016 Third Edition
“Don’t say that.”
“That character for ‘dog’ is ugly, sure, but it’s written perfectly.”
Qu Dubian looked up. “Is it written wrong?”
Grand Tutor Fang hesitated for a moment, then twitched his beard. “Wrong.” He wrote the character for ‘father’ beside it. “It’s written like this.”
Qu Dubian’s eyes lit up as if a great truth had just dawned on him, wearing the innocent expression of someone who had just learned something new. “Oh! So they really do look that different!”
“Exactly. They’re completely different. How could anyone mix them up?” Grand Tutor Fang suddenly raised his voice, as if realizing something, “You can’t even compare these two!”
Qu Dubian nodded, pretending to understand.
Grand Tutor Fang then instructed him to copy a few simple characters from the Three Character Classic. When it got a bit harder, Qu Dubian finally stopped and said he couldn’t do it.
This time, there were no mistakes. Grand Tutor Fang pondered for a moment and said, “You don’t need to learn so fast right now. What good is it if you can only read but not write? How about this: I’ll give you some homework. Next time you come, write fifty large characters.”
Qu Dubian: “Okay.”
If it weren’t for that incident at the Grand Kitchen, he might have worried about running out of ink and paper. But now, that was no longer a problem; he had enough supplies.
Grand Tutor Fang said, “You may leave now.”
Qu Dubian didn’t move for a long time.
Grand Tutor Fang suddenly realized, “Oh, I’m leaving too.”
With that, he hurriedly packed up and left the schoolhouse. How could he have forgotten? Qu Dubian had sneaked in, and the servant who came to fetch him had done so secretly. If Grand Tutor Fang didn’t leave, Qu Dubian wouldn’t be able to leave either.
Sure enough, Wen Xiaochun, hiding in the shadows, saw Grand Tutor Fang exit the schoolhouse. He quietly crept to the window, lifted a small gap, and after confirming no one was around, called out, “Your Highness.”
Qu Dubian dragged his satchel over and slipped out the window. The master and servant made their quiet escape.
—
Ji’an Palace.
After the midday rest, Qu Dubian practiced writing by the window for a while.
Only after the evening meal was finished did Yi Twelve quietly leave Ji’an Palace.
Hearing the announcement, Qu Dubian gazed thoughtfully toward Qianji Palace.
Wen Xiaochun asked, “What are you thinking about, Your Highness?”
Qu Dubian replied, “About Grand Tutor Fang.”
He thought that the old scholar with the black beard might not be having a hard time now, but he would surely get scolded by the Emperor later.
Wen Xiaochun praised him, “Your Highness is truly diligent in your studies.”
Qu Dubian thought for a moment and felt he couldn’t lie to his conscience. “Xiaochun, I think I might have done something bad.”
He recalled how Grand Tutor Fang had pulled him out from under the table just now, the concern in his eyes, and the hesitant words he’d exchanged with the Crown Prince — this man had most likely recognized who he was, but was pretending not to know.
Because there was no news from his ‘benefactor’ on the other side, Grand Tutor Fang chose to wait and see.
Of course, it was also possible that Grand Tutor Fang hadn’t recognized him. He had told the man to keep his existence secret, and yet this man still helped to conceal him.
But Qu Dubian had no way to directly warn him.
“What bad thing?” Wen Xiaochun frowned.
Qu Dubian hesitated over how to explain. “Um…”
Wen Xiaochun said, “No matter what the bad thing is, it’s the thing that’s bad, not the person. Someone must have forced Your Highness to do it.”
Qu Dubian: “...”
“What if no one forced me?”
Wen Xiaochun answered without hesitation, “Then Your Highness must have your own reasons.”
Qu Dubian pressed on, “But what if I’m just purely bad, that I want to do bad things simply because it makes me happy?”
“Well, neither Xiaoyuan nor I would think that what Your Highness does is bad,” Wen Xiaochun pondered seriously for a moment. “If that day ever comes, then everyone who says Your Highness’s actions are bad will just have to change their tune.”
After all, Your Highness is still a child, and children need to be pampered and gently coaxed.
His voice softened as he soothed the child, “That way, no one will say that Your Highness’s deeds are bad.”
Good and bad are just definitions made by people. If Your Highness doesn’t want to do bad things, then just define everything Your Highness does as good—how hard can that be?
