Way of Choices: Book II - Youths We Were, Schoolmates, Part 2

by Mao Ni

  He suddenly felt a rather ominous feeling.

  Chapter 86 – Destroying the Academy (II)

  When they reached the academy gate, it was finally clear what the noises were. Some people were yelling something, some were shouting something, and others were knocking on the gate. Fortunately, those yells and shouts were not too excessive. At least, the words seemed courteous enough. The palms falling upon the gate were also not improper. It didn't feel like people were pounding on the gates to make trouble. However, there were simply far too many people outside the gate, so all those noises together were still rather frightening.

  Tang Thirty-Six shook his head to stop Xuanyuan Po from opening the gate. Taking a wooden ladder he had found somewhere, he placed it on the wall next to the gate and indicated that Xuanyuan Po should go up and see. Xuanyuan Po very obediently climbed and glanced beyond the wall. He only saw an uncountable mass of people and was given quite a scare.

  Seeing a head pop out from the Orthodox Academy's wall, the crowd blankly stared at it and then swiftly became quiet. At this sight, Xuanyuan Po felt even more confident that his earlier conclusion had been correct. He called out to the people at the very front of the crowd, "Are all of you here to apply for the Orthodox Academy?"

  The people in the front all looked at each other, thinking, Just where did this come from?

  Just then, another head appeared next to Xuanyuan Po. It was Tang Thirty-Six, who had been unable to suppress his curiosity and climbed up the ladder as well. He saw that the people at the front were wearing rather low-key yet not inexpensive clothes, and that they were quite old. They were clearly stewards of some sort, and so when he heard Xuanyuan Po's question, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

  "Can we not be so egotistic? Do these people look like students to you?"

  He rather angrily squeezed next to Xuanyuan Po. Leaning his hand on the wall for support, he looked indifferently at those people and asked, "What are you here for?"

  Those people all began to introduce themselves at once, giving their reason for coming. Soon after, other people began to call out, their voices combining into an awful din that made Tang Thirty-Six's head somewhat ache. He could only clearly hear the names of some mansion or chamber of commerce.

  It turned out that all these people had come to visit… Princess Luoluo.

  Only after yesterday's Ivy Festival did the people of the capital come to know that the sole daughter of the White Emperor was actually living in the capital, so they naturally had to come and greet her. It must be known that with the alliance between humans and demi-humans, the two races frequently traded with each other. Even without these things, just how glorious was it to see a princess?

  Tang Thirty-Six could understand why these people were so fervent and would come over so early in the morning. He had also said earlier that Xuanyuan Po's way of thinking was too naive and egotistic. But when he discovered that these were people who had come searching for Princess Luoluo and had nothing to do with the Orthodox Academy, he was still rather displeased.

  "If you want to visit Her Highness, go to the Hundred Herb Garden. Why are you making noise at the Orthodox Academy?" His expression grew cold.

  "No one answered the door at the Hundred Herb Garden. It's said that Her Highness left last night," the steward of some prince's mansion said with a bitter face. The others gave similar responses, and one added, "Her Highness is a student of the Orthodox Academy. Since she's not at the Hundred Herb Garden, she must be here."

  "Her Highness is not at the Orthodox Academy."

  Hearing these people's words, Tang Thirty-Six felt rather astonished. He thought, If Her Highness isn't at the Hundred Herb Garden, where did she go? Standing on the ladder and turning to look at the Orthodox Academy, he saw Chen Changsheng standing under a great banyan tree, silently gazing in thought at the Hundred Herb Garden.

  Just then, a carriage slowly drove from the entrance of Hundred Flowers Lane. The people gathered around the Orthodox Academy's gate all began to bow and then move to the side. Tang Thirty-Six saw the middle-aged man in the carriage and realized that the Vice Principal of the Li Palace Academy had come.

  'The Vice Principal of the Li Palace Academy' was a rather lengthy title. However, his status was clear and the gate of the Orthodox Academy was naturally opened for him.

