Way of Choices: Book I - Youths We Were, Schoolmates

by Mao Ni

Chen Changsheng increased his volume, saying, "The Orthodox Academy's register and keys."

  The clerk slowly opened his eyes, yawned, then walked to the window and washed his face. Somewhat soberer, he returned to the table, shot Chen Changsheng a rather annoyed glance, and then drew out a scroll from his sleeve. As he rolled it open, he asked, "Say again the name of your school."

  This time, Chen Changsheng paid extreme attention to his pronunciation, articulating every syllable, "Orthodox Academy."

  Without even thinking, the clerk felt this name to be completely alien. He stopped rolling open the scroll, raised his head, and looked at Chen Changsheng with a frown, asking, "When did the capital get another school? Did you put it on record? Paid all the taxes you need to pay? Who approved it?"

  Ortho…dox…Academy.

  The clerk wrinkled his brow in thought, feeling that he had heard this name somewhere before, but couldn't recall where. In these past ten years, he’d had countless dealings with each school in the capital, but he had never heard of any Orthodox Academy… Suddenly, he remembered.

  His face instantly became extremely depressed, as if tears were going to be shed at any moment.

  Chen Changsheng did not understand what was going on.

  The clerk said with a chilly voice, "Are you joking around with me?"

  Chen Changsheng felt rather lost, thinking, What sort of joke is Sir playing?

  The clerk abruptly stood up and slammed his palm against the table, roaring, "Do you think this is a place for jokes!?"

  Chen Changsheng wanted to say something.

  The clerk furiously bellowed, "Just which school is a brat like you from! Daring to come and play tricks on your teachers!"

  Feeling wronged, Chen Changsheng replied, "I really am a student of the Orthodox Academy."

  The clerk stared at him like he was an idiot, saying, "Lie, continue to lie."

  Chapter 18 – The Orthodox Academy's New Student, Part Two

  In the capital, the Orthodoxy, excluding its southern faction, had six Sacred Halls, and amongst them, the Hall of Illustrious Persons was responsible for teaching and nurturing youth. It administered the Heavenly Dao Academy, the General Institute of Cardinals, the School of Deacons, as well as the Orthodox Academy and several dozen other schools. In truth, this place shared the same location as the Great Zhou's education apparatus. Its official name was the Bureau for the Divine Education of Cardinals, but the Imperial Court and the common people called it the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education. The oppressive feeling of divinity and authority melded together, and this combined with respect for teachers meant that this building was always abnormally quiet.

  Chen Changsheng stood in the spacious and empty hallway and just so happened to be completely concealed in the shadow of a massive stone pillar. He turned his head to the nearby room and thought of that clerk's reprimands from just now. He thought, As expected of the headquarters of one of the Orthodoxy's Sacred Halls. This building is constructed so well, its soundproofing so perfect, that the people outside didn't hear one bit of our conversation.

  There were tens of thousands of students in the capital, all of them managed by the clerks and priests within this building, their matters vast and various. Countless shoes of all shapes and styles walked to and fro across the mirror-like surface of the marble floor, the crowd rushing forth and falling away like the tide. Yet other than the sound of footsteps, it was still very quiet.

  Nobody cared about the youth standing in the shadow of the stone pillar, and nobody went up on their own volition to question him. Only after a very long time, when the sun had shifted, the stone pillar's shadow had moved further east from his body, and it was now afternoon, did people finally begin to notice his existence.

  Perhaps because the Sacred Hall was about to close for the day, people began to feel somewhat more relaxed. The building became somewhat noisier, ceasing to be as solemn and grave as it was earlier in the day. A burst of whispers could be heard behind Chen Changsheng. Because those voices were all extremely soft, they sounded just like nibbling mice. They made his ears itch and he subconsciously lowered his head somewhat.

  "What is that youth standing around there for? It seems that he's been standing there for almost the entire day."

  "Oh, you're talking about that guy? At lunch, I heard that he was driven out by Priest Xin…I heard that he came to apply for this year's educational subsidy, and he also wanted to pick some things up?"

  "Subsidy? Didn't we finish distributing those in the second month? Don't tell me there's a school that hasn't received one? That's impossible! Given that those school principals are all so arrogant they have their noses up in the air. If we really did owe them money, how could they have endured it until today? In addition, even if we did owe them, how could they send a student to receive it?"

  "Who said that wasn't the case? That's why Priest Xin ignored him and directly kicked him out, yet for some reason, this youth isn't willing to leave."

  "Just which school is this guy from?"

  "The Orthodox Academy, apparently."

  "What?"

  "Orthodox Academy."

  There was a light clamor, followed by laughter.

  "This joke is truly meaningless. No wonder Priest Xin got so angry."

