"We subjects respectfully accept the command."
All the examinees saluted and kowtowed, and then heard three cracking whips. The ritual official said in a chanting voice, "Gongshi, take your seats and answer the questions."
"Thanks for the grace!"
This was the beginning of the examination. It was impossible for all five hundred people to be arranged inside the hall, nor could they fit, so they were arranged densely from front to back according to their rankings.
Those with lower rankings could only sit in the corridor at the very back.
In case of wind and rain, even with measures in place, it was not as secure as being in the grand hall.
However, since they were arranged according to their scores, even though some felt depressed in their hearts, they had no dissatisfaction—who was to blame for having inferior scores to others?
Yu Lü's score was not bad, and his seat was inside the hall.
The weather was still somewhat chilly, and being inside the hall, having walked all the way here and feeling somewhat apprehensive, his hands were somewhat stiff.
He clenched his fists hard, and the stiffness in his fingers slowly dissipated.
Looking at the blank paper spread out before him and thinking of the questions, Yu Lü did not casually pick up his brush, nor did he dare to peer upward. He tilted the bamboo water tube, poured a little onto the inkstone, and holding the ink stick, he slowly ground it down stroke by stroke.
The Imperial Grandson's past teachings still echoed in his ears.
When Yu Lü went back, he had also reflected, feeling that what the Imperial Grandson said made sense. Scholars viewed things differently from how officials viewed things.
Even among officials, those in different official positions thought differently when viewing things.
The