Capital City
Since the Wei Dynasty, it had been where sea routes and canals crisscrossed. The canals had once fallen into disrepair because of war, but now they had been restored, allowing grain ships and official vessels to dock directly. In scarcely thirty years, not only had prosperity fully returned, it had flourished even more than before.
Shops lined the streets in dense, orderly rows, like combs and fish scales. Yet for some reason, the crowds had been a little thinner these past few days.
"Hey, have you heard? The Spring Examinations have started again." On a street not far from the Imperial City, someone at a late-night food stall ordered steamed soup dumplings and wontons as he spoke.
The stall owner brought the food over, answering with a beaming smile. Another customer was from the nearby district and knew the stall owner; they were familiar faces, so there was little restraint in their conversation.
"Who doesn't know that? The two Tang Family brothers both went. They really are Stars of Literary Excellence."
"Several generations of officials in the previous dynasty, two generations of decline in this one, and now the third generation has risen again. Really, they're blessed!"
As he spoke, the man swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
"Shen San, I know you. You've been eyeing the Tang Family's second daughter. You're afraid that if they pass as Presented Scholars, they'll look down on you, aren't you?"
The moment those words were spoken, everyone burst into laughter. Even the food-stall owner shook all over with laughter. Only after a long while did he sigh. "Ah, things haven't been very peaceful lately."
At that, everyone at the stall fell silent.
The Capital City had been unsettled lately. Monsters had been causing trouble, and the Apprehension Battalion had been hunting them