Chapter 17: New Student of the National Teaching Academy (Part 1)
Chen Changsheng valued time greatly.
Discovering that the other party in his marriage contract was a phoenix, enduring repeated humiliation and oppression from powerful figures, and even having the imperial palace appear... if he were an ordinary youth, he would likely have been suffocated by depression or even on the verge of a mental breakdown. But he had no time for lamenting over spring's end or autumn's sorrow, no time for anger. What he lacked most was time.
Thus, once he set his sights on a goal, he would charge straight ahead without hesitation, without wavering, without needing to shout. Silent and persistent, he seized every moment.
Now, his goal was to take first place in next year's Grand Examination.
For someone who had not yet succeeded in marrow cleansing, this goal was far too distant. Yesterday, after he came out of the inn, even the most narcissistic and proud Tang Thirty-Six was utterly speechless. But Chen Changsheng did not waver in the slightest. Instead, because this goal was so distant, he treasured every tick of the clock, every grain of sand in the hourglass, and the faintest shadow marks left by the stone pillar on the ground all the more.
So what if the National Teaching Academy was dilapidated? So what if the buildings were overgrown with ivy and on the verge of collapse? He paid no attention; he had no time to pay attention. He walked steadily and resolutely on his own path, leaving the lakeside, striding spiritedly into the depths of the academy, ready to find someone and immediately begin his studies...
Half an hour later, he stood alone in the central courtyard, surrounded by wild grass, faint insect chirps in the air. Solitary and isolated, he looked around in bewilderment.
He couldn't find anyone—not a single person. Earlier, he had thought that no matter how desolate and run-down the National Teaching Academy was, there would at least be some remaining teachers or an old gatekeeper. Who would have thought that he had searched through all seventy-four buildings, finding no trace of anyone, not even any sign that someone had been there recently.
Behind the central courtyard of the National Teaching Academy stood what was once the majestic main teaching building, now a gloomy ruin. Everything above the second floor had collapsed. The once grand stone lion fountain was now only half a body, with several green plants sprouting from its broken remains, their branches bearing purple flowers—beautiful and sorrowful.
It was clearly not the work of wind and rain, nor was it related to time. It seemed that more than a decade ago, or even earlier, a fierce battle had taken place here, and the main teaching building had been caught in the aftermath, reduced to such a pitiful state. Chen Changsheng silently pondered this, shook his head, and walked toward the building on the right, which was still relatively intact.
That building was a mix of stone and wood, several zhang high. The stone walls were covered in ivy and moss, the paint on the beams, pillars, doors, and windows peeling off, giving it a very shabby appearance. Above the main door hung a plaque. He stared at it for a long time before recognizing two of the characters, confirming that this building was likely related to book storage.
He walked to the window and looked inside. The light was dim, but he could still make out rows upon rows of bookshelves densely packed with many books. He was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected that after so many years of decline, the National Teaching Academy would still have so many books. Had the Teaching Hall not taken them away? Did the imperial court not care?
Books were the first things he had encountered in this world, and also the things he was most familiar with—like a common person's memory of milk, an innate closeness that could provide infinite spiritual comfort. Now, seeing so many books through the window, for no particular reason, his somewhat low spirits lifted slightly.
He walked to the main door and was about to push it open when he noticed a copper lock hanging on it. The surface of the copper lock was dull and lusterless, with faint green patina visible where it touched the door. It was extremely old, as if it hadn't been opened in who knows how long. More importantly, a very powerful aura faintly emanated from within the copper lock.
He sensed that a strong formation was likely hidden inside the copper lock.
—No wonder the National Teaching Academy had been abandoned for so many years, yet the books could still be preserved so intact, not stolen by those refined thieves or drunkards who lacked money for wine. Thinking this, his mood improved even more, but he didn't know how to open the lock, because he had no key, nor did he know if a key still existed. If there was a key, where was it? Who had it?
He didn't even know whom to ask, because there was no one in this academy.
Not worried that anyone would steal the books inside, and since he couldn't get in for now, he wasn't in a hurry. He walked toward the dormitory buildings he had passed while searching earlier. The dormitories of the National Teaching Academy consisted of dozens of buildings, covering a considerable area, with green trees and vines everywhere. In the past, the environment must have been serene and secluded, but now it looked rather gloomy.
He randomly chose a building and pushed the door open. A musty smell hit him. He looked at the dust in the room, the cobwebs in the beam corners, and the broken windows, confirming that it would be very difficult to clean and couldn't be tidied up anytime soon. He shook his head and left, thinking that moving here from the inn might have to wait for a while.
Standing by the stone path outside the building, looking at the dense forest that blocked the sky, the wild grass in the woods, the stone benches barely visible beneath the overgrown grass, listening to the insects chirping with abandon, feeling the breath of time in the gloom, and the truths already buried by time, Chen Changsheng slowly closed his eyes.
