Chu Hongyu said earnestly, “Brother Jiang excels in both civil and military arts, and Brother Shen is a natural top scholar. Both of them are too outstanding. Placing them by my side would actually be unfavorable—they’d easily be drawn into the vortex of confrontation with the Regent Prince. During the time when they should be studying, they should study properly. Once they’ve achieved academic success and enter officialdom at court, only then can they truly help me. Mother, do you think my reasoning is correct?”

Yun Chu was genuinely surprised.

She truly hadn’t expected her son to offer such a profound line of reasoning.

Indeed, if Jiang’er and Shen’er became the emperor’s study companions and were monitored by Chu Rui, how could they have the peace of mind to pursue their studies? Naturally, their futures would be delayed.

“The people I selected are all incompetent fools. The Regent Prince won’t be on guard against them at all.” Chu Hongyu sat up straight. “After my enthronement, I deliberately announced an exceptional examination, adding an extra metropolitan examination in early December this year. When the time comes, Brother Jiang and Brother Shen must not disappoint me. Once they pass as presented scholars, in next year’s palace examination, I can properly promote them to official positions.”

Yun Chu once again looked at her son with surprised eyes.

She profoundly realized once more that her son had truly grown up—he was no longer that child who needed her protection in all matters.

“Mother, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something dirty on my face?”

“No, Mother is pleased.” Yun Chu stroked his hair. “You’ve already reached an age where you can handle matters independently. Mother can finally feel at ease.”

She paused before continuing, “Mother is preparing to leave the palace to find you a new teacher. During these days, you must protect yourself well. I’ll entrust Changsheng and Jue’er to your imperial grandmother—you needn’t worry about them.”

Chu Hongyu rubbed his chin. “Is Imperial Grandmother reliable?”

There was once when Changsheng was left in Imperial Grandmother’s care and got bullied. He still remembered it to this day.

Yun Chu smiled and said, “You’ve grown up, and your imperial grandmother has naturally matured as well. With your grand-aunt watching together, everything will be fine.”

Since Chu Yi’s incident, Imperial Consort Yin had become like a different person. Now she should be called Dowager Consort Yin. Previously carefree and forthright, she had become taciturn. Only when drinking tea with Dowager Consort Yun did she speak a bit more. She also cared much more about those around her, protecting the children like precious jewels.

Early the next morning, Yun Chu boarded a carriage with guards, leaving the palace discreetly under the pretext of worshipping Buddha.

The carriage traveled westward all day before reaching the outskirts of a nearby small city. There were mountains here, and beside the mountains was a village. At the village’s edge stood a small courtyard blooming with flowers. The autumn wind rustled gently, autumn chrysanthemums blazed brilliantly—the small courtyard was quite elegant.

When the carriage was still some distance from the small courtyard, Yun Chu had them stop.

Taking only her maid Qiutong, she walked toward the small courtyard. The courtyard gate wasn’t closed, but she didn’t rashly enter. Instead, she called out loudly, “Excuse me, is anyone here?”

“Are you a traveler seeking water?”

An aged voice responded from behind the house.

Immediately after, a vigorous old man slowly walked to the front courtyard.

The old man had a full head of white hair and a white beard. Though his spirit was good, one could tell he was at least eighty years old.

This person was a close minister to the late emperor’s father, which showed this person’s generation and seniority.

Yun Chu had read the history books. The reason the late emperor’s father became an enlightened sovereign who established so many meritorious achievements was precisely because he had such a person who was both teacher and friend.

Ouyang Ye—in his youth, he served as a study companion at the Imperial Academy. Later, when the emperor ascended the throne, he was exceptionally promoted to Grand Preceptor. He assisted that emperor all the way to the pinnacle of power, expanding Great Jin’s territory and making neighboring small nations tremble in fear at the mere mention of their name… After that emperor passed away, Ouyang Ye resigned from his position as Grand Preceptor, saying he would retreat to the mountains and forests.

Yet in those mountains and forests, he established a “Thatched Cottage Academy.”

Countless people competed to send their children to study at the Thatched Cottage Academy. This academy continued for thirty years. After he grew quite aged, he closed the Thatched Cottage Academy.

But his students were spread throughout Great Jin. It would not be excessive to say his peaches and plums filled the world.

“Observing Madam’s attire, you don’t seem like a passing traveler seeking water.” Ouyang Ye stroked his white beard. “I wonder what brings Madam here?”

“Master Ouyang.” Yun Chu cupped her hands, performing the courtesy between scholars. “I am the mother of Great Jin Dynasty’s young emperor.”

Ouyang Ye set down the hoe in his hand and immediately paid respects. “This commoner greets the Empress Dowager…”

“Master Ouyang need not do this.” Yun Chu helped him up. “You, sir, are a meritorious minister of our Great Jin nation. You need not bow to a mere woman like me.”

“I am eighty-nine years old this year.” Ouyang Ye picked up a teapot and poured Yun Chu a cup. “At my age, I see everything clearly. The Empress Dowager’s purpose in coming—there’s no need to state it.”

Though he lived in the mountains and forests, he could still know the affairs of court.

Having said this, he shouldered his hoe and went to work the fields.

Yun Chu pressed her lips together.

In these times, few people could live to eighty or ninety years old. At Ouyang Ye’s age, he indeed deserved to peacefully enjoy his remaining years.

She shouldn’t have come.

But she had no other recourse.

The only person in the world who could replace Grand Preceptor Xu was Ouyang Ye.

Even if Ouyang Ye only served as imperial tutor for two days, that would suffice. She first had to replace Grand Preceptor Xu before she could make further arrangements.

Yun Chu followed Ouyang Ye to the fields.

It was deep autumn, and what was planted in the ground was probably radishes and cabbages. Yun Chu honestly wasn’t very certain.

“Master Ouyang may know of court affairs, but only their surface, not their depths. The late emperor’s death was not from illness but by treacherous hands.” Yun Chu crouched down and, while pulling weeds alongside Ouyang Ye, said in a low voice, “Treacherous ministers control the court, the new emperor is young, and the court’s situation is urgent beyond delay. I beseech Master Ouyang to emerge from retirement and lend his assistance.”

Ouyang Ye pulled out a resilient weed and spoke, “Empress Dowager, please observe this weed. No one tends it, yet it grows more densely than the cabbage. Why is this?”

Yun Chu answered, “Because it has seized the nutrients that belong to the cabbage.”

“Because you need cabbage, you believe those are nutrients that belong to the cabbage.” Ouyang Ye spoke. “If I said this weed could be used as medicine, would the Empress Dowager still believe it stole nutrients?”

With that, he stood up and began watering the cabbages.

Yun Chu pondered thoughtfully. Then she stepped forward and said, “Weeds and cabbages—people take what they need from each. When plague runs rampant, naturally keep the weeds. If famine strikes, then cabbage should be kept. What to choose depends on what people need now. Great Jin Dynasty has been stable for so many years. If it begins to crumble from within, external threats will follow one after another. When that time comes, whether cabbage or weeds, all will become nothing but emptiness.”

Ouyang Ye leaned on his hoe and glanced at the sun. “The day is still young. I’m going fishing. I’ll have fish soup tonight. The fish in this pond are small, so I won’t invite the Empress Dowager to dine with me. Empress Dowager, take your time leaving. I won’t see you out.”

He shouldered his hoe and walked away again.

Yun Chu looked at the weeds in the field that hadn’t been completely pulled and crouched down to continue clearing them.

Qiutong wanted to help but was refused by Yun Chu.

To move Ouyang Ye, she had to show genuine sincerity. She had to let Ouyang Ye see her earnestness.