Chapter 9, did I do something wrong
The instructor stepped forward angrily, pointing at the exam paper that had been crumpled into a ball behind the desk, and said: "You have also seen that exam paper, and you should be very clear that in the past decade or so, there has never been such a perfect exam paper in the entrance examination for the academy. Whether it is the standard of answering questions or the analysis of battle cases, there are no flaws, not a single typo, and not even a slightly thicker stroke! Yes, that child may not be able to become a brave and powerful divine general like you, but he can definitely become the best staff officer!"
The setting sun is about to descend, casting a faint red glow upon the cold iron bars of the divine beast and the military discipline building, creating an atmosphere of mysterious charm. Chen Changsheng stands in the interplay of light and shadow, gazing at the still empty stone wall, his youthful face filled with a joyful smile and anticipation for the future
What we want, you are very clear about... If you agree, everything we have taken from you can return to your side, the Heavenly Path Academy, the Star Picking Academy, the Ancestral Worship Institute... You can choose freely; whatever you want to learn, you can choose freely; whichever teacher you wish to follow, you can choose freely; after you complete your studies, whether you want to join the military, enter the national religion, or serve in the court... everything is up to you to choose.
At five o'clock the next morning, Chen Changsheng woke up on time, just as he had every day for the past fourteen years. He washed up, got dressed, contemplated quietly, and then left the inn to continue his journey of learning.
Chen Changsheng looked at her and finally spoke the first sentence: "Senior brother wrote in his notes that intelligent people do not live happily, so one should be occasionally muddled in life"
Entering the imposing pavilion, gazing at the burning candle on the table, Chen Changsheng remained silent, his fists gradually tightening at his sides. His face was somewhat pale, uncertain whether it was due to fatigue, anger, or a combination of both. When he saw that his name was still absent from the stone wall, he felt a profound anger, far greater than the indignation he experienced yesterday when confronted with coldness and disdain at the Divine General's residence.
As a soldier of the Great Zhou, I must violate my own principles, and I am very sorry
I apologize
He needs an explanation
Why
I cannot tell you why this is the case, I apologize
However, he was unaware that what awaited him shortly was still the bitter disappointment.
The instructor was taken aback upon hearing this, and it took him a moment to regain his composure. In a slightly heavy voice, he said: "But... I need to give that child an explanation"
She has lived in Kyoto for over a hundred years, witnessing the young lady marry into the Xu family, observing the son-in-law fighting his way to an increasingly promising future. Having become accustomed to high-ranking officials in the court, powerful figures from beyond the world, and the intrigues and deceptions of life, she had never imagined that she would hear such words, such... seemingly naive yet profoundly difficult questions.
The middle-aged general said: "After all, he is just an ordinary boy who has not even succeeded in washing his marrow. Why do you value him so highly?"
The middle-aged woman said: "Of course, do not misunderstand... I was merely speaking of a possibility earlier. The Holy Empress is above, and the Divine General's Office has always adhered to the law and has never bullied anyone; it only wishes to help people, but it requires you to contribute something. The things you were originally prepared to offer, we can help you obtain a great deal in return"
Chen Changsheng has now finally confirmed that for the past two days, the Eastern Guardian General's Mansion has been sending people to follow him.
... ...
After the case, the middle-aged general said he wanted an explanation, and he was curious about what it would be.
The middle-aged woman approached him and said expressionlessly: "But we have still done so much, because we are very concerned that you, being too young, may not have a clear understanding of the situation. Therefore, we have seriously demonstrated our strength for you to see. You should now be very clear that as long as we do not agree, you will never have a chance to rise in the Great Zhou Dynasty."
Chen Changsheng remembered her; she was the first person he encountered in the Divine General's residence. He greeted her with a bow, then stood upright, remaining silent.
You are merely a child... you have no qualifications whatsoever to have the Divine General's Mansion do so much.
What was originally intended to be given is naturally that marriage certificate
In the evening, he walked out of the fourth academy and finally saw the carriage of the Divine General's Mansion for the first time. He noticed the somewhat faded yet strikingly clear blood phoenix emblem on the yoke, which was, of course, because the other party had deliberately parked the carriage in front of the academy gate for him to see.
The middle-aged general stood up, staring at him with a cold gaze akin to a fierce beast fixating on a small white rabbit, yet the words that came out were simply an apology.
Because he had high hopes for entering the Star Picking Academy, all those hopes turned into disappointment the moment he saw the list. The efforts he had put in now seemed like a joke. What could have caused all of this?
He visited two other colleges in the order listed. His encounters at Tiandao Academy and Zhaixing Academy naturally left him feeling frustrated and displeased, but he is the person who values time the most in the world. He is unwilling to waste time on pointless anger and regret, preferring instead to spend his time on things of value. This attitude sometimes gives the impression of being indomitable.
The middle-aged woman said, "You are a smart person and should be well aware of how to choose."
