On the twenty-second day of the eighth month, the candidates for the Autumn Examination prepared to enter the Examination Hall.
Yi Shuyuan had set up a bookstall on the street outside the Examination Hall, selling books on the sages and their lofty principles alongside so-called "miscellaneous books."
He had used no new transformation, merely turning his gray hair black again and growing a sparse mustache and beard. With a black headwrap around his topknot like the local scholars wore, he seemed to have changed his appearance completely.
Quite a few Confucian Scholars had browsed Yi Shuyuan's bookstall over the past two days, and he had sold a good number of books.
At the moment, however, hardly anyone was at the stall, and few local residents were strolling along the street. Most had gone to watch the excitement near the Examination Hall.
Yes, the excitement. Whenever candidates entered for the Imperial Examination, there was always something to watch during the searches of their persons and belongings. Those who tried to cheat without anyone backing them suffered once they were caught.
Beside the bookstall, Yi Shuyuan leafed through a book, occasionally lifting the teapot himself to refill the cup on his little table.
Hui Mian had turned into a black-and-white cat with cowlike markings and lay on the table, licking his paws from time to time.
"Sir, selling books seems pretty profitable too. We've had this stall open for a while now, and so many people have bought books!"
"That's because my stall has plenty of books they can't find elsewhere. Besides, with the Provincial Examination coming up, there are plenty of scholars visiting Pingzhou City. See how things are after a while."
As he spoke, Yi Shuyuan turned to look at Hui Mian.
"But what about you? You're actually not going