Decades ago, countless talented young boys and girls walked side by side on this stone path, or sat side by side on the stone benches. Sword lights occasionally flashed through the forest, and the sound of reciting Daoist scriptures filled the air. Laughter would occasionally come from the building behind him. The distant bell from the imperial palace rang, and the students clattered their bowls as they ran joyfully.
He opened his eyes. Those images were gone. Only the cold, lonely forest and the dilapidated buildings remained.
The National Teaching Academy was located in the very center of the capital, right next to the imperial palace, yet it had been forgotten by the entire world.
The former glory and beauty were no more. The laughter and joy had vanished to who knows where. Only he stood here, alone.
He suddenly felt a bit sad, though it was only for a very brief moment before he drove it from his heart.
He suddenly felt that this place wasn't bad—if only those images could be restored.
...
...
Being able to see the lively scenes of the National Teaching Academy from decades ago, to see those talented young boys and girls with astonishing cultivation aptitude, to see those past images—this was not because Chen Changsheng had some special ability, nor because he was good at imagining things, but because he had read relevant books.
After pulling down the ivy from the stone wall outside the academy gate, seeing the four characters "National Teaching Academy," many related records from the Daoist scriptures gradually surfaced in his mind, turning into concrete words, transforming into images, deeply imprinted, extremely vivid and clear. He realized that he actually knew a lot about this academy's history and affairs.
This wasn't too hard to understand. He could remember the most inconspicuous footnotes in the recruitment rules of the Heavenly Dao Academy, and he could remember the extremely tedious military discipline of the Star Picking Academy. Naturally, he should remember even more about the historical heritage of the National Teaching Academy and related matters. The three thousand volumes of Daoist scriptures contained too many things.
Now, the National Teaching Academy might only have him as a student, and as that Granny Ning had said, not even a single teacher. But since he had begun studying at the National Teaching Academy, he still had to do some things—like getting the key to the library, like applying for funds. He remembered very clearly that the Great Zhou court provided relevant educational subsidies to all academies. As long as the academy existed, the subsidies would be distributed annually. The Star Picking Academy received its funds from the military, while the National Teaching Academy's subsidies were handled by the Sacred Education Cardinal Office.
Coincidentally, the key and the roster of the National Teaching Academy should also be kept there.
Chen Changsheng left the National Teaching Academy. Following the directions on the map, it didn't take him long to reach the Sacred Education Cardinal Office—a very inconspicuous building. The stone steps at the main entrance had over thirty steps, and the stone pillars were very tall, but it was still very inconspicuous because dozens of redwoods were planted outside the building, hiding everything inside.
Even if the daylight were strong, it would be hard to illuminate everything inside.
The main entrance of the Cardinal Office was very quiet. After a long time, a black-robed priest would occasionally walk by. Chen Changsheng walked up the stone steps, feeling a bit strange, and also noticed that a certain area behind the building was very lively, with many people chatting there.
Entering the Cardinal Office, he found the relevant clerk and said, "I need to get the roster and the key."
"What roster and key?"
The clerk murmured, his eyes half-closed, his face full of frivolous, fleshy features—not showing contempt, but rather on the verge of falling asleep in the spring breeze, perhaps dreaming of some pleasant thing.
Chen Changsheng raised his voice and said, "The roster and key of the National Teaching Academy."
The clerk slowly opened his eyes, yawned, walked to the window to wash his face, and finally sobered up a bit. He returned to the desk, looked at Chen Changsheng with some annoyance, took a file from the drawer, and said as he pulled it open, "Say the name of your academy again."
This time, Chen Changsheng was very careful about his pronunciation, enunciating clearly: "National Teaching Academy."
That clerk didn't even think, feeling that the name was completely unfamiliar. He stopped pulling the file, looked up, frowned at Chen Changsheng, and said, "When did a new academy appear in the capital? Has it been registered? Have the required taxes been paid? Who approved it?"
"It's not a new academy. It's the National Teaching Academy."
National... Teaching... Academy.
The clerk frowned and thought for a moment, feeling that the name sounded vaguely familiar, but he couldn't recall it. In the past ten years, he had dealt with all the academies in the capital countless times, but he had never heard of any National Teaching Academy... Suddenly, he remembered.
His face instantly turned extremely gloomy, as if it were about to drip water.
Chen Changsheng didn't know what was happening.
The clerk said coldly, "Are you joking with me?"
Chen Changsheng was bewildered, thinking, are you the one joking?
The clerk suddenly stood up, slammed his hand heavily on the table, and roared, "Do you think this is a place for jokes!"
Chen Changsheng tried to say something.
The clerk shouted angrily, "Which academy's little brat are you! How dare you come here to mock the teacher!"
Chen Changsheng said innocently, "I really am a student of the National Teaching Academy."
The clerk stared at him as if he were an idiot and said, "Keep making up stories. Go on."