Half-reclining on the bed, Xun Fan saw Zhao Hanzhang and the young Emperor enter. He threw off the covers to get down, and those beside him also helped him try to kneel. Both Zhao Hanzhang and the young Emperor quickly stepped forward to stop them.

Zhao Hanzhang was strong. Gripping Xun Fan’s hand, she pulled him up and pressed him back onto the bed: “The Grand Tutor need not be so formal. His Majesty is kind and would feel troubled to have the Grand Tutor bow with injuries.”

The young Emperor nodded repeatedly: Yes, yes, he would feel troubled. “Grand Tutor, please lie down. Both the General and I are worried about your health.”

He looked at his thigh, his expression showing some curiosity: “The Grand Tutor was injured in the leg?”

Why was a leg injury so serious?

When warriors fought in battle, they were slashed on the body, and even Zhao Hanzhang had been injured before, yet nothing happened.

As the young Emperor’s teacher and uncle, Xun Fan glanced once and knew what he was thinking. He smiled bitterly: “Yes, I’m old. Just being slashed once on the leg and I can’t handle it.”

Zhao Hanzhang: “The thigh has many blood vessels. If a major artery is severed, it’s truly dangerous.”

The young Emperor wanted to see the wound.

Xun Fan quickly glanced at Zhao Hanzhang and hurriedly reached to hold down the covers, his old face turning red: “Your Majesty, this old minister is now fine, thanks to the imperial physician the General sent…”

Though the young Emperor really wanted to see, his nature determined he wouldn’t make things difficult for people. Seeing Xun Fan’s resistance, he disappointedly lowered his hand.

Zhao Hanzhang caught this and stood up: “During the Grand Tutor’s absence, His Majesty’s studies have been neglected. Now that you’ve returned, why not test His Majesty and assign him some coursework?”

Xun Fan instantly understood. Zhao Hanzhang was giving him and the young Emperor time alone. He was deeply moved and quickly lowered his head in agreement.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded to the young Emperor and turned to lead the assembled officials out. The imperial physician had just arrived, so she called him to the main hall to inquire about Xun Fan’s injuries.

Ji Yuan, Xiahou Ren, and other court officials followed to listen, though their ears involuntarily strained backward, trying to hear the conversation of the three in the inner room.

Zhao Hanzhang left with the assembled officials. Xun Zu became completely excited and quickly found an excuse to dismiss the attendants around the young Emperor.

The others were fine, but Attendant Dong refused to move, while also giving Xun Zu and Xun Fan a warning look.

The General was being magnanimous—you two shouldn’t push your luck. Dare you plot in private?

Attendant Dong looked at the Emperor.

The young Emperor didn’t want Attendant Dong to leave either. He wanted to speak privately with his two uncles, but didn’t want Zhao Hanzhang to become suspicious. So he said: “Let Attendant Dong stay to serve.”

Xun Zu was conflicted. Xun Fan suddenly spoke: “Taizhang, go to the study and fetch me a letter. It’s in a copy of the Analects on the rightmost shelf of the third row.”

Xun Zu paused slightly, glancing at the young Emperor, not wanting to go.

Xun Fan gave him a warning look: “Go quickly. That’s the coursework I’m assigning His Majesty.”

Xun Zu had no choice but to withdraw.

He didn’t know what his brother wanted to say to the young Emperor, but still had his trusted aide guard the doors and windows well, not allowing anyone to approach.

After Xun Zu left, Attendant Dong also bowed slightly and withdrew to the side, standing where he could hear their conversation but not too clearly, with gauze curtains half-blocking the view. Xun Fan and the young Emperor couldn’t see Attendant Dong very well, giving them a sense of security.

But Attendant Dong only needed to glance sideways to see the two on the bed.

Those who could serve long in the palace had to learn to hide themselves, but not hide completely to know nothing.

The young Emperor pulled back the covers to look at the wound on his thigh.

A soft hemp cloth covered the wound, with medicine freshly applied underneath. The wound was somewhat red, with winding stitch marks and thread binding the flesh tightly together, crawling ugly like a centipede.

The young Emperor’s eyes grew hot, choking up: “Does it hurt?”

Xun Fan replaced the cloth and pulled up the covers, saying softly: “I was only struck once with a blade. I’ve heard the General not only has sword wounds and blade wounds, but was even hit by arrows. That’s truly bone-deep pain.”

The young Emperor wiped his eyes: “The General truly has achieved great merit. Without her, Dajin would have fallen two years ago. Even if you’d made me Emperor, I’d be a monarch of a fallen nation.”

Xun Fan sighed, pulling the young Emperor’s hand: “Your Majesty has always been more clear-headed than we ministers. On the contrary, it’s we who can’t let go of the past, which has kept Your Majesty trapped in danger.”

The young Emperor looked at Xun Fan in surprise, not knowing why he suddenly said this.

Xun Fan held him, his eyes scanning the Attendant Dong hiding behind the gauze curtain, and whispered: “If we asked Your Majesty to give up this supreme position and just be a wealthy young master, would Your Majesty be willing?”

