Chapter 91: Unsightly

A few people exchanged remarks in low voices, audible only to those on their own side.

"Indeed. Better to have the child bring out that beast. Besides, only she knows where it is now. If, as Elder Du said, it truly is a ferocious creature, then keeping it beside an ordinary child would make it all too easy for someone with ill intent to exploit her," Murong said gravely.

"Teacher, Elder, why discuss it so much? In the end, she's just an ordinary little girl. Ask her for it directly," Ye Ling said in her bright, clear voice.

The two elders, Li and Du, exchanged a glance. No matter what, asking a powerless child for something like this was rather hard to do without embarrassment.

Still, after weighing everything, they also felt it would be best to have the child bring out the little beast.

Teacher Murong smiled. "If the elders find it inconvenient, why not leave it to Yan Xu and Ye Ling?"

Elders Li and Du nodded slightly. "Very well."

While the few of them were exchanging thoughts in secret, strains of music from pipes and strings had already risen from the center of the hall.

The dancers had begun to move gracefully to the melody, their fragrance drifting through the air.

As the emperor watched the performance, he turned and introduced the Yu Feng Academy guests. "These are my sons. This one is the Crown Prince, Duan Yu. Yu'er, why don't you greet these seniors at once."

Duan Yu immediately rose and bowed respectfully to the two elders. "Greetings, seniors."

Elder Li nodded, stroking his beard with a smile. "Your Highness the Crown Prince has excellent aptitude. It seems Your Majesty has a most outstanding heir..."

Duan Qing beamed at the praise.

Duan Yu, too, smiled at the compliment and thanked them repeatedly.

"To be frank, Your Majesty should already know that on this journey to the Kingdom of Yu, aside from passing through, we have another purpose," Elder Li began slowly.

"Yu Feng Academy is about to begin a new round of admissions. In addition to the academy's own examinations, we will also select a number of exceptionally gifted children from various places as specially admitted students, to enter Yu Feng Academy." As he spoke, Elder Li glanced at the wives and children present, then smiled. "It seems Your Majesty has already made proper preparations."

Ji Tianxin had originally intended to step outside for a stroll and digest her food, but seeing the dance begin ahead of her, she simply stayed where she was and watched.

Though Ji Tianxin disliked noise and clamor, she did like and appreciate beautiful people and beautiful things.

For instance, the graceful dancers before her.

Ji Huali glanced at Ji Tianxin beside him. As expected, she was still just a child.

"You've never seen this before?" he asked. Thinking of how the child had always been away from home, he supposed she had not seen much of the world.

Ji Tianxin answered truthfully, "No."

In truth, it was not quite that she had never seen such things; it was only that she had never sat properly like this to appreciate someone else dancing.

When she saw the lovely dancer offering her performance before the throne, Su Qing found her vaguely familiar.

Then she suddenly remembered. Wasn't that the woman who had argued with the master in the street that day?

Shangguan Yun'er glanced at Duan Yu, then lowered her head shyly and continued her dance.

Yet when she turned, her eyes happened to sweep over Ji Tianxin.

Why was that damned girl here?!

She was startled inwardly, though on the surface she still maintained her smile and kept dancing, even as her mind began to wander.

"Not beautiful. Let's go outside for a walk," Ji Tianxin said suddenly, finding it all rather dull.