The Rare Treasures Pavilion was still filled with a din of voices, bustling as ever.
After all, once the Spring Examination was over, some would step onto the clouds and soar straight to the heights.
But even more would see their hopes shattered and return home.
The road ahead was shrouded in uncertainty; while there was wine today, they might as well get drunk today.
Yang Qing still sat in the least conspicuous corner of the room. A cup of wine and a small plate of food could keep him drinking for half a day.
Over these past days, many people had come and gone around Yang Qing, but he had noticed one man who arrived very early every day and immediately opened the book he had brought to read.
It was as though all the surrounding clamor had ceased to exist, and his eyes could see nothing but those books of sages.
An interesting fellow.
Yang Qing was about to turn his gaze away when he saw several more people approach the man.
Seeing him poring over his book, one of them said, "Chen Jingyu, you come here to study every day. You certainly are diligent."
The man called Chen Jingyu merely raised his head to glance at them, then returned his gaze to his book.
But he was destined not to read in peace.
A hand had been laid across the pages.
Irritation stirred in Chen Jingyu's heart. He looked up again, his expression shifting slightly. "Xiao He, move your hand."
Xiao He sneered. "Oh? Angry already? That's rather unlike your usual self!"
As he spoke, he slowly bent down and met Chen Jingyu's eyes. "Let me offer you a friendly reminder. Even if you weave your essays into the finest brocade, it won't do you any good."