Chapter 464 Promotion (Third Update)
Xiao Heng went to the Hanlin Academy, where Ning Zhiyuan was already waiting for him in his office.
Seeing him approach, she jumped up and rushed towards him, grabbing his arms and looking him up and down, saying, "Are you alright? I heard you were captured by assassins! Who could be so wicked?!"
The emperor originally intended to announce the charges against Prince Ning for capturing Xiao Liulang, but Empress Xiao and Princess Xinyang stopped him.
Although Princess Xinyang did not reveal the whole truth about Xiao Heng to Empress Xiao, Empress Xiao understood that once the news of Prince Ning's assassination of Xiao Liulang was leaked, Xiao Heng's identity would no longer be able to be hidden.
After all, from any perspective, Prince Ning had no reason to kill Xiao Liulang, unless there was something else going on with Xiao Liulang's identity.
Xiao Heng said, "I'm fine. It was a sect in the martial arts world that did it. They kidnapped me to extort some money, but they've already dealt with it."
The Double Blade Sect was not innocent; it had already been wiped out by the Imperial Guards.
"Are you really alright?" Ning Zhiyuan looked at him with suspicion. "I heard your hand was injured too. Let me see."
To be honest, it's a bit... a bit much for two grown men to watch this.
Ning Zhiyuan insisted, and Xiao Heng reluctantly extended his hand.
His injuries were mainly on the back of his hand and wrist; the ones on his palm had healed completely and were no longer visible. Ning Zhiyuan looked at the several hideous scars crisscrossing on his fair hand and couldn't help but click his tongue and shake his head: "What a pity about this hand. Can it still write?"
“Yes, it is,” Xiao Heng said.
Ning Zhiyuan finally breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this: "Sigh, those days you were taken away really scared me to death. I was even thinking, was it because your rapid advancement annoyed some people? I even suspected Zhuang Yuheng! But after meeting him several times, he didn't seem guilty, so I dismissed my suspicions. Does that Jianghu sect leader have no brains? What money could a poor country bumpkin like you have? Ah! Did your sister-in-law make a fortune? I heard that Miaoshoutang's business is booming lately. You'd better be careful. Too much money will inevitably attract attention. It would be best to hire a few employees who know martial arts."
"Mm," Xiao Heng replied verbally.
The two sat down on either side of the desk.
Ning Zhiyuan suddenly smiled and said, "However, you've turned misfortune into blessing this time. You don't have to participate in the end-of-month assessment. Wang Xiuzhuan failed the exam this time and was severely reprimanded by Lord Han. He was almost demoted to editor."
"And you?" Xiao Heng asked.
Ning Zhiyuan said with considerable pride, "As for me, I'm just an ordinary person, only third. The first place is Zhuang Yuheng."
The newly recruited Hanlin officials were not the only ones being assessed together; veteran Hanlin officials also participated, except for Lord Han and the lecturer, who were the question setters and examiners, respectively.
It is not surprising that Ning Zhiyuan and Zhuang Yuheng ranked at the top. They were candidates who had just gone through the autumn and spring imperial examinations, and their examination skills were still at their peak.
The Hanlin officials ranked after them were not necessarily less talented than them; they were just not as good at taking exams.
"It's a pity, though." Ning Zhiyuan suddenly frowned.
"What's wrong?" Xiao Heng asked.
Ning Zhiyuan said, "Didn't Yang Shidu leave? His position is now vacant, and it's said that someone will be promoted to that position. Zhuang Yuheng is currently a strong contender."
Zhuang Yuheng is the grandson of Grand Tutor Zhuang and the second-place candidate in this year's imperial examination. He also ranked first in the assessment. Apart from his lack of seniority being his only shortcoming, he is almost impeccable.
He even went to the State of Chen as a hostage in place of the crown prince, and was a meritorious official in the Zhao Kingdom.
In the afternoon, the Hanlin Academy indeed announced the good news that someone had been promoted to the rank of Attendant Reader.
It wasn't Zhuang Yuheng, but Xiao Liulang.
"You've got it!" Ning Zhiyuan patted Xiao Heng's shoulder excitedly.
Xiao Heng didn't understand how the position of Attendant Reader had fallen to him. Although he had indeed tried to get it earlier, after being injured, he pretended to disappear for half a month, and then rested at home for ten days, even missing an assessment.
He had already guessed that he wouldn't be chosen as the tutor this time.
"Sixth Brother, congratulations!" Ning Zhiyuan said sincerely.
Xiao Heng said to him, "Congratulations to you too."
Ning Zhiyuan was also promoted, from a sixth-rank editor to a sixth-rank compiler, and coincidentally took over Xiao Liulang's position.
Ning Zhiyuan cleared his throat: "Ahem, I'll take your official position, but I won't accept your duty room."
It's so close to the outhouse, the stench would kill him when it's hot!
It's better for him to stay in his duty room!
Xiao Heng moved to the duty room of the Imperial Reader. Imperial Reader Yang had previously stayed here, but he hadn't stayed long, and he left in a mess and in a hurry, taking everything he needed to pack with him.
It was a clean and empty room.
