After leaving the Chancellor's Residence and returning to the Marquis's Residence, Jiang Xiaobai went back to his quarters.
For the next two days, Jiang Xiaobai went nowhere.
Indeed, he spent each day either basking in the courtyard of the Marquis's Residence or reclining in a lounge chair, eating pastries and drinking tea.
He looked as though he had reverted to his old carefree, good-for-nothing young master ways.
But while he enjoyed his leisure, the commotion spreading through Capital City over those two days was anything but small.
Indeed, Jiang Xiaobai's purchase of the Top Graduate title had already caused an uproar.
Now His Majesty had bestowed the Imperial Silver Tally on him and ordered him to investigate the Ministry of Rites thoroughly. Once the news spread, all of Capital City erupted like a pot boiling over.
Some said Jiang Xiaobai had put himself on the line to expose the dark secrets of the imperial examinations for scholars everywhere.
Others said he was merely lucky, and His Majesty had happened to choose him as his blade.
Still others said half the Ministry of Rites' sky was about to come crashing down.
Yet Jiang Xiaobai, the Imperial Inspector himself, made no move at all.
This left many people waiting to watch the spectacle scratching their heads.
Even Jiang Jingcheng had visited twice over those two days.
Each time, Jiang Jingcheng frowned and offered a few reminders, but Jiang Xiaobai merely smiled and said there was no hurry.
It infuriated Jiang Jingcheng so much that he nearly kicked him several times.
Before long, the third day arrived.
That morning, after breakfast, Jiang Xiaobai settled into the lounge chair in the courtyard.
The sunshine was just right, and the breeze was pleasantly mild.
Jiang Xiaobai narrowed his eyes, utterly comfortable.
Just as he began