Chapter 184: Bow Your Head, So the Crown May Rest
Under the gaze of the crowd, the youth walked forward in silence. His posture seemed somewhat restrained, but he controlled it well, not appearing overly nervous. His steps were steady, and the academy uniform of the National Academy swayed gently in the wind. It was not particularly dazzling, but it was clean—much like the impression he gave people.
"Is this Chen Changsheng?"
In the square before the Daming Palace, many murmurs and questions arose from the crowd.
Chen Changsheng had long been a famous figure in the capital. Many had heard his name, knew of his origins, and were aware of that marriage contract. Yet today was the first time many had actually seen him.
It was only now that many citizens of the capital formed a true impression of him. They realized he was not a graceful, elegant gentleman like Tang Thirty-Six, nor was he a handsome youth. But he gave off a sense of approachability.
Chen Changsheng ascended the stone steps, arrived before the hall, and turned to face the sea of people in the square.
Beside him stood a dark wooden table, upon which rested a crown of thorns. Sunlight leaked from the edges of the clouds, falling upon the crown and scattering faint rays of light.
The crown of thorns contained neither gold nor jade. It seemed unremarkable, but it represented the hardships and glory of the path of cultivation. In the traditions of the State Religion, it held profound significance, symbolizing the top rank in the Grand Examination.
Gradually, the area before the Daming Palace grew quiet. The people waited for that moment.
The examinees, court officials, and bishops standing before the hall looked at Chen Changsheng's back as he stood at the forefront. Their emotions varied—some were gratified, some calm, some envious, some indifferent. But regardless of their feelings, at this moment, they could only wait for Chen Changsheng to receive this heavy honor.
Unexpectedly, the Grand Chancellor, who was responsible for awarding the top three in the Grand Examination, had somehow retreated into the crowd and was no longer before the hall. So who would present the award?
Just then, the sunlight that had fallen upon the crown of thorns suddenly scattered, turning into countless strands of light that coalesced before the hall into a single mass of radiance—a holy, white orb of light.
Gasps of surprise rang out before the Daming Palace.
The holy light gradually faded, and a tall figure slowly emerged.
It was an old man clad in a sacred robe, wearing a divine crown and holding a staff.
Sacred music played in unison, and a solemn, majestic aura enveloped the entire scene.
Gasps continued, then quickly subsided into silence.
Countless people bowed and paid their respects to the old man. The crowd in the square surged like waves, all lowering their heads.
"Greetings to His Holiness the Pope."
The Pope, who had rarely appeared before the world in recent years, had come in person. This was something no one had anticipated, leaving them all stunned and speechless. Why was this?
Wasn't Chen Changsheng a student of the National Academy? Hadn't the Pope himself destroyed the National Academy back then? Wasn't the State Religion currently in a tense standoff between the old and new factions?
Appearing before the Daming Palace, besides the Pope, was another old man—the Chief Bishop of the Pontifical Council, Melisande. He calmly took the staff handed to him by the Pope and stepped aside.
The Pope lifted the crown of thorns from the dark wooden table with both hands and walked over to Chen Changsheng.
At this moment, Chen Changsheng was utterly bewildered, unsure of what he should do. Instinctively, he glanced at the Chief Bishop beside him, who smiled and nodded.
The Pope looked at Chen Changsheng and said with a smile, "If you refuse to bow your head, who can place the laurel upon you?"
This remark seemed merely to describe the current situation, yet it also carried profound meaning. But Chen Changsheng had no time to ponder such things. He quickly bent his knees slightly and lowered his head.
The Pope placed the crown of thorns upon his head, carefully adjusting its position until he was satisfied. "I've always thought this branch wasn't very attractive," he said. "I don't know what people in the past were thinking. But on your head, it looks quite spirited. Not bad."
Chen Changsheng was still in a state of shock, unable to grasp the hidden meaning behind the Pope's words. But at least he heard the Pope's praise.
Not bad? How many young people had ever received such a compliment from the Pope? He only knew that Mo Yu and Prince Chen Liu had once earned such praise. Now it was his turn?
"Rise," the Pope said.
Chen Changsheng obeyed and stood up. Instinctively, he raised his hand to touch the crown of thorns on his head. The sharp, prickly sensation confirmed that this was real, and only then did he calm down slightly.
Seeing his actions, the Pope chuckled.
It was then that Chen Changsheng finally got a clear look at the Pope's face.
The Pope was an old man with a weathered face.
That face was ordinary, but its most distinctive feature was his deeply set eyes—like an abyss, yet not frightening, because within them lay blue seas and skies, bathed in sunlight.
The ocean in the Pope's eyes, under the sunlight, was calm as a mirror, boundless and azure, its depth and breadth unknowable. If the sunlight faded and a storm suddenly arose, there would naturally be raging waves and thunderous fury. But now, there was only sunlight, no wind or rain, so only kindness, tolerance, and peace remained.
Chen Changsheng had never seen such a gaze before. In an instant, he felt his body grow warm, and instinctively, he wanted to leap into that warm sea—to swim or to rest.
He didn't know how long passed before he snapped out of it.
When he came to, the prickly sensation of the crown of thorns through his fingers told him that only a very brief moment had passed. He hadn't even lowered his hand yet.
Such a solemn, sacred, and vast spiritual world was truly awe-inspiring and worthy of reverence.
