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Gu Jiao and Gu Chengfeng went their separate ways on Zhuque Street. Gu Chengfeng went to Qinghe Academy on Chang'an Street while Gu Jiao went to Hanlin Academy.
Hanlin Academy was very busy with official business these days, and Xiao Liulang always worked late. Gu Jiao went to bring him something to eat.
Gu Jiao brought back several boxes of snacks made by the imperial kitchen of Renshou Palace. She reserved a few boxes for Yao Shi and Little Jing Kong, and another box for Xiao Liulang.
She arrived near Hanlin Academy and coincidentally saw Xiao Liulang coming out of the Hanlin Lecture Hall instead.
Hanlin Lecture Hall was the place where the Hanlin bachelors studied. Although it was under the jurisdiction of Hanlin Academy, it was not located inside the Hanlin Academy but on the same street.
Gu Jiao saw the handsome youth from afar. But calling him a youth wasn’t quite appropriate. Besides his young face, his body emanated a particularly steady aura.
However, in the State of Zhao, men were still called a youth before they came-of-age at twenty years old.
The twilight fell on his delicate face, making him look a bit gentler.
Gu Jiao held the boxes of snacks in her arms and leaned against the wall at the entrance of the alley, looking at him intently. A beautiful curve unconsciously appeared on her lips.
"Senior Compiler Xiao!"
A Hanlin bachelor chased after him from the Hanlin Lecture Hall, holding a book that looked like it had been read many times.
Xiao Liulang stopped and turned to him, "Does Young Gentleman Zhou have something to tell me?"
Young Gentleman Zhou scratched his head awkwardly, "Senior Compiler Xiao, do you remember me?"
"When we took the imperial examination, you sat in front of me, and I heard Du Ruohan call your name." Xiao Liulang replied.
Young Gentleman Zhou was overjoyed that Xiao Liulang remembered him. He stared at him for a long time before he regained his thought, "Then, then, then... I, I, I..."
He was so excited that he stuttered.
Perhaps in the eyes of many people, Xiao Liulang was a Zhuangyuan who had risen to the top by unscrupulous means, but Young Gentleman Zhou had listened to Xiao Liulang's lectures many times and deeply felt his extensive knowledge. The new Zhuangyuan, Xiao Liulang, was truly worthy of his title.
"I... I am friends with Brother Du... No, I..." He worried that Xiao Liulang would think he was using his relationship with Du Ruohan to get close to him. The more he spoke, the more nervous he became.
Xiao Liulang glanced at the book in his hand and asked, "Is there something you didn't understand from the lesson?"
During Reading-in-Waiting Yang's recovery period, Xiao Liulang and An Junwang had given several lectures to the Hanlin bachelors at the Hanlin Lecture Hall on his behalf. After Reading-in-Waiting Yang returned, they no longer went to the Hanlin Lecture Hall.
But today, Lecturer Deng had something urgent and asked him to substitute for him in teaching a class on the dynasty’s laws.
The book in Young Gentleman Zhou's hand was precisely "The State of Zhao’s Legal Code" they had learned in class.
Young Gentleman Zhou smiled somewhat awkwardly and said, "I understood everything Senior Compiler Xiao taught. Really, you explained it exceptionally well! It wasn't boring at all! I used to dislike law classes and would always daydream during them, to the point where... I fell behind."
He wasn't sucking up to Xiao Liulang. He genuinely understood Xiao Liulang's lectures. He never knew law classes could be taught this way.
Xiao Liulang didn't immediately recite the various laws as prescribed; instead, he first narrated a notorious murder case from the previous dynasty, instantly capturing the attention of all the students, including Young Gentleman Zhou himself.
The brilliance of this class was that all the students forgot they were in a class. They felt as if they were personally involved in solving a sensational case, almost coming to blows while guessing the killer!
Xiao Liulang mentioned that if it were in their dynasty, the perpetrator of this case wouldn't have been punished. This puzzled them. The killer had killed five people in a row, yet such a brutal criminal wouldn’t receive punishment? How could this be?
They couldn't believe it and began to refute Xiao Liulang's words, thinking that he was making things up.
Xiao Liulang remained calm and just glanced at everyone, saying, "Do you have any evidence to prove that I'm making things up?"
"Murder deserves death!" One student said.
Xiao Liulang calmly responded, "The principle of 'murder deserves death' is not from the State of Zhao's legal code. Executioner's killing, bandit suppression killing, self-defense killing, accidental killing, premeditated killing... each situation is different and cannot be generalized."
The class ended here.
Everyone was left wanting more, not because they liked Xiao Liulang, but because they felt they hadn't won the argument. If they had another chance, they would surely perform better.
Ah, they suffered from not understanding the law!
