The capital city has always been bustling, but now the topic of conversation after dinner is Taifu Hua Zhi.
Yes, it was the Grand Tutor Hua Zhi, not the Regent Princess. I don’t know when I began to accept this identity of Hua Zhi.
With the late emperor's will in hand, and the emperor's wedding having already been completed half a month ago, everyone is guessing what the Grand Tutor will do. It is said that there are even handicaps among the people, and quite a lot of people are placing bets.
Hua Zhi closed the file and looked up at the two people opposite her. One was her eldest disciple, the ruler of Daqing, and the other was her younger brother. He would surely achieve great things in the future. These two people had been taught by her. After a hundred years, she would definitely have a significant mention in history books.
Hua Zhi took off her official hat and stroked it gently in her hand. She then gently placed it on the table. She took out the official seal of the Grand Tutor from her sleeve and placed it next to the official hat. She stood up and knelt down towards the emperor with her forehead touching the ground. "Hua Zhi, you have lived up to the trust of the late emperor."
The emperor felt a lump in his throat. He had expected the Grand Tutor's decision, but he still hoped that this day would come later. He even wanted to say that the late emperor had a will and he also had a golden order, so he could re-appoint her as Grand Tutor and continue to learn from her. But the words rolled around on his lips. He just stood up silently, stepped forward, lifted her up with both hands, then took a step back and bowed, "Grand Tutor's teachings will benefit me for the rest of my life."
Hua Zhi accepted this gift from her student, and after several years of careful teaching, she felt she deserved it.
"Since the Grand Tutor has no intention of pursuing a career in politics, I will not force him. However, I am the Grand Tutor's student and this will never change." The emperor's eyes were slightly red, but he was smiling. "The Grand Tutor's library needs a place for me. He cannot only favor my junior brother."
"I have never forgotten that I have two disciples." Hua Zhi bowed and left. "I will wait for the emperor to arrive in the library."
There were only two people left in the three-person side hall. Hua Bolin looked at the official hat and broke the silence first. "In the future, the Grand Tutor will no longer have to come to the palace every winter and summer. You should rest assured. It's just a change of place for teaching, don't you think?"
Looking at Hua Bolin's sly smile, the emperor felt relieved. That was exactly the case. His teacher just no longer held the empty title of Taifu and was restricted and exhausted from running around. This was the only thing that had not changed about his teacher. At most, the teaching location would be moved to the Regent's Palace, thus saving the teacher from the pain of traveling.
In the following years, the two of them really did what they said. A few days a month, they would go to the Regent's Palace and listen to the teacher's lectures in the library. The students were still the two of them. Zeng Han would occasionally go to listen, but he would go a different way. Most of the time, he would read quietly downstairs.
There was no need to deliberately build closer relationships. The three of them who grew up together in such an environment were naturally closer than others. Even after Hua Zhi stopped teaching, this library was still the place they visited most often.
Here, even if you say or do nothing, you will feel satisfied just sitting quietly for half a day or taking a short nap in the scent of ink. Also because of this library, Emperor Changzhi, who brought Daqing into a prosperous era, never became a truly lonely man. Later historians had countless differences in their research on Daqing, but there was only one point that no one disagreed with: it was Hua Zhi who made Emperor Changzhi successful.
It was too far away to talk about these things right now. After a lot of excitement about the Grand Tutor's resignation, things gradually calmed down. Hua Zhi, who had been relieved of the burden, did not need to adapt at all and happily went into the library. She finally had time to do something she had wanted to do for a long time, but her hands had to suffer a little.
Gu Yanxi pricked the blister on her finger, feeling distressed. While applying medicine to her, he said, "What's the point of keeping so many people in the mansion? Why would you need to do such rough work as making bamboo slips yourself?"
"I haven't mastered the technique yet." Although her fingers hurt a lot, Hua Zhi was still in high spirits. "I'll be at home unemployed in the future, so I have to find something to do."
Gu Yanxi raised her hand to show her, using facts to tell her that this was suffering.
"It won't be like this if you master the technique." Hua Zhi moved her fingers. After careful treatment and daily massage, her hands had basically recovered completely, but her strength was still not as good as others. Because of this, although she had suffered a lot in the past few years, she had never done any physical work, so she seemed particularly useless when she suddenly started.
Gu Yanxi said that he was not convinced by her, but he felt sorry for her injured hand, so he rushed home as soon as he got off work to accompany her in making bamboo slips. Gradually, he didn't know when it started that he was the only one making the bamboo slips, while Hua Zhi was making them into bamboo tablets on the side.
