Chapter 1224: Imperial Preceptor of the Nine Countries
During the dinner banquet, the sounds of zither were harmonious and melodious. There was also the fragrance from the alcohol and dishes.
Xiang Zhao stopped before Sun Mo and knelt with a thud, prostrating himself.
“Esteemed teacher, please pardon this student Xiang Zhao for being so bold. Please accept me as your disciple.”
This was the Chu Crown Prince taking on a master. No matter where the location was, it would be a major event. However, the guests didn’t feel anything strange when they saw this.
There was no solution. Sun Mo’s fame was too great. If there were no crown princes wanting to take him on as a personal teacher, it would be strange then.
The main and secondary commander of the Great Chu’s diplomatic group had long since discussed and approved it. Hence, they didn’t stop him.
“I also want to take him on as my personal teacher!”
“Don’t court humiliation for yourself. Look at how many personal students Teacher Sun has, when would it ever be your turn?”
“Speaking of which, do you think royal brother will succeed?”
The princes and princesses of Chu whispered to each other as envious looks could be seen on their faces.
As the students ate, they discussed whether their teacher would accept these people. When Xiang Zhao came out, they were no longer as calm.
After all, this was the only son of the Chu Emperor. In the future, he would definitely inherit the throne.
“If Teacher accepts Xiang Zhao, he will become Great Chu’s imperial preceptor a few years from now.”
Tantai Yutang sighed ruefully. He didn’t expect that the teacher he had taken on randomly out of pique would actually obtain such a glorious title for himself within a few short years.
“He can’t not accept it as it would offend many people!”
Helian Beifang felt a little worried. His teacher was too inflexible sometimes. When he accepted disciples, he usually based it on his own fondness for them and their aptitude. But as for Xiang Zhao, regardless of his talent or performance, he clearly didn’t enter the eyes of their teacher.
“Doesn’t he already have a grand tutor?”
Xianyu Wei didn’t understand. The grand tutor of Chu should be Xiang Zhao’s personal teacher.
“Fool, there are too many rules in this world. Rules are only used to restrict the ordinary people.”
Qin Yaoguang rolled her eyes. “That’s the Chu Crown Prince, so he naturally has special benefits!”
“That’s right, to these people with esteemed statuses, they don’t simply want to learn things when they take on a personal teacher. It holds the same meaning as an allied marriage.”
The sickly invalid explained, “Which great teacher doesn’t want students all around the world so their teachings and fame could spread throughout the Nine Provinces? However, for this matter, other than a vast amount of wealth, great influence is also needed.”
If a great teacher from the Tang Empire wanted to head to the Chu Empire to start a school and teach students there, even if they weren’t deliberately targeted, going through all the processes would surely waste a lot of money and time. But once they became an imperial preceptor, things would be so much simpler.
Without needing the great teacher to speak, even the emperor would compromise. Besides, the money spent to achieve the great teacher’s dreams would be from the taxpayers. The great teacher wouldn’t need to pay a single cent out of their own pocket.
“In that case, why didn’t Secondary Saint Zhou accept our eldest martial sister?”
Xianyu Wei was puzzled.
“Because Secondary Saint Zhou is an imperial tutor of four countries and has long since become a secondary saint. His students and learning colleges spanned the world. He basically doesn’t lack a learning college in the Great Tang Empire.”
Qin Yaoguang sighed. “And honestly speaking, our eldest martial sister truly was too weak.”
“Huh? Weak? Bluntly speaking, it’s Secondary Saint Zhou who feels that our eldest martial sister is useless. If she was the crown prince of Great Tang, do you think Secondary Saint Zhou would reject her?”
Tantai Yutang felt disdain. “There’s also another point. This Secondary Saint is used to posturing. He wanted to show everyone that he didn’t even want to accept a princess the Great Tang Emperor doted on the most so as to emphasize how valuable a disciple slot under his name was. After he did that, wouldn’t those who had entered his tutelage feel a sense of superiority because this was a status even the princess of an empire couldn’t obtain!?”
