Duke Zhou dreamed that he would be late for the civil service exam.

Dreaming of being late for an exam implies that the dreamer may be worried about something he is engaged in, a plan, an investment or a career change, because uncertainty leads to a lack of self-confidence, or in life, the dreamer always wants to retreat because he doesn't really want to face the "exams" again and again in life, or he may want to develop himself, but in fact he always feels that he is one step behind.