Не везде понятен смысл, но попробую догадаться. Я бы внёс такие правки:
Young officer Almazov wanted to enter the Academy and to serve in the regiment. Professor at the Academy rejected job (painting, может быть, если подходит по смыслу? речь идёт не о написанном сочинении, а о написанной картине? если так, то written не подойдёт) by the officer. Almazov made a mistake - he painted a bush absent in reality.
Officer's wife found out about the situation and helped her husband. Vera sold all her jewelry and paid the gardener who planted a lilac bush. Almazov showed professor the bush, an so the officer managed to enter the Academy.