After taking leave from his grandmother, Gu Yanxi suddenly felt the urge to sit down and rest. He couldn't be bothered to consider where he was or who might see him, so he simply sat on the steps not far from the Hall of Fortune and Longevity. If possible, he would have even liked to take a jug of wine and drink several cups in one go.
Having lived twenty-six years, he had witnessed enough human warmth and coldness, seen too much ruthlessness in the imperial family. He had never held high expectations, so there was no disappointment to speak of. It was merely bearing the surname Gu, merely receiving imperial favor, merely enduring day by day until death or exhaustion would bring an end to it all. But then he had A Zhi.
He wanted to give A Zhi happiness, and he believed he could give her happiness—after all, he was the Heir, he was the head of the Seven Constellation Bureau. Yet the reality was that he had dragged A Zhi into the mire. The late emperor had oppressed her, the Empress Dowager suppressed her, dangling a carrot named Gu Yanxi before her while setting a vicious dog to chase her from behind. They naturally wanted to drain her completely.
They forgot A Zhi's contributions, forgot who was responsible for the Great Qing having a presentable Crown Prince. They pretended not to see how A Zhi's health had deteriorated in just two years. They so naturally placed this enormous burden upon her shoulders and cut off all her escape routes.
Sometimes he even felt that the worst misfortune in A Zhi's life was meeting him. Had she not been involved with him, the eldest daughter of the Hua family could still have relied on her abilities to establish the Hua family's foothold in the capital. No matter who became the new emperor, with A Zhi's capabilities, the Hua family's return would only be a matter of time. She had no ambition, thus wouldn't need to display excessive talent that would make others covetous, ultimately trapping herself in shackles she couldn't escape.
Crown Prince's Grand Tutor—the first female official in Great Qing. How impressive it sounded. Yet under layer upon layer of restrictions, it was merely a more prestigious teaching position—what difference was there from before? So stingy with benefits, yet making A Zhi lose the freedom she truly cared about. A Zhi had never been willing to accept such constraints.
Covering his face, Gu Yanxi suddenly remembered Haoyue's words. If only, if only A Zhi were really a monster—at least monsters lived long lives, and monsters had magical powers that could restore A Zhi's health.
"Yanxi gege?"
Gu Yanxi looked up and gave a faint smile to the Crown Prince who hesitated about whether to approach. "Your Highness should address your subject differently from now on."
"There are no outsiders here, it's fine." Looking at the Heir whose emotions hadn't been concealed in time, the Crown Prince came over and sat beside him. He didn't need to guess to know why Yanxi gege was in such low spirits. Indeed, the Grand Tutor was already eighteen this year. Girls from other families at this age would likely have become mothers already, yet the Grand Tutor still had to wait several more years. By then...
"I can marry earlier."
Gu Yanxi turned to look at him.
The Crown Prince propped his chin and smiled. "Emperor Yaozong, my great-grandfather, married at fourteen. Why can't I do the same? Besides, having an established empress would help stabilize the harem. It's quite good."
"Your Highness..."
"The Grand Tutor is already eighteen. In two more years she'll be twenty. If she still doesn't marry, Yanxi gege, do you want the Grand Tutor to become a laughingstock? I would never allow it!"
Gu Yanxi looked at him for a moment, then stretched out his legs and lay back, resting his head on his arms as he gazed at the sky. His suppressed mood cleared instantly—the child A Zhi had taught ultimately remained grateful to her.
"Yanxi gege?""Your Grand Tutor would not agree. If you truly care for her, then study diligently under her guidance and become a wise ruler in the future, ensuring her name is recorded in history. I shall value the things she disregards—her contributions should never be erased, Crown Prince."
The Crown Prince fell silent, then nodded after a moment. "I understand. The more outstanding I am, the less anyone will dare to look down upon the Grand Tutor. When I become a wise ruler, as the sole Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, her name will surely be immortalized in history."
Gu Yanxi gazed up at the small patch of sky above, where only half a cloud's shape was visible, wondering what its complete form might be. "Little Six."
Hearing this address after several days warmed the Crown Prince's heart, and he responded with a soft "Hmm."
"By sixteen, you must fully grant A Zhi her freedom. At eighteen, when you turn eighteen, I will resign from my post. You have only six years to grow up."
"Will you leave the capital?"
"If your Grand Tutor wishes to travel and see the world then, I will naturally accompany her. If she prefers to remain peacefully in the capital, I will abide by her wishes." Gu Yanxi sat up, the despondence in his eyes completely gone. "Even if she travels, she will return. She cannot let go of Berlin, nor can she abandon you, her student. You know how protective your Grand Tutor is of those close to her."
Yes, he knew—he had experienced it firsthand numerous times. The Crown Prince immediately brightened, casting aside the fleeting fear of being abandoned. How could his Grand Tutor ever neglect him!
Sitting there on the cold steps, the two of them settled the course of three lives. The Crown Prince was well aware of the Heir's intent in speaking these words, and precisely because he understood, he engraved this moment firmly in his memory. He remembered Brother Yanxi's stance of prioritizing beauty over power, so that no matter how many attempts to sow discord in the future, he would always recall this afternoon—the gentle breeze, the blue sky, the warm sunlight, and their hearts aligned.
While the atmosphere here was harmonious, the Hua family was bustling with activity.
Hua Zhi, rarely showing her emotions so openly, helped Berlin and Yang Suian up from their deep bows. "Why kneel to me? Why have you both grown so thin and dark? I can hardly recognize you."
Berlin, eyes red-rimmed, clutched his elder sister's sleeve, nearly bursting into tears. "Elder Sister, you're talking nonsense! Cousin and I have become sturdy. You're the one who's truly thin—how did you get so gaunt? Your cheeks are sunken!"
"No matter how much I eat, I don't gain weight. Do you think I want to be like this?" Tapping his forehead, Hua Zhi smiled until her eyes crinkled. Though he was her brother, he felt almost like her own child. She truly understood a mother's worry for her children abroad—even her own mother might not have been as concerned as she was.
Holding Berlin's hand, Hua Zhi turned to her cousin, who now stood considerably taller than her. "Was this journey fruitful?"
Yang Suian, also with red-rimmed eyes and a hoarse voice, replied, "Yes, very fruitful. It was worth three years of studying the classics."
"It's good that you gained from it. Now that you're back, rest well and let it all sink in."
"Yes."
Hua Zhi smiled. "Alright, go see your mother now. She's been waiting so long her neck must be stretched thin."
Yang Suian bowed deeply. Even before reaching the capital, they had heard of the previous emperor's passing. He and Berlin had been terribly worried, rushing back as fast as they could. Instead of heading straight home upon entering the city, they had gone to a teahouse to gather news. Truth be told, he had been deeply shaken.He hadn't expected so many events to have occurred just recently, and such... unbelievable ones at that. Fortunately, it was the Sixth Prince who ascended the throne—his cousin's long and meticulous efforts had finally paid off. As for his cousin becoming the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor, he wasn't particularly surprised. With her knowledge and intellect, she could handle an even higher official position!
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