Dance Of The Dragons
Chapter 513 : (Extra) Separating The Twins (1)

Chapter 513: Chapter 513 : (Extra) Separating The Twins (1)

Upon reaching ten years of age, children were obligated to participate in a specialized education regime tailored to their clan.

For the twin princes Zhang Mingrui and Xie Junjie, it meant that time for separation had come.

"Why?" Zhang Mingrui’s face crumpled in displeasure. "I don’t want to live in Longjing Palace."

Zhang Fengxi reached out and rubbed his eldest son’s head affectionately.

"Mingrui, tiger clan is your birth clan. You might have spent your entire childhood in Fuxi Palace, but in the end, you still have to return to Longjing Palace."

Zhang Mingrui gave his father a pitiful look.

"Then, can Junjie come with me?"

"No, Junjie needs to stay in Fuxi Palace," Xie Jianyu replied, upon which Zhang Mingrui broke into a wail.

"I don’t wanna gohoooooo~" he lunged at his twin brother and wrapped his arms around Xie Junjie. "Why do I have to go alone? Mommy and Daddy don’t want me anymore!"

Xie Jianyu and Zhang Fengxi exchanged exasperated glances.

"We want you, of course we want you."

Xie Jianyu dragged Zhang Mingrui into his arms and soothed the little tiger with gentle pats on his back.

"It’s not like you are not allowed to visit, Mingrui. Junjie can visit Longjing Palace whenever he wants, too."

"I oso can visit," Zhang Yueting piped up from the side. "Brotha Mingrui, dun be scared. Tingting will give you an amulet for gud fortune!"

Zhang Mingrui blinked at his four-year-old sister and pointed at her.

"Tingting is also a tiger. Can she come with me?"

Zhang Yueting’s eyes grew wide in shock.

"I sed, I will oso visit! I dun wanna go Longjing Palace!" She snapped at her treacherous big brother.

"In six years, Tingting also has to go," Zhang Fengxi pointed out.

The little tiger girl gasped dramatically. She quickly hid behind her mother’s back.

"Daddy bad," she glared at Zhang Fengxi, seeing him as the evil person who might drag her to Longjing Palace against her will in six years to come.

"If it makes you feel better, Daddy can stay with you during the day," Zhang Fengxi offered.

"Fengxi, you need to tend to the Imperial Army," Xie Jianyu furrowed his brows at Zhang Fengxi in disapproval.

"I mean, I can go straight to Longjing Palace afterward to accompany Mingrui," Zhang Fengxi shot his wife a placating smile.

"Mingrui has to study, practice swordsmanship, and work on his cultivation after returning from Golden Dragon Palace," Xie Jianyu pointed out. "He doesn’t have time to play with you."

Zhang Mingrui fell into a daze while staring at his mother.

Was his childhood effectively over?

Gone were the carefree days, replaced by a relentless regime of studying and cultivation.

The vibrant pink flower petals scattered on the backyard seemed to lose their color as a wave of despair washed over him.

Even the blue sky, once a symbol of endless possibility, now felt muted, reflecting the monochrome world he envisioned his future to be.

The night before Zhang Mingrui left for Longjing Palace, the little tiger was unable to fall asleep.

And when he was unable to fall asleep, he had to talk to someone.

The only person available to talk was Xie Junjie, who was soundly asleep next to him.

"Pssst, Junjie!"

"..."

"Junjieeeee..."

"..."

"Xie Junjie!"

Zhang Mingrui grabbed a soft pillow and threw it at his twin brother’s head.

Xie Junjie slowly turned his body to face Zhang Mingrui with a scowl.

"What was that for?"

"I was just checking if you were asleep or not," Zhang Mingrui grinned. "Apparently, you also cannot sleep. Let’s chat a little bit."

"..."

Xie Junjie glared at Zhang Mingrui, who smiled at him in such a shameless manner. After some time, his indignation subsided and he let out a long, heavy sigh.

"What’s wrong? Are you still unhappy about moving back to Longjing Palace?"

Zhang Mingrui’s grin was wiped off his face in an instant.

"Mmm."

The tiger boy buried his face into his other pillow.

"Junjie... Are you going to have fun in Fuxi Palace without me?"

Xie Junjie broke into a soft giggle.

"What do you mean with ’have fun’? Yesterday, Mommy went through a list of classic literature and cultivation manuals that I must master within a week from now. I will be lucky if I find time to sleep at all."

"..."

Xie Junjie was right.

Their mother was as strict as the Grand Tutor, if not stricter. He tolerated no shortcuts, whether in mastering table manners or the intricate art of drawing talismans.

Over the past few years, Zhang Mingrui had accumulated a hefty collection of reprimands.

The tiger prince kept swapping meditation time for a midday nap, much to his mother’s chagrin.

"Poor you," he finally said.

Xie Junjie grinned at him.

"Mingrui... You need to work hard, alright? We are going to fight side-by-side one day. I will master the Azure Dragon’s Annihilation and you will master the White Tiger’s Wrath."

Zhang Mingrui’s eyes lit up in excitement.

"And then we will beat demon kings together!" He added cheerfully.

Xie Junjie stuck his pinky finger out.

"Promise?"

"Promise!" Zhang Mingrui gladly hooked his own pinky finger around Xie Junjie’s.

The next day, Zhang Mingrui stood rigidly at the courtyard, preparing to leave.

"Mommy, Junjie, Tingting, I am leaving," the boy’s voice trembled from sadness.

Xie Jianyu pulled Zhang Mingrui into his arms and gave his eldest son a flurry of kisses on the cheeks and forehead.

"Be good, Mingrui. Listen to your Grandpa and Grandma. Don’t cause troubles in Longjing Palace. Don’t fight with other kids..."

Oncoming tears frayed at the edges of Xie Jianyu’s voice, making it increasingly ragged.

"Mommy..."

Seeing his mother on the verge of tears, Zhang Mingrui’s face too crumpled in agony.

Xie Jianyu hugged him close, not letting the boy see the tears falling across his cheeks.

"I love you," he whispered. "Mingrui, never forget how much I love you."

Zhang Mingrui cried the entire ride to Longjing Palace. Even Xiao Xiao felt sorry for his master.

And then he cried again during dinner, flooding the dining table with tears.

At night, he also cried himself to sleep, not letting anyone comfort him at all.

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Author’s note :

I know QAQ.

I didn’t mean to leave you all with a cliffhanger. I will try my best to write the next Chapter ASAP!

Meanwhile, Mingrui at Longjing Palace : WAAAAaaaAaaaaAAAAAAAAhhhhhHHHHHH I want Mommy I want Daddy I want Junjie I want Tingting!!!