The young Emperor’s eyes lit up: “Second Uncle has come around?”

If it were up to him, he didn’t want to ascend and become this Emperor. And even after ascending, two years ago when Zhao Hanzhang defeated the Xiongnu and stabilized the north, he should have given the position to her.

But he had absolutely no say in the matter.

He couldn’t decide whether to be Emperor or not. He couldn’t even decide what to eat for three meals a day, let alone his own life.

Because of the old ministers gathered under his two uncles, the officials from Zhao’s faction, and neutral court officials—they all held him down in that position.

Only those truly sitting in that position knew how miserable it was. So far, the young Emperor hadn’t discovered any benefits of being the Son of Heaven, nor had he enjoyed the glory and authority a Son of Heaven should have.

Xun Fan was finally willing to step back. The young Emperor couldn’t help but shed tears of emotion, gripping his hand and nodding repeatedly: “I’m willing, as long as Second Uncle can preserve my life.”

Xun Fan lovingly wiped away his tears, saying softly: “Your Majesty, don’t be afraid. The General is benevolent. As long as you don’t do things that harm the state, she’ll treat you well.”

The young Emperor nodded repeatedly, whispering: “She also cares about face.”

Xun Fan couldn’t help but smile, nodding: “Yes, she cares about face. In this position, caring about face is better than being shameless. Even for the sake of face, she’ll treat Your Majesty well. Moreover, what she’s doing now isn’t just for face.”

The young Emperor looked puzzled.

Xun Fan said softly: “She had Taizhang and Zeng Yue come fetch me and safely escort us both back to Luoyang—not for power, but to demonstrate her virtue to officials throughout the realm, advocating the virtue of trustworthiness. Your Majesty has already studied the Book of Han. You should know why the Qin dynasty fell after just two generations.”

The young Emperor hesitated, then still shook his head, saying quietly: “Grand Tutor, I truly don’t know this.”

Xun Fan sighed: “Qin fell because it relied too heavily on law. Though the people had regulations, they weren’t willing to submit. People’s hearts didn’t unite, which came from neglecting virtue. So once the First Emperor died, chaos erupted. His descendants lacked his ability to suppress the realm’s tigers and wolves, and also hadn’t bestowed grace on future generations, so governing wasn’t proper—just forcefully maintaining strict laws. There must also be virtuous rule.”

“To govern with virtue is like the North Star—it remains in place while all stars revolve around it. Now Zhao Hanzhang is that North Star.” Xun Fan said softly: “I went to the provinces for disaster relief and only then understood. Her prestige among the people is unshakeable. This is virtue. We can’t compare with her. Better to let go early and secure a safe place for Your Majesty.”

Most of this speech went over the young Emperor’s head—he was too young and hadn’t read enough books. But he understood the latter half, so he pressed: “How do we let go?”

Xun Fan lowered his voice: “The solar eclipse in February, and these three months of heavy rain—Your Majesty should issue an edict of self-blame and abdicate to her.”

He continued: “She’ll certainly refuse. Your Majesty shouldn’t panic. After two or three days, issue another abdication letter. I’ll help you with the rest and will certainly secure Your Majesty a safe refuge.”

The young Emperor agreed. The pressure that had been weighing on his chest was finally released. He was overjoyed—after not being Emperor, he wouldn’t have to attend court at dawn or rush through coursework until late at night.

Xun Zu returned with the letter, presenting it with both hands to Xun Fan.

Xun Fan took it, glanced at it once, then gave it to the young Emperor: “Though we’ve made up our minds, Your Majesty’s studies must continue. This is the coursework I assigned before leaving the capital. Alas, I was worried you’d be troubled by state affairs and in poor spirits, so I put it away without submitting it. Now I’ve returned, and Your Majesty can send someone out of the palace to ask me anytime you don’t understand something.”

The young Emperor looked down at the dozen or so questions on the paper and the list of essays he was supposed to memorize. His vision darkened. He was about to abdicate—why did he still have to study so hard?

Xun Fan had noticed the young Emperor’s aversion to learning, but there was nothing he could do. As Emperor, these were things he had to learn.

He also knew the Emperor was approaching his breaking point. He vaguely sensed this was Zhao Hanzhang’s strategy, but didn’t know whether she’d planned from the start to break the young Emperor, or was testing whether he could withstand the pressure and become a capable ruler.

Regardless of Zhao Hanzhang’s initial intentions, after two years, not only had she seen it, but Xun Fan had too—the young Emperor wasn’t a qualified Emperor and couldn’t become a wise, intelligent, capable ruler.

Even civil and military officials all saw it.

Zhao Hanzhang had never threatened the Emperor. She’d always been respectful to him. In such circumstances, he still couldn’t withstand the pressure. How could he possibly seize power from her in the future?

That’s why before departing, Xun Fan didn’t dare submit this coursework to the palace, fearing that in his absence, the young Emperor would be crushed by the coursework, make mistakes, and he’d be powerless to help from afar.

“Your Majesty, don’t worry.” Xun Fan’s voice was gentler than ever, saying with a smile: “Take it back to the palace and think slowly. Look at the reading list slowly too. Don’t rush.”

