Chapter 27: The Exam

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

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.

With the sound of the door closing, everyone seemed to be lost, not sure what the school was playing at. After a long silence, some of them gave up wondering and began the exam, followed by…cries of astonishment.

Ye Qingxuan heard someone in front of him curse, and when he started the examination himself, he was shocked as well. Out of six pages, only one page was on grammar, music theory, and mathematics. Four pages were essay questions!

Four full pages!

Advanced questions which had nothing to do with basic music theories!

‘The impact of the church’s reform over a hundred years ago, on the Anglo system,’ ‘the rise of the School of Choir and its leading figures,’ ‘briefly describe the seven questions raised by Hermes,’ ‘The similarities and differences between Runes’ grammar and the common language,’ ‘St. Gregory’s four big achievements,’ ‘The five criteria of the Choir…’

Up until the last page, it was completely blank.

“Did I get the place wrong? Is this the Trinity College?”

Some candidates were scratching their heads and making painful noises. Last night’s crash studying on music theory and mathematics had been completely useless!

“Isn’t the advanced mathematics supposed to be hardest part…”

“I never studied Rune’s grammar!”

Under the whispered complaints, Ye Qingxuan clutched the paper and looked around with surprise. Had Wolf Flute done him an even bigger favor than he had thought? He grabbed his pen and felt uneasy.

–

In the busy examination room, no one had even thought to look up at the grand dome. No one knew that above the dome, there was a group of people casually holding wine glasses, looking at their miserable expressions.

On the second floor of the lecture hall was a hidden floor. In a magnificent hall, the floor was completely transparent, like crystals. The proctors were sitting on the couch, and looked down at the movements in the examination room, also exchanging words with each other.

“It seems that this exam is very effective.”

Several proctors looked at each other and laughed.

They watched everyone’s sad expressions, and congratulated the one next to them, “Genius idea, Mr. Ben!”

“Thanks.” Ben nodded, proudly rubbing his mustache. He said with a smile, “After all, the School of Choir is also a part of what the musicians must know. If the commoners do not understand, they can’t blame the others right?

“The Royal Academy of Music is the most knowledge-intensive school in Anglo. Testing only advanced mathematics and basic music theory won’t be comprehensive enough.”

Some people agreed, “I suggest that in the future, examinations as well as classes should expand this segment. Religious study should remain an important part of education.”

“Agreed!”

“Then it’s settled.”

Ben said, “I will report back to the school committee. If all the families here are in agreement, even the principal cannot disagree.”

The proposal had passed.

“The exam is so difficult this time. What if no one answers correctly?” Someone asked softly.

“The total number of candidates is two hundred and seventy. More than a hundred idiots will be dismissed and will no longer be our concern. We just need to take care of the remaining one hundred people.

“Yes. Religion is part of the noble family’s education. Even if it is not the main subject, they won’t be like the commoners, who know nothing other than how to praise the saints.”

The proctors looked at each other and laughed.

Most of the children of the noble families began all aspects of education before their coming of age, including art, religion, and etiquette. They were much better off compared to the commoners who only had at most two years in public school and only knew some hymns.

Once the scope of the examination went beyond the basic education, it would simply be a slaughter within the scope of the provisions.

Moreover, it would be easy to find the big fish in the small pond…the final interpretation was in the hands of the proctors. As long as everything was tidied up, even the principal would not be able to say anything once he came back.

Watching the group of blank-faced commoners, Ben could not help but laugh. During the long exam, someone pushed open the door, and sat quietly in the corner chair.

The noble proctors’ smiles slightly retracted, and gave the old man a quick sneering look, then turned away.

Ever since the noble faction won the upper hand, the musician faction had completely given up under the influence of the principal. In order to appear fair on the surface, the principal only assigned an inconspicuous teacher as the representative, just for show.

Compared to the elites who wore expensive clothing, even with his meticulous hair, the old man’s clothing was mediocre at best. He was very ordinary, and did not live up to the status of a musician.

He sat silently in the corner, not saying a word, and just looked down at the candidates. The dark iron surface of his mechanical metal prosthetic, replacing his right arm, shone slightly. Four fingers stretched silently.

He watched with concentration like a child.