Chapter 24 The Old Tutor
The second prince was furious.
Just then, a gentle yet worried female voice came from outside the hall.
"Hong'er, what's wrong?"
Everyone looked up and saw Consort Duan, dressed in an elegant palace gown, walking in quickly.
Seeing the shards of porcelain scattered on the floor and her son's angry, contorted face, she felt a pang of heartache.
"Who made my Hong'er angry? Tell your mother, and your mother will get revenge for you."
Yu Jinghong suddenly turned his head, his eyes bloodshot, staring intently at his birth mother.
"It's you!"
He practically spat out those two words through gritted teeth.
"It's all your fault! It's all because you're useless!"
Consort Duan's face turned deathly pale instantly, and she swayed, almost losing her balance.
"Hong'er, you..."
Yu Jinghong didn't give her a chance to speak at all, his resentment was overwhelming.
"If your maternal family is powerful and influential, a family with a history of over a hundred years, how could I possibly be no match for that old fox Yuan Hua!"
"This world has long been mine!"
He was so angry!
They finally waited until that little girl, Yu Zhaoning, fell into the water and became seriously ill.
That idiot Crown Prince was found to be of the blood of the enemy emperor and was deposed!
Even that stubborn old man, Grand Tutor Wang, is inclined to side with him!
They had all the advantages: perfect timing, favorable location, and harmonious relationships!
He thought he finally had a chance to rise above others and sit in that supreme position!
And what was the result?
As it turns out, that little bitch somehow got hold of some divine food and even put on a potato feast!
Now, all the officials in the court are praising her to the skies!
All his opportunities are gone!
Consort Duan's eyes reddened, tears welled up, and her voice trembled with a sob.
"Although your mother's family is not a family with a long history, your maternal grandfather was a famous general who made great contributions to the Great Yu Dynasty."
"Now, she's just getting old, how can you say that about my mother?"
"A famous general?"
Yu Jinghong let out a sneer, his face full of disdain.
"What use is an old man who has retired to the mountains and lost his military power!"
He turned his head away in disgust and waved his hand impatiently.
"Guards! Take Consort Duan away! I need to go find my master!"
Several eunuchs immediately stepped forward and gestured for the swaying Consort Duan to proceed.
Consort Duan took one last look at her son, her eyes filled with disappointment and sadness.
She ultimately said nothing, only sighed softly, and turned away dejectedly.
In the empty palace, only Yu Jinghong's heavy breathing could be heard.
Not long after, footsteps were heard outside the hall.
An elderly man with white hair but an exceptionally vigorous spirit slowly walked in, surrounded by a group of advisors.
The old man wore a dark blue robe, had a goatee on his chin, and had sharp eyes, exuding an imposing aura.
Without even glancing at Yu Jinghong, he walked straight to the head seat and sat down as if it were his right.
His posture made it seem as if he were the master of this palace.
Upon seeing him, Yu Jinghong immediately suppressed all his violent aura, quickly stepped forward, and respectfully bowed.
"Master!"
The old man then lifted his eyelids and glanced at him indifferently.
"Look at you, so impatient."
He spoke slowly, his voice hoarse.
"The ancestral laws cannot be changed. The empress's ascension to the throne is like a hen crowing at dawn, bringing ruin to the family! This is an ominous sign and will always be a scourge to our Great Yu!"
Yu Jinghong's eyes lit up instantly.
"Master is right!"
The old Grand Tutor stroked his goatee, a haughty smile on his face.
"The reason why none of those old guys in the court dare to stand up and express their opinions is simply because they are intimidated by the methods of that old woman, Yuan Hua."
"They need a respected and virtuous old tutor like myself to stabilize the situation for them!"
He slammed his hand on the armrest.
"As long as I go to court tomorrow and raise my voice, all the civil and military officials here are my students and old friends! They will naturally stand on your side!"
The old Grand Tutor snorted coldly, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.
"Don't worry! I've been in seclusion for so long, it's time for me to come out and make some noise. Otherwise, people in the capital will really think that anyone can bully my disciple!"
Yu Jinghong was so excited that his face turned red, and he bowed repeatedly.
"Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!"
But then he frowned with some worry.
"But Master, that little girl Yu Zhaoning, I don't know what kind of sorcery she used, to get grain that yields 3,000 catties per mu, and that hybrid rice..."
"I'm afraid it won't be that simple to win over the other ministers."
"hehe."
Upon hearing this, the old Grand Tutor laughed disdainfully and stroked his beard.
"This matter is difficult in some ways, but it's also very simple in others!"
Yu Jinghong quickly stepped forward, looking anxious.
"Why? Please enlighten me, Master!"
The old Grand Tutor laughed heartily, his laughter filled with confidence and contempt.
