The Imperial Examination ended, and all the candidates' examination papers were collected.
Hong Enshou immediately looked for Xiao Yuan's examination paper.
In truth, even for the chief examiner, it was not easy to locate a particular candidate's paper.
By this time, the imperial examination system was already quite mature.
Not only were names hidden, but in order to prevent examiners from recognizing a candidate's paper by their handwriting, copying was required.
After candidates submitted their papers, their names would be concealed, then specialized copyists would transcribe each candidate's paper before the examiners graded them.
After so many procedures, it was usually impossible to distinguish who had written which paper.
However, from the start of the examination, Hong Enshou had intent on identifying Xiao Yuan's paper. When collecting papers, he had one of his confidants collect Xiao Yuan's, marking it beforehand, and had it marked again during copying.
