April 23rd, clear dawn.
Capital City, within the Imperial City.
Amidst successive waves of ceremonial music, the official bearing the golden list arrived at the imperial pathway to recite the imperial edict.
"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees... In the Thirty-Fifth Year of Chengping, the imperial examination is concluded... First Class awarded the title of Imperial Scholar, Second Class granted the origins of an Imperial Scholar, Third Class bestowed with the same origin as an Imperial Scholar..."
From in front of the palace hall down to the steps, the palace guards sang in unison, spreading the announcement beyond the Fengtian Gate.
Lin Zhan stood among the scholars, listening to the successive recitations.
