Extra Chapter Seventeen: Complete Blessings (End)
The capital has always been bustling, and nowadays the topic of conversation after meals is Grand Tutor Hua Zhi.
Yes, Grand Tutor Hua Zhi, not the Princess Consort of the Regent. No one knows when it started, but this identity for Hua Zhi became the default.
With the late emperor's decree preceding everything, and the current Emperor having been married for half a month, everyone is speculating about what the Grand Tutor will do. It's said that betting pools have even been set up among the common people, with quite a few participants.
Hua Zhi closed the dossier and looked up at the two people opposite her. One was her chief disciple, the ruler of Daqing; the other was her own younger brother, destined for no small achievements. That these two had studied under her meant that after her passing, history books would surely record her name with prominence.
Taking off her official hat and gently stroking it in her hands, Hua Zhi placed it softly on the desk. Then she took the Grand Tutor's official seal from her sleeve and set it beside the hat. Rising, she knelt before the Emperor, touching her forehead to the ground. "Hua Zhi has not failed the late emperor's trust."
The Emperor felt a lump in his throat. He had long anticipated the Grand Tutor's decision, yet he still wished this day would come more slowly. He even wanted to say that while the late emperor had left a decree, he too possessed the imperial authority—he could reappoint her as Grand Tutor and continue learning from her. But after the words rolled around his tongue several times, he merely remained silent, stood up, stepped forward to help her rise with both hands, then retreated a step and bowed deeply. "The teachings of the Grand Tutor will benefit this student for a lifetime."
Hua Zhi accepted this bow from her student. After years of diligent instruction, she believed she deserved it.
"Since the Grand Tutor has no interest in an official career, I shall not force the matter. However, the fact that I am your student will never change." The Emperor's eyes were slightly red, yet he smiled. "The Grand Tutor's Library must reserve a place for me—you cannot favor only your junior disciple."
"This subject has never forgotten having two disciples." Hua Zhi bowed and took her leave. "I shall await Your Majesty's arrival in the Library."
With only two people left in the side hall, Hua Bolin broke the silence while looking at the official hat. "From now on, the Grand Tutor won't need to come to the palace through cold and heat. You should be relieved—it's merely a change of teaching venue, isn't it?"
Seeing Hua Bolin's sly smile, the Emperor suddenly felt enlightened. Exactly so—his teacher was merely shedding the empty title of Grand Tutor that had constrained her with exhausting struggles. That she remained his teacher hadn't changed. At most, they would simply move the lessons to the Regent's residence, sparing her the hardship of travel.
In the following years, the two truly fulfilled what they had said. Several days each month, they would go to the Regent's residence to receive instruction from their teacher in that very Library. The students remained the same two, with Zeng Han occasionally joining to listen. But as their paths differed, he would usually sit quietly downstairs reading.
Without needing deliberate efforts to draw closer, the three who had grown up together in such an environment were naturally closer than anyone else. Even after Hua Zhi stopped teaching, this Library remained their most frequented place.
Here, even saying nothing and doing nothing, sitting quietly for half a day amid the scent of ink or taking a short nap felt satisfying. And because of this Library, Emperor Changzhi, who led Daqing into its golden age, never truly became a solitary ruler. Later historians studying Daqing held countless disagreements, but on one point there was universal consensus: it was Hua Zhi who made Emperor Changzhi.Such matters were still far off. After the Grand Tutor's resignation caused quite a stir, things gradually settled into calm. Having shed her responsibilities, Hua Zhi needed no adjustment period before joyfully burying herself in the Library. Something she had long wished to do finally had time to be accomplished, though her hands paid the price.
As Gu Yanxi carefully burst the blisters on her fingers, his heart ached. Applying ointment, he murmured, "What's the use of keeping all those servants in the residence? Such rough work as making bamboo slips shouldn't require your personal attention."
"I just haven't mastered the technique yet." Though her fingers throbbed with pain, Hua Zhi's enthusiasm remained undiminished. "With my newfound leisure at home, I need to find meaningful pursuits."
Gu Yanxi held up her injured hands as evidence of her suffering.