“Ah?”
Xianyu Wei was an innocent girl. She was stunned when she heard all these filthy black-hearted methods.
“Back then after Ziqi was rejected, she was psychologically impacted and directly ran to Jinling to hide. Actually, if she proposed to take Secondary Saint Zhou as her personal teacher again, he would have accepted.”
Li Xiu exposed.
Why was the eldest princess so sure?
Because given Secondary Saint Zhou’s status, if it wasn’t for Sun Mo’s sudden emergence, there would basically be no one in the great teacher world who dared to accept her niece. In the end, there would be no solution but for her to return to Secondary Saint Zhou.
“By doing so, people would say that Ziqi is very determined and sincere in wanting to learn. There would also be people saying that Secondary Saint Zhou is moved by Ziqi’s will and sincerity. This would be a win-win situation.”
Li Xiu was too familiar with such politics.
“So if that’s the case, will our teacher accept Xiang Zhao?”
Xianyu Wei surveyed the Chu Crown Prince. If her future junior brother became the Chu Emperor in a few years, wouldn’t that be too impressive?
Wrong, she should say that her teacher was too impressive.
“For certain!”
Tantai Yutang knew that their teacher treated Li Ziqi extremely well. Even if he wasn’t thinking for his own sake, he would be thinking for Li Ziqi’s sake.
Once Li Ziqi and Xiang Zhao became siblings of the same sect, honestly speaking, she would have a chance to seize the Great Tang’s throne.
Honestly speaking, Sun Mo thought like this too.
The world of adults had no right or wrong. There were only benefits.
Accepting Xiang Zhao would provide him with immense benefits. Naturally, Sun Mo would also do his utmost to guide him.
“Xiang Zhao, I know that your aptitude is ordinary and you are also not keen on learning. But after becoming my student, you can no longer laze around.”
Sun Mo spoke.
Xiang Zhao’s expression was somewhat embarrassed. He bitterly smiled. “Teacher, can you leave some face for me?”
“Then think of how the officials would evaluate you in the future! They won’t give you face and will describe you as a foolish emperor!”
Sun Mo’s tone turned strict.
“You’ve said it. My aptitude is mediocre, so what’s the point if I work hard?”
Xiang Zhao didn’t understand.
“What is success? Is it to surpass others? No. From my point of view, it is to surpass oneself!”
Sun Mo looked at Xiang Zhao. “From my point of view, you originally only have 50% accomplishments. But after working hard, you may reach 70% or even 80%. That is success!”
Xiang Zhao started.
His grand tutor said before that his talent was ordinary. His hard work of one year was at most a few days worth of cultivation to geniuses. Hence, he decided to give up and lead a relaxed life. But who would be willing to be mediocre forever?
Even if he was born to be an emperor and his starting point was very high, Xiang Zhao also had dreams of becoming a hegemon whose name could last through the ages.
“You don’t have to care what others say. Just do it!”
Sun Mo encouraged. “The merits and demerits of someone are only evaluated after their death. Xiang Zhao, some might be living, but they are already dead. The only difference is that they are not buried in coffins yet.”
Bzz!
Resplendent golden light illuminated the area. Priceless Advice had activated.
Xiang Zhao was dumbstruck as Sun Mo’s words echoed in his mind. He had a sense of enlightenment and it was like a seed named ‘dreams’. It had been planted and was currently germinating.
The entire place fell silent. The young people pondered over Sun Mo’s words and felt excitement surging in their blood. They wanted nothing more than to work as hard as they could.
All the high officials surveyed Sun Mo with respect on their faces.
As expected of Great Teacher Sun, his golden sentences could guide anyone.
“If you can accept my strict training, you can acknowledge me as your personal teacher!”
Sun Mo placed his left hand behind his back and looked at Xiang Zhao.
He wore an ordinary great teacher robe today. Other than his school insignia, there were no other decorations. However, he looked like a saint despite his ordinary clothing.
“Esteemed Teacher, this student Xiang Zhao is willing to follow you all my life and listen to your teachings.”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Xiang Zhao kowtowed very forcefully.
