Chapter 97 Arriving at the Hanlin Academy, a Hen Crows at Dawn…
After the Qionglin Banquet, Zhang Ting was to go to the Hanlin Academy to take up his post.
As dawn broke, the chill seeped into her bones. She shivered as soon as she left the warm room, tucking her hands into her official robe and taking a deep breath of cold air.
I met up with my three senior classmates at the outer courtyard.
All four of them pulled their clothes tighter, especially Xun Han, whose legs were trembling from the cold.
"It's already spring, why is it still so cold?" Xun Han sniffed and sneezed again.
"It'll get warmer once the sun comes out," Zhang Ting replied, shrinking her neck.
It was almost dawn when Zhang Ting parted ways with his senior sisters at the crossroads and headed alone to the Hanlin Academy. His senior sisters were going to observe the administration of the Six Ministries, preparing to take the entrance exams for the position of probationary official or wait for their appointments to be transferred to other posts.
Two steps further ahead, around the corner, they ran into Fang Ting and Luo Zijun.
The two men, dressed in dignified blue official robes, waved to her upon her arrival, "Sister Zhang, come quickly!"
"Sister, come quick!"
Zhang Ting strode over, her features clear and bright. "You all arrived so early?"
"That's right, we've been waiting for you." Fang Ting said with a smile, one hand on her hip.
Luo Zijun walked to her side and gave a proper bow, her round almond-shaped eyes looking solemn. She said in a deep voice, "This humble official, Luo Zijun, greets Lord Zhang!"
Zhang Ting couldn't help but chuckle, patting her shoulder. "Lord Luo, you'd better hurry, or you'll be fined if you don't go to the higher-ups soon." The shy little girl from back then has now grown into a young woman.
Then they went together to the Hanlin Academy.
Once we arrive at our destination, we will first report to the academy head.
The three of them said in unison, "Your humble servants greet Your Excellency the Headmaster."
The head of the Hanlin Academy was a dignified and solemn middle-aged woman. She was sitting behind a brown desk and did not say a word when the three people arrived. Instead, she pulled out an official document and read it carefully with a cold expression.
Fang Ting glanced at Zhang Ting, who returned a look of reassurance, and the three of them waited quietly.
They all knew that this was probably meant to give them a warning.
After a while, the headmaster raised his head blankly, as if he had just noticed their arrival. "Ah, everyone's here."
She put down the official documents. "Which two are editors?"
Fang Ting and Luo Zijun exchanged a glance. Surprisingly, the top scholar was asked about them first. They bowed respectfully to the headmaster, saying, "It is indeed your humble servant."
The headmaster glanced at them, his tone casual, and said indifferently, "Go outside and turn right to find Lord Zheng. She will be showing you around the affairs of the academy these next few days."
"yes."
Unable to disobey their superior's orders, Fang Ting and Luo Zijun could only glance at Zhang Ting with concern before retreating. This headmaster was probably after Zhang's younger sister and older sister.
Currently, only the headmaster and Zhang Ting remain inside the room.
The headmaster, hands clasped together, silently observed Zhang Ting. He had a handsome face, just as the others had said. She smiled enigmatically, "So you've become the new top scholar, achieving the highest honors in all three categories—quite a prestigious title!"
A tense and solemn atmosphere permeated the air, sending chills down one's spine.
Zhang Ting lowered his eyelids and replied softly, "This humble official is unworthy and only relies on His Majesty's favor."
The head of the academy snorted coldly and closed the official document in his hand. "How can you say you're incompetent? How could the top scholar appointed by His Majesty be mediocre?"
The headmaster spoke rudely, but in his heart he scoffed at Zhang Ting. What kind of "top scholar's wife" was she? She only gained the emperor's favor because of her looks. He heard that she should have been in the top three.
Moreover, Lord Xu also told her to take good care of this newcomer. She had just entered the political arena and had already displeased a high-ranking official. Who knows what kind of terrible disaster she would cause in the future?