As Gu Yanxi became more and more idle, and later only had a figurehead position and no longer attended court as a director, the two of them got together to make bamboo slips, copy classics on them, which became their daily routine.
The boys in the Hua family would often come to help. No one asked Hua Zhi why she did this. They felt that whatever their eldest sister did was reasonable. Hua Zhi would not explain how many great works had been lost due to the difficulty in preserving paper, how many medical books had become legends in later generations whose existence could not be confirmed, and how much of the hard work of their predecessors had been dissipated in the torrent of time without realizing its value. She could not do anything out of the ordinary or to bring disaster, but this matter did not involve anyone's interests and no one could say anything to her.
The emperor, who had to help out for a while every time he came, understood a little. His teacher had lamented more than once how many precious books in history no longer existed. He didn't want future generations to have the same regret as her. Even though avoiding this regret was such a major project, it would most likely take up his time for many years to come.
"Why not?" Hua Zhi smiled and waved at the Regent who entered the courtyard. "I already have so much. I have a high position, a loving husband, and motivated students. I am too happy compared to many people. If I don't do something, I'm afraid that God will be displeased and take all of this away."
As her husband put on the cloak, Hua Zhi rubbed the back of his hand inconspicuously, "Besides, this is something I wanted to do a long time ago. I am very happy that I can achieve my wish."
The gentleman was really happy, that was why he smiled so brightly. The emperor looked at the Hua family members working seriously in the courtyard and the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously. He had one more reason to like this place.
"Go and ask Mr. Yu to come over."
Gu Yanxi's words made several people who heard it nearby look over, and subconsciously looked at Hua Zhi.
Hua Zhi blinked. What happened to her? She didn't know!
"There is no blood."
The emperor was close by and found that it was indeed the case. He asked hurriedly, "Sir, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
Hua Zhi felt it and shook her head slightly. She felt it was okay.
But she had no say on whether it was okay or not. After taking the patient's pulse, Yu Lao suddenly stood up. Just when everyone thought he was going to say something, he sat down again, tightened his face, closed his eyes, and started taking the patient's pulse again. Everyone was a little scared and their hearts were in their throats.
Just when everyone was about to lose patience, Old Yu finally let out a long sigh, opened his eyes and said, "Your Highness is very happy, the Princess is pregnant."
Gu Yanxi's mind suddenly went blank, and his usually dignified face actually showed some helplessness. Before marrying Azhi, he had prepared himself mentally for not having any biological children, and even thought about formally adopting Zeng Han when the time was right. Now... no need
Instead, Hua Zhi reacted after being surprised and asked hurriedly: "How is the child? What do I need to do?"
"Princess, do whatever makes you feel comfortable. There's still a short time left, and there seems to be no problem at the moment. Princess, don't worry too much."
"Yes, thank you." Hua Zhi reached out and pulled the man who had not yet come to his senses. She wanted to smile at him, but she felt her nose a little sour. Not having a child meant no descendants, especially in this era. As the regent, she understood how much pressure Yan Xi was under, but he never transferred the pressure to her. Instead, he took it all on himself and didn't let her bear any of it. He never talked about love, but his words and actions showed full love.
Her life was truly complete.
The sun was shining brightly outside, and the smiling faces of everyone inside were brighter than the sun. The Empress Dowager, who received the news, inserted a stick of incense into the incense burner, walked outside, and looked at the magpie chirping on the branch with a smile on her lips.
It’s really, really great!
END
PS: After much procrastination, it is finally finished. Recently, while on a business trip, I adapted an original script that Kong Kong really likes.
This book has received a lot of honors and achieved good results. Thank you all for your love. I hope everyone can learn from Hua Zhi her tenacity, magnanimity, rationality, and self-reliance in the face of adversity; learn from Shaoyao her optimism, and learn to always maintain a childlike heart no matter what age or what experience; and learn from Yan Xi her loyalty, patriotism, and the courage to persevere for love.
Putting aside their identities, they are actually ordinary people among the vast number of people, struggling in the mundane world just like you and me, but they face different things due to their different identities and status.
I hope all my girls can become better versions of themselves. Even if you are at your lowest point right now, please believe that there is hope ahead.
Thank you very much for accompanying Kong Kong through this journey. I am ready for the next journey. What about you? Will you continue to accompany Kong Kong
The new book "Best Lyrics" will be on the shelves soon. You have waited for so long, now it's Kong Kong's turn to wait for you!
Love you all.