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After Being High-Key Should Just Be Low-Key
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
However, Luo Pei Song wasn’t planning on letting him go, “There is no free meal, you think that they will just let you get fat for nothing? Just wait, gaining a pound now, later can make you lose ten.”
As a renowned great scholar, these words truly weren’t elegant at all. However, Jiang Wan Li’s expression didn’t change. It was obvious, towards this kind of teacher, he was also used to. Having followed by his side for several years, there was no one more clear than him. This teacher, aside from being a little eccentric, he really didn’t have the scholarly elegance that a great scholar should have. In his eyes, compared to the Head Minister of Appointments, it wasn’t just lacking a tiny bit. Just, this appearance of his would only manifest in front of the people close to him.
However, from his words, he for the most part can confirm one thing. His guess previously was correct. Moreover, this teacher of his knew much more than him.
Jiang Wan Li decided to go wash up first. Although he was quite clean, he’d come from prison after all. Even though his treatment inside was quite good, it still didn’t feel that wonderful. Because of traveling around for many years, things certainly won’t be as meticulous as when at home. Even if having a servant boy, Jiang Wan Li majority of the times still did things himself.
However, after entering his room, Jiang Wan Li noticed the additional things, “Where did these come from?”
“Young master, the Luo family had sent them over, saying it was for comforting young master.” Actually, in the servant boy’s eyes, these gifts were truly a bit much and a bit too valuable.
Jiang Wan Li made out his servant boy’s peculiar expression. Thus, as he randomly flipped through, his movements instantly became cautious, holding in hand, somewhat unwilling to part, thinking to himself, no wonder.
Since it was for him, then clearly, it matched his taste. And to be able to gift one’s favorites without needing to know the specifics, it actually was a relatively simple matter. For scholars, one can just pick what’s popular among the majority. Calligraphy paintings and books, especially the works of renowned masters, as well as rare copies, even if not wholeheartedly liking, these things, one would still more or less collect. For scholars, it was also a kind of asset that one can show off, else using as a gift for others was also a very face gaining thing.
And these before his eyes, without a doubt, were all premium goods and valuable objects. The good things that he, Jiang Wan Li, had seen before also weren’t few, but facing these, he all couldn’t help but be tempted. It can be seen, these really were extraordinary.
Jiang Wan Li pondered for a moment. From his teacher, he for the most part can still make out a portion of the Luo family’s wealth, but to casually just give a younger generation like him this many good things, it wasn’t something the Luo family can do. —–It’s not that they were unable to bring out, just it was too much.
That’s why, these things most likely came from Jin Qinwang Manor. To say it was for comforting him, it was actually as compensation. In this case, Jin Qinwang Manor being well-off, having countless good things, really wasn’t just empty words. After all, the other party was a wangye. Even if as compensation, it was still far from needing to ’empty one’s pockets’. He was just a nobody, having just entered officialdom, so he really didn’t have any use. That’s why, getting valued, this kind of thing, actually was just a joke. This kind of heavy gift can only explain one thing, the other part had many things, simply not caring. Things that were very valuable in other people’s eyes, in the other party’s eyes, was probably just a drop in the ocean, not worth mentioning.
As such, Jiang Wan Li just calmly accepted. In any case, it was indeed deeply liked by him, belonging to the type where even if lending to a good friend, it can’t exceed over three days.
“Directly store away, can’t damage in the slightest.”
“Yes, young master. But, young master, is it really okay?” The servant boy was still somewhat worried.
Speaking of which, he grew up together with Jiang Wan Li. Even though as master and servant, Jiang Wan Li has never mistreated him. In the past, he even attended class together with Jiang Wan Li, having a vast knowledge. Thus, this servant boy’s insight even surpassed many scholars.
“Letting you store away, just store away, what’s all this nonsense. I have an understanding inside.”
Hearing this, the servant boy also just relaxed, casually laughing, promising that he will have the things stored away properly. Towards his young master, the servant boy absolutely trusted and worshiped. In his eyes, there was no one smarter than his own young master. What his young master said and did, that was certainly all correct.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
The next day, Jiang Wan Li just returned to the Hanlin Academy. Seeing that he was completely fine, everyone all thought to themselves, his Majesty certainly must have long issued the order. But, from this bit, it was also more than enough to see his Majesty’s fondness towards Compiler Jiang. Thus, those that changed with the wind all just gathered around Jiang Wan Li, saying things like: “Just knew brother Jiang was being wrongly accused”, “What kind of person was brother Jiang, how could he do that kind of thing”, “Based on nephew Jiang’s learning, would he even need to use that kind of underhanded method”, “After going through such a disaster, there will certainly be good fortune to follow”.
There were some that still wanted face, but for some, that was seemingly completely forgetting that they were among those that slandered Jiang Wan Li the most viciously in the very beginning.
Jiang Wan Li was rather ‘good-tempered’, his smile unchanging, politely responding one by one.
Quite a few people jumped inside. Great, they most likely had this Compiler Jiang offended. Moreover, they originally thought that he was just someone that only foolishly knew how to study, else why would his learning be this good, yet turns out, this slyness wasn’t any inferior than those that have mingled in officialdom for many years.
Some among them began retreating, deciding to stay far away from him, so as to avoid getting retaliated against someday. After all, the other party’s backing was displayed there. Of course, there were also those that wanted to salvage the situation. Lowering themselves and being subservient didn’t matter, similarly just aiming for the connections behind Jiang Wan Li. Think about it, if able to claim connections, then don’t know how many less detours one will take in one’s career.
Jiang Wan Li took it all in, understanding in his heart. Regardless of their attitude, he all just very smoothly dealt with, seemingly very easy to talk to, but actually, didn’t say anything of importance.
And the Hanlin exam, after being delayed for a few days, was once again brought up on the agenda. The Luo family three brothers all smoothly passed, and afterwards, all went to the Hanlin Academy to ‘idle away’.
Although if not a successful candidate of the imperial exam, unable to enter the Hanlin Academy, and if not from the Hanlin Academy, unable to enter the Inner Cabinet, but having his three grandsons all shoved into the Hanlin Academy, the Head Minister of Appointments had this big of an ambition? One has to know, after entering the Hanlin Academy, one normally all need to grind through three years of experience, and if not a special circumstance, it was impossible to get promoted. Right now, the Ministry of Revenue still lacked people, and the other places similarly had vacancies. Luo Pei Shan as the Head Minister of Appointments, to want to give his three grandsons some special benefits, as long as it wasn’t too overboard, some relatively good positions, no one would mind. And having him as their backing, even if new to officialdom, having no experience, they would still be able to manage nicely.
Right now, having them all pressed into the Hanlin Academy, what did this mean?
It was obvious, after being high-key, Luo Pei Shan began being low-key again.
Actually, quite a few in high positions were all very clear inside. Staying in the Hanlin Academy for three years wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. In three years, the state of affairs perhaps will have completely stabilized. When time comes, there will still be competition, but it won’t be like during the fight for the throne, possibly having one’s life thrown in. All say Luo Pei Shan was an old fox, and that absolutely wasn’t just said for fun.
Another disturbance just settled like this. Of course, this was merely just on the surface. Moreover, even if really settled, there will still be another wave in the dark.
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