Taiyang Academy

Taiyang Academy

Taiyang Academy stood at the northern end of the inner city of Auspicious Light Capital. An artificially excavated canal ran through its center, while rows of stone pillars held up the magnificent palace roof. Its outer walls bore little decoration, plain and smooth.

Like most buildings on the inner city's raised terrace, the Academy had been built and expanded atop the foundations of an ancient temple. Much of the original layout remained, making it appear grand and towering, with vast grounds.

At that moment, those gathered in the Academy square were all students who had come to enroll this year. Each wore Celestial Xia robes and caps, bright with vigor.

Those able to enter Taiyang Academy, whether they pursued scholarship or official service, would surely join the upper ranks of the Protectorate Office in the future. And by established custom, those two identities could be exchanged at any time.

Yet these students still couldn't enter and could only wait outside.

According to Taiyang Academy's rules, entrants had to arrive at dawn and wait here until midmorning. Only then would the Academy gates open and their documents be inspected.

It was said that this rule had been set by the first Sacrificial Chancellor, meant to temper the students' character and resolve, and instill in them a reverence for learning.

In earlier years, Auspicious Light Capital's climate had been harsh, dry, and rainless, so perhaps it had served some purpose. But now the weather was mild, springlike all year round, and its effect was quite limited.

Still, rules were rules. They had remained so for a hundred years, and even if it was merely going through the motions, no exception could be made.

Zheng Yu stood beneath a corridor pillar. He was only fifteen, delicate-featured and slight of build, looking somewhat frail, as though a slightly stronger gust could blow him over.

The old steward took out a water flask and offered it with both hands. "Young master, come, have a drink."

Zheng Yu glanced around somewhat embarrassedly. "Uncle Gu, don't treat me like a child. Look, no one else is drinking..."

Uncle Gu insisted, "Young master has always been weak in health. When we left, Madam instructed this old servant to take proper care of you."

Unable to refuse, Zheng Yu took it and drank only one mouthful before immediately returning it to the old steward. Then he said earnestly, "Uncle Gu, the Capital has an explicit law: people have no distinction of high or low; all are treated equally. You mustn't call yourself a servant in front of others from now on."

Uncle Gu smiled amiably. "Young master, I'll listen to you."

Seeing that he had persuaded him, Zheng Yu was quite pleased. Spotting two students standing not far away, he said softly, "Uncle Gu, is there any clean water left? Bring some to those two senior brothers."

"We can use this old one's. I haven't drunk from it."

Uncle Gu took out two porcelain cups, wiped them clean, filled each with water, and carried them over to the two students. At first, they tried to decline, but Uncle Gu was worldly and practiced; with only a few words, he had them drinking the water. Afterward, both came over to thank Zheng Yu.

Zheng Yu exchanged names and hometowns with them. One was called Wang Bo, the other Yu Mingyang. Both were first-time students enrolling at the Academy. Since they were all Celestial Xia People and similar in age and background, they quickly fell into conversation.

Naturally, spirited young people didn't enjoy discussing dreary studies, and the topic soon turned to the latest strange and fascinating news.

"Senior brothers, did you see that Spiritual Aberrant by the harbor yesterday?"

Wang Bo had a somewhat flamboyant temperament. Gesturing animatedly, he said, "I heard that enormous Yao Salamander measured thirty zhang from head to tail. It nearly didn't fit on the docks."

Yu Mingyang curled his lip. "I saw it too. Its body was only around ten zhang, and part of that was its tail. Still, it was quite large."

Wang Bo protested, "Far more than that!"

Yu Mingyang couldn't be bothered arguing with him.

Looking curious, Zheng Yu asked, "Senior Brother Wang, that Strange Monster was so huge—who captured it? The Divine Commandery Army?"

Wang Bo had originally wanted to keep debating with Yu Mingyang, but the moment he heard this, his attention was immediately diverted. Smugly, he said, "You've guessed wrong there. I heard the one who killed the Yao Salamander was about our age, and was also a student coming here to enroll!"

Yu Mingyang said in surprise, "Really?"

Wang Bo said discontentedly, "Why would I lie to you? I'm close friends with a Fine Pen from the Hanmo Newspaper Office. He told me in private, so it must be true."

Yu Mingyang had become familiar with Wang Bo's manner of speaking by now. He knew Wang Bo had most likely exaggerated his relationship with that Fine Pen from the Hanmo Newspaper Office, but the matter itself might well be true.

Zheng Yu exclaimed, "That's amazing."

Wang Bo looked around and said mysteriously, "There are rumors that this person may not be ordinary, but possesses strange strength like the Divine Commandery Army... Senior brothers, once we enter the Academy this time, if we go to a certain place, perhaps we might gain such abilities too..."

Zheng Yu thought for a moment. "Senior Brother Wang, you don't mean that place, do you..." As he spoke, he wrote two characters in the air with his hand.

Wang Bo nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, that place. Let me tell you, I have a close friend who's there... Huh!"

Before he could finish, he suddenly turned his head to look. The other two were also surprised, and followed his gaze to see a cloaked figure approaching. The shadow of the hood obscured the person's face, making it impossible to see clearly. But from the way he walked, it was obvious he had received a Celestial Xia education in etiquette. Like them, he was likely a young student.

