The Pavilion of Literary Profundity faced south from the north, behind the Hall of Culture. The Imperial Study lay to its southwest, and the princes' quarters to its southeast.
The Imperial Palace gates were locked at six in the evening. Jian Ruonan had barely sat down before the sky darkened, and the palace maids attending outside came in to light the lamps.
Firefly-like lights began glowing throughout the palace, one after another.
Eight chairs stood side by side in the Council Hall. Jian Ruonan chose a seat near the edge.
Chief Minister Su Xuelin said, "I hear Official Jian is well versed in Purple Star Astrology. Might I trouble you to calculate when disaster will befall the Metropolitan Examination papers?"
The other ministers sat in their respective seats. Those drinking tea set down their cups, and those talking fell silent.
Everyone was astonished to hear that the First Imperial Prince would come to steal the examination papers tonight.
Besides feasting on gossip, could the Little Treasure of House Raids predict the future too?
All the gossip they had enjoyed before concerned things that had already happened. Could they feast on gossip that had yet to happen too?
Or had all the Little Treasure of House Raids' gossip come from divination?
Was the Little Treasure of House Raids truly skilled in divination?!
Could she divine the time, place, and people involved with perfect clarity?!
If that were true, the Little Treasure of House Raids really was a national treasure of Great Xia!
Jian Ruonan took out the Astrolabe she had prepared beforehand, made a show of standing by the window, and looked up at the sky.
"Please wait a moment, Chief Minister Su, while this humble official observes the heavens."
There were no clouds tonight. Before darkness had fully fallen, diamond-like