The Palace Examination results were to be announced on the third day. This time, the posting of the results was different; the imperial court was holding a Grand Chuanlu Ceremony, where the Emperor would personally summon the successful candidates. This was considered a tremendous display of imperial grace—being summoned by the Emperor was a glorious event that brought honor to one's ancestors.
Zhao Yan rose early that day. He spent longer than usual washing his face. His stubble was just starting to poke through, feeling a bit prickly to the touch. To present the best possible image, he shaved it all off, then checked with his hands one last time, terrified he might have missed a spot.
Naturally, there were strict requirements for a new jinshi's attire. One had to wear official court robes; no matter how expensive the fabric of one's own clothes might be, it could not compare to the court-issued robes.
Chapter 338