The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 887 - 887 408 Coming to Find Me (Three More s)_3

Chapter 887: 408 Coming to Find Me (Three More Chapters)_3 Chapter 887: 408 Coming to Find Me (Three More Chapters)_3 It was somewhat embarrassing.

“Princess Xinyang took the medicine I gave her, and it worked very well. The reason Long Yi brought me there was to treat her illness!”

She spoke with a light and breezy tone, omitting all kinds of dramatic misunderstandings and details.

However, Xiao Liulang, having spent more than a decade with Princess Xinyang, how could he not understand her temperament?

Perhaps the him of the past couldn’t see through it, but now, thinking back, many details no longer matched his memories.

Princess Xinyang was never a simple woman.

If she really wanted to invite someone to treat an illness, she would have sent a sedan chair in a grand manner. Having Long Yi abduct the person was more likely because she had suspicions.

Fortunately, everything indeed turned out to be a misunderstanding.

He couldn’t prevent her from meeting Princess Xinyang because he was incapable of doing so.

It wasn’t something she could avoid if she wanted to; once Princess Xinyang issued an order, Long Yi would find the person no matter where they were, even if it meant searching to the ends of the earth or digging three feet into the ground.

But Long Yi wouldn’t allow anyone to harm her, right?

Just like how he once wouldn’t allow anyone to harm himself.

Upon returning home, the cookies had already cooled down. Gu Jiao sighed—it was a pity; they were tasty cookies.

The night was deep, and everyone at home had gone to sleep. The two of them washed up and returned to their respective rooms.

Little Jingkong was sprawled out on the bedchamber, snoring contentedly.

Xiao Liulang looked at him and for some reason, his thoughts drifted to his own childhood and to the days at the Princess Residence.

Memories flickered through his mind like frames in a film, memories he thought he had long forgotten, yet they became so vivid in the night.

Xiao Liulang closed his eyes, trying to push these memories out of his mind, but the harder he tried, the more tumultuous they became.

“Mom~”

Little Jingkong suddenly mumbled drowsily.

Was the little guy dreaming about having a mother?

Xiao Liulang’s train of thought was interrupted. He pulled Little Jingkong’s clothes down, covering his little belly.

Little Jingkong turned around and snuggled into his arms, babbling some indecipherable dream talk.

Xiao Liulang lifted his long, jade-like fingers to push the little head to one side.

Little Jingkong rolled away but soon rolled back.

Xiao Liulang pushed again.

He rolled again.

In the end, he stopped burrowing into Xiao Liulang’s arms; instead, a little foot arose out of nowhere and ended up smack on Xiao Liulang’s face!

Xiao Liulang: “…”

With Little Jingkong’s antics, Xiao Liulang no longer had the luxury to dwell on other thoughts, and the strange memories in his mind dissipated. He slept well for the rest of the night.

The next day, before it was fully light, he went to the Hanlin Academy.

He arrived even earlier than Kong Mu, who gave him a curious look: “Xiao Xiuzhuan, you didn’t… stay out all night, did you?”

“I went back,” Xiao Liulang said.

After the morning roll call, Xiao Liulang went to his office.

Kong Mu couldn’t help but mutter, “So early… He must have had a fight with his wife and got kicked out…”

The results of the official assessment for the six departments were out, and a large number of officials ended up in the ranks needing makeup exams. The Hanlin Academy took on the heavy responsibility of tutoring these officials for their retakes.

A significant number of the officials needing to retake exams were not products of the Imperial examination but were members of families with hereditary official titles, meaning they’d obtained their positions through the achievements of previous generations. The examination skills of this group could be imagined.

It wasn’t that hereditary officials lacked a proper education in literature and history, but if someone had genuine talent and learning, they simply wouldn’t need the crutch of their family’s position—they could become officials on their own merits, just like the young Libationer of before, and just like Huang Zhiyuan, the current Compiler.

Very few of those who could be granted a hereditary official position were diligent enough to study hard.

