Chapter 833: Who to Beat?

Xiao Jieyun set down his tea cup, rubbed his temple, and said, "Xuan."

Eunuch Cheng looked around the hall, his face showing difficulty: "His Majesty, allow this old servant to first order people to prepare brocade benches; this, this imperial study has never had so many people come at once!"

"Uh." The Emperor buried his face in his hands, "Go quickly."

"Yes."

Eunuch Cheng jogged into the inner hall.

Soon, he entered with a line of young eunuchs, arranging several brocade benches.

Then he stood beside Xiao Jieyun and shouted, "Xuan!"

The hall doors flung open, and the first to rush in was Tuan Tuan.

Xiao Tuanzi today wore a pomegranate‑red dress, with a matching silk ribbon in her hair, looking sprightly.

Xiao Lin and Xiao Jin flanked her on the left and right, looking like two tiny guardians.

The rest of the crowd entered in a line.

The Eldest Princess deliberately wore a bright yellow palace outfit, with a nine‑tailed phoenix hairpin in her hair, exuding an imposing aura.

Then Noble Consort De and Consort Rong, both ladies, appeared, their expressions calm, steps dignified, as if attending a formal palace banquet.

Following were Xiao Ze, Xiao Ran, and Chen Hao.

Xiao Ran entered and grinned, "Father Emperor, your son comes to pay you respects."

Xiao Jieyun gave him a sidelong glance, "What kind of respect are you offering? Clearly you're here to back up Tuan Tuan."

Then Song Jingxian and Chu Yuan entered slowly with faint smiles.

Chu Yuan wore a plain Daoist robe, standing out among the hall's myriad palace‑clad silks.

Xiao Jieyun raised an eyebrow; Chu Yuan was the most surprising, "Since when has the National Preceptor joined this revelry?"

Finally, Prince Ning and his wife, with their three brothers lined up neatly behind the parents.

Eunuch Cheng watched the hall fill with rows upon rows of people, and couldn't help raising his sleeve to wipe his eyes.

Everyone who dotes on Tuan Tuan has all arrived.

Princess, you must recite it.

All knelt together and saluted, "We bow to His Majesty! (Father Emperor) Long live, long live, ten thousand years!"

"Everyone, rise. You may be seated."

They took their seats.

Xiao Jieyun looked at the sea of dark‑clad people, shook his head helplessly, "I only asked Tuan Tuan to recite the Three Character Classic; why has everyone shown up?"

The Eldest Princess smiled faintly, "I heard the imperial brother intends to test Tuan Tuan's studies; my younger sister hasn't seen her for a long time, so I came to check."

Xiao Jieyun cleared his throat, turned to Noble Consort De and Consort Rong, "Are you also here?"

Noble Consort De smiled, "Jin'er constantly talks about Tuan Tuan; hearing she would recite, I brought her along."

Xiao Jin kept nodding, "Indeed, Father Emperor! It's your son who missed Tuan Tuan."

Consort Rong replied, "Your servant and Lin'er are as well."

Xiao Jieyun's gaze fell on Chu Yuan, "National Preceptor, why are you free to come to me today?"

Chu Yuan smiled faintly, "I, a humble monk, couldn't rest easy, so I came to see whether my little disciple has been diligent."

Xiao Jieyun nodded and gestured to Tuan Tuan.

Tuan Tuan trotted on her short legs, pattering to the Emperor, raised her little face, and crisply shouted, "Imperial Uncle! I will recite!"

"Really?" Xiao Jieyun raised an eyebrow, "Recite it for me to hear."

Tuan Tuan clasped her tiny hands behind her back, puffed out her little chest, and began to recite, shaking her head.

"At the beginning of man, nature is inherently good."

Xiao Jieyun nodded slightly, "Not bad."

"Human nature is similar, but habits are far apart…"

Xiao Ningchen raised his eyebrows, Xiao Ningxun gave a slight nod, and Xiao Ningyuan's face showed a smile.

The younger sister recited quite well!

Tuan Tuan paused, "In ancient times, Meng's mother, beat Mengzi…"

Xiao Jieyun was stunned, "Beat whom?"

The more Tuan Tuan recited, the smoother yet more absurd it became: "When the dog doesn't bark, the lion roars! When the legs are insufficient, the lion makes up…"

Xiao Jieyun: "…"

Everyone in the hall lowered their heads simultaneously.

Xiao Yuanhang's lip corner twitched, and Cheng Ru'an clenched the handkerchief tightly.

Xiao Ningchen turned his head away, his shoulders shaking.

Xiao Ningxun raised a hand to his forehead, his fingers trembling slightly.

Xiao Ningyuan turned around directly.

Xiao Ze sat upright as always, yet couldn't suppress the corner of his mouth.

Xiao Ran's face was nearly tucked into his chest.

Chen Hao bit his lip forcefully.

