Way of Choices: Book I - Youths We Were, Schoolmates

by Mao Ni

  This smell was not bitter, spicy, sour, or sweet, but a feeling that was very difficult to clearly state. The tone Xu Shiji was speaking with at this moment was also a sort of smell.

  Calm and so indifferent and disaffected—an arrogance that was not deliberate, but came naturally. Moreover, he seemed very much like an elder.

  Chen Changsheng greatly disliked these things. If those matters involving the engagement did not exist; if there had not been those humiliations and suppressions; if this man really did act like he was his elder; then it would be fine, but the problem was that all of those 'ifs' were false.

  Xu Shiji fell silent for a few moments, perhaps because Chen Changsheng's silence had caught him somewhat by surprise or because he needed to think about these matters. The night wind rustled the dusky light of the lanterns as he asked, "Who is she?"

  Yes, this was the matter that he was truly focused on. Of course, the reason for his concern had nothing to do with the marriage contract on Chen Changsheng's person. He did not care about any sort of interaction Chen Changsheng had with the opposite sex because he had never truly regarded Chen Changsheng as his daughter's fiancé.

  From the moment Luoluo stepped on the stone platform of the Ivy Festival, the subordinates of the Divine General of the East's estate began to secretly investigate her origins. However, even after the Ivy Festival concluded and Xu Shiji seated himself in his carriage to depart the Heavenly Dao Academy, they still had not managed to turn up any information.

  Xu Shiji was clearly aware of the capabilities of the soldiers and officers under his command, so he was somewhat shocked.

  This girl was together with Chen Changsheng. This matter made him even more shocked and somewhat wary.

  Chen Changsheng did not reply to his question because he felt that he was not required to respond to any of this person's questions.

  The silhouette on the window grew even more distinct, its outline growing harsher. Xu Shiji had most likely leaned closer to the window.

  That might became even more frightening, and the pressure seemed to become real.

  Chen Changsheng felt a fit of disgust in the pit of his stomach, like a mountain was pressing upon him.

  "In truth, I'm somewhat regretful," Xu Shiji's emotionless voice came from the carriage. "When you first entered the capital, in that period when no one knew who you were, I should have just killed you. I naturally understand the principle that soldiers should not show mercy, but the Xu Estate is on good terms with your teacher and someone wanted you to live, so I allowed you to live."

  Chen Changsheng lowered his head and did not speak.

  "The capital in the height of summer is a place where death can easily occur…the flood season is very difficult to predict, but what one can be sure about is that the rivers of the capital will certainly rise. When the waters begin to surge, whether it's a floating corpse or the ashes of the dead, all of it will be easily washed away." Xu Shiji spoke through the window, his tone very indifferent.

  "Take, for example, Education Overseer Cao of the Heavenly Dao Academy. After tonight, perhaps he might become a floating corpse on some flat shore of a flooded river some several thousand li away, or perhaps he will become food for the carp of the Luo River, but in short, no one will see him again."

  Upon hearing this, Chen Changsheng raised his head in shock towards the carriage window, thinking, Why does the Heavenly Dao Academy overseer have to die?

  "That little monster is still a member of the Tianhai clan…no matter how things develop afterwards, the lord overseer acted on his own initiative. The Empress will be very unhappy, and when the Empress is unhappy, Lord Zhou Tong will be very angry. When Lord Zhou Tong is angry…that man will die a very miserable death.

  "So tonight, the lord overseer will undoubtedly commit suicide.

  "I truly am very regretful that I did not kill you at the beginning, and now it's no longer convenient for me to directly act, but I must warn you that in this world, there are many methods of survival more terrifying than death. The lord overseer understood this reasoning; I hope you will as well."

  With the slight swaying of the lanterns, the light dimmed and ten-odd subordinates of the Divine General appeared in the darkness. They surrounded the carriage as it slowly departed the alley entrance and headed towards the Divine General of the East's estate. Before the imposing and lofty warhorse departed, it shot a glance at Chen Changsheng, cold to the extreme.

  In the carriage, Xu Shiji was silent, countless gloomy flames in the depths of his eyes. They were not fierce, but instead contained a threatening cold. He had realized that these matters were at this very moment escaping his control. Although he had never truly had control over this matter because of that letter from Holy Maiden Peak, the situation now had somehow become far more bizarre.

  He clearly understood the reasons and consequences of Chen Changsheng entering the Orthodox Academy and had originally believed that there was no deeper meaning behind it. It now seemed that even if that were the case at the beginning, people were now using this matter to stir up a storm. Those people within the Orthodoxy still loyal to the Chen Imperial clan, after remaining silent for so many years, seemed to have finally discovered an opportunity they could use and were gradually preparing to surface from the water. What sort of effects would this matter have on the Divine General of the East's estate?

