Night had thickened like ink, the mist gradually growing heavier, the air increasingly cold.
By the time Jiang Ning returned to his room, it was already past Zi Time.
Everything that had happened tonight left him unable to fall asleep.
So he simply stopped trying and went to the courtyard to practice.
The next morning.
At the manor gate.
Dark clouds blanketed the sky; the weather was clearly not very good.
Liu Wanwan straightened the Student Uniform on Jiang Yiming, then patted at the nonexistent dust on his hem.
"Remember to follow your little uncle later. When you enter the Saint Temple to worship, you must observe the proper etiquette!"
"I know, Mother!" Jiang Yiming nodded with a steady expression.
"And don't make loud noises!" Liu Wanwan reminded him again.
"I know! I know!!" Jiang Yiming was a little impatient.
"You child!!" Liu Wanwan was somewhat helpless at the sight.
Jiang Ning could not help but smile as well.
At Jiang Yiming's age, he was right at the time when children rebelled and found their parents nagging.
"Big Brother, you look so handsome today!" Xiao Doubao, who was gripping the corner of Liu Wanwan's clothes and standing on tiptoe to look at them, suddenly spoke.
Hearing this sudden praise, Jiang Yiming immediately scratched his head a little bashfully.
"Hehe!!"
A moment later, the two of them set off on foot to gather at the front yard of the Saint Temple.
Today was the most important day for those who had passed the imperial examination to go to the Saint Temple and offer incense.
It was also the final step in having the rank of Literary Scholar formally conferred.
Once the incense offering was completed and their names entered into the register, the rank would be upon them.
They could