Chapter 97

Tuan Tuan no longer wanted to hear: "My disciple is just a bit bearded, he's not an old man!"

Everyone was even more indignant: "A little girl must not speak such wild words!"

"Cui Jiziu is old enough to be your grandfather, how can you gossip about him behind his back!"

"Disrespectful! Truly too disrespectful!"

Xiao Ningxun waited for the noise below to subside, then loudly said to the crowd: "My younger sister is indeed Cui Jiziu's teacher; she has already been teaching at the Guozijian for many days."

Wu Qilin looked pleased: "Exactly! She is our little teacher!"

The people below looked at each other, still unable to believe that the esteemed Jiziu of the Guozijian could actually be the disciple of such a child, even one held in someone's arms.

Master Yun Yai stood up: "Today's free discussion ends here."

"Please, young master, show the way; I wish to visit your mansion."

Xiao Ningxun performed a respectful bow: "Student is deeply honored; please, teacher, follow me." After saying that, he stepped forward, supported Master Yun Yai's arm, descended the stage, met with Tuan Tuan, and together they boarded the carriage and returned to the Prince's Mansion.

As the carriage had just come to a stop in front of the gate, before the curtain was lifted, a loud, vigorous shout was heard from outside.

"Old man Yun! You, disrespectful in your old age, dare to poach my corner?! You even want to climb onto my head to become my master ancestor? Keep dreaming your clear autumn dream!"

This voice was too familiar.

Tuan Tuan's eyes lit up; her little head eagerly poked out the carriage window, and indeed she saw Guozijian Jiziu Cui Daisheng, beard blowing, eyes glaring, standing at the gate, his old face flushed red with anger.

Cui Daisheng received a report that someone had come to complain to him, saying a little child claimed to be his teacher, and Master Yun Yai even wanted to take that child as a disciple, so he rushed over in haste.

Master Yun Yai got off the carriage unhurriedly, brushed his sleeves, and smiled narrowly: "Old man Cui, with such a fiery temper, aren't you afraid of scorching your long beard? Who dug your corner? I am simply cherishing talent, loving talent!"

"You cherish talent so much that you aim for my teacher's head? This is still digging my corner!!" Cui Daisheng strode forward a few steps, his finger almost poking Master Yun Yai's nose, "I tell you, Old Man Yun, other things can be discussed, but this matter—there's no way!"

Tuan Tuan and Xiao Ningxun watched the usually awe-inspiring Guozijian Jiziu Cui Daisheng, who in front of students was immensely dignified, now behaving like an old child squabbling with Master Yun Yai, and they couldn't help but laugh.

Several people, laughing and chatting, entered the mansion together; Cheng Ru'an came out to greet them: "Please, Jiziu, have a seat; this is……"

Xiao Ningxun quickly replied: "Mother, this is Master Yun Yai."

Cheng Ru'an looked surprised: "Master Yun Yai? Actually that contemporary great scholar Master Yun Yai? What an honored guest, please sit, tea!"

After everyone was seated, Master Yun Yai solemnly explained his purpose, especially praising Xiao Ningxun's performance at today's free discussion.

"Princess Consort, I have wandered all my life, lecturing everywhere, never lightly entertained the thought of taking a disciple. Today I see your son is truly fine talent and excellent quality, I cannot bear to miss it. Therefore I have presumptuously come, hoping to take your son as my disciple."

Cheng Ru'an, upon hearing this, was both startled and delighted.

The name of Master Yun Yai—who among scholars under heaven does not revere him? That he should take notice of Xun'er is Xun'er's fortune!

She suppressed her inner excitement, gazed gently at her son: "Xun'er, Master Yun Yai wishes to take you as his disciple; this is your fortune. Are you willing?"

Xiao Ningxun rose, first bowing deeply to Master Yun Yai, then turning to Cui Daisheng: "Sir Jiziu, I am currently studying at the Guozijian; I do not know whether you consent?"

Although Cui Daisheng had just been sparring verbally with his old friend, he also knew in his heart that this was an excellent opportunity for Xiao Ningxun; he stroked his beard and readily replied: "What objection could there be?"

"Old Man Yun may be eccentric, but his learning is genuine. If you become his disciple, it will greatly benefit your future. At the Guozijian, you need not worry."

After hearing this, Xiao Ningxun hesitated no more.

He straightened his robes, approached Master Yun Yai, lifted his garment, knelt upright, performed the great kowtow of three bows: "Student Xiao Ningxun pays respects to his teacher!"

"Good! Good! Good disciple, rise quickly!" Master Yun Yai personally reached out to help him up, looking at the handsome, spirited youth before him, his eyes full of satisfaction and affection.

After the teacher-disciple ceremony concluded, the two great scholars sat briefly, then rose and took their leave.

Leaving the Prince's Mansion, Master Yun could no longer contain his curiosity: "Old Man Cui, let me get to the bottom of this—why on earth would you bow to a little child as your teacher? This truly puzzles me."

