Rong Xuan seemed not to catch the Emperor's implied meaning. He simply nodded and said, "I didn't think it was nonsense back then. But now... after being lectured by my two younger brothers, I deeply feel that I was really muddled before!"
The Emperor raised his eyebrows. "Did your younger brothers fight with you?"
Rong Xuan replied, "Yes. What my third and fourth younger brothers said that day made me extremely ashamed. As a member of the Rong family and a soldier of the Rong family army, I didn't think about benefiting the common people but only cared about personal gains and losses. I was unworthy to be a courtier or a general. My abilities are even inferior to those of a centurion under my fourth younger brother. How could I be worthy of the position of the heir of the Rong family? Since that day, I have sincerely repented and have never drunk alcohol again."
Before the Emperor could say anything, an octogenarian stepped forward from the front. He walked forward shakily, knelt down, and kowtowed. "Your Majesty, I believe that it is a great virtue to correct one's mistakes when one realizes them. I was much more arrogant than the young man of the Rong family in my deeds back then. However, the late Emperor remembered my merits and forgave me many times. Later, he even came to visit me in person when I was seriously ill. I regret it so much!"
This old man was Prince Rui, the younger brother of the founding Emperor. He was born to the empress, while the founding Emperor was the eldest son but not the legitimate one. It was only because their father passed away early that the founding Emperor took the lead.
Prince Rui was doted on since childhood. When he grew up, he was domineering and often spoke disrespectfully. However, the founding Emperor never minded. He cherished Prince Rui as if he were his own younger brother. Once, when Prince Rui made a mistake and should have been whipped ten times, the founding Emperor, as the elder brother, took the ten whips for him on the grounds that he had failed to urge his younger brother to correct his mistakes.
Later, Prince Rui was in a state of depression and fell ill in bed. The founding Emperor even came to visit him in person, shedding tears and saying things like "the illness is in my younger brother's body, but the pain is in my heart."
Since then, Prince Rui had reformed himself and never offended his superior again. The story of the founding Emperor and Prince Rui was highly praised by the historians. This story of "it is a great virtue to correct one's mistakes when one realizes them" was also recorded as a glorious chapter in the history books of the Great Zhou.
The Emperor stepped forward personally to help Prince Rui up and said with a smile, "Prince Rui is my grand - uncle. Since even the late Emperor visited you in person, how could I not? Prince Rui, you don't need to perform such a grand ceremony."
Prince Rui shook his head and then turned to Rong Xuan. "Rong Xuan, as a subject, you should know how to be loyal to the Emperor and serve the country. You must not harbor resentment, let alone slander the country and the monarch."
Rong Xuan kowtowed to plead for forgiveness. "Your Majesty, Your Highness Prince Rui, I have made mistakes!"
The Emperor laughed heartily. "Even the late Emperor knew that it is a great virtue to correct one's mistakes when one realizes them. I should naturally follow his example. I know the Rong family's loyalty well. Rong Xuan is also a child I watched grow up. As the elder, I should urge you to correct your mistakes instead of punishing you."
Rong Xuan shouted "Long live the Emperor" three times. Then he helped his long - kneeling father up and returned to his own seat. He looked extremely high - spirited.
Shi Ning'an watched as her grandfather and eldest uncle were deeply grateful, and then looked at the Emperor, who was in a good mood and personally supporting Prince Rui. She then blankly realized something.
The eldest prince thought this was a trap he had set, but he didn't know the principle of "while the mantis stalks the cicada, the oriole lurks behind". She and Rong Sui thought they were perfectly safe and had turned the tables, catching the Dong family off guard. Who would have thought that the Emperor was actually involved in this?
The Emperor was clearly the wise man playing the game of chess. In the court, it was always a situation where either the east wind overpowered the west wind or the west wind overpowered the east wind. Keeping a balance between the two was the best strategy. The same was true for the Dong family and the Rong family.
The Emperor was not unaware of the eldest prince's actions. In fact, he had long intended to punish him. The Rong family was just a springboard.
After getting rid of the Dong family, it was time to give the Rong family a warning. At least after this incident, the Rong family would be grateful for the Emperor's kindness and should keep a low profile for a while.
As for the future, who would rise and who would fall? No one knew.
Anyway, this matter was finally settled. The Empress Dowager sighed and looked at the young master Yu from the Northern Qi. "We've really made a laughingstock in front of our far - away guest!"
Young master Yu rolled his eyes and said with a faint smile, "Such things may affect Your Majesty the Empress Dowager's mood. I would like to perform a sword dance to liven up the atmosphere. I wonder if Your Majesty the Empress Dowager would grant me permission!"
The Empress Dowager was not very interested, but still waved her hand. "Yes."
Young master Yu presented a flower sword. Rong Sui personally inspected it. After confirming that the sword was safe, he handed it back to young master Yu. Young master Yu pursed his lips and smiled. When he unsheathed his sword, he raised his eyebrows and smiled at Shi Ning'an.
In a short while, Rong Sui raised his hand and said to the Emperor with a smile, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, it's not very interesting for one person to perform a sword dance. If two people dance against each other, it will be more beneficial and more exciting. I would like to dance with young master Yu to celebrate Your Majesty the Empress Dowager's birthday and wish you a long and healthy life."
The Empress Dowager smiled. "Is A Sui unable to think of a birthday gift and is taking advantage of the young master from the Northern Qi? However, A Sui is right. As a warrior of our Great Zhou, A Sui can fight with the young master from the Northern Qi to see how different the martial arts of the Northern Qi are from those of our Great Zhou."
Young master Yu squinted at Rong Sui, glanced at Shi Ning'an again, and sneered with a confident look.
