Chapter 204 Analysis
Fu Mingyi calmly observed her excitement and said, "Think carefully about His Majesty's suggestion to you."
He stood up and said to Xiao Qingli, "Your Majesty, may I speak with you in private?"
He was also holding a ruler.
Xiao Qing looked pale and unwell after watching for a while. As she followed Fu Mingyi out, she glanced at Chu Lianzhou, who was slumped on the ground with his head down, and felt an indescribable sadness in her heart.
Xiao Qing thought that moving a few steps would mean walking out at most, but she didn't expect that Fu Mingyi had already prepared a carriage. This was definitely not a matter of moving a few steps.
Xiao Qing stopped and turned around to instruct Mingxiu to tidy up the side hall. Then, she accompanied Chu Lianzhou before getting into the carriage.
Fu Mingyi boarded the car one step behind, and Ma Hong then instructed someone to drive the car while he accompanied him.
When the carriage stopped, Xiao Qing realized that something bad was about to happen.
Fu Mingyi's greatest weapon was the late emperor's ruler, but since arriving at Nanhua Palace, he had never asked for it again.
When she visited the Grand Tutor's house, she saw him enshrining the ruler in a separate room and burning incense on the altar, looking very devout.
Today he actually brought out the ruler.
Moreover, they even brought her to the South Study...
She suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.
This is the kind of situation where she needs to be properly disciplined.
Fu Mingyi asked her to go first, and he would follow behind.
Ma Hong was waiting at the door. He felt a sense of relief when he thought of Fu Mingyi slowly approaching with the ruler in his hands.
He is still young and hasn't experienced many things. With the Grand Tutor around, he can always offer some guidance to prevent His Majesty from making mistakes.
However, as a result, the young emperor, who is growing up, may not rely on or trust the Grand Tutor as much.
Ma Hong couldn't help but sigh.
Fu Mingyi and Xiao Qing entered the South Study and went to the place where Fu Mingyi was giving them lessons. Xiao Qing then obediently stood facing the statue of the Master.
Since she knew she couldn't escape her fate, she might as well behave herself; maybe that would save her from a few more blows.
Fu Mingyi looked at her, his tone gentle, but the content was not pleasant.
"Would Your Majesty prefer to be punished first or to negotiate first?"
Xiao Qing listlessly stretched out his hands. "Since the Grand Tutor has brought out the late Emperor's ruler today, I have no choice but to accept this fate. It's better to end it quickly than to suffer for a long time. Please begin, Grand Tutor."
Fu Mingyi nodded, held the ruler in both hands, bowed to the statue of Confucius, and said, “I was entrusted by the late Emperor to teach and assist in governing. In the court, I have always upheld the principles of a subject, and when teaching, I have regarded Your Majesty as my student. Now that the student’s behavior has gone astray, I am ashamed to have the status of a teacher. I first beg the grace of the Heavenly Emperor to teach him, and then I will reflect on my mistakes as a subject and punish myself. I bow three times and listen to Your Majesty’s judgment.”
Xiao Qing felt increasingly sad.
Fu Mingyi meant that she was wrong, and as her husband, he should punish her first. But at the same time, he was also her subject, so he should also punish himself.
Fu Mingyi has always been like this.
It has never changed.
"Does Your Majesty know why you were punished?"
Fu Mingyi stood up and turned around, his expression indifferent.
Xiao Qing was in low spirits. After holding it in for a long time, she whispered, "Can't you judge people well?"
The ruler struck her hand with a "smack".
Xiao Qing wasn't prepared and was hit so suddenly that she cried out in pain.
Don't you even warn me before hitting someone? It hurts so much!
"Anything else?"
"And..." Xiao Qing hadn't figured out what kind of answer Fu Mingyi wanted to hear, so she took a little longer to think this time.
When Qiao Bai's incident happened, Fu Mingyi was so angry but didn't take out the ruler to hit her. She felt that apart from not seeing through Chu Lianzhou's true feelings this time, she hadn't done anything particularly outrageous.
At most, he was just too good to Chu Lianzhou, playing with him for a few days and giving him a lot of rewards. Is that... wrong?
"It seems Your Majesty still doesn't realize where you went wrong." With that, he struck again.
"Ah!" Xiao Qing was thinking when she was suddenly hit again and couldn't help but cry out again.
Hearing the sound from outside, Ma Hong's ears twitched, and he felt a pang of pity.
The Grand Tutor was usually quite mild-mannered, and he had brought out the ruler bestowed by the late emperor on several occasions. But their young emperor was really afraid of pain.
Fu Mingyi raised the ruler again.
Xiao Qing withdrew his hand and quickly said, "Grand Tutor, I have made countless mistakes, and I just couldn't think of a way to express myself. Since you consider yourself a teacher, your most important duty is to impart knowledge, teach skills, and resolve doubts. Now that I am confused, shouldn't you resolve my doubts first before punishing me?"
Fu Mingyi watched coldly, "Completely incoherent."
However, he did not make things difficult for Xiao Qing any further.
"Firstly, is it right for Your Majesty to make promises so lightly?"
Xiao Qing shook her head. "It shouldn't be like that."
"Secondly, as the art of war says, 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.' Has Your Majesty learned about Chu Lianzhou's identity, relatives, and experiences beforehand?"
Xiao Qing blushed and said, "No."
"Thirdly, Your Majesty is the ruler of the people and the sovereign of all under Heaven. You must consider not only your own situation but also the fate of the nation. Your Majesty, do you believe that even if Chu Lianzhou agrees to Your Majesty's conditions, will it be beneficial from the perspective of the nation?"
Xiao Qing thought for a long time, then felt somewhat powerless.
"I haven't thought of anything yet..."
"Unexpectedly, the benefits of proving this were either nonexistent or not obvious."
Fu Mingyi paced back and forth in the study.
"Chu Lianzhou appears cold on the outside but is passionate on the inside. She has a clear sense of love and hate, and is patient and thoughtful. People only know that she plays the zither well and is quite famous in Nanhua City, but few know that she is a master chess player. When she was young, she studied under Master Yue and was praised for 'thinking ten steps ahead with every move'. She was only seven years old at the time."
Xiao was stunned.
While she was earnestly playing with Chu Lianzhou, Fu Mingyi had already figured out Chu Lianzhou's situation to this extent...
He truly is a Grand Tutor; not just anyone can be a Grand Tutor.
"Her mother, Bai, was from a minor family. She and Chu Ruishu fell in love at first sight and lived a harmonious and loving life for several years. However, both of them were weak-willed and powerless to resist the family's arrangements. They tacitly allowed the powerful and scheming concubine to enter the family, and from then on, they gradually became estranged and eventually broke up. Coincidentally, six years ago, a scandal occurred in the Chu family. Although it was later suppressed, some people in the old Chu family still knew a little about it."
When Fu Mingyi turned around, he looked at Xiao Qing and asked, "What do you think of Chu Lianzhou's appearance? How much does he resemble Chu Ruishu?"
Xiao Qing was startled. "You mean she's not Chu Ruishu's biological daughter?"
Fu Mingyi smiled. "Although some people say that, no one has verified it. However, she does resemble her deceased uncle more."
"Perhaps it is for this reason that Chu Ruishu has mixed feelings about Bai's death and is quite indifferent to Chu Lianzhou's situation in the Chu family."
Fu Mingyi took two more steps. "I think this is just the trick of women in the backyard, and it doesn't seem like it's really true."
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