Chapter 222

Gongsun Yue's face turned pale; he looked up and saw a purple-clad youth in fine brocade standing not far away, staring at him with contempt.

Xiao Ningxun frowned. Gu Chengxiao? His leg healed? Indeed, enough time has passed.

Gu Chengxiao sized up Gongsun Yue from head to toe, his voice rising: "Your Father Emperor sure knows how to keep accounts, sending an unwanted son as a hostage—what's the difference between you and those three cities?"

"How dare you wear princely attire and sit here? If I were you, I'd find a crack in the ground to hide in, so as not to embarrass yourself here!"

Gongsun Yue lowered his head, saying nothing.

Xiao Ningxun walked over to Gongsun Yue's side: "Master Gu, today is my younger sister's initiation as a disciple; at the Imperial Teacher's residence, your harsh words here, judging a foreign prince, are improper in etiquette and against ritual—you've overstepped."

Upon seeing him, Gu Chengxiao recalled his leg broken by a horse, which had taken months to heal; a surge of anger flared in his chest.

"Xiao Ningxun, you are now Count Wenhui, holding a title—how dare you openly protect a foreign hostage, aren't you afraid of implicating the Ning Prince's Mansion?"

Gongsun Yue lifted his head to look at Xiao Ningxun, at a loss what to do.

Xiao Yuanhang smiled faintly: "How the Ning Prince's Mansion fares is no concern of yours, son of the Minister of Revenue."

Gu Chengxiao, seeing Prince Ning speak, dared not say more, performed a salute, and turned to leave.

Xiao Ningxun lowered his head to look at Gongsun Yue and whispered: "Don't be afraid."

Gongsun Yue's eyes reddened slightly, and he gave a slight nod.

This was the first time someone had stood up for him in front of everyone.

Having someone back you up feels truly wonderful.

Song Jingxian took Tuan Tuan's hand and walked in.

He wore a deep purple scholar's robe, his silver hair neatly combed, walked to the main seat and stood firm, while Tuan Tuan knelt obediently on the mat before him.

The steward sang loudly: "The initiation ceremony begins!"

Those who had been chatting and exchanging pleasantries all fell silent.

"First bow: honor the teacher, cherish the Dao, pass on the flame!"

"Second bow: be eager to learn, bring no shame to the master's gate!"

"Third bow: teacher and student as one, together attest to the Great Dao!"

With each utterance, Tuan Tuan knocked his head once before Song Jingxian.

After the three bows, the maidserved the prepared tea to the teacher; Tuan Tuan lifted the cup, raised it above his head: "Teacher, please have some tea!"

Song Jingxian took it with a smile, sipped lightly, set the cup on the table, bent slightly, and personally helped Tuan Tuan to his feet.

The Prince Ning family watched their little Xiao Tuanzi with smiles, faces full of pride and gratification.

Gongsun Yue widened his eyes, looking at Tuan Tuan standing in the midst of the crowd.

Having heard that this old man is the Imperial Teacher, Tuan Tuan, your luck is truly good.

Song Jingxian looked at Tuan Tuan: "As your teacher, I hope you retain a child's heart, view the world with a wise eye, and judge others with a kind heart."

"I remember!" Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously.

The steward announced loudly: "The rite is complete——!"

The initiation ceremony ended, and guests came forward one after another to offer congratulations.

The Imperial Teacher's acceptance of a disciple caused a sensation in Jingcheng; all the high-ranking nobles either sent representatives in person or presented generous gifts, and even the Emperor bestowed an ink treasure: "Carved jade becomes a vessel."

After the bustle, Song Jingxian glanced at Gongsun Yue standing alone in the corner, head lowered: "Please, everyone, take your seats."

The banquet began, cups and tallies intermingling, an atmosphere of harmony.

Zhou Jing'an gazed at Tuan Tuan, surrounded by admiring stars, and inwardly seethed: "That damned girl!"

Turning his head, he saw Gu Chengxiao sitting at another table, looking displeased.

He walked over, sat beside Gu Chengxiao, and said: "Brother Gu, you're far too impatient—how could you speak so disparagingly of Xiao San in front of Prince Ning?"

