Chapter 39: From Hundred Herbs Garden to the National Academy
Luo Luo returned to Hundred Herbs Garden. Her clan members could tell she was in an exceptionally good mood today, because she came hopping all the way, her light footsteps as if treading on clouds, because she hummed a little tune, her crisp voice like an oriole's, because her brows seemed ready to take flight.
Grand Secretary Jin and Lady Li exchanged a glance and quickly followed after her. They naturally knew the reason for Her Highness's good mood, but since they couldn't see what had happened in the library, they couldn't help feeling puzzled. Was successfully taking a master really worth this much joy? What was so good about that youth from the National Academy?
Luo Luo washed up briefly, changed into a fresh and simple dress, took two sips of the cooled Golden Brow tea handed to her by a maid, then walked back to the front hall. Looking at the two of them, she said, "If you have questions, ask quickly. I need to sleep early tonight and get up early tomorrow for my studies. I can't afford to delay."
Grand Secretary Jin thought to himself, since when has Your Highness been so diligent in her studies? Of course, he couldn't voice such thoughts. He said with a flattering smile, "Arriving a little late shouldn't be a big deal. Surely that youth wouldn't dare do anything to Your Highness?"
"He is my master. Don't call him 'that youth' anymore. From now on... address him as Master Chen."
Thinking about the serious demeanor her master had when reading and cultivating, and his almost miserly cherishing of time, Luo Luo looked at the two of them pitifully and said, "If I'm late for morning lessons, Master will really get angry. I don't want to get the teaching rod on my very first day."
Grand Secretary Jin was momentarily stunned, hardly believing his ears. Could that youth actually dare to use a rod on their princess! If the people along the eight-hundred-li Red River knew about this, they'd probably tear down the capital city itself!
He was about to give Chen Changsheng a stern lecture when he suddenly felt Lady Li tugging almost imperceptibly at his sleeve. Only then did he notice that the young princess showed no displeasure whatsoever. Her pitiful expression was mostly put on, and beneath it lay undisguised joy!
Grand Secretary Jin's expression grew dazed. He couldn't understand what had been happening these past few days. He simply couldn't figure out what abilities that youth named Chen Changsheng—well, Master Chen—possessed besides courage and kindness, that could make the young princess admire him so much!
"Master is no ordinary person."
Luo Luo naturally knew what her clan members were thinking. Looking at Grand Secretary Jin's bewildered expression and Lady Li's worried face, she spoke calmly.
Grand Secretary Jin found it hard to speak, but Lady Li, who was closer to her, couldn't help muttering, "He hasn't even succeeded in marrow cleansing... that couldn't be more ordinary, could it?"
Luo Luo said, "Do you think an ordinary person who can't even succeed in marrow cleansing could solve a problem my father couldn't?"
Grand Secretary Jin hesitated, then said, "Perhaps... it was luck?"
Thinking about the afternoon's experience, Luo Luo said proudly, "No. The one thing Master needs least is luck."
Lady Li asked in confusion, "Since... this Master Chen isn't an ordinary person, why did he enter the National Academy? What is he hiding?"
"Silently reading and cultivating, never showing his true colors, just a fish swimming unnoticed in a stream, waiting for the day when the storm comes, when that fish leaps over the dragon gate, becomes a true dragon, overlooks the entire continent, and his fame resounds between heaven and earth..."
Luo Luo's eyes grew brighter and brighter, her voice louder and louder. "Master's way of thinking is really cool!"
Grand Secretary Jin smiled bitterly, speechless. He thought, this is the real world, where do all these storybook plots come from? Her Highness seemed to have grown a lot, but she was still a child at heart.
The next morning at five o'clock, Luo Luo woke up right on time—of course, if it were her usual routine, the sleepy little girl would never have gotten up, but under her orders, the maids had been banging gongs and drums in the courtyard since quarter to five, so she couldn't help but wake up.
Wrapping herself in her clothes and rubbing her eyes, she pushed open the door and muttered irritably, "So noisy!"
The maids, barely suppressing their fear and anxiety as they beat the gongs and drums, their faces pale, heard the princess's anger and fell to their knees in terror, repeatedly begging forgiveness.
"I was just saying."
Luo Luo yawned and gestured for them to rise. "You did nothing wrong. You've done well. Go to Mama Li later to collect your reward money... according to the rules set last night. If you can wake me before five, you get a reward. If I don't wake up, you lose this month's wages!"
The maids exchanged glances, confirming that the princess truly wasn't angry, before rising with lingering fear. They quickly brought various items to help the princess wash and dress, while another brought over a dozen dresses, asking which one Her Highness would wear.
Luo Luo picked the most plain and simple dress, casually ate a bowl of green rice porridge and a smoked meat sandwich, then lifted the lid of the lunchbox already prepared on the table. She inspected it carefully, nodded in satisfaction, picked it up, and walked toward the courtyard wall.
Pushing open the new wooden door, she went from Hundred Herbs Garden into the National Academy.
