This was an arrangement that suited everyone, so the constables naturally nodded in agreement. But in the end, what was actually done was still up to them.

The contents of the exam baskets had been inspected time and again. With a single glance, the two constables could tell that nothing forbidden was concealed inside.

Still, they inspected every item one by one. They even seemed to wish they could crack open the charcoal briquettes for a closer look.

In truth, it wasn’t that the constables were being nitpicky; the inspections for the county examination were simply that strict.

This was only because they hadn’t brought steamed buns or flatbreads; if they had, the food would have been broken into tiny pieces. If they had carried chicken or quail eggs, the constables would have placed them in a nearby basin of water to see if they floated or sank. If they sank, all was well. But if they floated, the eggs would have to be cracked open to check for hidden cheat sheets.

Once the contents of the exam basket were cleared, the body search began.

The body search was even more thorough. They had to remove their heavy outer coats, leaving only their inner garments. The constables patted them down inch by inch. Even their hair was parted for a careful look. Their mouths, teeth, noses, and ears were naturally points of focus as well, with no oversight permitted.

By the time all the inspections were finished, a good while had passed. Chen De’an and Zhao Jing were nearly frozen stiff.

The two quickly put on their fur-lined coats, gave the constables a slight nod, and headed into the inner courtyard.

The appointed hour had not yet arrived, so all the scholars who had passed inspection gathered in the courtyard to wait. Only at dawn, after the calling of the guarantors and the distribution of the exam papers, could the candidates find their seats according to the numbers on their papers.

During the long wait, the crowd was utterly silent.

The weather was clearly freezing, but everyone’s heart burned with passion.

The surrounding lanterns illuminated the courtyard, and looking around, one could see a variety of expressions on everyone’s faces.

Some were brimming with confidence, others were full of fighting spirit, and still others looked timid and unsure, or anxious and uneasy.

Within the crowd, Zhao Jing and De’an spotted the young masters of the Wang and Chu families. They also saw Li Cun, Li’an, and their two other companions from the Zhao Village.

De’an’s legs grew numb from standing. He shifted his weight and opened his mouth in a yawn, using the motion of covering it to whisper secretly to Zhao Jing, "Look at that man diagonally in front of us. His hair is completely white—he looks even older than my grandfather, and he’s still here taking the county examination."

"Silence!"

A sharp command rang out from the front. Chen De’an looked up to see one of the constables—an older man who often came to his family’s home for a drink—glaring at him with fierce eyes.

The command "Silence!" was clearly directed at him.

Feeling sheepish, Chen De’an shrank back, lowered his head, and immediately fell silent.

A few moments later, just before dawn, the County Magistrate arrived in the main hall, accompanied by the government-supported students.

The crowd hurried to bow. The County Magistrate called out, "You may rise," and the calling of the guarantors began.

The "calling of the guarantors" was a procedure in which a constable would cry out a candidate’s name, along with the name of his designated guarantor. The candidate would then step forward into the hall to receive the paper marked with his seat number. After confirming the candidate’s identity, the guarantor—one of the government-supported students—would loudly call back his own name, thus formally vouching for the candidate.

If a guarantor expressed doubt about a candidate, the county official had to launch an immediate investigation, and the candidate in question would be barred from taking the examination.

Some years ago in Qingshui County, there had been a malicious incident during the examinations. A candidate had offended one of the government-supported students before the test. During the calling of the guarantors, that student deliberately hesitated, causing the candidate to be detained.

Although it was later proven that the candidate was who he claimed to be, he was unable to take the examination that day because of the government-supported student’s obstruction.

The candidate, of course, refused to accept this and later filed a complaint with the county government. The incident was so egregious that it drew the attention of every scholar in the county. However, the government-supported student stubbornly insisted that the candidate had simply looked unfamiliar that day. He claimed he had refused to vouch for him to prevent a potential imposter, arguing that he was merely being responsible for the integrity of the county examination. How could he be punished for that?

The matter was eventually dropped.

However, the county government subsequently issued a new regulation: if a government-supported student refused to vouch for a candidate, they must provide conclusive evidence. Otherwise, they would be deemed to be deliberately obstructing a candidate’s examination. Such an untrustworthy person, lacking in virtue, would be stripped of their scholarly honors to serve as a warning to others.

Whether it was their imagination or not, when Zhao Jing and Chen De’an reached the center of the great hall, they felt as if every eye was on them.

It was not their imagination. Everyone was indeed looking at them.

The other candidates were naturally sizing up their potential rivals.

As for the government-supported students acting as guarantors, they were trying to get a measure of the young man. This was Zhao Jing, son of Mr. Zhao from the Zhao Village—a talent so exceptional that he had threatened even Mr. Zheng. So much so that Mr. Zheng had been willing to hire thugs, all to eliminate this potential threat before it could blossom. Just what kind of person was he?