Chapter 832: Why Are So Many Arrivals Even More Than the Three-Character Classic

The next day, upon hearing that Tuan Tuan was to recite, Xiao Ningchen strode into Xiao Ningxun's study and blurted, "How are you teaching Tuan Tuan?"

"How could I have heard my mother say that Tuan Tuan spent last night dreaming, constantly chanting something like 'At the beginning of man, nature is fundamentally good'?"

Xiao Ningxun sighed, "His Majesty had her recite the Three-Character Classic, so I taught her the first two lines."

"And then?"

"Then she said it was all wrong and, arguing point by point, bombarded me with a slew of questions."

"I was truly at a loss with her; only yesterday did I finally understand what Lord Song meant by 'grain without harvest'."

Xiao Ningchen fell silent for a moment, then strode toward the Quiet Orchid Garden, saying, "I'll go teach her."

Xiao Ningxun pursed his lips and followed.

A little less than half an hour later, Xiao Ningchen emerged, exhausted as if he had just lost a battle.

Xiao Ningyuan came over, seeing his condition, and asked, "What's wrong with you? And Tuan Tuan?"

"She's reciting the Three-Character Classic inside," Xiao Ningchen said, his voice a little airy.

"How's the recitation going?"

"She turned 'if not taught' into 'the dog doesn't bark'—the dog of a little puppy."

Xiao Ningyuan froze for a moment, then burst out laughing, "The dog doesn't bark? Ha ha, what about 'nature can be transferred'?"

"She asked me whether a temperament can be moved away and whether it can be moved back."

The three brothers exchanged glances and sighed in unison.

"Let me try," Xiao Ningyuan rolled up his sleeves and went inside.

Not even half an hour later, he emerged as well.

The two brothers asked in unison, "How was it?"

Xiao Ningyuan said expressionlessly, "She asked me why Mencius's mother had to move house—moving is so troublesome—why not just beat Mencius up directly."

Xiao Ningchen looked up at the sky, while Xiao Ningxun raised his hand to his forehead.

None of the three brothers wanted to speak again, and Xiao Er kept grinning and laughing beside them.

Tuan Tuan hopped out, with Xiao Feifei and Little Jinjin tightly following her.

Xiao Ningchen scooped up his sister, gave her a kiss, and said, "You've been reciting all day, tired? Go run in the garden with Xiao Er; we brothers have something to tell you."

"Sure," Tuan Tuan slipped from his arms, obediently taking Xiao Er's hand and walking away.

The three brothers stood in the corridor, staring at each other.

Xiao Ningyuan spoke first, "How about letting Father teach personally?"

Xiao Ningchen shook his head, "Having Father teach Tuan Tuan the Three-Character Classic is worse than sending him to the battlefield to slay a thousand Red-haired Barbarians."

Xiao Ningxun added, "I think Father doesn't know how to teach at all; he just holds Tuan Tuan and says, 'If you don't want to learn, that's fine. Come on, Daddy will take you out to play.'"

Xiao Ningchen nodded, "Very possible."

The next day, Xiao Ran and Chen Hao arrived.

Xiao Ran pounded his chest, "Little Bit listens to me the most; everyone else can't, so I'll teach her!"

He strode in with his head held high, brimming with confidence and vigor.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he emerged with a face ashen as death.

Chen Hao asked cautiously, "How many lines has she managed to recite?"

"I don't know either," Xiao Ran said blankly, "She turned 'strict teaching, lazy teacher' into 'the legs are insufficient, there are many lions.'"

He grabbed Chen Hao's arm and demanded, "Chen Hao, tell me, what does this have to do with lions? Why did she think of lions?"

Chen Hao patted his friend's shoulder and went inside to take his place.

After the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, he emerged as well.

Xiao Ran asked anxiously, "How was it?"

"She… has a very unique line of thought," Chen Hao's face showed an extremely complex expression, "I think, actually, what she says makes a lot of sense."

"Because you didn't manage to teach her, she taught you instead," Xiao Ran said, closing his eyes in despair.

Xiao Ningxun suddenly recalled Gongsun Yue, "Shall we let Xiao Yueyue try? He's about the same age as Tuan Tuan and they're usually very close."

So, Gongsun Yue came.

He was the quickest to emerge.

The crowd gathered around and asked, "How's it?"

Tears glimmered in Gongsun Yue's eyes: "I taught Tuan Tuan 'When four years old, can give a pear', and she praised Kong Rong for being clever."

Everyone said, "Isn't that great? She finally understood a line."

Gongsun Yue shook his head, "Tuan Tuan said, 'He's only four and already knows big pears aren't tasty; the smaller the pear, the sweeter, and the juicier.'"

The crowd looked at each other in silence.

In the following days, the three brothers took turns, Xiao Ran and Chen Hao showed up daily, Gongsun Yue was inseparable, yet Tuan Tuan still hadn't managed to recite more than a few lines.

On the eighth day, Xiao Yuanhang finally could no longer bear it.

He lifted his daughter into his study, closed the door, and the father and daughter spent a whole afternoon together, with laughter filling the room.

Everyone waited quietly at the doorway.

At last, Xiao Yuanhang emerged, still holding his daughter.

Xiao Ningchen asked, "Father, has Tuan Tuan learned to recite?"

Xiao Yuanhang's expression remained unchanged, "She recites very well."

Tuan Tuan perched on his shoulder, grinned at everyone, "Daddy says I've mastered it!"

The onlookers exchanged glances—was it really so?

Soon, the ten‑day deadline arrived.

In Zichen Hall, Xiao Jieyun sat upright on the dragon throne, reached out and picked up the teacup, waiting to see what trick Tuan Tuan could recite today.

He had already ordered the rewards to be prepared.

If Tuan Tuan can recite it, she should naturally be allowed to go; but if she cannot, she must not be sent away disappointed.

Soon after, he heard a commotion coming from outside the hall.

The footsteps of a large crowd, mixed with the jingling of pendants and children's murmurs, stopped outside the hall doors.

Xiao Jieyun's teacup in his hand almost slipped, and he narrowed his eyes toward the hall gate.

How come there are so many people?

I clearly summoned only Tuan Tuan alone.

Outside, the attendant announced loudly: "Prince Ning, Princess Consort Ning, Guardian State Princess, Eldest Princess, Seventh Prince, Ninth Prince, Eleventh Prince, Twelfth Prince, Noble Consort De, Noble Consort Rong..."

Xiao Jieyun raised his hand to his forehead; I merely had Tuan Tuan recite a passage of the Three Character Classic.

The people who came are even more numerous than the Three Character Classic!

After reporting a long string of names, the attendant was out of breath, forced to pause, swallowed, and said: "National Preceptor, Lord Song Jingxian, requests an audience with Your Majesty!"