After becoming a tutor, in addition to the change in his duty room, his salary also increased from five taels to eight taels per month. This was his regular salary. In addition, he received ten bolts of clothing and ten bushels of grain every year. He also received an ice gift once a year in summer and a charcoal gift once a year in winter. He could ask for things or exchange them for money.
The Hanlin Academy was generally a low-paying government office, not as lucrative as the Six Ministries, but if you accumulated seniority there, you would be highly regarded wherever you went.
All the cabinet ministers came from the Hanlin Academy, including Grand Secretary Yuan, Grand Tutor Zhuang, and even the old Chancellor, Zhuang Xianzhi, and Dean Li.
Among them, Yuan, the chief minister, rose from a compiler to the position of a fifth-rank Hanlin Academy Grand Secretary. Later, he was implicated in a scandal and demoted to a remote and desolate place. Five years later, he returned to the capital, entered the cabinet as a seventh-rank secretary, and then rose to become the first chief minister of the Zhao Kingdom.
The rest of them chose other government offices after leaving the Hanlin Academy.
Ning Zhiyuan came over to help him move his things.
Outside the door, several Hanlin officials walked by, and their conversation drifted in.
"Have you heard? Prince An is going to be transferred to the cabinet?"
"Who told you that?"
"He overheard Lord Han's conversation with Prince An."
"You were eavesdropping on Lord Han's private conversations!"
"No, I was just passing by! I overheard it by chance! Lord Han said that even if you go to the cabinet, you shouldn't neglect your studies, because the fundamental principles of governing a country are all in these books."
That's certainly not what he said originally, but seeing that he was trying to cover it up, no one dared to press him for details. After all, knowing too much about certain things isn't necessarily a good thing.
The group quickly walked away, and their conversation gradually faded away.
Ning Zhiyuan suddenly realized, "I was wondering why he stopped arguing with you. He must have found a better place to go."
What was their purpose in entering the cabinet? Wasn't it to become a high-ranking official in the future? At the very least, going to one of the Six Ministries would be excellent.
Those who truly want to spend their entire lives in the Hanlin Academy are probably extremely rare.
Xiao Heng remained silent.
This must have been Grand Tutor Zhuang's idea. It was a bit of a stretch for Zhuang Yuheng to be promoted to the cabinet with his qualifications. It is estimated that the Empress Dowager Zhuang's attitude on the matter of Prince Ning made Grand Tutor Zhuang feel uneasy.
He no longer fully trusted Empress Dowager Zhuang; he wanted to seize more power in the hands of the Zhuang family.
Currently, two of the cabinet ministers are his people, and half of the six cabinet secretaries are also his people. If we add Prince An, the cabinet will be completely under the control of the Zhuang family after Grand Secretary Yuan steps down.
Seeing Xiao Liulang deep in thought, Ning Zhiyuan assumed he was feeling down and quickly patted him on the shoulder to comfort him, saying, "Liulang, don't be discouraged. You'll be able to enter the cabinet someday!"
Xiao Heng wasn't thinking about getting into the cabinet; he was wondering if that old scoundrel, Grand Tutor Zhuang, had once again rubbed salt into his aunt's wounds.
The Imperial Palace.
After the emperor and Empress Dowager Zhuang finished their court session, they headed together towards Renshou Palace.
Empress Dowager Zhuang sat on the phoenix palanquin, glanced strangely at the imperial palanquin beside her, and asked in confusion, "Your Huaqing Palace is over there."
The emperor shamelessly said, "I'm going to dine in my mother's palace."
Empress Dowager Zhuang pondered for a moment, then hummed in agreement.
Emperor: The Empress Dowager didn't refuse!
After the meal, Empress Dowager Zhuang said to the Emperor, "Come to the study."
"Does Your Majesty wish to speak with me?" the Emperor asked after entering the study.
Empress Dowager Zhuang said solemnly, "I have considered it. The Emperor has been ruling in his own right for many years. It is time for me to return the power of the court to the Emperor."
The Empress was taken aback: "Why do you say that, Mother?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang sighed, "Starting tomorrow, I will no longer rule from behind the curtain."
A thought flashed through the emperor's mind: "Has the joy of going to and from court with my mother been gone?!"
"Mother!"
Empress Dowager Zhuang glanced at him indifferently: "Haven't you always hoped that I would stop going to the Golden Palace? Your wish has come true, so why aren't you happy?"
“That was before,” the emperor muttered.
Only after the truth about Consort Jing came to light did he realize that he had misunderstood his mother all these years. His mother had countless opportunities to kill him, but she never did.
On the contrary, he repeatedly framed his mother and even caused her to contract leprosy. If it weren't for the little miracle doctor, he would probably have lived in regret for the rest of his life.
Moreover, putting aside emotional factors, the Empress Dowager was indeed more decisive and capable than him.
Empress Dowager Zhuang sighed softly, "I am getting old, and it's time for me to enjoy a few days of leisure."
The emperor's face darkened: "Mother, you just want to go to Biyue Alley to play cards, don't you!"
Still, without him!
Empress Dowager Zhuang: "...Ahem, is it that obvious?"
(End of this chapter)
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