Chapter 565: The Scholars of the Hanlin Academy

Deng Wenhui gave a bitter smile: "Prefect Liu, the matter is truly urgent. I must trouble you to go to the Hanlin Academy first... What do you think?"

"Fine!"

Liu Zheng naturally had no objections.

After all, he was a Reader-in-Waiting at the Hanlin Academy; this position was quite high-ranking and prestigious. Moreover, he could collect a salary from the Hanlin Academy every month. Having arrived in the Capital, it would be truly unreasonable not to pay a visit to the Hanlin Academy.

It was just that he had only just arrived in the Capital, and there were many things he originally needed to attend to. He had not expected that before even reaching his lodging, he would be intercepted by the Hanlin Academy.

Fortunately, with the return of Longyang Princess, it was no longer convenient for him to follow along, as Xie Chan would be entering the palace next. That inner palace was not a place Liu Zheng could enter just because he wanted to.

He exchanged greetings with Liu Dahao and Feng Sanniang here.

The two informed Liu Zheng that they would be staying at the Post House of Feng Sanniang's Fengxing Escort Agency, and told Liu Zheng to come find them once he was finished with his business.

Only then did Liu Zheng dismount and walk over to a horse carriage with Deng Wenhui.

Pei Qianyun was always inseparable from Liu Zheng. When he sat down beside Liu Zheng with a bold and unconstrained air, Deng Wenhui was startled by his two Golden Hammers and gulped hard: "Lord Liu, could this be the world-renowned fierce general, General Pei? Impressive!"

Liu Zheng laughed heartily.

Pei Qianyun also felt quite proud upon hearing this, and for a moment, his hostility toward Deng Wenhui diminished significantly.

Liu Zheng asked the shifty-eyed Record Keeper curiously: "Can Lord Deng tell me first, what exactly is the matter that requires me specifically?"

The Record Keeper Deng Wenhui was full of sorrow: "Lord Liu, this matter is actually no secret. You also know that the Emperor's Birthday Ceremony is in seven days. Originally, such a grand event would be celebrated by the whole nation, but this year's birthday is somewhat unusual."

Liu Zheng was jolted.

He had heard about this; it was roughly that the imperial court was short on funds and the Ministry of Rites could not manage it. But he had sent a lot of gold and silver from all directions this time—hadn't this matter been resolved?

He looked suspicious.

Deng Wenhui shook his head and said: "If it were a matter for the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Rites would naturally be the one to come forward and find Lord Liu. The Hanlin Academy seeking Lord Liu is naturally for another matter. You should know, Lord, that our Hanlin Academy oversees the academic studies and Six Arts of the world. Therefore, the Emperor's Birthday Ceremony every year is handled by our Hanlin Academy."

Birthday Ceremony?

Liu Zheng was stunned upon hearing this. He blinked and said incredulously: "You don't mean to ask me to..."

Deng Wenhui wore a bitter smile: "You should know, Lord, that the Emperor values these rituals most. However, the situation this year is special. Those ambitious fellows from the vassal states in all directions seem to want to resist our Longyan Dynasty in every aspect... I hear that Goryeo, the Wa, and some small Nanyang states have gathered quite a few eccentric talents this year and are making a big show of it, appearing quite aggressive in challenging the Longyang Six Arts!"

Only then did Liu Zheng understand the ins and outs of the situation.

So, for the Emperor's birthday this year, this group of vassal states not only wanted to launch a fierce attack on the financial and fiscal front, but also wanted to challenge Longyan in the arts! It is well known that for thousands of years, Longyang has prided itself on being the Celestial Empire, with its education and Six Arts spread throughout the world. This traditional culture is the pride of the Longyan Dynasty.

And now that the Longyan Dynasty has been exhausted for a long time, like a sleeping lion, how could these increasingly powerful vassal states not have ideas?

Economy, culture, art!

All-out resistance!

No wonder the Hanlin Academy felt such immense pressure.

But Liu Zheng still couldn't figure one thing out: "Lord Deng means that the Hanlin Academy is worried that the Birthday Ceremony they prepared won't be able to compete with theirs? But there are only seven days left..."

Seven days—what kind of hell could one stir up in that time!

Deng Wenhui looked miserable: "That is why..."

That is why your head!

Liu Zheng felt like vomiting blood!

Do they really think he is a god? Even a clever housewife cannot cook without rice; the key is that there isn't enough time!

After going around in circles.

The horse carriage finally arrived at the famous Hanlin Academy. The Hanlin Academy had existed in the Longyan Dynasty for over a thousand years. Since its founding, it had become the cultural center and highest hall of the Longyan Dynasty.

It could be said that the Hanlin Academy had research in every field of the Longyan Dynasty, including science, economy, culture, art, agriculture, and so on.

In other words, the Hanlin Academy had always been the place most yearned for by the scholars of the world.

However, the Longyan Dynasty had no Imperial Examination, so one could only enter the Hanlin Academy through the recommendation of filial piety and integrity. Once a scholar entered the Hanlin Academy, they would inevitably become a pillar of the imperial court in the future. But the true function of the Hanlin Academy was actually the control of social ideology. That is to say, the Hanlin Academy itself leaned more toward the humanities. The existence of the Hanlin Academy caused society to value literature over industry, severely affecting the development of science and technology. Furthermore, the Hanlin system also kept the mainstream of the literary and intellectual circles under the Emperor's supervision, which suppressed academic freedom and the intellectual independence of the intelligentsia, facilitating the Emperor's autocratic rule.

Therefore.

The status of this Hanlin Academy in the Longyan Dynasty is evident.

Before even entering the gate, one could see courtyard after courtyard of considerable scale and high quality, rising one after another, with a rich, solemn, and dignified literary atmosphere rushing toward them.

As soon as he got off the horse carriage, Deng Wenhui shouted at the top of his lungs: "Lord Liu is here!"

"Lord Liu is here!"

This fellow's voice was truly loud, and it quickly penetrated the entire Hanlin Academy.

Liu Zheng was caught between laughter and tears.

Sure enough.

With this roar, the calm Hanlin Academy seemed to explode like a pot. Standing at the entrance, Liu Zheng watched helplessly as scholars wearing various official robes ran out from different courtyards, many of them holding scrolls in their hands, running out like madmen.

"Prefect Liu?"

"Where? Where?"

"I read Prefect Liu's 'Great Learning' thoroughly yesterday and had some insights. May I discuss them with Prefect Liu?"

"Don't block me, hurry, hurry, move aside! Has Prefect Liu released any new poems recently?"

"What about new songs?"

Good heavens.

Liu Zheng was startled by the sudden enthusiasm of these Hanlin Academy scholars.

Seeing the people surging over, Deng Wenhui's expression changed drastically. He and Pei Qianyun guarded Liu Zheng, shouting: "Fellow colleagues, fellow colleagues, calm down, calm down! Lord Liu has come this time at the summons of Grand Academician Chen Qian. Important matters are at stake, important matters are at stake!"

Upon hearing the name of the Grand Academician, the group changed color simultaneously, and the next moment, they turned and ran away.

Before leaving, they naturally did not forget to leave a word behind.

"Prefect Liu, let's talk another day!"

"I shall come to seek your advice another day, Zhou!"

In a flash, the group of people who had just been clamoring were gone, and not a single shadow remained.

Liu Zheng was, for a moment, completely dumbfounded.

Were the people of the Hanlin Academy truly this adorable?