The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 617 - 617 297 Praise (Third Watch)

Chapter 617: 297 Praise (Third Watch) Chapter 617: 297 Praise (Third Watch) The following day, Xiao Liulang got up early to go to the Hanlin Academy.

There was a festive atmosphere within the Hanlin Academy, with frequent sounds of congratulations and laughter coming from another row of offices.

Xiao Liulang initially did not understand what was happening, until Ning Zhiyuan arrived and quietly informed him that Yang Xiuzhuan had been promoted.

News of Yang Xiuzhuan’s imminent promotion was no longer a secret, though it was understood to take place at the end of the year.

“Do you know how he got promoted?” Ning Zhiyuan asked.

“How was he promoted?” Xiao Liulang was not particularly interested in Yang Xiuzhuan’s affairs, but simply indulged Ning Zhiyuan’s desire for gossip.

“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s talk about it at your place!” Taking Xiao Liulang by the arm, Ning Zhiyuan led him to the office that always emitted a captivating aroma.

“Mr. Chen was transferred to the Ministry of Revenue early this morning,” Ning Zhiyuan noted.

It was not uncommon for the Six Ministries to requisition staff from the Hanlin Academy. Moreover, Mr. Chen, a royal aide, had long been desired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue to work under his supervision.

Yang Xiuzhuan was promoted as a result of the vacancy created by Mr. Chen’s departure.

Originally, Mr. Chen was also supposed to be transferred only after the new year, but things happened to unfold just so.

“I heard that several books that were restored in your Book Pavilion were well received by Prime Minister Yuan,” commented Ning Zhiyuan.

Xiao Liulang had restored most of the books, but not all. Yang Xiuzhuan and his group had also restored a portion, so Xiao Liulang could not guess immediately whether the books that were favored by Prime Minister Yuan were the ones he had restored.

Ning Zhiyuan was even less informed.

He was simply marveling at the fact that Yang Xiuzhuan, despite not being particularly personable, had such good luck with his official career.

Ning Zhiyuan sighed, “Mr. Han greatly praised Yang Xiuzhuan. Or rather, we should now refer to him as Scholar Yang. He’s a full sixth-rank scholar! He was previously on the same level as you, but now he’s truly out-ranked you.”

Xiao Liulang was nonchalant, “It’s not like I only found out today that he would be promoted.”

A promotion is a promotion, whether early or late.

Scholar Yang originated from the ranks of the scholars of the Imperial College. It took him five years to earn the position of scholar, which was already considered quick for someone of his origin.

But Xiao Liulang was different. He was the top scorer of Class Alpha in the Imperial Examination. As long as he did not sabotage himself, his rate of promotion was bound to be faster than his contemporaries who had entered office as scholars.

This over-ranking by Scholar Yang was only temporary.

“Take a look at this.” Ning Zhiyuan pulled out an epitaph from his inner pocket.

Xiao Liulang asked, “Why do you carry this around?”

“That’s not the point. I want you to look at its content!” Ning Zhiyuan handed the draft parchment of the epitaph to Xiao Liulang, “Does it look familiar?”

Xiao Liulang said, “I wrote this. What’s the matter?”

Ning Zhiyuan muttered, “Scholar Yang handed it over. By claiming that he had given you half a day of instruction and made you rewrite it seventeen times, he effectively erased all your merit. Tell me the truth, did he instruct you on a single character?”

Xiao Liulang took the epitaph and casually put it on the table, saying indifferently, “It’s just an epitaph.”

“You are really not angry?” Ning Zhiyuan seemed incredulous.

“What is there to be angry about?” asked Xiao Liulang.

“As long as you are not angry.” Ning Zhiyuan finally relaxed, “Incidents like these are commonplace in officialdom. Those who are not seasoned, have no say. You are capable of keeping your cool at such a young age, which is better than me back in the day. But Xiao Liulang, promise me that even if one day you rise above these people, you will not become like them.”

Ning Zhiyuan was now a mature man of thirty. His appearance was not exceptional, with a square face and dark skin.

But at this moment, the look in his eyes had a blazing intensity as he gazed at Xiao Liulang, a fervor and conviction that made one’s eyes burn.

Xiao Liulang stared at him, and nodded.

Ning Zhiyuan revealed a relieved smile. He patted Xiao Liulang on the shoulder and spoke with ambition, “Despite my humble background, with no connections or contacts, occasionally I do dream. I dream of the day I might also rise to a higher position… I don’t aspire high. The position of fifth-rank scholar in the Hanlin Academy is my lifelong dream!”

He said this, clenching his fist, seemingly wanting to expel all the disdain he had experienced over the years from his very marrow, “I am thinking that when I have that day, when I am in charge of the Hanlin Academy, I will never permit anyone to use money, kinship, connections, compliance, or intimidation to their advantage!”

–

The Capital City was pleasant after the rain.

After the morning court, officials filed out of the palace in ranks, heading to their own Yamen offices.

