"Oh? General Xiang has a daughter?"

"Of course. She’s six years old now."

"I’m still troubled by what happened all those years ago. It’s a relief General Xiang has a child," Mo Geluo said, looking in her direction. "Why isn’t Miss Xiang in attendance?"

"The little lass is Dean Chen’s disciple now. She’s sitting with him." The Beili Emperor’s face lit up with delight at the mention of Ye Qianning.

’He, too, was quite fond of that plump little doll. If she weren’t so ruthless, he would have certainly betrothed her to one of the princes.’

"To have earned Dean Chen’s favor, that little girl must be quite remarkable," Mo Geluo said as he looked over, his eyes filled with scorn. "General Xiang is so big and brutish, yet he managed to have such a darling child. How miraculous."

Ye Qianning caught his mocking gaze and shot back a look of her own, one even colder and more contemptuous.

Mo Geluo froze for a moment, his expression instantly darkening. ’How dare a mere slip of a girl look at me with such contempt!’

"Yes, it is quite miraculous," Dean Chen said with a faint smile. "General Mo, your mother was once the greatest beauty in all of Xi Yan. If I didn’t know who you were, I would never have guessed you were Lady Han’s son."

Mo Geluo’s face twitched.

"General Mo is Lady Han’s son?" Elder Gu exclaimed in surprise.

"He is."

"Well now, I never would have known if you hadn’t said so! I met Lady Han myself, back in the day. Tsk, this is... what a shame." Elder Gu stared at Mo Geluo, looking as if he wanted to say more but holding his tongue, just clicking it and shaking his head.

He didn’t say it out loud, but the look on Elder Gu’s face was more cutting than simply calling him ugly.

A smile touched the corners of Ye Qianning’s lips. ’He’ll never win a verbal spar against Master and Elder Gu.’

Faint sounds of laughter echoed from within the palace hall.

The Beili Emperor snorted inwardly. ’For Mo Geluo to be so arrogant while in Beili... if we don’t knock him down a peg, wouldn’t it make Beili seem weak?’

Mo Geluo was thoroughly vexed. He never expected to bring the fire upon himself.

Xiliu Yuan shot him a cold glance. ’What a brainless fool.’

"Dean Chen," Prince Yu, Helian Zheng, said as he stood up. "I wonder, do you have any requirements for accepting disciples?"

"I accept disciples based on affinity alone."

"In that case, what do you think of my nephew?"

Helian Chen rose and bowed to Dean Chen. "Dean Chen."

"The young Prince’s eyes are as bright as stars, and he has a dignified bearing. He is a very distinguished-looking young man," Dean Chen said with a smile.

"Dean Chen, I have read the Four Books and Five Classics, the National Canons, the Discourse on the Long Fu, and even The Essence of Restraint!" Helian Chen was thrilled to be speaking with Dean Chen and was eager to prove himself.

"For a prince so young to understand *The Essence of Restraint*... Impressive, very impressive," Dean Chen said with genuine surprise.

"*The Essence of Restraint* is nothing special. I’ve read many other books like it." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"HAHAHAHA! The young prince is truly erudite and exceptionally intelligent."

Helian Chen was overjoyed. "In that case, Dean Chen, are you willing to accept me as your disciple?"

"I am too old now. I can no longer take on disciples," Dean Chen politely declined.

Helian Chen’s joyful expression immediately fell. "If you won’t accept me as a personal disciple, Dean Chen, I would be content as an outer disciple."

"There is something you may not know, young Prince. My school set a rule long ago that an elder may not have more than ten outer disciples. As it happens, I already have exactly ten. I’m afraid I must disappoint you." The last outer disciple Dean Chen had accepted was over thirty years ago.

"I see... In that case, can I enroll in Lou Mountain Academy?" ’Dean Chen must still not understand me fully,’ Helian Chen thought.

"Of course."

"Thank you, Dean Chen. When the entrance examinations begin next year, I will certainly come to Beili."

"Excellent. I shall await your arrival at the academy, young Prince."