Who Cares About Being the Matriarch? My Rebellious Husband Secured Me a Noble Rank! - Chapter 88

Shen Tangning blinked slowly, exchanged a glance with Chi Yan, and smiled lightly.
“Isn’t that actually good news?”

Chi Yan rubbed his chin thoughtfully, caught somewhere between a laugh and a sigh.

Baliang looked utterly confused, scratching his head.
“Madam, how is that good news? His Majesty himself is going to supervise the retest!”

Shen Tangning raised a graceful brow.
“Precisely because His Majesty is presiding, it’s a good thing. Once he clears your master’s name, who would dare say otherwise?”

With the emperor personally overseeing the exam, there’d be no room for trickery. The rumors about Chi Yan cheating would crumble on their own.

And more than that—before the final imperial examination had even begun, Chi Yan would have the emperor’s personal attention. If things went smoothly, his future path would be far easier than most. That was a chance others dreamed of but could never obtain.

She saw it clearly—Chi Yan must have realized as much. The man chuckled softly as he leaned on his palm.
“Talk about a blessing in disguise.”

Of course… retaking the policy essay meant writing a new treatise in front of the emperor himself.

That would test not just skill and endurance, but nerves. One misstep wouldn’t just be embarrassing—it could cost him his head.

Truly, fortune and misfortune did go hand in hand.

Suddenly, Baliang slapped his forehead like he’d remembered something and leaned in, voice low but bursting with excitement.
“Master! There’s another piece of good news—Young Master Tang is also on the cheaters’ list! His titles will be revoked for sure, though there might be more punishment…”

“Tang Xu cheated?” Shen Tangning’s eyes flashed with surprise as she instinctively turned to look at Chi Yan.

She couldn’t blame herself for being shocked. From what they knew, Tang Xu had always acted carefully—he’d incited Ji Wuya to make trouble while keeping himself hidden, and he’d been clever enough to lie low when needed.

Would someone like that really gamble everything on a cheat?

Cheating in the imperial exams wasn’t just a scandal—it was a permanent stain. Years of effort wasted, eligibility revoked, and depending on the severity, a lifetime ban.

The impact on a scholar was devastating.

Chi Yan met her gaze without flinching. With a glance, he motioned around the room. Baliang, surprisingly quick on the uptake, ushered out the remaining servants, leaving the room to the two of them.

Once they were alone, Chi Yan nodded calmly.
“I was the one who did it.”

Shen Tangning immediately understood. The days he’d gone missing must have been spent setting this in motion.

But what puzzled her was, “How did you manage it?”

Empty accusations wouldn’t hold water. The Ministry of Rites wouldn’t take action without solid evidence and thorough investigation.

Chi Yan let out a small chuckle and narrowed his eyes lazily.
“I didn’t frame him. I just did my civic duty—filed a report, that’s all.”

Shen Tangning’s clear eyes studied him, obviously intrigued. He smirked and took her hand, leading her to sit down beside him.

She was so focused on his explanation; she didn’t even realize how natural the gesture was. Once seated, he asked,
“Do you know what ‘bai men’ is?”

Shen Tangning paused briefly, then nodded.
“I’ve heard of it, vaguely.”

So-called ‘bai men’ was a shady yet common practice in officialdom.

Before the exams, many examinees would seek out high-ranking officials and send them essays—casting a wide net in hopes that one might catch an official’s eye. If it worked, the student could be invited for a private meeting. If their views aligned, a pseudo-master-apprentice relationship might form. And if the student had some tact, they’d offer gifts, too.

With talent and backing, passing the exams became all but guaranteed.

It was a mutually beneficial deal—the student gained a patron, and the official gained influence. Though it couldn’t be flaunted publicly, plenty of students still followed this path.

Shen Tangning frowned in thought.
“But didn’t the late emperor ban this practice? He said it only fostered private factions and personal interests.”

Chi Yan’s eyes glinted with amusement.
“True. But who doesn’t want a shortcut? People just shifted from doing it openly to doing it behind closed doors.”

Shen Tangning’s eyes narrowed.
“Tang Xu did this, too?”

Chi Yan smiled, but his gaze turned thoughtful.
“He’s always been cautious. He probably could’ve passed with his own skill. But he was too eager to climb higher, so he sought out a patron to play it safe. Thought it was foolproof… never expected it to backfire.”

Shen Tangning rested her chin on her hand, eyes slightly narrowed.
“If it were any other time, something like this wouldn’t have been treated so harshly. But now…”

Now, with the emperor furious over the cheating scandal, and officials on high alert, even the slightest impropriety would be harshly punished.

If someone reported Tang Xu for bribing officials—even if the details weren’t extreme—the consequences would still be severe.

She examined the chain of events more closely. Every piece linked neatly to the next. Lifting her gaze to Chi Yan, her eyes carried new weight.
“The whole cheating scandal… was it you who set it in motion?”

Chi Yan was genuinely impressed by her insight. Talking to Shen Tangning meant every word had to be carefully chosen. He’d barely hinted at anything, yet she’d seen through the whole thing.

He rubbed his nose sheepishly.
“I just had a casual chat with Lord Liu. Who knew he’d be so sharp, such a model civil servant! Haha…”

Shen Tangning smiled slyly.
“That counterattack, husband… was brilliant.”

In that moment, she realized—Chi Yan was far more cunning than she’d thought. His personality suited officialdom frighteningly well.

But then again…

So be it.

She stood up and curved her lips.
“Since His Majesty will be personally overseeing the exam, you’d best prepare properly, husband.”

And she would prepare too. Shen Tangning considered—perhaps this would be the perfect time to pay a visit to the palace herself.

…

Meanwhile…

Tang Xu had finally tracked down the Minister of Rites. Shaking off the guards, he rushed forward.
“My lord! Please, I beg you—this is unjust!”

The Minister of Rites stopped, casting him a questioning look.
“You are…?”

Tang Xu clenched his fists and spoke firmly.
“Your humble subject, Tang Xu. I swear on the heavens; I have never cheated! May I ask, my lord—why is my name on the list?”

The moment he gave his name, recognition flickered in the minister’s eyes. His gaze turned complicated.
“Then perhaps you should ask yourself that. Think carefully—what have you done?”

Tang Xu’s heart pounded, but he maintained composure, cupping his fists and bowing deeply.
“My conscience is clear. I implore your lordship for an explanation.”

He stood like a man of unshakable conviction. On any other day, the minister might have been moved. But now… his patience had worn thin.

“Tang Xu,” the minister snapped, “bai men is strictly forbidden by imperial decree. I am simply upholding the law. Do not act as if you’re the victim.”

In an instant, all color drained from Tang Xu’s face.

He hadn’t thought… it would be that.

As the minister turned to board his carriage, Tang Xu lunged forward again.
“My lord! Isn’t this punishment… too harsh?”

The minister looked back coldly.
“Your titles revoked. A five-year ban from the exams. Compared to others, you got off lightly, Tang Xu.”

The carriage pulled away, leaving Tang Xu standing in the dust, dazed and devastated.