Yan Xiaoying’s heart lurched. She whipped around, only to find the Grand Tutor, who was usually drunk from dawn till dusk, standing right behind her.
Whatever counterfeit wine the old man had been drinking today, it clearly wasn’t very strong. After only a short nap, his eyes were bright and clear, with none of the drunken haze he’d worn when he first entered the study.
Realizing she had let her guard down, Yan Xiaoying calmly returned the book to the shelf with a smile. “The Grand Tutor is awake. Did I make too much noise and disturb your rest?”
Over the past several days, Ge Danian had used his supposed drunkenness as cover while quietly sizing up the princes.
The Second Prince, whose reputation at court was currently at its height, stood out among the royal sons. Yet his temperament lacked steadiness, and he was somewhat eager for quick success and immediate gains.
The Third Prince, on the other hand, was exactly as straightforward inside as he appeared outside, a man who spoke his mind without twists or turns.
As for the Sixth Prince, though still young, he understood the art of survival within the palace. His birth mother came from a humble background, and after coming under the Empress’s patronage, he cherished that hard-won opportunity for advancement.
Then there was the Crown Prince, the supposedly simple-minded wastrel. At first, nothing seemed remarkable about him. Just as His Majesty had described, he appeared lazy, unmotivated, and devoid of ambition. Recently, however, this so-called fool of a Crown Prince had begun to strike him as rather interesting.
Interrupting the Crown Prince, Grand Tutor Ge pointed toward the bookshelves. “In the past few days, Your Highness has read through nearly all the military treatises and manuals on formations here. What is it? Do you enjoy commanding troops and deploying armies, just like the Third Prince?”
Yan Xiaoying smiled. “I was merely bored and picked them up for amusement. This student has been lazy and has not completed the assignments you gave.”
The books the Crown Prince had been reading were hardly the sort one chose for idle entertainment. Most of the volumes in this study were treasured collections passed down through the dynasties, many of them rare editions scarcely seen outside the palace.
Watching through half-drunken eyes, Ge Danian had noticed that the Crown Prince possessed a keen eye for quality. The books he spent the most time on were among the most profound and demanding in the collection, works that ordinary readers rarely had the patience to finish.
Apart from this old drunkard, no one else was in the study. The Crown Prince did not need to act or feign diligence. The concentration with which he pored over those books clearly showed genuine interest. He was studying them with complete seriousness.
Seeing Ge Danian keep probing, Yan Xiaoying knew a moment of carelessness had exposed more than she intended. She could only smile openly and wait to see what the old scholar was driving at.
Instead, Ge Danian sat down upon the mat and pointed to the chessboard beside him. “Since Your Highness enjoys arranging troops and devising formations, your chess skill should be quite respectable as well. Come, play a few games with this old man.”
Yan Xiaoying declined, claiming that her chess skills were poor and far from worthy of being her teacher’s opponent.
As he idly sorted the chess pieces, the old scholar offered a piece of advice: “A Crown Prince who knows how to conceal his talents is doing a wise thing. But within these palace walls, if one thinks only of hiding one’s abilities and never reveals a hint of sharpness, that is no way to establish oneself.”
At those words, Yan Xiaoying lifted the hem of her robe and sat down respectfully. Choosing the white pieces, she asked with a smile: “If I play chess with you, Master, is there any wager to make the game more interesting?”
The old scholar burst into laughter. “Since this is a contest with a winner and loser, there ought to be some stakes. If this old man loses, I’ll drink another jug of wine and conveniently forget every word exchanged between us today. What do you think?”
Yan Xiaoying chuckled. “I merely read a few books. Even if Father Emperor were told about it, what difference would it make?”
Ge Danian lifted his eyes toward the innocent-looking youth. “The Crown Prince of our dynasty may participate in state affairs, but he may never carry responsibilities on two fronts or hold military authority. Do you know why?”
When the Crown Prince failed to answer, the old man placed a stone on the board and leisurely explained: “In the early days of the dynasty, Crown Prince Yuan, suspecting that the late emperor intended to depose him, raised troops in rebellion. Coming from a military background and with many loyal followers, he nearly succeeded. Since then, every Crown Prince has been permitted to take part in civil administration and fiscal matters, but must keep his distance from military command. Other princes may train in the Ministry of War, yet they cannot enter a commander’s camp or wield a marshal’s seal. Other princes may study military texts, but as Crown Prince, one must understand the need to avoid suspicion and stay clear of anything connected to military authority.”
At that, Yan Xiaoying understood.
A Crown Prince becoming engrossed in military treatises was not, in itself, a serious matter. But Feng Qiyuan was currently standing at the threshold of possible deposition. If someone with ulterior motives fanned the flames and spread rumors, and the matter reached Emperor Chunde’s ears, it could easily become a source of imperial suspicion.