There was no wooden bucket on the other side of the wall, and naturally no bathing youth. Yesterday's experience had left too deep an impression on Chen Changsheng. After dinner, the first thing he did was move the bucket into the small building, and he also remembered to put a lock on the building and hang a curtain over the bathroom window.
The National Academy was quietly changing.
Because it no longer housed only Chen Changsheng.
The National Academy now had two students.
...
...
Reading, then cultivating.
This was still the main theme of the National Academy.
Aside from not being able to bathe in the open and being able to sing freely while using the toilet... Chen Changsheng felt the biggest change in his life now was the great improvement in his diet. Starting from the day after Luo Luo became his disciple, he began eating the breakfast, lunch, and dinner she brought from Hundred Herbs Garden.
He was very satisfied with the meals from Hundred Herbs Garden. Whether it was the variety of dishes, the combination of fruits, vegetables, grains, and meats, the nutritional balance, or the flavor, he felt it exceeded his best expectations—at the old temple in Xining Town, his senior brother did the cooking. The nutrition was fine, but the taste was really just average.
He was very satisfied with the food, and even more satisfied with Luo Luo's behavior. Essentially, the food and the care behind it were her expression, her sincerity.
Luo Luo was very close to him, wanting to stay by his side every moment. If he wasn't careful, the little girl would grab his arm, burrow into his chest, and keep sniffing him like an adorable kitten. And if he hadn't firmly objected, she wouldn't even have gone back to Hundred Herbs Garden to sleep.
Chen Changsheng was only a fourteen-year-old youth. He wasn't quite used to the respect and dependence Luo Luo showed him. Although he still mistakenly thought she was only about ten years old, being this close to a girl was inevitably awkward. But the feeling was really good, good enough that he was willing to endure it.
However, his cultivation still hadn't made any breakthrough. Many days had passed. He had been using starlight to cleanse his marrow continuously, but his body showed no change. Even someone as strong-willed as he was beginning to doubt himself. At the very least, he felt his luck wasn't very good.
He didn't know that Luo Luo had once told her clan that he was the one who needed luck the least.
Luo Luo's luck, on the other hand, was excellent. If there was such a thing as fortune, her fortune was unstoppable, irresistible!
From the night she met Chen Changsheng, to becoming his disciple, to now—only a few dozen days had passed. Late spring hadn't even ended yet, and Chen Changsheng had already found three true essence circulation paths for her. As for the Bell Mountain Wind and Rain Sword Technique, she had mastered seventeen forms!
Just as the summer heat arrived, the preliminary exams for the Grand Examination also ended.
The streets and alleys of the capital were bustling with activity. Countless scholars from all over the continent were either overjoyed or grief-stricken, celebrating with drink or drowning their sorrows. Every tavern was packed to capacity, and before nightfall, the famous pleasure houses had already hung up their colored lanterns.
Chen Changsheng had been feeling down lately because of his cultivation problems. He knew that keeping the bowstring taut all the time wasn't good, and he needed to relax his mind. So he finally stepped out of the National Academy, taking a precious half-day to see some sights. The funny—or rather, speechless—thing was, he didn't go to the Detached Palace to see the ivy, nor to the Bridge of Helplessness to count stones. Instead... he took Luo Luo to the entrance of Hundred Flowers Lane, sat under the eaves by the well, and stared blankly at the street.
Luo Luo had always followed his every word. Whatever decision he made, she never complained. She believed everything he did was right, and even if it seemed a bit absurd, there must be some deeper meaning she couldn't yet grasp. But today, she finally got unhappy.
"Master..."
She sat on the stone steps, looking at the moss around the well, pouting as she idly kicked a small green leaf in front of her. She wanted to complain but held back. She always felt that since they rarely went out, they should at least go a bit farther, right? Going shopping with Master—just thinking about it seemed fun.
"What's wrong?"
Chen Changsheng held two popsicles and said, "Don't want one? If I eat both by myself, I'll get a stomachache."
Luo Luo thought, Master still cares about me, and cheered up. She took the popsicle from his hand and sat side by side with him, staring blankly at the sea of people on the street.
Licking her popsicle, she asked, "Why is it so lively today?"
With a crunch, Chen Changsheng bit off a small piece of his popsicle and said vaguely, "When I was buying the popsicles, I heard someone say the preliminary exams for the Grand Examination are over."
Luo Luo's eyes widened. "Ah!"
Chen Changsheng turned to look at her and asked, "What's wrong? Is it too cold?"
She looked at him, a bit uncertain, and said, "I feel like we've forgotten something."
Chen Changsheng began to think seriously, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter, then suddenly relaxing at some point.
"I remember now. We're supposed to represent the National Academy at the Ivy Banquet."
Yes, the preliminary exams for the Grand Examination were over. Summer had arrived.
The Ivy Banquet was about to be held.
Luo Luo asked, "Are we going?"
Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and said, "Might as well go."
Luo Luo asked, "But it seems no one came to notify us."
Chen Changsheng said, "If the Education Hub forgot, then we can just not go."
Luo Luo took a delicious lick of her popsicle and said, "Mm, whatever Master says."