Volume 2: Residence in the Capital Chapter 89: New Clothes for the Emperor
The Emperor is about to visit the Imperial Academy to reward the children of nobles who had bravely fought against the rebel army. He will also meet with the students to encourage them to study!
He left home in the middle of the night and hurriedly rushed to the Jiuzhang Hall of the Imperial College, only to be hit with a bunch of difficult terms from the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art. He left in a panic and then hurried to the palace to attend the morning court. When the court meeting was halfway through, he heard such a news in a daze. His first reaction was... Oh no, this is horrible!
You know, cleaning up the Jiuzhang Hall is not a matter of a day or two, not to mention that many places are in tatters!
He hoped that Zhou Xun, the chief academic officer of the Imperial College, would be able to come out and dissuade them, or at least delay the time. However, when he saw Zhou Xun in front of him twirling his beard and smiling, it was obvious that he was quite happy about the emperor's sudden visit to the Imperial College, and those bigwigs like the Grand Secretaries and the Chancellors looked at each other, hesitated for a moment, and finally did not object, Luo Siye was completely desperate.
How he wished that Xu Heizi had been smarter last night and had just broken down the doors of more senior officials!
I'm afraid most people thought that those playboys accompanying Zhang Shou to take up the post in the Imperial College was just a childish prank, and they didn't take it seriously. They never thought that they had caused such trouble!
It's Emperor Taizu's fault, why only officials of the fifth rank and above can attend the regular court? Other officials can attend the third, fifth or ninth day. Otherwise, if the doctors of the Imperial Academy come together, the news will spread and everyone will stop the emperor from going to the Imperial Academy!
In the Imperial College, not long after Zhang Shou learned the news, Zhang Chen and others swarmed in, all dressed in the clothes of students, all with joyful expressions. When he asked again, they all said that Zhu Ying had sent someone to tell them the news.
When they learned that it was the Emperor who was rewarding everyone in the Imperial College, even those who were invisible at home and had been confined by their elders when they returned home last night were all dressed up and let out.
Then, Zhu Ying was surrounded by everyone, thanking them profusely. The guys who were a little ashamed of hugging the thigh of the young lady at the beginning were now extremely grateful. After this trip of the emperor's reward, how could they not turn over a new leaf when they returned home?
However, after hearing Lu Sanlang proudly recount his tiring but refreshing experience last night, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment and couldn't help but regret not staying to watch this big show.
However, even Zhang Chen, who disliked Lu Sanlang the most, had to admit that it was absolutely impossible for him to play the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art well enough to fool a group of school officials. He didn't understand anything about Yangma Biebin...
After a while of chaos, Lu Sanlang suddenly remembered something and hurriedly shouted, "My student's clothes are still at home... and young master, where is your official uniform?"
Official uniform...
Zhang Shou was stunned at first, then he couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Where did he get the official uniform? He was suddenly appointed as a doctor of the Imperial College the day before yesterday, and then he hurried back home. Yesterday, he rushed to Beijing from home after lunch, and did a big cleaning in the Imperial College late at night. How could he have time to wear official uniforms?
Emperor Taizu did once issue a decree for purchasing clothing at public expense, but it was later abolished by the court due to the high cost. Nowadays, except for the top three winners of the palace examination and high-ranking officials such as the Grand Secretaries and the Shangshu who are specially granted crowns and clothes, all other officials have to provide their own official uniforms!
When Zhang Shou thought of this, he saw Zhu Ying slap her forehead. It was obvious that she had just thought of this. Then her eyes rolled around, and it was obvious that she was thinking of some emergency countermeasures. He thought for a moment and said cheerfully, "Yingying, don't worry about this. Lu Sanlang and I are fine like this."
"Ah?" Zhu Ying stared at Zhang Shou from head to toe, her expression filled with grief. "Ah Shou, how can this be? Look at your clothes. They are already dusty, and you were busy all night in Jiuzhang Hall last night. They look even more shabby. Let alone such a small matter as being inappropriate in front of the emperor, if the emperor sees you like this, he will definitely say that you are wearing dusty clothes!"
There was an eerie silence all around.
Losing manners in front of the emperor... turned out to be a trivial matter? Also, is the phrase "Pearl covered in dust" really used in this kind of place? Is it correct?
After a long while, Lu Sanlang finally broke the unspeakable silence with a mutter: "I don't have any clothes to change..."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Ying rolled her eyes at him: "Who told you that you look ugly no matter what you wear!"
Faced with this undisguised contempt, Lu Sanlang, who had just been proud in front of a group of Imperial College officials, almost burst into tears.
What's wrong with fat people being ugly? Isn't it the most common impression of court officials that they are fat and kind-hearted?
Seeing Zhang Chen leading the laughter, Zhang Shou had to step out and change the subject, and comfort poor Lu Sanlang: "Yingying, I'm not saying that we should go to see the emperor in such a disgraced state. You know, even if we plan to do so, others will not sit idly by. So, we don't have to try to find any suitable crown and clothes, someone will naturally send them to us. Lu Sanlang, your family will also send you clothes."
