Douluo Continent: Getting Stronger After Heartbreak

Chapter 20 Let's Dance

Inside the palace, various trees and plants sway gracefully, creating a pleasant environment.

Xue Qinghe led Qin Jian and his companion along the way, introducing them to the local sights and features.

"You joined later; the etiquette class had already been running for ten days, so you might struggle to keep up today..."

Xue Qinghe suddenly said, "But it's alright, I'll take you with me then."

"Then thank you very much, Your Highness."

Qin Jian said something, then asked, "You just said today is dance practice, what kind of practice is that?"

Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong immediately perked up her ears.

Xue Qinghe smiled and said, "What we in the royal family teach is naturally court dance. The royal family has a lot of social interactions, so court dance is an essential skill. Have you learned it before?"

Court dances, used for social occasions... isn't that just ballroom dancing...?

Qin Jian, who had traveled through time, was completely unfazed.

But Ning Rongrong was a little worried: "I...I haven't learned this before..."

"Don't worry, I'll teach you later."

Xue Qinghe seemed to have been waiting for this sentence, and immediately said it.

"oh…"

But Ning Rongrong couldn't help but glance at Qin Jian and ask, "Qin Jian, can you do it?"

"Uh, I might be a little bit..." Qin Jian said, touching his nose.

Xue Qinghe couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Court dance is different from ordinary dance. It doesn't focus on beauty, but on the interaction between people. Qin Jian, you've never lived in the palace, so you probably haven't seen this kind of dance before. Let me teach you."

Qin Jian gave her a strange look.

She seemed very enthusiastic about teaching Ning Rongrong court dances, also known as ballroom dances.

That kind of dance brings the distance between two people to within the comfortable range of strangers; what is she planning to do…?

Finally, the three arrived at the place where etiquette was taught.

This is a large palace, inside which dozens of people can be seen sitting in twos and threes, presumably princes, princesses, and some noble children.

"Your Highness!"

As Xue Qinghe walked in, everyone bowed in greeting.

"No need for formalities," Xue Qinghe said gently.

Then she stepped forward to let Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong stand behind her: "Today we have two new classmates, Ning Rongrong, the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, and Qin Jian, the personal disciple of Sword Douluo. Please welcome them."

A few scattered claps broke out, neither enthusiastic nor lukewarm.

Wow! What a beautiful girl!

Suddenly, a boy of about twelve or thirteen years old ran out from the crowd. He extended his right hand to Ning Rongrong and said, "Hello, I am Xue Beng, the fourth prince of the empire. Let's get acquainted."

avalanche?

Qin Jian immediately perked up and looked at the professional imposter.

Ning Rongrong clearly wouldn't shake hands with Xue Beng; she simply nodded.

In any case, given her status as the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, which is even higher than that of the imperial princes, this is not considered impolite.

But the avalanche's expression changed: "Hey! You look down on me?!"

Qin Jian raised an eyebrow and stepped forward, saying, "Fourth Prince, Rongrong is a girl, she can't just shake hands with anyone."

"It's just etiquette, don't you understand?"

Avalanche glanced at him, then haughtily asked, "And who are you?"

The acting was a bit over the top…

But for a 12-year-old boy, that's not bad.

Before Qin Jian could speak, Xue Qinghe stepped forward and frowned, saying, "Avalanche, do not be rude. This is Qin Jian, the personal disciple of Sword Douluo."

"Huh? Sword Douluo's disciple?"

Avalanche suddenly became interested: "So you're pretty good, aren't you? Let's have a competition!"

Qin Jian straightened his sleeves and said, "I'm here to learn etiquette, not to fight."

"Tch, coward!"

The avalanche struck again, its nostrils pointing skyward.

"Well said!"

Just then, a woman's voice came from the doorway: "You're here to learn etiquette, not to fight. Prince Xue Beng, you'll be standing as punishment today."

"what?"

Xue Beng's previously arrogant expression instantly crumbled: "Yes... Teacher Yue."

"Teacher Yue?"

Qin Jian's heart skipped a beat: "Could it be Tang Yuehua?"

He immediately looked towards the door and saw a graceful and elegant woman slowly walking in, followed by two beautiful young girls.

Upon seeing this beautiful woman, Qin Jian was somewhat surprised, as he couldn't discern her actual age.

At first glance, she seemed to be in her early twenties, but her eyes seemed to have seen through everything in the world, far beyond what a woman in her early twenties could compare to.

The silver palace-style long dress looked so fitting and elegant on her.

Moreover, she showed no signs of soul power fluctuations, clearly indicating that she was not a soul master.

"This is Teacher Tang Yuehua, the founder of Yuexuan, the Imperial Etiquette Academy of our Heaven Dou Empire."

It really is Tang Yuehua!

Qin Jian's eyes lit up.

She could never break through level 10 in her lifetime, but she possessed an innate domain like the Noble Circle, which attracted many nobles to send their children to Yuexuan to study.

I never expected that she would come to the palace to teach in person.

"Last time I taught you the key points of court dance. This lesson you will practice in pairs. You can choose your own partners. Those who do not pass will be punished by standing."

Tang Yuehua was a very strict teacher and started the lesson right away.

Then these twenty or thirty people were divided into groups.

"Qin Jian, I can help you find a partner to dance with, and then I'll take care of Rongrong, how about that?"

At this moment, Xue Qinghe thoughtfully offered a suggestion from the side.

Qin Jian glanced at her.

Although he knew she was a woman and already twenty years old, he still felt very resistant to asking her to dance with Ning Rongrong!

"I want to be your partner, I don't want to dance with anyone else..."

At this moment, Ning Rongrong tugged at Qin Jian's sleeve: "Qin Jian, Qin Jian, it's our first day here, the teacher shouldn't punish us, right? If it really doesn't work, we can just stand as punishment."

Qin Jian helplessly shrugged at Xue Qinghe and said, "Rongrong doesn't want to partner with anyone else. I'm sorry, Your Highness."

Xue Qinghe was only slightly taken aback before regaining her gentle demeanor: "It was my abruptness. You can then observe how the others study. If Teacher Yue punishes you, I will plead for you."

"Then thank you very much, Your Highness." Qin Jian nodded.

As all the students began to dance the court dance in pairs, Qin Jian and his partner, who remained motionless, felt a little awkward.

"Qin Jian, Qin Jian, what should we do? Teacher started her inspections that month, and she's so fierce!"

Seeing Tang Yuehua pick out several sets of questions and then send them to stand against the wall as punishment, Ning Rongrong began to panic.

"Hmm... Rongrong, I don't know this kind of court dance either... but I know a more beautiful ballroom dance, do you want to learn it?" Qin Jian said in a low voice.

"Is it even better looking than theirs?"

Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong's eyes immediately lit up, and she exclaimed repeatedly, "I want to learn! I want to learn!"

Qin Jian said, "Rongrong, listen to me, first put your left hand on my right shoulder..."

(End of this chapter)