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S T E L L A R C L O U D
[Azurixa] [Celeste S.] [Christine G.-L.]
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G O L D S T A R
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R A I N B O W S T A R
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Also, many thanks to everyone who bought me coffee (*≧?≦*)
They said that a non-scholar couldn’t enter the Hanlin Academy, and a non-Academician couldn’t enter the cabinet. But was it really so easy to join the cabinet? Those who thought that they could rest easy just because they were first-class Jinshi could only be described as naive.
They had to take an exam every three months, and an annual exam at the end of every year. If they failed the annual exam once, they would be given a disciplinary warning, and if they failed it twice, they would be demoted.
An Junwang had recovered from his injuries and was back to his usual elegant appearance.
Although he was a seventh-rank Junior Compiler, the office room he was assigned was larger and more spacious than Xiao Liulang's.
This wasn’t surprising. After all, the cabinet was Grand Preceptor Zhuang’s territory, and Hanlin Academy was mostly under the control of Grand Preceptor Zhuang.
It was just that even Ning Zhiyuan's office room was better than that of Xiao Liulang, which was somewhat intriguing.
"No way, this..." Ning Zhiyuan helped Xiao Liulang move his things, and as soon as he arrived at the door of his office room, he sniffed an indescribable smell. He said in a low voice, "Why is your office near the stable?"
It was fine in the winter, but on hot days, that smell was... Ugh, it was too overwhelming!
Ning Zhiyuan continued to whisper, "You even told me before that you’ll make things difficult for me. As I see it, you’re the one being bullied by someone. I've heard the news about the Zhuang Family. It’s because the Empress Dowager Zhuang has returned, otherwise they wouldn't dare to do such acts so blatantly. Just endure it for now, and wait for the storm to pass, perhaps the Emperor will find an opportunity to give you another place."
The moment he returned to the capital, Xiao Liulang had already expected that what awaited him would not be a prosperous road. He said indifferently, "It’s best if you don't come to my office."
"Do you think I want to come?" Ning Zhiyuan lowered his voice, "They asked me to come and see your laughable situation. Later, I may laugh at you a few times, don't take it personally."
Ning Zhiyuan was well versed in the ways of an official. He was pulled into a camp on the first day and had to pretend to be on the enemy’s side until he had the ability to protect himself.
In reality, his loyalty was always to His Majesty, that was also why he was willing to make friends with Xiao Liulang.
"I've put down the things. I’ll take my leave." Ning Zhiyuan gently put a stack of books on Xiao Liulang's desk and walked to the door, but then he turned back hesitantly and picked up a book, saying, "Sorry, brother."
The next moment, he threw the book on the ground with a loud bang.
Then he picked it up for him, patted it, quickly wiped it with his sleeve and put it away, and fled out.
Xiao Liulang shook his head self-mockingly.
Being ostracized was only the first step.
But having a Ning Zhiyuan to send charcoal in snowy weather, it actually wasn’t as bad as he had imagined.
Recently, several major events had taken place in the capital, among which the high-profile return to the imperial palace of Empress Dowager Zhuang who had been ill for more than a year attracted the most attention. As soon as she stepped foot in the palace again, the sky in the capital was changed. The second thing also had something to do with Empress Dowager Zhuang. Empress Dowager Zhuang unexpectedly wanted to build a mansion in a scenic piece of land in the capital.
Regardless of whether they hated or despised her, the people in the capital had all been talking about Empress Dowager Zhuang ever since her return to the palace.
"The Empress Dowager wants to build another mansion for herself again? Isn’t it enough for her to have three summer palaces? She’s still squandering?"
"It’s not for herself. I heard it’s for her grandniece."
"Grandniece, not grandnephew?"
It was a common knowledge that Empress Dowager Zhuang had no children of her own, and her most beloved descendant was Zhuang Yuheng, the youngest grandson of her eldest brother. So shouldn’t she want this mansion built for An Junwang?
He was almost at the marriageable age, wasn’t he? It was also time to build him a residence.
"It's not An Junwang, it's An Junwang's younger sister!"
"Which younger sister?"