"Who cares!" Lu Sanlang snorted, but when he thought that even if his father hated him as a son, he had to hold his nose and send him clothes, he still felt refreshed.
He had completely forgotten that his father had gone to court early in the morning. Even if someone thought of sending him clothes, it would be his mother...
Just as Zhang Shou said, not long after Zhu Ying brought the good news and Zhang Chen and his group arrived, Xu Heizi came again with a dark face.
The Chief Supervisor of the Shengqian Hall, who could never force a smile, raised the corners of his mouth very reluctantly. However, when he heard that Zhang Shou did not yet have an official uniform and Lu Sanlang's crown and clothes were still at home, and that he planned to meet the emperor in this outfit, his face became even darker.
So, Xu Jiancheng, who came in a hurry, left in a hurry. When several doctors of the Imperial College heard the news he brought back, they were furious. Luo Siye, who had dragged Zhou Xun, the Imperial College's chief academic officer, back, was also furious after hearing about this. Then, Zhou Xun, who didn't know the truth, soon found out what was going on amid the complaints of the crowd.
However, the fifty-something elder was not as impatient as the younger ones, and without thinking, he ordered: " Lu Sanlang 's student hat and clothes will definitely be sent by his family, so don't worry about it. As for Dr. Zhang..."
Zhou Jijiu uttered the word "Doctor" very reluctantly, then glanced at the people in front of him and asked Luo Siye, "Do you see which one of them has a similar physique to Doctor Zhang? Lend him a set of crown and clothes quickly, and don't lose manners in front of the emperor! The matter of Jiuzhang Hall is already very troublesome. If the emperor sees his dirty appearance, who knows who he will vent his anger on!"
These last eight words were truly life-threatening. Several reluctant doctors looked at each other for a moment, and finally brought forward a man whose physique was barely similar to Zhang Shou's.
However, when he thought that Zhang Shou was only sixteen years old while he was over thirty, and that when he grew up, he would definitely look down on him in terms of official position or other things, the doctor felt sad.
Moreover, he was even more sad to have to take out a brand new seventh-rank crown and belt that he had made at the beginning of the year but had been reluctant to wear, waiting for a key occasion to take it out. His own clothes were now to be worn by others, bringing glory to others!
Half an hour later, Lu Sanlang's mother sent someone to bring him a brand new uniform for the student. Lu Sanlang only had two sets, one that he had worn only a few times, and one that he had never worn before. This showed how unscrupulous his absences were as a glorious student. Of course, the students around him who belonged to Banshan Hall were not much better.
Zhang Shou also changed into a seventh-rank official robe. When he washed and dressed up and appeared in front of everyone again, he was greeted with Zhu Ying's sincere praise and a bunch of exaggerated supporting roles. Even the old doctor who reluctantly gave him his official uniform couldn't help but say something sourly after seeing Zhang Shou's outfit.
"After all, it's people who need clothes."
"Even if it's a good dress, it depends on who wears it!"
Zhu Ying muttered something in annoyance just after the doctor left. However, when she saw the large group of noble students with bulging bellies surrounding Zhang Shou from behind, she felt like she was being overshadowed by others and suddenly stamped her feet in annoyance.
I miscalculated. I woke up early and forgot to bring my second brother with me!
Just as she had this thought, she suddenly heard a shout: "Miss!"
Not only Zhu Ying looked up, but Zhang Shou also looked up because of the familiar voice. When he looked again, he saw Zhu Er, dressed in the uniform of a student, walking in front with a tragic look on his face. Behind him, Qi Liang and Deng Xiaodai followed, and behind them, Ah Liu, who was like an escort. When the others came forward, Qi Liang, who had just called Zhu Ying, smiled bitterly and came forward to explain.
"The Madam said that the Second Young Master is also a student of the Imperial Academy. Since the Emperor has come to the Imperial Academy to encourage the students, he should come and be influenced by him." After a pause, his voice became smaller, and he was obviously a little lacking in confidence. "As for Xiaodai and I... The Madam said that since family members can visit the Imperial Academy, Xiaodai and I are students of the young master, and we are also his family members, so it would be good for us to come and be influenced by him..."
At this moment, Zhu Ying was smiling happily, and Zhang Shou... he truly admired the lady's audacity.
At such a critical moment when the emperor was coming, he could actually squeeze in two more family members besides Zhu Ying's family members? If so, what kind of family member is Ah Liu? Are the gatekeepers of the Imperial College just for show?
The next moment, Ah Liu stepped forward and conveyed the lady's words with an expressionless face.
"I can keep an eye on Jiuzhangtang while you go to welcome the emperor."
Zhang Shou finally realized what was going on. The older you are, the wiser you are. This eliminated the other person's last chance to cheat and make up for it!