  "Who doesn't know that the Orthodox Academy has long since been abandoned? It doesn't have teachers, so where'd this student come from? I reckon that it's one of those initiation activities held by those schools every year. This pitiful guy was picked by one of his senior brothers to come to our place and do some things, take some things, or else he won't be considered as passed."

  "Tsk, tsk, the initiation activities of these schools are getting more and more outrageous."

  "Indeed, actually daring to play tricks on the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education."

  "Hey, just which school do you think this youth is from? This activity is actually quite interesting."

  "It should be Star Seizer. That youth has stood there for the entire day, but his posture has never changed. Besides Star Seizer, which academy could produce such a student?"

  "It doesn't seem that way to me. The military code of Star Seizer is strict. In the past, the most they've done as an initiation activity is sneaking into the City Guard Department and stealing a flying carriage. How could they come to the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education? I believe that it's most likely still the Heavenly Dao Academy. The children in that school are familiar with us and aren't afraid of anything. If they really do stir up trouble, those kids would just randomly ask one of their senior brothers to come over, and would the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education dare not give them face?"

  In the eyes of these clerks and priests of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education, this youth standing in the hallway with his head lowered was probably some pitiable new student from some school, bullied and teased by his seniors. When they spoke, they naturally did not think about hiding from him. Although they spoke in very soft voices, their words still accurately fell in this youth's ears.

  Chen Changsheng lowered his head and looked at the floor, watching as his shadow inexorably moved across it, soon to be touching the stone steps. Thinking about how he had wasted half a day, his mood became a little melancholy, but after hearing the conversations, he understood why that person had gotten so angry and refused to let him back into the room.

  How could he make the clerk believe that he was the first new student of the Orthodox Academy in so many years? Even if the clerk did believe him, how could he, in the shortest amount of time, obtain from him the key to the library, the directory of the school's staff members, the seal of the school, and the money? He was definitely not willing to waste another day like this for these items.

  A bell rang out far away in the direction of the Li Palace, soon after followed by music from the Mausoleum of Books. Chen Changsheng seemed to think of something, raised his head, and proceeded without hesitation towards the room he had been driven out of before. This sudden action
instantly attracted the gazes of many.

  He pushed open the door, entered and walked up to the table, saying to the man behind it, "Greetings, I want to pick up the Orthodox Academy's directory, keys, and money."

  This person was the Priest Xin brought up in the conversation from before. Seeing Chen Changsheng return, he instantly grew furious. Slamming the table, he scolded, "I told you not to come bother me anymore! And you still dare to say these sorts of words! Perhaps you want me to call someone to give you twenty lashes with the rod and then have you expelled from school?"

  Chen Changsheng seriously replied, "Then Sir must first have me become a formal student of a school."

  Priest Xin took in a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the anger in his heart. In a cold and gloomy voice, he asked, "Just which school are you from?"

  Chen Changsheng replied, "The Orthodox Academy."

  As he spoke, his expression was very calm. It said, No matter which direction the wind comes from, I will continue to cling to this cliff. No matter what question you ask, I can keep my expression unchanging and calmly repeat my answer: I am a new student of the Orthodox Academy. Whether you believe it or not, I'm standing right here, and I am.

  "Don't speak about the Orthodox Academy or the Heavenly Dao Academy."

  Priest Xin felt himself about to go crazy. He icily declared, "Even if you are Prince Chen Liu's own little brother, today, I will have you understand the consequence of disregarding your teachers."

  "This is my recommendation letter."

  Chen Changsheng took from his bosom a thin sheet of paper and placed it on the table.

  Priest Xin had originally planned to scrunch this paper into a ball and then stuff it down this abominable youth's mouth, but from the corner of his eyes, he spotted a rather familiar name. He froze and subconsciously took up the paper. He verified that he had not seen wrongly—this name and handwriting really were quite familiar.

  Where had he seen this name and handwriting before?

  He wrinkled his brow in deep thought, yet he could not find the answer. Uneasiness stirred in his heart.

  In the next moment, he finally remembered.

  He truly had not seen the handwriting on this paper before, nor had he seen this name. The reason he found it familiar was that the nameboard of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education and the handwriting on this paper were written in exactly the same way. As for the name, every believer of the Orthodoxy knew of it, but it could not be spoken and could not be written because this name…was already divine.

  Afterwards, Priest Xin saw clearly the contents of the dark red seal on the paper.

  He felt his legs go soft and faintly twitch. He had a fear of heights, but this was a symptom that would usually appear only when he visited the Moon Hall in the Education Palace.

  Priest Xin took a sip of tea, but his hands were shuddering so fiercely that he dropped the tea on the floor.

  He gazed at Chen Changsheng, his lips trembling uncontrollably, his voice even more so.

  Now he finally believed that Chen Changsheng was a new student of the Orthodox Academy.

  Because no person dared to forge that name and handwriting on the paper.

