Chapter 35: Lecher? Trash?
When Chen Changsheng returned to the National Teaching Academy, he reeked of alcohol, his drunkenness evident. His eyes were half-closed, and he could barely walk steadily. As for the matter of the Ivy Banquet, it had long been cast to the back of his mind, impossible to recall.
There was no light in the library. He wasn't there, so the academy was naturally as desolate as ever. He walked to the lakeside, surrounded by silence and solitude. Only the stars sank and floated in the clear water. The reflections of the trees on the opposite shore were unclear in the night. The deep spring breeze brushed his face, refreshing.
He stood on a stone by the lake, raised his head to gaze at the stars in the night sky for a long time, then looked at the stars in the lake water for an equally long time. Then, he closed his eyes and stood in silence for a long while. Suddenly, he shouted a few words that sounded like curses at the lake water.
He had always given the impression of being calm and silent, possessing a maturity beyond his years. Such emotional outbursts were extremely rare. Taking advantage of his drunkenness tonight, he let loose, only to find it somewhat tiring. He simply sat down on the grassy shore, fell backward, and began to stare blankly.
The library was pitch black. He didn't go there to read, nor did he go to practice marrow cleansing under the starlight. He just lay on the grass, staring blankly—pure, mindless staring, without thinking. In all these years, especially after that night when he was ten, this was the first time he had indulged himself like this, the first time he had wasted time.
He didn't know how long had passed when he opened his eyes and found himself still lying on the grass. The blades of grass beneath his hands were covered with slightly cold dew, and his cheeks were also a bit damp. In the distant sky, the faint light of dawn was spilling down. It should be around five o'clock—even after getting drunk and wanting to let loose, he still woke up so punctually. Those rigorous, even somewhat rigid, routines and methods of handling things had been ingrained into his bones, becoming a kind of instinct. This made him feel quite helpless.
Habits were powerful things, impossible to wash away even with marrow cleansing. Chen Changsheng returned to the small building, earnestly wiping his face with a wet towel by the water bucket, thinking about these random things. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the tightly shut new door on the old wall, and for some reason, a glimmer of anticipation arose within him.
Heaven never grants every wish, but today it did. With a creak, the wooden door was pushed open. The little girl, like stepping across stones in a stream, hopped over the threshold and then bounced her way to his front. Her pair of jet-black ponytails swung adorably.
Luoluo looked at him happily and said, "See, Teacher? Isn't it convenient?"
The little girl smiled joyfully, but in truth, she was very nervous. She was afraid that Chen Changsheng would run away again like yesterday.
Chen Changsheng didn't run. Perhaps it was because he wasn't soaking naked in the wooden bucket today, or because he was still hungover from last night's drinking, or because he had given up resisting under the little girl's persistent pestering, or maybe, in truth, he was also quite happy to see this little girl.
Leaving the National Teaching Academy, he bought two bowls of wonton soup. He handed the bowl without chili to the little girl and then walked toward the library. The little girl, holding her bowl of wonton, followed behind him in quick, short steps, filled with surprise and delight.
After finishing breakfast, Chen Changsheng began to read. He skillfully found his target on the shelves, sat down on the floor, and read in silent concentration, comparing the more original textual materials with the three thousand Daoist scriptures he had seen in the old temple in Xining Town. He called this method comparative study.
Reading was a very boring thing, and watching someone else read was even more tedious. Chen Changsheng read quietly and naturally didn't speak. Luoluo was very interested at first, huddling close to read with him. After a while, she found that she couldn't understand many of the books and began to feel bored. She thought that waking up early really wasn't a good thing. Drowsiness, like the ants under the tree, surged forward relentlessly, wave after wave, making her feel her head growing heavier and heavier...
He didn't know how long had passed when Chen Changsheng woke from the selfless state of deep reading and meditation. He felt his right arm was heavy and numb, which immediately reminded him of the scene when he woke from meditative marrow cleansing last night. Turning his head, he saw that the little girl was indeed holding his arm and sleeping again.
Her hands weren't actually wrapped around his right arm; she was just lightly grasping his sleeve. She wasn't leaning on his shoulder either—because of her small stature, she was actually leaning against his upper arm. This posture wasn't very comfortable, but she was sleeping soundly, even sweetly.
Chen Changsheng looked at the little girl's completely relaxed brows and eyes, at the childishness revealed in her relaxation, and smiled.
Being able to sleep so soundly and sweetly was naturally because she was very relaxed. The reason she was so relaxed was that she trusted him completely. Being fully trusted by someone felt very good, especially for him, who had been walking silently alone in the capital.
Suddenly, a shadow fell across the little girl's face.
Most people don't like light when they sleep, preferring darkness, but this little girl was clearly different. The shadow made her frown, and her nose wrinkled slightly. She let out a couple of dissatisfied grunts, as if she might wake up at any moment.
