After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

Chapter 111 is over, it's all over!

Yang Tinghe suddenly felt physically and mentally exhausted.

My own son, who is always causing trouble, is now even trying to deceive the emperor.

He really didn't want to care anymore. If they wanted to exterminate his entire family, so be it. He was tired!

"Big brother, I'm back!"

When Yang Tingyi returned home, he looked up and saw Liu Qing.

"Hey, who's this girl?"

"You've come at the perfect time!"

Yang Tinghe pointed at Liu Qing and said, "I'll give you one night to teach Miss Liu court etiquette. Make sure you don't make any mistakes!"

"Huh? What?"

Yang Tingyi was completely bewildered.

Yang Tinghe, however, walked straight towards the bedroom.

"Brother, explain yourself! What's going on?"

Ask your nephew!

Yang Tinghe didn't want to explain and got up to leave.

Yang Shen called out, "Father, we haven't eaten yet!"

""

"I'm not eating anymore!"

Yang Tinghe left without saying a word and ran away without looking back.

Yang Tingyi looked at Yang Shen, then at Liu Qing, and asked, "What's going on?"

Yang Shen said, "Second Uncle, let's eat first and chat while we eat."

"Oh well!"

Two maids brought up the food.

Yang Tingyi took a bite of rice and then looked at Liu Qing.

Liu Qing didn't stand on ceremony, sat down and started eating, and the way she ate was...

To be honest, they had absolutely no manners!

Yang Tingyi was puzzled and asked, "Good nephew, who is this young lady—?"

Yang Shen had no choice but to say, "She is now your nephew's wife."

"What's going on?!"

Yang Tingyi almost jumped up.

Left with no other choice, Yang Shen had to explain the matter again.

He also truthfully recounted Liu Qing's background and his relationship with Qian Xuzi.

Yang Tingyi listened quietly, and then felt completely distraught.

"You mean you refused His Majesty's arranged marriage? And you even found a girl to pretend to be your fiancée?"

Yang Shen nodded: "That's pretty much it."

Yang Tingyi then looked at Liu Qing, who was engrossed in eating and completely oblivious to their conversation.

"Her? Her?"

Liu Qing looked up, still chewing food, and asked indistinctly, "What's wrong with me?"

Yang Tingyi opened his mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back.

He put down his chopsticks, rubbed his temples, and it took him a while to recover: "Miss Liu, do you know what meeting the Emperor tomorrow means?"

Liu Qing said, "I know, it's just going to see the emperor and say a few words."

Yang Tingyi nearly fainted: "A few words? That's an audience with the Emperor! It's a meeting with the King! Do you think this is a trip to the market to buy groceries?"

He stood up and paced back and forth in the living room, muttering to himself, "It's over, it's really over this time—"

Liu Qing asked Yang Shen curiously, "What happened to your second uncle?"

Yang Tingyi abruptly stopped, turned around, stared at Liu Qing, and asked, "Miss, have you studied court etiquette?"

Liu Qing shook her head again, saying matter-of-factly, "Why would I learn that stuff?"

Yang Tingyi walked up to Yang Shen, pointed at Liu Qing, and said with great distress, "Look at her! Look at her! Entering the palace like this, she doesn't even know how to bow. She has offended His Majesty. Do you know the consequences?"

Liu Qing said with dissatisfaction, "It's just a bow, I've seen it done in plays, it's like this—"

She stood up, and mimicking the gesture on stage, clasped her hands together, and bowed.

"Long live the Emperor!"

Yang Tingyi shook his head and sighed, unable to bear to look.

Yang Shen also felt a little embarrassed and tugged at Liu Qing's sleeve: "That's not how it is, that's just how it's portrayed in plays."

Liu Qing retorted, "Then what should we do?"

Yang Tingyi took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down: "Alright, alright, there's still time! Tonight you must learn the most basic court etiquette, otherwise, our whole family will suffer."

Since things have come to this, there's no point in even thinking about eating.

