27 The Exam (1/2)
Mr. Sidney, who had not slept all night, turned around in his office and watched the sun shine through the windows, his eyes bloodshot.
A middle-aged man in an expensive suit came and politely knocked on the door. Ben was full of excitement, ”Sir, the Principal has just taken the carriage and gone to Wellington.
”Disregarding the objections from the Ministry of Education, and at the risk of offending five or six big families, he still insisted on expelling McCain of the Cameron family. He now must pay the price.”
Mr. Sidney had expected this. The departure of the Principal meant that the musician faction would remain silent in the next two months and that the elite faction would prevail, which would be a good thing. However, as one of the representatives of the Academy's nobles, he was not pleased at all.
”It's a pity for McCain. He was a good-for-nothing but he was still the concertmaster,” Ben said.
”He was found smoking mandala. He deserved it,” Sidney said indifferently. ”This might have been arranged by his brothers or sisters to rid him of his right to his inheritance. In any case, the exam is now in our hands, sir.”
”I will not allow the Royal Academy of Music to continue going downhill,” said Ben. ”Temperament is the privilege of the Bloodline of Glory, and to see a group of shameless guys dare to appear in my class, I just do not feel comfortable.”
”Of course,” Mr. Sidney nodded.
Because the elite faction now controlled the enrollment examinations, it would no doubt be a disaster for the commoner candidates, especially in a place like the Royal Academy of Music, where the noble bloodlines were concentrated, and many saw the commoners as threats...
But this time, Mr. Sidney could not deal with a headache, ”Whatever you do this time, there is one person...whom you must proceed with caution.”
”So the Bach rumor is true?”
Although not many people knew, Ben had obviously heard about what happened last night. But because of its absurdity and weirdness, not many people wanted to believe it at all.
”I thought about it all last night, and it's not necessarily untrue. I even think that the bastard Maxwell must have already known but had kept it a secret just to make a fool of me.”
Mr. Sidney looked gloomy, ”I will not be present for this examination. No matter how many of them you dismiss, that Eastern little devil, you must deal with him carefully. Ben, do you understand what I'm trying to say?”
”Do not worry.” Ben softly laughed, ”The recommendation letter was just a recommendation to us after all. If he can't pass the exam, even Bach won't be able to say anything?”
”Sounds like you are all prepared?”
”We have carefully prepared the contents of the examination, in addition to...a special segment. Everything is under control, sir.”
”Then go,” said Sidney, as he nodded with satisfaction, ”The school board will remember your contribution.”
”This is what everyone of elite blood should do.” Ben bowed, and closed the door behind him with a smile.
-
Every time Ye Qingxuan stepped into the Royal Academy of Music, he felt something special.
It was like something was extracted from the air, something was missing. Like a saltwater fish swimming in freshwater, or a lizard from the mud coming to the desert…his breathing seemed a bit easier, but things did not feel the same as usual. He was unsure if it was good or bad.
When he entered the school, it had seemed that he was the only one that felt this way. When he looked at others, they all seemed calm, as if they noticed nothing.
Ye Qingxuan twisted his neck uncomfortably, and continued walking ahead with the school worker's lead.
Because today was a formal examination, he did not bring Old Phil just in case someone thought he was cheating. Because of that, Old Phil was extremely unhappy today.
”Please go this way.” Up ahead, the school worker was guiding them through the huge school campus. Among the lush forest, buildings of each of the school factions vaguely appeared. On a long walk, one might feel lost.
It was said that the whole school was designed by the artist Hermes over a hundred years ago. The layout of the school districts and some of the structures had not changed within the past one hundred years, and still left a strong touch of Queen Victoria's era.
That short-lived era ended with the disaster brought on by the creation of the steam engines. Most of the designs were lost as well. Ye Qingxuan was quite excited to see such ancient designs today.
The line walked forward solemnly except for Ye Qingxuan, who was looking around, sometimes whispering with excitement. Occasionally the noble students would look over, their eyes clearly showing the word 'country hick.' Ye Qingxuan just rolled his eyes back at them.
”Here is the public lecture hall. Please wait here and be patient.” The school worker opened two heavy wooden doors and pointed to the wide space behind them. ”All the seats are posted with your name, and the teachers will be here soon to distribute the examination papers.”
Ye Qingxuan sat down in his chair and looked around. Outside the window were the woods, the distant square, and the fountain that could be seen through layers of green. It must have cost a fortune to build this school. Even the dome above him was full of beautiful carvings. Ye Qingxuan stared for a long time.
Yet somehow, he felt a gaze from nearby.
He turned around to look and saw Banner staring at him, no expression on his pale face. After a long time, he slowly turned away.
”Are elites all weird like this?” Ye Qingxuan muttered in silence.
-
As time went by, someone finally came through the door and distributed the papers.
”The examination is four hours long. You are not allowed to whisper, cheat, hand in your paper in advance, or look around…now, let the examination begin,” the gloomy faced man finished coldly.
He turned away, not even giving the candidates a chance to ask questions. Before he left, he shut the thick wooden doors behind him.