Chapter 414: Fire in the Court, Misfortune Falls Upon the Hanlin Academy “How did the Grand Secretariat vote?” After hearing Huang Jin’s report, the Jiajing Emperor closed his eyes for a brief moment. From his expression—or rather, the lack of one—it was impossible to discern any particular emotion. He asked the question casually, as if […]
Chapter 413: Lift the Maritime Ban Zhu Ping’an returned to the library under a flurry of red-tinged eyes, particularly those of Yuan Wei, the Hanlin scholar-attendant, whose gaze glittered with unmistakable malice. Yuan Wei had seen the note that the Jiajing Emperor had given to Zhu Ping’an. The message—“Sweet and sour fish goes well with
Chapter 412: Emperor Jiajing Sends Another Note Among the many clusters of buildings in the Western Garden, there was one complex that could not be ignored. Approaching it, one could catch a tantalizing aroma that made the mouth water instantly. This was the Imperial Kitchen. The Jiajing Emperor spent his nights and days practicing immortality
Chapter 411: Tempted by Hunger “This isn’t even a poem… the old man next door could write better than the top scholar!” One of the Hanlin officials, after reading the second poem by Zhu Ping’an, visibly sagged in disappointment. He shook his head, a deep, weary sigh escaping him, as if the very quality of
Chapter 410: Shenanigans Huang Jin, who had come to deliver the note, was not the least bit surprised at how effortlessly Yuan Wei completed his task. Yuan Wei had always been quick-witted; in the past, whenever the emperor sent a late-night missive requesting a brief poem, Yuan Wei would pick up his brush and compose
Chapter 409: Suddenly Receiving a Note from the Emperor After Zhou Houjie had left, it was just about noon, the time for lunch at the Hanlin Academy. The Academy had its own official kitchen, which provided meals of varying quality according to an official’s rank—always free of charge, of course. By virtue of his own
Chapter 408: Ping’an Solves the Case Respect the Spirits but Keep Your Distance — Analects of Confucius, Yong Ye Back in the Spring and Autumn period, Confucius once traveled with his disciples through the various states, advocating his political philosophies. They had visited the state of Wei twice, but neither time had succeeded in persuading
Chapter 407: Encountering a Ghost at the Government Office After carefully pondering the best way to organize the books, Zhu Ping’an had asked Old Li and Old Ma—the two responsible for cleaning the Library of the Imperial Academy—if they could help with sorting the collection. To his disappointment, he discovered that neither of them could
Chapter 406: Zhu Ping’an, Do You Like Me? “Only the magistrate may set fire; the common people are not allowed even a candle.” This saying could not have been more fitting for the officials of the feudal era. At night, while the city was under curfew with constables and guards patrolling the streets, the academicians
Chapter 405: A Sudden Surge of Appetite — Tianjingsha Amid the clinking of cups and the crisscrossing of toasts, everyone gradually grew familiar with one another. Once the initial reserve faded, words naturally began to flow. After all, these were Hanlin scholars—what they said carried refinement and elegance, steeped in literary grace. They debated the