Zhang Zai smiled and took the lead.
Wei Nisheng followed him, and the two entered the Spring-Viewing Tower one after the other.
A waiter hurried over as well, his face wreathed in smiles, his voice pitched far higher than usual.
"The Provincial Top Scholar views spring in triumph; spring within our tower welcomes the Provincial Top Scholar!!!"
At the cry, Wei Nisheng glanced at Zhang Zai again.
Zhang Zai spread his hands, indicating that he had not arranged this.
The second floor of the Spring-Viewing Tower was much more spacious than the first.
It was one large, open room, with fresh flowers tucked all along the railings on its four sides.
A dozen or so tables stood inside, most of them already occupied.
The guests wore spring robes of every color, flowers in their hair, and held wine or tea as they chatted in twos and threes.
The moment Wei Nisheng came upstairs, every gaze turned toward him.
"Provincial Top Scholar Wei is here!"
"There's room over here!"
"Brother Wei, shall we share a toast for the Flower Festival?!"
Seeing this reception, Wei Nisheng stood at the top of the stairs.
He cupped his hands to everyone, his expression composed, neither servile nor arrogant.
"You're all too kind."
"I am Wei Nisheng. I've only just arrived, and I apologize for intruding."
"Not at all, not at all!"
A rather tall young man rose from a corner, speaking with a Taiyuan Prefecture accent.
"Having Provincial Top Scholar Wei here is a blessing for everyone in our examination cohort!
Come, come, sit over here!
I am Wang Kuan of Taiyuan Prefecture, ranked twenty-first this year. I've long admired you, Provincial Top Scholar Wei!"
Wei Nisheng glanced at him. Wang Kuan had thick brows and large eyes, plainly a man of the Yan