by Mao Ni
As he thought of all this, his hands continued to grip the ivy, tearing at it once more, thus letting him see the second part of the word, dox. He had no time for more sighs, as with this action, the ivy that had not been taken care of for so many years all slid to the ground with a rustle, stirring up clouds of dust.
Chen Changsheng moved back a few steps so as not to be touched by the ivy and dust.
The green ivy fell, the dust settled, and it didn't take too long for that stone wall that had not been seen for so many years to finally reveal its surface to the world once more.
On the mottled stone wall, two words were carved.
Orthodox Academy.
The deeply carved words did not have much paint, only accumulated dust and the dead leaves left behind by the ivies last year. The corners of the words had even been somewhat worn away by the wind and rain. If one did not carefully inspect them, it would be difficult to recognize just what those words were.
As he blankly stared at the stone wall, Chen Changsheng said nothing for a very long time, filled with the gloom of failure. He had placed his heart and soul in seeking the Dao and rarely experienced this sort of emotion. Yes, he really wanted right now to just turn and leave. Even if he did pass the entrance exam for such a dilapidated school, how could it be of any help to his life?
He raised his head to look at the sky and determined that he still had time. He decided to enter this dilapidated school and take a look around. If it was no good, he would go to the final school on the list.
His hand rested on the gate and gently pushed.
Creak.
After many years, the gate to the Orthodox Academy was opened once more.
* * *
The carriage of the Divine General of the East's estate was parked outside Hundred Flowers Lane, its proud white horse with its head slightly raised was bored to death. In the carriage, the middle-aged woman was not as calm. Her eyes were brimming with a deep sense of confusion and doubt as she mumbled to herself, "Why did he come here?"
She was keenly aware that the school in the depths of Hundred Flowers Lane had long since withered away, but when she thought of how this youth seemed quite skilled at surprising others, she didn't dare neglect it. He finger lightly rapped against the window, indicating that the white horse should pull the carriage. However, just at this moment, a carriage galloped from behind and blocked her carriage from moving forward.
Hundred Flowers Lane was very narrow, barely able to accommodate a single carriage. Now that it had been blocked in such unreasonable fashion by this carriage, the carriage of the Divine General's estate naturally could not proceed forward. The middle-aged woman slightly arched her brow, rather displeased. However, when she thought of how close this place was to the Imperial Palace, she did not yell at the other carriage to give way.
The carriage that had suddenly appeared was very low and small, even somewhat simple and crude. A blue cloth served as a curtain, and the animal pulling the carriage was also very low and small. Its fur was pure black and it seemed like a donkey. The middle-aged woman was a little taken aback, silently jeering, The capital actually still has someone that uses a donkey to pull their carriage, truly pitiful.
The middle-aged woman was not yet angry, but the white horse could no longer hold back. How could a bearer of Unicorn blood possibly allow a small black donkey to block it? It furiously raised its head, wanting to threateningly neigh, but at this moment, the animal pulling the blue-curtained carriage slowly turned its head and glanced at it.
It wasn't a black donkey, but a pitch-black goat. Its fur was smooth like satin and it was clearly no ordinary creature.
The most unimaginable part was that its eyes were actually serene and deep, cold and indifferent, like some divine being that dwelled above the clouds.
If one were to say that this horse's nobility came from its Unicorn blood, then this black goat's nobility came completely from its bearing. Before its eyes, the white horse was completely like some naughty child, easily angered and irritated, while it was an Imperial that dwelled above, living in the palace halls and unstained by dust.
This black goat turned its head and glanced at the white horse.
The white horse was just on the verge of neighing in anger, but when it saw the black goat's cold and indifferent eyes, it instantly quieted down. Its eyes bubbled with boundless fear and its front hooves went soft. It could no longer support its heavy body, its knees bent, and its body heavily crashed against the ground. Shuddering all over, it didn't dare rise, and it seemed to be bowing to the black goat like a minister bowing to its king.
The middle-aged woman rushed out of the carriage. Upon seeing the kneeling white horse, she was shocked speechless. She thought, This horse is the sole son of the steed ridden by the Divine General—it's always been arrogant and tyrannical. When did it become so cowardly? When she turned her head to the black goat, she suddenly remembered something. And when she turned her gaze to the blue-curtained carriage, her eyes were filled with extreme surprise.
She used her swiftest speed to kneel down on the ground, bowing towards the blue-curtained carriage. Her face was pale and she didn't dare to speak.
An elderly voice emerged from the carriage.
"I want to go in first—does Nanny Hua have an objection?"
Upon hearing this voice, the middle-aged woman somewhat relaxed. As it turned out, it was not that lady who had come, but the nanny who served at the lady's side. As for why this nanny knew that she was surnamed Hua and that she was often referred to as Nanny in the Divine General's estate, she didn't need to ponder. This woman knowing about anything was only right and to be expected.