Wang Bo grinned, then affected a regretful look. "Ah, it's nearly midmorning. Arriving only now, this fellow probably won't be able to enter the Academy this year."

Zheng Yu said, "Perhaps this senior brother had some difficulty and was delayed by something."

Yu Mingyang said nothing.

The students in the square also stopped talking one after another and looked over. Their gazes held pity, disdain, and gloating.

To ensure they could enroll successfully, they had all arrived early and waited until now. Though they hadn't truly suffered much hardship, at least they had shown the proper attitude.

Yet this person dared disregard the Academy's rules and only arrived now. He likely had no chance of admission this year.

Then they saw him continue without pause, crossing the square directly toward the Academy gates. Everyone wore expressions of eager anticipation, waiting for a spectacle.

Wang Bo shielded his eyes from the sunlight with one hand and stood on tiptoe to look, saying excitedly, "Looks like he's going to find the Academic Officer, but how could the Academic Officer make allowances?"

Zhang Yu walked up the long flights of steps. Upon reaching the platform, he looked up and saw a middle-aged Academic Officer in a black deep robe and a Wei-Liang Crown staring solemnly at him. Behind the man stood the two tightly shut Academy gates.

Zhang Yu stopped there, reached up and removed his hood, straightened his body, and clasped his hands in salute. "Greetings, Academic Officer."

The instant the Academic Officer saw his face, he nearly thought an immortal from a painting had descended before him. He was stunned for a moment, then forced his face stern and said, "Young sir, if you're a student, then you've arrived too late. You cannot enroll this year. On the path of learning, there is no such thing as luck. Come again next year!"

Zhang Yu took a name card from his sleeve, pinched its edges between both thumbs, and under the Academic Officer's astonished gaze, presented it in a flawlessly proper posture. In a clear voice, he said, "This student is Zhang Yu. Drawn by Taiyang's learning, I have come to recommend myself."

His voice was sonorous and forceful, clear and ringing, audible throughout the entire square. An uproar immediately broke out below.

"Self-recommendation? He's actually recommending himself!" Wang Bo was wildly excited. As he shouted in excitement, he repeatedly hammered Yu Mingyang, who frowned and rubbed his shoulder.

Watching Zhang Yu's back, Zheng Yu revealed an expression of admiration and envy. He felt that this man was truly courageous.

That was right. For students to study at Taiyang Academy, the ordinary route was to pass the entrance examinations. But apart from that, there was another path.

Self-recommendation!

If you believed you possessed sufficient learning, you could go directly to the Academy and engage its teachers through literary debate, discourse, or public lectures. So long as you received the Academy's assessment, you could become a member of the Academy.

And if you succeeded, you wouldn't be an ordinary Academy student, but would very likely become a teacher of higher standing.

Yet few chose this path, because the conventional route was far easier and more convenient. To come to the door and offer discourse carried the meaning of competing in scholarship. If they simply let you in, wouldn't that mean the teacher responsible for assessing you was indirectly admitting that his learning was inferior to yours?

This concerned not only personal reputation, but even the Academy's reputation. Thus, this road was exceedingly difficult. There had been successful people over the past century, but they were few and far between.

Most crucially, the decision lay in the Academy's hands. Even if you truly had learning, the Academy might not let you pass in order to preserve its reputation. The difficulty was plain to imagine.

The Academic Officer stared sternly at Zhang Yu. He didn't believe that Zhang Yu, who appeared so young, could possess much learning. Yet there was an immensely powerful confidence in the other's voice, and even he was affected by it, unable to help feeling some hesitation.

As though giving himself time to recover, he didn't accept the name card. Instead, he took a breath, walked to the front of the steps, and sternly shouted at those below, "Silence! This is a place where the Academy governs writing. Whoever dares make a clamor will have their documents removed and their student registration revoked!"

Those words were like a ladle of cold water poured into a boiling cauldron. The noise in the square immediately died away. Everyone widened their eyes as they looked up, seeming to want to see which direction this matter would take.

When the Academic Officer turned back, he felt his judgment had returned. He said coldly to Zhang Yu, "Young man, go back. Taiyang Academy is not a place for you, and don't think of taking shortcuts."

Zhang Yu replied unhurriedly, "If the Academic Officer refuses to accept this letter of recommendation, then this student can wait here until the Academy gates open. If the Academy still refuses to admit me, then this student will go to the Protectorate Office's Governance Office, take up the jade mallet, strike the great Hong drum, and ask whether Taiyang Academy's own rules count for anything!"

Upon hearing this, the Academic Officer's expression changed several times. He realized Zhang Yu had come thoroughly prepared. Though the latter's voice was neither loud nor soft, it carried an air of refusing to rest until he achieved his goal, making him unable to disbelieve him.

After a long silence, he took the self-recommendation card without a word and waved toward the tall gate towers before the entrance. Amid rumbling sounds, the two heavy stone doors carved with symmetrical Cicada-Wing Patterns slowly opened.

Looking at the Academy's Great Dao opening before him, Zhang Yu clasped his hands in salute to the Academic Officer. Then, under the watchful eyes of the many students in the square, he stepped forward and entered with his head held high.