  This matter was too big, and even if he was the Divine Empress's most trusted Divine General, he did not dare wade in too deeply. At the moment, he had only dipped a foot in to confirm a matter. If Chen Changsheng had truly been dragged by someone into that swamp, then it was even more vital that this engagement be known by no one. At the very least, it should remain concealed for the next few days.

  In a few days, the combined diplomatic mission from the southern powers would arrive at the capital. The several dozen students participating in next year's Grand Examination would be amongst this diplomatic mission. It was precisely for this reason that the other two nights of this year's Ivy Festival were highly likely to be delayed.

  It was still quite some time until next year's Grand Examination. The southerners breaking convention and setting off towards the capital several months in advance had already attracted much discussion and suspicion. However, he was well aware that the Divine Empress welcomed the coming of this diplomatic mission.

  In the entire continent, only a select few knew that the reason that the southern diplomatic mission were arriving early this year was that they were preparing to propose at the Double Seventh Festival.[28]

  Xu Shiji knew of this matter because the object of the southern diplomatic mission's proposal was his daughter.

  He would not permit any person or any matter to harm this marriage.

  Chen Changsheng could not; that girl of mysterious origins could not; no one could.

  As for the Orthodox Academy, the Heavenly Dao Academy, or those members of the old Imperial clan, or that undercurrent in the capital, any sort of scheme or plot, he did not want to think about them. If a person dared to threaten this marriage, he would kill them without fear, even if it was a person he shouldn't kill.

  He had a good daughter, so as long as he was not betraying the Empress, he did not care what he did for her sake.

  Of course, if there were even better methods to address those unstable factors, such as Chen Changsheng and that girl, then that would be the best outcome. In that case, he had to first confirm a few things and then invite a few people to prepare some matters.

  "Go to the Little Orange Garden," he declared.

  The carriage of the Divine General of the East's estate slowly turned. Going along a quiet road, ignoring the capital's strict curfew, it headed in the direction of the Imperial Palace.

  The Little Orange Garden was a manor close to the Imperial Palace. Its area was not large and many orange trees were planted there, giving it the appearance of the countryside.

  A person able to own parkland so close to the Imperial
Palace and plant worthless orange trees within was naturally no ordinary person.

  It was the residence of Lady Mo Yu.

  * * *

  Returning to the Orthodox Academy, Chen Changsheng stood under the tree by the lake. As he thought of that silhouette in the carriage window, his mood was rather disastrous, wanting to charge the lake and yell, but he was afraid of startling the people in the Hundred Herb Garden. He wanted to say a few curse words, but he realized that his master and senior had never taught him before, so he didn't know how to start.

  He resentfully turned and walked towards the library. As he passed through the trees by the lake, he saw an orange tree, its dense branches covered in newly born, delicate, and underripe fruits. He subconsciously picked one and took a bite, resulting in his face puckering from its sour and crisp flavor.

  "Even you are bullying me?" He kicked the tree of green oranges, his nose flaring.

  The small green oranges rustled down like the rain. From behind the tree came an 'ouch.'

  Luoluo rubbed her petite head, her right hand holding a lunchbox and her left hand covering her mouth. Her mouth was awash with astonishment as if she had seen something very strange.

  Somewhat shocked, Chen Changsheng asked, "Didn't you go back to sleep?"

  Luoluo explained, "Mama Li prepared a night snack. I came to eat together with Teacher."

  Chen Changsheng saw the look on her face and asked, confused, "What are you surprised about?"

  Luoluo widened her eyes and seriously explained, "I didn't expect that a person like Teacher would also have such a childish side."

  Chen Changsheng felt somewhat embarrassed and began walking towards the library.

  A voice so low as to be imperceptible drifted amongst the trees, rendered somewhat sour and wrong by the green oranges.

  "I'm still a few months from being fifteen, so what's wrong with being a little childish…"

  Chapter 48 – Atop the Banyan Tree

  The starlight outside the window was like water. Chen Changsheng and Luoluo sat on the floor, eating their night snack. There were several delicate pastries, two bowls of porridge with some sort of herb, and also a plate of very finely cut dried meat. The taste was quite delightful, and the master and disciple were so busy eating with their chopsticks that they had no time to speak.

  After the porridge and pastries were all finished, Luoluo now had the leisure to speak. Thinking of that carriage she had seen at the entrance to the alley of the Heavenly Dao Academy's back door, she could no longer hold back her curiosity. As she chewed on a piece of dried meat, she asked, "Teacher, just what sort of grudge lies between you and the Divine General of the East's estate?"

  Chen Changsheng knew that a thing like curiosity was difficult to suppress for a very long time, so he had long since mentally prepared himself for her question. He casually said a couple of sentences and then moved to change the subject—he had prepared to misdirect her, to fool her by relying on his status as her teacher. Presumably, it would not be too difficult a task.