  "In fact…Sir never took out this recommendation letter…truly a witty child." He looked at Chen Changsheng, and with great difficulty, pushed out a smile. He wanted to pat him on the shoulder as well, but did not dare.

  'Sir' and 'child' were two completely mismatched terms, and it was also very difficult to call a child witty.

  Chen Changsheng understood why the clerk would so suddenly forget himself. He helplessly explained, "Previously, I was prepared to take it out, but Sir never gave me the chance."

  "Sir, please sit. Tea will be served in just a moment. I will go and handle these matters for Sir." Priest Xin took up the piece of paper, bid him a cordial farewell, and then exited without hesitation through the door, after which he began to madly rush through the spacious and solemn hall.

  Those gazes that had followed Chen Changsheng did not expect to see this sort of scene, and were all very shocked.

  * * *

  In the depths of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education, in its largest room, there were many plants. Amongst them, the greatest number were plum blossoms. There were winter plums, water-reflecting plums, twisting plums, golden wine plums[11]…some were in the midst of flowering, others were just beginning to bud, and even more were quietly waiting. It was like all the plum blossoms of the world were in this place.

  Deep behind these plum trees was a massive mural depicting the Heavenly Tomes descending to the earth. In front of the mural was a massive writing desk.

  Priest Xin stood in front of the desk, his expression somewhat concerned and his forehead stained with sweat, but it was very obvious that his state was no longer as dire as it was in front of Chen Changsheng. His voice rang out, "The Divine Empress reigns…this lowly servant swears to the heavens, I really did not know…that he could take out this sort of recommendation letter, or else…"

  "Or else what? Or else you would not have let this little fellow stand in the hall for half a day?"

  A priest walked out from behind the desk. It was difficult to tell his age, but his eyes were gentle and wise. From the look of his gown, he was most likely a cardinal. This signified that he was the most powerful person in all of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education. It was just that from his appearance and the laughter in his words, it was very difficult to realize this point.

  "The seal and signature on this letter are all real. The shade of the ink and the style of the signature, and most importantly this paper…haha, His Holiness's words really do make other people feel the beauty of this world. I've seen it so many times, but seeing it once more is still a delight. I remember just ten years ago, His Holiness was invited by the Divine Empress to teach the Prince of Xiang's heir and Lady Mo Yu…"

  Archbishop of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education, Mei Lisha, gazed at his trusted aide Priest Xin, and then his smile suddenly vanished. He indifferently said, "Very well, there's no need to keep discussing these old matters. This little friend called Chen Changsheng's origins are unimportant and that he can become the first student of the Orthodox Academy in ten-odd years is also unimportant. What is important is this: what does this matter signify?

  "His Holiness intends to reopen the Orthodox Academy?

  "If this is true, how should we subordinates accommodate it?

  "You must carefully understand all of this.

  "Understand its spirit."

  Chapter 19 – The Orthodox Academy's New Student, Part Three

  Understand whose spirit? The Pope's. What sort of spirit? For that, one would have to think deeply about the Pope's seal and signature, have to touch upon the deepest depths of their soul, and only then would one probably be able to edge somewhat closer to the Pope's spiritual world, vast as the sea of stars.

  As Priest Xin left the cardinal's room and thought about those final words, his face was still pale and his mind still uneasy. He had come to many conclusions, but he still found it impossible to decide which was more accurate. Could it be that the Pope really intended to reopen the Orthodox Academy? Why were there no rumors in the capital? Why was this young student chosen for the task? Crucially, as the problem in the Orthodox Academy's history had not been resolved, who dared to touch upon it?

  As he walked up to Chen Changsheng, all these thoughts were forced to a conclusion. Thus, he used the time afforded by the dozen or so steps to resolve himself to a plan and push out a fake smile. He then said, "This is the register and key, but you might not be clear on this: although there are still people on the Orthodox Academy's register, it would be very difficult for even us to find them."

  Chen Changsheng took the register and flipped through a few pages. He realized that these pages were very old and the vast majority of the names on it were followed by the word 'withdrawn'. He asked, "So, what should I do?"

  Priest Xin thought, Isn't this
matter for you to handle? He thought this way, but he would absolutely not say it aloud. He had already made his decision. As long as he did not have to personally cheer on the Orthodox Academy and as long as he was not drawn into the incomprehensible plans of those important figures, he would do everything he could in the scope of his authority: if money was needed, he would give it; if people were needed, he would provide them.

  "What do you think…when studying in the Orthodox Academy, what do you need right now?" He looked into Chen Changsheng's eyes as he sounded him out.

  Chen Changsheng thought it over, then asked, "Anything is okay?"

  "If you want to transfer the teachers of the Heavenly Dao Academy to the Orthodox Academy…I'm afraid that's not okay." Priest Xin chuckled, but he also knew that there was nothing witty about these words. On the contrary, they seemed rather helpless.