Chapter 99: Farewell to a Friend, A Dazzling Performance
At dawn the next day, the banks of the Yangliu River on the outskirts of the city were shrouded in morning mist.
“Tingmei, there’s no need to see me off any further.” Zou Yueru leaned out of the carriage, her gaze filled with a mixture of nostalgia and reluctance. “It’s almost Chenshi (7-9 AM), don’t let me make you miss your shift.”
To my shame, when I first befriended her, I only thought of using her to expand my network and get to know Li Shucui, so that I could rise through the ranks and pass the imperial examination with flying colors. But I never imagined that one day she would become my greatest benefactor on my path to the imperial examinations. I am able to get to where I am today entirely thanks to her carefully selected classic texts and her thoughtful explanations of policy essays and current affairs.
Zou Yueru was incredibly grateful to God for letting her meet Zhang Ting at the back gate of the academy that day. Putting aside the benefits Zhang Ting brought her, Zhang Ting herself was a towering figure, unparalleled in her time. Being able to be friends with her was already a great fortune!
Zhang Ting abruptly reined in her horse. Her blue official robe shimmered with golden light in the morning sun, making her eyes and brows appear even more imposingly noble. She tossed a bundle of willow branches over, her eyes crinkling slightly as she smiled, "Sister Zou, I'll be waiting for your good news in the capital! You mustn't slack off these three years." In the past, others had always given her willow branches; today, it was her turn to bid farewell to a friend.
If it weren't for her forty taels of silver that came to his rescue, he certainly wouldn't have been able to leave so easily. Moreover, Zou Yueru often talked about her daughter. She should have returned to Lütian after the results of the provincial examination were announced, but she insisted on delaying until after the palace examination and the appointment of officials. Zhang Ting understood her feelings.
It was so that they could witness firsthand their own success and meteoric rise to power.
Zou Yueru hurriedly caught the slender willow branch with her right arm. Hearing this, she smiled and said, "Tingmei, don't worry. I won't lose a second time." This trip to the capital made her even more determined, and she was determined to pass the next imperial examination with flying colors.
Furthermore, since Tingmei calls her "elder sister," if she herself cannot even pass the provincial examination, it would be a disgrace to Tingmei!
Suddenly, Zou Yueru remembered something else. "I will send people to keep an eye on your two residences and many properties in Tongzhou Prefecture. You can stay in the capital and serve the country with peace of mind."
That would be perfect. Zhang Ting didn't stand on ceremony. "Thank you so much, sister. I'm so grateful for your help."
"Since you consider me your elder sister, then there's no need for further thanks or polite formalities." Zou Yueru was afraid that any further delay would make Zhang Ting late. "It's getting late, please take care!"
"Take care, Sister Zou!"
The wheels rolled, leaving long tracks on the damp ground. Zhang Ting took one last look, then turned and headed into the city.
"drive"
The horse's hooves sank into the mud, leaving deep, round dents. The rider's clothes fluttered, his expression aloof and cold, sharp and unapproachable.
The soldiers guarding the city yawned and saw the woman galloping away on horseback. They immediately stretched out their spears to stop her, but when their eyes fell on her official robes, they quickly withdrew them.
They all bowed their heads respectfully and said, "Good morning, Lord Zhang." Then they couldn't help but secretly raise their eyes. This, this is the world-famous Lord Zhang? Good heavens, he is so outstanding, no wonder he is a celestial being descended from the God of Literature!
Zhang Ting nodded slightly. With the crowds sparse, she rushed straight into the city gate.
Finally, just before the morning bell rang, we arrived at the Hanlin Academy.
A colleague next to her, who also arrived just in time, rushed over and even stepped on Zhang Ting's foot. "Sorry, sorry."
Zhang Ting glanced down at the clear and complete footprint on the shoe, her lips twitching. "It's nothing." She could go home and change in four more hours.
She sat down at her desk, then pulled out her cup and saucer. The first thing she did when she started her shift was to go outside the duty room and fetch some water.