Xiao Jin and Xiao Lin widened their eyes, wondering why Tuan Tuan's version of the Three Character Classic differed from ours.

The Eldest Princess raised her hand to cover her mouth, and Noble Consort De cleared her throat a few times, trying to signal that Tuan Tuan had recited incorrectly.

Consort Rong lifted her hand and covered Xiao Lin's ears.

Lin'er, please don't follow Tuan Tuan's learning!

Eunuch Cheng's lips twisted, and he furtively glanced at the Emperor, "Your Majesty, the princess has already done her best; please don't be angry with her!"

Chu Yuan sighed, silently uttering "Boundless Celestial Venerable".

Song Jingxian's complexion was the worst; he really didn't want to admit that she was his student.

Tuan Tuan was still reciting obliviously: "Rong is four years old, can pick pears! Few lessons, many lions…".

"Enough, enough," Xiao Jieyun could no longer hold back, raised his hand and cut her off:

Tuan Tuan stopped, tilting her little head: "Imperial Uncle, I haven't finished reciting yet."

"I know you haven't finished." Xiao Jieyun inhaled deeply, "Tuan Tuan, tell me, what does 'many lions' mean?"

Tuan Tuan blinked, confidently replying: "It means there are many lions!"

She looked at the Emperor with a puzzled face: "Imperial Uncle, why is the Three-Character Classic all about lions?"

Xiao Jieyun could neither laugh nor cry; there are no lions in the Three-Character Classic!

He helplessly closed his eyes.

He expected today's scene to be lively, but didn't anticipate it would become this lively.

The Crown Princess cleared her throat lightly: "Brother Emperor, although Tuan Tuan couldn't recite the entire Three-Character Classic, every word she did recite is an exhortation to study."

"It is already…" she paused, "the essence has been learned."

Xiao Jieyun frowned, looking at his younger sister, "Essence? You call that essence?"

Noble Consort De interjected: "Indeed, Your Majesty, the princess has already memorized quite a bit; why rush?"

Consort Rong also laughed: "Your Majesty, the princess is still young; it's not too late for her to recite when she returns."

Xiao Lin whispered: "Father Emperor! If Tuan Tuan wants to go, just let her go!"

Xiao Jin nodded: "Exactly, Father Emperor! When Tuan Tuan returns, I, your son, will recite with her!"

Xiao Jieyun's gaze slowly swept over the crowd, finally landing on Song Jingxian's face: "Lord Song."

"The old minister… is here," Song Jingxian's voice was hoarse.

Xiao Jieyun said: "I finally understand what you meant by 'grain without harvest'."

"Tuan Tuan is your student; what do you think?"

Tuan Tuan turned, waddling to Song Jingxian, leapt into his arms, and looked up at him with her little face: "Teacher! Did I recite especially well?"

Song Jingxian: "…"

Especially well?

Yes, a good teacher's face wouldn't know where to put it!

He looked at the little Xiao Tuanzi in his arms, his face full of affection, rose and bowed: "Your Majesty, it is the old minister's inadequate teaching; please do not blame Tuan Tuan."

"The old minister humbly requests Your Majesty to grant the princess permission to travel."

"Perhaps letting her go out to see the world is better than being cooped up in the study memorizing by rote."

Xiao Yuanhang, seeing this, also stood up: "Lord Song's words are reasonable."

"I only want her to study properly," Xiao Jieyun shook his head, but the corner of his mouth finally curved, "You all are good, each of you helping her."

He gestured to Tuan Tuan: "Come here."

Tuan Tuan ran over, went around the imperial desk, and threw herself into his arms.

Xiao Jieyun placed her on his lap, gently pinched her little nose: "Enough, enough, I promise you, I'll go with your Third Elder Brother."

"To recite the Three-Character Classic so jumbled that it becomes the Lion Classic, you are indeed the first person across ages."

Tuan Tuan clutched his neck, planted a forceful kiss on his face: "Thank you, Imperial Uncle!"

She blinked, her face full of grievance: "Imperial Uncle, these past days I've been reciting every day, so tired! I haven't been able to play properly."

"Oh, you didn't play well?"

Xiao Tuanzi nodded vigorously: "Hmm hmm!"

Xiao Jieyun placed her on the ground: "Then quickly go play with Jin Er and Lin Er."

"Alright! I'm off, Imperial Uncle!" Tuan Tuan turned and ran to Xiao Jin and Xiao Lin, grabbing one with one hand.

"Your son bids farewell!" Xiao Jin and Xiao Lin shouted, and followed Tuan Tuan out of the hall.

Xiao Jieyun looked at the three little ones' backs, smiling broadly.

Everyone said their farewells in turn, and the Emperor kept Xiao Ze and Prince Ning father and son behind.

"Lao Qi, how to retake Taiyuan, do you have a plan?"

Xiao Ze replied: "Father Emperor, I think it can be reclaimed without attacking."