Ge Danian’s meaning was clear: if the Crown Prince could defeat him, he would help conceal his abilities and spare him from the emperor’s wariness.
Between clever people, there was no need to spell everything out.
Yan Xiaoying could not quite discern Ge Danian’s true intentions, nor did she know whether he kept his promises. But at this point, she could only respond to whatever came her way. Meeting his words with proper respect, she said: “Grand Tutor truly thinks highly of his student. I shall naturally do my utmost.”
Thus master and student began their match, trading moves back and forth.
Before long, Ge Danian realized that the young Crown Prince had surprised him yet again. He excelled at fast-paced games, and very few players could keep up with his rhythm. Yet this little Crown Prince, widely known throughout the court and common realm as a useless fool, matched his pace with ease. His moves seemed effortless, as though made without thought, yet every step concealed danger. He was remarkably skilled at laying traps.
After being ambushed several times and losing a handful of stones, Ge Danian could not help slowing down. His moves became increasingly cautious and deliberate.
Sensing that the old scholar was beginning to struggle with the pace, the young Crown Prince thoughtfully slowed down as well, sparing him embarrassment.
Even so, after three sticks of incense had burned, the old scholar ultimately lost by a single stone.
Though Ge Danian had been defeated, the game had been exhilarating from start to finish. It brought the rare delight of finally encountering a worthy opponent. He looked up and studied the Crown Prince carefully.
The sharp, ruthless, and cunning style of play he had just witnessed seemed completely at odds with the frail youth before him, whose delicate appearance was almost that of a young maiden.
“Your Highness’s chess is seasoned and deceptively ingenious, superior even to that of many renowned masters. May I ask from whom Your Highness learned such extraordinary skill?”
Hearing the question, Yan Xiaoying smiled faintly. “For four years, I was punished by Father Emperor. With little else to occupy my time, I devoted myself to studying chess manuals and played against myself for amusement. My methods are unconventional. I fear they may only invite the Master’s laughter.”
Since Empress Tang had silenced everyone in Yiyuan who had been close to the Crown Prince, Yan Xiaoying could make up whatever story she pleased about what the Crown Prince had truly done during those four years.
This game of chess only confirmed Ge Danian’s impression. The young man before him was truly one in ten thousand, a rare talent whose wisdom matched his outward grace.
When Emperor Chunde was still a prince, he had been adept at concealing his abilities. Yet who would have thought that the son he regarded least would prove even better than his father at hiding his true capabilities? Ge Danian had very nearly misjudged him.
Recalling the Crown Prince’s reputation within the palace, Ge Danian studied the slender youth and asked, “When His Majesty had not yet ascended the throne, he kept a low profile because he had not inherited the empire, his mother was of humble status, and he lacked powerful backing. Caution was necessary. But Your Highness’s birth mother is the current Empress. The Tang clan is deeply rooted and flourishing. You were named Crown Prince from childhood and have enjoyed unrivaled honor. Why, then, do you keep yourself so hidden, allowing His Majesty to believe you are idle, unambitious, and uninterested in self-improvement?”
The real Crown Prince, Feng Qiyuan, had indeed been unmotivated. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that he had wanted to improve himself, yet had been unable to do so. Such truths could not possibly be spoken aloud.
Unable to invent a convincing answer on the spot, Yan Xiaoying adhered to her personal philosophy: if someone puts me on the spot, I’ll put them on the spot in return.
With a troubled expression, she looked at Ge Danian. “Master, you are the Grand Tutor, favored by Father Emperor, yet for decades you have chosen to live in seclusion among the mountains instead of entering official service, devoting yourself to wine and leisure. Such insight is far beyond that of ordinary men. How could you fail to understand this student’s difficulties?” With a single question, she tossed the problem neatly back into the old scholar’s lap.
Seeing the glimmer of sorrowful tears in the youth’s eyes, his appearance so delicate and pitiable that he resembled a young maiden, Ge Danian’s heart softened. Understanding dawned, and he sighed.
Back then, Emperor Chunde had been an overlooked prince. His eventual victory in the struggle for the throne had owed much to the Tang family, who had firmly supported him after the death of his first wife and his subsequent marriage into their clan.
Today, the Tang family stood at the height of its power and prosperity. Their influence spread across the court like the canopy of a great tree, sheltering countless branches beneath it.
The emperor was still in his prime, having only recently entered his forties. The Tang family’s dominance at court alone would have been enough to cause concern, but they had also built a vast network of followers and were growing increasingly arrogant and overbearing.