Yang Tingyi had the food removed, clearing out the entire living room.

"First, posture."

He stood up straight, clasped his hands in front of him, tucked his chin slightly, and looked straight ahead: "Do you see clearly? When you stand, you must stand up straight, not hunch over or lean to one side."

Liu Qing learned to stand properly.

Yang Tingyi circled around her, his brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly: "Shoulders, shoulders straight! Yes, don't shrug, straighten your back, don't lower your head, look straight ahead."

Liu Qing adjusted as instructed and stood ramrod straight.

Yang Tingyi nodded: "It's alright, let me walk a few steps and see."

Liu Qing strode forward.

"stop!"

Yang Tingyi stopped her, pointing at her feet: "Is that how you walk or fight? Why are you taking such big steps? Take small, quick steps, don't you understand?"

Liu Qing looked down at her feet, a blank expression on her face: "What is meant by 'small, quick steps'?"

Yang Tingyi took a deep breath and patiently demonstrated: "Like this, tiptoe slightly, take small steps, walk steadily, and don't let your skirt flutter. This is how women walk in the palace, not like you with your big strides."

Liu Qing tried to take a few steps, but it looked awkward no matter how she looked at it.

Yang Tingyi rubbed his temples: "Again."

Liu Qing took a few more steps.

"Take smaller steps."

"The skirt! The skirt is fluttering!"

"Waist! Waist, don't twist!"

After repeating this process more than a dozen times, Liu Qing finally managed to walk properly.

Yang Tingyi wiped his sweat, and before he could even feel happy, he heard Liu Qing ask, "Is this alright?"

As soon as she opened her mouth, she forgot everything she had just learned, her body swayed, and she returned to her previous posture.

Yang Tingyi's vision went black, and he almost vomited blood.

Yang Shen quickly poured a cup of tea and handed it over: "Second Uncle, have some tea and rest."

Yang Tingyi took the teacup, drank it all in one gulp, and said, panting heavily, "This is just the beginning. There's still bowing, kneeling, and answering questions—"

Liu Qing then realized the seriousness of the situation and asked in a low voice, "Do we really have to learn so much?"

"You two, really, really—sigh!"

Yang Tingyi sighed and continued, "Next, perform the proper etiquette! Women's etiquette in the palace is different from men's; you cannot bow like you did just now."

He stood still, hands clasped at his sides, knees slightly bent, head bowed: "This is the Wanfu salute, used for the Empress, Imperial Concubine, and Princess. When meeting His Majesty, one must perform the full kneeling salute."

Liu Qing tried to do it once.

Yang Tingyi shook his head: "The knees shouldn't be bent too deeply, like squatting in a toilet. They should be shallow, just enough to get the point across."

Liu Qing did it again.

"Your hands are in the wrong place. They should be at your sides, not in front of you."

"Your head is bowed too low; it's not like you're admitting guilt. Raise it a little."

"Don't shake, stay steady."

An hour later, Liu Qing was finally able to make the Wanfu ceremony look decent.

Yang Tingyi breathed a sigh of relief and continued teaching the kneeling and bowing etiquette.

"When kneeling, take half a step back first, then bend your knees, place your left hand on top of your right hand on the ground, and kowtow to the back of your hands. When you stand up, raise your right hand first, then stand up."

Liu Qing knelt down and did as instructed.

Yang Tingyi glanced at it and nodded: "Not bad, get up and kneel again."

"Keep your knees together, don't separate them."

"The hand position is incorrect; the left hand is on top."

"Kneel down, don't lift your head."

Another hour has passed.

Liu Qing's knees were numb from kneeling, and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

Yang Tingyi was also exhausted; he sat in a chair, his throat practically parched.

Yang Shen handed over the tea and asked cautiously, "Second Uncle, is it almost done?"

Yang Tingyi waved his hand, panting, and said, "I'm still far from it! Walking and bowing are just the basics; the hardest part is replying."

