"The so-called extension of knowledge lies in the investigation of things, which means that if we wish to extend our knowledge, we must investigate things thoroughly to understand their principles..."

"Damn it, Shen Qingchen, what kind of luck do you have? I used your Weibo account to send a private message to a big star, and he actually replied with 341 words!!"

"Everything in the world has its own principle, but the principles are not yet fully understood."

"Wow, this big star used to be a teacher. Wow, it must have been so nice to be his student. Why don't we have a teacher like that?"

"Zhu Xi said, 'To thoroughly investigate the principles of things is to seek the ultimate truth without exception. The investigation of things means to seek the ultimate truth of things without exception. The attainment of knowledge means to exhaust all that one knows in one's mind.' But I, your teacher, do not think so... Gentlemen, Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism is the foundation you have been learning since childhood. I shouldn't be telling you these things, but it's alright now..."

The clouds above the Hanlin Academy shifted and changed, sunlight streamed through the latticed windows, falling on Shen Qingchen's sleeping, fair face and casting a diamond-patterned shadow. Her eyelashes fluttered twice.

In a flash, she instinctively covered herself with her sleeve. But soon, her sleeve was pulled up again.

She groggily opened her eyes and saw only a withered, aged hand clutching the sleeve of her blue robe. Startled, Shen Qingchen quickly stood up. "Teacher..."

“You junior scholars, don’t think that entering the Hanlin Academy means you can rest easy, or that becoming a Grand Secretary is just around the corner. Many enter the Hanlin Academy, but few enter the Grand Secretariat. This is merely the starting point for your official careers. Time flies, so cherish it. How can you let it slip away like this?” The sixty-year-old Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy sighed at Shen Qingchen and released her sleeve. “Very well, today is my last lesson. Sit down.”

After he finished speaking, he walked back to the podium. His back looked thin and hunched, like a tree trunk about to wither.

Shen Qingchen felt a little embarrassed.

The saying goes, "No one who has passed the imperial examination can enter the Hanlin Academy, and no one who has passed the Hanlin Academy can enter the Grand Secretariat." She knew very well what the Hanlin Academy was.

After the triennial imperial examinations, the top three scholars—the Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua—were directly appointed to official positions in the Hanlin Academy. The remaining Jinshi (successful candidates) had to take a second, supplementary examination. Those who passed became Shujishi (probationary officials) in the Hanlin Academy, a position known as "Dian Hanlin." Shujishi were considered the reserve cadres of the court; after three years of study, they could officially remain in the capital to serve as officials, usually in important positions. Those who failed the examinations were deemed not qualified enough and could only serve as candidates for regular positions, essentially waiting for an official post to become available; their chances of advancement were extremely slim.

"Teacher, why is this the last class?" someone asked, standing up.

"I have already asked the Emperor for permission to retire and return to my hometown soon. I will no longer be able to teach you." The old man paused for a moment, then said, "Starting tomorrow, you will have a new teacher. Don't fall asleep again."

"Our revered teacher is in good health, why does he want to retire and return to his hometown? Is it because we are unruly and he no longer wishes to teach us?" As he spoke, the man turned around and glared fiercely at Shen Qingchen.

Shen Qingchen saw a kind of indignation in his eyes, a sense of righteous indignation at the cost of his classmate. A chill ran down his spine, and he silently lowered his head.

The old man did not answer, but instead instructed, "Gentlemen, you are the junior scholars of our Great Ming Dynasty, chosen from among the best in the two capitals and thirteen provinces. In the future, you should devote yourselves to your studies and grow into pillars of the nation. After becoming officials, you should also be diligent and honest in your duties, and share the burdens of the people. Do not get caught up in unintentional disputes and lose your true selves. Gentlemen, the future of our Great Ming Dynasty rests on the shoulders of each and every one of you. Please take good care of yourselves."

After saying this, the old man glanced at the fifteen junior scholars below the hall, then picked up his books and left without looking back.

The junior scholars looked at each other in bewilderment, and after a while, they got up and left one after another.

