The *zhiduo* robes, *qingyun* shoes, and square caps worn by Xie Yousheng, Li Bendao, Li Bendian, and Wang Jixue had all been rented from Master Zhu for eight coppers a day.
Lin Zezu, however, refused point-blank to wear clothes that someone else had already worn, and Sister Jiang was even more adamant; she insisted on sewing a set for her young master herself to ensure everything was perfect. Consequently, it was only after the other four had finished their inspections that Lin Zezu’s robe, shoes, and cap were finally stamped with the official wax seal.
During the inspection process, the officers actually caught three candidates who had attempted to smuggle "cheat sheets" into the clothing they had brought for verification. Those three were immediately given twenty lashes, and it was announced on the spot that they and their descendants for three generations would be barred from the imperial examinations—a heavy penalty meant to serve as a warning to others.
Chapter 250