  Chen Changsheng and the other two bowed to this vice principal.

  The vice principal took a letter from his bosom and handed it to Chen Changsheng.

  Chen Changsheng received the letter, his heart thumping. He knew that his earlier ominous feeling might truly be about to reach fruition. His finger lightly rubbed across the letter and he found that the wax sealing the letter was still not completely dry. He knew that it hadn't been long since this letter was written.

  The writing of the letter was rather delicate. It was Luoluo's handwriting.

  Only now did Chen Changsheng understand that Luoluo and her clansmen had moved out of the Hundred Herb Garden last night, departing without a noise for the Li Palace Academy. He did not open the letter to read it, only silently thought for a few moments before raising his head to the vice principal and asking, "Why?"

  "Her Highness's identity was exposed last night in the Ivy Festival and it was no longer convenient for her to live at the Hundred Herb Garden… the same for the Orthodox Academy."

  The vice principal looked toward the Orthodox Academy's gate, commenting, "You also saw that earlier sight."

  "It's fine if we don't open the gate," Chen Changsheng replied.

  "The greatest problem is safety. I only learned last night that a demon expert once attempted to assassinate Her Highness in the Orthodox Academy… now, the entire capital knows she's in the capital. Whether it's the demons or some other danger hidden in the shadows, they will all charge at Her Highness."

  "But she's still a student of the Orthodox Academy."

  "I understand your meaning. Do you actually think that my Li Palace Academy will steal a student from the Orthodox Academy?"

  The vice principal regarded him with a cold expression. "The general situation comes first in everything; we must ensure Her Highness's safety. Her Highness still counts as a student of the Orthodox Academy, but she is temporarily staying at the Li Palace Academy. There's no need for any of you to worry."

  Xuanyuan Po was still somewhat unconvinced. "Could the Li Palace Academy be safer than the Orthodox Academy?"

  Chen Changsheng and Tang Thirty-Six patted him on the shoulder in comfort, not wanting him to say any more.

  The Li Palace Academy was adjacent to the Li Palace, and the two had originally been part of the same complex. Moreover, Luoluo going to study in the Li Palace Academy was an explanation for the public. She was almost certainly living in the Li Palace.

  The Pope was living in the Li Palace. That place was naturally safer than the Orthodox Academy, safer than the Hundred Herb Garden.

  Besides the Great Zhou Imperial Palace, there was no safer place.

  From this angle, Luoluo's leaving the Hundred Herb Garden and the Orthodox Academy and living in the Li Palace had more than enough reasons.

  It was simply impossible to dispute.

  The Vice Principal of the Li Palace Academy finally said the most important words.

  "These are the intentions of His Holiness the Pope."

  * * *

  The vice principal left. Luoluo and her clansmen had moved away last night.

  Chen Changsheng climbed up the great banyan tree and looked in the direction of the Hundred Herb Garden. There was only silence, a completely different sight from its past few months of bustling activity.

  He opened Luoluo's letter and quietly began to read it, then fell silent for a very long time.

  Study hard, he silently said in his heart to that girl.

  The bottom of the letter was somewhat wet. Probably, when Luoluo had finished writing the letter, she could no longer hold back her tears, because she was reluctant to go.

>   Chen Changsheng was also very reluctant and his eyes were somewhat moist.

  How could you just leave so suddenly? I still had some questions I wanted to ask you.

  His heart felt somewhat empty. Could this be what it meant in those books to feel lost?

  Standing on the great banyan tree, he looked around at the streets surrounding the Orthodox Academy and realized that those people that had come to visit Luoluo had also left. All was quiet.

  No matter how much happened, as long as she was not here, the Orthodox Academy would still be a place forgotten by the world.

  Luoluo was the only female student of the Orthodox Academy and also its greatest backing and supporter.

  The Orthodox Academy could last until now and Chen Changsheng could live a peaceful life until now entirely because of her.

