Chapter 235 (2/2)
”I don't know which instructor in the Academy is your teacher. But as far as I can see, I'm qualified enough to lecture you. Well, speaking of the truth, I'm eager to see what evidence you're going to show us.”
Quni Madi's voice was hoa.r.s.e and unpleasant and was muddled with contempt.
Ning Que laughed and said, ”My word is evidence.”
The Commander of the cavalrymen of Divine Hall got angry and snapped, ”Nonsense! Since when can one's words be taken as evidence?”
Ning Que showed no anger, he gently replied, ”I'm aware that in the past the words of this old lady were treated as evidence. Then why can't my words be treated as such?”
The audience burst into a repet.i.tive uproar, not because of the toughness of the disciple of the Academy, but because she was addressed as the ”Old Lady”. Ning Que definitely knew the ident.i.ty of Aunt Quni Madi, but he addressed her in a very casual manner. He not only showed boldness but also outright contempt!
Old Lady? Quni Madi had never been called that.The Administrator of the Yuelun Kingdom or the Three Great Divine Priests of the Divine Hall was modest and treated her with respect. She was so angry at the unexpected humiliation from a junior, that her body was s.h.i.+vering and her h.o.a.ry hands holding the chair tightly. It seemed like she was about to attack Ning Que.
Ning Que would have been dead already if he weren't the disciple of the Academy. In spite of Ning Que being the disciple of the Academy, she wasn't going to do the Tang Empire any favors and be soft to him.
The Commander of the cavalrymen of Divine Hall couldn't control himself anymore, he flew into a rage, patted heavily on the console table and indignantly denounced, ”Aunt is the sister of the Administrator of the Yuelun Kingdom and Bhadanta of the Buddhism Sect, you cunning rat, how dare you compare yourself with Aunt!”
Walking to the girls of the Great River Kingdom, Ning Que signaled to those anxious girls to stay calm with a gentle smile, then nodded to Mo Shanshan to indicate that everything was under control. Suddenly, the smile on his face disappeared, he split the console table into two halves with a heavy strike and lectured the Commander, ”Then who are you? How dare you speak to me like this!”
The crowds inside the meeting tent were now convinced that the young man a reckless guy. Aunt Quni Madi was just an old woman to him, and he didn't seem to care much for the Commander of the cavalrymen of Divine Hall. Shocked as they were, they did not make an uproar but just looked coldly as the situation developed.
The tent fell into deathly stillness, even a cat walking on the solid carpet would attract the eyes of everyone present.
Ning Que tidied up the front part of his clothes and intended to take out the ID token made of elm from his waist. But he hesitated, wondering how to take out the token and whether to show pride or contempt?
It was always difficult to freely and easily take out one's credentials, whether it was the trump card or the ID token.
If a local government runner took out his ID token, showed it to the robbers, then calmly introduced himself as a government official, the robbers would be frightened and fold their hands for capture. While the G.o.d of gambling would stretch out his trump card at the bottom, and with a smile say to his opponent on his opposite side that his point was just a little bit larger. His opponents face would turn to ash, and he would place his hands on his chest and fall to the ground.
One's action, expression, and tone should be consistent with the token showing move, so as to seem moderate instead of bullying others, extremely proud yet showing no ill temper.
The proud Ning Que had many acquaintances who were as proud as he was. But Second Brother was the only one he admired a lot and the only one who had an infinite charm.
Ning Que had the thought that if it were Second Brother who took out the ID token, he would shock so many mighty ones and charm numerous girls. Nope, Second Brother wouldn't care to take out his ID token, the wooden club above his head was itself a perfect ID token.
Considering the fine example of Second Brother and his warnings, Ning Que always kept in mind to maintain a generous gesture when representing the Back Mountain of the Academy for the first time. He had been regretting the casualty with which he took out his ID token on the meadow earlier, and became more hesitant this time around.
If he were to hold the ID token in the air like holding a torch, then everyone would be able to see it clearly but it would also be foolish; while it would look handsome for him to draw out the ID token like drawing out a knife, if people weren't able to clearly see the characters on the token and misunderstand him as initiating an attack, what would he do? Though he didn't fear the Aunt of the Divine Hall, he was aware that the Old Lady could kill him with just one finger...
The atmosphere got tense and depressed with a deadly stillness. Everyone kept their eyes on Ning Que, and noticed that he had put on a weird expression and was likely immersed in deep thought. They would be extremely surprised if they knew that Ning Que was just thinking of trivial matters that had nothing to do with what was going on right now.
General Shu Cheng, who was from the Military Ministry of Chang'an, had been watching Ning Que since his entry into the meeting tent. Already guessing Ning Que's ident.i.ty, the General looked at Ning Que's face and thought it inappropriate for Ning Que to give a self-introduction. So he coughed and said with a smile, ”Mr.Thirteen, since you're not a disciple of the Black Ink Garden, would you please sit here beside me?”
General Shu's words attracted the attention of all.
Ning Que was surprised to find that the General already knew him, he became dumbfounded for a second and then relieved himself. Nodding at Mo Shanshan, he walked toward General Shu Cheng.
”Allow me to introduce this young man.”
Standing up, General Shu Cheng gently patted Ning Que on his shoulder. He first nodded to the Priest of the Revelation Department, then looked at the crowd inside the tent, and said in a calm and warm tone, ”Ning Que is the most famous calligrapher since Tianqi of Tang Empire and is deeply liked by His Majesty. Despite his ident.i.ty as the successor of Master Yan Se, the Great Divine Priest of the West Hill, it is worth to mention that he won against Prince Long Qing during the compet.i.tion of the Second floor of the Academy.”
Facing the crowd, Ning Que made a bow with hands folded in front.
The tent fell into sudden silence, but the crowd all glanced at Ning Que with shock and adoration in their eyes.
The Priest of the Revelation Department looked curiously at Ning Que smiling with no words. Though he had guessed something earlier, he was still shocked at the affirmation of his guess, but he showed little emotion.
In the quietness, Ning Que stared at Aunt Quni Madi, whose face had turned gloomy and said, ”Had you said earlier that no one would ever believe you could tell lies?”
After a pause, he turned to face the crowds and asked warmly, ”Then I would ask who would believe that me, as a student of the Second floor of the Academy and one of the core disciples of the Headmaster of the Academy, could tell ties?”
His words apparently frightened every one present, and n.o.body dared to respond.
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