Nobody cheered when a peasant broke a noble’s jaw. The arena sat in choking, scared silence until the royal gong master finally struck the brass bell.
BOOOOOOM.
The heavy bronze bell groaned under the leather-wrapped mallet, the low sound wave washing across the tiered granite stands like cold river water.
In the medical pit beside the ring, four royal physicians were already wildly pouring healing spirits over Xie Lingfeng’s fractured jaw, shoving an ivory wedge between his back teeth to keep his tongue from sliding back into his pharynx and choking him. Two retainers in silver liveries hoisted the unconscious marquis’s heir onto a litter draped in scarlet wool, hurrying down the service ramp while covering his blood-spattered face with a brocade cloak to hide his disgrace from the populace.
Up on the ring, the chief referee raised Pei Jing’s right arm into the freezing air.
The referee’s fingers were cold, stiff, and trembling slightly.
“By the decree of the Imperial Ministry of War and the Provincial Yamen of Cangzhou!” the herald proclaimed, his voice echoing across the quiet stands. “Examinee #184, Pei Jing of Cloudford Town, is hereby announcedGrand Champion of the Provincial Martial Test!”
A delayed, uneasy murmur finally broke through the common gallery.
