Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

Chapter 232: Ten Years of Repeated Senior Year—Is That Even Polite? (1 / 2)

Xu Yanmiao burst into the Ministry of Personnel’s offices.

“Do me a favor and say I’m not here!”

He threw out the words before rushing into the inner hall. Passing his desk, he grabbed a stack of documents and hugged them to his chest as he bolted away.

The officials at the ministry were baffled.

One of them even stood up, looking puzzled. “What’s going on with Xu Lang?”

But Xu Yanmiao was already gone, too far to hear the question.

A few dozen breaths later, Quan Yizhang’s figure appeared at the gates of the Ministry of Personnel. “Is that brat Xu Yanmiao here?”

The officials were initially startled but quickly realized that Xu must be hiding from Master Quan.

One official coughed lightly and said, “Xu Lang is not here at the moment…”

The office fell into near silence, the only sound being the soft chime of wind-bells hanging under the eaves.

The same official coughed again and, with some hesitation, asked, “Master Quan, are you looking for Xu Lang? If you could share the matter, I’d be happy to pass the message along.”

Quan Yizhang’s gaze swept through the office, and not a single person dared meet his eyes.

“Hmm… That would be helpful.” He paused, handed a booklet to the official, and said, “Make sure this gets to Xu Yanmiao.”

After receiving the official’s promise, he turned and left.

Moments later, Xu Yanmiao cautiously peeked his head out. “Master Qu—”

Before he could finish, another knock came at the door. Xu Yanmiao instantly shrank back with a whoosh, like a sea anemone retreating into a ball at the first sign of danger.

The visitor this time was Ji Sui. Upon learning Xu Yanmiao wasn’t there, Ji also left behind a booklet for the officials to pass along.

Shortly after leaving, Ji Sui didn’t get far before crossing paths with Quan Yizhang.

The two locked eyes, and for a moment, it felt as if lightning was flashing and thunder rumbling in the heavens above.

Quan Yizhang’s expression shifted slightly. “Ji Sui, can’t you see that Xu Yanmiao is avoiding you? If he despises the modern script school so much, why must you persist so shamelessly?”

“Master Quan, you jest,” Ji Sui replied with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Xu Lang is a talented young man who has earned the emperor’s favor. Even if he disappears for a few days, it’s perfectly normal. Why assume he’s avoiding anyone? Or could it be that, in your youth, you would give up on scholarly pursuits or visits after failing to meet your host two or three times? If you were so frivolous, how could you have become a leader in your field?”

Ji’s words were barbed despite their polite veneer.

What a joke. If he acted like a gentleman and abided by proper decorum, the modern script school would’ve been crushed by the ancient script school and sent back to farming long ago.

Quan Yizhang, unfazed, retorted with a smirk, “Normal, you say? Last night, Xu Yanmiao ran from you faster than a rabbit, yet walked with me all the way home. His attitude was clear as day. Tell me, Ji Sui, do you still harbor some delusion about his loyalties?”

Ji Sui narrowed his eyes, silently cursing Quan Yizhang for his shamelessness.

“Close all the way?!” Seasoned Ji Sui grumbled to himself. “An eighty-something, nearly ninety-year-old man, faking a fall with an ‘Oh no!’ in front of Xu Yanmiao—what else could he do but help you back to the Quan residence?”

The esteemed leader of the literary world scheming against a junior? Truly shameless! You’re just taking advantage of the fact that Xu Yanmiao is only in his forties. If he were eighty or ninety as well… Ahem.

However, Ji Sui also thought of Xu Yanmiao’s lazy personality. Getting him to study was harder than climbing to the heavens. He could imagine Quan Yizhang probing and hinting endlessly during that walk, only to achieve absolutely nothing. The man likely got home full of frustration.

Quan Yizhang suddenly interrupted, “What are you laughing at?”

Ji Sui smiled faintly. “I was just thinking about how virtuous and kind Xu Lang is. Helping you home last night—it fills my heart with joy.”

Quan Yizhang, sharp as ever, instantly deduced that Ji Sui had guessed the real situation. He decided to strike back with some underhanded tricks to unsettle Ji. “I heard that adopted son of yours was up bright and early today, standing at your door, waiting to serve you?”

Ji Sui’s smile froze slightly, his tone turning cold. “I’ve already sent someone to investigate him. If anything improper is uncovered, the adoption contract will be annulled.”

Quan Yizhang smirked. “No problem. For now, the contract still holds, and he’s still your son.”

Ji Sui: “…”

[Oh no…]

[It seems like Ji Sui and Quan Yizhang had a falling out.]

Xu Yanmiao stayed hidden in the Ministry of Personnel, not daring to show his face. Meanwhile, his system kept feeding him gossip about Ji Sui and Quan Yizhang, so he had a perfect grasp of their current situation.

While he was absorbed in the updates, he felt many eyes on him. Turning his head, he noticed his colleagues quickly looking away. The synchronicity of their movements was almost military-grade.

“You all…”

“Ahem.” One of the officials leaned in and whispered, “Xu Lang, both Master Quan and Master Ji came looking for you one after the other. Why are you avoiding them?”

The question was barely asked when his internal monologue burst out:

[It’s terrifying!!!]

[They’re trying to make me study again! I’ve already passed the imperial exams!!!]

[Who tries to force a college graduate to relive senior year? What kind of cruelty is this?!]

Xu Yanmiao sighed and pulled out his chair, sitting down at his desk. He explained, “They heard I haven’t aligned myself with any school of thought yet, so they’re hoping I’ll choose one of their sides.”

Based on his internal monologue…

The official asking the question felt not just heartache but also a stinging sensation in his eyes. “Are you saying that Master Ji and Master Quan both want to personally teach you?”

Xu Yanmiao gave a simple “yes.”

At that, another official couldn’t contain his excitement and exclaimed, “Then what are you waiting for, Xu Lang? Choose one! Those are the leading figures of ancient and modern script studies! If you inherit their teachings, countless scholars will follow your interpretations of the classics. They might even call you ‘Master’ one day!”

Bai Ze’s position was indeed lofty, but none of them could ever become Bai Ze.

For them, becoming a literary master, holding the reins of the academic world, earning the title of “Zi”—that was the ultimate goal of their time in this world.

Unexpectedly, Xu Yanmiao’s reaction to this was even stronger.

[No, no, no! Following my interpretation of the classics? That’s just leading others astray!]

The official hesitated for a moment before carefully adding, “Xu Lang, as long as you’re willing to learn, I’m sure the two masters would give their all to teach you.”

In that case, there’d be no risk of leading anyone astray.

But Xu Yanmiao, familiar with the hardships of relentless study, immediately thought: [To avoid leading others astray, wouldn’t that require at least ten years of study?]

[Ten years, with every year like senior year of high school. Is that reasonable?!]

The officials present were practically on edge. Hearing Xu Lang’s outrageous inner monologue, they were desperate to know what this “senior year of high school” was. How could it make Xu Lang so terrified of learning?!

If that “senior year” could take human form, they’d want nothing more than to slap it a few times!