Qu Dubian wasn’t someone who would easily admit defeat or compromise.
He said: “So what I crossed out was the correct answer? I didn’t know. That’s really a pity.”
Grand Tutor Fang seemed to have anticipated this response.
He took out another stack of examination papers.
As well as daily practice questions submitted in school.
“Here are all the papers you’ve submitted over the past three years. This old man has looked carefully. The large characters at the beginning, some of the handwriting isn’t yours, perhaps someone around you helped with your schoolwork. This old man turned a blind eye to that.”
“But these later ones are indeed your handwriting. This old man watched as it gradually developed.”
Steady, unremarkable, with slightly floating brush strokes.
Grand Tutor Fang flipped through them one by one, “Do you know how many pieces of golden-layered paper are in here? Once might be a coincidence, but every time? This old man might believe it, but do you think others will?”
Qu Dubian: “…”
Oh my goodness.
Is it really necessary?!
The old man hadn’t thrown away any of the papers he had written on in three years?
At the beginning, when he wasn’t sure how many points to control, he would write the correct answer and then cross it out. Later, when he saw interesting questions, he would write, then erase, and then write incorrect answers.
He never expected that such a small habit would expose his flaw.
Grand Tutor Fang’s smile had a hint of cunning, like an old fox who had finally caught the tail of a young fox not yet skilled at hiding.
Qu Dubian still didn’t admit it, resting his chin on his hand: “Tutor, what are you trying to say?”
Grand Tutor Fang: “Do you remember when we first met, I made a bet with you?”
It was quite some time ago. Qu Dubian thought for a moment and finally remembered.
Back then, he had been caught secretly going to school by Grand Tutor Fang, who said that if he could answer three questions, he wouldn’t tell Father Emperor that he was studying under the table.
Three questions were asked, he answered them, and then he fell into the trap of “studying by the light of fireflies and snow.”
Grand Tutor Fang: “This time it’s the same. Let’s make a bet. If you win at chess, I’ll keep your secret. If you lose, you’ll grant me one request.”
Qu Dubian glanced at the chessboard.
“I don’t know how to play.”
Grand Tutor Fang smiled and said, “You do know. Let’s play Five-in-a-Row.”
The tables had turned. After three years, the Five-in-a-Row that Qu Dubian had used to bully his brothers had become a pit he had dug for himself.
Qu Dubian didn’t move, his fingers secretly reaching for the paper on the table. If he took it away, it wouldn’t be evidence—
Slap!
Grand Tutor Fang pressed his hand down on it, raising an eyebrow: “Young Prince, no cheating.”
Qu Dubian: “Oh, I just saw a bug on it.”
As he spoke, he moved his hand away and picked up a chess piece.
They drew lots to decide who would go first.
Black moved first.
Qu Dubian: “If you wanted to play chess, you should have said so earlier, instead of rambling on about things I don’t understand.”
“Whatever the prince says,” Grand Tutor Fang made the first move, “Young Prince, do you know why the Crown Prince and the Third Prince stopped you just now?”
Qu Dubian: “I don’t know. Weren’t they just inviting me to play?”
“The Crown Prince is leaving the palace to establish his residence, and the court officials are all waiting for news,” Grand Tutor Fang said softly. “The first prince of this generation of Great Zhou to attend court, the eldest son, is certainly different.”
Qu Dubian: “They all have two eyes and one mouth. What’s different? Tutor, it’s your turn to move.”
The old fox’s words were all deflected by the little fox’s evasions.
Grand Tutor Fang stopped talking and focused on the game.
He realized that if he didn’t concentrate, he might actually lose this game.
The match between the old and the young, playing Five-in-a-Row, created a tense atmosphere.
An incense stick later, Qu Dubian threw down his chess piece.
“I’m not playing anymore.”
Grand Tutor Fang looked up with a smile: “The game hasn’t been decided yet. Forfeiting counts as a loss.”
Halfway through the game, Qu Dubian had realized something. If he lost this game, he would have to grant Grand Tutor Fang a request. If he won this game, it would further prove that his observational skills and acuity were not those of an ordinary six-year-old.
Either way, wouldn’t he be exposed? Winning would expose even more.
Given that, why bother trying to win this game? Besides, he wasn’t certain he would win.
Qu Dubian leaned back, spreading his small arms and legs in a sprawled position, “Tricking children will make your beard fall out.”
He hadn’t explicitly admitted anything, but they both understood implicitly.
Grand Tutor Fang laughed heartily.
“May this old man ask you a question first? Since you clearly have ability, why not openly display it? His Majesty would certainly value you.”
Qu Dubian: “I don’t have any ambitions. Just being alive is good enough. Even if I’m ordinary and mediocre, Father Emperor is still good to me.”
Or perhaps more like a normal father. If he were truly viewed as a potential successor to the throne, he wouldn’t have such a good life.
Like Big Brother and Third Brother, fighting over something like establishing a residence outside the palace under Father Emperor’s watchful eye—what was the point?
Grand Tutor Fang: “Young Prince, in many cases, it’s better to follow your heart.”
Qu Dubian couldn’t help laughing as he sat up quickly, “Tutor, don’t you feel guilty saying that?”
Though hiding his abilities made him uncomfortable, it brought stability, and the people around him were also stable. That was good enough.
But the old man before him had already trapped him twice.
Grand Tutor Fang: “Your hiding may not necessarily be following your heart, but this old man catching your little tail is indeed following mine.”
