A few days after Sheng Saya and her brother moved into the Xu family's home, the Imperial Examination concluded. When the candidates were let out that day, a massive crowd gathered at the entrance of the examination hall.
De'an and the Xu family's butler had gone early to pick them up. They rode in a carriage adorned with the Xu family crest, but what use was that? Commoners didn't recognize such things, and merchants knew little about them. The servants of the wealthy families in the Capital City recognized the crest, but they were hopelessly stuck in the crowd themselves, unable to budge an inch. They could only watch helplessly as the Xu family's carriage became trapped in the traffic.
Fortunately, the Capital Governor's constables soon arrived to direct traffic. Before the gates of the examination hall opened, the carriages of various families were lined up neatly on both sides of the road, clearing a path for people to walk.