Only then did Chen Changsheng truly awaken. He realized that the old man standing before him was the pinnacle of existence in the human world, having entered the realm of the divine—a true saint.
He didn't know how to react. Suddenly, he recalled those autumn rains at the Washing Dust Pavilion. Though he didn't know exactly why the Pope had helped him, he had accepted that help nonetheless.
"Thank you," Chen Changsheng said, bowing respectfully to the Pope.
The Pope looked at him with tender affection, reached out, and gently patted his head. "Poor child... good child... come see me in a few days."
With that, he gestured for Chen Changsheng to turn around.
Confused, Chen Changsheng obeyed, turning to face the thousands upon thousands of people before the Daming Palace.
The Pope grasped his right hand and slowly raised it toward the sky.
The scene fell silent, then erupted into thunderous cheers, as if they might tear open the heavens.
The Pope departed, and the Chief Bishop followed.
The court officials and red-robed bishops before the hall gathered around Chen Changsheng, looking at him with affection, offering congratulations and reminders. Some said that if the National Academy had any problems, he should come to them directly, as if they were his elders. Even Grand Chancellor Yuwen Jing came over and spoke three sentences to him.
The day before, the National Academy had received many name cards and gift lists because these great figures had learned of certain details from the Grand Examination—like those autumn rains. They couldn't see the full picture, but they wanted to make some preparations in advance. And now, with the Pope appearing in person and showing such closeness to Chen Changsheng, how could they not understand? At the very least, they had to show goodwill on the surface.
The other examinees naturally didn't receive such treatment. Watching from outside as Chen Changsheng was surrounded by these great figures, some wore expressions of envy, while others felt sympathy. Tang Thirty-Six said to Guan Feibai, "If being the top rank means you have to go through this, I'd rather not take it."
"I'd rather not either," Guan Feibai said, then suddenly came to his senses. "But wait, are we that close? Besides, do you even have what it takes to be the top rank?"
"The exams are over. Do you have to be so hostile? Don't you think we should sympathize with that poor guy Chen Changsheng right now?"
Tang Thirty-Six said this, but he made no move to rescue Chen Changsheng. Those were truly great figures—only his grandfather would be on their level. His own status was far beneath them.
Chen Changsheng was ill at ease in such a setting, especially uncomfortable with the incense fragrances these great figures wore. But he maintained his composure well and was impeccable in his etiquette.
Just then, the scene before the hall suddenly fell silent. The people surrounding him parted, clearing a path. Xu Shiji walked over from outside the crowd.
Xu Shiji was the Eastern Imperial General, deeply trusted by Her Holiness the Empress. With a good daughter to his name, his position at court was always exceptional. But the court officials and bishops made way for him not because of these reasons, but because they knew of the complicated relationship between him and Chen Changsheng.
These great figures had spoken to Chen Changsheng like elders earlier, but if anyone could truly be considered his elder in the capital, it was only Xu Shiji and his wife. Most importantly, the matter of that marriage contract had caused such a stir that people were eager to see what Xu Shiji would say when meeting Chen Changsheng. Many were already prepared to see Xu Shiji become a laughingstock.
The area before the hall grew quiet.
Xu Shiji walked slowly from the crowd and stopped before Chen Changsheng. His expression was indifferent, looking down at him.
Chen Changsheng bowed but said nothing.
"Your performance in the Grand Examination... not bad," Xu Shiji said, looking into his eyes. His tone was clearly that of an elder, but to those listening, it sounded somewhat stiff.
Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and didn't respond.
Xu Shiji's brow slightly furrowed. Suddenly, he said, "Come to the house for dinner tonight."
Hearing this, the crowd erupted in murmurs.
No one said anything, but many couldn't help but grumble inwardly, especially the old-school ministers, who silently cursed this man's face for being thicker than the palace walls. How could he be so shameless?
To everyone's surprise, Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and then said, "Alright."
Xu Shiji stared into his eyes, confirming that he truly understood the invitation and had agreed. His expression softened slightly. Without another word, he nodded to Chen Changsheng and turned to leave.
After the Grand Examination results were posted, the customary parade began.
Led by Chen Changsheng, the examinees boarded specially made carriages. Surrounded by the populace, they traveled along the official road beside the Luo River in the capital city, making a full circuit that would take at least two hours.
The entire capital was immersed in a festive atmosphere.
Flowers and fruits were constantly thrown onto the carriages by the people. The carriages carrying Chen Changsheng, Gou Hanshi, Guan Feibai, and Tang Thirty-Six received the most flowers and fruits. If the court hadn't been experienced enough to dispatch many soldiers to continuously remove them, these four might have been buried alive by the offerings.
When they reached the southwest corner of the imperial city, Chen Changsheng felt a bit thirsty. Without thinking much, he grabbed a melon from beside him and took a bite. It was sweet, crisp, and refreshing. But he didn't expect that this simple action would trigger a rain of melons, forcing him to cover his head in speechless frustration.
Through the rain of melons, his gaze fell upon the palace, where he saw the Lingyan Pavilion and also the Sweet Dew Terrace. He thought he spotted a small black dot near the Sweet Dew Terrace, which he believed to be the black sheep.
He waved in that direction.
Then, amid the crowd, he saw Shuang'er, her expression complicated. Remembering that dinner tonight, his waving hand grew heavy.
His throat hurt terribly. He hoped he could still speak in the next day or two... Hmm, I wish everyone a happy holiday. This is considered quite early, isn't it?