The elders gathered in Ashfall’s main courtyard before the lamps were lit. Zhao arrived under guard but without chains. He stood at one end of the records table, hands free now that the first confrontation had ended. Two guards remained within reach. Yan sat beside Qinghe with his shoulder wrapped and his ribs sore. Ning sat with Bai and Gu. Wei carried the corrected injury list and a copy of the witness statements.
A clerk placed a narrow bench in front of the elders. “Candidates may speak from here,” she said. “Witnesses will be called one at a time. No one will interrupt.”
Zhao gave a short laugh. “A court for a candidate who attacked a senior examiner.”
The eldest woman at the center of the bench looked up. “We will hear what happened before naming anyone an attacker. You may speak when called.”
Luo stood beside the table with his board. He listed the materials already received: the refusal note, the guard statements, the injury card, and Wei’s account of the lantern. He had not opened the sealed sample request. Bai’s packet remained in its sleeve.
“Do the witnesses understand that this is a hearing, not a ruling?” the elder asked.