The Hanlin Academy did have officials to do odd jobs, but Zhang Ting preferred to do them himself. It would be disastrous if someone were to take a risk and poison him.
When she slowly returned with the water, she saw her temporary superior, Li Chongmao, standing by the desk. She asked in slight surprise, "Lord Li, what's wrong?"
Seeing the cup in her hand, Li Chongmao noticed the veins bulging on her forehead. Tomorrow would be April, and the five-day deadline had passed. She couldn't finish it, and she didn't even seem to care?! He truly didn't know how she managed to pass the provincial examination with such a carefree attitude!
Li Chongmao snorted angrily, slamming his hand on the table, and said aggressively, "Since you've entered the Hanlin Academy and been appointed as a compiler by His Majesty, you should be diligent in your studies, ask many questions, and strive for progress. What are you doing? You've only been here two days and you're already as lazy as a rotten fish. Have all the books you've read over the years been eaten by dogs?!" She had thought Zhang Ting was reliable and hardworking, but she never expected that he would show his true colors in just a few days!
Her roar was as loud as thunder, and the entire Hanlin Academy could hear it.
In the next room, Liu Bing and Lin Ru laughed so hard their shoulders trembled, straining their ears to listen to Li Qianpo's lecture to the newcomers. No matter what kind of virtuous scholar or famous person you are, once you enter officialdom, you must abide by its rules.
Hmm, I wonder if this guy surnamed Zhang will get scolded to tears by that old hag later? I'm really looking forward to it.
As for the others, although they were engrossed in their own work, they were all holding their breath and watching the commotion over there intently. Was the top scholar's wife, who had achieved the highest honors in all three imperial examinations, just a pretty face?
Zhang Ting, the protagonist of the incident, was holding a cup and leaning back, feeling as if her ears had been injured. This old woman, Mrs. Li, had a voice as loud as her husband's; she was clearly a vigorous and elderly woman.
She sat down after a while, rubbing her aching ears, and said casually, "Lord Li, don't be so agitated. I've done everything you asked me to do."
Finished? What a joke!
That long row of bookshelves would take half the officials of the Hanlin Academy ten days to organize, and they might not even be able to get it clean. And you, a mere upstart who frequents the court, managed to organize it all in four days? That's like a mosquito yawning—you're quite the braggart!
Li Chongmao was even angrier now. It wasn't the incompetence and laziness of young people that was terrible; what was terrible was their perfunctory work coupled with their arrogance. She slammed her hand on the table and yelled, "You've studied diligently for over ten years, and now you've entered the court to become a parasite?" She sneered, "If you love to dream big, why don't you go back to your father…"
Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Ting pointed to a stack of booklets on the table and gently gestured with her chin towards him, indicating that she was going to check them.
Li Chongmao was surprised. Did he really do it?
The next moment, she scoffed inwardly. Fine, fine, even if she did it, she could only complete four or five at most. She could use this to criticize the pretty boy!
With a furrowed brow, she opened the first volume and meticulously browsed through it with a critical eye, page by page... The whole book was surprisingly clear, complete, accurate, and even insightful—truly perfect!
Li Chongmao tilted his head and stared at Zhang Ting, his mouth slightly open in disbelief. He hadn't expected the pretty boy to have some ability; he had underestimated her!
However, even if she were a god descended from heaven, she could never finish that endless bookshelf. Li Chongmao confidently and slowly opened the second book, becoming more and more astonished as she read, unable to even contain the exaggerated expression on her face. Then came the third, fourth, fifth, sixth... By the end, she was so shocked that she stared at Zhang Ting with an indescribable expression, as if she were some kind of demon or monster!
Liu Bing and Lin Ru, who lived next door, were getting increasingly anxious because they couldn't hear Li Chongmao's angry curses for a long time.
"Oh dear, what's this old hag up to? Don't let her get away with this so easily!" Liu Bing paced anxiously. "She scolded me like a leaf last time. If this Zhang guy lets her get away with it, I won't stand for it!"
