Poet Immortal, Poet Sage, Duke of the State!

By the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, most of the festive atmosphere in Beijing had dissipated.

This day marked the official opening of offices for all government departments.

After a five-day annual leave, officials in the capital must gradually refocus their attention starting today.

Those newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) at the end of last year who were granted official positions in the capital must all formally report to their posts today.

Officials of the Hanlin Academy were responsible for lecturing the emperor on the classics, recording the emperor's words and deeds, and giving lessons to the princes and princesses. Therefore, the Hanlin Academy was located within the palace.

The official robes of the Da Ning dynasty were divided into three colors: red, blue, and green, corresponding to ranks one through four, ranks five through seven, and ranks below seven, respectively.

The Hanlin Compiler was a sixth-rank official. Chen Chang'an, dressed in a blue satin official robe, walked to the palace gate.

Just as he was about to show his identification badge, a guard at the door said with a smile, "Your Excellency, are you here to report to the Hanlin Academy? This humble servant will take you there..."

The guards at the palace gate all recognized the top scholar.

He rode through the streets on horseback, and it was from this gate that he walked out. On the day of the grand court assembly, when the Yan people made things difficult for the emperor and his ministers of Da Ning, it was also from here that he entered the palace and relieved the court from its predicament...

Before Chen Chang'an even had to take out his waist token, the guards enthusiastically led him all the way to the entrance of the Hanlin Academy.

Chen Chang'an first clasped his hands in thanks to him, and then looked toward the Hanlin Academy.

The vermilion gate was solemn and dignified. Above the gate hung a plaque with the words "Hanlin Academy" in gold on a black background, written in a powerful and vigorous style that Chen Chang'an could not match.

As expected of the highest hall of the Daning Academy of Literature, the mere mention of the name "Hanlin Academy" exudes a strong literary atmosphere.

Before Chen Chang'an could even enter the Hanlin Academy, a figure trotted out, bowed deeply, and said with utmost respect, "Greetings, Compiler Chen. I am Wu Wei, a Doctor of the Five Classics from the Hanlin Academy, here to escort the three esteemed gentlemen into the yamen..."

The Five Classics Doctor was an official position in the Hanlin Academy, of the eighth rank, responsible for managing Confucian classics for the emperor to read aloud.

Chen Chang'an nodded slightly and followed him into the Hanlin Academy.

Two figures were already waiting in the courtyard.

Besides Chen Chang'an, two other people were able to directly enter the Hanlin Academy in this imperial examination: Zhang Huaiyu, who ranked second, and Zhao Rui, who ranked third.

Zhang Huaiyu comes from a family with a long history, and Zhao Rui also has an impressive background. His father is Zhao Bing, the Minister of Revenue, and his grandfather is the Grand Tutor.

Zhao Rui glanced at Chen Chang'an indifferently, his expression cold, without even offering the simplest greeting.

His aunt had been very good to him since he was a child, and because of his aunt, he disliked Chen Chang'an from the beginning.

During this time, I also heard from my aunt that after Chen Chang'an returned to the Chen family, he occupied the main room and made the elders wait for an hour for meals...

These misdeeds, coupled with the fact that his aunt's fourth-rank imperial title was revoked because of him, made Zhao Rui even more dissatisfied with Chen Chang'an.

In his eyes, Chen Chang'an was an arrogant and unfilial person.

In stark contrast to Zhao Rui's attitude towards Chen Chang'an, Zhang Huaiyu greeted him with a smile, cupping his hands and saying, "Brother Chang'an, Happy New Year! I originally wanted to visit the top scholar's residence a couple of days ago, but I was afraid of being presumptuous... In the future, as fellow officials, we should look out for each other."

Chen Chang'an smiled at him and said, "Of course."

His attitude towards people depends on how others treat him. If someone is indifferent to him, he can be even more indifferent; if someone is enthusiastic, he will respond enthusiastically.

