Transmigrated As A Scholar Chapter 27 Part 1

Chapter 27

"Master, I... I, didn't..."

The commotion drew the gazes of all the examinees. The scholar who had passed the note was utterly mortified, his face instantly flushing as if filled with blood. He mumbled with his mouth, unable to form a clear sentence, which was infuriating to watch.

Master Dai bent down to pick up the paper ball from the ground and was about to unfold it when the older scholar hurriedly said, "Master, I just saw Zhao Luo pass a note to the person behind me. I was about to admonish him when you, with your discerning eye, discovered them!"

The one called Zhao Luo looked at the older scholar in astonishment upon hearing this. He was about to speak but was glared back by a fierce look. Zhao Luo lowered his head.

"How audacious of you all! To openly pass answers around, did you think this old man's eyes were failing?"

"Which lecture hall are you from?"

Clearly, this question was meant for Fang Yu. The master was looking directly at him. After unfolding the note and reading it, the master’s expression darkened completely.

Fang Yu was puzzled why only he was being asked which classroom he was from, and not the other two: "I don't know them at all. This note was being passed between the two gentlemen in front. They fumbled, and it just happened to land at my feet. I hope the master will investigate clearly."

"This fumble was truly coincidental, not landing elsewhere, but precisely under your feet?"

Hearing the implication in the master's words, which clearly showed disbelief, Fang Yu turned to look at Zhao Luo in front: "Do we know each other? Do you know my name? And why would you take the risk to pass a note to me for no reason?"

Zhao Luo raised his eyes and timidly glanced at the older man ahead, then was intimidated back by the threatening look. He stammered at Fang Yu: "Brother... Brother Fang Yu, how can you deny it now? Wasn't it you who asked me yesterday to pass you the note today? You... You said you were afraid of misjudging the policy essay topic and wanted me to give you some pointers..."

Anger rose in Fang Yu's heart. He didn't know when this Zhao Luo had learned his name. He lifted his answer sheet: "My essay was finished long ago. Why would I need to ask you?"

Zhao Luo was speechless for a moment, his face turning even redder. Unexpectedly, the proctoring master now reprimanded Fang Yu: "I asked which classroom you are from, yet you give an irrelevant answer. Come with me to see the chief examiner!"

Fang Yu found this rather amusing. The whole note-passing incident was completely baseless. Even if the master had entered and picked up the paper ball at his feet, leading to a misunderstanding, it could have been clarified in a few sentences. But he never expected this master to be so unreasonable.

When dealing with unreasonable people, there's no need to be reasonable with them either. Otherwise, they might think you're easy to bully: "Although I have already finished my essay, if I go to see the chief examiner now, won't that waste my examination time?"

The master said coldly, "You've cheated. What examination are you taking?"

Fang Yu retorted sarcastically: "This gentleman insists the note was for me. But regardless of whether it was for me or not, the note came from his hand. He has an established and undeniable responsibility for cheating. As for this gentleman in front of me, he is also highly suspect. Since all are suspect, shouldn't they also come to see the chief examiner? Why does the master insist on taking only me alone?"

"It wasn't passed to me! Why should I go? If anyone goes, it should be you two!" The older man cried out: "The master has his reasons for calling only you. If you don't go, you are disrespecting your elder and superior. Lingering in the examination hall like this is wasting all your fellow examinees' time to answer the questions."

Fang Yu unhurriedly straightened his essay: "If we go, we all go. It's fine to properly distinguish the truth before the chief examiner. But if I am to go alone, I'll be frank: I will not go!"

The master seemed not to have expected to encounter someone so stubborn. He looked quite polite and refined, yet his words were so unyielding.

"Master Dai, what happened?"

Just as the situation was deadlocked, a head poked in at the doorway. Hearing the voice, Fang Yu looked over and was surprised to see the chief examiner had patrolled to this location himself. Moreover, the chief examiner turned out to be the stern Master Zhang from their own classroom.

Master Dai quickly responded upon hearing the voice: "There's a student here who cheated but refuses to admit it. I am handling it."

Master Zhang naturally spotted Fang Yu at a glance. Pretending not to know him, he walked into the classroom. Seeing everyone was looking at the commotion, he said sternly: "All of you, focus on your exams. Don't look around. Instead of having the leisure to mind others' business, you might as well spend more time pondering your essays. Save yourselves from being laughed at during the New Year."

Everyone hastily lowered their heads to write their essays. Master Zhang's severity was well-known. No one dared to misbehave, all holding their breath, fearing they might be scolded even after the exam ended. When Master Zhang reprimanded students, he didn't care whether they were his own students or not.

"If caught cheating, what is there to argue? What is the situation?" Master Zhang looked at Fang Yu: "Did you cheat? Was it by using smuggled notes, or by some other means?"

Fang Yu rushed to explain the situation before Master Dai could. After hearing it, Master Zhang's brows furrowed as if locked. He stepped forward and looked at the names of the two examinees in front: "Zhao Luo, Yuan Hongqiang."

Master Zhang then looked at Master Dai. Though he didn't say anything, Master Dai instead first shrank his shoulders uncomfortably.

"Since all three are suspect, take them all to the dean."

Hearing this, Master Dai grew anxious and said, "Why take them to the dean? Such a small matter need not trouble him."

"How can cheating, which reflects a lack of personal virtue, be called a small matter? If it were merely cheating, that would be one thing. But now there is refusal to admit it and additional complications, making the matter serious."

Master Zhang said with a cold face: "You three, bring your essays and follow me to the dean's office."

Master Dai’s face darkened, but he still offered a polite gesture: "Then I’ll trouble you to take care of it, Master Zhang."

"No need for courtesy, Master Dai."

The three examinees followed Master Zhang out of the examination hall. Fang Yu, holding his essay, was completely at ease, but the other two were in distress. Zhao Luo hadn't expected the matter to reach the dean and kept shrinking back. Yuan Hongqiang also lost his earlier bravado and walked in silence.

Fang Yu, fearing the two might collude again and say things that weren't true, smilingly inserted himself to walk between them.