Feng Zhao frowned slightly.
He wasn’t smiling—yet somehow, that made him look even more wrong.
Like a sapling battered by wind and rain, all his vitality drained away.
And her suspicion wasn’t wrong.
The usually proper Xiao Hongyi had actually dozed off during the morning court session and almost fallen asleep.
Feng Zhao asked him again what was wrong, but he still insisted he was fine.
“Mother… I still have matters in the Hall of Governance. I’ll go first.”
He hurriedly excused himself.
Not long after, Lianqiao returned with the results of her investigation.
“Your Majesty, this servant has checked. The teacher is not arranged by the Wen family. They have had no contact in recent years—in fact, the Wen family dislikes him.”
Feng Zhao pressed, “Where does this information come from?”
Lianqiao explained:
“Yuan Chao passed the imperial examination at twenty. He was considered somewhat talented back then, but he lacked ambition. After becoming a second-rank scholar, others worked hard to advance, while he stayed stagnant and achieved nothing for years.”
“He once managed to sneak into the First Prince’s early tutoring selection, but was later driven out by the Wen family. He is fond of drinking and women, and often exaggerates his past achievements to deceive those who don’t know better.”
Feng Zhao slammed her hand down, shattering the cup beside her.
“So such a useless man is not even arranged by the Wen family?!”
Lianqiao asked cautiously, “Does Your Majesty mean—?”
Feng Zhao turned and walked toward the Hall of Governance.
“The Wen family would love nothing more than to ruin Xiao Jiu’s education. If he makes a mistake, they gain their chance.”
Inside the Hall of Governance.
Xiao Hongyi had several books spread out in front of him—messy, not because he was careless, but because Yuan Chao kept rambling incoherently. Xiao Hongyi had no choice but to constantly flip through books to follow him.
Yuan Chao glanced at the cluttered desk and immediately criticized him:
“Your Majesty, those who accomplish great things must regulate their conduct and remain calm at all times. You’ve scattered books everywhere—how can you possibly understand what I am teaching?”
Xiao Hongyi frowned slightly.
“Teacher, your explanation is disorganized. If I don’t refer to multiple books, I cannot understand what you mean.”
“Absurd! These are the most basic principles! You have not integrated them properly and yet dare to blame me!”
In truth, Xiao Hongyi had learned mostly on his own. Yuan Chao’s knowledge far exceeded his current level, and even if the teaching was poor, he still endured it and stopped Xiao Lizi from arguing.
He could just study harder at night to reorganize the knowledge.
His patience, however, only encouraged Yuan Chao further.
At first, Yuan Chao had been cautious. But once he realized the emperor was just a five-year-old child with no other teachers, his arrogance grew.
A child like this—wasn’t he free to manipulate as he pleased?
At that moment, Feng Zhao entered.
“Empress Dowager has arrived!”
The lecture immediately stopped.
Xiao Hongyi stepped down from the throne and bowed.
“Greetings, Mother.”
Everyone else, including Yuan Chao, hurriedly knelt.
“Mother… why are you here today?” Xiao Hongyi’s eyes carried a hint of anticipation.
Was she here for him?
Feng Zhao had originally intended to immediately reprimand Yuan Chao and have him removed.
But seeing Xiao Hongyi’s expression, she changed her tone slightly.
“I heard the Emperor has recruited a new teacher, so I came to take a look.”
Yuan Chao, unaware of Feng Zhao’s reputation, arrogantly began boasting about his past achievements, clearly pleased with himself.
Feng Zhao coldly thought:
Useless.
Out loud, she said calmly, “Since you are so capable, then you should have no problem with last year’s imperial examination paper?”
Yuan Chao’s smile froze.
“W-what does Your Majesty mean?”
“My meaning is simple. If you wish to serve as the Emperor’s official instructor, you must pass a test. For example, last year’s exam paper—you must score full marks.”
His expression completely collapsed.
He hadn’t studied properly for years—how could he possibly do it, let alone achieve full marks?
“Why are you silent?” Feng Zhao continued. “Unless you are truly ignorant and cannot complete it?”
Cornered, Yuan Chao panicked and said, “I came here in good faith to teach the Emperor. If you don’t welcome me, I will leave!”
He pretended to leave, assuming the Emperor had no other teacher.
But after taking a few steps, no one stopped him.
Not even Xiao Hongyi spoke.
He didn’t know it yet—but Xiao Hongyi had already endured him for long enough.
Yuan Chao awkwardly turned back.
“Your Majesty, if I leave, your questions today will remain unanswered!”
Xiao Hongyi tightened his grip on the book but said nothing.
Feng Zhao stopped him.
“You are Yuan Chao, correct?”
She raised her hand.
Lianqiao and the maids stepped forward and slapped him.
Once.
Twice.
Before he could react.
Feng Zhao spoke coldly:
“There are three reasons I punish you.
First: being allowed to teach the Emperor is a blessing from three lifetimes. You not only fail to cherish it, but also act arrogantly before him.
Second: since you accepted this position, teaching the Emperor is your duty. To use it as leverage and make threats—who do you think you are? Do you even know where you stand?
Third: I hit you simply because I dislike your behavior. I hit you—and what can you do about it?”
Standing beside the dragon throne, her phoenix robes radiated unquestionable authority.
“The first two reasons alone are enough to have you executed a thousand times over. But death would be too easy for you.”
“So I’ve decided—break both your legs and hang you at the market gate to beg for a living. Guards—carry out the punishment immediately!”
Guards entered with clubs and shattered his legs.
His screams pierced the sky, only to be muffled by a filthy cloth stuffed into his mouth.
“Trash,” Xiao Lizi spat at him. “Why aren’t you looking down on people anymore?”
Yuan Chao was dragged away.
The room emptied quickly, leaving only Feng Zhao and Xiao Hongyi.
Silence fell.
Finally, Feng Zhao spoke.
“This morning you told me you had matters in the Hall of Governance. Was it just to listen to his nonsense?”
Xiao Hongyi lowered his head, holding the book tightly.
He didn’t answer.
He had messed up again.
Mother… would she be disappointed?