Chapter 619: Retribution (Second Watch) Chapter 619: Retribution (Second Watch) When Xiao Liulang arrived at the Hanlin Academy the following day, he noticed everybody’s gaze on him was different. Even though they weren’t exactly friendly to him on a normal day, they also didn’t carry the disdainful yet complicated looks they were giving him now.
It was as if they were scornful of his actions, yet incredulous at the same time. There was a hint of something else in their looks which Xiao Liulang could not decipher.
Ning Zhiyuan had been summoned to the Hanlin Academy earlier in the day by reader Yang to come and assist in teaching, so there was nobody there to enlighten Xiao Liulang on why the group was looking at him so peculiarly.
However, Xiao Liulang quickly figured it out on his own when Han, a scholar from Hanlin, called him over.
Scholar Han was the highest official in Hanlin Academy, overseeing the entire institution. People of his rank don’t usually summon a Sixth-rank official like Xiao Liulang alone.
Scholar Han turned to Xiao Liulang. He seemed to have restrained himself, but his gaze swept over the cane in Xiao Liulang’s hand.
And then, his eyes fell on Xiao Liulang’s face.
No doubt, this face greatly resembled that of the late young marquis of Zhaodu.
He returned to his senses, let out a deep sigh and said, with a frown, “Do you know why I have called you here?”
Xiao Liulang replied, neither humble nor arrogant, “I do not.”
He was well-mannered and bore no trace of the countryside.
After some thoughts, Scholar Han looked at Xiao Liulang and said, “Are you aware that the court officials of Zhan Country are not to frequent places of entertainment at will?”
Xiao Liulang said, “I am aware.”
Scholar Han looked at him grimly, “Knowing that, why did you still go?”
Xiao Liulang firmly replied, “I haven’t been to any such place.”
Scholar Han queried, “If you’ve never been, then how did you come to know a Courtesan?”
Xiao Liulang responded in confusion, “I do not know any.”
Observing that Xiao Liulang did not seem to be lying, Scholar Han furrowed his brows and said, “Go back to work, keep your mind clean and do not degrade yourself by joining in the mud with others nor harm the reputation of the Hanlin Academy.”
In Zhan Country, brothels were legal, but it was still somewhat inappropriate for officials to visit them. Someone as unscrupulous as the Marquis of Xuanping who didn’t care about his reputation and was not bothered with any admonishment from His Majesty would obviously not care.
But the Hanlin Academy did care about its reputation.
He thought someone like Xiao Liulang wouldn’t have the money to visit a brothel, so after a few admonitions, he let Xiao Liulang go. At the same time, he summoned an old servant and asked him to address the Hanlin officials, so as to prevent the spread of rumors.
Upon leaving, Xiao Liulang ran into Ning Zhiyuan who had just returned from the Hanlin Academy.
Ning Zhiyuan took him aside in the corridor and asked in a low voice, “What is going on? The whole Hanlin Academy is saying that you’ve been to a brothel! I would believe it if they said you’ve killed someone, but visiting a brothel, that I would not believe!”
If he wanted to go, he would have done it long ago instead of offending his colleagues and even getting himself drunk to avoid visiting such places.
Xiao Liulang calmly replied, “I haven’t been.”
“Of course, I know you haven’t been! But have you offended someone recently? I mean… besides Prince Anjun.” Ning Zhiyuan felt Prince Anjun wouldn’t resort to such low tactics to frame Xiao Liulang.
He could suppress Xiao Liulang easily, there’s no need to stoop so low.
Xiao Liulang shook his head.
There were many people in Hanlin Academy who disliked him, but he couldn’t think of anyone he had intentionally offended.
Ning Zhiyuan anxiously said, “Think harder! If we don’t unearth the person behind this, they will continue to harm you from behind the scenes! Scholar Han may believe you once, but it doesn’t mean he will believe you every time. Slander can bring destruction; public opinion is to be feared!”
Xiao Liulang thought carefully.
Just at that moment, Cen Bianxiu emerged from Yang Xiuzhuan’s office and walked toward the corridor.
Fearing he’d be discovered, Ning Zhiyuan signaled to Xiao Liulang and quickly skulked away!
Xiao Liulang took this in stride, walking down the corridor calmly. Inevitably, he bumped into Cen Bianxiu.
Upon seeing him, Cen Bianxiu’s eyes flashed!
If it were in the past, Xiao Liulang would not pay attention to the gaze of someone unimportant, but today, he found it strangely noticeable.
“Cen Bianxiu?” he stopped.
Cen Bianxiu held a position half a rank below him but had entered service earlier. He became an ordinary scholar of the Palace Examination three years ago, and entered the Hanlin Academy, becoming a Sixth-rank compiler.
The promotion of an ordinary scholar was slower compared to a Three Tripod Jia, and two years later, he was still a Sixth-rank compiler of Hanlin.
It’s not that the position of a compiler was low-ranking.
Without being a scholar, one couldn’t enter Hanlin. Without being in Hanlin, one couldn’t serve in the cabinet. Every official who had experience in the Hanlin Academy would be highly valued whether or not they entered the cabinet or served in other government offices.
But as they say, comparisons are odious.