On this day, low murmurs of someone begging for mercy drifted from Wangyue Inn.
The voice was faint, however. Listening closely, it sounded more like the intimate whispers of a married couple, leaving anyone who overheard unsure of what was actually happening. Ultimately, no one was curious enough to pry into the matter, and it passed without a ripple.
After the Xinglin Banquets, the new Advanced Scholars were expected to return to their hometowns to pay respects to their ancestors or visit their relatives. This was both a demonstration of personal filial piety and a way for the court to bestow its grace.
But this year was an exception.
The court had postponed this "vacation." The reason came down to His Majesty's upcoming crowning ceremony and the Empress Dowager's impending fortieth birthday celebrations.
