Bang! The hall doors slowly swung open.
Lai Fu, who seemed as if a gust of wind could topple him yet had stubbornly endured until now, flicked his horsetail whisk and announced in a drawn-out, sharp tone, "The Emperor has passed away!"
The ministers prostrated themselves on the ground, weeping and crying out in sorrow, "Your Majesty!"
Hua Zhi followed suit, her long-suppressed heart finally settling heavily. Having come this far, even if further changes occurred, she would no longer be so passive. Without the emperor, Little Six could not afford to harbor any ambitions now. In the years when he still needed to rely on her and Yan Xi, their relationship would inevitably remain harmonious. As for the future... she would never allow them to reach the point where the bird is discarded after the hunt, and the hound is boiled after the hare is caught.
Little Six stepped out from the hall, his gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on his mentor, who appeared even more frail after kneeling. What he disliked most was receiving formal gestures of respect from his mentor, yet such occasions would likely become frequent in the future. This was one of the things he had lost—this gentle, kind woman, who was like a mother and an elder sister to him, would probably never again pat his head.
Suppressing these unwarranted emotions, Little Six, his voice still crisp and unbroken by adolescence, declared clearly, "Our father has passed. I ask all ministers to fulfill their duties and stabilize the court, ensuring no opportunists take advantage."
"As the Crown Prince commands."
"Minister Wei."
Wei Congwen, the Minister of Rites, abruptly looked up, his heart leaping into his throat. "Your servant is here."
"All subsequent matters shall be entrusted to the Ministry of Rites. I am young and unfamiliar with many protocols. Should any decisions require guidance, please consult the Grand Tutor."
Wei Congwen responded firmly, his heart finally settling back into place. The tension that had gripped him for days eased slightly—his risky gamble had paid off. The Wei Family had narrowly balanced their merits and faults.
Duke Dingguo also bowed in acknowledgment. As the head of the imperial clan, he could not evade this responsibility.
"Sound the death knell."
Twelve tolls of the bell echoed, and the entire capital fell into silence. Many stepped out of their homes, silently kneeling and kowtowing toward the palace. Music ceased, and the red pavilions and Chu mansions swiftly closed their doors. In moments, the capital was draped in white mourning attire.
Within the palace, actions were even swifter. Everywhere one looked, white dominated the scene.
Little Six, now clad in plain mourning robes, approached Hua Zhi, who had remained behind. Belatedly realizing he was no longer the Little Six of before, she moved to bow, but he had already bent at the waist first. "Mentor, you are now rightfully my Grand Tutor."
Hua Zhi’s heart softened into a puddle. She had always known—among his many efforts, one reason was to gain recognition for her role as the prince’s teacher. When he lacked the authority to formally appoint her, he could only strive to excel, compelling the world to acknowledge her qualifications as his mentor from the depths of their hearts.
Helping him straighten up, Hua Zhi smiled gently. "From now on, you must not bend your waist so easily."
Little Six, born and raised in the palace, seemed to understand its rules innately. Yet he felt aggrieved—thoroughly and utterly wronged.
"What is improper about me bowing to my own mentor? Heaven, earth, sovereign, parents, and teacher—even kneeling to you would be fitting."
Hua Zhi was taken aback, almost immediately discerning his emotions. After a moment’s reflection, she understood. Indeed, no matter how much he had matured, he was still only a twelve-year-old child. Having attained the highest position, yet forced to isolate himself from everyone and everything, becoming a solitary ruler—how could he not feel resentment?Her body still ached, and the day had felt so long. Her strength had long been exhausted, so she indulged herself a little, casually sitting down on the ground and patting the spot in front of her to signal for Little Six to sit as well.
Little Six's eyes lit up, and he obediently sat down, his expression visibly brightening.
Seeing him like this, Hua Zhi felt a pang of heartache. She sighed softly and softened her tone. "Without rules, there is no order. You already understand these grand principles, so I won't lecture you further. Instead, let me talk to you about human nature. If you were just an insignificant prince, no one would care whom you were close to because you wouldn't matter—you wouldn't affect the bigger picture. But now you are the Crown Prince, and in the near future, you will be the ruler of a nation. Your preferences, your biases, and your relationships all carry immense weight. Countless people will want to become someone you favor, and countless others will try to decipher your thoughts. They will cater to your preferences just to earn your special regard. Therefore, they will inevitably not allow me to be that exception—they may even join forces to destroy me as that exception."
Little Six's eyes turned cold. Hua Zhi sighed again. The imperial family was heartless—this was a truth that didn't need to be taught, even if this heartlessness wasn't directed at her and was meant to protect her.
"But this isn't without a solution," Hua Zhi resisted the urge to pat his shoulder. "As long as you are strong enough—strong enough to make the officials bow to your will, to make them too afraid to scheme against you or use underhanded tactics to manipulate your preferences—only then can you act according to your heart."
She smiled, her voice growing even gentler. "You've been by my side for over a year now, so you should know I don't have great ambitions. After your grand wedding, I will retreat far away. As long as I don't contend for power or chase after gains, I doubt others will persistently target me. You'll always know where my home is. When the time comes, if you wish to visit, who could bar you from entering? I've said it before: the Hua family's door will always be open to you. As long as you're willing, there will always be a room for you in the Hua residence, a place set for you at our table. Little Six, the greatest distance has always been between hearts, not in physical separation."
Little Six fell silent for a moment, and finally, a trace of relief appeared on his face. He had been trapped in his own stubborn thoughts, hadn't he? The initiative was in his own hands. As long as he remained close to his master, who could forbid it?
His master was right—he needed to become strong enough himself, powerful enough to suppress the demons and monsters in the court. Only then would no one dare to plot against him.
"I understand, Master. I will work hard."
"From now on, call me Grand Tutor to avoid giving others grounds for criticism." Hua Zhi thought of something and reminded him, "You're at an age of youthful vigor now. Be careful not to let others easily manipulate your emotions or lead you by the nose. Listen more, observe more, and speak less. Don't let yourself be used. Duke Dingguo is the bedrock of the nation. If you encounter matters that are difficult to decide, you can seek his opinion, but don't become overly reliant on him."
"Can't I ask you instead?"
"No, you cannot. The Emperor's final decree forbids me from participating in politics. Besides, I certainly wouldn't understand those matters better than Duke Dingguo."Thinking of how her father had granted her master the position of Grand Tutor yet imposed layer upon layer of restrictions, Little Six felt both indignant on the Grand Tutor's behalf and a secret delight. Though she felt guilty toward the Grand Tutor, knowing that at least for the next few years he wouldn't be alone made her immensely happy. She would compensate the Grand Tutor later - compensate him generously. Yes, she could prepare a lavish dowry for the Grand Tutor, giving her ten miles of red dowry - no, twenty miles!
Behind the side door, the Empress Dowager had been standing there listening for quite some time. She hadn't been without worries - with Haoyue's example as a warning, she had been somewhat uneasy about overly intelligent women. But now she was reassured. Hua Zhi wasn't Haoyue. When intelligence is applied correctly, it truly deserves to be called intelligence.
"Lock Haoyue in that heart's blood extraction room. Nothing inside is to be added or removed." The Empress Dowager coldly curled her lips and added, "Seal all windows and doors completely with wooden planks."
"Yes." Thinking of the table inside that room, Yu Xiang felt a chill run down her spine, yet she also felt immensely satisfied. This was the debt Haoyue herself had incurred - it was time for her to repay it.
PS: There have been so many comments these past few days. Kongkong reads every single comment daily. Thank you for your generous affection, ladies.
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