The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 541 - 541 270 Reunion (Two updates combined)_3

Chapter 541: 270 Reunion (Two updates combined)_3 Chapter 541: 270 Reunion (Two updates combined)_3 Zhuang Mengdie was still fast asleep, totally missing her chance to ride Feng Nian.

Upon arrival at Renshou Palace, the Empress Dowager ordered the doors to the warehouse to be opened and all the treasures within to be carried out one by one. She carefully selected a few items to gift Zhuang Yuexi, including a Night Light Pearl from the Eastern Sea, a purple smoke pot from the Western Sand, a black iron dagger from the Eastern Jin Dynasty, an ancient sword from the former dynasty, and even the armour of a former war king…

The first two items were more or less suitable, but the latter ones somehow felt a bit off?

A daggers, ancient swords and armors; were these really the kind of things you give to a young lady?

As a young lady of her talent, she actually liked calligraphy and paintings more.

However, since they were gifts from the Empress Dowager, she was still very happy.

The Empress Dowager kept on giving, even bringing out jade beads, golden Pixiu, and woodworking tools. Zhuang Yuexi was baffled.

These all seemed like children’s toys…

“Isn’t this a bit too much?” She steadied her mind and asked.

The Empress Dowager replied, “For Jiaojiao, it’s not too much.”

As soon as these words left her mouth, the Empress Dowager was stunned. “What did I just say?”

Zhuang Yuexi paused, then said, “Nothing. You said what you’re giving me is not too much. Your highness just mixed up my name. My nickname is Yuanyuan.”

–

When Gu Jiao returned to the Medical Hall, Xiao Liulang immediately changed her dressing.

She lay on the soft bed, while Xiao Liulang gently lifted her clothes. This time, he felt no inappropriate thoughts because she was seriously injured. The Emperor has accidentally pulled her wound while rescuing her and the dried blood and the gauze had stuck together in several places where the scabs had cracked.

Xiao Liulang took a deep breath, steadied his mind and said to her, “This might hurt a bit. Bear with me.”

There was no response from the bed.

Bending over to take a look, Xiao Liulang saw that she was already asleep. Her eyes were slightly closed, her long eyelashes casting a shadow on her cheeks. There was a faint sheen of sweat on her nose, indicating that she was trying to withstand the pain even in her sleep.

So it wasn’t that it didn’t hurt, but that she didn’t care about this level of pain.

Was it because she had experienced much worse pain before?

Xiao Liulang furrowed his brows and his movements when changing the dressing became gentler.

…

In Bishui Alley, a family was sitting together eating a meal. The dining table seemed empty without Gu Jiao, without Xiao Liulang, and without their nagging granny who always asked them about their day.

The meals no longer tasted delicious.

…

On the tenth of May, the results of the court examination were released. Du Ruohan was listed among the names, ranking seventh, while Fen Lin and Lin Chengye came in at eightieth and seventy-ninth. There were eighty people admitted in total.

Among the scholars who took the court examination, there were seventy-two second class scholars and the rest made up the third class scholars.

Fen Lin and Lin Chengye were both third class scholars. It was extremely difficult for them to beat their many colleagues in the court examination.

Though they were at the very end of the list, Fen Lin was still so excited that he cried.

He had seen far too many who started the exam journey but fell behind halfway. Everyone left their hometown together, but each exam saw a few drop off. Either no one could make it to the end, or they would end up alone at their destination.

It was a rare blessing that they all managed to stay in the capital. This was certainly the favor of heaven!

From today onward, they were all acolytes of the court!

Being an acolyte of the court wasn’t an official position in the strict sense. If one had to name it, it was more like a cadetship in the court. They would spend three years studying at the Hanlin Academy. After three years, they would complete their studies. Those who perform well will become actual Hanlin scholars.

The exams then would not be as forgiving as the current two hundred slots for eighty. Historically, only three people were admitted after graduation, the rest were assigned to other places according to their achievements and performance.

Although the exams were very harsh, at least they still had three years’ time.

Xiao Liulang wasn’t too surprised by this result. Fen Lin and Lin Chengye were both hardworking individuals and they received a lot of guidance from elder Jiujiu, the most educated man of this dynasty. If they didn’t pass, they would be letting him down.

On the eleventh of May, Xiao Liulang reported to the Hanlin Academy. Also reporting were An Jun Wang, the runner-up candidate, and Ning Zhiyuan, the third-place candidate.

According to the law and tradition of the Zhan Country, the top scorer of each exam was granted the position of academician of the Hanlin Academy, which was of the sixth-rank. The duty of an academician was to manage the compilation of veritable records, document the emperor’s deeds, explain classics and histories and draft documents related to ceremonies.

The runner-up and third-place candidates were granted the post of a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, a seventh-rank official position. The main duties of a compiler included drafting imperial edicts, compiling history books, and lecturing on scriptures in the court.

Being new to these positions of academician and compiler, these important matters would not be handed over to the newcomers for now. Their main duty was still to study, not only to continue reading the original scriptures, but also to familiarize themselves with laws, court affairs, regulations, agriculture, mathematics, history, and astronomy.