Chapter 19

In Kyoto, the National Church does not discuss the Southern Sects. Here, there are six holy halls, among which the Yinghua Hall is responsible for educating and nurturing the young, overseeing dozens of institutions such as the Heavenly Dao Academy, the Cardinal General Academy, the Deacon School, and the National Teaching College, managing these institutions in detail. This institution is essentially the same as the educational bodies of the Great Zhou Dynasty, known as the Sacred Education Cardinal Office, or simply the Teaching Cardinal Office, where the fusion of sanctity and power creates a sense of oppression. Due to the respect for teachers, this building has always been abnormally quiet.

Chang Sheng stood in the spacious corridor, his figure covered by the shadow of a massive stone pillar. He turned his head to look at the room not far behind him, recalling the scolding of the Teaching Cardinal Office staff earlier, thinking that indeed, the architecture of the National Church's holy hall was excellent, with such perfect soundproofing that no one outside could hear anything.

Kyoto has tens of thousands of students, all managed by the officials and priests in this building. With numerous tasks, countless feet in various boots tread on the bright, reflective marble floor, the crowd surging and descending like the sea, yet apart from the sound of footsteps, it remained eerily quiet.

No one paid attention to the young man standing in the shadow of the stone pillar, and no one came to ask him anything. It was only after a long time, as the sun shifted and the shadow of the stone pillar moved to a more eastern position, that someone finally noticed his presence. Perhaps because the holy hall was about to close, people's moods became more relaxed, and the building's noise increased, no longer as solemn as before.

A murmur of whispers came from behind Chang Sheng. The voices were so low that they sounded like rats gnawing, making his ears itch, and he instinctively lowered his head even more.

"What is that young man doing there? I think he has been standing there for almost a whole day."

"Oh, you mean that little guy? I heard at lunchtime that he was driven out by Priest Xin... He came to apply for this year's educational subsidy and wanted to take something."

"Subsidy? Didn't they already distribute it in February? Could it be that some academy didn't receive it? Impossible! With the haughty attitude of those academy deans, if they were owed money, how could they have tolerated it until today? Besides, even if they were owed, why would they send a student to collect it?"

"Who wouldn't agree? So Priest Xin ignored him and drove him out, but for some reason, this young man refused to leave."

"Which academy is this little guy from?"

"Apparently, the National Teaching College."

"What?"

"National Teaching College."

A light murmur of surprise, followed by laughter.

"This joke isn't funny at all, no wonder Priest Xin got so angry."

"Who doesn't know that the National Teaching College has been empty for a long time? There are no teachers, let alone students. I suspect it's part of the annual welcoming activities of some other academies. That guy was probably chosen by his seniors to come here and do something, to get something, or he wouldn't pass."

"Tsk tsk, the welcoming activities of these academies are getting out of hand."

"Indeed, to dare come to the Teaching Cardinal Office to deceive people."

"Hey, do you know which academy this young man is from? This activity is quite interesting."

"Probably the摘星 (Zhaixing) Academy. That young man has been standing there all day without changing his posture. Who else could have taught such a student?"

"I'm not so sure. The Zhaixing Academy has strict military discipline. In past years, the most they did for welcoming activities was to steal a flying carriage from the City Guard. They wouldn't come to the Teaching Cardinal Office. I think it's more likely to be the Heavenly Dao Academy. The students there are familiar with this place and are not afraid of anything. If they cause trouble, they can easily get their older brothers or relatives to come, and the Teaching Cardinal Office wouldn't dare to refuse them."

...

...

In the eyes of the officials and priests of the Teaching Cardinal Office, the young man standing with his head down in the corridor was probably a new student from some academy, pitifully teased and bullied by his seniors. They naturally did not avoid him when discussing, and their voices, though low, were accurately transmitted to the young man's ears.

Chang Sheng looked at the ground, his shadow continuously shifting, almost touching the parallel plane of the stone steps. Thinking about the time he had wasted, he felt a bit depressed. After hearing these discussions, he finally understood why the person earlier had been so angry and refused to let him back in.

How could he make the other party believe that he was the top new student of the National Teaching College after years of inactivity? Even if they believed him, how could he get the library key, the staff list, the college seal, and the money from them in the shortest time possible? He did not want to waste time like today again.

A distant bell sounded from the direction of the imperial palace, followed by music from the direction of the Heavenly Book Tomb. Chang Sheng, thinking of something, raised his head and walked resolutely towards the room he had been driven out of earlier. This sudden action immediately attracted many people's attention.

He pushed the door open, walked to the desk, and said to the person behind it, "Hello, I need the National Teaching College's staff list, key, and money."

