99 Sixth

The morning of the imperial examination was just like any other morning in the inner palace; mundane. Yan Zheyun, who had been exempted from the assemblies at Changchun Palace ever since he started attending to the 'infirm' emperor, was allowed to return to Yuyang Palace for the first time in a while. 

Today was also the first time he met Ying Qi, presumably one of Liu Yao's royal guards. After makeup and a change of wardrobe, Ying Qi bore such a striking resemblance to the emperor that Yan Zheyun had served for months that Yan Zheyun wouldn't have been able to tell the difference without close scrutiny. Even then, he wasn't certain. If it weren't for the deferential greeting Ying Qi directed towards him, he might have mistaken him for Liu Yao without a second thought.