On the day when the results of the new department were released, Shen Mo, a scholar from a poor family, was at a banquet in Qionglin. For the first time, he clearly realized that he had the "pupil of truth" - he could see the glimmer of light when speaking the truth and the turbidity of lies. He witnessed the hypocrisy of socializing in the officialdom, and also saw the light of sincerity when his mentor (the Minister of Rites) talked with Liusu Censor of the Qing Dynasty. After the banquet, his mentor proposed to pave the "Qingyun Road" for him: marry the daughter of a powerful doctor in the household department (a member of King Zhao's party) in exchange for a rapid promotion. In front of Shen Mo, the light of his mentor's words was faint. He was shocked and refused, confessing that he had expressed his feelings for Wanqing, the daughter of Su Yushi. The teacher's smile faded, indicating that trouble was about to arise.
