Within the Imperial Court.
At a glance, towering vermilion pillars framed a vast hall.
On either side, the assembled officials stood in orderly ranks, some dressed in civil officials' court robes, others in military officers' robes.
Among them also stood two young men dressed in scholars' robes-the second- and third-place graduates of this examination.
At the very head of the hall, a middle-aged man sat upon the imperial throne.
He wore a bright yellow imperial robe embroidered with coiling golden dragons. As the fabric draped down, the dragon patterns appeared and disappeared within its folds, lending him an imposing majesty.
This man was none other than the reigning emperor, Xiao Jinxuan.
At that moment, Xiao Jinxuan simply sat there, watching the argument below with an impassive expression, neither heated nor cold.
Yet that very composure made it all the harder to fathom what he was thinking.
Among the officials below.
Li Bingzhang stood with his eyes half closed, seemingly resting his mind.
It was as though the argument before him had nothing to do with him.
On the other side, Tang Kui's brow furrowed now and then. He was clearly displeased with what had just been said, but ultimately, he was in no hurry to speak.
After all, His Majesty had yet to express his position, and no one wanted to overstep the rules by speaking out first.
There was another man among them whom Jiang Xiaobai might have recognized-none other than Master Song.
At that moment, Master Song's brows were tightly knitted.
Yes, Jiang Xiaobai's reputation certainly preceded him, but Master Song did not see him that way.
The methods of calculation Jiang Xiaobai had taught him at the Imperial College alone were enough to prove his ability.
Yet he did not understand why Jiang Xiaobai had asked him