When this round of examinations ended and the candidates filed out of the examination hall, many had an unhealthy flush on their faces.
They covered their mouths with their hands, letting out uncontrollable coughs.
Sounds of coughing like this had spread throughout the examination grounds that very afternoon.
It was a good thing they were leaving the examination hall today. Had it been two days later, many would likely have had to be carried out.
De'an had this to say on the matter.
"Don't they prepare thick clothes in advance? It always rains during the county, Provincial, and Imperial Examinations. That's wisdom passed down from our predecessors. Better safe than sorry, so how can they be so careless and pretend not to know?"
He then sighed, "The weather turned cold a bit late this time. If the temperature had dropped a few days earlier, a good number of people might have had to withdraw for health reasons. In that case, who knows, I might have been able to pick up..."
