Chapter 471 – A Farce? (2/2)

Chen Changsheng somewhat awkwardly lowered his head, but since things had already come to this point, he also didn't want to blame Tang Thirty-Six for anything. He just helplessly thought, could it really be that no one will come to apply?

Tang Thirty-Six's table was the most bustling. From time to time, a young maiden would bashfully walk up, place a sachet of perfume on his table, and then sprint away like a startled deer. There were even a few audacious maidens who requested that he write a few words on their fans. Of course, these young maidens only wished to borrow this rare opportunity to get a little closer to him, but not a one truly applied. Priest Xin, who was responsible for maintaining order on the scene, had an unsightly expression on his face, but Tang Thirty-Six seemed unaffected. Yes, he wasn't one bit embarrassed, or at least he didn't show it. He warmly laughed and whispered a few words to those young maidens and then gathered all those presents of perfume on the table. Moreover, he also indicated that he would definitely make good use of these gifts.

After a while, when Tang Thirty Six's table was somewhat less busy, Chen Changsheng availed himself of the opportunity to draw close and whisper, ”Which one is Bie Tianxin?”

Tang Thirty-Six replied, ”This sort of personage naturally won't randomly appear on the scene. I've already looked—he's not there.”

Chen Changsheng relaxed a little, and then said, ”Your table is almost full.”

Tang Thirty-Six subtly raised his eyebrows. With an indescribable confidence and pride, he asked, ”Envying this elder brother?”

Chen Changsheng lowered his head and said, ”But your table doesn't have a single application form.”

Tang Thirty-Six lightly coughed. ”There's no need to rush.”

Chen Changsheng replied, ”Seeing how much you enjoy being surrounded by those girls, I can tell that you really are in no rush.”

Tang Thirty-Six replied, ”What do you know? I'm building up a good image! The Orthodox Academy wants to enroll new students. I am its living signboard. It's only a matter of course that I be patient and warm.”

The news that the Orthodox Academy was enrolling new students very quickly spread throughout the entire capital. Many people, including those important personages, couldn't hold back their curiosity. By either coming personally or dispatching competent subordinates, they wished to know just what exactly those youths of the Orthodox Academy were up to.

There were two important personages who, in the past few days, would often appear in that tea house in Hundred Flowers Lane. Of course, they would not be absent today.

They were precisely Daoist Siyuan, one of those that had suggested the new rule of the All-School Martial Exhibition, and Mao Qiuyu, Archbishop of the Hall of Illustrious Persons and representative of the Pope's will.

Daoist Siyuan gazed at the desolate area in front of the Orthodox Academy, at those three tables and those three youths, and shook his head. ”Truly a load of nonsense.”

Mao Qiuyu sat across from him at the table and watched Tang Thirty-Six wave at the maidens in the crowd. Chortling, he said, ”Truly a funny fellow.”

Before he was the Archbishop of the Hall of Illustrious Persons, he was Principal of the Heavenly Dao Academy. Before Tang Thirty-Six entered the Orthodox Academy, he was his student.

Daoist Siyuan wrinkled his brow and said, ”This sort of farce truly shames the Li Palace.”

”A farce? I don't see it that way. Perhaps they won't be able to enroll a single new student today, but…”

Mao Qiuyu's smile vanished as he indifferently declared, ”The entire continent will soon know, the Orthodox Academy…after almost twenty years, has finally begun to once more enroll new students.”

The Orthodox Academy beginning to enroll new students once more was speaking of the fact that it was doing so formally and on a large scale. It was completely different from how Chen Changsheng had mistakenly entered the Orthodox Academy.

In the eyes of many of the elders of the conservative faction of the Orthodoxy, as well as the many people of the capital who still remembered the past magnificence of the Orthodox Academy, this was an incredibly significant event.

But at present, from morning until noon, this event really did seem just like a farce.

From beginning to end, the area in front of the Orthodox Academy only contained three tables and three youths. It was so desolate that even the spectators on the side felt rather embarrassed, let alone those involved.

At some point, Tang Thirty-Six had Xuanyuan Po find a big umbrella in the Orthodox Academy's storeroom. It was placed above the three tables, blocking out some of the sunlight and also allowing them to pass a boring period of time.

”Is this okay?” Chen Changsheng lowered his head and asked.

By now, the young maidens that had come to send flowers could no longer bear the intense heat and had reluctantly taken their leave. The spectators remaining in the lane were looking over as they engaged in spirited discussion. From the expression on their faces, it was evident that they were jeering, although there was no malicious intent.

However, in all of the capital, there might be many people who were ridiculing them, and with a deep malice as well.