Some things can’t be avoided no matter how much you want to, just like today, when the Crown Prince and the Third Prince were competing and both wanted to drag him into it.
“My condition is for you to take me as your master.”
“Aren’t you already my tutor?”
“That’s different. I’m talking about a formal teacher.”
The side hall fell silent for a moment.
Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parent, Teacher—taking a formal master in ancient times was no trivial matter.
Grand Tutor Fang smiled and said: “You don’t want to get involved in your royal brothers’ disputes, and neither do I. We’re of like mind. What’s wrong with becoming master and disciple?”
“Besides, this matter will be known only to heaven, earth, you, and me. No one else will know.”
Qu Dubian was puzzled: “If you’re not going to tell others, what’s the use of this condition?” He could just turn around and go back on his word.
Grand Tutor Fang said matter-of-factly: “This way, this old man will have the status to help conceal things for you. Whatever you do in the future, this old man will have an excuse to convince himself to show favoritism and keep your secrets—oh, and if you want to properly do your schoolwork in the future, you can come to this old man. Always holding back must be uncomfortable, don’t you think?”
“…”
It made sense, and he couldn’t find a reason to refute it for the moment.
In a short time, Qu Dubian’s mind had already made a hundred and eighty turns. His intuition told him that the person before him had no ill intentions, but having his little tail caught was still very annoying.
Grand Tutor Fang pressed on, “To avoid being caught in the center of the storm, there are only two possibilities: first, you’re already in the storm; second, you have the ability to avoid the storm or remain unmoved within it.”
Otherwise, one would just be used by others until death.
Qu Dubian: “I don’t understand.”
Grand Tutor Fang: “Then just let it go in one ear and out the other. Young Prince, do you accept my request?”
With things having come this far, and the old man seemingly determined to persist, Qu Dubian took a deep breath and composed his expression, “Fine, I accept.”
[Character: Fang Hechuan
Favorability: 28]
Simulator: [A destined relationship has been formed. Favorability will be automatically calculated cumulatively.]
Qu Dubian: “?”
There can be destined relationships formed later in life?
Why didn’t you say so earlier! If taking a master could give him more people to exploit, he would have taken 108 masters by now!
Qu Dubian looked up, staring intently at Grand Tutor Fang.
The latter’s smile faltered slightly: “?”
Grand Tutor Fang touched his face, “Is there something on this old man’s face?”
Qu Dubian asked eagerly: “Do you have other colleagues who want to take students?”
Grand Tutor Fang’s beard twitched: “Dream on.”
“Alright, wait a moment. The tea for accepting you as my master is coming right up,” Qu Dubian, suddenly energetic, ran to a nearby table and poured a cup of tea.
But Grand Tutor Fang didn’t drink it, holding up his hand to stop him: “I said I’d be your teacher, but not now.”
Qu Dubian: “Hm?”
“Then when?”
Grand Tutor Fang: “That depends on you.”
He gathered all the papers on the table, took out the golden-layered paper, and burned it in front of Qu Dubian.
Qu Dubian put down the teacup: “What about the rest?”
Grand Tutor Fang raised his hand and shook the stack of papers, smiling enigmatically: “These? These were just to trap you. The real golden-layered paper was only the one I just burned.”
Qu Dubian was shocked: “So you weren’t that certain at the beginning?! You were just tricking me!” He placed both hands on the table, “You only became certain when I agreed to play chess with you.”
Grand Tutor Fang spread his hands: “Facts prove that this old man’s acuity hasn’t diminished over the years.”
…How annoying.
Old fox.
Qu Dubian snorted: “Now that you’ve burned the paper, you have no evidence.”
Grand Tutor Fang: “The young prince isn’t the type to make a promise to someone and then easily break it.”
He rummaged in his bosom again and took out a neatly folded square of paper: “No need to rush. You can take three years, five years, or even ten years to write this examination paper.”
Qu Dubian took it, wanting to open and look at it.
Grand Tutor Fang said: “Look at it when you get back.”
Qu Dubian tucked the paper into his sleeve: “If I answer it, you’ll become my teacher?”
Given the current situation, the score on the paper would likely be linked to favorability. He needed to answer well.
It’s just one examination paper, how difficult could it be?
Grand Tutor Fang: “Correct.”
Qu Dubian: “Then you’ve given too much time.” He could answer questions a level or two higher than the usual difficulty. If doing questions could increase favorability, he could do ten papers a day without problem.
Grand Tutor Fang: “Not pretending anymore?”
“…”
The child before him flashed a smile, trying to gloss over it. Grand Tutor Fang shook his head helplessly, “No need to rush, Young Prince. Take a careful look when you get back.”
“If you have any questions, you can come find me after school.”
“So mysterious.”
Qu Dubian muttered something. After he left, Grand Tutor Fang’s smile faded.
He had originally thought that the Seventh Prince’s brilliance and intelligence were just a fleeting moment in his childhood, and that these years of illness had caused him to gradually become mediocre in his studies, which he found quite regrettable.
Unexpectedly, it wasn’t mediocrity, but rather that he had learned to be reserved at some point.
There are many heaven-bestowed talents in the world, but how many actually reach their potential?
Thinking about it now, the Seventh Prince had been frequently ill these past few years. Who knows if it was because he had too many worries at such a young age?
Grand Tutor Fang sighed softly, vaguely concerned.
“Old Xu’s grandson, I fear extreme intelligence will lead to harm…”
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
