The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 506

Chapter 506: 254 Topping the Honor Roll (First Update)_2

Chapter 506: 254 Topping the Honor Roll (First Update)_2

“Yes.” Grand Tutor Zhuang bowed.

Minister Li tactfully said, “Then we ministers will retire first.”

“Mmm.” The Emperor agreed.

Minister Li and others left the Imperial Study Room, but did not go far. They took tea in a side hall nearby.

The Emperor’s gaze fell again on Grand Tutor Zhuang’s face. “What is so urgent that it cannot wait for me to finish reviewing the test papers?”

Grand Tutor Zhuang surreptitiously glanced at the test papers on the table. Seeing Xiao Liulang’s paper appearing as the second one to be reviewed, he breathed a sigh of relief.

He stepped forward and said, “I suddenly remembered on my way back home that the Empress Dowager’s birthday is in a few days. I… intend to visit the Empress Dowager in the palace.”

The Emperor’s expression paused, he put down his brush, took a sip of tea, and then looked at Grand Tutor Zhuang. “The imperial physician has diagnosed my mother as unwell. She is not fit to be exposed to the wind, nor to receive visitors. I will send someone to check on her in the palace later, and then inform you, Grand Tutor.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Grand Tutor Zhuang bowed deeply. As he rose, he appeared to accidentally bump the table with the examination papers, causing a stack of papers to knock over the Emperor’s teacup. The cup spilled over and the papers scattered on the floor.

“I deserve to die!” he quickly knelt to apologize, and hastily began picking up the papers.

Eunuch Wei busily checked to see if the Emperor had been scalded by the tea, whilst the Emperor also lowered his head to brush droplets of water from his robes.

Seeing that both men were preoccupied, Grand Tutor Zhuang took the opportunity to hide Xiao Liulang’s exam paper in his left sleeve and extract Xiao Liulang’s original copy from his right sleeve, tucking it back into the pile.

…

After leaving the Imperial Palace, Grand Tutor Zhuang met with the Duke of Xuanping, who kept his hands insolated in a hand warmer.

It was April, and Grand Tutor Zhuang could not understand why the man was still using a hand warmer.

The Duke of Xuanping had cold eyes and an austere demeanor, but when he saw Grand Tutor Zhuang his eyebrows lifted in unrestrained amusement. “Oh, Grand Tutor, you move rather swiftly. Your sword hasn’t lost its edge yet.”

Choked with anger, Grand Tutor Zhuang couldn’t retort. “I’ve placed the test papers back, now release the prince!”

“I’ll release him.” Duke Xuanping turned his head and said lazily, “Chang Jing.”

Chang Jing promptly threw Prince An from the carriage—

Grand Tutor Zhuang: “…” _{frёeweɓηovel.coɱ}