The Little Consort's
Eps. 72: Royal Academy Examination
Two horse-drawn chariots went hand in hand splitting the city in the morning. All the people who initially crowded then stepped aside, forming a fence on both shoulders of the road. Flags bearing the image of dragons and phoenixes fluttered over bamboo poles that were snatched by several people in full uniform. Behind him were soldiers and a number of servants who followed the speed of the carriage on foot.
The day of the Royal Examination has arrived. The two chariots were chariots from the palace, which carried His Majesty the King along with the exam questions. The front train was boarded by Long Ji Man and Li Anlan, while the other train contained two officers carrying question papers for the examinees. The royal party deliberately brought the matter today because of fear of unexpected things happening, so if the matter was brought in day-H, then the escort was very strict and the bad guys would not have a chance.
The royal party also did not tell him that His Majesty the King would come and supervise the execution of the test directly. The annual moment that was usually enlivened by the parents and families of the Royal Academy students was now more crowded than in previous years. Uninterested people even deliberately came just to see their king directly.
As Li Anlan said, the presence of Long Ji Man on a test like this did indeed give rise to his own prestige. The prestige of the Royal Examination and the Royal Academy instantly rose even higher as the number one person they adored and respected came to witness the selection process. The noise of those who stand on the shoulder of the road makes the atmosphere more lively as during the new year.
Another on the outside, another on the inside. Li Anlan sat down with a lazy and annoyed face beside Long Ji Man. The clothes she wore were the official attire of the royal family, wrapped in the broad and long official robe of the Grand Empress. His head was adorned with a silver flower-shaped crown and several beautiful hairpins clung to his hair. He thought, he would get a day off during the execution of the Royal Examination because all his duties are done.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Biqi came early in the morning with a few servants in whose hands were trays filled with clothes and jewelry. The eunuch said that the Noble Empress should come with Her Majesty the King to the Royal Academy today, should not refuse and should not be late. Li Anlan protested and drove them away, but again Xiao Biqi yelled for him to prepare until Li Anlan surrendered.
“Why am I always busy on my holidays?” lui Anlan complained as she stared at the scene outside which she peeked through the curtain of the carriage cover.
“You're my advisor. So, you really should come.”
Li Anlan only found out that in addition to serving and working and having special authority, a Noble Empress also had another role. By law, the Royal Consort was none other than a woman who was given the duty of being the special counsel of the king. In other words, Li Anlan was Long Ji Man's special advisor, he handled several affairs outside politics and became a consultant to the king when the king had difficulty making decisions or found a way out.
In addition to being upset that his holiday was interrupted, he was also upset and angry that Long Ji Man did not tell about being a special adviser. The man should always ask for his opinion and help at all times. And foolishly, the man agreed to every suggestion and decision Li Anlan gave even though it felt crazy and unreasonable.
The royal family's accompaniment arrived before the gates of the Royal Academy. Long Ji Man and Li Anlan were greeted by hundreds of bowed heads saluting. His long robe dangled and was displaced as the woman walked side by side with Long Ji Man towards the entrance of the Royal Academy. There, the Deputy Head of the Academy and the Academy Secretary stood up to greet them with happy smiles.
“Sister-in-law!”
A small child in the uniform of Royal Academy students ran from the direction within the Academy towards Li Anlan, broke through the crowd and crashed into the Vice and Royal Academy Secretary who was standing in front of the gate. The people who witnessed the scene wondered who the little boy who dared to break through the crowd and called the Grand Empress with the title of brother-in-law out loud.
“Mu’er!”
Li Anlan squatted down to align her height with Long Ji Mu's height. He hugged Long Ji Mu like an older brother hugging his sister. The interaction between the two people increasingly made the others wonder about the relationship between the little boy and the Grand Empress. Some of them started whispering to guess.
“I thought you weren't coming. Sister-in-law, you left so long ago!”
“Didn't we agree to be friends? How could I not come?”
“Sister-in-law, I heard from Master and Senior Brother, you were kidnapped? Where are the bandits who dared to kidnap my brother-in-law? I'll kick him!”
