75 I Chopped A Mass Of Peach Blossoms that Spring III (2/2)

…

The calligraphy and etiquette tests came just after the art tests. Ning Que's confidence was now replaced with a deep worry. Sangsang's considerations made perfect sense—Her young master was busy gobbling up egg noodle soup, chatting with girls in the House of Red-Sleeves, killing people in Spring Breeze Pavilion, and calculating how much he earned each day. It came as no surprise that he had insufficient time to review and memorize the mock tests. It was pointless, even though he recited all of them, as he lived in the mountains and grasslands where he could not possibly have had access to all that knowledge. If you asked him to write down the Article on the Response of the Tao, he could probably do it, but more than that would be too much to ask.

Ning Que did not plan to submit a blank paper, as it would make him too conservative, like the younger brother of the emperor. Therefore, he carefully wrote all over the paper, from front to back, as if what he wrote was the right answer. That was another question lifted off of his mind, for he was merely hoping that the instructors would at least give him a ”hardworking” score.

During the writing, he cleverly pulled some tricks, as he knew the only advantage he could tap into was his neat handwriting. Therefore, he put all his attention on his handwriting and deliberately chose the Hairpin-style Small Regular Script, which he seldom wrote in.

There was definitely nothing to hide from choosing that type of script except gender, which Ning Que intended to hide. As the Hairpin-style Small Regular Script could easily be mistaken as having been done by some beautiful lady with an official background, some pity scores might be earned.

The bell tolled again, as it had come to the end. Ning Que was a bit lethargic when he left the exam room. He lifted his shoulders and spread out his arms when he saw Sangsang's anticipating face. Accompanied by Zhu Youxian, he had a hasty lunch and prepared for his afternoon tests.

He was confident about the afternoon's tests. So when confronting all the fervent looks from the instructors and examiners, Ning Que looked around at all the musical instruments and made a resolute decision, which was... to quit.

He was no musician like the ones in the House of Red-Sleeves, let alone knew how to blow a flute, and he felt frustrated thinking about that. After this, all students were led to a stretch of open lawn outside the Academy, where dozens of handsome horses were brought in front of them. A military general stood off to the side, emotionlessly looking over those eager or not-so-eager faces.

The course of toxophily was Archery, and you were allowed to choose to do it either on a horse or a carriage. Ning Que, of course, chose to shoot on a horse. All those years that he spent in the City of Wei on horses with swords and arrows convinced him that he would pass muster.

Sangsang clutched her hands tightly, cheering for him from a distant patch of ground near the lawn.

He smiled and walked to the center of the lawn.

…

…

In a spacious and bright room in the Academy, a group of instructors were gathered to review the papers that had been answered in the morning. Most of the instructors were old and experienced and had seen many tests like this. They leisurely carried teapots and long cigarette holders, chatting and reviewing. Some instructor then commented,

”This year's Academy entrance exam was devised by Eldest Brother, who is moderate by nature, unlike Second Brother, who made most of the students cry last year.”

”Simply looking at the comprehensive question, everyone knows the Headmaster of the Academy likes to drink. One bottle, to half, to half of the half, to the last drop... How could the headmaster chop half of the drop with a sword? As simple as this is, how could so many get it wrong? What on earth is in their heads?”

Some said curiously, ”Maybe it's not easy for them. Yet, I'm more interested in how many bottles the headmaster did drink and how many masses of peach blossoms he did cut during the trip to West-Hill.”

Some laughed, answering, ”The headmaster drank seven big bottles of wine, and cut all the peach blossoms of West-Hill.”

”The legend goes that the headmaster did drink the bottles of wine, yet it was someone else who had cut all the peach blossoms of West-Hill. The Youngest Uncle, who was also on the trip with the headmaster, was more likely to do such things with that hot temper.”

Hearing the Youngest Uncle, all of the instructors paused a second, then returned to their conversations, someone saying, ”The peach trees in the Academy were planted by the Headmaster of the Academy himself. The old priests of Haotian Temple of West-Hill came here every time and were extremely pissed, their expressions were worse than if they had lost their mothers. I do think our headmaster is wicked.”

The instructors were all laughing out loud, as teasing the most respected West-Hill temple seemed to be their favorite everyday sport.

You had to admit that the Academy in Southern City was indeed a wicked place.

The instructors went back to reviewing the papers, and an instructor picked up one of the papers, and read it loudly, ”'The Headmaster of the Academy drank two bottles of wine, and cut a mountain of peach blossoms.' Right answer indeed. I noticed this student is one of the quickest who wrote down the answer. I think he deserves an A.”

”Grade A, no doubt. I only have one question. Why is the student's answer not the written form of two, but the oral form of two?”

”Maybe just his habit? Or does the oral form mean something to him? I'm quite puzzled.”