Qu Dubian: “……”
He genuinely felt that Wen Xiaochun’s occasional words and actions revealed a faintly sinister, villainous vibe, even when she was coaxing him like this.
But overall, her words were quite innocent. After all, even an emperor can’t expect everyone to praise him.
Qu Dubian turned to Ye Xiaoyuan and asked, “Ye Banban, do you think Xiaochun is right?”
“I’m not even listening,” Ye Xiaoyuan said, completely distracted as he brought over a bowl of milk. “Your Highness, drink this. You’ll sleep soundly later.”
Alright then.
Qu Dubian finished the milk Ye Banban poured for him and silently gave Grand Tutor Fang a thumbs-up from afar.
-
Grand Tutor Fang left the palace later than usual today and, without paying any mind to the eldest prince’s sour face, piled him with a mountain of lessons, saying he would check on him the next day.
After dealing with his student’s complaints, he strolled out of the palace with a smile, hands clasped behind his back.
Grand Tutor Fang’s kindness toward Qu Dubian was not purely out of goodwill.
During the reign of the previous emperor, when the northern border was invaded, the Commander of the Sword Legion led troops to defend the frontier, but the court was mired in infighting, with officials embezzling military supplies and funds to fatten their own pockets.
Although the late emperor was a mediocre ruler, he was sharp when it came to major affairs. Seeing the ancestral empire about to crumble under his watch, and fearing retribution after death, he thought, “This can’t go on, or there’ll be no future to enjoy.”
He knew exactly who was responsible for the military, who governed the people, and who oversaw the officials. So, rousing himself from his indulgences, he secretly recruited several capable ministers, including Fang Hechuan, to form a united front between sovereign and subjects.
The late emperor cleaned house by purging a batch of notorious corrupt officials and appointed Fang Hechuan as Minister of War, granting him supreme command over military affairs.
In the system of the Great Zhou dynasty, the Ministry of War issued military and political orders, while the Five Armies Governor’s Office issued operational commands. To streamline the bureaucracy and avoid infighting, Fang Hechuan, not yet Grand Tutor, held both the position of Minister of War and Governor-General of the Five Armies.
He effectively held the majority of the military power in the entire court.
When Emperor Chongzhao took over the mess, he scolded his father relentlessly but still admired this move.
After all, such power was not given lightly. A single misstep could have changed the dynasty altogether.
Fortunately, Fang Hechuan bore this trust well. Together with the Commander of the Sword Legion—one managing the rear, the other the front—they suppressed multiple restless uprisings along the northern border.
The camaraderie forged during those times of united resistance against the enemy was far deeper than ordinary colleague relationships. Even after the war, whenever they met, their conversations were warm and genuine, and to this day, they still keep in touch from time to time.
After the major events had settled, Fang Hechuan’s personal prestige in the court reached its peak. He decisively resigned from his position as Commander of the Five Armies. A few years later, when he went into mourning for his mother, he vanished from the political scene for three years. Upon his return, he only took on a minor, idle post, and his influence gradually restored itself to a level that no longer aroused the emperor’s suspicion.
Later, when Emperor Chongzhao ascended the throne, Fang Hechuan was granted the honorary title of Grand Tutor, a first-rank official. Though officially responsible for assisting the emperor in governing the state, the role was largely ceremonial, primarily tasked with overseeing the princes’ studies.
Back when Consort Yun was pregnant with the Seventh Prince, his old friend, the Sword-Bearing Marquis, would occasionally write to check in, his words brimming with joy. No one could have foreseen the trouble that would later arise.
His friend entrusted him with a request to keep a closer eye on his grandson—after all, he was the only bloodline left from his only daughter.
Naturally, Fang had no reason to refuse such a request. But the Jingan Hall, where princesses traditionally resided, was part of the inner palace. As an outsider to the harem, he had no chance of entering.
So when fate unexpectedly brought him across his friend’s grandson, he naturally took it upon himself to look after the boy a little.
Not even halfway down the road, he heard hurried footsteps behind him. A eunuch came running up, “Grand Tutor Fang! Grand Tutor Fang!”
Fang, curious, asked, “What is it? Oh, you’re the eunuch by His Majesty’s side.”
“Thank you for your concern, sir,” Eunuch Bao replied. He served in the Purple Palace and occasionally filled in for Eunuch Yu. Being a familiar face among the ministers near the emperor, Fang recognized him immediately.