Shen Qingchen stared blankly in the direction the teacher had left, remaining silent for a long while before lowering his head, silently packing up his books, and leaving the house with them.

She had been in the Ming Dynasty for five years and had been in the Hanlin Academy for a year. She was the top student in the second rank and fourth in the overall examination. Always strict with herself, she was the most attentive student in class, rarely even daydreaming, let alone falling asleep. But today, she had fallen asleep, and she felt a little annoyed.

The Hanlin Academy is not large, even somewhat shabby compared to local government offices. What makes it so pleasant is its atmosphere—tranquil and serene. The upturned eaves are simple yet solemn, and sunlight filters through the dense foliage at the corners, dappling the blue bricks and stones. A breeze blows, and the leaves sway gently.

Shen Qingchen had just left the lecture hall when a familiar voice came from behind him. Soon, the owner of the voice caught up, panting.

"Qingchen, wait for me!"

This man was named Gu Shaoheng. He was tall and handsome, with delicate eyebrows and dimples, and his smile was very dashing and energetic. He was the son of the noble Marquis of Ningyuan and the nephew of the third-rank Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, a scion of a prominent family with impeccable credentials. What was even more enviable was his intelligence; he had achieved third place in the second class of the imperial examination.

Shen Qingchen stopped and turned around to wait for him.

In the sunlight, her sideburns were sharply cut, her eyebrows and eyes were delicate and refined, and her gaze was indifferent. Her loose blue robe was blown by the wind, and her neck, wrapped in the collar of her inner garment, was fair and slender.

Gu Shaoheng couldn't take his eyes off the person in front of him. After a while, he grinned, revealing his clean, white teeth. "Come on, I'll treat you to some drinks."

These junior scholars, known as "prospective prime ministers," had stable and promising futures, and currently, without the pressure of officialdom, they were enjoying the most carefree and leisurely time of their lives. Therefore, many of them spent their days composing poetry, playing chess, and drinking and making merry, living a very happy life. Especially for scions of prominent families like Gu Shaoheng, who didn't have to worry about food and drink expenses, their happiness was boundless.

"I'm not going, you go by yourself." She came from a poor family and didn't have extra money to spend on drinking, nor did she want to accidentally reveal her true gender while drinking.

Gu Shaoheng put an arm around her shoulder and patted her thin shoulder twice. "Your teacher retiring to his hometown has nothing to do with you. Don't be sad. There's another reason behind it."

She shrank back uncomfortably, turning to the side to avoid his long arm. "What's the reason?"

“It’s not because of you anyway.” He winked and smiled. “Come have a drink with me, and I’ll tell you.”

Shen Qingchen sighed softly, took a step forward, and the wind lifted a corner of her blue robe, revealing a pair of elegant black boots. "I'm not going."

She knew his temper; he couldn't keep secrets to himself. There's a saying, not the most unpleasant one, that goes, "He'll always let it out eventually."

Shen Qingchen walked ahead, with Gu Shaoheng chasing after her unwillingly. Unexpectedly, as she passed through the moon gate, she tripped and stumbled twice before finally regaining her balance. The books in her hands spilled onto the ground.

On the blue brick and stone floor, the pages of the book rustled in the wind.

Shen Qingchen turned around and saw a man leaning against the door, a smile on his lips, looking relaxed.

The man was also dressed in a blue robe, with his arms crossed over his chest and one long leg stretched out on the ground. He was very handsome, with a high nose, long eyelashes, and bright eyes that gleamed with smugness.

This wasn't the first time this person had tripped her up here. If she hadn't been thinking about her teacher who had resigned from his official post, she wouldn't have forgotten—this place is extremely dangerous.

Shen Qingchen frowned.

At twenty years old, still playing these kinds of tricks, it's utterly boring.

Unfortunately, she dared not utter a word of complaint and silently lowered her head to pick up her books, because this person was even more upright and righteous than Gu Shaoheng.

This man, with the appearance of a noble young master but the heart of a rogue, is actually the son of the powerful Grand Secretary.

The number one second-generation official (and richest man) in the Ming Dynasty!