Fortunate Young Gentleman

Emperor Chen looked at the two of them with his hands behind his back and said, "It's not time to leave the court yet, but you two are already playing chess in the Hanlin Academy. You seem to have some leisure time."

When the official who had just spoken raised his head and saw the figure standing opposite him, he felt as if he was struck by thunder.

His legs softened and he fell to his knees with a plop, trembling, "Your Majesty, I didn't know it was you. Please forgive me, please forgive me!"

The Lord Zheng who held the white chess piece had already been trembling with fear. He turned his head and didn't even dare to look at him. He also fell to his knees with a plop and said loudly, "Your Majesty, please forgive me!"

"Come on, take these two guys who neglected their duties out and give them twenty strokes of the cane each." Thinking of the headache of reviewing memorials, these guys were actually free enough to play chess. When Emperor Chen looked at one of them with a gloomy face, He added: "A true gentleman watches chess without speaking..., give this true gentleman another ten strokes!"

Two Hanlin Academy officials were dragged out with their mouths covered. The girl looked at Emperor Chen and sighed: "Father, the Hanlin Academy is in the palace, and they are so lazy and slack. I don't know how loose the government offices outside are!"

Emperor Chen walked out of the door angrily and said: "Go to the next room!"

He dismissed most of the eunuchs and only took two people with him. Every time he walked into a duty room, there was a commotion in the duty room.

In the duty room of the Hanlin Academy, some people were drinking tea, some were playing chess, some were chatting, and of course there were people who were really busy with affairs. The latter were mostly new Jinshi this year. After Emperor Chen ordered people to drag a few people out, the noise they made had already made the whole Hanlin Academy aware of it.

The Hanlin scholar walked out quickly and said in horror: "Hanlin scholar Zhou Bo sees your majesty!"

Emperor Chen looked at him and said in a deep voice: "Scholar Zhou, you disappoint me!"

Scholar Zhou's heart skipped a beat and he immediately said: "I have no way to discipline my subordinates. Please punish me, your majesty!"

Emperor Chen glanced at him and said: "Gather all the officials of your Hanlin Academy!"

The girl showed regret on her face. She should have inquired about Tang Ning's duty room early and rushed in as soon as she entered the Hanlin Academy. Now that he got the news, he would probably be spared a beating.

Soon, all the officials of the Hanlin Academy were gathered in the yard.

Scholar Zhou looked around and asked, "Is everyone here?"

A Hanlin editor said, "Editor Tang seems to be on duty."

Scholar Zhou was stunned, not understanding what could be more important than the emperor's summons, and immediately asked, "What is he doing on duty?"

The official answered honestly, "When I came out, Editor Tang was sleeping."

The girl was stunned at first, and then a gloating smile appeared on her face.

...

Tang Ning had never thought that life in the Hanlin Academy was so boring.

Besides reading and copying books, there were only men, and there was not even a pleasing girl. He finally understood why Fang Zhe had slept here for fourteen years.

To this extent, what else can he do besides sleeping?

After writing two volumes of the storybook, his eyelids could not open. The sound of the two editors playing chess opposite him, the sound of the chess pieces hitting the chessboard, was like a lullaby. He lay on the table and fell asleep soon.

Today I wrote a new volume of "The Fairy and the Fairy". I dreamed of seven fairies bathing. What was even more bizarre was that one of the fairies looked exactly like the silly princess he had seen in the palace. Not only that, the fairy was a rogue fairy who came up to take off his clothes.

Zhao Man grabbed Tang Ning's sleeve and shouted, "Get up, get up!"

The fairy in the dream was very strong, but as a married woman, how could he give in? So Tang Ning shouted "Girl, please respect yourself", and the fairy seemed to be frightened and finally let him go.

Then he woke up from his dream and saw a girl standing in front of him with a frightened face. There were several figures in front of him, namely the emperor, the Hanlin scholar, and several other officials of the Hanlin Academy.

How could the emperor appear in the Hanlin Academy? His dream was really getting more and more bizarre. Tang Ning lay down again, adjusted a comfortable posture, and closed his eyes again.

The girl grabbed Emperor Chen's sleeve in grievance and said, "Father, look at him!"

"Cough!" Hanlin scholar finally couldn't help but coughed heavily.

