The vast army of Wala was about to attack the capital, and ministers were suggesting relocating the capital. At this critical moment, the protagonist took on the burden of stabilizing both internally and externally, successfully protecting the capital. This turned away the imminent destruction of the Chu dynasty. However, now Rong Jin wanted to push her into the position of Emperor.
Seeing her silent for a long time, Rong Jin thought she was too frightened. “You can rest assured; I will ensure you sit in this position. Not only will no one underestimate you, but you will also be revered by thousands.
Could she refuse?
Tong Sui knew that no meal comes without a price. Rong Jin’s every word was a dangerous gamble, and if word got out, it could mean extermination for entire families. If he didn’t agree, Rong Jin would definitely not let him go that easily.
Tong Sui could only swallow his pain, his eyes brimming with tears as he said, “You are so kind to me, sir. I have no way to repay you, except with my loyalty that will always be directed towards you.
Rong Jin’s lips curled into a satisfied smile as he set down the teacup and replied with a hum, “Then you should rest for now; tomorrow, Lord Liu will come personally to teach you.
After Rong Jin left, Tong Sui found himself unable to sleep at all. He needed a bit more time to digest such shocking news.
Early the next morning, there was a knock at the door. Tong Sui barely emerged from his blanket, wishing he could sleep a bit more.
Two eunuchs entered, carrying his washing tools.
“Lord Liu is waiting for you in the study next door.”
This morning study session was quite early.
The sky was still dark, and the air was so cold it made his hands feel numb; he hadn’t expected that being a tyrant would prove so challenging.
The short distance froze away all his drowsiness.
“Liu Zhongtang.”
Tong Sui lifted the curtain to enter, and Liu Yong was momentarily taken aback by the young man in moon-white silk, almost failing to connect him to the bookish boy of recent days.
Liu Yong quickly bowed, “I apologize for my rudeness the other day in the minister’s office. Please do not hold it against me.”
“Please, rise,” Tong Sui said, helping him up and sitting at the desk. He glanced at the thick ancient books on the shelves and asked, “Where shall we start learning today?”
Liu Yong, having received Rong Jin’s orders the day before to teach Tong Sui personally, felt a headache coming on, as he had hastily prepared teaching materials overnight. “We should start with recognizing characters.”
“???”
Tong Sui felt that all his years of study had gone to waste.
Seeing that Liu Yong really intended to begin with the basic strokes, Tong Sui quickly interjected, “Actually, Liu Zhongtang, while I was outside the palace, I attended a private school for a while and learned some characters.”
Liu Yong looked surprised, glancing at him.
Most people in the Chu dynasty could barely recognize written characters and believed it was better to work in the fields than study.
It was rare for a boy of Tong Sui’s age to have any self-study awareness.
However, Liu Yong didn’t have much hope, casually pulling out a classic text, “You can read this; just recognize as many characters as you can.”
The characters on the paper were somewhat different; Tong Sui hesitated slightly when reading the first two lines but quickly realized it was the Thousand Character Classic, used for recognizing characters in the royal family.
In modern times, it was a common primer.
As Tong Sui read fluently, Liu Yong’s expression shifted from casualness to seriousness with each passing sentence until the last one dropped.
Liu Yong was stunned; he pulled out a volume of poetry.
After two hours of testing, sweat streamed down Liu Yong’s face, as this was simply too incredible.
Was this truly the intention of Director Rong?
Had he already seen that the young man before him was extraordinary?
Having served in the Minister’s Office for quite some time, Liu Yong was well-versed in the knowledge of each prince. Although he was momentarily unsure of certain things, he was absolutely convinced that, in literature and mathematics, Tong Sui surpassed all of them.
If before this, Liu Yong had any doubts regarding Rong Jin’s decision, after this testing, he was firmly convinced that the boy before him was far from ordinary.
Liu Yong’s attitude turned serious and meticulous.
By evening, Liu Yong returned to the Examination Bureau to report, “Director, your foresight is exceptional; Tong Sui has extraordinary talent and surpasses all the princes.”
“Is that so?”
“I assure you, I speak no falsehood.”
Rong Jin nodded, “I understand. You may leave.”
After Liu Yong withdrew, Rong Jin raised his head slowly, pausing to look at the report in front of him.
He hadn’t anticipated that Tong Sui would receive such praise from Liu Yong. He chose Tong Sui merely because he found him inexplicably pleasing to the eye.
Although Liu Yong would not dare to deceive him, he still held doubts about the authenticity of their conversation.
Rong Jin got up and walked to the study.
At this moment, Tong Sui was still diligently writing the assignments Liu Yong had given him, his small figure bent forward seriously over the desk.
Rong Jin approached quietly.
Tong Sui hadn’t noticed someone standing beside him. He awkwardly held the brush, entirely consumed by his writing on the rice paper, detailing the knowledge he had learned today.
His writing was earnest in execution, but not particularly skilled; he could barely be considered neat.
This was partly due to Tong Sui’s incorrect grip on the brush.
“Did Liu Yong not teach you how to hold the brush?”
Rong Jin’s voice suddenly rang out beside him, startling Tong Sui. He jumped, causing an inky droplet to splatter onto the paper, and he struggled to keep his brush steady.
He turned his head in panic.
“Sir.”
Why did Rong Jin always walk so quietly? If this continued, he’d surely have a heart attack from the fright!
Rong Jin hummed, reached out to grasp his hand, feeling like a block of ice had enveloped it. Tong Sui shivered inwardly; his body temperature was excessively low.
However, this seemed to be their first instance of such close contact.