  However, tonight's starlight was too beautiful and Luoluo truly found it difficult to endure. Since he wasn't willing to answer, she could only open her eyes wide, her black pupils constantly roaming about as she asked and probed several possibilities, like that he was the son of an old friend of the Divine General and that the Divine General was now requiting kindness with enmity, and other such rather dramatic scenarios.

  Chen Changsheng found her imagination very admirable. He didn't know how to respond, so he simply chose silence.

  Luoluo gazed up at the profuse stars above the Orthodox Academy, creasing her brow in serious contemplation. Her small hand held up a green orange that she had brought back from the forest and sent it into her mouth. She thoughtlessly chewed it, then suddenly drew back her gaze and let out a shout of alarm.

  Chen Changsheng believed that she had been surprised by the bitterness of the green orange. Shaking his head as he sighed, he chided, "I told you it was too sour and couldn't be eaten, and the taste really isn't that good."

  Luoluo swallowed the green orange, seeming to be utterly unaffected by its sourness. She looked in shock at Chen Changsheng and asked, "Teacher, you couldn't possibly be betrothed to Xu Yourong, right?"

  Chen Changsheng's mouth slightly dropped, at a loss as to how to respond. He was filled with admiration and also very helpless, preparing himself to confess the truth.

  "Eh…"

  Not waiting for his response, Luoluo repeatedly waved her hands, her small face filled with self-ridicule and awkwardness. "I'm really silly to actually think of such an absurd possibility. That's Xu Yourong; how can it be possible?

  Chen Changsheng felt even more at a loss as to how to respond. He somewhat awkwardly closed his mouth and fell silent, thinking, This matter truly is too absurd. Even Luoluo, who normally regards me with such respect, actually also thinks this way? Just what makes it impossible for me to be with Xu Yourong?

  "Go back and sleep." He thought some more and then added, "I have some things to do tomorrow, so come over a bit later."

  Luoluo was somewhat nervous and asked anxiously, "Teacher, you’re not angry, right?

  Chen Changsheng asked, "Did you do anything today that would make me angry?"

  Luoluo very seriously pondered this question and realized that she truly had not done anything that would make her teacher unhappy. Although she had acted excessively unbridled at the Ivy Festival in the Heavenly Dao Academy and not her usually cute and obedient self, Teacher had said that he wouldn't blame her, so he naturally wouldn't blame her.

  She had no idea that her very casual statement had wounded Chen Changsheng's self-respect.

  She truly had spoken very casually, so the wound was truly not light.

  * * *

  After Luoluo left, Chen Changsheng tidied up the lunchbox and the other things on the floor, then he organized the books on the table and returned them to the shelves. Extinguishing the lanterns, he walked to the entrance of the library and turned his head, gazing back for a few moments before finally departing into the darkness, as if he was saying farewell.

  Upon returning to his house, he began to pack his luggage, placing all the things he needed to take with him in one box. He then took out his dagger, sat on his bed, closed his eyes, and began to rest. He was not drawing in starlight for Purification, rather he awaited the arrival of some people.

  In tonight's Ivy Festival, Luoluo had crippled Tianhai Ya'er. This incident would assuredly incur enormous troubles. Those troubles were aimed at her, aimed at him, and aimed at the Orthodox Academy. He did not know who would be coming to make trouble, but he knew that those people would certainly be very frightening.

  He knew that Luoluo's history was mysterious, her background extraordinary, otherwise the Principal of the Heavenly Dao Academy Mao Qiuyu would not have been secretly protecting her during the Ivy Festival. However, the little monster she had crippled was still the Divine Empress's grandnephew, a member of the Tianhai clan—the Tianhai clan that was the most terrifying clan in the entire continent.

  At the very beginning, Chen Changsheng still hoped that Luoluo's background would be able to awe the other party into at least not making trouble in the open, but after hearing Xu Shiji saying that the Education Overseer of the Heavenly Dao Academy would commit suicide tonight, he no longer held much hope.

  In the present world, even the Chen Imperial clan had to obey the Tianhai clan. The Education Overseer of the Heavenly Dao Academy even had to die because Tianhai Ya'er was crippled, so what of Luoluo, who had directly committed the deed, and himself? Or that the other side had originally wanted to destroy the Orthodox Academy in the first place?

  He waited for the arrival of those people, prepared to leave. Although he was somewhat reluctant to part with the Orthodox Academy and extremely regretful that he would miss next year's Grand Examination, it was impossible to change what had occurred, so he had to at least allow this matter to have a relativ
ely complete conclusion.

  In his mind, in a little while, the Orthodox Academy would turn into a sea of flames.

  He naturally had means of escaping.

  The Orthodox Academy would pay the price for crippling Tianhai Ya'er, and since Luoluo was no ordinary person, the other party would presumably be satisfied.

  * * *

  This one night.

  Just Chen Changsheng himself.

  Sitting alone in his room.

  At his feet sat a shabby leather trunk.

  He silently awaited another turn in his life.

  He used a composure that surpassed his age to silently wait.