Upon seeing that the three had arrived, Wu Wei immediately bowed and led the way, saying, "Please follow me, gentlemen. I will first show you the layout and regulations of the Hanlin Academy..."

Chen Chang'an followed Dr. Wu on a tour of the Hanlin Academy.

The entire Hanlin Academy is laid out in a staggered, layered manner, with a well-organized layout.

The front courtyard was the main hall for proclaiming imperial edicts, which contained a very spacious hall where officials of the Hanlin Academy received imperial edicts and held collective discussions.

The central courtyard consists of rows of duty rooms, where officials of the Hanlin Academy worked daily. On both sides are small bamboo groves, which provide shade and add a touch of elegance.

The backyard of the Hanlin Academy leads directly to the Wenyuan Pavilion Library, which is the library of the Hanlin Academy. It houses historical books, classics, philosophical works, and collections of texts from various dynasties. It was also an important place for Hanlin Academy officials to proofread books, compile history, and give lectures.

Wu Wei led the group through the area, explaining things along the way, and finally brought the three of them to a guardhouse in the central courtyard.

He pointed to the three tables in the duty room and said, "This will be where the three of you will be working from now on. As for your duties in the Hanlin Academy, instructions have already been given..."

He first looked at Chen Chang'an and said, "As a sixth-rank compiler in the Hanlin Academy, Lord Chen has two duties: first, to be in charge of compiling the national history of this dynasty and collating royal classics; second, to draft official documents such as imperial edicts, decrees, and congratulatory memorials, and to be available at any time for the emperor's use..."

Then, he looked at Zhang Huaiyuan and Zhao Rui and said, "You two are sixth-rank Hanlin compilers, mainly responsible for compiling and organizing classics and assisting in the affairs of the academy. In addition, you two are also required to enter the palace to participate in the imperial lectures, interpreting classics and history for His Majesty, answering his questions, and spending your days studying and preparing for future use..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Huaiyu was slightly taken aback and couldn't help but ask, "That's not right. Isn't participating in the imperial lectures and interpreting classics and history for His Majesty traditionally the job of Hanlin scholars?"

It wasn't that he disliked the job; in fact, it was the most coveted position in the Hanlin Academy, which is why only the top scholars of each year could obtain it.

Participating in lectures at the Imperial Academy and interpreting classics and history for Your Majesty would allow you to see Your Majesty often and listen to your teachings. If you could win the Emperor's favor, wouldn't your future be bright?

Zhang Huaiyu never imagined that this cushy job would fall to him and Zhao Rui.

Wu Wei shook his head and explained, "This, I'm not entirely sure about either, but it's His Majesty's request, and as his subjects, we should naturally comply..."

Zhao Rui glanced at Zhang Huaiyu and said unhappily, "This is His Majesty's arrangement, Brother Zhang, there's no need to say anything more."

He had no intention of giving up the opportunity to meet His Majesty to Chen Chang'an.

Chen Chang'an didn't really feel anything about this.

Although close contact with the emperor might lead to a better future, as the old saying goes, serving a ruler is like serving a tiger. If you say or do something wrong, it will have the opposite effect.

He should continue compiling his books at the Hanlin Academy.

However, Chen Chang'an was quite curious about what His Majesty looked like. He had only seen His Majesty twice, once when a screen blocked his view, and once when he was too far away to see clearly...

According to the rules of the Great Ning court, only officials of the fifth rank and above were qualified to attend court. If he was unlucky, he didn't know when he would see His Majesty the Emperor...

At this time.

Inside the Imperial Study.

Emperor Da Ning took the soup from Zhao Yue, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "Shouldn't Chen Chang'an be going to the Hanlin Academy to take up his post today?"

Princess Zhaoyue nodded and said, "Father, he is now in the Hanlin Academy."

The Emperor of Da Ning looked at her and asked, "Aren't you going to reveal your identity to him?"

Princess Zhaoyue bit her lip and did not answer.

The Emperor of Da Ning sighed softly, saying helplessly, "You are just as stubborn as your mother..."