That One Word: Teacher

"Given Your Highness's age, not having a truly fixed teacher... is indeed somewhat regrettable."

After Ning Fengzhi finished speaking, the side hall fell silent for a moment.

Xue Qinghe naturally understood that there was more behind those words. But since Ning Fengzhi had not made it explicit, he did not rush to follow up on the hint. Instead, he refilled the slightly cooled tea before him, then smiled and asked, "Sect Master Ning, what kind of person do you think would be suitable to be my teacher?"

Ning Fengzhi glanced at him. If it had been anyone else, they would probably have already guessed some of his meaning after hearing those words. Yet Xue Qinghe neither pretended not to understand nor hurried to show eagerness; he merely returned the question.

The smile on Ning Fengzhi's face deepened instead. "That depends on what Your Highness wishes to learn."

"There are royal consecrates for cultivation, and people to teach etiquette and rules." Xue Qinghe considered briefly. "If there is truly anything lacking, it would probably be the things not found in books."

"Such as?"

"When to take a step forward, and when to stop; whose words can be trusted three parts out of ten, and whose words cannot be fully trusted no matter how pleasant they sound."

He paused there, his gaze passing over the teacup on the table and falling on the courtyard outside, bathed in morning light.

"And when sitting in a certain position, what one ought to see."

Ning Fengzhi stopped tapping his folding fan.

Lu Yuan, seated nearby, remained silent as well.

This time, Ning Fengzhi looked at Xue Qinghe for longer than before, as though reassessing those words. Only after a while did he slowly say, "I do happen to understand a little about the things Your