Lin Ru's eyes lit up upon hearing this. "You don't want to? Why don't you try to mess with her too? I'll help you, Lord Liu." Life at the Hanlin Academy was routine and utterly boring.
Liu Bing licked her lips with her hands behind her back, actually starting to think about the idea. After a moment, she shook her head, "No, no, I heard that this Zhang is very much favored by His Majesty, and Lord Han, who was promoted to the Ministry of Rites, is very fond of her." She just wanted to have some fun, not because she was tired of being an official.
Lin Ru felt immediately disappointed, pouted, and said, "Tch." She turned around and sat back down.
Liu Bing paced around the room twice before finally pressing his ear against the wall to listen to the sounds from the other side. A moment later, a figure approached from the side.
"Hey, don't push me, get out of the way!"
“This is the only place where we can hear it clearly. Lord Liu, please move to the left.”
"I was here first, why should I give way to you? Stop acting crazy and get out of here!"
"Ah, Lin Ru, you scoundrel, how dare you pinch me! I'll break your hand!"
As the two men were fighting, a sound finally came from next door. The two men immediately fell silent, still pulling each other's ears, and went over to investigate.
Li Chongmao closed the last book, looked up in utter bewilderment, and glanced to the right and then to the left, wondering if he was dreaming. But why did the dream feel so real?
She pinched herself hard, gasped sharply—it hurt! Was this really true?
Li Chongmao looked at Zhang Ting in shock. Her youthful face remained calm and serene. If he wasn't dreaming, then it must be an illusion! He must have seen wrong just now.
Undeterred, she opened book after book, putting all her effort into verifying her conjecture, only to be once again thoroughly impressed by the talent of the young people.
Finally, Li Chongmao accepted this unbelievable fact. She stared at Zhang Ting with bright eyes, as if lamenting the injustice of the heavens.
Let alone others, even I, an official who has been in this position for many years, am far from being able to achieve this level.
Thinking of how she had reprimanded Zhang Ting without even knowing the facts, Li Chongmao felt extremely ashamed, his face turning bright red as if he had been splashed with hot water.
"I was rude just now, cough cough, please forgive me, Lord Zhang." With that, he bowed to Zhang Ting.
Li Chongmao was a fifth-rank scholar, and Zhang Ting dared not accept such a grand gesture from her. He quickly helped her up, saying, "Lord Li, you are too kind. How can I accept such a courtesy from you? Please rise."
The two people next door were completely baffled by this strange turn of events.
"I have never seen an old hag grovel before anyone...?"
"That's it?" Liu Bing took a deep breath. "Something's not right, something's not right, something must have happened during that quiet time!"
"Could it be that the Zhang guy really did manage to organize all the books in that long cabinet?" Lin Ru wondered, stroking her chin, before immediately dismissing the idea and finding it amusing. "How could that be? Hahaha!"
Liu Bing scoffed and echoed, "You've only been here five days and you've already managed to clean up the largest library in the Hanlin Academy. Even a Golden Immortal couldn't do that!"
After they finished speaking, the two remained silent for a long time.
After a while, they suddenly turned to look at each other and exclaimed in unison, "It can't be true, can it?!" Their eyes were filled with disbelief.
Good news doesn't travel far, but strange and surprising things are sure to attract attention from all sides.
The news that Zhang Ting had single-handedly cleaned up the vast library in just half a day spread quickly, shocking everyone.
At lunchtime, everyone in the Hanlin Academy looked at Zhang Ting with awe. This woman was like a devil; she was not to be underestimated!
After that day, Li Chongmao began to look at Zhang Ting with new respect, regarding her as a gifted junior. He changed his previous approach and began to teach her gently and patiently.
The headmaster, however, lost more than he gained. Seeing that Zhang Ting not only did not suffer any setbacks but also shone brightly, earning the admiration of everyone in the Hanlin Academy, he was so angry that he flew into a rage and smashed everything in the duty room to pieces!
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