78 Grade A Academy (1/2)
Chapter 78: Grade A Academy
Translator: TransnEditor: Transn
Ning Que took Sangsang out of the crowd, but not to leave. They stood in the corner of the stone ground of the Academy, watching the bustling scene at the screen wall, and a sense of remorse stuck to his heart. He felt that the previous conduct showed deliberately was meaningless. He didn't know whether it was the big dark horse or those arrows that seemed to make him return to the grassland and to the lakeside of Shubi Lake. At this moment, he subconsciously felt much rougher. In fact, he was unsure if his total scores were enough to pass the exams, which made him anxious and restless.
Academy entry exams today assembled lots of young talents all over the world. Ning Que, plain-looking, had caused no attention without black lightning appearing during course of Driving in the exam. Now he stayed far away from the crowd, and naturally no one would care about him. The candidates' attention was still on their results, as well as on those names which had been quite famous before the academy entry exams.
Like Wang Ying from Linxchuan, he who was sent back by the instructor of the academy from the remote and vulgar area was only fourteen, but his courtesy and literal production had caused a sensation in Chang'an city in the past few days. After all, he was too young compared with scholar Zhong Dajun from the famous school of Yang Guan, was well-known in the south of Tang by poems and essays. Thus for the majority of candidates, the most promising one was the third son of Xie family of Ruyang in the South Jin Kingdom.
The Xie family in the South Jin Kingdom were big surnames along thousands of years, being renowned for their poems and literature. Their third son Xie Chengyun was intelligent since childhood. He could write articles at the age of three and poems at five. There were no commoners that Xie family contacted with, so Xie Chengyun grew up communicating with celebrities. Elders in the family cherish his talent, and spared no expense to hire great talents of other countries for him. Therefore, his tutors came and changed in succession. All above contributed to today's reputation.
Xie Chengyun was just eighteen this year, but his reputation had been justified. He had already become Tanhua, third rank of Royal Examination, of South Jin Kingdom. After the Royal Examination, he resigned from the imperial court to make the trip north to Tang Empire for the purpose of being admitted to the Academy.
The criteria of the Academy for enrollment were critical, but it might be too improbable if Tanhua of South Jin Kingdom was not qualified. Thus no one would doubt that Xie Chengyun could pass the exams, and they only concerned about if he could become the top slot.
Xie Chengyun, Zhong Dajun and Wang Ying were standing under the screen wall, watching the list with hands crossed on the back. Zhong Dajun dressed in black seemed indifferent, and he knew that he could not be the NO.1, because he might only get the average results on the courses of driving and toxophily. While fourteen-year-old Wang Ying inevitably seemed nervous on his tender face. In contrast, Xie Chengyun in a white robe looked calm and smiled with a cool confidence on his handsome face that suited his fame.
The girl in the arrow robe, the one named Wu Cai, and several boys and girls from noble families of Chang'an city were standing behind them, laughing in a low voice. Even some straightforward girls were pointing at Xie Chengyun and kept talking without shyness.
The crowd consciously left large space around these young boys and girls, as if they were afraid to disturb them or bumped into them. Law of Tang Empire was strict, but differences among classes were not too harsh. However, these young boys and girls standing under the screen wall were not merely from extraordinary families but also with a good reputation, with whom the rest of the people would keep a distance in subconsciousness.
Oohs and ahhs could be heard from time to time. And a burst of whispering would be caused when names of those three persons were seen at the top of the list. They looked at the three wits in front with envy.
Wang Ying turned around to greet the candidates undemonstratively by bows with hands folded. In addition that he got a C in the course of toxophily due to his young age and poor health, the rest subjects were all A+. It was said that he had received high praise from Qingyu, instructor of the academy, when playing guqin during the music exam.
Zhong Dajun saluted other candidates with hands joined casually, lifting his chin, which made him look a bit proud. Yet people of Tang Empire were so free and easy that they would not grudge their praise on those who were entitled to be proud. For Zhong Dajun, the rest four courses took the A except that chariot-riding got a B, and especially the course of calligraphy also took an A+. Such good results were really worth of applause.
The most enthusiastic applauses and hot eyes of girl candidates were given naturally to Xie Chengyun. His six courses were all at A, including which courtesy and calligraphy were at A+. Such perfect results could help him rank the top few at the academy entry exams even during these ten years.
Xie Chengyun greeted bows with hands folded to the surroundings with a smile. The twilight seemed extremely dazzling shining on the young boy's white robe and his handsome and humble smile. The girl in the arrow robe and others kept clapping and jumping for joy, as if this glory belonged to them, too.
Ning Que and Sangsang were standing on the stone ground at the distant side by side watching the lively scene. He could not help but ridicule. ”I really can't explain why. Is the so-called Mr. San much more beautiful than others?”
This was just a common saying in the City of Wei. For example, if a soldier had drunk two more bowls of wine than their companions did, he might be ridiculed. ”Do you look better than others?” Ning Que scoffed offhandedly, but he did not expect Sangsang looked up at him with her willow eyes full of dazzling stars as the twilight fading away. ”He is beautiful indeed, ah.”
Ning Que did not dare a response. He looked down at the surface of his boots out of the front of the robe as if ants were climbing over them.
There was an excited candidate below the list on the screen wall, saying, ”Six courses are all at A, two of which are at A+. This shall have been the best results for academy entry exams in the past ten years. Mr. San of South Jin Kingdom deserves the reputations sure enough.”
One of the upset candidates replied, ”Whoever said these are the best results in the past decade? A candidate from West-Hill got the A+ in six courses five years ago. All the instructors of the academy ran out to the crowd, because that's the best in the past century.”
After this remarks, it suddenly turned quiet below the screen wall. Xie Chengyun and other two persons frowned looking at the place where the sound came from. It's unexpected to get A+ in all six courses in academy entry exams. This statement was too astonishing. The unknown candidate who could get the best results in academy entry exams in the past hundred years was enough to kill the so-called genius of the whole world!
”Why didn't we hear of that candidate from West-Hill before?” The previous man asked reluctantly.
That candidate glanced at him ironically and said, ”That West-Hill candidate didn't attend any other assessments after completing the academy entry exams. He was directly and specially recruited to the Second floor by the dean. He might have been studying at the Second floor for the past five years. How can the secular mortals like you and me hear of him?”