  Earlier, the Vice Principal of the Li Palace Academy had said that there was no need to worry, but how could he not worry?

  Luoluo's safety was naturally the most important matter for the human world. This was an incredibly formidable reason. However, the expert of the demon Yeshi tribe had attempted his assassination several months ago. If it was solely about safety, why had the Pope not had her move to the Li Palace then?

  Why was it that he had Luoluo leave the Orthodox Academy on the night the Ivy Festival concluded?

  Why was it so rushed? Just what did this mean? Chen Changsheng understood, as did Tang Thirty-Six. Only Xuanyuan Po was still somewhat muddleheaded, still in suffering from no longer being able to closely attend upon the princess.

  Luoluo had been the signboard and the protective talisman of the Orthodox Academy. If those powerful figures wanted to destroy the Orthodox Academy, they had to think of any means of making her depart.

  Her departure was the first step of destroying the academy.

  The trees of the autumn season were slightly moist, a breeze rustling their leaves.

  A torrential downpour was about to come.

  "Have you mentally prepared yourself?"

  Tang Thirty-Six called up to him.

  Chen Changsheng looked at the streets of the capital and called back, "Not yet."

  Tang Thirty-Six stared blankly at him, then yelled, "Since you haven't yet, why are you yelling so loud? It's very silly!"

  Chen Changsheng still yelled at the entire capital, "If we call it out louder, perhaps someone will hear and come help us!"

  Tang Thirty-Six shouted, "Your dreams are so beauuuuuutiful!"

  * * *

  In the afternoon, rain really did fall over the capital. The drizzle of the autumn rain did not carry too much cold. The buildings of the Orthodox Academy were moistened, the weeds growing by the wall dripped with water as if dejected, and the broken statues seemed to be crying, their just-regained vitality seeming to have gone elsewhere.

  After the rain stopped, the Orthodox Academy confronted its first trouble.

  Chapter 87 – Destroying the Academy (III)

  Someone knocked on the gate of the Orthodox Academy. Xuanyuan Po went to see who it was, returning after a short while. Although this youth's face was covered in whiskers, they could not completely hide the red flush. This was anxiety and also shyness, because a girl holding an oil paper umbrella was following behind him to the library.

  Tang Thirty-Six looked at this elegant and beautiful girl, a little perturbed. "Where did this lilac of a girl come from?"

  Xuanyuan Po somewhat nervously wrung his hands, saying, "I also don't know which family this young lady is from, and she didn't say anything when I asked her."

  Tang Thirty-Six asked, "And you just let her in? Although the Double Seventh was just last night, there's no need to go this far."

  Xuanyuan Po immediately explained, "She said that she knew Chen Changsheng."

  Chen Changsheng was reading just then. Upon hearing this, he put down the book and looked out the door, and found that he really did know her. It was not the young lady of some estate, but that important maid Shuang'er from the Divine General of the East's estate.

  He naturally wouldn't explain to Xuanyuan Po. He walked out of the library and said to Shuang'er, "Long time no see."

  It truly had been a long time. Since the last time Shuang'er had come to the Orthodox Academy to find him, several months had already passed.

  Shuang'er put away the umbrella and gestured that he should follow her to a somewhat more remote corner.

  "Is there something wrong?" he asked.

  Shuang'er looked at him, her expression rather complex as she thought of those rumors from last night's Ivy Festival. After thinking for a few moments, she said, "I've heard of your situation, so I must admit that you truly have surpassed the expectations of many people, and the assessment made by the Madam and me back then was incorrect."

  Chen Changsheng replied, "You have your standpoint, so you don't need to apologize."

  He spoke with sincerity. He had always spoken with sincerity.

  Shuang'er's delicate brows slightly rose. "Don't misunderstand. Perhaps my opinion of you was wrong, but that doesn't mean I support your getting together with my young lady. Even if you possess an outstanding breadth of knowledge, if you can't cultivate then you're still just a…"

  Although she disliked Chen Changsheng, she meant him no harm, so she took back the words 'piece of trash'.

