Chapter 73

Dropping out of school is a big deal, and dropping out of Tiandao Academy is an even bigger deal.

Deputy Director Zhuang's reaction was so intense because he was very clear that no other academy would dare to accept a student who had left Tiandao Academy. Yes, the Clan Temple, Ligon Palace, Zhaixing Academy, and Qingyao Thirteen Leads all have their own backgrounds, but in the capital, Tiandao Academy is ultimately special...

He never would have thought that this matter would end up taking such a turn, with Guoxue Academy actually stepping forward.

Zhuang Huan Yu, seeing the worried expression on Deputy Director Zhuang's face, felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He looked at Chen Changsheng and said, "He is, after all, a student of our Tiandao Academy. Even if Guoxue Academy doesn't have a dean or teachers and doesn't understand these rules, you can't just decide to accept him."

As Zhuang Huan Yu said, Chen Changsheng didn't understand those unspoken rules and had never thought that Guoxue Academy couldn't accept Tang Sanshiu. He instructed Luoluo, "After you get back, add his name to the roster and don't forget to have him put his fingerprint on it."

Tang Sanshiu's expression was somewhat strange, feeling that this seemed like a contract of servitude.

Luoluo responded with a clear "Mm-hm" and readily agreed.

The people in the hall were somewhat surprised, especially the teachers and students sitting nearby, who could see clearly that from the beginning, Chen Changsheng's attitude towards Luoluo was like that of a teacher to a student. People were increasingly shocked and puzzled, wondering what virtues and abilities this young man surnamed Chen had that earned such respect from Princess Luoluo.

"Pity it's a bit late."

Since he had already agreed to join Guoxue Academy, Tang Sanshiu naturally wouldn't go back on his word. However, seeing Luoluo's attitude towards Chen Changsheng, he felt a bit regretful, thinking that if he had joined Guoxue Academy earlier, this matter would have been more interesting. Standing up for a friend, going to a dilapidated academy to support it, would have been quite heroic. Now, the entire continent knew that Princess Luoluo was studying at Guoxue Academy, and joining at this point wouldn't create much of a scene; instead, it might make him seem like he was clinging to someone for support.

Chen Changsheng knew what he was thinking and felt that he was overthinking it. He said, "Don't worry about these details, and don't care about what others think. There are only a few of us in the academy now, and simplicity is our strength. Making things complicated is meaningless."

Tang Sanshiu thought it made sense but was annoyed by being lectured. He mocked, "So you're already starting the lessons early?"

The people in the hall watched as Chen Changsheng and the others talked about Guoxue Academy as if no one else was there, feeling a mix of emotions. They knew that after tonight, the dilapidated academy that had been abandoned for over a decade would truly come back to life, and the long-forgotten Guoxue Academy would officially return to the public eye. Yes, Guoxue Academy now had only four students, no dean, no teachers, and not even a servant, but after tonight, who would still dare to ignore Guoxue Academy?

Suddenly, applause echoed in the hall, clear and steady, without any urgency, not perfunctory, not deliberately slow, and not mocking.

As the applause sounded, Gou Hanshi's voice also rang out.

He looked at Chen Changsheng and the others and said earnestly, "Congratulations to Guoxue Academy."

The crowd's expressions tensed.

This was the second time Gou Hanshi had spoken at the Qingteng Banquet tonight.

Earlier, when Chen Changsheng presented the marriage contract, causing the entire hall to fall silent, Gou Hanshi's first words were to hope that Chen Changsheng would consider Xu Yourong's opinion more, a calm and gentle statement that touched the softest and weakest part of the heart. If not for the arrival of the white crane from the north, it was uncertain how the situation would have developed tonight.

Now, he spoke again.

The people in the hall were somewhat tense, knowing that something was about to happen.

Miss Mo Yu had once thought of interrupting the Qingteng Banquet to end the farce of the marriage proposal, but her plan was interrupted by Xiaosong Palace's intervention and Jin Yulv's stunning appearance. What would happen next?

Tang Sanshiu's withdrawal from Tiandao Academy was an internal dispute among the Zhou people. His subsequent joining of Guoxue Academy had nothing to do with the Southern people. The silence of the Southern delegation did not mean they had accepted the reality. The Qingteng Banquet had just begun and had not ended.

Gou Hanshi's expression was very calm, showing no trace of the repeated blows he had received from Chen Changsheng and the others.

"On the journey to the capital, I learned that Guoxue Academy was reopening. I have been thinking that after so many years, it is indeed time for Guoxue Academy, with its extraordinary history, to revive. I am very happy about this, but I am also very curious about who could take on such a mission."

He looked at Chen Changsheng and the others and said, "It was only tonight that I learned Princess Luoluo is at Guoxue Academy, and that her teacher is also a student of Guoxue Academy. It seems that there is no reason for Guoxue Academy not to flourish again."