Tang Ning opened his eyes, raised his head and looked, and found that Emperor Chen and Hanlin scholar were still standing there.

He stood up suddenly, clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you!"

Emperor Chen looked at him and asked, "You are so lazy just after taking office. Is this Hanlin Academy where you sleep?"

Tang Ning stood up and bowed, saying, "I was reading classics for a long time and was too tired. I accidentally fell asleep. Please punish me, Your Majesty!"

Emperor Chen waved his hand and said, "Since I am tired from reading, it's fine."

The girl stepped forward a few steps, pointed to a paper roll on his desk, and said, "Father, don't be fooled by him. He is clearly reading a story book!"

"Princess, you don't understand this." Tang Ning explained, "People's thoughts cannot be focused on one thing for a long time. After reading classics for a long time, you can read story books again. This is a combination of work and rest, and you can quickly regain your energy."

"You are quibbling!" The girl picked up a thick book he placed on the table, a sly look in her eyes, and asked, "You said you were reading classics just now?"

Tang Ning smelled the smell of conspiracy from the girl.

He nodded and said, "Yes."

The girl looked at him and said, "Then tell me, what is this book about?"

The emperor didn't care, but she, a princess, was still holding on to him. Tang Ning looked at the aggressive girl and finally realized that the princess was looking for trouble with him.

He looked at the girl and asked, "This book has seventy volumes. I wonder which volume the princess is talking about?"

The girl put one hand on her waist and asked, "What do you think the 30th volume of this book is about?"

All the officials of the Hanlin Academy, including the Hanlin scholars, shook their heads slightly.

Such a thick book, let alone the newly employed Hanlin editors, even they couldn't remember what each volume said. These books were only for understanding. The princess's move was obviously forcing others.

Tang Ning recalled for a moment and said, "The 30th volume of this book talks about geography."

"If you say it's geography, then it's geography?" The girl shrugged her nose and said while flipping through the book, "If you're wrong, it's deceiving the emperor, and my father will beat you with a stick..."

As she flipped through the pages, her face changed. She glanced at Tang Ning and said unconvincedly, "What's so great about knowing geography? Do you know what the 35th volume is?"

Tang Ning said, "The 35th volume talks about rituals and music."

The girl was stunned and flipped through a few more pages. She said unconvincedly, "The 40th volume!"

Tang Ning said calmly, "The 40th volume talks about astronomy."

The girl put her hands on her hips angrily and asked, "What does astronomy talk about?"

The Hanlin scholar's face eased a little. The Hanlin Academy was embarrassed in front of His Majesty today. Fortunately, Tang Xiuzhuan helped them save face. I thought he just flipped through those books casually to perfunctory himself, but now it seems that he even remembered all these.

Emperor Chen looked at her and said, "Man'er, that's enough. Stop making trouble."

"In the past, Yao ordered Xi and He to calculate the sun and the moon, and to measure the stars to correct the four seasons. When it came to Shun, he said, "In the Xuanji Yuheng, to adjust the seven political affairs." After the Han Dynasty, the sundial was measured to correct the earth's center, and the realms and stars were divided, all in accordance with the ancient times." Tang Ning looked at the girl and asked, "The changes in the astronomical calendar are very complicated. Princess, do you want to listen to it anymore?"

"Who wants to listen to it!" The girl looked at him angrily and stood beside Emperor Chen.

Hanlin scholar chuckled and stepped forward and said: "Tang Xiuzhuan is well-informed and has a strong memory. I really admire him. However, these books are just for reference. Tang Xiuzhuan does not need to remember so much detail, nor does he need to worry too much."

Tang Ning bowed and said: "Whether it is astronomy or geography, it is always good to remember more."

Hanlin scholar sighed: "I finally understand why Tang Xiuzhuan was able to pass the imperial examination. With so much knowledge, you can easily answer the imperial examination questions."

Tang Ning He smiled and said, "Mr. Scholar, you are too kind..."

Emperor Chen looked at him and said, "Mr. Zhou is right. People have limited energy. You don't need to worry about everything."

Tang Ning bowed and said, "I will learn from you."

The girl stood beside the smiling Emperor Chen and spat secretly. He was lucky to escape the beating this time. He would not be so lucky next time------But she had been looking forward to the volume of "The Legend of the Fairy" on his desk for several days. It was not available on the market yet. Where did he get it from...