The cramped room reeked of gunpowder; it could explode at the slightest provocation.
Zhang Ting sensed the sarcasm in her words, raised his eyes to meet the headmaster's gaze, and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "It is my honor that the Holy Emperor values talent. Thank you for your praise, sir."
"Hmph! What a sharp-tongued scholar's wife." The headmaster felt like he had punched cotton, and was quite annoyed.
Seeing that he couldn't win the argument with Zhang Ting, he didn't press the matter further. "Go outside and turn left to find Lord Li. She'll be looking after you these days. Take care of yourself!"
That Lord Li is a notoriously difficult person in the Hanlin Academy, always making things difficult for others; even she herself has suffered quite a few beatings from him. Ideally, she'd be verbally abused until Zhang Ting wept bitterly and voluntarily fled the Hanlin Academy!
Zhang Ting remained calm and respectfully bowed to her, saying, "Thank you, Your Excellency." But a hint of contempt seemed to be hidden beneath his respect.
Unfortunately, the headmaster couldn't find fault with it, and he was so angry that he ground his teeth, his heart burning with rage.
Staring intently at the departing figure, the headmaster sneered repeatedly. She wanted to see how long Zhang Ting could hold out.
She had some idea of what the academy head's attitude was like. Who had she offended in the capital during this time? Only Xu Pin.
This headmaster is probably one of Xu Pin's subordinates.
The Hanlin Academy was a place for cultivating future prime ministers. Has the training system for civil officials in the Six Ministries become the henchman of one person?
Did the bloodthirsty, power-hungry emperor not know this, or did he deliberately let it go?
Zhang Ting found things getting more and more interesting.
In a duty room on the left, Li Chongmao was writing on Xuan paper with a purple brush, when he heard a sound from the outside room.
"Come in," she said calmly, her eyes fixed intently on the words before her.
"Good morning, Lord Li. I have long admired your reputation. The Headmaster has instructed me to study under you for the time being," Zhang Ting said with a smile as he entered.
Li Chongmao then looked up and saw that the veins on her forehead were throbbing and her lips were tightly pursed; she was another pretty boy.
The great undertaking of compiling history and books in the Hanlin Academy required exceptionally talented women with a profound understanding of both ancient and modern times, not just pretty boys with good looks.
In recent years, His Majesty has become increasingly muddle-headed and confused. Not only does he engage in large-scale construction projects and place great faith in Taoist priests, but he also appoints officials based solely on their good looks. This is truly a misfortune for the country.
Li Chongmao was heartbroken. Pointing to the scrolls on one side, he coldly dismissed her: "There are only five days left until Qingming Festival. You need to proofread and organize those ancient books over there again." This person was sent in by His Majesty, so he couldn't complain. He just hoped that she wouldn't end up like those bookworms in the courtyard who didn't respect ancient teachings.
Zhang Ting glanced up and saw that the bookshelves Li Chongmao was pointing to were neatly arranged, so many that it was impossible to tell which one they were.
"Which part specifically refers to Lord Li?" she asked.
Li Chongmao gave her a strange look. "Of course, all of them." Then he frowned. "What, you can't?"
Zhang Ting glanced at the endless long cabinet, raised her eyebrows slightly, touched her chin, and thought, "It's not impossible."
"I have no problem on my end."
Li Chongmao didn't actually expect her to do everything; he would have to help with five-sevenths of it.
There are so many books that even the other officials in the Hanlin Academy couldn't finish proofreading them in a month working day and night, let alone a new batch of scholars. Saying this is also meant to curb her arrogance, lest she become ignorant and act like a hen crowing at dawn.
Li Chongmao lowered his head and pulled out a document. "Go," he said, pointing to a corner behind him where a table had been set up for her.
Zhang Ting took the paper and pen from her, rested his chin on one hand, stared at the long cabinet thoughtfully, and suddenly smiled.
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