As the emperor’s former strategist and teacher, Ge Danian naturally understood that His Majesty’s wariness of the Tang family and desire to keep them in check were hardly recent.
What surprised him was that the Crown Prince, still so young, could already sense the danger while his mother’s clan was at the height of its prosperity, and had the foresight to deliberately temper his own brilliance and keep it hidden.
The palace was a harsh place, forcing children to grow up too quickly. For a boy his age to see so clearly through such tangled interests and power struggles spoke of a maturity far beyond his years. Yet if only he had a mother who understood restraint and knew when to step back, who could rein in her powerful clan in time, then even if the Crown Prince were somewhat mediocre, he would never have faced deposition.
Thinking this, Ge Danian felt a measure of sympathy for the clever youth.
The Crown Prince had invited him to guess, and Ge Danian saw no reason to doubt him. Speaking meaningfully, he said, “One should never seek shelter beneath a tall tree during a thunderstorm. A tree may stand deep-rooted and mighty, yet it draws lightning upon itself. For Your Highness to possess such awareness at such a young age truly surprises this old man.”
Huh? Even quick-witted Yan Xiaoying could not decipher the old scholar’s cryptic meaning. She could only nod and continue probing.
“Elder Ge truly understands me! Tell me, then, how can I avoid standing beneath that tree and being struck by lightning?”
Looking at the hopeful expression in the youth’s eyes, Ge Danian fell silent. Instead, he gathered the chess pieces with a faint smile and said, “Your Highness worries too much. His Majesty cherishes his children. He is both a benevolent ruler and a loving father. Since Your Highness understands how to conceal your talents and avoid arousing suspicion, naturally there will be no lightning drawn to you.”
Ge Danian had earned great merit in helping the emperor claim the throne, yet he had never entered official service. The reason was simple. Though he loved the excitement and elegance of a well-played game, he enjoyed only the game itself. He had no desire to become a piece upon the board. By leaving early, he had secured a life of freedom and ease. As for the affairs of the imperial family, he was an old man with one foot already in the grave. He had no intention of interfering. Now that he had measured the young man’s true character and satisfied his curiosity, he no longer felt the need to press further.
Listening to the old scholar’s words, Yan Xiaoying found them confirming her own conclusion. Her elder brother’s position as Crown Prince was far more precarious than it appeared. Everything seemed peaceful for the moment, but he was already standing beneath that towering tree destined to attract lightning. No one knew when catastrophe might strike, bringing complete and irreversible ruin. Before that happened, she had to find a way to rescue her brother. She could only hope Uncle Hai would bring back news soon.
After that day’s chess match, master and student laid bare their shared philosophies toward life and discovered that they were kindred spirits after all. From then on, their relationship grew warmer, marked by mutual admiration and understanding.
The old scholar no longer taught while drunk. Instead, he spent his days grinding ink, writing poetry, and amusing himself.
Yan Xiaoying, for her part, could openly read whatever books and manuscripts interested her in his presence.
Master and student each occupied themselves with their own pursuits.
From time to time, however, Ge Danian would bring a few books or scrolls and leave them on the desk. Coincidentally, they were always precisely the sort of works Yan Xiaoying enjoyed reading.
When they had leisure, they would play chess together. During these games, Yan Xiaoying would casually ask about the noble sons and daughters who moved in and out of the palace. Ge Danian would respond with amused observations and witty commentary, then drift into stories about remarkable figures and fascinating incidents from previous dynasties. As for current politics and state affairs, neither of them ever spoke a word.
Later, when the emperor found an opportunity to invite the old scholar for tea, he inquired about the Crown Prince’s studies.
Ge Danian answered cautiously. “The Crown Prince is intelligent and perceptive, worthy indeed of being Your Majesty’s son. However, having lost several years of education, his foundations are somewhat lacking. He will need time to make up for it.”
After hearing this, the emperor sighed and shook his head. “Deficiencies in learning can be remedied. But a temperament formed by the age of three, how can that be changed? The Crown Prince is kindhearted and sincere. His innocence and purity are admirable enough. Yet for a future ruler, decisiveness and the ability to act ruthlessly when necessary are paramount. He… falls far short.”
Hearing this, the old scholar understood. His Majesty despised Feng Qiyuan’s overly soft nature. He feared that, in the future, the Tang family would inevitably manipulate him, rendering him unfit to bear the burden of ruling the empire.
Thinking of the youth’s intelligence, patience, and talent for concealment, Ge Danian could not help sighing inwardly. The child was an unpolished jade of the finest quality. Unfortunately, he had been born to Empress Tang. That alone was his original sin.
The emperor had long since decided to depose the Crown Prince. The only question was when.