  But anyone could tell her meaning.

  Chen Changsheng answered, "Your support or lack thereof has nothing to do with this marriage."

  Shuang'er was somewhat angry. "I and the young lady are like sisters, and so I care more than anyone else about the young lady's happiness. You took out the marriage contract during the Ivy Festival with your head held high, but did you ever think, the young lady and Qiushan Jun were originally such a good match, yet now you've broken it. Who could have the heart to do such a thing?"

  "So you've come to fight for justice in place of Qiushan Jun?"

  Chen Changsheng looked at her and said, "You should know that last night during the Ivy Festival, your young lady had the White Crane deliver a letter. In that letter, she admitted to this marriage, and now you seem to have a different view on this marriage and are even fighting for the sake of another man?

  "Does your young lady know that you are doing this?"

  Shuang'er could not speak, as she did not know why her young lady had done this.

  Chen Changsheng asked, "Is there anything else?"

  "It truly was not my place to say those words earlier."

  Shuang'er calmed down. She raised an arm to wipe a drop off her forehead, then said, "My young lady asked me to tell you something."

  "What?"

  "Don't misunderstand."

  Chen Changsheng did not give a reply for a very long time. Shuang'er had earlier said something very similar and it had been very hurtful, but just what did Xu Yourong mean?

  He asked, "Misunderstand what?"

  "I don't know." Shuang'er examined his face, then said, "You yourself should understand."

  Last night, the White Crane had crossed tens of thousands of li to return to the capital and deliver a letter. This letter had given Xu Yourong's stance. Although he was well aware that Xu Yourong would certainly not want to marry him, there was certainly some other meaning concealed in her actions. However, the annoyance he felt against her had lessened greatly.

  Now, though, hearing the words Shuang'er had passed on made his mood quite poor.

  "Just these things?"

  He said to Shuang'er, preparing to send her off.

  Shuang'er added, "The young lady also said that if you have anything else you want to say, you can just write her a letter."

  With a cry, the White Crane descended from the sky, flapping its two wings. It landed outside the library, beads of water slowly dripping from its feathers.

  Chen Changsheng nodded at the White Crane.

  The White Crane walked over to him and lowered its slender neck, knocking against his right arm. It seemed rather friendly.

&nbs
p; "Have you been doing well these past few years?" he said to the White Crane.

  The White Crane gave two clear cries as if answering.

  Shuang'er was astounded at this sight.

  Last night when the White Crane flew off, Chen Changsheng had felt that he had forgotten something. At the time, he believed that it was the Black Dragon below the abandoned garden. Now, he realized that he should probably write a letter and then ask the White Crane to deliver it to Xu Yourong. There were many matters that were much better when directly communicated.

  Shuang'er had always played the part of middleman between him and Xu Yourong, and he didn't like that.

  After his arrival in the capital, Xu Yourong had only written one letter to him. That letter had only three words, as if words and ink were lacking.

  'Do your best.'

  Chen Changsheng raised the brush and thought. Just what concise phrase should he write that was resolute and pitying, and proudly looked down upon the world, in order to recover some face from the other side?

  This was also the first letter he had written to her since the age of ten.

  Ultimately, however, he wrote a very normal letter, the words very normal and the matters discussed also quite normal.

  He didn't really want to get angry at a younger girl.

  Even if she was Xu Yourong, even if it was only by three days, she was still a younger girl.

  * * *

  Far away, to the south of the capital, was Holy Maiden Peak.

  The area below Holy Maiden Peak was forbidden ground. Only three hundred li away would one finally be able to find a village. Only ordinary people lived in this village. There was a blacksmith, a tavern, a butcher, and also a gambling den. The games played in this gambling den were usually Pai Gow[14] or dice, but deep within this gambling den was a very plainly decorated room, and in this room was a table.

  At this table, mahjong was played.[15]