Chapter 251: Duoduo, Are You Thirsty?
What a massive jade carving!
Everyone knew that Eastern Lin was rich in jade, but a piece this enormous was extremely rare. Just by looking at its luster, one could tell it was top-grade jade—worth a fortune even in a small fragment, let alone such a huge block.
The carving depicted two connected mountains. Every tree on the mountains, the waterfall cascading down from the peak, the pavilion at the summit, and the two people playing chess inside it were all carved so vividly that they seemed almost alive.
The old monarch was also stunned. He walked up to the jade carving, looking it over from left to right, praising it repeatedly. “Good, good! The ruler of Eastern Lin truly put his heart into this.”
Qi Hengqing cupped his hands and said, “These two mountains stand closely together, just like the relationship between Southern Yun and our Eastern Lin—mutually dependent and friendly neighbors. As for the two people playing chess in the pavilion, does Your Majesty see anything familiar?”
“Oh?” The old monarch exclaimed, quickly stepping closer to examine it more carefully. After a moment, his expression brightened. “Are the two young men playing chess meant to be myself and Brother Qi?”
When he was young, the old monarch of Southern Yun had once shared a friendship with the current ruler of Eastern Lin. Later, however, each ruled their own land, and what little friendship remained had long since faded. Still, recalling those memories softened his expression.
Qi Hengqing smiled slightly. “In reply to Your Majesty, one of them is my father.”
Your father?
The old monarch was surprised. “Boy, could it be that you are…?”
“I am my father’s seventh son—Qi Hengqing, Seventh Prince of Eastern Lin.”
The old monarch sized him up and burst into laughter. “Haha! No wonder you looked familiar. Now that I think about it, you really do resemble Old Qi in his youth by seven or eight parts! Very good, very good. A tiger father has no dog son—you’re even more outstanding than your father.”
Qi Hengqing’s expression changed subtly. If these words reached his imperial father’s ears, wouldn’t that invite displeasure? That damned old fox!
Though anger flared in his heart, his expression remained calm. “My father excels in both civil and military affairs. I am not worthy of even one ten-thousandth of him.”
After that, the envoys from the other two countries presented their gifts as well. However, with the jade carving having already stolen the spotlight, the rest seemed rather unremarkable.
As the ruler and ministers chatted amicably, Qi Hengqing casually remarked, “I’ve heard that Southern Yun’s National Preceptor possesses heaven-defying abilities, and even Your Majesty shows him great courtesy. Yet today, why haven’t we seen the National Preceptor? Could it be… that the few of us are not worthy of his condescension?”
Hearing this, the old monarch paused mid-drink and explained, “It’s not that the National Preceptor is disrespecting you. He has just taken on a new disciple and is out parading the streets today.”
Qi Hengqing gave an understanding “oh.” “So that’s the case. I’ve wronged the National Preceptor. Taking one’s beloved disciple out on a street parade is indeed important. We can meet another day.”
The old monarch trusted Gong Moran deeply and would not be swayed by a few words, yet a trace of dissatisfaction still arose in his heart.
Any day would do for a parade—why choose today? And he had heard that the new disciple had been promoted from a lowly servant. Was parading her really that important?
Qi Hengqing poured himself a cup of wine and raised it toward the old monarch. “Your Majesty, I offer you this toast. May you enjoy blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea and longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountains. I hear the National Preceptor possesses an art of eternal youth. With him here, you are sure to live to a hundred.”
The old monarch downed the wine, his gaze darkening again and again.
This boy was clearly trying to sow discord between him and the National Preceptor. If not for what the National Preceptor had told him last time about the life-for-life continuation technique, he might truly have been led astray.
Still, Qi Hengqing’s words stirred a deep resentment within him. If the National Preceptor had long known of such a secret art, why hadn’t he told him earlier? Why wait until he was on the brink of death?
He still remembered how he had cast aside all dignity and begged for his life—a monarch of a nation reduced to such humiliation.
And… had the National Preceptor truly held nothing back?
But soon, the old monarch brushed that fleeting resentment aside. Without the National Preceptor, there would be no prosperous Southern Yun today. How could he doubt the National Preceptor’s loyalty?
Qi Hengqing glanced at the old monarch, steady as a mountain, and sneered inwardly.
He firmly believed that there was no such thing as an unbreakable bond between ruler and minister—especially when that minister had long wielded overwhelming power, threatening the ruler’s position.
At this moment, the National Preceptor truly was out parading the streets with his little disciple.
Tomorrow was the Heaven-Worship and Blessing Ceremony; today’s parade—his lordship was indeed willful.
The National Preceptor still rode in that ostentatious white gauze palanquin carried by eight men. Nan Xun walked beside it, drifting closer and closer until she was nearly pressed up against the palanquin.
Only now did Nan Xun realize that the big boss didn’t parade the streets without reason.
There were generally two situations for such a parade. The first was when the National Preceptor accepted a new disciple and would lead them through the streets to present them to the public—just like three years ago when Nan Xun first met the big boss, right after he had taken in Gong Shiba.
The second was by imperial decree. A few months ago, when the old monarch had been gravely ill and public unrest was growing, the National Preceptor merely appearing on the streets was enough to instantly calm the people.
Standing in the procession with her fellow senior brothers, Nan Xun basked in the awe and reverence from the crowds on both sides of the street and felt as though she were about to ascend to immortality.
She tilted her head slightly, covered her lips with her hand, and whispered quietly to the big boss, “My lord, are you thirsty?”
Her voice was so soft it was almost lip-reading. But Nan Xun felt sure the big boss could hear her.
Inside the palanquin, Gong Moran indeed heard her.
He had been sitting still, eyes closed in rest. At her words, he slowly opened his eyes, turned his gaze slightly toward the outside, and asked, “Duoduo, are you thirsty?”
Once the National Preceptor spoke, the entire procession slowed.
Everyone thought he was about to issue some important order—only to find he was merely asking his little disciple whether she was thirsty. For a moment, their expressions were truly something to behold.
The disciples of Moran Hall were unfazed. Back there, the lord had always indulged that girl shamelessly; they were used to it. But the outer palace guards escorting them were utterly shocked—when had the National Preceptor ever asked such a thing during a street parade?
Nan Xun coughed awkwardly. She had thought that even if the big boss replied, he’d do so quietly like her. Who knew he’d not only fail to lower his voice but also expose her little thought in one sentence?
That’s right—parading the streets was impressive and all, but after so long without a single drop of water, she really was thirsty.
They had been parading all morning. Before leaving, this little glutton had eaten a pile of pastries, and now her lips were so dry they were starting to peel.
Suddenly, the sound of tea being poured rang out from inside the palanquin. To those who had been marching all morning, it sounded like heavenly music.
A faint fragrance of tea drifted out.
The curtain of the palanquin was lifted slightly by a long, elegant hand, and a freshly poured cup of tea was extended toward where Nan Xun stood.
