SFS Chapter 304 Imperial Tutor
Chapter 304 Imperial Tutor
The letter from Vice Envoy Gao was delivered to Northern Qi by express courier, taking more than half a month to arrive. By then, winter had already begun.
The Northern Qi emperor sent his chief eunuch, Liu, to personally visit the Imperial Tutor's residence to invite the Imperial Tutor.
When Eunuch Liu arrived at the Imperial Tutor's residence, following the clear sound of the zither, he passed through many pavilions and arrived unimpeded at a quiet courtyard.
One of the courtyard doors was half-open. Eunuch Liu stood in front of the door, his hands resting on it. Through the crack, he could see a corner of the courtyard where a zither was placed under a few green bamboo stalks. A pair of slender, bony fingers reached out and slowly plucked the strings.
The clear and melodious sound of the zither touched his heartstrings, as if he had escaped the hustle and bustle.
Liu Gonggong pushed open the door absentmindedly, revealing a person sitting behind the guqin.
It was a bit chilly in the early winter evening, and he was wearing a cloak draped over his shoulders.
The warm yellow light of the palace lanterns gently bathed him, and the snow-white fur around his neck shone with a soft, warm glow, highlighting his handsome face and making him appear exceptionally refined.
Suddenly, he pressed down with his fingertips, pressing down on the strings, producing a low, trembling sound with a "zheng".
When Eunuch Liu came to his senses, he realized that the door had been pushed open without him noticing.
He panicked and quickly looked at the person. The person looked up at him and smiled slightly. There was no reproach in his eyes for disturbing his enjoyment, but rather his usual gentle and kind demeanor.
The Imperial Tutor was an orphan who grew up in the home of his aunt. He was a man of great talent and wisdom, well-versed in military strategy and tactics, and proficient in music. He did not seem to come from a poor family; on the contrary, he was very much like a noble young master raised in a prestigious family.
He emerged from obscurity in his teens, was appointed as a tutor to the Emperor of Northern Qi, and has climbed to his current supreme position. Yet, he does not possess an intimidating demeanor of ruthlessness and remains calm and composed.
Eunuch Liu lowered his eyes and said humbly, "Imperial Tutor, this servant has unintentionally disturbed your enjoyment."
The Imperial Tutor replied gently, "It's alright."
A cold wind blew, scattering incense ash onto the back of his hand and sporadically onto his wide sleeves, like snowflakes falling among bamboo leaves.
Seeing this, Eunuch Liu took out a handkerchief and was about to hand it over when a servant standing to the side handed him a handkerchief first.
He stopped in his tracks: “Imperial Tutor, Lord Gao has sent an urgent letter from the Great Zhou. His Majesty has specially sent me to invite you to the palace.”
Upon hearing this, the Imperial Tutor paused slightly in the handkerchief he was holding, and slowly and meticulously wiped his fingers, paying extra attention to every detail.
"Thank you for making this trip, Eunuch Liu." The Imperial Tutor put down the handkerchief in his hand, dusted off his wide sleeves, slowly rose from behind the guqin, and instructed the attendant beside him: "Prepare the carriage."
The attendants hurriedly went to prepare the carriage.
Eunuch Liu wanted to say that a carriage had been prepared, but then he remembered that the Imperial Tutor only rode in his own carriage and sedan chair, so he swallowed his words.
He personally greeted the Imperial Tutor as he left the residence, and waited for the Imperial Tutor's carriage to travel to the palace before following behind in his own carriage.
When Eunuch Liu managed to persuade the Imperial Tutor to enter the palace, he did not feel relieved; instead, he was filled with worry.
The mission of King Qi and Minister Gao to the Great Zhou has not gone smoothly, and the two countries are very likely to become enemies. His Majesty is at a loss and is waiting for the Imperial Tutor to discuss countermeasures.
However, the Imperial Tutor had a rule: he would not participate in the decision-making process of war between the two countries.
Before King Qi and Lord Gao went on their mission to the Great Zhou, they visited the Imperial Tutor, but the Imperial Tutor did not offer them any advice.
He only went to the palace once and let His Majesty know that the Second Young Master Zhao, who lived far away in the Duke of Da Zhou's mansion, was actually a prince of Northern Qi.
This time, it remains to be seen whether the Imperial Tutor will step in to help His Majesty resolve his current predicament.
The Imperial Tutor appears to be gentle and easy to talk to, but he is very particular about rules and regulations.
The rules he sets will not be broken for anyone.
Even if this person were the emperor of Northern Qi, he could not be shaken.
Amidst his chaotic thoughts, Eunuch Liu arrived at the Imperial Study. He quickly went to the Imperial Tutor's sedan chair, bent down, and offered his arm.
The Imperial Tutor glanced at Eunuch Liu's arm but did not offer his hand to support it: "Eunuch Liu, go and inform His Majesty."
Liu Gonggong withdrew his hand and said awkwardly, "Imperial Tutor, His Majesty said that since you have arrived, you can just go in without announcing your arrival."
The Imperial Tutor frowned slightly, but said nothing more, and entered the main hall.
The Northern Qi emperor paced back and forth in the palace with his hands behind his back, his brows furrowed with deep sorrow.
Hearing the noise, he turned to look at the palace entrance and saw the Imperial Tutor walking slowly towards him, stepping on the gold bricks paved inside the palace.
"Imperial Tutor, you've finally arrived." The Emperor of Northern Qi relaxed his brow and dismissed all the eunuchs and palace maids in the hall. "Minister Gao has sent me a letter. Emperor Jing'an has publicized Yi Zhen's deeds in Northern Qi, which has angered the people of Great Zhou. They are unwilling to allow the two countries to be on good terms."
The actions of the powerful nobles of Northern Qi in forcing Yi Zhen to break her pride inch by inch, wantonly trampling on her dignity and treating her like a slave.
Such a disgraceful act should be kept secret, but Emperor Jing'an actually allowed it to be spread throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty.
The people of the Great Zhou Dynasty not only did not feel ashamed, but also greatly admired Yi Zhen.
Everything that happened in the Great Zhou Dynasty completely overturned the Northern Qi Emperor's understanding.
"Back then, Emperor Jing'an agreed to allow trade between the two countries and exempt Northern Qi merchants from customs duties for five years in order to welcome Yi Zhen back to the Great Zhou. Now, he is only offering to marry Guang Ning to the heir of the Prince of Zhenbei, but he refuses to budge."
The Northern Qi emperor handed the letter to his imperial tutor and sneered, "The feelings that Emperor Jing'an had for Yi Zhen have probably long been worn away by his lust for power."
If anything goes wrong, not only will Yi Zhen be scorned, but Zhao Yi will also be unable to survive in the Great Zhou.
The Imperial Tutor glanced at the letter and said calmly, "Your Majesty should not dwell on past events, but should think about how to resolve the current predicament of Northern Qi."
The Northern Qi emperor calmed down and realized that they had been too presumptuous, placing their hopes on Yi Zhen and Zhao Yi, and vainly trying to use these two people to threaten Emperor Jing'an.
They didn't consider any other good strategies, which led them to make a terrible mistake.
"If relations between the two countries deteriorate further, Chong'er, still in the Great Zhou, may be in mortal danger," the Emperor of Northern Qi said with deep concern. "Imperial Tutor, in your opinion, what should Northern Qi do?"