Chapter 12 (1/2)

In front of Ling Tian was a long table with a myriad of items placed on it. On half of the table, there were sabers, spears, bows and more. They were more than enough to show the expectations the Ling family had of Ling Tian: To be a great general like his father.

As Ling Tian took a glance over all of those things, he understood plenty of things. Become a general in future? Ling Tian had honestly not thought about that before. Since the heavens are giving me another chance, how could I be satisfied at just being a general of a small nation?

On the other half of the table, the things there seemed extremely insignificant. There were the essential items for scholars like a calligraphy brush, ink and more. Furthermore, there was even a small stamp on the table. Ling Tian could not help but laugh bitterly. There just isn't anything for me to put up a show.

His small body stood atop the large table as he glanced at all of the items. But he did not stop at any of the items as he glanced through them all. Everyone stared at this small little child with interest as their eyes widened in shock when they saw that he was not interested in any of the items present! Just what does he want?

Everyone present had witnessed this ”one-year-old catch” many times already. No matter what, the child would definitely choose something for sure. Even if they did not like it, other children will still pick up some of the items and play with it like a toy before putting it down for sure. However, they had never witnessed a ceremony where the child was uninterested in anything. Everyone could not help but think to themselves, He is indeed befitting of being the successor of the Ling family. He is so composed and steady even at such a young age.

Consort Ling Ran let go of the emperor's arm and with a fragrant wind, she went to the side of Chu Ting'er who was by the side of the table. With an amused smile, she looked at her nephew and asked, ”Tian'er, are you not going to choose anything?”

Chu Ting'er stared at her son nervously as she thought to herself, Little brat, choose something at least. She was nervous to the point where she almost wanted to choose something on her son's behalf.

Just at this moment, Ling Tian's eyes lit up as he looked towards Ling Ran's waist. On her waist, there was a fragrance bag which was hanging there! Ling Tian's eyes then gleamed with joy as he ran towards his aunt.

Ling Ran was completely elated, ”Little Tian Tian, you are indeed close to your dear aunt, hahaha! Ah?” Before she even finished laughing, her joy had already turned into shock! She stood there at a loss, looking at Ling Tian who had already grabbed onto the fragrance bag which was on her waist! His fair soft hands grabbed tightly onto the fragrance bag and he refused to let go! At the same time, he cried out in a barely audible voice, ”I... want this!”

Ling Zhan's face immediately darkened! He glared fiercely at Ling Ran and almost wanted to throw this daughter of his, who was a consort, out with a single fist.

Ling Zhan had seen many young masters from the different n.o.ble families grabbing fragrance bags or other things similar to it during the ”one-year-old catch” ceremony. All of them who grabbed fragrance bags were all mercilessly mocked by his grandfather! A cla.s.sic playboy in the making! Today, he was also afraid that this little brat here would also end up choosing something like this. Thus, he commanded all of these things to be thrown out for the ceremony today, lest he ends up becoming a laughingstock. Furthermore, he instructed that all the fragrance bags on the ladies must be removed for today. Duke Ling was extremely meticulous in his planning and did not allow anything to go wrong.

But no matter how meticulous he was, the only one he forgot was this daughter of his who was in the imperial palace. Today, it could be said that the fragrance bag on Ling Ran was the only one that could be found in the Ling family mansion! Things were just so coincidental!

As all of the officials who were present saw that, they were all dumbfounded and tried their best to control their laughter! Even the emperor, Long Xiang, who was extremely dissatisfied with the empress also couldn't help but break out into laughter. Watching the colorful emotions on Ling Zhan's face, everyone found it increasingly difficult to hold back their laughter. Perhaps, this was just like how a smart man would end up falling to his own ingenuity.

Ever since all of the officials entered the Ling family mansion, they had realized that there weren't any fragrance bags on the ladies in the mansion. If there were only one or two who did not have fragrance bags on them, it might be a coincidence. But if all of them did not have any fragrance bags on, it was enough to show that something was wrong. Although everyone present was silently cursing this cunning old man for cheating as such, who would dare to say it out in the open?

If the Ling family placed the fragrance bag on the table openly and Ling Tian grabbed it, everyone would only tease him for a moment and forget about it. However, now that there wasn't a single fragrance bag present in this gigantic Ling family mansion with a population of over a thousand, Ling Tian still unexpectedly ended up grabbing it! Furthermore, it was the fragrance bag that the consort herself was wearing! Seeing how Ling Tian's little face turned red from grabbing on to the fragrance bag so tightly, everyone could not help but laugh out even louder.