I said I would find a new teacher for Zhaoxu, but the experiences of the previous tutors have spread, and some learned people are unwilling to take on this job.
Some time has passed, and there is still no suitable candidate for the new Grand Tutor.
Just as the emperor was frowning with worry, someone presented him with a letter of self-recommendation.
A young man surnamed Qin volunteered to be Zhaoxu's teacher.
The emperor and Gu Jiangli read the man's past experiences and the contents of his self-recommendation letter. Judging from the letter he wrote, he was indeed very talented.
His background is quite simple; he has taught many students in the past.
The only thing that made the emperor hesitate was that this man surnamed Qin was too young.
He was about the same age as Gu Jiangli, just over twenty.
They had never found such a young tutor before.
But Gu Jiangli thought it was worth a try.
The emperor, seeing that she thought it was feasible, agreed.
After meeting the teacher surnamed Qin, the two felt even more certain that their decision was correct.
Young people are born with a smiling face, which always makes people feel like they are bathed in a spring breeze.
Judging from his speech and demeanor, his ambition and knowledge were no less than those of the previous Grand Tutors.
Gu Jiangli and the emperor brought him directly to Zhaoxu's side.
Zhaoxu showed great fondness for him from the first time they met.
The two chatted happily and soon became like friends.
More than half a year has passed, and Qin Taifu has not expressed any intention to resign from his position.
On the contrary, Gu Jiangli saw that he was becoming more and more mature, and Zhao Xu's growth was becoming more and more obvious.
She and the emperor watched Zhaoxu grow up day by day. Time flew by, and the emperor's thirty-fifth birthday arrived.
Thirty-five years old was an age that their lineage had never crossed, but the emperor had.
A grand banquet was held in the palace to celebrate the emperor's birthday.
After the banquet, Zhao Xu secretly took Gu Jiangli to a secluded corner, as if they had something they didn't want others to hear.
After the two stopped, Gu Jiangli cooperated with him, looking around to make sure no one was passing by before squatting down and asking:
"What's wrong, Zhaoxu? Is there something you want to tell your mother?"
"Mother, does Father want to leave the palace?" Zhao Xu's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Gu Jiangli asked in surprise, "How did you know that?"
"The Painting Pavilion. I've been inside. It's full of landscape paintings collected by my father. Wasn't it because he wanted to go out and see the world that he collected them?"
“Hmm…” Gu Jiangli pondered for a while, then did not deny it, “Yes, your father really wants to leave the palace.”
"Then why don't you go?"
"Isn't it because you're too young that we wanted to take care of you for a while? Do you really want your father and mother to leave?"
“What do I have that makes you want to take care of me? The palace maids and eunuchs take very good care of me, and Grand Tutor Qin also takes good care of me. There’s really no need for you to guard me in the palace. If you want to leave the palace, then go ahead. What are you waiting for?”
Gu Jiangli was rendered speechless by his few words.
She had actually wanted to take the emperor out for a long time, but on the one hand, Zhaoxu was still young and needed someone by his side, and on the other hand, many matters of state did require the emperor to handle, so the plan to leave the palace was delayed again and again.
Now that the emperor's thirty-fifth birthday has passed and several major matters have been dealt with, it is indeed a good time to leave the palace.
However, she was always worried about leaving Zhaoxu alone in the palace, and she was sure the emperor was just as worried.
"Zhaoxu, if you're leaving the palace, you should go with your father and mother."
Zhao Xu pouted, "I'm not going."
"Why?" Gu Jiangli was extremely surprised. She thought Zhaoxu would also want to leave the palace to travel. "Don't you want to see the more beautiful scenery outside the palace?"
"I don't want to. Besides, those landscapes aren't going anywhere. I can go see them again when I'm older and want to."
"Then you'll stay in the palace alone..."
"Of course I'll stay in the palace to handle state affairs for my father. You all can just relax and have fun."
"Handling state affairs? Zhaoxu, you're only four years old, do you understand state affairs?" Gu Jiangli was so shocked that he almost stuffed an egg into his mouth.
"Mother, please don't look down on me like that. I've already reviewed memorials with Father before, what's so difficult about that? Besides, as the Crown Prince, isn't it my duty to share Father's burdens and handle state affairs?"
Gu Jiangli was stunned, because what she saw in Zhao Xu's eyes was not the difficulty of handling state affairs under duress, but rather a longing and anticipation.
"Zhaoxu, do you enjoy handling state affairs?"
"I love it!" Zhao Xu's eyes lit up. "Mother, dealing with those ministers' problems is actually quite interesting. I've wanted to handle it on my own for a long time, but I haven't had the chance. Mother, you should hurry up and leave the palace with Father and leave all these matters to me."
He clenched his fist with one hand, brimming with energy.
Gu Jiangli fell into a long silence, feeling a surge of relief in his heart, his eyes filled with admiration for his son.
She patted Zhaoxu on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Zhaoxu, you were born to be an emperor."
"Hehe, just take it as Mother praising me. When do you plan to set off?"
Gu Jiangli asked, "When do you want us to leave?"
"tomorrow!"
————
The following day, Gu Jiangli and the emperor appeared at the palace gate in their everyday clothes.
They sat in a simple horse-drawn carriage and bid farewell to Zhaoxu, Liu Feng, and others.
Liu Feng repeatedly assured that he would take good care of the Crown Prince, so that the Emperor and Gu Jiangli would not have any concerns.
Zhao Xu repeatedly assured them that he would send them letters no matter what major events occurred, which put the emperor at ease. He then bid them farewell and left.
Two carriages drove out of the palace. In order to take care of the emperor's health, Gu Jiangli also brought Doctor Wu and Imperial Physician Lü along, as well as Hehua and Xiao Anzi.
Sitting in the carriage, the emperor's expression was initially somewhat somber; he was worried about the affairs of the state and also about Zhaoxu.
But once the carriage had completely left the capital, his expression relaxed considerably.
Perhaps influenced by the environment outside the palace, or perhaps because they were truly far from the capital, some of their worries and anxieties gradually lessened.
Gu Jiangli held his hand, feeling the warmth of his palm. "Your Majesty, we have completely left the city and are about to tour the beautiful landscape."
The emperor smiled and said, "Now that you're out of the palace, you can't call me 'Your Majesty' outside."
"Then... I should call you husband?"
He gently shook his head. "Just call me Ayao."
Gu Jiangli choked; that was his childhood nickname.
After Consort Yu passed away, no one ever called him that again.
To call him by this name means to be the person he is closest to and trusts the most.
Gu Jiangli felt a warmth in her heart, "Okay, Yao."
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