"Many people want to know where Guoxue Academy stands now, and I am no exception... I thank the Empress for allowing all the disciples of the Southern sects to participate in the imperial examination, and this year, the court has also invited us to the Qingteng Banquet."

As he said this, Gou Hanshi left his seat and walked a few steps down the steps. Although he was only slightly closer to Chen Changsheng and the others by the hall door, it felt as if he was standing right in front of them, speaking to them calmly and gently.

"Tonight is the third night of the Qingteng Banquet, and the last opportunity for the academies and the invited students to compete and hone their skills."

"We have come from thousands of miles away, and since we are here to participate in the Qingteng Banquet, we cannot miss this opportunity."

"Li Shan Sword Sect requests a match with Guoxue Academy."

...

...

The hall was very quiet, but not as deathly silent as before. Strangely, people were not surprised by Gou Hanshi's words and proposal. It seemed that deep down, everyone had already guessed that this would happen and was secretly hoping for it.

However, before Gou Hanshi spoke, people had not actually thought about this—tonight was the Qingteng Banquet.

For the Southern delegation, Gou Hanshi's proposal was the best choice.

If he directly challenged Chen Changsheng, people would think that Li Shan was retaliating for the obstruction of Qiu Shan Jun's marriage. He did not want to involve the conflict between Xiaosong Palace's elder and Jin Yulv, nor did he want to mention Princess Luoluo's status or Tang Sanshiu's insult to his school. He only mentioned the Qingteng Banquet.

There are rules at the Qingteng Banquet, allowing academies to challenge each other.

These rules were not set by the founding emperor of the Zhou Dynasty, nor by the second emperor. The Qingteng Banquet is not the imperial examination, but its history is not much different, so its rules are still worth respecting. Would the Zhou people be willing to break them?

The hall was silent, and people were speechless.

At this moment, to everyone's surprise, Gou Hanshi spoke again.

He looked at Chen Changsheng calmly and said, "Yes, what I said just now were all excuses, or reasons."

Chen Changsheng was slightly stunned, Luoluo was slightly startled, and Tang Sanshiu was slightly shocked, not knowing why he suddenly said this.

The people in the hall were even more taken aback.

"Too many things have happened tonight. Whether right or wrong, they are not pleasant for us Southern people or for my Li Shan sect. Most importantly, my senior brother is not here, and no one can hear his opinion on this matter. I believe this is unfair."

Gou Hanshi looked at Chen Changsheng calmly and said, "As a disciple of Li Shan, I have a responsibility to maintain the reputation of my sect. As a junior, I need to represent my senior brother and show an attitude. So even though I know that the Qingteng Banquet is just an excuse or a reason, I need to do something because we need to leave this palace calmly."

Finally, he bowed to Chen Changsheng and said, "Please grant me this match."

The hall was silent, and everyone looked at Chen Changsheng and the others.

Chen Changsheng looked at Gou Hanshi and was silent for a long time.

He knew Gou Hanshi's thoughts. Li Shan Sword Sect wanted to regain some face through this challenge and, in the process, prove that they were far inferior to Qiu Shan Jun. In fact, Gou Hanshi did not hide his intentions, putting everything out in the open.

Is this what it means to be straightforward?

He looked at Gou Hanshi and said, "It just seems straightforward."

Gou Hanshi said calmly, "It's not being straightforward, but being upright."

Yes, Li Shan Sword Sect's intentions were not straightforward, but Gou Hanshi's approach of putting everything out in the open and directly challenging Guoxue Academy was upright and beyond reproach, making it very difficult to respond.

Given Chen Changsheng's character, if he had not been set up by the Eastern Imperial General's Mansion and the palace tonight, he would not have shown such a strong reaction to this marriage. If it were just him, he would have turned and left when faced with Gou Hanshi's challenge.

But now, he was not just himself; he represented Guoxue Academy.

He had developed feelings for that campus with the big banyan tree, the lake, the library full of books, and the broken well and dilapidated walls.

Li Shan Sword Sect was not challenging him but Guoxue Academy.

Therefore, he could not act entirely according to his own wishes.

He looked at Luoluo and Tang Sanshiu, wanting to know their thoughts, but was somewhat frustrated to find that both Luoluo and Tang Sanshiu had a strong desire for battle in their eyes, so bright that it was almost blinding.

These two guys' thirst for battle and their fearless attitude were indeed hard to ignore.

"Um... fight or not?" Chen Changsheng asked.

Guoxue Academy had no dean or teachers, only these few students, so such a big decision naturally had to be discussed.

Luoluo was still obedient and said in a childish voice, "If Mr. says to fight, we fight."

Tang Sanshiu looked at him as if he were an idiot and said, "When someone puts it like that, how can you not fight?"

It seemed there was no clear answer, but Luoluo indicated she would follow his lead, and Tang Sanshiu's rhetorical question actually made it clear that both of them wanted to fight.

Fight.

...

...

(The chapter title was chosen by Butterfly, and then we deleted over 400 words. This chapter... so much money, just gone like that.)

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