The Grand Tutor, Mr. Zhuang, also left Jinluan Hall, chatted casually with some fellow ministers he was on good terms with, and after finding there was nothing significant to report to the Empress Dowager that day, he prepared to leave the palace.

Just as he had walked a few steps, he was stopped by Prime Minister Yuan.

“Grand Tutor Zhuang.”

Grand Tutor Zhuang turned around in surprise: “Prime Minister Yuan?”

Yuan Shoufu is the first minister of the Inner Cabinet, but the two vice ministers, the Zhongshu Sheren, and the three Grand Scholars of the Inner Cabinet all belong to Minister Zhuang, so it can be said that the Cabinet is almost half under the control of Minister Zhuang.

However, the Cabinet still considers Yuan Shoufu as the most respected, and his word still carries the most weight.

But Yuan Shoufu is getting on in years, and can’t serve as the first minister for many more years. One day, one of the vice ministers will replace him.

Then, the Cabinet would be fully under Minister Zhuang’s control.

Minister Zhuang never openly conflicts with Yuan Shoufu. They typically have little to do with each other, so it is unclear why Yuan Shoufu stopped him today.

Yuan Shoufu stepped forward, with a pleasant look at Minister Zhuang: “Minister Zhuang, you are looking better and better nowadays.”

Minister Zhuang politely replied: “Thanks to your blessing.”

Yuan Shoufu laughed: “Minister Zhuang, you’re too polite.”

Minister Zhuang stated frankly: “Does Minister Yuan have something to discuss with me?”

Yuan Shoufu replied: “It’s nothing major. Yesterday, I was looking at some ancient books brought by the Hanlin Academy. They were nicely restored, filling in many omitted parts that even the great scholars at court could not decide on. I heard that the Prince of An also participated in the editing and correction.”

Minister Zhuang said: “Really? I haven’t been paying much attention to Yuheng’s affairs.”

And he genuinely hadn’t been paying attention.

But there were people who reported to him.

The reason he said this was to avoid suspicions in front of Yuan Shoufu, showing that he had not interfered with the Hanlin Academy.

Yuan Shoufu didn’t mention the “Yanbei Rhapsody” specifically because after reading the remaining documents last night, he found them just as stunning as the “Yanbei Rhapsody”.

At his age, reading by lamplight late into the night was a thing of the past, but he couldn’t stop reading last night.

Although he had not personally seen the original ancient books, much of this history could be verified from other sources.

In other words, the restoration of these ancient books required a vast amount of historical knowledge to lay the groundwork.

And there were no errors in the writing itself.

Even Yuan Shoufu himself would find it difficult to ensure that not a single word was incorrect under such tedious conditions.

Yuan Shoufu was not aware that Xiao Liulang was burning the midnight oil for the restoration. If he knew, he would be even more astonished.

Minister Zhuang knew well about the Prince of An’s movements and naturally knew about his visit to the Book Pavilion on Yueluo Mountain.

He thought Yuan Shoufu said so because he indeed received the ancient books restored by the Prince of An. He knew his grandson’s capability and did not suspect that there was any misunderstanding.

He laughed and said: “If he can contribute to the Hanlin Academy, his years of study wouldn’t be in vain.”

Yuan Shoufu said, “More than just a contribution, it’s a great achievement.” Yuan Shoufu was not one to lavish praise lightly, even the dazzling young Master who excelled in Zhaodu never received a single word of praise from him, “Minister Zhuang, you have a good grandson.”

Minister Zhuang was pleasantly surprised, would this old picky ghost actually praise someone?

He suppressed his excitement, bowed his hand and said: “Minister Yuan, you flatter me.”

Yuan Shoufu laughed, “I heard that Minister Zhuang’s grandson is not yet betrothed?”

Minister Zhuang was taken aback.

At the end of May, the Hanlin Academy held an examination.

Among the scholars, Fen Lin and Lin Chengye were the fourth and fifth from the bottom, while Du Ruohan squeezed into the top nine.

The eldest grandson of Yuan Shoufu, Yuan Yu, who was originally a Class Beta scholar, clenched the first place in the Imperial examination.

He underperformed this time and slipped to the fifth place.

The historians and editors did not rank their results with theirs since the exam questions were different.

Xiao Liulang ranked seventh, Ning Zhiyuan sixth, and the first was the Prince of An.

Ning Zhiyuan came to find Xiao Liulang, whispering, “It’s impossible… I got so many arithmetic questions wrong… You didn’t get any wrong… How could I possibly do better than you?”

Arithmetic is the easiest to score: right is right, wrong is wrong. Not like the questions on artistic taste, which are very subjective.

Moreover, even in terms of artistic taste, Ning Zhiyuan could not compare to Xiao Liulang at all.

It was obvious that someone deliberately tampered with Xiao Liulang’s results.

This internal exam wasn’t as strict as the Imperial examination. If candidates for the Imperial examination disagreed with their results, they could go to the Yamen or the Imperial College to review their papers, and if they still felt wronged, they could beat the drum to report the injustice.

Once the Hanlin officials finished their exams, that was it. They had no opportunity to appeal.