The hereditary system’s flaws were evident, but they were long-established. The previous emperor had once tried to abolish it. But faced a united opposition from the civil and military officials. Stubborn as he was, he refused to relent until his death, resulting in a strained relationship between the monarch and his subjects. His old supporters remained loyal to him, yet they also wished he would retract the order.

After the Dowager Empress began to preside over the court, she restored the hereditary official system, providing the civil and military officials with a way out. But at the same time, she proposed a condition—an increase in the assessment of the Six Ministries.

The assessments were to be held every three years, with those failing required to retake the exam. Those who failed the retake twice would be demoted, and after two demotions, their positions would be revoked.

It’s worth mentioning that individuals who had been noted for infractions had to participate in the next round of assessments regardless of their lot.

The ingenious part of this system was its grace periods; failing the assessment still allowed for retakes, failing the retake still offered a chance to undergo the assessment in three years, and one did not immediately lose their position.

Adding to that, the Dowager Empress said, “Like father, like son—the sages amongst you are all exceptional talents and pillars of Zhan Country. Do you mean to say that your offspring are all useless?”

With such flattery and a touch of provocation, she left the court officials with no response.

Thus, the assessment system of the Six Ministries was accepted.

Though this system did not completely solve the problems of the hereditary system, it minimized its negative impacts to the lowest point.

The Hanlin official scheduled to lecture at the Imperial College today was Xiao Liulang, provided with carriage transportation arranged by the College itself.

Before the carriage had even arrived, Xiao Liulang, carrying a water flask, went to the backyard to fetch water.

Ning Zhiyuan happened to be cleaning his brush by the ink pond and saw him, cheerfully greeting, “Liulang! You’re early!”

“You are also quite early,” Xiao Liulang said.

Ning Zhiyuan sighed, “Isn’t that because I fear being late, so I set out early? Your place isn’t far from here.”

While they were talking, Academician Han came by.

Ning Zhiyuan exclaimed in surprise, “Wow, I didn’t expect Master Han to be so early as well.”

The two of them paid their respects to Academician Han.

Academician Han nodded slightly and turned to Xiao Liulang, “Aren’t you supposed to give a lecture at the Imperial College today?”

“Yes,” Xiao Liulang replied.

“No need to go,” Academician Han said. “Come with me to the Wenhua Pavilion in a while.”

Xiao Liulang’s fingertips twitched.

The Wenhua Pavilion, constructed by Princess Xinyang.

Academician Han was showing favor to Xiao Liulang by offering him this opportunity. Seeing Xiao Liulang silent, he took it as agreement.

Yet as he just took a step, Xiao Liulang spoke up, “Master Han, I wish to give the lecture at the Imperial College.”

What do you mean by wishing to give a lecture at the Imperial College?

Is it customary to haggle with your superior like this?

Academician Han turned back, speaking sternly, “Do you know what place Wenhua Pavilion is? What sort of opportunity is this?”

“I wish to give the lecture at the Imperial College,” Xiao Liulang stated, emphasizing each word.

Academician Han’s brows furrowed.

Glancing at Ning Zhiyuan, Xiao Liulang said, “Let Ning Ziuzhuan go to Wenhua Pavilion. I prefer to go to the Imperial College.”

He said he wanted to go to the Imperial College three times; Academician Han would not offer the opportunity to him again even if he wanted to promote him.

“Come with me,” Academician Han said to Ning Zhiyuan.

Ning Zhiyuan followed Academician Han, turning back to Xiao Liulang with exaggerated gestures, silently mouthing—Are you really giving this great opportunity to me?

“What are you doing?” Academician Han stopped and turned to look at him.

In a second, Ning Zhiyuan ceased his actions, “Just stretching.”

Academician Han took Ning Zhiyuan away from Hanlin Academy.

Xiao Liulang had to wait for another half an hour before the person from the Imperial College arrived; but just as he was about to step into the carriage, the driver from Hanlin Academy hurriedly drove his horse-drawn cart over in a frantic rush: “Something terrible has happened, Xiao Xiuzhuan! Ning Ziuzhuan has had an accident! Quickly, go check on him at the Wenhua Pavilion!”