That person was the Priest Xin mentioned in the earlier discussions. Seeing Chang Sheng return, he flew into a rage, slamming his hand on the desk and shouting, "I told you not to bother me again! How dare you say such things! Do you want me to have you beaten with twenty lashes and expelled from the college?"

Chang Sheng said seriously, "First, you need to make me a formal student of the college."

Priest Xin took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger, and said coldly, "Which academy are you from?"

Chang Sheng replied, "National Teaching College."

When he said this, his expression was calm, like a rock holding firm against the wind, regardless of the direction. No matter what they asked, he could repeat the answer with a calm and composed face: I am a new student of the National Teaching College—whether you believe it or not, I am here, and I am.

"Don't say the National Teaching College, or even the Heavenly Dao Academy."

Priest Xin felt like he was going to go mad and said coldly, "Even if you were the younger brother of the Prince of Chenliu, I would make you know the consequences of ignoring your elders today."

"This is my recommendation letter."

Chang Sheng took out a thin piece of paper from his chest and placed it on the desk.

Priest Xin had intended to grab the paper, crumple it into a ball, and stuff it into the mouth of this hateful young man, but a familiar name caught his eye. He paused, subconsciously picked up the paper, and confirmed that he had not seen it wrong. The name and handwriting were indeed familiar.

Where had he seen this name and handwriting before?

Priest Xin frowned, thinking hard but could not find the answer, feeling a vague unease deep inside.

In the next moment, he finally remembered.

He had not seen the handwriting or the name on the paper before, but the name and handwriting were exactly the same as those of the Teaching Cardinal Office. The name was known to every National Church believer but could not be mentioned or written, for the name... was already sacred.

Next, Priest Xin saw the content of the deep red seal on the paper.

He felt his legs go weak, and a faint twitching sensation in his legs, a symptom he only experienced when visiting the Moon Hall of the Learning Palace due to his acrophobia.

Priest Xin wanted to drink some tea, but his hands were trembling so badly that he knocked the teacup to the ground.

He looked at Chang Sheng, his lips trembling uncontrollably, and his voice even more so.

It was only then that he finally believed that Chang Sheng was a new student of the National Teaching College.

Because no one would dare to impersonate the name and handwriting on the paper.

"Actually... you didn't show this recommendation letter earlier... You are quite a humorous child."

He looked at Chang Sheng, struggling to force a smile, wanting to pat his shoulder but not daring to.

The word "you" and "child" did not match, and it was hard to call a child humorous.

Chang Sheng understood why the other party had lost composure and explained helplessly, "I was going to show it earlier, but you didn't give me the chance."

"Please sit down, I will bring you some tea, and I will go and handle your affairs."

Priest Xin picked up the paper, greeted him warmly, and then turned and ran out of the door without hesitation, sprinting through the spacious and solemn hall.

Those who followed Chang Sheng's gaze were surprised to see such a scene.

...

...

In the deepest and largest room of the Teaching Cardinal Office, there were many plants, mostly plum blossoms, including wax plums, water plums, dragon plums, and gold-sprinkled plums... Some were in full bloom, some were in bud, and more were quietly waiting, as if all the plum blossoms in the world were gathered here.

Deep in the plum trees, there was a large mural depicting the descent of the Heavenly Book, and in front of it was a huge desk.

Priest Xin stood before the desk, his expression anxious, his forehead covered in sweat, but clearly not as unbearable as when he was in front of Chang Sheng. He said, "Your Majesty, I swear to heaven, I truly did not know... If he could produce such a recommendation letter, I would not have..."

"Otherwise what? Otherwise, you wouldn't have let that little guy wait in the corridor for half a day?"

A priest stood up from behind the desk, his age indeterminate, his eyes wise and gentle. From his attire, he was clearly a Cardinal Bishop, the highest-ranking official in the entire Teaching Cardinal Office. However, it was hard to sense this from his expression and laughter.

"The seal and signature on this letter are genuine. The color, the brushwork, and most importantly, the paper... Ha ha, the Holy Father's handwriting truly conveys the beauty of the world. I have seen it many times, and each time I still feel joy. I remember it was ten years ago when the Holy Father was invited by the Empress to teach the Prince of Xiang and Miss Moyan..."

Cardinal Bishop Meili Sha, looking at his trusted subordinate Priest Xin, suddenly stopped smiling and said coldly, "Enough, there's no need to bring up these old matters. It doesn't matter who this young man named Chang Sheng is or that he is the first student of the National Teaching College in ten years. What matters is what this represents?"

"Is the Holy Father planning to restart the National Teaching College?"

"If it's true, how should we, his subordinates, cooperate?"

"These, you must understand well."

"Understand its significance."