"Naturally not that straw bag sister! It's the Zhuang Family’s eldest daughter who is the top student at the women's academy. My older brother is working there as a craftsman, and I heard him say that the Empress Dowager ordered it to be built with the standards of a princess’s mansion!"
The crowd in the teahouse couldn’t help but gasp the moment they heard this.
Built with the standard of a princess’s mansion? Wasn’t this raising the eldest daughter of the Zhuang Family to the skies?
"But then again, this Young Miss Zhuang is talented and unparalleled in appearance, she indeed deserves the love and doting of the Empress Dowager. Empress Dowager even took her into the palace and let her stay for a while after she returned from the temporary imperial residence. She’s really no worse than an imperial princess."
If an imperial princess wasn’t loved and favored, then what she had was just an empty title. The Zhuang Family’s eldest daughter, the one who had the Empress Dowager's backing, was the real uncrowned princess of the State of Zhao.
For a time, people were envious of Zhuang Yuexi. Zhuang Yuexi’s fame already wasn’t small to begin with, but with the current gossip, even three-year-old children knew of her name.
Zhuang Yuexi was also very ecstatic. She didn't expect Empress Dowager to pamper her so much.
Today, she changed into a red dress and entered the palace, hoping to delight the Empress Dowager with her appearance, but who would have thought that Empress Dowager Zhuang’s expression would fade the moment she saw her.
"It doesn't look good." Empress Dowager Zhuang shook her head.
Zhuang Yuexi was slightly taken aback. This was her most beautiful dress, both her mother and her servants said it was far better than the dark dresses on trend nowadays.
In order to please Empress Dowager, Zhuang Yuexi switched back to the dark-colored dress.
Only then did the look in Empress Dowager Zhuang's face turn gentle again.
Zhuang Yuexi didn’t know if it was just her illusion. Empress Dowager seemed to be looking at her, but at the same time, looking at someone else through her.
That afternoon, it was time to enter the palace again for a follow-up house visit for the Emperor.
Last time, the Emperor suffered from a dry drowning. Although he managed to attend the morning court, he fell down as soon as he returned to Huaqing Palace. Fortunately, Gu Jiao left him medicine. Today, the medicine was all used up, and Eunuch Wei came to find her.
Little Jing Kong came to the medical hall to look for her after school. When he saw her packing her medicine chest, he asked, "JiaoJiao, JiaoJiao, where are you going?"
"House visit." Gu Jiao answered.
"Where is your house visit?"
"The palace." Gu Jiao said.
As far as Gu Jiao was concerned, whether it was the imperial palace or a simple residence, it was just a workplace to conduct a house visit, so there was nothing to make a fuss about or hide.
The palace...
Little Jing Kong's big eyes blinked. He stepped forward, hugged Gu Jiao's arm, and acted cute, "JiaoJiao, can you take me with you? I haven't been with you for several days. I miss you so much."
If the Emperor were here, he could immediately tell from whom his chubby son learned to act cute.
Gu Jiao had no resistance to Little Jing Kong's killer cuteness. Besides, Little Jing Kong was a well-behaved child who never caused trouble for her. Gu Jiao thought it wasn’t impossible for her to take him along, also mainly because there was really no one at home today.
Xiao Liulang and Old Chief were in Hanlin Academy and Imperial Academy respectively, Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun were taking their craftsmanship lessons after school, and Yao shi and Grannie Fang went to the temple to pray for blessings.
Gu Jiao nodded and agreed, "Okay, but you can't run around."
Little Jing Kong patted his little chest, "I promise I won't run around!"
Gu Jiao brought Little Jing Kong into the carriage. Seeing Little Jing Kong, Eunuch Wei's eyelids twitched. Why was this little ancestor here?
"Hello, Eunuch Wei." Little Jing Kong greeted politely.
Eunuch Wei smiled awkwardly, "Good, good."
Well, there should be nothing wrong with it, right? In the past, there were three of them fooling around together. This time, His Seventh Highness wasn’t in the palace, and neither was Minister Xu's youngest son. He was just a small child who shouldn't be able to cause any trouble alone.
And no matter how you looked at it, this little baby was the most well-behaved of the three. What wall-pasting, what group fight, it must definitely be His Seventh Highness and little Young Master Xu who took the lead in doing these bad things!
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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