However, Rong Sui was always cold - hearted and extremely heroic. It was the first time for him to dance with such a flower sword. He changed his clothes. His white robe was in sharp contrast to young master Yu's black robe. Each of them held a flower sword. Comparing the two, Rong Sui looked like an immortal from the heaven, while young master Yu was clearly inferior.
Some bold noble ladies in the hall had already let out shy exclamations and even shouted to cheer for Rong Sui.
Shi Ning'an was sitting in the hall and heard the surrounding discussions.
"It's really rare for the third young master Rong to perform a sword dance in person!"
"He is so handsome. How can that so - called prince from the Northern Qi compare with him? Wow, how can there be such a handsome man in the world?"
"Ah, if my family background were a bit higher, I would ask my parents to propose marriage to the Rong family. Just looking at such a handsome man every day would make me feel better."
Shi Ning'an pricked up her ears to listen to the noble ladies' remarks. She felt that every word they said had hit right at her heart. Her face turned red, and her small fists unconsciously tightened. Rong Sui... such a good - looking, heroic, and immortal - like man. She... also liked him.
She looked up and saw that both of the men on the stage were looking at her. For some reason, when she looked at Rong Sui, she felt that there was a tender look in his eyes.
"I originally thought that the prince from the Northern Qi, although his appearance is different from ours, is still good - looking. But I didn't expect that compared with the third young master Rong, he is not even worth mentioning."
"You're talking nonsense. Who is the third young master Rong? He is the leader of the four young masters in the capital. Who can compare with him? I've never seen a more handsome gentleman than him."
"Yes, the fourth young master Rong is also good - looking. The fourth young master Rong is even better - looking!"
The topic then changed direction. Instead of discussing the two men on the stage, they started to argue about which one of the third young master Rong and the fourth young master Rong was more handsome.
Rong Heng frowned. Naturally, his perspective on things was different from that of the young ladies. He whispered an explanation to Shi Ning'an. "In terms of martial arts, young master Yu is no match for my elder brother. But this is just a showy sword dance. The emphasis is on the dance rather than the sword. I'm afraid my elder brother doesn't know how to dance, right?"
An image appeared in Shi Ning'an's mind of a handsome young man dancing while waving a folding fan. Even... his clothes were half - off, revealing his strong chest muscles, just like what she had accidentally glimpsed that day. His strength was mixed with a touch of charm.
Rong Heng turned back and asked in surprise, "Cousin, why is your face so red?"
Shi Ning'an panicked. She quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe her face and stammered, "That... that, it's a bit stuffy in the hall. Yes, it's a bit stuffy."
Rong Heng just said "oh" and continued without thinking much, "To be honest, it would be okay if it were just one person. But when two people are performing a sword dance, they not only have to dance beautifully but also show a difference in skill. I think it will be very difficult for my elder brother."
Shi Ning'an asked, "Why? Didn't you say that young master Yu is no match for your elder brother?"
Rong Heng explained, "Of course, an ordinary competition is different. But this is a sword dance. Young master Yu clearly came prepared. Does my elder brother know how to dance?"
Shi Ning'an thought silently that a man with good martial arts skills should have enough physical flexibility, so it shouldn't be difficult for him to dance.
Rong Heng continued, "Moreover, my elder brother has to pay attention to the strength. If he is too strong, it will seem that our Great Zhou is not magnanimous. If he is too weak, it will seem that our Great Zhou's warriors are useless. It has to be just right, with the two being evenly matched and my elder brother being slightly better. This level of strength, tsk tsk tsk, can my elder brother handle it well?"
Hearing this, Rong Xuan showed a smile on his face. "Fourth brother has really grown up. He knows how to look beyond the surface when looking at things."
Rong Heng was a bit proud. "That's right. I'm the bravest and most powerful person anyway."
Rong Xuan shook his head and said, "Your analysis is good, but it's not entirely correct."
Rong Heng quickly asked, "What's wrong?"
Rong Xuan said, "It's true that young master Yu came prepared. But you know very little about the things of the Northern Qi. The Northern Qi is different from our Great Zhou. In our Great Zhou, whether it's an ordinary competition or a military battle, strategy is the key, while the Northern Qi values strength more. If you observe carefully, you will find that although young master Yu is not very tall among the people of the Northern Qi, he is very strong. People who have been exercising their strength all year round are like this."
Rong Heng nodded as if he understood.
Rong Xuan continued, "So, even when young master Yu is performing a sword dance, he should still focus more on strength, and his moves are more heroic. Rong Sui is different. Rong Sui is a warrior of our Great Zhou. He is more gentle and is more suitable for this kind of sword - dancing style. Moreover, when comparing the two, sometimes it is more appropriate to defend rather than attack."
As they were talking, the two people on the stage had already started their competition. Rong Xuan was right. Even when young master Yu was performing a sword dance, his moves were powerful and seemed to be full of force. It could be described as menacing. Rong Sui, on the other hand, did not take the initiative to attack. He just defused each move, dancing and retreating at the same time. It made people dizzy and also thrilling.
Rong Heng asked, "Elder brother, how do you know so much about the Northern Qi?"
Rong Xuan's face became solemn. He looked at Rong Heng calmly and said, "A Heng, only by knowing both the enemy and oneself can one be victorious in every battle. I know you understand this principle. But we are military generals. The thing military generals fear most is being complacent and conservative. You are guarding the border of the Great Zhou. Wuyun is a strategic stronghold and the place where the three countries fight. I know you are well - aware of every move of the people in the Northern Desert. But we are guarding the Great Zhou, not just Wuyun."
Rong Feichi turned back and looked at Rong Xuan seriously, then praised, "A Heng, you are far behind your two elder brothers."
Just then, young master Yu suddenly changed direction. He flew forward with his sword and stabbed directly at Shi Ning'an.