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The hour of Yin (3:00 to 5:00 AM) had just begun, and the sky was still dark. Inside Yaohui Pavilion, however, the lanterns were already ablaze. A houseful of maidservants and matrons were busy helping Ye Mian wash his face, change his robes, attach his pouches, and pack his snack boxes. The scene was bustling and vibrant. Ye Mian himself was full of spirit.…

The next morning at dawn. The sun rose, and the morning drums on the Chengtian Gate struck right on time. As the ninth beat faded, the echoes, wrapped in golden morning light, slowly drifted down. Carriages and merchants waiting outside the city poured in one after another. Inside the inner city, the breakfast stalls were already bustling with steam and the sound of vendors…

The Huawu Gate is the west gate of the Imperial Palace. The plaza in front of it is heavily guarded by the Imperial Guards, and ordinary citizens are usually forbidden from approaching it. Today, however, being the day of the internal military examination, the guards in the plaza were withdrawn, making it exceptionally lively. Apart from the military examinees, there were also commoners here…

It was the third month in the capital, and the first spring thunder had just rumbled. By dawn, the gentle morning rain had ceased. Golden threads of sunlight filtered through the eaves and tiles, softly enveloping the entire imperial city in a tender spring glow. “Quick, look! Is that the top scholar (Tanhualang) of this year?” In the garden of the Vice Minister of…