Li Anlan pinched Long Ji Mu's pointed nose. This kid is so adorable.
“Take it easy. Your Majesty has already arrested them for me. Come on, say hello to your brother.”
Long Ji Mu looked at Long Ji Man innocently, then lowered his body as a sign of respect. Long Ji Man who had noticed the interaction of his wife and sister nodded slowly, then allowed his sister to stand up straight again. Suddenly, Li Anlan pulled on her robe so firmly that the man was forced to crouch down. Now, his position was already level with Long Ji Mu's height.
“Mu’er, look at your brother. You guys haven't seen each other in a long time, have you?”
Long Ji Mu nodded.
The people who saw the scene instantly fell silent. The interaction of the three made them feel jealous. Really, the scene was not like the scene of the interaction between brother and sister, but exactly like a small family. The ages of Long Ji Man and Long Ji Mu were indeed very far apart. Those who do not know will probably think that the boy is the youngest brother of their king.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Mu’er, your feet must be hurting. Take it easy, your good brother will carry you.”
Long Ji Man was a little shocked by the words Li Anlan had just said. He looked at the woman with a questioning look and disbelief. In front of everyone, he made a king crouch down and hold his youngest sister without a fight. Not wanting to make a fuss, Long Ji Man ended up holding Long Ji Mu, then walked into the Royal Academy.
“Hey, do you know who the little boy carrying His Majesty the King is?” ask one of the spectators.
“You don't know? He is Prince Ding!”
“Prince Ding? You mean, His Majesty's youngest brother who was born to the late Grand Consort Han Yuemi?”
“True.”
“But, why do I feel he deserves more to be His Majesty's son?”
“I also think so.”
“The Royal Empress is really great! He can make His Majesty crouch before his people without getting angry.”
“She's a great woman!”
Inside the Royal Academy, Long Ji Man and Li Anlan were seated on a small stage that led straight to the exam site. Above it is woven with silk as a cover and protection from sunlight. The table is elongated and there are a variety of delicious dishes that are still warm. On another small stage, there were the higher-ups of the Royal Academy and the higher-ups of the Ministry of Education.
This time the exam was held in an open room. Long before the coming of this day, Li Anlan had deliberately asked the Royal Academy to prepare everything according to his direction. The distance between the tables that will be occupied by the participants is given a distance of about two meters to minimize the occurrence of cooperation during the exam. Fortunately, the courtyard of this Royal Academy was so vast that the entire required table could be applied here.
Moments later, the Royal Academy students who were examinees were welcome to enter after signing the agreement letter as Li Anlan had said. Before sitting down, they are examined first by officers. After being completely safe, they were immediately allowed to sit in their respective exam spots.
Before it started, the Vice Academy first conveyed a few words. He said that the Royal Examination was the first step to form the foundation of the country. So, he really hoped that the examinees could try their best. Honesty is still the main thing. Finished saying, he then allowed Long Ji Man to officially open the examination by punching a small gong. The time given for the problem is as much as three two sticks of incense. One stick of incense ranged from 30-35 minutes. The time span is far from enough to work out forty points of multiple choice questions.
Long Ji Mu who was sitting on Li Anlan's lap was busy eating the fruits that were on the table. The little boy who was still very young continued to chew incessantly, making Li Anlan anxious and wanting to pinch his cheek. It is a basic child, in this situation, only knows to eat.
“You seem to have a good relationship with my sister,” Long Ji Man whispered in Li Anlan's ear.
“It's a pity, your sister is now my adopted son. I'll take it from you. I promise I'll be good to him and give him a good teaching.”
“Then I must thank you for educating my royal crown prince candidate.”
“That's because of your inability to grow crops until you sacrifice your own sister.”
“You! Say it again!”
“Sssstt…. Please calm down, being tested!”
The whispering interaction of the King and Empress of the Nobles attracted the attention of the higher-ups present there. Secretly they smiled, their hearts warmed to see the king who was everyday cold and resolute with a bright and warm expression.