The uneasy stirring amidst the candidates was too obvious and it was evident that its cause was the examination script.
The administrators exchanged nervous glances with each other; had something gone wrong?
But no one could say for sure. The ten examiners for this round, who had personally prepared and checked each script before sealing them away, were already locked up in a compound within the Hanlin Imperial Academy, where they were to spend the next ten days in seclusion until they were done marking the papers.
No one else present should know the content of the scripts, apart from one.
"What's the matter?" Liu Yao called out as though he had no idea why there was so much unrest amidst the candidates in the hall.
The Minister of Rites swallowed in nervousness. He had just taken a glance at the question and had gone weak at the knees.
(1) Teng she: a legendary flying serpent, associated with clouds and rainfall, just like the dragon. Some versions of the myths say that they can also become dragons.
(2) Nine degrees of kindred: the most serious crimes, such as treason, would result in the execution of all family members within a clan above the age of fourteen, up to nine degrees of their kindred. These nine degrees included four generations of paternal relations, three generation’s of maternal relations, and two generations of wife’s relations. So if Wu Bin were to commit treason, for example, Great-great Grandfather Wu down to Great-great Grandson Wu, Great Grandfather Liang down to Great Grandson Liang, and Grandfather Guo down to Grandson Guo would be implicated.
(3): Those who were thieves were afraid of being found out: a guilty conscience.
A/N: Thank you very much for reading!<3 Sorry, these two days has been hell, I basically had no free days this week and am rushing off to work again now QAQ. I'll answer all your lovely comments as soon as possible and complete the special thanks section by tomorrow latest, please know that I am still really grateful for all the gifts, golden tickets, power stones and comments I've been receiving! >< Other than that, hope you enjoyed this chapter too, we're going back to our MC next chapter, promise!!! <3