Chapter 542 Spring Festival Gala (Part 2)
On the dimly lit stage, a beam of silvery moonlight poured down.
Holding the Snow Clearing Sword, Xiaoyaozi strolled calmly to the center of the stage, his white beard fluttering in the wind, as if he had stepped out of an ancient painting.
As the sword flashed, mist rose from all directions, filling the entire stage, as if one were in a fairyland shrouded in clouds and mist.
The ethereal silhouettes of mountains appeared and disappeared in the mist, while a babbling brook materialized out of nowhere, its clear waters meandering and making a melodious sound. In the distance, the cries of cranes echoed, and a flock of lifelike cranes flew out from the depths of the mist, circling and soaring above the stage.
A verdant ancient pine tree bursts forth from the earth, its branches gnarled and vigorous. Xiaomeng leaps lightly from the tree and stands before the platform. Behind her, the disciples of the Taoist Academy, each as graceful as a gentle breeze and a bright moon, hold long swords and ethereal as immortals.
The swordsmen clashed, their swords flashing like silver dragons weaving through the air. Wherever they passed, flowers bloomed in succession, their colorful petals dancing in the sky, only to transform into starlight the moment they touched the ground, merging into the mist.
The dreamlike scenery appears intertwined in Taoist magic, so beautiful that it is impossible not to be captivated.
"Taoist magic is indeed like a dream."
Below the stage, Zhu Fuyan couldn't help but sigh.
"Me too," Wei Zhuang said, crossing his arms.
Master Yan glanced at him indifferently, "You didn't go either."
Over the years, Zhu Fuyan has become more open-minded and bolder, and the School of Diplomacy has gradually developed. However, Wei Zhuang and Gai Nie are still two troublemakers who don't get along.
The other students dared not interfere, but Master Fu Yan directly "rode over" the two of them! He was completely self-righteous! Who told these two to run rampant within the academy every day? He was the one who handled all the affairs of the academy's development!
He confessed that he got promoted, which made him arrogant!
The head of the Zongheng Academy, Fu Yan, gave Wei Zhuang a disappointed look. What was the use of talking to him now? He hadn't even gotten a single solo performance! How was he supposed to improve the reputation of their Zongheng family?!
Seeing Wei Zhuang's angry but speechless expression, Gai Nie smiled shyly on the other side, and then was spotted by Zhu Fu Yan: "Nie, aren't you on good terms with the Mo family? Aren't you and Tianming like father and teacher? He went for it, why didn't you?"
As the two "only sons" representing the School of Diplomacy, it's understandable that Wei Zhuang isn't very popular, but Gai Nie shouldn't be like that! He was supposed to take on the diplomatic work of their School of Diplomacy, but he didn't even manage to get himself on the Spring Festival Gala stage!
Gai Nie remained silent for a moment, then tried to find a reason to refute: "Tianming hasn't gone up yet."
“That’s right,” Wei Zhuang and Gai Nie exchanged a glance and helped change the subject, “The Mo family’s performance ended a long time ago, why didn’t Tianming show up?”
Master Yan glanced at the two of them and couldn't help but mutter, "Sometimes I even wonder if you're acting as me, your chemistry is incredible..."
Wei Zhuang and Gai Nie were startled, almost revealing their guilt because Master Fu Yan had discovered that they had deliberately tried to hand over the academy's affairs to him.
Seeing this, Master Fu Yan narrowed his eyes, "They're really putting on an act of discord with me..."
"Look!"
Noticing the change on stage, Gai Nie quickly changed the subject: "Why is Tianming hanging out with the Legalists?"
Everyone was curious about this question, so for a moment, everyone's eyes turned to the stage, and even the Master Father Yan forgot to pursue the matter.
On the stage, Li Si, dressed in a dark robe, stood with his hands behind his back and a stern face; Jing Tianming hopped and skipped onto the stage from the other side.
Li Si: "Jing Tianming, how dare you keep me waiting for so long!"
Jing Tianming: "Oh, Lord Li, are you putting on airs? I've come all this way!"
Li Si: "I have summoned you here today to teach you the Legalist way of governing the country and to make you understand the importance of law!"
Jing Tianming waved his hand dismissively, "Hey, I'm not going to be an official, what do I need to know about governing a country?"
Li Si said solemnly, "Even if you are not an official, you should know the importance of the law! Besides, you are the leader of the Mohist school, and your every word and action represents the image of the Mohist school. You should abide by the law even more!"
Jing Tianming nodded helplessly: "You're right, but I didn't break the law. Do you think I don't understand the law?"
Li Si: "Then I'll test you."
Jing Tianming: "Ask away."
Below the stage, at the Mo family's seats, Big Iron Hammer rolled up his sleeves and muttered unhappily, "That Li Si, what right does he have to lecture Tianming!"
Master Ban and Master Xu, who were standing nearby, quickly stopped him, saying, "It's all an act, it's all an act."
Big Hammer was puzzled. "Why did they have to cast Tianming in this role? Don't they have any Legalists?"
On the other side, Liu Che was also curious about this question. He looked at Liu Ju and asked, "Why was Jing Tianming assigned to the Legalist school?"
Looking at the serious middle-aged man and the lively teenager on stage, Liu Ju raised his eyebrows slightly, "Don't you think they're a good match?"
Want a ride?
Liu Che hesitated slightly, and then he heard it—
Jing Tianming: "What if I accidentally make a small mistake, like stealing someone else's steamed bun? Will I be severely punished?"
Li Si: "Of course! In the laws of my Great Han Dynasty, stealing property, no matter how much, is an illegal act! Even a small bun is someone else's property, and stealing it is a violation of the law!"
Jing Tianming's mouth dropped open in surprise: "Huh? Just one steamed bun! What if I'm starving and I steal one?"
Li Si said, "There is compassion in the law. Stealing is wrong, but if it is truly a desperate situation, the punishment will be lighter depending on the circumstances."
Jing Tianming immediately perked up and couldn't help but ask, "If I'm starving to death and I encounter the Green Ox from the Taoist Academy, can I eat it?"
As he spoke, Jing Tianming couldn't help but touch his chin, looking like he was about to drool.
Li Si glanced at him sideways: "You even specified it?"
"Just tell me if it's edible or not."
"You're starving to death, and you're still eating beef? Do you think you can beat them?"
As Li Si spoke, a cow mooed in the background, and Lao Tzu appeared on the big screen, stroking the cow's head and giving Jing Tianming a kind smile.
Laughter immediately erupted from the audience.
Liu Che couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth. He finally understood. This must be the "brainless and grumpy" combination that Ju'er had mentioned. Not to mention, Jing Tianming's acting was just as realistic.
“It’s true,” Liu Ju said softly, turning slightly to the side as if he had guessed what the old man was thinking. “Tianming has been coveting my big blue ox for a long time.”
Liu Che was taken aback, then burst into laughter: "He really dares to think of such things..."
Below the stage, the Mo family members silently lowered their heads, pretending that nothing had happened. Facing the faint gazes cast by Daoist Xiaomeng and others, Dao Zhi smiled guiltily: "Tianming is Tianming, isn't that how all of us in the Mo family are?"
"He is the leader of the Mohist school," Xiaomeng whispered a reminder.
"The Grand Master is the Grand Master, but the Grand Master cannot represent the Mohist school!"
"That's right, that's right!"
The Mo family members nodded in agreement. Jing Tianming, who was having a great time performing on stage, had no idea that he had been removed from his position as a representative of the Mo family.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
