Chapter 20: Let's Dance the Ballroom Dance

Inside the Imperial Palace, various trees and plants swayed gracefully, creating a pleasant environment.

Xue Qinghe led Qin Jian and the other along the way, taking the opportunity to introduce the scenery of various places.

"You are late additions; the Etiquette Training Class has already been running for ten days, so you might not be able to keep up with today's lesson..."

Xue Qinghe suddenly said, "But it doesn't matter; I will guide you when the time comes."

"Then many thanks, Crown Prince."

Qin Jian said, then asked, "You just mentioned that today is dance training; what is that like?"

Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong hurriedly pricked up her ears as well.

Xue Qinghe smiled and said, "What we teach in the imperial family is naturally court dance. The imperial family has many social engagements, so court dance is a necessary skill. Have you learned it before?"

Court dance, for social engagements... isn't that just ballroom dancing...

Having transmigrated, Qin Jian indicated he was not worried at all.

But Ning Rongrong was somewhat worried: "I... I haven't learned it..."

"Don't worry, I will teach you when the time comes."

Xue Qinghe seemed to have been waiting for this very sentence and spoke immediately.

"Oh..."

But Ning Rongrong still couldn't help but glance at Qin Jian and said, "Qin Jian, do you know how?"

"Uh, I might know a little bit..." Qin Jian said, rubbing his nose.

Xue Qinghe couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Court dance is different from ordinary dance; what it emphasizes is not beauty, but the interaction between people. Qin Jian, you haven't lived in the Imperial Palace, so you shouldn't have seen this kind of dance. It's better if I teach you."

Qin Jian gave her a strange look.

She seemed very keen on teaching Ning Rongrong court dance, which is to say, ballroom dancing.

That kind of dance brings the distance between two people within the comfort zone of strangers; what is she trying to do...

Finally, the three arrived at the place where etiquette was taught.

This was a large palace, inside which dozens of people could be seen sitting in groups of two or three; they were likely princes, princesses, and some children of nobles.

"Crown Prince!"

Seeing Xue Qinghe walk in, everyone bowed in salute.

"No need for formalities," Xue Qinghe said very gently.

Then she let Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong, who were behind her, come forward: "Today we have two new students joining us: the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Rongrong, and Jian Douluo's personal disciple, Qin Jian. Everyone, welcome them."

Sparse applause rang out, neither enthusiastic nor cold.

"Wow! What a beautiful girl!"

Suddenly, a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy ran out from the crowd. He extended his right hand to Ning Rongrong and said, "Hello, I am the Fourth Prince of the Empire, Xue Beng. Let's get to know each other."

Xue Beng?

Qin Jian immediately perked up, then looked toward this professional pretender.

Ning Rongrong clearly was not going to shake hands with Xue Beng; she just nodded.

In any case, with her status as the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, her position was even above that of an imperial prince, so this was not considered impolite.

But that Xue Beng's expression changed: "Hey! Are you looking down on me?!"

Qin Jian raised an eyebrow and stepped forward, saying, "Fourth Prince, Rongrong is a girl; one cannot just shake hands with people casually."

"It's just etiquette, don't you understand that!"

Xue Beng glanced at him, then held his nose in the air: "And who are you?"

The acting is a bit exaggerated...

But as a 12-year-old boy, it's not bad.

Before Qin Jian could speak, Xue Qinghe stepped forward and frowned, saying, "Xue Beng, do not be rude. This is Jian Douluo's personal disciple, Qin Jian."

"Eh? Jian Douluo's disciple?"

Xue Beng suddenly became interested: "Then are you quite strong? Let's have a spar!"

Qin Jian pulled his sleeves together and said, "I am here to learn etiquette, not to fight."

"Tch, coward!"

Xue Beng once again held his nose in the air.

"Well said!"

Just then, a woman's voice came from the entrance: "You are here to learn etiquette, not to fight. Prince Xue Beng, you are to stand in the corner today."

"Ah?"

The arrogant expression Xue Beng had just a moment ago collapsed instantly: "Yes... Teacher Yue."

"Teacher Yue?"

Qin Jian's heart stirred: "Could it be Tang Yuehua?"

He immediately looked toward the door and saw a graceful and luxurious beautiful woman walking in slowly, followed by two beautiful young girls.

Seeing this beautiful woman, Qin Jian couldn't help but be surprised, because he actually couldn't tell the woman's actual age.

At first glance, she seemed to be in her twenties, but her eyes looked as if they had seen through everything in the world, which was by no means something a woman in her twenties could compare to.

The silver court dress she wore looked so fitting and so noble on her.

Moreover, there was not a trace of soul power fluctuation on her; clearly, she was not a Spirit Master.

"This is the founder of our Heaven Dou Empire's Court Etiquette Academy, Yuexuan, Teacher Tang Yuehua."

It really was Tang Yuehua!

Qin Jian's eyes lit up.

She was unable to break through level 10 in her entire life, yet she possessed a congenital Domain like the Noble Circle, attracting numerous nobles to send their children to study at Yuexuan.

I never expected that she would actually come to the Imperial Palace in person to teach.

"Last time I already taught you the key points of court dance; for this lesson, practice in pairs. Choose your own partners; those who fail to meet the standard will be punished by standing in the corner as well."

Tang Yuehua was very strict as a teacher and began the lesson immediately.

Following this, the twenty or thirty people divided into individual pairs.

"Qin Jian, I can help you find a partner to lead you in the dance, and then how about I lead Rongrong?"

At this moment, Xue Qinghe suggested considerately from the side.

Qin Jian glanced at her.

Although he knew she was a woman and was already twenty years old, he felt... extremely resistant to letting her lead Ning Rongrong in dancing!

"I want to be your partner; I don't want to dance with anyone else..."

At this time, Ning Rongrong was also tugging at Qin Jian's sleeve: "Qin Jian, Qin Jian, it's our first day here, the teacher shouldn't punish us, right? If it really doesn't work out, at worst we'll just stand in the corner."

Qin Jian helplessly spread his hands toward Xue Qinghe and said, "Rongrong doesn't want to partner with anyone else. My apologies, Crown Prince."

Xue Qinghe was only slightly stunned before returning to her gentle demeanor: "It was my presumption. Then you two can just watch the others learn; if Teacher Moon punishes you, I will plead for you."

"Then many thanks, Crown Prince," Qin Jian nodded and said.

As all the students in the room began dancing the court dance in pairs, Qin Jian and the other, who remained motionless, felt a bit awkward.

"Qin Jian, Qin Jian, what should we do? That Teacher Moon has started checking, she is so fierce!"

Seeing Tang Yuehua point out problems in several groups one after another and then sending them one by one to the wall to stand in punishment, Ning Rongrong became a bit panicked.

"Hmm... Rongrong, I don't know this court dance of theirs either... but I know a better-looking ballroom dance, do you want to learn it?" Qin Jian whispered.

"Is it even better-looking than theirs?"

Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong's eyes immediately lit up, and she said repeatedly: "I want to learn, I want to learn!"

Qin Jian said: "Then Rongrong, listen to me, first place your left hand on my right shoulder..."

(End of chapter)