The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 609

Chapter 609: 292 Making Things Difficult (Second Update)

The weather in the Capital City at the end of May felt as if it was in the peak of summer.

Xiao Liulang had already been in the Hanlin Academy for twenty days. His position was as a writer in the Hanlin Academy, but due to being a newcomer, his main focus was still on learning.

In the morning, there would be dedicated officials acting as tutors who would give them lessons for two hours, and the rest of the time was for self-study.

If they encountered anything they did not understand, they could privately ask the tutors for guidance, or they could also ask the scholars or experts in the five classics at the Hanlin Academy.

The highest ranking official in the Hanlin Academy was the academy’s chancellor, a fifth-ranking official, responsible for managing all affairs of the Academy. They were usually too busy to answer doubts and questions of the incoming officials.

Below the chancellor in the hierarchy of the Hanlin Academy, there were two tutors and two lecturers, all sixth-ranking officials. Their primary responsibility was teaching, not only to train officials and scholars of the Hanlin Academy, but once their qualifications were sufficient, they had the opportunity to enter the palace to lecture the Emperor and the crown prince.

Xiao Liulang was an appointed writer of the Hanlin Academy, a sixth-ranking official.

An Jing, the second highest in the imperial examination, and Ning Zhiyuan, the laureate, were both appointed as editors of Hanlin Academy, with the rank of seventh.

Below them, there were nine doctorates in the five classics, eight-ranking officials.

It is worth mentioning that among all the officials of the Hanlin Academy, only the doctorates in the five classics were hereditary positions.

Therefore, even though their ranks were not high, they possessed deep literary accomplishments and foundation. Their status in the Hanlin Academy was rather prominent.

Additionally, there were two clerical officers of the eighth rank, two official document keepers of the ninth rank, six emissaries from the ninth rank, and a record keeper who had yet to enter the official ranking system.

The responsibilities occupied by the Hanlin Academy in various dynasties varied. In this dynasty, the Hanlin Academy was mainly responsible for handling edicts, chronicling history, and working on literary tasks, as well as writing the Emperor’s daily notes.

After a period of studying, Xiao Liulang and his peers had gradually started to familiarize themselves with some basic literary tasks.

One day, a senior writer named Yang called Xiao Liulang over.

He was the most experienced among the senior writers. Barring any accidents, he would be promoted after the examination at the end of the year, so at present, all the writers at the Hanlin Academy were under his supervision.

He asked Xiao Liulang to write an epitaph, as the Emperor had plans of refurbishing the imperial mausoleum.

Half an hour later, Xiao Liulang handed the completed epitaph to Yang Xiuzhuan.

Having examined the epitaph, Yang Xiuzhuan was extremely unsatisfied and furrowed his brows, "You are the champion of the recent imperial examination, is this all you got? Take a look at what you have written? If this epitaph is given to the Emperor for review, it would undoubtedly enrage him!"

Xiao Liulang paused for a moment, then asked, "Could you please point out which phrases might anger the Emperor?"

Yang Xiuzhuan looked at him in disbelief, "Can’t you spot the problematic phrases yourself? Do I need to point them out for you? How did you become the champion of the imperial examination?"

Xiao Liulang pursed his lips, not saying anything, and went back to revise his work.

Yang Xiuzhuan was still not pleased with the result.

Xiao Liulang spent the entire morning rewriting the epitaph seventeen or eighteen times, but each version was rejected by Yang Xiuzhuan.

Yang Xiuzhuan angrily said, "How can you not even write a decent epitaph? I don’t think you should eat lunch today. Stay here and continue writing! Not until I am satisfied!"

After saying that, Yang Xiuzhuan left Xiao Liulang behind and coldly headed to the Hanlin Academy Restaurant.

Xiao Liulang, with epitaph in hand, returned to the office to continue his research, brainstorming, and writing.

The weather was humid and his office felt like a steamer. He began to sweat, soaking his clothes.

Suddenly, a head peeked inside the room, looking around to make sure no one was outside before quietly entering the room while carrying a food box.

A shadow fell on his paper. Xiao Liulang stopped writing and looked up, "What brings you here?"

Ning Zhiyuan placed the food box on the table, "I brought you something to eat! I ran into Fen Lin and Lin Chengye at the restaurant earlier. They were wondering why you didn’t come for lunch, so I told them you had already eaten."

While he was talking, he opened the lid of the food box.

There wasn’t any special food.

He was from a poor family, and in the Capital City, where the cost of living was high, his meagre income could barely cover his monthly expenses.

What he brought for Xiao Liulang was a bowl of Yangchun noodles, sprinkled with a few green onions, and a side of pickled bean sprouts.

However, Xiao Liulang’s office was too close to the Greeting Room. While it may be alright during chilly weather, unfortunately, the heat caused quite a strong smell.

He hurriedly closed the doors and windows.

The smell started to lessen, but the room just got hotter.

"Hurry up and eat, hurry up and eat!" urged Ning Zhiyuan.

Xiao Liulang did not hesitate or show any sign of pretense. He picked up the bowl and chopsticks to eat the Yangchun noodles and pickled bean sprouts.

The Yangchun noodles were bland, the pickled bean sprouts were salty, but he didn’t criticize anything and just ate everything cleanly.