Although Nick's licentiate teacher had repeatedly failed the examinations, he was familiar with the procedures for the "palace examination" after passing.
The day before the palace examination, the officials assigned to grade the papers gathered in the Hall of Literary Brilliance to secretly discuss the exam questions. Much like a papal election, the cardinals gathered in one room. Once the questions had been decided, they were sent to the Emperor for review. Then they all went to the Grand Secretariat Hall east of the Meridian Gate, where, under the supervision of the Censor in Charge of Examinations, who monitored exam discipline, the questions were engraved overnight. The Grand Secretariat Hall was placed under martial law, with Imperial Guards patrolling day and night both inside and outside the walls. At dawn the next day, a Grand Secretary placed the questions on the yellow table inside the Hall of Preserving Harmony, and the Minister of Rites placed them on the yellow table outside. The grading officials and tribute students all knelt together, confirming that the sealed questions were intact, before entering the hall to take the examination.
Examination discipline was extremely strict, and soldiers rather than constables were usually responsible for enforcement. The military camp where Cao Xi had arranged for Nick to stay was not far from the examination compound. The two soldiers guarding his door did not restrict his movements either. He could take walks nearby as long as one of them accompanied him.
It was not examination season, and aside from the gatekeeper, the examination compound was deserted. Nick hoped the man would permit him to go inside and look around.
After passing through a siheyuan courtyard, they arrived at the Ceremonial Gate. Candidates had to line up here to be searched, to prevent them from smuggling in materials.