The occupant of the blue-curtained carriage was also a nanny, but when compared to the nanny of the Divine General's estate, this nanny was far more famous, the most famous nanny in the entire capital. Even Lord Zhou Tong, whose name struck fear into all members of the Imperial clan, great ministers, and Divine Generals, would have to squeeze out a smile in front of this nanny. Just what did she count for?
"What is Nanny saying, this humble servant did not recognize you. My thoughts were deeply disrespectful, and I ask for Nanny's forgiveness."
The middle-aged woman's voice trembled slightly. She had previously decided not to yell out, and now she couldn't help but feel lucky. Even so, she didn't dare conceal the evil intentions she had, because according to the rumors, hiding anything before this black goat was looking for death. Moreover, she was keenly aware that only acting this way could she appease this nanny.
If not for the fact that the Divine General of the East's estate had always been close to the lady this nanny served, she wouldn't have even dared to explain. She would just have cut off her right arm to make amends for her crimes.
The nanny in the blue-curtained carriage asked, "You came to look at that youth?"
The middle-aged woman didn't dare raise her head, only respectfully grunting in reply. Only at this moment did she confirm that the lady in the palace had known of this matter the entire time.
The nanny continued, "Then from today on, you don't need to look at him anymore."
The middle-aged woman was somewhat shocked. With a low and trembling voice, she requested, "I ask that Nanny instruct me."
The nanny's voice was emotionless. "When I act, do I have to explain things to you?"
The middle-aged woman touched her forehead to the floor, not daring to say a word more.
The black goat glanced at her, then turned around and pulled the blue-curtained carriage into the depths of Hundred Flowers Lane.
Only after a long while did the middle-aged woman dare to raise her head, her face still pale.
Whatever the nanny in the carriage did truly did not require any explanation to anybody, even if the other party was the Divine General's estate.
Because she was the nanny that served at Lady Mo Yu's side.
* * *
The academy's buildings still displayed faint signs of the
ir former magnificence. It was just that they were all decayed without any sign of habitation.
Chen Changsheng stood by a lake, gazing at the rampant weeds at his feet in silence. He had decided to come in and take a look because he recalled the records of this Orthodox Academy in the Daoist Canon. To be able to use the Orthodoxy as a prefix, this academy naturally had a long history. It had once been incomparably powerful and raised countless extraordinary individuals, but…how had it turned into this?
The surface of the lake gently rippled. The place was quiet and still, the buildings old-fashioned. There was not a single person here.
He had many questions, but he didn't know whom he should address them to.
At this moment, a sound came from behind him.
He turned his head and saw a black goat.
This was a pitch-black goat that emanated a strange aura.
If a normal person, in this deathly still environment, were to see this sort of black goat, they would subconsciously feel a little afraid and at the very least attempt to avoid it, but Chen Changsheng did not. He really liked this black goat because this black goat was very clean, just like him. He plucked some grass from the lake shore, took a handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped off the dew on the grass, and then offered it to the black goat.
The black goat quietly looked at him, tilting its head. It seemed to be confused, wondering just what he wanted to do.
Nobody had ever fed this black goat grass before.
No matter if it was Prince Chen Liu or the Crown Prince, nobody dared to feed it grass.
Everyone in the palace knew that it would only eat fruit plucked personally by Lady Mo Yu.
"Eat, there's no dew, you won't get indigestion."
Chen Changsheng looked at the black goat, waving around the grass in his hand as he earnestly spoke.
The black goat understood this youth's meaning and the expression in its eyes subtly changed. It looked like it was gazing at an idiot.
Of course, Chen Changsheng did not understand, so he still offered up the grass in his hands.
The black goat was somewhat fed up, but for some reason, this youth's Qi made it feel somewhat affable towards him.
It hesitated for a few moments, then finally took one step forward, feeling things out. It slightly lowered its head, took a few stalks of grass from Chen Changsheng's hand, and slowly began to chew.
Under a nearby tree, an old lady holding a wooden cane made from a yellow poplar was watching this scene. The wrinkles on her face faintly trembled, just like the grass in the wind.
Even when the previous Empress had smothered the then-Crown Prince to death, she had not been this shocked.
Chapter 16 – A Single Academy
The old lady was so abnormally shocked because she was keenly aware that this Black Goat hand-raised by Lady Mo Yu was proud and cold. Moreover, it was abnormally obsessed with cleanliness, so much so that it had become a peculiarity. Only the rarely-seen Unicorn could be compared to it. Let alone the weeds growing by the lake, even the strenuously prepared dishes made for the members of the Imperial clan were not even worthy of its glance. Yet at this very moment, it had actually taken grass from this youth it had met just a few moments ago, and it was actually eating it!
