Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 417 - 253: Silver Salt Blackening Development Technique

Chapter 417: Chapter 253: Silver Salt Blackening Development Technique

Gu Chengyu immediately sat up from the bed and looked out the window.

"The evidence is conclusive, and you still want to argue? Hmph! Take him away and await punishment." A co-examiner pointed at the candidate opposite and shouted sternly.

Gu Chengyu saw that he was holding a piece of clothing and pointed to it, claiming it was the incriminating evidence.

Gu Chengyu found it odd; before entering the examination hall, they were all thoroughly searched, and clothing was no exception. If there was something on this person’s clothing, why didn’t the constables find it? This doesn’t make sense!

Could it be that those constables were in cahoots with this person? That also seemed unlikely, as there were several constables in each inspection line. Could he have bribed all of them? Moreover, the constables were temporarily assigned and not fixed at any entrance. The difficulty of cheating this way was extremely high.

Such a loud noise naturally alerted the chief examiners and some candidates, and the two chief examiners hurried over.

The candidates all stuck out their heads, looking in this direction.

"No candidate is allowed to peek around, or it will be treated as cheating."

The Right Imperial Censor, Song Shuqing, hastily warned the candidates who were peeking their heads out.

He then asked the co-examiner, "What happened? Why such noise?"

He was on duty tonight, and since there were six co-examiners patrolling in shifts, he wanted to return to his room for a short rest but unexpectedly ran into trouble.

"Sir, I was patrolling and found this candidate’s outer garment caught fire. I wanted to take a closer look, but the candidate hurriedly extinguished the fire, looking flustered and tried to hide the garment. It was then that I discovered the garment had tiny words written all over it."

The co-examiner said this with some agitation, "In the dim light, I thought I was seeing things and asked the candidate to hand it over, but he refused."

Seeing the situation was hopeless, the candidate regretted it deeply. If he hadn’t been so flustered, he wouldn’t have aroused the co-examiner’s suspicion.

Before, he thought no one would notice and placed the clothing very close to the candle, even spreading it on the desk.

What he regretted more was, how great it would have been if he hadn’t cheated? Now that he thought about it, it was too late.

He was dejected, saying nothing.

This co-examiner despised examination cheating the most. He had studied diligently for over thirty years and finally passed the Advanced Scholar examination, securing an official position at the Hanlin Academy.

Having entered the Hanlin Academy for five years, he was still just a Secondary Sixth Rank minor official.

These candidates wanting to become Advanced Scholars through cheating, how could they bear it when people like them had endured decades of painstaking study?

Song Shuqing furrowed his brows. As the chief examiner this time, he hadn’t expected someone to cheat, even writing on their outer robe. Who really accepted bribes?

It’s simply outrageous. How important is the Metropolitan Exam? If passed, one becomes a sure court official, with the Imperial Examination merely for ranking.

"Bring the evidence over for me to see." He looked at the outer robe in the co-examiner’s hand, suppressing his anger as he spoke.

"Please take a look, sir."

Gu Chengyu and the other candidates also paid attention to the development of this matter. No matter what, if someone succeeded in cheating, it wouldn’t be fair to these candidates.

"Hmm! It’s indeed a cheat sheet. Take him away, and first, detain the constables who searched him in prison and interrogate them overnight."

Once confirmed as cheating, it was necessary to first investigate the corresponding officials to see if they had bribed the officials and constables to cheat together.

Gu Chengyu looked at the outer robe in Song Shuqing’s hand, thinking, would anyone really be this foolish if they were going to cheat? Or were they really so fearless?

Judging by his clothing, he didn’t seem to come from a wealthy family; the robe was made of cotton cloth. Could he have that much Silver Coin to bribe the inspectors?

Gu Chengyu suddenly thought of a way of cheating in exams from past lives. If true, this person could be considered quite a talent.

This method was called the silver-salt black revealing technique, which involved mixing chemical substances with salting solution, writing it on the inside of the outer robe, or hidden places on the body.

Once dry and after entering the examination hall, the constables couldn’t detect it. At night, with candles lit, the words would reveal themselves when exposed to the candle flame.

Gu Chengyu shook his head and sighed. If someone were to cheat with such technology, they might as well spend more time studying.

Song Shuqing and the co-examiner looked around, noticing that many candidates had gotten up after the commotion and continued with their exams.

After being awakened, looking at the candidate being dragged away, everyone felt nervous and couldn’t sleep anymore.

Gu Chengyu also got up, hurriedly washed his face, and prepared to continue writing the remaining questions.

Usually, three days pass quickly, but this time, Gu Chengyu found it particularly torturous.

The toilet beside the examination cells, after fermenting for three days, had reached a level of toxic gas.

Gu Chengyu dared not breathe, feeling like poison gas entered his body with each breath, making him suffer immensely.

He dared not smell his own robe, certain it smelled atrocious.

Thankfully, today was the third day. Soon he could ring the bell early and rest for a while in the passageway over there, temporarily away from the stench.

However, thinking about having to stay here for six more days, Gu Chengyu felt disheartened.

After the bell-ringing process, similar to the Provincial Examination, Gu Chengyu quickly went to the passageway once the exam papers were sealed.

Gu Chengyu was pitied by the row of candidates opposite as he walked by. If they were in a stinky cell, they would’ve handed in their papers early too.

In every exam, candidates in stinky cells would fail because the smell was unbearable.

Meanwhile, they were gloating inwardly, thinking that even though the candidate only looked a bit pale now.

How about after two more days? Guaranteed he’d vomit bile.

Gu Chengyu was the first to submit his paper, so when he reached the passageway, no one was there yet.

He took a deep breath, finally free from the toxic fumes. Having skipped two meals, he placed his exam basket on the ground, which contained dried meat and leftover steamed buns.

Now away from the stinky cell, hunger set in, and Gu Chengyu picked up the dried meat and started eating.

Soon after, a few more candidates gradually came over, including Min Feng.

"Gu Jieyuan is still so early! Every exam, Gu Jieyuan always submits his paper among the top three."

Min Feng saw Gu Chengyu sitting on a passageway bench, chewing on dried meat, and couldn’t hold back his laugh, greeting Gu Chengyu.

Before the exam, he had already noticed Gu Chengyu’s examination cell and saw him heading towards the stinky cell.

Gu Chengyu looked up at Min Feng and replied with a smile, "Finished writing, naturally it’s time to submit. Even if reluctant, I can’t change it, right? Senior Brother Min seems confident, must be well-prepared?"

Gu Chengyu inwardly sneered. Did they think he was blind and couldn’t see the amusement hidden on Min Feng’s face?

What about the stinky cell? He could still pass, become an Advanced Scholar, and even aspire to be in the top three.

"Brother Min came out quite early! Oh? It’s Gu Jieyuan. Gu Jieyuan seems to have a good appetite!"

Huang Junheng came from behind, greeted Min Feng, and then saw Gu Chengyu, whom Min Feng had blocked.