Xie Pan’Er knew what Nanny Zhang was thinking, but she didn’t concern herself with it. Using various excuses, she had sent everyone out of the Courtyard before returning.
Xiaosuisui was playing with Xiaobai, making it leap about.
Ever since Xiaobai had fought with the phoenix in the Palace, Xiaosuisui had become particularly fond of watching Xiaobai leap and bound!
Sometimes, she would even ask Xie Pan’Er, "Beautiful Sister, when Xiaobai jumps, don’t you think it looks like a cat pouncing on a mouse?"
When Nanny Zhang saw Xie Pan’Er return alone, she said nothing. She simply fetched a meditation mat and a wooden ruler, and waited in the small Courtyard.
"Princess! It’s time to learn your etiquette."
Xie Pan’Er took Xiaosuisui’s hand and walked outside.
"Nanny! What are we learning today?" Xiaosuisui asked.
Nanny Zhang replied in a measured tone, "We are learning the grand kowtow ceremony, which descendants of the Royal Family must perform on important occasions!"
"Grand kowtow ceremony? I have to kneel?"
Xiaosuisui thought of the Hall of Ancestral Worship, and although no one had explicitly mentioned it to her, she was beginning to have suspicions.
A four-and-a-half-year-old child might be young, but she wasn’t clueless.
"We are learning the etiquette of kowtowing, not making you kneel!" Nanny Zhang clarified.
Just as Nanny Zhang finished speaking, a white blur flashed past. Xiaobai had leaped onto the high wall of the small Courtyard and darted out!
"Nanny! Can’t I skip learning this etiquette?"
Having experienced more recently, Xiaosuisui’s speech had become more articulate, and she was better at grasping the crux of matters.
Nanny Zhang shook her head. "The weather is fine today, suitable for learning!"
After saying this, she shot a pointed look at Xie Pan’Er!
Did this Miss Xie say something to the Princess? Nanny Zhang wondered. When the Eldest Princess learned rules and etiquette, she never uttered a single word of refusal! But now...
Nanny Zhang mentally added another black mark against Xie Pan’Er.
Seeing that Nanny Zhang had placed two meditation mats on the ground, Xie Pan’Er automatically assumed one was for her.
However, Nanny Zhang said, "Miss Xie may watch from the side. I will personally demonstrate this kowtowing etiquette."
Xie Pan’Er didn’t argue with Nanny Zhang and instead stood some distance away from them.
Nanny Zhang is from the Palace, Xie Pan’Er thought. Talking too much with her would make me seem like a chatterbox. Yet, if I said nothing, my conscience wouldn’t be clear. I tried to stop this today, but she wouldn’t listen and even threatened me. I have no choice but to let her proceed and figure out how to deal with the aftermath.
Seeing Xie Pan’Er step back several paces, Nanny Zhang frowned in confusion, suspecting she was deliberately trying to oppose her.
Immediately displeased, she placed a meditation mat beside Xiaosuisui.
"Today, I will instruct the Princess on the Sacrificial Rites! Princess, please observe my hands, the motion of kneeling on both knees, and how my hands touch the ground..."
Nanny Zhang performed the entire set of movements with meticulous precision. Xiaosuisui watched, a strange feeling arising within her—as if, through these movements, she were destined to receive the prostrations and worship of countless people year after year.
When this thought surfaced, Xiaosuisui found it exceedingly strange. Why would such an idea occur to her for no reason?
Since she couldn’t understand it, she decided not to dwell on it. Nanny Zhang’s questioning voice reached her ear.
"Princess, did you see clearly?"
Xiaosuisui nodded. "I saw clearly."
"Then, Princess, please replicate the movements I have just demonstrated."
Xiaosuisui nodded again. Just as her knees began to bend, dark clouds suddenly massed overhead...