Chapter 9: Escaping the Princess; Residing in the Hanlin Academy
After spending half a month at home, sorting out important connections in the capital and establishing his own network of informants, Mo Shuihan officially started his post at the Hanlin Academy.
The top three scholars in the imperial examinations usually began their careers at the Hanlin Academy. Feng Jingchen and Cheng Yang were also there. Mo Shuihan, a newcomer with royal backing, received considerable care from the scholars and colleagues of the Hanlin Academy.
Mo Shuihan, as the top scholar, was appointed as a Xiu Zhuan (a type of editor), a sixth-rank official. Feng Jingchen and Cheng Yang were appointed as seventh-rank Bian Xiu (also a type of editor). Because they were new, they were unfamiliar with the duties of the Hanlin Academy. Their superiors took them through an orientation before having them start with proofreading.
Princess Jiu seemed genuinely angry that night and had used various pretexts to torment Mo Shuihan in the following days, preventing him from entering their room or sleeping elsewhere. Mo Shuihan felt guilty and had no choice but to accept it, agonizing over where to sleep each night.
That evening, Mo Shuihan returned home, went to the study to freshen up, and then went to the bedroom door to await Princess Jiu’s instructions. Tonight, she was unusually easygoing, not tormenting him but allowing him to sleep outside.
Mo Shuihan had become accustomed to it. Fortunately, it was summer, and he could manage to sleep on the outdoor chaise lounge. He even felt relieved not having to deal with the Princess.
He had just started his new post at the Hanlin Academy. Even with his sharp mind and good memory, the sheer number of books in the Academy made him feel overwhelmed. When the Princess told him to rest, he didn’t hesitate to lie down on the chaise lounge. As soon as he leaned back, he felt a tightening behind the lounge and a premonition of trouble. He tried to dodge, but it was too late. A bucket of cold water was dumped on him, soaking him to the bone.
Yu Guan and Yu Qi were startled and quickly rushed forward to help him, “Master!”
The bedroom door opened, and Princess Jiu ran out laughing to watch the commotion. Seeing her lack of remorse, and remembering her relentless torment of their masterāfrom sleep to mealsāYu Guan felt indignant and stepped forward to reprimand her, “How could you do this? What has our master done to deserve this? You drove him out of the room and now you won’t even let him sleep!”
Princess Jiu innocently walked to Mo Shuihan, circling him gleefully, “I didn’t stop him from sleeping in the room. Your master chose not to come back!”
Yu Guan angrily retorted, “Isn’t it because he would be tormented even more if he returned to the room, making it impossible for him to sleep?”
Mo Shuihan took the towel from Yu Qi and wiped himself while stopping Yu Guan, “Yu Guan, stop it.”
Princess Jiu pouted, “Did you hear that? Your master himself doesn’t want to return to the room!”
Seeing her turn to go back to the room, Yu Guan angrily shouted, “My master is so fed up with you that he prefers to sleep outside rather than return to the room. So what if you’re a princess? Being a princess doesn’t give you the right to force someone to marry you! Now that you’re married, you start tormenting my master. You’re so capricious and spoiled that my master will never fall for you…”
“Yu Guan, be quiet!” Mo Shuihan’s face darkened. He quickly glanced at the hurt Princess Jiu, “Insubordination! Go and receive your punishment!”
Yu Guan protested, “Master!”
Princess Jiu’s eyes welled up, but she stubbornly refused to yield. As she turned to go back inside, she didn’t notice the wet spot on the ground. Before Mo Shuihan could warn her, she slipped. He quickly grabbed her, and they both fell to the ground.
Princess Jiu, protected by Mo Shuihan, was unharmed, but Mo Shuihan hit his waist on a rock. Princess Jiu’s maids, who had been arguing with Yu Guan, were startled and rushed to help them up.
Princess Jiu, still angry about Yu Guan’s words, pushed Mo Shuihan away and ran into the room, slamming the door shut. Her maids followed her, leaving Yu Guan and Yu Qi to support Mo Shuihan, “Master…”
Mo Shuihan glared at Yu Guan, “Are you courting death? How dare you say such treasonous words?”
Yu Guan lowered her head, still unconvinced, “I was worried about you, Master.”
Mo Shuihan said sternly, “If you can’t control your mouth, you’ll go to the manor!”
Yu Guan looked up in fright, “Master, I won’t talk nonsense anymore. Please don’t send me away!”
Yu Qi timely advised, “Master, you should change your clothes. It’s cold at night. Take care of yourself.”
Mo Shuihan looked at the closed bedroom door, massaging his temples as he walked towards the study: How should he deal with the Princess?
