Nightfall

I Chopped a Mass of Peach Blossom that Spring

As they approached the Academy and entered the meadow, they found that those pink clusters were not just peach blossoms. There also was a mass of apricot blossoms in full bloom, though the peach blossoms still outnumbered them. The pale-pink peach buds were hiding behind the apricot blooms as they looked up, bashfully and secretly, at the passersby who intruded on their peaceful place.

Sangsang curiously climbed onto Ning Que’s shoulder and looked out of the window, watching as they got closer and closer to the Academy. Farther beyond was a striking, huge mountain mostly clouded by mist. She found herself feeling at ease, as she smiled with her eyes squinted in a cheerful mood.

The candidates who were waiting for the Academy examination all stepped out from their carriages. They quickly formed lines on the spacious slate ground under the instructions of the officials of the Ministry of Rites and instructors of the Academy before they rested in Yanyu verandas that were on either side.

The candidates were from all walks of life. Most were picked out by instructors of the Academy from village institutions, and the rest were recommended by different official departments. Over 70 candidates were from the Military Ministry’s recommendations alone. Although there were many people resting in the Yanyu verandas, the space was large enough to accommodate all of them without it feeling cramped.

Above the slate ground was the main structure of the Academy, clouded in thin mist and blossoms. As the structure was quite magnificent, flanked by two sidewalks that looked just like two wings of a phoenix from a distance, it looked extremely grand and majestic with a clean and clear atmosphere.

What Ning Que was concerned about now had nothing to do with the appearance of the Academy. Should he be enrolled, he could spend a few years appreciating its beauty with his own eyes and measuring its width with his own feet. But presently, he was worried that the number of candidates in the Yanyu verandas would be probably over 500, yet the Academy only accepted 200 students. Ning Que was aware that out of five they only took two, so the chance of him being one of them was not high, therefore, he became inevitably paranoid.

The candidates in the Yanyu verandas appeared to be quite composed and at ease, they were neither talking to each other nor hitting the books at the last minute. The finest young men in the Tang were all gathered here. Among them, there was a 30-something, weather-beaten lieutenant, and an under-14-year-old prodigy who was brought to Chang’an by one of the instructors form a rural village that was checking around uneasily. Certainly, no one wanted to reveal themselves as having a lack of confidence.

Yet Ning Que was becoming less confident as time went by, with his right hand quivering slightly. Several times, he had been quite eager to ask Sangsang to fetch the mock exams in the bag, but ultimately disciplined himself not to do so. When he had finally set his mind to quit pretense and had decided to cram at the last moment, a sudden solemn court tune floated over the slate ground.

The Yulin Royal Guards arrived in formation, the Guards of Honor walked in lines, and officials from all departments showed up followed by the visitors who had bought their tickets for the ceremony. Next came the bodyguards, the prince, the royal family, Her Majesty, and His Majesty. Having sat for a long time, the students all stood up from their seats and made a deep bow with their hands folded in front as they all chanted together, “Long Live His Majesty!” Alas, Ning Que’s final cramming time was now gone for good. Just as Ning Que was whinging in his mind, he suddenly saw a lady with an attractive profile who was dressed splendidly that walked in quietly and slowly. She was none other than the princess.

The Fourth Princess of the Tang Lee Yu was flanked by eunuchs, maids, and nannies. As they gradually walked by, they received fervent admiring looks from the unmarried young scholars, as well as surprised and uneasy looks from the ministers and officials. She then walked along the sidewalk to the center and made a bow to His and Her Majesty before she quietly stood at the left side of the emperor.