"Once I improve my technique, this won't happen." Hua Zhi flexed her fingers. Through meticulous treatment and daily massage, her hands had nearly fully recovered, though their strength still fell short of others'. Despite enduring many hardships in recent years, she had never performed manual labor until now, making her sudden attempt seem particularly clumsy.
Unable to persuade her yet, feeling sorry for her injuries, Gu Yanxi began rushing home after court sessions to join her in making bamboo slips. Gradually, their routine evolved: he crafted the slips while she assembled them into tablets.
As Gu Yanxi's official duties lightened—eventually becoming merely titular without court attendance—their shared days filled with crafting slips, assembling tablets, and transcribing classics became their new normal.
The young men of the Hua family often came to assist. None questioned Hua Zhi's seemingly redundant efforts, trusting their Elder Sister always had sound reasons. She offered no explanation about how many masterpieces had been lost to poor paper preservation, how many medical texts became unverifiable legends, or how many predecessors' hard work vanished without fulfilling their value. While daring innovations might invite trouble, this undertaking harmed no one's interests and drew no criticism.
The Emperor, who never visited without lending a hand, understood somewhat. His teacher had often lamented how many precious texts history had lost. He realized she wished to spare future generations similar regret, even if preventing it meant undertaking this monumental task that would likely consume years of her life.
"What's wrong with that?" Hua Zhi waved cheerfully at the Regent entering the courtyard. "I've been granted so much—honorable status, cherished marriage, diligent students. I'm far more fortunate than most. If I don't contribute something, I fear Heaven might reclaim these blessings."
Leaning subtly against her husband's hand as he fastened her cloak, she added, "Besides, this is what I've long desired to do. I'm truly happy to fulfill this wish."
The teacher's genuine happiness radiated from her brilliant smile. Watching the Hua family youths working earnestly in the courtyard, the Emperor's lips curved upward unconsciously—another reason to cherish this place.
"Invite Yu Lao here."
Gu Yanxi's instruction drew curious glances from nearby listeners, all instinctively turning toward Hua Zhi.
She blinked in confusion. What about her? She had no idea!
"You've lost color in your face."The Emperor, being close by, observed carefully and indeed noticed something amiss. He quickly asked, "Sir, are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
Hua Zhi assessed her condition and shook her head slightly—she felt fine.
But her own assessment didn’t count. After taking her pulse, Yu Lao abruptly stood up. Just as everyone thought he was about to say something, he sat back down, tightened his expression, closed his eyes, and began feeling her pulse again. The onlookers were somewhat frightened, their hearts suspended with tension.
Just as everyone was growing too anxious to wait any longer, Yu Lao finally let out a long sigh, opened his eyes, and announced, "Your Highness, congratulations—the Princess Consort is with child."
Gu Yanxi’s mind went blank with a sudden buzz. His usually stern face revealed a hint of bewilderment. Before marrying A Zhi, he had mentally prepared himself for the possibility of having no biological children and had even considered formally adopting Zeng Han when the time was right. Now… was that no longer necessary?
In contrast, Hua Zhi, after the initial surprise, quickly regained her composure and pressed, "Is the child well? What should I do?"
"Just do whatever makes the Princess Consort comfortable. It’s still early, and everything appears fine for now. There’s no need to worry excessively."
"Yes, thank you." Hua Zhi reached out and tugged at the man who still hadn’t fully processed the news. She wanted to smile at him but felt her nose tinge with emotion. Not having children meant cutting off the family line—especially in this era. As the Princess Consort of the Regent, she understood the immense pressure Yan Xi bore. Yet he had never shifted that burden onto her, instead carrying it entirely himself without letting her shoulder any part of it. He never spoke of love, but his every word and action embodied it fully.
Her life was truly complete.
Outside, the sunlight was just right, and inside, everyone’s smiles shone even brighter than the sun. Upon receiving the news, the Grand Empress Dowager lit a stick of incense and placed it in the incense burner. She walked to the doorway, watching the magpies chirping noisily on the branches, and a smile lifted the corners of her lips.
How truly wonderful!
END
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