“Good thing you’re walking slowly—His Majesty wants to see you.”
“Oh? Then let’s go.”
Fang thought the emperor might want to inquire about the princes’ studies, so he followed Eunuch Bao without much thought. But just as they neared the Purple Palace, Eunuch Bao suddenly stopped and lowered his voice.
“His Majesty is in a bad mood. Please be careful.”
Fang nodded.
“Thank you, eunuch.”
He didn’t slip him any silver coins.
There was no point; the eunuchs near the emperor wouldn’t accept bribes.
As he lifted his robes and stepped inside, Fang silently wondered which careless soul had offended the emperor—known for his petty nature.
He bowed and said, “Your Majesty, may you be well.”
Emperor Chongzhao glanced at him with indifference and said flatly, “Are you having fun playing with my sons?”
Fang’s puzzled face was an open book. “Your Majesty! This old servant has always taken his duties seriously, never once neglecting the princes’ education. Especially the eldest prince—I even gave him extra assignments today.”
“Hmph!” The emperor’s expression darkened. “You still have the nerve to talk about assignments?”
He was frustrated beyond words. “You simply gave him too few!”
Fang was speechless.
He swallowed the words “I’ll assign less from now on” and cleared his throat, responding with solemn dignity, “Your Majesty is right.”
“Still haven’t answered me—are you enjoying playing with my son?”
Fang exclaimed, “Your servant is wronged—”
“I mean, are you enjoying crawling under the table with my son?”
Fang held back his outburst. The room fell into an awkward silence.
The two of them stared at each other in silence. Emperor Chongzhao looked at the old man’s face—worn and weathered—and suddenly saw a shy smile appear.
“Ah, so you already knew,” he said.
Emperor Chongzhao took a deep breath to steady himself. “You… you were once my teacher, yet when my father left you to assist me in governing, he said you were dignified and steady. Grand Tutor, how old are you now? Steady? How could Father say such a thing? I’m starting to think he must have been blind in his youth—”
He didn’t finish the last few words, but everyone knew they weren’t flattering. Grand Tutor Fang, eyes fixed on his nose as if focusing on his own breath, pretended to be deaf.
Emperor Chongzhao took a sip of his cold tea, telling himself to calm down. “Little Seven is, after all, a prince. How could a prince be hiding under a table to learn? If he wanted to study, how could I stop him? Once he turns three… the palace is open to him everywhere. Besides, he’s so young now—how much can he really understand?”
“I was waiting for you to bring this up yourself. Now that I’ve discovered it, were you planning to keep it a secret forever?”
“Squatting under the table in this freezing weather—it's just nonsense.”
Grand Tutor Fang sighed suddenly. “Your Majesty, you haven’t met Prince Seven. Though he’s young, he’s very clever. Others may speak in his presence, but he understands more than they think. Over time, it’s not hard to imagine the prince might start to feel ‘Father despises me.’”
“A child always has his own way of doing things. Your Majesty, why do you think the young prince would rather hide under a table just to learn?”
“Children love to play—that’s their nature. The prince is studying early because he wants you to pay more attention to him.”
The old man’s voice grew grave. “Did Your Majesty know that the very first character Prince Seven learned to write in front of me was ‘Father’?”
Grand Tutor Fang’s words, instead of soothing, poured fuel on the fire.
Emperor Chongzhao’s anger, which had been simmering down, flared up again, shooting straight through the roof. He slammed his fist on the table three times, nearly clutching his chest in frustration. “Did he write ‘Father’ or ‘dog’?!”
“You already know??”
Uh-oh. This was not good.
Grand Tutor Fang hurriedly smoothed things over. “He definitely wrote ‘Father’! The prince is still a child, not even three years old. What does he know about ‘father’ or ‘dog’? He can barely write at all… Your Majesty, please don’t be angry. These things are about the heart, not the form. From the heart, isn’t this a kind of filial piety?”
Filial piety?
Emperor Chongzhao watched the old man wracking his brain to put a good spin on the child’s mistake, and took a deep breath. In just two days, he had been angered twice.
But aside from being angry, there was nothing he could really do.
Could he really quarrel with such a tiny little brat over a single careless mistake in a character?
He felt a long-lost, indescribable sense of frustration welling up inside him.