He looked at Liu Qing and said solemnly, "There are rules for answering His Majesty's questions. You must answer whatever His Majesty asks, without being talkative, without looking directly at him, and without joking around. Your voice must be soft but clear. You cannot cough, sneeze, or scratch yourself. In short, you cannot make any unnecessary movements."

Liu Qing was exasperated and couldn't help but ask, "What if I feel like sneezing?"

Yang Tingyi glared at her: "Endure it!"

Liu Qing shrank her neck.

Yang Tingyi continued, "Also, when His Majesty asks you a question, you cannot say 'um,' 'ah,' or 'oh'! You must say 'Your subject obeys the decree,' and refer to yourself as 'your subject,' not 'you,' 'ah,' or 'my.'"

Liu Qing took notes and muttered to himself.

"Also, when you meet the Emperor tomorrow, he may ask about your background and origins. Just tell the truth, but be careful not to speak too casually. If he asks about your master, just say a few words, don't mention Qian Xuzi or revenge. If he asks how you met my nephew, just say that you met him while seeking medical treatment, and that he helped your sister avenge her, and you felt grateful, fell in love, and got engaged."

Liu Qing nodded: "I've got it."

Yang Tingyi looked at her, still uneasy: "Say it again so I can hear it."

Liu Qing repeated his words exactly as they were, word for word.

Yang Tingyi's expression softened slightly, and he continued, "Also, tomorrow when you enter the palace, a eunuch will guide you. Just follow him, don't look around, and don't ask any questions. When you arrive at the Qianqing Palace, wait outside for your summons. If you are summoned, go in, kneel down and pay your respects, and then listen to His Majesty's questions. Do you understand?"

Liu Qing nodded: "I've got it."

Yang Tingyi glanced at the sky outside; it was already past midnight.

He stood up, yawned, and said, "Practice a few more times, and get the bowing and kneeling routines down."

Liu Qing gritted her teeth and continued practicing.

Yang Shen stayed by Liu Qing's side, watching her practice again and again, feeling a little guilty.

"Miss Liu, thank you for your hard work."

Liu Qing wiped her sweat and rolled her eyes at him: "What's the point of saying this now? You'll have to treat me to a nice meal later."

Yang Shen nodded quickly: "Definitely, definitely."

Another hour passed in the blink of an eye.

Liu Qing's knees were in so much pain that she was limping when she walked.

Fortunately, he finally managed to do the bowing and kneeling movements properly.

Yang Tingyi nodded in satisfaction: "Alright, that's enough for today!"

He looked at the sky; the east was already showing the first light of dawn.

"It's almost dawn."

He rubbed his sore eyes and said, "I'm going to wash my face; it's time to go on duty."

Looking at his second uncle's appearance, Yang Shen asked with some concern, "Second Uncle, you haven't slept all night, are you sure you'll be alright?"

Yang Tingyi waved his hand: "It's alright, your second uncle is still young, he can handle it."

He took two steps, then turned back and instructed Liu Qing: "Remember, once you enter the palace, don't panic. Even if you make a mistake, don't be afraid. Just stick to one principle: in front of His Majesty, it's better to make a mistake and be scolded than to deceive him."

After saying that, he looked at the two of them with concern before turning and leaving.

"Second brother, wait for me!"

Yang Tinghe came out of the bedroom and chased after him.

Yang Shen called out, "Father, you haven't had breakfast yet!"

"I'm not eating anymore!"

Yang Tinghe walked to the door, then turned back and said, "If any problems arise, quickly find someone to pass on a message to me, and I'll plead for you!"

The two of them went out to their shifts, one after the other.

Only Yang Shen and Liu Qing remained at home, staring at each other in bewilderment.

Yang Shen tentatively asked, "You only practiced for one night, can you remember it?"

Liu Qing performed a proper curtsy: "Yang, how do you think my studies are going?"

Yang Shen nodded and said, "Not bad, it looks pretty good!"

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