The imperial palace, the Imperial Study.
Once the sealing order at the Yingtian Prefecture Examination Hall was lifted, Wang Cheng received the top-ranked paper from the transcription official.
The paper had been transcribed. The candidate's original had already been sealed away; only a neatly handwritten copy in red ink was presented to the emperor.
Wang Cheng knew whose paper it was.
He had overseen every stage of the marking process, from sealing the candidates' identities to transcription.
From transcription to grading, he had eyes watching every step.
But he said nothing.
Emperor Jing of Zhou sat behind the Imperial Desk, took the transcribed paper, and began reading.
Wang Cheng stood beside him with his hands lowered, his eyes on his nose and his nose aligned with his heart, not daring even to breathe loudly.
For a time, the Imperial Study was utterly silent.
Emperor Jing of Zhou read slowly, much more slowly than he usually read memorials, his brows alternately tightening and relaxing.
Watching from the side, Wang Cheng's heart bobbed up and down with anxiety, but he dared not let a trace of it show.
Only after roughly the time it took to drink a cup of tea did Emperor Jing of Zhou set the copy down on the desk.
"Was Song Jing the chief examiner in Yingtian Prefecture?"
Wang Cheng hurriedly bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Song Jing..." Emperor Jing of Zhou repeated the name. "What sort of man is he?"
Trying to divine the emperor's meaning, Wang Cheng answered cautiously.
"Lord Song served as rector of the Imperial College. He is learned and upright.
I hear he marked the papers fairly and impartially this time, with no mishaps."
"Mm." Emperor Jing of Zhou nodded, his tone mild. "Very good."
Just two words.
He asked no further questions, pursued