"In the past, everyone would leave after class, but today..." Young Gentleman Zhou smiled and said, "Everyone stayed in the classroom to discuss and prove Senior Compiler Xiao wrong. They all went to search through books for evidence."
In order to overthrow Xiao Liulang, the Hanlin bachelors also put in their best effort.
"I have never seen everyone so serious." Young Gentleman Zhou said with a smile.
Xiao Liulang remained calm and composed, looking at Young Gentleman Zhou, "Is that why you came to talk to me?"
"Ah... No! No! I..." Young Gentleman Zhou scratched his head, blushing, but couldn't find the right words to say for a while.
"Alright, Xu’er, let me handle it!"
A sturdy man with strong features walked briskly from the other end of the street.
"Uncle." Young Gentleman Zhou turned around and greeted him as a junior.
Xiao Liulang glanced at the man in surprise, "Minister Xing?"
The man was none other than Minister Xing Yun of the Ministry of Justice.
Minister Xing smiled and said, "Senior Compiler Xiao, I hope you've been well."
Xiao Liulang saluted in return, cupping his hands.
Xiao Liulang had previously helped the Ministry of Justice solve a murder case, and Minister Xing appreciated him a lot. He smiled and said, "I didn't expect you to be Xu’er's teacher. You seem even younger than Xu’er. Truly talented!"
"Minister Xing’s praise is too kind." Xiao Liulang replied politely.
"Go wait for me in the carriage." Minister Xing said to Zhou Xu.
Zhou Xu, who had thin skin, felt as if he had been granted a pardon. After cupping his hands to Xiao Liulang, he quickly rushed into the carriage.
Minister Xing Yun said with a laugh, "I asked Xu'er to find you for two reasons. The first reason is, I wonder if you're interested in joining the Ministry of Justice? You have talent in solving cases, great aspirations, and you act with integrity and honor. The Ministry of Justice needs outstanding talents like you. Moreover, the Ministry of Justice is not under the control of the Zhuang Family. Grand Preceptor Zhuang's reach doesn't extend here."
The fact that Minister Xing could mention this showed that he had done his homework and clearly understood Xiao Liulang's situation at the Hanlin Academy.
Minister Xing smilingly continued, "You don't need to rush to give me an answer. Take your time to consider. If you have any thoughts, you can come to the Ministry of Justice to find me at any time, or let Xu'er inform me, and I will come to meet you."
Upon hearing this, Gu Jiao was delighted. She always knew her husband was capable.
Xiao Liulang neither accepted nor rejected and asked, "What about the second reason..."
"Well, as for the second reason..." Minister Xing Yun rubbed his nose and smiled, "I have a daughter who is about the same age as you and is not yet married."
Gu Jiao's little face turned dark in an instant.
Xiao Liulang understood Minister Xing Yun's meaning and politely but distantly replied with a bow, "This official is grateful for Minister Xing’s kind offer, but I already have a wife."
Already have a wife.
Why did those words sound so pleasant coming out of his mouth?
Gu Jiao swayed her little head.
Minister Xing looked surprised and awkwardly said, "Ah... I was presumptuous. Senior Compiler Xiao, please don't take my words to heart."
The two of them exchanged a few more words before Minister Xing boarded his carriage and left.
"He didn't agree, did he?"
Inside the carriage, Zhou Xu asked his uncle.
Minister Xing shook his head, "He refused quite decisively."
Zhou Xu replied without surprise, "I told you so. Lord Xiao is a true gentleman. On the day he made it to the top of the imperial examination, he didn't even go to the drinking party with female entertainers. I heard he went back to accompany his little wife at home. His wife comes from a rural background and has an ordinary appearance, but he never despises her. A good wife is like a treasure. Uncle, you won't be able to persuade someone like him to become your son-in-law!"
Minister Xing rubbed his hands regretfully and let out a sigh.
Just as Minister Xing left, Xiao Liulang saw Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao looked at him with a good mood, her clear and limpid eyes forming two crescent moons.
Xiao Liulang was taken aback. He didn't expect her to come, nor did he expect to see her smiling so sweetly.
She smiled on ordinary days too: a docile smile in front of him, a hearty laughter when amused by others, a gentle smile when playing with Little Jing Kong... but none of them had the sweet and tender charm like the one before him.
She seemed unaware of it herself.
Her bright eyes shone like flames, and there was a glimmer in her eyes when she looked at him.
In the hidden corners of Xiao Liulang's heart, it felt as if a light had suddenly been ignited.
"Hmm?" Gu Jiao tilted her head, as if asking why he wasn’t leaving yet.
Xiao Liulang felt like he might be sick. Her silly and innocent expression was so adorable that it made him feel infatuated, to the point where he couldn't help but find her extremely lovely.
He wanted to hold her.
He wanted to embrace her.
He wanted to give her a gentle caress.
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