Only then did the young Emperor feel better. He reached out to take it, folded it, and tucked it into his sleeve.

Xun Fan had nothing more to say and looked at Xun Zu: “Go invite the General.”

Xun Zu agreed, then asked the young Emperor: “Would Your Majesty like to move to the main hall for tea?”

The young Emperor also felt he’d stayed in this room too long. If someone misunderstood them as plotting, that wouldn’t be good. He quickly stood and said to Xun Fan: “I’ll personally invite the General and listen to the physician’s diagnosis.”

Xun Zu escorted the young Emperor out. As they were about to cross the threshold, Xun Zu reached out to support the young Emperor. The young Emperor looked up at him in surprise.

Xun Zu winked at him, lowering his voice: “Your Majesty, this is for your self-protection.”

Using his wide sleeve as cover, the young Emperor felt something tucked into his sleeve—one corner hard, with small round objects beside it. He pinched them—they felt like pearls.

Money—the young Emperor quite liked that.

Zhao Hanzhang was poor, and the national treasury was poor too.

She was never someone who suffered herself while tightening her belt to make the Emperor comfortable. Basically, when she suffered, she’d drag the young Emperor along to suffer, calling it “sharing the nation’s hardships together.”

This nation was called Jin. There was no reason for the regent minister to live miserably while the Emperor lived in luxury.

So since ascending the throne, the young Emperor’s food and drink weren’t even as good as when he was a prince and young master.

Though the palace people didn’t dare mistreat him, with money he could have people purchase things from outside the palace to make delicious food!

Could that large, hard piece be a gold brick?

The young Emperor pushed the cloth bag deeper inside, happily going to the main hall to see Zhao Hanzhang: “General, I’ve finished talking with the Grand Tutor.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and asked: “Is Your Majesty reassured now?”

“Reassured, reassured. The Grand Tutor is fine. Where is the imperial physician? I wonder when the Grand Tutor can get out of bed?”

The imperial physician stepped forward to answer: “In three more days the stitches can be removed. Then depending on how the wound heals, he can walk accordingly.”

He continued: “The Grand Tutor didn’t injure bone. His biggest problem was excessive blood loss. Replenishing blood requires internal adjustment.”

The young Emperor quickly said: “Whatever medicinal materials are needed, take them from the palace.”

The imperial physician agreed.

Zhao Hanzhang saw it was about time. Today’s purpose had been achieved, so she planned to say goodbye to Xun Fan, reassure him, then lead the young Emperor back to the palace.

So everyone surged back to Xun Fan’s bedside. Yu Hong had quite a few good friends—Xiahou Ren was one of them. He hoped Xun Fan could plead for Yu Hong’s family, so before Zhao Hanzhang rose to leave, he said: “General, Yu Hong’s attempted murder of the imperial envoy is certainly a grave crime, but his family is innocent. Please show mercy to his family.”

Hearing this, Xun Fan also quickly said: “General, Yu Hong has only two sons and one daughter. His eldest son is just fourteen, at the age for studying. He knew nothing of these matters. Though Yu Hong’s crime is heinous, please don’t implicate his family.”

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t make it difficult and pondered briefly before nodding: “I’ll have Yuan Li investigate. If they’re confirmed completely innocent, I’ll pardon them.”

Xun Fan trusted Yuan Li but also feared Yuan Li’s methods. He quickly said: “This matter is grave. Please have the General assign the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate to jointly handle this case.”

Zhao Hanzhang agreed. Just as she was about to rise, she remembered: “Didn’t the Grand Tutor once recommend someone to me as the Emperor’s study companion—was that Yu Hong’s son?”

Xun Fan’s face instantly turned red as he lowered his head: “Yes, Yu Hong’s second son, of similar age to His Majesty.”

Zhao Hanzhang saw his old face flush completely red, thinking he was ashamed of misjudging Yu Hong. She quickly comforted him: “One can know a person’s face but not their heart. Moreover, people change. Yu Hong acting this way wasn’t the Grand Tutor’s intention, nor could we have predicted it. The Grand Tutor needn’t blame himself.”

Xun Fan opened his mouth but couldn’t speak.

How could he tell Zhao Hanzhang that the study companion he’d recommended didn’t match the name? That the truly clever one was actually the servant boy beside them, whose father was a subordinate?

Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes narrowed slightly: “What? Is there some inside story to Yu Hong’s case?”

“No.” Xun Fan said shamefully: “I just lament my poor judgment of character. General, Yu Hong is a criminal. His son is clearly no longer suitable as the Emperor’s study companion. Let’s forget this matter.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and rose to leave.

The young Emperor also quickly stood to follow. His movement was large, producing a slight collision sound. For anyone else, without careful listening they wouldn’t notice, but to Zhao Hanzhang’s ears it was like a symphony. She turned to look at his sleeve, displeased: “What does Your Majesty have in your sleeve? Don’t break it.”

She thought she’d shown sincerity, yet Xun Fan didn’t reciprocate?

What couldn’t be given openly but had to be secretly passed?

—