The examination lasted a full nine days, during which Su Rong and Fen Ling stayed at the Princess Residence, indulging in food and drink.
Throughout these nine days, the kitchen staff consistently prepared various delicacies for their noble guests. The kitchen maid who could make Hibiscus cakes did such a fine job that the guests rewarded her with ten taels of silver, earning the admiration of her fellow maids in the kitchen.
Today was the day the scholars were finally allowed to leave the examination hall.
Fen Ling and Su Rong discussed, "Sister, should we plan on leaving now?"
"Leave? Where are you planning to go? You're not allowed to leave," Princess Duanhua interjected authoritatively upon hearing their conversation.
Fen Ling turned to Duanhua, "Princess, what do you mean?"
Duanhua promptly replied, "I mean that you should continue to stay."