The next scene made the old lady even more shocked, because after the Black Goat ate a few stalks of grass, not only did it not leave, it lowered its head into the youth's palm and lightly rubbed against it. It seemed extremely intimate and its expression was also one of enormous pleasure. It was like it really enjoyed rubbing against this youth.
Just what was this? The old lady slightly creased her brow. Gripping her yellow poplar cane, she slowly walked to the lakeshore. Gazing at the youth crouching down by the Black Goat, she noticed on his ordinary appearance a natural-born friendliness. Her thoughts were somewhat pacified, but were soon after overcome by an intense unease. A person that could make a person like her relax to this extent was absolutely someone she needed to be wary of.
Chen Changsheng stood up and asked the old lady, "Nanny, is this your goat?"
The old lady narrowed her eyes, asking, "You know who I am?"
Chen Changsheng was somewhat surprised, replying, "I don't."
The old lady haughtily asked, "Then why did you call me Nanny?"
Chen Changsheng was somewhat confused, thinking, You are a lady of such great age; if I don't address you as Nanny, what should I address you as? The woman in the Divine General's estate's carriage was a nanny, and the dishwasher in the inn was also a nanny. On his journey, the person in the boat in charge of cooking was also a nanny. There were many nannies in the world. Was there one that was different?
Seeing his perplexed expression, the old lady realized that she had thought too much, that she had been too excessively vigilant against this youth. She couldn't help but slightly crease her brow, increasingly feeling somewhat improper. This was because she clearly understood that the vigilance she had displayed in this exchange completely arose from her fondness for this youth.
This youth was so ordinary, yet he so easily made other people want to get close to him. This was the case for both her and the Black Goat, but just why was this the case?
The old lady gazed at the run-down building. She thought of this place's past magnificence, thought of that bloody and sinister story, and then thought of this youth's uniqueness. The unease in her heart deepened and she determined to not delay any more. She directly declared, "You can call me Nanny Ning."
Chen Changsheng bent his body in a bow, saying, "Well wishes to Nanny Ning."
Nanny Ning asked, "If I were to let you know that the person that didn't let you enter Star Seizer Academy was me, would you still wish me well?"
The beginning of spring was still chilly. The wind blew off the lake, causing the lush weeds to slightly bend at the waist. All was silent.
Chen Changsheng straightened his body and gazed at the old lady in shock. Yesterday, Tang Thirty-Six had said at the inn that the Divine General of the East's estate could not influence Star Seizer Academy, that it should have been the intention of some powerful figure in the palace. According to the words of this Nanny Ning…she was this powerful figure?
"Carrying that marriage contract and still daring to walk all over the capital, I really don't know if a youth like you is being stupid or bold," Nanny Ning expressionlessly said.
Chen Changsheng said nothing for a few moments, then said, "Besides the Divine General's estate, no one else pays any attention to me."
Nanny Ning replied, "If you were to let people know that you are the Phoenix child's fiancée, countless people would come to kill you."
Chen Changsheng replied, "I'm still alive, proof that the Divine General's estate is even less willing to let other people know of this engagement."
Nanny Ning glanced at him and asked, "And if the Divine General's estate wants to kill you?"
After a moment of silence, Chen Changsheng replied, "With the Divine Empress reigning, they still have to pay careful consideration to the general situation."
Nanny Ning slightly raised her brows, seemingly surprised that this fourteen-year-old youth was able to see the true reason for the Divine General's estate's difficulties in exerting its will. "The more you delay, the greater the pressure. There will eventually come a day when the Divine General's estate can no longer bear it."
"Then I will try to resist," Chen Changsheng said as he tightly gripped the dagger at his waist.
Nanny Ning examined the ordinary and unremarkable dagger at his waist and said with faint derision, "You don't know how to cultivate and want to rely on just this dagger to resist the experts of the Divine General of the East's estate? What do you think this dagger is? A divine weapon of legends? Can it compare to Emperor Taizong's Frost God Spear? Or maybe the Dragonscale of the Qiushan clan?"
Chen Changsheng said nothing.
"Even if you don't give up the marriage contract, you can still survive."
Nan
ny Ning continued, "But you must not tell the matter of this engagement to anyone else. Otherwise, even if the Demon Lord himself came, he wouldn't be able to save your life."
There was nothing threatening about these words because what she spoke was an indisputable truth. The Demon Lord could not save his life, no one in the world could save his life because Nanny Ning represented the will of the Great Zhou Imperial Palace.
Chen Changsheng was forced to admit that although not being able to make a choice made him rather unhappy, what Nanny Ning said was good for him. He was just somewhat confused. Just why was it that when he was attempting to get into Star Seizer Academy a day ago, she had so cruelly crushed his future prospects, but now she was changing her mind?