Chen Changsheng successfully entered the formal admission examination of the Star Picking Academy. This time, unlike the mockery or indifference he faced at the Heavenly Dao Academy, he was met with eager expectations and encouraging gazes filled with gentle persuasion. As a result, he felt very warm and determined, and his state could be described as excellent
... ...
My actions may damage the reputation of the Star Picking Academy, and I sincerely apologize
The various academies in Kyoto each have different emphases in their admissions. Tiandao Academy places a strong emphasis on the candidates' talents in national religious doctrines and practices, while Zhaixing Academy does not prioritize cultivation as much. The military of the Great Zhou believes that cultivation is something to be considered only after entering the academy; they are more concerned with the candidates' military qualities and discipline. Therefore, the number of exam questions for Zhaixing Academy is not as extensive as that of Tiandao Academy, but there are very strict requirements regarding the format of responses and even the method of writing names. The content of the exam questions is primarily focused on battlefield simulations and case analyses.
The officer from the Great Zhou who previously presided over the initial investigation of the grinding wheel, along with another stern-faced instructor, stood before the desk, questioning a middle-aged general behind the desk. The expression on his face was exceptionally grim, clearly on the verge of being unable to contain his inner anger.
Helping you obtain many things, yet those are things you could have acquired on your own
If one were to speak of Chen Changsheng's talents, the ability to recite countless books fluently since childhood would be his greatest gift. Just like during the Tiandao Academy examination, when he opened the test paper, the first question he saw was quite familiar. The phrase "the Great Dao encompasses all" is indeed not an exaggeration; the myriad subjects in the world are as numerous as the stars in the sand, naturally including those renowned military strategies and historical battle cases. The descriptions of the wars between humanity and the demon race are particularly detailed. He remembers these, and thus he will not answer incorrectly.
Chen Changsheng remained silent, not uttering a word
Chen Changsheng looked at the carriage, knowing that the answer was about to be revealed
Chen Changsheng suddenly felt that, compared to the bustling capital of Kyoto, the mountains and forests behind the old temple, filled with fierce beasts, were so beautiful
The middle-aged woman stepped down from the carriage
He is very aware that there are certainly people secretly targeting him, as for who it is... that answer is also very clear
With great success, Chen Changsheng finished the examination and, along with his fellow companions, arrived in front of the Military Discipline Building, waiting for the final results to be announced. Standing before the divine beast that symbolizes the strict military discipline of the Great Zhou army, he reflected on the content of the exam paper, confirming that he should have no problem gaining admission to the Star Picking Academy. Feeling more relaxed, he looked at the bitter-faced demon youth and kindly patted the other's shoulder on tiptoe to offer comfort—clearly, this gifted demon youth had little understanding of human military strategies and historical battles, resulting in a rather poor performance.
The middle-aged general paused for a moment before saying: "This is an order from the palace; I do not need to explain it to you"
You have talent and a bright future, but you are just a child, and I must temporarily halt your future. I apologize
... ...
... ...
Although he had already guessed the answer, the feeling of seeing the exam paper was ultimately somewhat different
After listening to these words, Chen Changsheng fell silent for a moment, then turned and left
The two instructors were momentarily taken aback. One of them pointed to the setting sun outside the building and said, "Although only the two of us have seen that exam paper, there are many colleagues who are paying attention to the candidate named Chen Changsheng. My attitude towards the *illustrated* book may not be good, but if my colleagues were to learn the outcome, they would raise the same questions."
... ...
Having gained experience from the previous two times, Chen Changsheng was no longer as disappointed, or rather, he had become numb to it
... ...
Yesterday's experience seemed to have no impact on him. He prepared diligently and approached the examination with caution, successfully passing the entrance exams of both institutions with the knowledge he had stored in his mind and his resilient will. Based on the content of the exam papers, he believed he should have been able to succeed, yet he unexpectedly failed to gain admission.
The middle-aged general, with an expressionless face and eyebrows like ink silkworms, exuded an imposing presence without anger. Listening to the furious inquiries of his subordinates, he slightly furrowed his brow and said, "Is this your attitude when questioning your superiors?"
The middle-aged woman smiled and said, "But you are indeed very obedient and clever, not telling anyone about the engagement... Otherwise, you would already be a dead person."
He looked at the middle-aged woman and suddenly spoke, "Madam, have I done something wrong?"
The middle-aged woman looked at him with a serious expression and said: "And if you do not agree, the experiences of the past two days will become a scene that repeats endlessly in your life"
A flicker of unusual color flashed in the middle-aged woman's eyes. She did not expect that, even in such circumstances, the young man could remain so calm, even remembering to bow to her. This kind of demeanor was indeed somewhat disconcerting and even unsettling, but she had to see this matter through to the end
But I hope you will soon know the reason, so I hope you can give me a chance to correct my mistake
Therefore, she is unable to answer.
The middle-aged woman was taken aback, momentarily at a loss for words
The middle-aged general raised his head, glanced at him, and said: "Then let him come over, I will explain it to him"