"Currently, the food crisis in Great Yu has indeed eased. But think about it: can that old fox Yuan Hua and a four-year-old child keep producing such divine items indefinitely?"
He leaned closer to Yu Jinghong and lowered his voice.
"This is just something they got by luck! They'll use it up little by little! As long as we persist, when they can't produce any more food, their morale will naturally waver!"
"In time, all the civil and military officials, and the entire world, will be yours sooner or later!"
Yu Jinghong felt as if the world had suddenly opened up before him, and all the gloom had vanished!
He clapped his hands excitedly.
"That's right! How come I didn't think of that! It has to be Master!"
He instantly looked radiant and straightened his back.
"I'll go prepare right away! Tomorrow, I'll go to court with my master!"
"I, Your Highness, will show that old scoundrel Wang that I also have a master and a powerful backer!"
The old Grand Tutor nodded in satisfaction and gave a slight nod.
"Yes, you may go."
…
Inside the Cining Palace, a warm and inviting atmosphere prevailed.
The potato feast had long since ended, and Yu Zhaoning was hugging a soft pillow, her little head nodding off.
Yuan Hua sat at the head of the table, holding a cup of calming tea, and slowly sipped it.
Lin Xiangze sat to the side, reading with an elegant posture, but occasionally he would glance at the little empress who was about to fall asleep out of the corner of his eye.
The whole scene was warm and peaceful.
Just then, Granny Wen hurried in from outside, her expression somewhat solemn.
She came to Yuan Hua's side and lowered her voice.
"Your Majesty, I have just received news that the Second Prince has persuaded the Grand Tutor to come out of seclusion."
Yuan Hua paused slightly in the hand holding the teacup.
"Which Grand Tutor?"
"It is Liu Cheng, the Grand Tutor of the late Emperor." Granny Wen's tone was full of worry.
"This old Grand Tutor is a veteran of three reigns, with disciples and old friends all over the court and the country, and enjoys a very high reputation among scholars. I'm afraid his visit is not well-intentioned!"
Yuan Hua frowned.
She certainly knew Liu Cheng, that stubborn old man.
When the late emperor was in power, he was a well-known conservative who insisted that the ancestral laws should not be changed.
Now that Zhao Ning has ascended the throne as a woman, it is not surprising that he would jump out to oppose it.
"You're right, the Grand Tutor is highly respected throughout the entire Da Yu."
Yuan Hua put down his teacup with a soft sound.
"What a pity, such a learned person is an old-fashioned person, who cannot be used by my Zhaoning."
Just then, a childish, muttered complaint echoed in my mind.
[Wow! The Grand Tutor? I know, I know! Although I haven't followed his story closely, I've read part of the original plot. Is he that legendary eccentric old man who farted in the late emperor's study, ruining the memorials, and was subsequently forced into retirement by the late emperor?]
"Pfft! Cough cough cough cough!"
Lin Xiang didn't swallow a mouthful of tea; he spat it out.
He coughed violently, his handsome face turning bright red.
His usual gentle and composed demeanor vanished instantly.
Yuan Hua was also startled by the sudden, alarming sound.
She tried her best not to lose her composure, but the hand holding the teacup still trembled slightly, and the tea spilled out.
fart...
The memorial has been corrupted?
Is it true? The late emperor never mentioned this matter!
This girl, even without system points, can still get her hands on gossip; she's practically born with a natural talent for gossip!
Yu Zhaoning rubbed her sleepy eyes and coughed as well. She opened her small mouth and drank a sip of water that Cui'er fed her, and continued her thoughts.
[Host, you remember correctly, it's from the original story! It's said the sound was deafening, like thunder, and the entire Hall of Supreme Harmony shook three times!]
[Oh dear, host, you know what? The late emperor turned green with rage. He initially wanted to behead him for disrespecting the emperor and disturbing his presence, but then he thought that way of dying would be too shameful, making the royal family seem petty and intolerant of even a fart.]
In the end, we had no choice but to reluctantly let him retire, citing his old age and frailty.
The system chuckled as it flipped through the storyline.
Yu Zhaoning gave a summary.
[Hilarious! This isn't honorable living, it's downright sloppy living!]
"Cough cough... cough cough cough..."
Lin Xiang coughed until tears came to his eyes.
He felt like he was suffocating.
The late emperor's face, and Grand Tutor Liu's face, have all been completely stripped bare by this little ancestor!
fart/raise...
These two words are echoing in his mind right now.
Yuan Hua took a deep breath, then another.
She tried her best to maintain her dignity as Empress Dowager, but she couldn't suppress the wildly upturned smile on her lips.
That son, who was always serious and never smiled, actually had such a frustrating past.