The Great Ming Gate, the Feng Residence.
Feng Yan sat at the head of the room, holding a letter from Qin Yan.
The letter recounted a few things he had seen and heard on his travels, then added at the end:
"I hear the Provincial Examination is imminent. My heart hangs in suspense, and I regret that I cannot go to the Capital myself to see the results.
Yanzhi, if both your disciple and mine pass, send word to me at once."
After reading it, Feng Yan folded the letter, tucked it into his sleeve, and took a sip from his teacup, his expression unchanged.
Several of his former students sat in the room.
Zhao Er, the left vice minister of personnel, sat on the left, while Huang Qian, the left vice minister of revenue, sat on the right.
There were also two prefects from outside the Capital, who had taken the opportunity of their official reporting visits to pay respects to their examination mentor.
They were discussing affairs at Court.
Zhao Er sounded somewhat anxious as he spoke, but Huang Qian remained composed, responding at an unhurried pace.
Feng Yan listened, occasionally nodding.
Every so often, he said, "There is no hurry."
His expression was calm, but his ears remained alert to every sound outside the door.
Today was the day the Provincial Examination results were posted. He remembered that more clearly than anyone.
The fifteenth day of the fourth month.
He had silently repeated that date countless times, from the beginning of the month until today, from early morning until this very moment.
But Feng Yan had not gone to the Examination Hall to see the results-not because he did not want to, but because he could not.
He was a veteran minister of three reigns, the standard-bearer