The officials of the Hanlin Academy had heard of Princess Jiu’s capricious nature. Seeing Mo Shuihan’s listless state, they felt sympathy. Even the president of the Hanlin Academy became more amiable towards him: Sigh, marrying a princess brings rapid promotion, but also a lot of torment!
Cheng Yang came early in the morning to distribute wedding invitations. He was getting married. A group of people surrounded him to offer congratulations and jokes. Cheng Yang, surrounded, saw Mo Shuihan walking in, rubbing his waist, and squeezed out of the crowd, “Shuihan, here’s one for you. You must come!”
Mo Shuihan, still somewhat dazed, opened the invitation, “You’re getting married?”
Cheng Yang proudly said, “Yes. I thought I’d be the first among us three to get married, but you beat me to it. I have to step up my game!”
Feng Jingchen nudged Cheng Yang with his elbow and grinned at Mo Shuihan, who was constantly rubbing his waist, “Last night… was it intense? Did the Princess calm down?”
Mo Shuihan didn’t understand at first, then realized, his face turning slightly red, “What nonsense are you talking about!”
Feng Jingchen winked at his waist, “You even hurt your waist, and the Princess is still not satisfied?”
The other colleagues of the Hanlin Academy laughed, teasing him, and Mo Shuihan explained helplessly, “I accidentally bumped into something…”
“Oh~ an accident, huh?” The others chanted meaningfully.
Mo Shuihan was speechless: It’s impossible to explain.
Cheng Yang pulled Feng Jingchen, who was still joking, “Alright, stop it. I need to talk to you about something.”
Feng Jingchen raised his fan, signaling him to speak.
“I’m getting married soon, but I’m on night duty these past few nights. Can you cover for me?”
The Hanlin Academy had night duty because they often drafted imperial edicts and other documents, along with other tasks. This usually wasn’t assigned to newcomers. But Feng Jingchen’s prominent family background, Mo Shuihan’s status as a Prince Consort, and Cheng Yang’s friendship with them, combined with his wealthy merchant family background and impeccable management of the Hanlin Academy, resulted in the three of them being assigned to night duty.
Feng Jingchen hesitated, “Helping you prepare for the wedding is no problem, but the night duty… To be honest, my father is unwell recently, and we younger generations have to take care of him. I only have time at night…”
Although the Feng family held high positions, there were many uncles and brothers, and competition was fierce. His father’s illness was a great opportunity to curry favor, and no one wanted to miss it. Whether Feng Jingchen liked it or not, he had to follow suit.
Cheng Yang understood and frowned, trying to find someone else. Mo Shuihan spoke up, “I’ll take your night duty.”
Cheng Yang and Feng Jingchen looked at him incredulously, “The Princess won’t come to the Hanlin Academy, will she?”
Mo Shuihan smiled, “Don’t worry. Jingchen and I will switch. Let him help you prepare for your wedding. I have no experience with that.”
Cheng Yang’s family lived outside the capital, and although they all came for the wedding, being in the capital and Cheng Yang being an official, his family feared they would be mocked for inadequate preparations. So they asked Mo Shuihan and Feng Jingchen for help.
Mo Shuihan had been severely tormented by the Princess, and last night’s events made him unwilling to hurt her. Yet, he couldn’t consummate the marriage. Yu Guanās harsh words last night made him realize that he might hurt the Princess if he persisted. He was thinking of a compromise, and helping Cheng Yang was perfect, giving them both a buffer.
Cheng Yang gratefully put his arm around Mo Shuihan’s shoulder, “Good brother! You’re willing to risk the Princess’s wrath for me. I really…”
Mo Shuihan removed his arm, “Gratitude is fine, but don’t get physical.”
Cheng Yang and Feng Jingchen knew he disliked being touched and didn’t mind. They asked, “How will you explain this to the Princess?”
Mo Shuihan raised an eyebrow, “What’s there to explain? The Princess is quite considerate, isn’t she?”
“You haven’t woken up yet, have you?” A unfamiliar young man approached, overhearing their conversation, and interjected, “Expecting consideration from Princess Jiu is like expecting a pig to climb a tree.”
Mo Shuihan was speechless. While true, it was incredibly audacious!
Feng Jingchen introduced them, “This is the Left Minister’s eldest son, Xiao Heng. He also works at the Hanlin Academy.”
Mo Shuihan raised his eyebrows: No wonder he’s so audacious.
Xiao Heng looked at Mo Shuihan for a moment, “Why do I find you familiar?”
Mo Shuihan smirked, “That’s usually used to flirt with girls.”
Xiao Heng felt embarrassed. He genuinely found Mo Shuihan familiar.
Mo Shuihan ignored him and turned to Cheng Yang, “It’s settled. I’ll take your night duty.”
Without lingering, he left without a second glance at Xiao Heng. Xiao Heng stood there thoughtfully, Why does he seem so familiar?
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