Chapter 1991: Chapter 1993: A Student’s Request
After all, this is not the time to be idly watching from the sidelines; their priority should be answering the exam questions.
Seeing that everyone had lowered their heads and focused on their papers, the Proctor collected Yang Ming’s exam paper, pen, ink, and inkstone from his desk and took them to the front.
At this moment, Young Master Liu appeared to be answering the questions with his head down, but in fact, a sneer hung on his lips, and his eyes were filled with schadenfreude, thinking to himself, can Yang Ming still pass this time?
Taken away and not returning anytime soon, his exam is unfinished; he’s truly done for this time.
A sinister smile appeared on his face, thinking that Yang Ming, who was always so arrogant and laughed at him, had finally met his match today.
Sitting at the front, the Proctor, after taking back Yang Ming’s belongings, started to examine the brush and inkstone. When he saw nothing unusual, he then looked at Yang Ming’s exam paper.
Upon seeing the unfinished answers written on Yang Ming’s test sheet, he noticeably paused, stroked his beard, and seemed to be lost in thought.
...
...
Meanwhile, Yang Ming was being escorted by two proctors to an empty room.
Once inside, one of the proctors said, "Someone reported that you brought something inappropriate into the examination room. Will you confess and hand it over, or do we have to search you? If we find anything, the consequences will be severe, as you should know."
Yang Ming was a bit speechless; if he did have something, would handing it over make it any less serious?
If he really had something on him, the outcome would be the same whether he handed it over or was searched, resulting in disqualification and a permanent ban from the exams. In worse cases, he might even end up in jail.
He tried hard to recall whether he had come into contact with anyone today.
No, he was sure he hadn’t.
The clothes he wore had been thoroughly checked, as had the things he brought, with no possibility of error.
Moreover, he had arrived before Young Master Liu, so no one could have tampered with his seat.
Therefore, he concluded that the accusation was merely to waste time and prevent him from taking the exam properly.
Having come to this judgment, he felt more at ease.
He spoke, "Proctor Sir, you may search me, but the student has something to say."
These words momentarily startled the Proctor, who then asked, "What do you have to say?"
The Proctor’s attitude gave Yang Ming a sense of relief. Had he encountered someone unreasonable who immediately judged him guilty, he wouldn’t be able to prove his innocence, and even if he did, the exam would likely have ended, resulting in missed opportunities and another three-year wait which he couldn’t afford.
"Proctor Sir, the student is innocent and has brought nothing inappropriate into the exam room. You may search me, but the student has one request."
In such a situation, being able to remain calm earned the Proctor’s respect. Therefore, even if Yang Ming had a request, the Proctor was intrigued and asked, "Oh? What is it?"
He was curious about what Yang Ming could possibly request.
Yang Ming stood there, unafraid, unyielding, and only with determination, "Proctor Sir, I suspect that someone doesn’t want me to take the exam properly and is wasting time. If, after a search, I am found to be innocent, I ask that you find out who made the accusation."
This remark reminded the Proctor of his duty, as the Proctor is inherently just; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been selected for the role. Hence, he said, "Naturally, if someone truly disrupts the examination, we will ensure your innocence."