Cui Daisheng glanced at him, lowered his voice: "Old Man Yun, do you think I did this on a whim? Let me tell you, the abilities of my little teacher are such that even you and I could only stare at the dust! Let me say……"

The two old friends' figures gradually faded into the distance.

That evening, Xiao Yuanhang returned to the mansion; hearing that his son had taken a renowned teacher, he was overjoyed and immediately ordered: choose an auspicious day, widely invite guests, and hold a splendid teacher-apprentice banquet.

Immediately afterward, his expression turned grave: "This natural disaster covers a vast area, its severity astonishing. Although the emperor has sent people to inspect the frontier, I still cannot rest easy."

Xiao Ningyuan nodded: "Father worries that, being far away, the borderlands might falsify the situation?"

"Yuan'er." Xiao Yuanhang slightly nodded toward his eldest son: "Make preparations; set out today, personally go to the frontier to conduct an on-site inspection, striving to grasp the true situation."

Xiao Ningyuan rose, solemnly accepting the order: "Yes, Father; I will not disgrace the command!"

"Third brother, at the Guozijian, please ask for leave on my behalf."

Xiao Ningxun nodded in agreement.

Tuan Tuan pursed her little lips, lunged forward to hug Xiao Ningyuan's leg, lifted her small face, full of reluctance: "Big brother, don't go."

Xiao Ningyuan's heart softened; he bent down, lifted his sister, touched her little forehead, and gently coaxed: "Tuan Tuan be good, big brother will go find the frontier's funniest toy, bring back the tastiest food, okay? Big brother will return soon."

Tuan Tuan didn't understand anything else; she only knew that big brother was leaving home again, she clung to his sleeve and refused to let go.

Xiao Ningyuan had no choice but to stay by her side until she fell asleep, then he packed his belongings, took two guards, and left the Prince's Mansion.

The next day, inside the Guozijian.

Tuan Tuan sat on the table where the instructor lectures, looking puzzled at Wu Qilin: "What exam? I didn't know about it."

"Little Master," Wu Qilin said quietly, "this is the major exam, held every year like this."

"The major exam?" Tuan Tuan looked bewildered, "How come nobody told me?"

Zuo Zhengji sighed helplessly: "Little Master Ancestor, this major exam is a set rule of the academy; it takes place at this time every year. You've only been here a few days, so of course you wouldn't know."

"Just that, in previous years at this time, most of the external students would… report illness and be absent." He glanced at the students, his wording polite but the meaning clear: it was a collective skipping of the exam.

"Absent?" Upon hearing this, Tuan Tuan's little face instantly stiffened; she sprang up from the table, startling Zuo Zhengji: "Little Master Ancestor! You'd better not fall!"

Tuan Tuan stood with hands on hips, straight as a rod, her gaze sweeping over all the external students: "This year nobody is allowed to be absent! Not only must you take the exam, you must also do well!"

She paused: "Only those who do well will thereafter be qualified to be my students!"

"Those who do poorly," she said, her eyes shifting, she picked up the brush on the table, "will end up like this!" She bent it hard with both hands, but it didn't break.

The students all pressed their lips together, yet dared not laugh out loud.

Tuan Tuan exerted more force, still it didn't break; she grabbed it puzzledly to have a look, then she slammed it down hard against the table's edge—finally, the brush snapped.

"Whoever does poorly on the exam, I will deal with them! See?"

The students forced back their laughter, nodded one after another, as perfunctory as they could be.

Tuan Tuan looked at them, felt something was off, and thought: "How about this: if they don't do well on the exam, I'll watch them study every day! Follow them home to eat and sleep! It won't end until they improve on the next exam!"

"Huh?!" The students only then panicked, having this living Master Ancestor watch them study for a whole year without moving a step? That can't be allowed!

Tuan Tuan lifted his chin, looking fierce: "Everyone, memorize the text properly! No slacking!"

The students looked at each other, quickly opened their books at top speed, and the clear sound of reading rose in the outer dormitory class like never before.

Zuo Zhengji widened his eyes, staring in disbelief at the scene before him: these little dandy boys actually, really started studying earnestly?

He shook his head: my past earnest teachings to them couldn't even match a single milk‑toned threat from the little Master Ancestor?

That evening, at the Prince's Mansion.

Cheng Ru'an saw Xiao Yuanhang's expression uneasy, as if troubled, and asked, "Prince, have you encountered any difficulties at court?"

Xiao Yuanhang rubbed his forehead and said, "The few bandits who previously kidnapped Tuan Tuan have summoned the mastermind behind them."

"Oh?" Cheng Ru'an felt a tightening in his heart, "Who ordered it?"

Xiao Yuanhang looked up at his wife and said, "It was… someone close to the Princess."

Cheng Ru'an's complexion changed abruptly: "Princess?"