Chapter 98 Old House
In the carriage, A'ru couldn't help but say, "It's not like the princess left on her own accord, and yet she's forcing someone to go to Xunyang Palace on her own accord. How unreasonable."
Sun Wei looked at the gauze curtains on the car window and said, "The Queen Mother values her reputation the most. If she speaks, it will inevitably lead to speculation and a wave of rumors. Besides, the princess is doing this for my own good. If I wait for the Queen Mother to speak, she might get a whim and impose an extra fine or two. Why would I put myself in such a difficult position?"
Just as A'ru was about to speak, Sun Wei suddenly said to the servants outside, "Let's not go back to the mansion yet. Let's go to Yangliu Lane."
The attendant responded.
Ah Ru was surprised and asked, "Yangliu Lane? Where is that?"
"Master Zhou's old house."
Zhou Chang and Princess Wanshou were both renowned for their perfect match, both in terms of family background and appearance. The late Emperor greatly favored Zhou Chang, and the old house Princess Wanshou mentioned was the one bestowed upon Zhou Chang by the late Emperor when he was serving as the Crown Prince's Tutor.
After many twists and turns, the two gradually drifted apart. Zhou Chang moved away from Jiankang, and Princess Wanshou also moved out of the house and returned to the Princess's Mansion.
What is surprising is that although the house is deserted now, it is not deserted, which shows that someone still takes care of it on weekdays.
The carriage stopped and the servant knocked on the door to announce.
Soon, Ruan Hui came out and welcomed Sun Wei into the house.
Zhou Chang was sitting by the pond, wearing a bamboo hat and with his eyes closed, looking just like Jiang Taigong fishing in a painting.
But the water in the pond was green, and although it had no smell, it didn't look like there were any living things in it.
Sun Wei walked forward, looked into the pond, and said, "Master, are there any fish in this pond?"
Zhou Chang opened his eyes and said bluntly, "If not, it's all because of your noise."
Sun Wei didn't take it as an offense and sat on the big rock next to him.
"Master, have you heard? The princess has saved me, but I will be leaving for Xunyang Palace soon, so I won't be able to visit you often in the future."
"Isn't that a great kindness? Who would want you to come visit?" Zhou Chang said, "The princess finally did a good thing. I must praise her when I get back."
Sun Wei: “…”
"I came here to ask a favor of yours, Grand Tutor." Sun Wei asked.
Zhou Chang waved his hand: "I have no regrets about accepting you as my disciple. You don't need to persuade me anymore."
"I'm not trying to persuade you," Sun Wei said. "But, I ask you to reconsider what I said yesterday, Grand Tutor. Rumors are terrifying, and it's not appropriate for Grand Tutor and the Crown Prince to get too close. If someone exploits this and sows discord between the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince, it would be more harm than good."
Zhou Chang was a little surprised: "So, you agree to let the prince become my disciple?"
"I cannot obstruct the Crown Prince's decision," Sun Wei said. "If the Grand Tutor could assist the Crown Prince, I would be more than happy. But what I just said..."
"I know, I know." Zhou Chang said impatiently, "As long as he recognizes me as his master, it doesn't matter even if he doesn't call me that."
"Taifu, you are very understanding and righteous. I admire you." Sun Wei said with a smile, "However, I want to ask you for something else."
Zhou Chang was a little impatient: "Why are you so nosy, woman?"
Sun Wei said, "Yesterday, I heard Master Ruan say that the Grand Tutor was able to live in Mount Lu because of the protection of the late king. Is this true?"
Zhou Chang couldn't help but look back at her.
"You are the Princess of Yuzhang, don't you know whether this happened or not?"
Sun Wei didn't want to get entangled with him in such unreasonable behavior.
"Please inform me, Master."
Zhou Chang turned back and continued to stare at the pool: "It is true."
"In that case, I wonder if the late king ever consulted the Grand Tutor for advice?"
Zhou Chang stroked his beard and asked, "Why are you asking this?"
"Taifu, why don't you answer me first?"
"Answer me first."
This old man is indeed worthy of being Princess Wanshou's beloved husband. Sun Wei couldn't help but criticize him inwardly.
"When I first entered the palace, I dismissed the late king's concubines. One of them complained to me. She said she had evidence of the late king's rebellion, and someone in the court was trying to buy information from her, but she had always been loyal to the late king and refused to sell it out."
As he spoke, Sun Wei deliberately paused and looked at Zhou Chang.
Zhou Chang was seen with his face turned to the side, with no visible change in his expression.
"I didn't expect a mere concubine to be so stubborn," he said calmly. "But she's been so sincere to you, and you're kicking her out? How heartless!"
"The Master is feeling guilty."
"What a joke. What do Prince Yuzhang's concubines have to do with me? Did I offer them to him?"
"The Grand Master may not offer beauties, but he can offer advice," Sun Wei said. "It's your turn to answer me. Is this rebellion related to you?"
Zhou Chang lowered his eyes and looked at the pond, stirring the water with his fishing rod out of boredom.
"What rebellion? Look at what you said," Zhou Chang said slowly, "Even if the late king had that idea, his ability was ultimately lacking. He felt powerless after just starting and became timid."
That was an admission. Prince Yuzhang had rebelled in the past, which attracted the attention of the crown prince.
Standing behind Prince Yuzhang was Zhou Chang.
Zhou Chang no longer hesitated and sighed, "That's why I said this court is hopeless. Prince Yuzhang commands a large army, after all. If even he doesn't dare to change the world, then who else can?"
"Since there's no hope, why did the Grand Master suddenly accept another disciple?"
"Since I'm stuck in Jiankang and have nothing to do, I might as well take you in as a disciple for fun." After saying that, he looked at Sun Wei and said, "If you hadn't provoked me, I wouldn't want to hurt this god."
"When did I provoke the Grand Tutor?" Sun Wei asked puzzledly.
"You said I was a shrew."
Sun Wei: “…”
"Taifu, there's no need to make such jokes about this," Sun Wei said. "If Taifu was this vulnerable, he would have left the mountains long ago. How could he have lived in seclusion in Mount Lu for ten years?"
Zhou Chang snorted, then asked, "I heard that the Crown Prince insisted on taking back the Northern Palace?"
"Exactly."
"Well done," Zhou Chang said. "Finally, someone in the court has stood up and done something righteous. This opportunity is fleeting, and he was able to seize it. It shows that he has courage and determination, just like I did back then."
There is nothing but narcissism in these words.
Sun Wei didn't answer and waited for him to continue.
"Of course, if we really compare, he's still not as good as I was back then," Zhou Chang said proudly. "But ambition is rare. The prince is willing to give it a try, and I'm willing to lend him a helping hand. I don't have many days left, so if he can give me some hope while I'm still alive, then my life won't be in vain."
Although this statement is insincere, it does make some sense.
Sun Wei thought for a moment and said, "How does Grand Tutor plan to help the Crown Prince? Will he teach him how to change the world?"
Zhou Chang suddenly turned his head to look at her and asked, "What do you think? Are you going to talk about the great principles of loyalty to the emperor?"
Sun Wei pondered for a moment and said, "Such profound principles are for people like the Grand Tutor to consider. It's not my turn to lecture you. But in my opinion, it's best for the Grand Tutor not to do this."
"Oh? Why?"
"Because the Master can't do it."
Zhou Chang frowned: "How do you know I can't do it?"
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