Gu Chengxiao downed a cup of sullen wine: "I just find him displeasing! I don't know what fortune the Ning Prince's Mansion has run into."

"Originally, Prince Ning was bedridden, his three brothers little better than cripples, and it seemed they could barely hold their ground in Jingcheng."

"Now, inexplicably, they're all healed! They've even earned merit, been promoted, and granted higher ranks! That Xiao San is merely a bastard son; back when we studied together at the academy, who looked up to him?"

"I can't even finish speaking! Later he actually entered the Guozijian! And became a disciple of Master Yun Yai Xiansheng—from then on he's risen to prominence!"

The more he spoke, the angrier he grew, draining his cup in one gulp: "How do you expect me to swallow this anger!"

Zhou Jing'an secretly rejoiced: "Great! I also take issue with that damned girl from his household!"

"Last time he made me lose face before my father and the Imperial Teacher—I haven't vented that anger yet!"

He leaned close to Gu Chengxiao and whispered: "Brother Gu, the Da Xia hostage is now the Princess's companion-reader; we can't afford to offend the Ning Prince's Mansion, nor can we afford to offend him."

"If he makes a fool of himself, the Ning Prince's Mansion will lose face. Even if they wanted to protect this Da Xia hostage, they'd dare not go too far. How about this……"

Gu Chengxiao heard him out, tilted his head to glance at him: "Sure, Brother Zhou—since we share a common enemy, let's do as you say."

A moment later, Zhou Jing'an sat beside Gongsun Yue with a smug smile: "Young Prince, today is a fine day for the Princess's initiation; as her companion-reader, shouldn't you show something?"

Gongsun Yue stared at him, clenched his sleeves, kept a stern face, and shook his head.

Zhou Jing'an curled his lip, rose to his feet, faced the crowd, and spoke loudly:

"Everyone! The Da Xia prince himself just told me he wishes to publicly display his talent, performing Da Xia's famous blessing dance to congratulate the Imperial Teacher and Princess Jiayou, and to liven things up for all!"

The entire hall fell silent; all eyes turned to Gongsun Yue.

Many faces showed amused smiles.

For a prince of a nation to perform a dancer's dance in public is a great humiliation, whether for Gongsun Yue or for Da Xia.

Gongsun Yue jerked his head up, his face deathly pale, opening his mouth to retort.

But Zhou Jing'an gave him no chance: "I've long heard that Da Xia's blessing dance is exquisitely superb; Your Highness, having this refined interest, we are truly blessed to witness it! Though young, your sincerity is great—truly admirable!"

Gu Chengxiao immediately chimed in: "I've heard that Da Xia's blessing dance requires bare feet treading the five grains, symbolizing abundant harvests, thus it is extraordinarily efficacious."

"Someone! Scatter the five grains on this ground! Please, Your Highness, offer a sincere blessing to the Imperial Teacher and the Princess, and also to the people of our Lie Kingdom!"

The prepared servant promptly brought a sack of beans and rice; with a "splash", he poured it onto the open space in the middle of the hall, spreading a thin layer.

Looking closely, one saw that many finely crushed, hard walnut shells had been deliberately mixed into the beans; their edges were sharp, and it was easy to imagine that if one truly stepped in barefoot, they would be pierced until skin split and flesh tore.

Several young nobles began to chime in: "Jump! Imperial Prince!"

Everything has been prepared for you; how could you not jump? Prince of Da Xia, please!

Gu Chengxiao's face broke into a mocking, triumphant smile.

Zhou Jing'an's eyes flickered with malicious glee.

Gongsun Yue's small frame trembled slightly, tears swirling in her eye sockets, yet she clenched her lips tightly to keep them from falling.

Xiao Ningxun stared coldly at Gu Chengxiao; though he had not wanted to publicly argue with him at his sister's initiation feast, he could not bear to see Gongsun Yue humiliated like this.

Just as he was about to speak, Tuan Tuan clapped her small hands and said in a clear voice: "Great! Zhou Jing'an, your idea is wonderful!"