Chen Changsheng liked watching this little girl sleep. Being disturbed, he naturally wasn't too happy. He looked toward the library entrance and subconsciously raised an eyebrow.
Standing at the library entrance was Shuang'er. For some reason, her face was covered in frost, and her gaze was extremely cold.
...
...
Shuang'er was in a very bad mood today because the white crane had returned from the distant south once again, bringing another letter from her young lady.
Her young lady wasn't some fool brainwashed by idiotic books on female virtue and conduct. The Great Zhou Dynasty had never had those ridiculous requirements for women from the south. She knew this very well, so she couldn't understand why her young lady would care about that shameless youth.
Although there was a marriage contract, it would eventually be torn up one day. Why did her young lady have to care about that guy? Well, in the letter, her young lady only said she wanted to know about that youth's recent situation. That could be considered caring... but why did she need to know?
Shuang'er actually knew very well that her young lady just didn't want that youth to become dust in the rivers of the capital because of the marriage contract, which was why she asked her to inquire. She obediently made inquiries and learned that Chen Changsheng had become the only student of the National Teaching Academy in years. And judging by the attitude of the master and mistress, although that youth had no future prospects, at least his life was safe. Following her young lady's instructions in the letter, she came to the National Teaching Academy today to ask if he needed any help, like money or supplies. But she never expected that when she walked into the library, she would see such a scene!
Who was that little girl? Why was she embracing that guy? Was this reading? Although the National Teaching Academy was run-down, it was still a place of education! This guy was actually cuddling with that little girl in the library! What kind of behavior was this!
Seeing this scene, Shuang'er was furious—You have a marriage contract with my young lady! Although this contract would definitely be voided, it hasn't been annulled yet! Your identity is still my young lady's fiancé! Otherwise, why would my young lady, thousands of miles away, still care about your safety and ask a big shot in the palace to protect your worthless life? My young lady may not like you, but she still looks out for you, yet you're fooling around with another little girl! What a pair of adulterers!
Shuang'er wanted to say those four words, but looking at the little girl's innocent and beautiful appearance, she couldn't bear it. She could only glare at Chen Changsheng and shout hatefully, "Lecher!"
After saying these two words, she had no mood left to care about Chen Changsheng's recent situation. Flicking her sleeve, she turned and left in indignation.
The National Teaching Academy was quiet and deserted. The lakeside grass was a pleasant green, but little Shuang'er was in a gloomy mood, growing more unhappy with each step.
Returning to the Eastern Imperial Divine General's Mansion, she began to write a letter to her young lady, describing in detail what she had learned... especially the scene she had seen today. Although she didn't embellish it and only wrote what she saw and heard, the disdain between the lines was impossible to hide.
The white crane left the capital, flying toward the distant Holy Maiden Peak in the south.
At dusk, the setting sun illuminated the exotic flowers and strange plants on the cliff. The white crane landed on the cliff's edge. The young girl reached out, untied the envelope, glanced at it briefly, and was silent for a long time.
The white crane brought the brush again, dipped it in just the right amount of ink, and placed it perfectly into her hand.
The young girl held the ink brush, looking at the snow-white paper. She was silent for a long time. Suddenly, she sighed, scratched her head with the tip of the brush, looked at the white crane, and said in distress, "I really don't know what to write. Based on what you described before... that little Daoist shouldn't be that kind of person."
The white crane couldn't speak, so it naturally couldn't help her answer. It gently touched her wrist with its neck, signaling her to hurry up and write.
...
...
Lecher? Chen Changsheng heard those two words Shuang'er said before she turned and left. He knew she must have misunderstood something, but he didn't care, nor would he chase after her to the library to explain. The marriage contract with the Divine General's Mansion hadn't been torn up yet, but after all the shameless things the mansion had done, he thought they didn't even have the right to misunderstand him, let alone the right to be angry. But... for some reason, he actually felt a bit angry himself.
Luoluo woke up, rubbed her eyes, smelled the lingering scent of powder in the air, and asked curiously, "Teacher, who came just now?"
Chen Changsheng said, "A maid from the Eastern Imperial Divine General's Mansion."
Hearing the words "Eastern Imperial Divine General's Mansion," Luoluo's expression changed slightly. Just as she was about to say something, she stopped and looked toward the library entrance.
Two men arrived outside the library.
One of them walked into the library with his hands behind his back, entering uninvited, looking extremely arrogant.
He was wearing the distinctive attire of a Heavenly Academy instructor.
Chen Changsheng noticed that this man's expression was extremely cold, and the way he looked at him was very unfriendly.
"Absurd!"
That Heavenly Academy instructor glanced at Chen Changsheng, then turned away, as if looking at him twice would dirty his eyes, showing extreme contempt.
He looked at the man beside him and scolded sternly, "The National Teaching Academy is already defunct. What right does it have to still be listed among the Six Ivied Academies? And as for this person... a piece of trash who couldn't even succeed in marrow cleansing, what right does he have to attend the Ivy Banquet!"