"Your Majesty."
Zhongli Ci led Zhongli Shan in a bow. The Qingyang Emperor beckoned with a smile. "Come, come, everyone's here."
He gestured for the two to take their seats. Zhongli Ci went to the opposite side and exchanged a look with the three Sages beside him, while Zhongli Shan turned to Wu Huaiwei and bowed his head in greeting.
Yu Sui watched Zhongli father and son take their seats across from her. The Great General was just as inscrutable as ever, his emotions impossible to read. Zhongli Shan, meanwhile, had half a hand wrapped in White Medicated Cloth and sat bolt upright beside his father.
"General Zhongli, your son and Nangong Family's Second Miss both cultivated at Taiyi Academy. You should have known long ago that she was Dean Wu's disciple. Why didn't you tell me sooner?" the Qingyang Emperor asked Zhongli Ci with a smile.
Zhongli Ci replied, "I only just found out myself, Your Majesty."
Zhongli Shan said, "Your Majesty, no one at Taiyi Academy knew about it either."
The Crown Prince gave a cold snort. "You were both at the same academy, taking the Cultivation Trial. How could you not know?"
Yu Sui chimed in, "Your Majesty, I told Dean Wu that unless I mastered the Reverse Star Technique, I couldn't be considered her disciple. I didn't want people to hear about it and think I was an embarrassment."
"Good!" The Qingyang Emperor gave Yu Sui an approving glance. "You've done your best to make something of yourself. The Prince, on the other hand, has been muddleheaded."
He sighed and brought up Nangong Ming. "I asked the Prince this morning, and only then did he tell me the truth. To him, both his children are dear. I can understand his predicament."
Seeing this, Yu Sui put