The second round of the written examination still took place in the original grand hall, with the same few examiners, Fuxi, and Bi'an supervising. There were fifteen desks and fifteen straw cushions, and the examinees were still Chen Shi, the Young Master, and Zhang You.
This round tested essay writing, with topics such as the Theory of Dual Use of Civil and Military Arts, the Theory of Great Unification, and others.
Chen Shi chose the Theory of Talisman and Spell Integration, wrote down his name and ancestral origin, and after a moment of contemplation, the minor official took up the brush to write the essay on his behalf.
Zhang You also selected his essay topic, handed it to the nearby minor official, and looked toward Chen Shi and the Young Master ahead with a smile, saying, "Did you two hear? Something major happened in the inner city of Xilin last night. Even my uncle was alarmed and personally made a trip to Ganyang Street."
The Young Master's body trembled slightly, sitting motionless in his seat.
A ripple stirred in Chen Shi's heart. Ganyang Street? It seemed the street in front of the Chen Mansion was Ganyang Street.
"What happened last night?" he inquired.
Zhang You smiled. "People heard fox cries and sheep bleats coming from the street. There was also a light burst in the city that illuminated Xilin in an instant, which was quite startling. I also heard that during the early morning court session, several high-ranking officials fell ill and failed to attend, so there are many rumors floating around."
The Young Master said indifferently, "What rumors?"
Zhang You smiled. "I heard that someone fought a fierce fight in the inner city last night, attempting to do something big, but unfortunately their skill was inferior. I also heard