Coming out of Fushou Palace, Hua Zhi spotted Lai Fu waiting outside. “Grand Tutor, His Highness the Crown Prince requests your presence.”
Hua Zhi was not surprised. If little Xiao Liu hadn’t known she had entered the palace, she would have been worried about how poorly he held the reins of the imperial palace.
“Has the Eunuch’s health improved at all?”
“Yes. The divine physician sent an antidote over. With gradual recuperation I should make a full recovery.” Lai Fu bent his back even lower, though his appearance was still haggard. Yet his words carried a sense of peace of mind. The one seated above was the Sixth Prince — what he had sought was now more than half achieved. Besides, the Crown Prince had only one useful attendant, Xiao Shuang, and Xiao Shuang had never undergone castration, which made many things within the palace inconvenient. Unless Xiao Shuang was willing to submit to the procedure, he would most likely still need to go abroad and run errands for the Crown Prince in the future.
As for himself — now serving at the Crown Prince’s side, he estimated he would be needed for some time. However long he was kept, as long as he left behind this bond of goodwill, his own future would surely be secure.
Both being cautious people, they said little more within the deep palace, and walked in silence until they arrived at Quiet Heart Hall, where the Crown Prince resided.
“Teach… Grand Tutor.” Little Xiao Liu saw her coming and quickly rose to welcome her.
Not wishing both of them to feel awkward, Hua Zhi did not perform a full bow — a simple courtesy curtsy was enough to fulfill the formalities.
Sure enough, Xiao Liu looked happier for it.
Lai Fu, ever perceptive, personally served the tea and then withdrew with the others to a suitable distance. He did not leave, nor did he dismiss anyone else from the room. Having spent half a lifetime in the palace, he knew far too well what required attention.
Having not touched a drop at the Empress Dowager’s, Hua Zhi was somewhat thirsty. She drank half a cup before the parching eased somewhat.
“The Eastern Palace is not being established?”
“Several of the senior officials came to discuss this matter with me earlier. Their view was to forgo establishing the Eastern Palace for now and simply reside here in Quiet Heart Hall for a time.” Xiao Liu looked at his teacher with anticipation. “When will Grand Tutor begin giving me lessons?”
“Just now, the Empress Dowager summoned me specifically to discuss this matter. Her intention is two hours of lessons per day, held in Fushou Palace.” After a pause, Hua Zhi added, “It was my suggestion.”
“Why Fushou Palace?”
“The Crown Prince and I…” Hua Zhi paused, then smoothed a strand of hair near her temple and asked, “Should I be addressing myself as ‘this official’? I am not quite accustomed to it.”
Xiao Liu smiled. “Grand Tutor need not change. Being this free and easy is quite fine — if you truly referred to yourself as ‘this official’ with every breath, I would be even more uncomfortable.”
Indeed, Xiao Liu had never once used “this prince” either. From the bottom of his heart, he hoped that not too much would change. Hua Zhi’s thoughts turned over a few times, and she spoke as naturally as ever. “The entire court knows of the close bond between the Crown Prince and me — yet I cannot allow that to make me act without restraint and invite all manner of unnecessary gossip. In Fushou Palace, those troubles disappear. It is better for you and for me alike.”
Xiao Liu was sharp — sharper than most — and though Hua Zhi had taken the long way around, he grasped the underlying meaning at once. The imperial palace had always been a place that forced people to grow up quickly; it was not unusual to be worldly wise at ten. Even neglected as he was, he knew everything he ought to know.
To say there had never been even a fleeting thought… how could there not have been? Such a person — there was nothing about her that was not good. As long as she was near, he felt free of worry, felt at ease. Yet he also saw clearly: the greatest obstacle between them was not Yanxi-gege. It was that Grand Tutor had no such feelings for him whatsoever — not before, because he was an imperial prince, and not now, because he had become the Crown Prince.
Grand Tutor appeared gentle, but her character was fiercely resolute. If he dared resort to any underhanded means, things would only move in the worst possible direction. There were some matters that even the power of a sovereign could do nothing about — and the human heart was the rarest thing in the world, impossible to force.
What he possessed now was already so little. To lose even that would leave him with nothing at all. He did not wish to become like his imperial father — pitiable in life, lamentable in death. He wanted to hold fast to this warmth, to hold it in his hands for a long, long time, and exchange that small yearning for one — no, several — family members who truly cared for him with all their hearts. He was not losing out.
“Very well. As Grand Tutor wishes — shall we begin each day at the midpoint past the Hour of Chen?”
Hua Zhi counted the hours and nodded. That timing was suitable enough. “There is no rush on this. For now, the most pressing matter is the late Emperor’s funeral rites. As for the rear palace, do not involve yourself — the Empress Dowager will see to it.”
“I know.”
Hua Zhi was briefly startled. She had said her mindset had adjusted, yet upon actually seeing him in person she had still forgotten that the child before her was no longer the little Xiao Liu of before. A Crown Prince on the verge of ascending to the throne did not need her to tell him how to conduct himself.
So then… how exactly was this Grand Tutor supposed to go about her role?
“The spring imperial examinations are almost upon us. The examination candidates have already gathered in the capital, yet at this moment…” Xiao Liu looked at her. “Grand Tutor, what do you think should be done?”
Hua Zhi collected her thoughts, and without concealing her mind even slightly, she spoke openly. “After bitter years of study spanning decades, they have finally reached the day to offer everything they have learned in service of the emperor. The vast majority of them have made long journeys to get here. For those without substantial means, every additional day spent in the capital adds an enormous expense. Miss this opportunity, and some may never have the chance to come to the capital again. Beyond that, public sentiment must be soothed. These things may seem trivial, yet they are intimately bound to Daqing — these are the candidates, and the future pillars of the dynasty are all among them. I believe it would be best for the spring examinations to proceed as scheduled. Although this is the period of mourning for the late Emperor, doing so carries not the slightest disrespect.”
Xiao Liu was not in the least surprised by his teacher’s answer. Having come from the Hua Family, she instinctively felt a deep regard for scholars — and moreover, everything she had said was sound. He nodded and said, “Minister Zhu raised this matter today as well. His meaning also leaned toward not delaying the examinations, though there are others who feel this is not an appropriate time to proceed. In view of this, it does indeed seem better not to postpone.”
“The late Emperor granted me the title of Grand Tutor on the condition that I may not stand at court or participate in governance. Going forward, there is no need to come and ask me about these matters — lest it violates the rules and gives others something to seize upon.”
“You are my Grand Tutor. Is it not only natural to resolve doubts for one’s student? And we are not at court right now, so this can hardly be called participating in governance.”
He had truly grown up. Watching Xiao Liu exercise his ‘above policies, there are countermeasures’ principle with such composure and self-assurance, Hua Zhi smiled. This was fine too — the living should never be constrained by rigid rules.
Finishing the remaining half cup of tea, Hua Zhi raised her head. “Has His Highness read the report from Jinyang?”
Xiao Liu nodded. “I have. The silver has been entered into the treasury and recorded.”
“That is only a portion of it.” Hua Zhi rose and gave a solemn bow. “Yanxi and I feared that too much silver all at once might tempt the late Emperor into another scheme involving the canal, so we privately held back a portion — an amount equal to what was sent back. That sum is now on its way here as well. When it arrives, I ask that His Highness send someone trustworthy to cross-reference the accounts.”
Xiao Liu understood his teacher well enough. He gestured for her to sit and said, “Has Grand Tutor already determined how this sum should be used?”
“Stockpile grain.”
Xiao Liu pressed his lips together. War with the Chaoli tribe was inevitable — it was time to begin preparing.