A few days later, Moonlight Pavilion, Heaven Dou City's largest finishing school for young ladies, held its annual graduation ceremony. Most of the city's prominent nobles had been invited to attend.
When the carriage came to a stop before Moonlight Pavilion, Ning Rongrong had just lifted the curtain when she saw a welcoming maid waiting beneath the white jade steps at the entrance.
The maid wore Moonlight Pavilion's standard silver-white formal dress, with delicate orchid patterns embroidered around the collar. Her hair was pinned up with nothing but a plain silver hairpin. Upon seeing Ning Rongrong, she curtsied in a perfect salute. "Miss Ning."
Ning Rongrong hopped out of the carriage and casually handed her cloak to the maid, her voice carrying a familiar lightness. "Has everyone arrived? Is Crown Prince Brother here?"
Taking the cloak, the maid led the little ancestor inside. "His Highness the Crown Prince has already arrived. He is speaking with the lords in the main hall. Most of the guests are here."
The maid hurried alongside her, explaining as she led the way.
Hearing that everyone had arrived, Ning Rongrong blinked. "Has that Earl Chen Chu arrived too? Where is he?"
Ever since she had embarrassed herself in the sect's main hall, and her father had repeatedly spoken to her about Chen Chu, she had begun to take him very seriously, treating him as her greatest enemy.
"I'm right here. Is Miss Rongrong looking for me?"
Before the maid could answer, Chen Chu had somehow already come up behind her. He had heard the entire conversation between the two of them.
Ning Rongrong suddenly turned around and saw Chen Chu standing not far behind her, dressed in a dark brocade robe with a jade belt at his waist and a folding fan in hand. He looked at her with amusement, the corner of his mouth curved in a faint, ambiguous smile.
Her eyes immediately widened, and her tone sank slightly. "Who was looking for you? I was just asking."
"Just asking is fine." Chen Chu's smile faded as he stepped closer. "You little brat had better not cause trouble for me. Otherwise, I won't indulge you."
After walking past her and leaving behind that warning, Chen Chu strode toward the main hall. As he walked, he muttered, "I wonder what Sect Master Ning was thinking, letting this little troublemaker out alone."
Ning Rongrong's face turned red, half from anger and half from embarrassment.
Clutching her skirt, she stomped her foot as she watched Chen Chu's retreating back. "Who's a troublemaker? You're the troublemaker!"
The maid stood to one side, scarcely daring to breathe. She had been at Moonlight Pavilion for three years and had seen all sorts of noble young masters and ladies, but she had never seen anyone like Miss Ning and Earl Chen, who started bickering the instant they met.
"Come on! Ignore him!" Ning Rongrong took a deep breath and headed toward the main hall. After two steps, she turned back with a solemn expression and warned, "You are not allowed to tell anyone what he said just now."
The maid hurriedly nodded. "Yes, Miss Ning."
Upon entering the main hall, Ning Rongrong immediately spotted Xue Qinghe seated beside the principal seat on the eastern side, speaking with the Minister of War. She restrained the anger on her face, hurried over, and curtsied properly. "Crown Prince Brother."
Xue Qinghe looked up at her, a gentle smile appearing on his face. "Rongrong is here. Come, sit."
Ning Rongrong nodded. "Father was unable to come because of sect matters, so he specifically asked Rongrong to deliver this letter to Crown Prince Brother."
With that, she took a letter from her soul tool bag and handed it to Xue Qinghe.
Xue Qinghe chuckled and praised Rongrong for being sensible and capable.
Meanwhile, Chen Chu had also met several of the empire's generals—or, more precisely, the sons of several generals with real power.
For example, Ge Tian, Ge Long's second son.
"Greetings, General of the Town Army. To command the Imperial Guard around the capital at such a young age, your future achievements will surely be limitless."
As the two men with the greatest family backgrounds and authority at this banquet, they naturally had to get acquainted and exchange a few flattering words.
Chen Chu smiled brightly. "I wouldn't dare. Marshal Gelong is hailed as a pillar of the empire, commanding all three armies and striking fear into Star Luo. I have long admired him greatly."
The two chatted about this and that. Seeing how warmly they interacted, the surrounding nobles were secretly startled, yet none dared to step forward and join the conversation.
After they spoke for a while, a series of footsteps came from outside the hall. Tang Yuehua entered holding a jade ruyi. Her gaze swept across the room, and the hall instantly fell silent.
Chen Chu's attention was drawn to her as well. As expected of a woman possessing the Noble Ring, the aura she exuded was truly captivating. No wonder these nobles were willing to spend so much money supporting her.
"Today is Moonlight Pavilion's thirty-seventh graduation ceremony." Tang Yuehua's voice was not loud, yet it carried unquestionable solemnity. "Three years ago, these children entered Moonlight Pavilion to learn etiquette and understand propriety. Today, as they graduate, they must also uphold propriety and perform the proper rites."
She raised a hand. "First item: paying respects to the teachers."
As soon as she finished speaking, thirty-two graduates filed out from both sides, forming three rows and bowing deeply to Su Manqing. Their movements were perfectly uniform.
Sitting among the guests, Ning Rongrong immediately spotted Chen Chu at the front. Seeing him chatting and laughing with the others only made her anger flare.
After reading Ning Fengzhi's letter, Xue Qinghe folded it and tucked it into his sleeve. Leaning close to Ning Rongrong's ear, he said, "Your father said you should restrain your temper. Don't argue with Chen Chu or make trouble for him. Learn more from Pavilion Master Yuehua about Moonlight Pavilion's rules and noble etiquette."
Ning Rongrong blushed and shot him a slightly coquettish glare. "Crown Prince Brother, you're taking his side too!"
Xue Qinghe smiled and shook his head. "I side with reason, not family. Chen Chu has a good temperament. If even he can't put up with you, then you really are something, little girl."
Ning Rongrong was about to retort when Tang Yuehua called out, "Second item: presentation of coursework." She promptly swallowed her words and looked toward the center of the hall.
What followed was nothing more than singing, playing instruments, conversation, and dancing, but Chen Chu found it quite enjoyable. So this was the life of the nobility. It really was rather pleasant.
Seeing Chen Chu's eager expression, Ge Tian's lips curved slightly. He leaned closer and asked, "Brother Chen, do you have your eye on anyone? Someone you like? If so, I'll have someone make the arrangements."
Chen Chu was startled by the question. Just as he had expected, so many second-generation elites and young talents of the empire, led by the Crown Prince, had come to a graduation ceremony. This was the nobility choosing wives, keeping these stunning women within their own circle.
"Brother Ge seems quite familiar with this business. But I have no interest in these little girls. I prefer someone more mature."
"After all, women are like wine. Only with the sediment of years do they gain a flavor worth savoring."
Seeing Chen Chu solemnly ramble on about it, Ge Tian actually nodded as though he understood after hearing his theory that women were like wine. He seemed to agree with it wholeheartedly.
"General Chen, those are rather profound words. I actually think you're right too. After a few times, these little girls lose that sense of novelty. Women with some experience and depth are better."
Ge Tian glanced at the stage and continued looking for a while, but he did not see anyone suitable. Then his gaze fell on Tang Yuehua, whose figure was full and graceful. He had not thought much of it at first, but upon looking closely, he was stunned.
"General Chen, your eye truly is sharp. But Pavilion Master Yuehua is someone we dare not touch."
Tang Yuehua's status was special. Even Prince Xue Xing, a veteran among women, had been unable to win her over, much less them. They could only sigh over the pity of it.
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