Chapter 117
Time passed day by day, spring came and autumn went, and before we knew it, it was the New Year.
With the people of the realm at rest and civil and military officials on vacation, Emperor Jingxi, who had been busy all year, was also spared from attending court. Although there were still state affairs to attend to, he had plenty of free time.
When he had time, he began to teach Qin Su to read.
Qin Su, dressed in her newly made red clothes, sat on the chair like a fluffy ball, looking well-behaved and adorable.
However, this illusion was quickly shattered.
Emperor Jingxi told her about the poem "Deer Cry" from the Book of Songs, saying that "The deer cry 'yoyo,' eating the wild apples; I have guests, playing the zither and blowing the sheng," which depicts a joyful scene of the Zhou king entertaining his guests and the harmonious relationship between the ruler and his ministers.
Qin Su asked, "Why did the Zhou king invite his guests to the wilderness? Wouldn't the food get cold by then?"
When she mentioned the line "The deer cry 'yoyo,' eating wild wormwood," she asked, "Didn't we say earlier that the deer ate wormwood? Are they the same thing? Why are there so many different kinds of grass in one meadow? Which kind of grass does the deer prefer to eat?"
Her questions were all sorts of strange, but they weren't meant to be disruptive; she genuinely didn't understand.
Why is the so-called "beloved one" always described as being "on the other side of the water" or "by the water's edge"? Isn't it just across a river? Why not take a boat to find her?
Why go out and meet people in this terrible weather, with wind and rain raging and roosters crowing? Will you bring an umbrella? What if you get soaked?
Why would a quiet and beautiful woman like her choose to meet on a wall? The wall is so high and the wind is so strong, doesn't she feel cold? Why not meet somewhere warmer?
...
Why, why? The world of children seems to have millions of whys. Unlike adults, they don't have an affirmation of "that's how it should be" about everything they know. They are always full of curiosity and confusion about new things they come into contact with.
Emperor Jingxi felt that teaching Qin Su to read was more tiring than attending court. If he knew the painful stories of modern parents helping their children with homework thousands of years later, he would probably resonate with them.
After the New Year, Qin Su took the initiative to ask to find a tutor to teach her to read.
She complained, "Father has no patience; he always stops teaching after a while."
Emperor Jingxi: "..."
That's because I don't know how to answer you!
I had hoped to enjoy some family time, but now it seems I should pass and let someone else take on this responsibility.
Emperor Jingxi found Zhao Changde, the chief civil official who had educated him years before and the Crown Prince's tutor, to teach the princess again.
Zhao Changde was nearly sixty years old. He was mild-mannered and did not participate in any political or factional disputes. He was a loyal and solitary minister and one of the people most trusted by Emperor Jingxi.
Upon learning that he would be teaching a four-year-old princess, he asked the emperor, "Children in ordinary families usually start school at six or seven years old. The princess is too young. Is it too early for her to start school now?"
It's not that the earlier children start school, the better, because young children have difficulty concentrating and are unlikely to sit still and focus while studying.
Six- or seven-year-old children are a little more sensible and can restrain themselves, but three- or four-year-old children are at a lively and active age. Making them sit in the classroom for half a day is simply restricting their nature.
Emperor Jingxi said, "Go ahead and teach her. If the princess can't understand, just slow down."
Zhao Changde pondered these words for a moment, then asked a very subtle question: "Should I teach her the way I taught Your Majesty back then? Or should I teach her according to the princess's situation?"
Teaching someone like an emperor is the art of rulership; teaching someone as a princess is normal education.
This short sentence represents two completely different paths.
Emperor Jingxi looked at him, and at that moment, the young emperor's eyes changed several times.
The palace servants serving inside the palace may not all understand what the emperor and his minister are saying, but they all vaguely sense that the atmosphere is very oppressive, so oppressive that they dare not even breathe.
Finally, Emperor Jingxi said, "Teach me the same way you taught me back then."
Zhao Changde remained silent, then bowed and said, "Your subject obeys the decree."
Qin Su had no idea that her studies were so complex; she found Zhao Changde quite unusual when she met him.
Because Zhao Changde had a long white beard that hung down to his chest, and was so well-groomed that it would flutter slightly in the wind, giving him an air of otherworldly elegance.
Qin Su recalled the story Emperor Jingxi had told her and asked, "Is this the same 'handsome bearded man' as Guan Yu?"
Emperor Jingxi laughed heartily and said, "Zhao Changde is a civil official, not a military general. He will be your teacher in the future. Zhao Changde was also my teacher. You should call him Grand Tutor."
Qin Su suddenly realized: "So it's Zhuge Kongming of Dayu."
She called out in a clear, crisp voice, "Grand Tutor!"
Zhao Changde stroked his beard and smiled kindly.
Qin Su was going to start school early, and Ye Yan, who had been playing with her, was also promoted to be her study companion.
Everyone in the General's Mansion was overjoyed and quickly apologized to the master they were originally going to hire, explaining the situation.
This is Zhao Changde! The Grand Tutor who taught His Majesty the present! The foremost scholar in the land, with students all over the world.
General Ye Hongtao, the Assistant General of the State, was talking to his wife in private, and he smiled so hard that his eyes disappeared: "I never thought that Yan'er would be so lucky to be able to study under Grand Tutor Zhao."
Ye Hongtao's wife, dressed in a simple long dress, sat by the window with a worried expression: "I'm a little worried..."
Ye Hongtao asked curiously, "Isn't this a wonderful thing? Why is Madam worried?"
Ye Hongtao's wife was already used to her husband's thicker nerves and slow-witted thinking. Anyway, the emperor didn't like smart military generals. As long as a general could fight, that was enough. Being a little dull about these court matters was not a bad thing.
"Lord Zhao is highly respected and was once His Majesty's tutor. He is only a few years away from retirement. I originally thought His Majesty wanted to invite him to serve as the Crown Prince's tutor again," said Ye Hongtao's wife tactfully. "Lord Zhao has served three emperors so far. If he were to serve another crown prince, he would be a veteran of four emperors. This would be a good thing for both himself and the crown prince."
For a minister to hold a high position through four reigns is the ultimate goal pursued by many scholars, and for a new ruler to have such ministers following and guiding him is also an important halo effect.
Therefore, someone like Zhao Changde should rightfully be left to the Crown Prince and the next new emperor.
But Emperor Jingxi has now ordered him to tutor Princess Zhaoyang.
Ye Hongtao was repeatedly pointed at by his wife, and finally realized what she meant: "You mean..."
His eyes widened like saucers, and he stammered, "Impossible! Zhaoyang... Zhaoyang is a princess..."
The lady said quietly, "Our dynasty has Emperor Guangxuan."
Emperor Guangxuan was also an empress.
Ye Hongtao subconsciously said, "That's different. Emperor Guangxuan's ascension to the throne was due to the circumstances, and it was the result of maneuvering among all sides. But the current emperor is wise and powerful, and there are many princes to cultivate."
There are plenty of princes in the palace. Even if Emperor Jingxi is not satisfied with the current princes, given his age, he could easily have a dozen or twenty more. How could he possibly choose a princess so early?
Ye Hongtao thought it was impossible, but upon closer examination, he realized that given Emperor Jingxi's shrewdness, he wouldn't do something so meaningless. He was at his wit's end.
"Forget it, children and grandchildren have their own blessings," Ye Hongtao said. "By the time Princess Zhaoyang and Yan'er grow up, we will all be old. What will become of Yan'er then is up to him!"
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