The Qi Emperor had an awkward look on his face. Sun Mo’s earlier words were simply smacking his face.
(Sigh, it isn’t easy to be a foolish emperor!)
“Stand up!”
Sun Mo laughed. “I’m not free recently. Come to Jinling to look for me three months later. I’ll then use the Ancient Dragon Capturing Hands and medicine to wash your marrow and cleanse your body. I’ll also impart a saint-tier fist art to you to enhance your aptitude!
“I don’t dare to guarantee the Legendary Realm. But at the very least, I’ll do my best to help you step into the Longevity Realm and enjoy 100 to 200 years more in terms of lifespan.”
Hua~
Upon hearing Sun Mo’s promise, those people over 40 years old felt their eyes turning red as they stared at Sun Mo like how a hungry wolf would stare at its prey.
After all, no one would feel that their lifespans were too long.
“Great Teacher Sun, what about me?”
The Qi Emperor anxiously asked.
“Your Majesty, if you follow the health nurturing plan I specially design for you. I can guarantee that you will be able to live for 50 years more.”
If it wasn’t for the fact he wanted to rope in an ally for Li Ziqi, Sun Mo actually didn’t want to bother with someone like the Qi Emperor.
“5…50 years?”
The Qi Emperor panted. He wanted nothing more than for Sun Mo to write the health nurturing plan out now.
Wei Wu`an sank into conflict. Actually, he also wanted to take Sun Mo on as his personal teacher, but Xiang Zhao had acted first. Moreover, Sun Mo had given out a meeting gift. If he headed over now, would it seem that he was too scheming and wanted benefits?
Just when Wei Wu`an was hesitating, the princes from the other empires no longer had so many considerations. Many of them rushed out and knelt before Sun Mo.
“Teacher Sun, please accept me as your disciple!”
Their voices mingled together and there were more than 100 of them.
“Crown prince, what are you still waiting for?”
The main envoy of the Wei Empire was speechless. (If you are slower by a step, all the soup will be gone!)
Wei Wu`an drew a deep breath. He stood up and left his seat, hurriedly walking toward Sun Mo before kneeling down.
“Ze, Sun Mo’s prestige is unmatched!”
Li Xiu sighed in admiration.
The Five Empires War Discussion had been ongoing for so long, but never had there been a scene of so many royalty kneeling to take someone on as their personal teacher.
There was no need to doubt. After the dinner banquet tonight, Sun Mo’s name would surely spread throughout the world.
Han Cangshui’s countenance was extremely unsightly. He then left in a rage.
If he still didn’t leave, should he stay here to be embarrassed?
(It’s all Li Xuan’s fault. He can’t even get a little face for me. Speaking of which, why didn’t I identify Li Ziqi as a genius back then?)
“You guys, get up first!”
Sun Mo frowned. These young people had impure motives for taking him on as a teacher.
“If Teacher doesn’t accept me, I won’t get up!”
“I’m willing to serve by Teacher’s side forever!”
“I don’t wish for Teacher to give me anything. As long as I can follow you and learn from you, that would be the greatest kindness you can grant me.”
These princes and princesses spoke beautifully and masterfully.
Sadly, Sun Mo activated Divine Sight and swept his gaze through. There wasn’t even a single genius with above-average talent among them.
“It isn’t so easy to become my students!”
Sun Mo rejected. If he accepted over 100 students in one go, it would only lower the statuses of his personal students.
“Teacher, we are willing to accept your test!”
Wei Wu`an spoke sincerely, but he felt regret in his heart. If he had acted earlier, he wouldn’t have been implicated by all the trash.
“You guys continue kneeling first then!”
Sun Mo looked at the Qi Emperor. “You can start the banquet, don’t make everyone wait for too long!”
Upon hearing this, among those kneeling, more than half subconsciously revealed unhappy expressions. In their own countries, they were royalty with esteemed statuses. No one had dared to treat them like this before.
Even the grand tutors of their respective empires wouldn’t make them kneel..