After their minds were read, the entire court trembled with fear.

Chapter 75 Fighting over the latrine with Chen, the Assistant Minister of Rites

Shen Zhiyi was completely unconcerned about Chen, the Assistant Minister of Rites, and because Shen Zhiyi was so hungry, she also became unconcerned.

The two enjoyed their meal.

"This roast duck tastes really good."

Shen Zhiyi nodded in agreement.

After finishing his meal, Chen, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, went off to do his work.

Shen Zhiyi continued to remain detached, occasionally offering small favors.

"Ouch."

Shen Zhiyi clutched her stomach and looked at the Vice Minister of Rites who was still explaining the precautions in front of her. She bent over and secretly walked towards the latrine.

As I reached the door, I bumped into someone who was also bent over.

Looking up, he saw Chen, the Assistant Minister of Rites, standing opposite him, who was also clutching his stomach.

The two exchanged a glance, and Shen Zhiyi, taking advantage of her youth, managed to snag a spot in the restroom.

Chen, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, was crying outside.

Knowing that Shen Zhiyi was a girl, he waited at a distance.

[That idiot Minister of the Interior, why did they only build one toilet?]

Chen, the Assistant Minister of Rites outside: My dear aunt, you'd better hurry up!

The two of them pulled each other like this for a whole day, until they finally got some rest in the evening.

Shen Zhiyi thought she had recovered, but it started again the next day.

Upon hearing the news that Shen Zhiyi had once again requested leave, the old emperor sensed something was amiss.

"What's wrong with that child? Why is he taking leave again?"

Chen Decai bent down and said, "Shen Lang seems to have been feeling unwell in the stomach these past two days. He and Chen, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, have been fighting over the use of the latrine in the Ministry of Works every day."

The old emperor dropped the memorial in his hand and leaned back in his chair.

"Bring the person over here, and then go to the Imperial Hospital to summon the head of the hospital."

"Here."

Shen Zhiyi's face was ashen, her stomach still feeling slightly uncomfortable. Coupled with being forcibly dragged to work by the old emperor, she was in a bad mood.

"Your Majesty."

"Come here, sit here."

The old emperor pointed to a chair not far away, which had a soft cushion on it, and Shen Zhiyi found it comfortable to sit on.

But with the old emperor around, one has to sit up straight.

What is the old emperor up to now?

Before Shen Zhiyi could even turn over, a royal physician had already begun taking her pulse.

Shen Zhiyi quickly withdrew her hand.

Goodness gracious, I remember the imperial physician could supposedly tell a man's or woman's gender by taking his pulse. If he were to do that, I'd be in for a world of trouble!

The head of the Imperial Medical Academy remained silent for a moment.

“I was the one who took your pulse when you were injured last time, Shen Lang.”

Shen Zhiyi's breath hitched, and she blinked her big eyes at the other person.

[Oh no, oh no, has my identity been exposed? Oh no, oh no, am I going to be beheaded?]

[System, system, hurry and save your beloved, flower-admiring, car-flattening host!]

System: Buzz... System maintenance in progress...

【Depend on! 】

Seemingly sensing that Shen Zhiyi was about to cry, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy quickly came up with an excuse.

"Last time, Shen Lang's pulse was steady and strong, so he didn't seem to be seriously ill. This time, he suddenly went to the toilet so many times. He must have eaten something wrong. Shen Lang, you must not hide your illness and avoid seeking medical treatment."

Uh, that's all you got last time?

Shen Zhiyi looked at the other party suspiciously, then at the old emperor, and then flipped through her own system.

[The security footage doesn't show any unusual expression on the other person's face.]

The old emperor chuckled. How could Shen Zhiyi, with her thick skin, read other people's expressions?

[Furthermore, if the head of the Imperial Medical Academy really knew I was a woman, he would have told the old emperor long ago. The fact that he didn't say so means he didn't know I was a woman. Does that mean the TV series is lying to me? Aren't they supposed to be able to tell a man from a woman by her pulse?]

Imperial Medical Academy Director: This time, that TV series really didn't lie to you; it actually revealed it. But everyone knows you're a woman.

"Shen Lang?"

Now that she had no more reservations, Shen Zhiyi extended her wrist.

"Has Shen Lang been eating anything lately?"

"Oh, I ate roast duck, flatbread, steamed buns, braised pork, braised beef, wontons, noodles..."

Imperial Medical Academy Director: ...

He hesitated for a while, but finally couldn't help asking, "Didn't you have diarrhea recently? How can you eat so much when you have diarrhea?"

Shen Zhiyi felt wronged.

"Even if you have diarrhea, it won't stop you from eating, right?"

Imperial Medical Academy Director: ...

The old emperor suppressed a laugh and said from the side, "Shen Zhiyi is still very young. She's growing, so it's normal for her to eat more."

【That’s right. 】

[But now I understand why the old emperor summoned me to have the imperial physician take my pulse. The imperial examination is the day after tomorrow, and if I still have diarrhea on that day, then something strange will happen.]

[What kind of examiner keeps running to the restroom?]

The head of the Imperial Medical Academy released his grip, his expression not very good.

"Your Majesty, Shen Lang's illness is not due to food poisoning, but rather he has been drugged."

Drugged?

Shen Zhiyi looked completely bewildered, and silently pointed to herself.

I?

Drugged?

Who drugged me?

The old emperor immediately understood the reasoning behind it.

"Summon the Minister of Justice; this matter needs to be investigated."

Soon, the serious old man, the Minister of Justice, came to see the emperor right after dinner. Upon hearing about this matter, he immediately understood something.

"Your Majesty, I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly."

"The imperial examination is the day after tomorrow, and I want the results tomorrow."

[Damn, old emperor, you're really exploiting us too much!]

The old emperor glanced at Shen Zhiyi.

Good to know. Why don't you hurry up and check your surveillance system to see who drugged you?

Who would have thought that Shen Zhiyi would curse him in her mind for a full half hour before she would stop.

I remember that Chen, the Assistant Minister of Rites, got diarrhea around the same time as me, I think it was because of that roast duck?

[Waaaaah, I knew I shouldn't have eaten that roast duck from the roadside! Look what happened!]

Shen Zhiyi regretted it and quietly slapped her mouth.

[Oh, mouth, why are you so weak-willed? How could you dare to eat something of dubious origin? It's all Chen Yuanwailang's fault! If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have eaten it at all.]

Having obtained a clue, the Minister of Justice quickly left.

Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night.

The fact that Shen Zhiyi was drugged at this critical juncture clearly indicates that someone was planning to cheat during the imperial examination and was afraid that Shen Zhiyi's presence would expose the scheme.

Shen Zhiyi was furious about being drugged.

I didn't sleep all night after I got back; I watched the security camera footage all night.

[Holy crap, who is it? They're doing this way too secretly! So many people have been involved in this one lousy roast duck incident, one person mentioning it after another. Is this some kind of scam?]

Officials from the Ministry of Justice were still working overtime late into the night.

Looking at the fifty-odd people in front of him who had been carrying food boxes, he couldn't help but curse loudly.

"Damn it, which bastard did this? Bah, if I ever catch you, I'll beat you to death."

These fifty people are not the limit; the number of people from the Ministry of Justice is still increasing tonight.

In the end, there were a full one hundred people!

The Minister of Justice, filled with anger, went to the Yan Ying Hall to see the old emperor.