The bell signaling the end of the Palace Examination rang just as Wei Nisheng put down his final word.
He set down his brush and silently read his examination paper from beginning to end.
Only after confirming there were no wrong characters, no corrections, and nothing that violated a taboo
did he gently blow on the ink, straighten the paper, and place it in the vermilion-lacquered tray on his desk.
Immediately afterward, the Sealing Official approached.
He pasted a strip of paper over Wei Nisheng's name, stamped it with the Seam Seal, then carried the tray away.
Wei Nisheng remained seated, rather than rising at once.
Instead, he reached out quite naturally, picked up the Jade Seal, and cradled it in his palm.
The jade was still the same jade: Mutton-Fat White Jade, warm and fine to the touch.
Yet he felt that the Jade Seal was especially heavy today.
The jade had not changed. He had.
When he had received it three years ago in the Small Courtyard outside the West Peace Gate,
he had been only a child who had just emerged from the Wei Family's Side Courtyard.
Now he sat in Chongzheng Hall, having just finished his Policy Essay for the Palace Examination, waiting for the emperor to read it.
"The examination is over!!!"
The call rang out.
Wei Nisheng rose with the other candidates.
"Depart!!!"
Outside Chongzheng Hall, it was already noon, and the sunlight was so dazzling that they could barely open their eyes.
The Palace Examination was over.
This was not the anxious suspense of waiting for the results after the Provincial Examination. Everything was finished.
Three examinations had settled their fates. Only the Announcement of the Palace Examination Results remained.
He had written what needed writing, answered what needed answering, and submitted