight, otherwise if Brother Wang couldn't participate in the county exam because of this, I would feel endlessly guilty."
"Yes, I also have to thank my mother. It's not early anymore. Let's hurry in," Wang Er said.
"After you, Brother Wang."
Watching Wang Er and the other two successfully enter the exam hall, Li Yao knew she had no more business left.
How well they scored would depend entirely on Wang Er and Song Zhe themselves.
"Let's go home and wait," she said.
"Mother," Wang Xiaosi said. "Why don't I stay here and wait? Just in case big brother needs anything, I can help."
"With your Uncle Song and your brother Wang from Yizhou here, do they still need you to worry?" Li Yao rubbed Wang Xiaosi's head. "You're just trying to find an excuse to not go study right?"
"No! I love studying the most!" Wang Xiaosi hurriedly said. "Sister Xiao Hui, let's hurry back to the academy! Mother should also go back early to rest."
After saying this, he dove into the carriage without even turning his head.
This kid was becoming more and more adept at reading subtle expressions and even knew how to flatter people now.
Li Yao also got on the carriage. There was still an inside spy at home that hadn't been caught yet.