It wasn’t strange that Xiao Hongyi would think this way. In the imperial palace, aside from servants, only those being punished were made to do the exhausting task of drying books.
After exchanging a few words with Nie Huai, he realized the man didn’t seem like a servant—so he must be under punishment.
Nie Huai neither confirmed nor denied it. Xiao Hongyi took his silence as tacit agreement and even thought he was simply too embarrassed to admit he was being punished.
He had experienced this kind of thing many times himself. His mother had once disliked him; she had struck him in anger several times. Once, she hit his face, and when others saw it, he said he had fallen.
The little cub, empathizing with him, began to feel he was very pitiful.
“Do you want me to help you dry the books?”
“Can you do that?” Nie Huai asked, knowing he had once been a prince—and now an emperor.
“Of course I can,” Xiao Hongyi said. He still didn’t quite have the awareness of being an emperor, or rather, having come from a wild and unfamiliar place, he hadn’t yet learned to put on airs.
“I’ll help you dry the books, and you tell me where Nie Huai is, okay?”
He really, really wanted to meet him.
Nie Huai thought for a moment and nodded.
Xiao Hongyi was satisfied with the promise and began drying the books with a faint smile.
He had never had books of his own before. He could only pick up old books discarded by his royal brothers, organize and bind them himself, and slowly and clumsily learn to read. So he was very skilled at such tasks—so skilled that even Nie Huai was surprised.
“The emperor is honest and understands the hardships of common people,” Qin Sang observed through a small gap in the room. Feng Zhao felt awkward mentioning the original body’s past, so she could only touch her nose.
Looking outside, she saw Xiao Hongyi and Nie Huai getting along well and even learning to negotiate. Even if she had rehearsed many explanations in her mind, this was still a good improvement.
In fact, even without Feng Zhao’s explanation, the eighty-year-old Qin Sang could already sense something from Xiao Hongyi’s subtle expressions. But he did not ask—matters in the palace were not something outsiders could easily explain.
Xiao Hongyi’s exchange with Nie Huai was finally completed after the books were dried.
“I’ve finished organizing your books. Can you tell me where Nie Huai is now?”
Nie Huai looked at the child standing on a stool and helped him down.
“Yes. I’ll take you to see him.”
Satisfied, Xiao Hongyi asked again, “Do you know what he likes? What should I do so he will agree to become my teacher?”
“You don’t need to do anything. Just follow me.”
Xiao Hongyi followed him toward the room where Feng Zhao and Qin Sang were, but since he was told not to prepare anything, he continued mentally rehearsing what he would say.
He had to bring his future teacher back to the palace—for himself, and to reassure his mother.
When he arrived, he found only Feng Zhao and Qin Sang in the room. No third person was present.
“Strange… where is the master you said I would meet?” Xiao Hongyi asked softly.
Then he saw Nie Huai step forward and speak to Qin Sang, who was seated in the main seat.
“Disciple Nie Huai is willing to return to the palace with His Majesty. I will not fail my master’s teachings and will carefully impart literature and classics. I ask for my master’s approval.”
Following formal etiquette, he addressed Qin Sang. Qin Sang naturally agreed, but still reminded him:
“Nie Huai, remember your promise today. No matter what happens in the future, you must not forget it!”
“Yes, disciple understands. Please rest assured, Master.”
Xiao Hongyi stood blankly to the side, confused and unsure of what was happening.
“You… you are Nie Huai?”
“I apologize for concealing it earlier. I am Nie Huai,” he replied.
Feng Zhao walked over and reminded the confused Xiao Hongyi, “This was a sudden test. That’s why I didn’t introduce him earlier.”
“Xiao Jiu, now that he is willing to return to the palace and serve as your imperial tutor, what should you do?”
Realizing what was happening, Xiao Hongyi asked Nie Huai to sit and personally offered him a cup of apprenticeship tea.
Seeing this, Nie Huai hurriedly stood up. “Your Majesty, there is no need for this. I can pour it myself.”
“It is necessary,” Xiao Hongyi said. He had always wanted a teacher who would teach him not because of his identity, but because he was worthy of it.
After offering Nie Huai the tea, he hesitated and looked at Qin Sang. With Feng Zhao’s nod, he also offered one to him.
This time, however, he lowered his head slightly.
“I cannot give you many promises right now, nor do I know whether you will regret sending your only disciple into the palace in the future. But I can assure you that, at least during my reign, I will not disappoint you.”
The Wen family loomed like a threat. He did not even know how long he could remain on the throne, or whether he might one day never wake again. Just dealing with court affairs already exhausted him.
Qin Sang understood the situation with the Wen family. His aged face showed no worry for the future.
“I believe in Your Majesty, and I look forward to the day I can truly retire in peace.”
Feng Zhao and Xiao Hongyi stayed one more day on Zhongnan Mountain, returning to the palace late at night. Once back, they immediately arranged a residence for Nie Huai.
The residence was not large but close to the Hall of Governance, making it convenient for teaching.
Since they returned late, by the time Wen Meier woke up and learned of the news, Nie Huai had already been settled with an imperial decree. Even if she wanted to stop it now, she could not.
Wen Meier and Wen Chenglin did not take Nie Huai seriously. So what if he was Qin Sang’s last disciple? Was a man in his twenties even properly trained?
More importantly, their investigation revealed that Nie Huai had never even taken the imperial examination.
“Probably just another Yuan Chao type. At best, slightly better.”
“Feng Zhao is just grasping at straws—bringing any useless person into the palace.”
“Indeed. What decent teacher could she possibly find…”
In Fengming Palace, Feng Zhao did not need to inquire to know how many people were waiting to laugh at her.
“You want to see me become a joke?” she sneered. “Then let’s see who laughs last.”
【Host has successfully matched with an imperial tutor. Reward: Translation Eye, has been delivered.】
The system asked: 【Use it now?】
“Use it immediately.”
【Activation successful.】
After equipping the Translation Eye, Feng Zhao felt no immediate change. But when she opened an ancient text under its effect, she discovered that the previously obscure classical writing had turned into clear, modern language.
To test its usefulness on official memorials, she went to the Hall of Governance to find Xiao Hongyi.
Unexpectedly, she ran into Wen Meier on the way.
Since losing the throne, Wen Meier rarely appeared before Feng Zhao. This was her first time doing so.
She had come today to show off deliberately, waiting on the path between Fengming Palace and the Hall of Governance.
She was displaying the poem her son Xiao Yanxu had written.
The poem was only four lines long, but both its skill and talent were evident. Even Feng Zhao, unwilling as she was, had to admit it was excellent—far better than most children his age.
“Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!” Wen Meier said theatrically. “What a coincidence to meet you here!”
Feng Zhao replied with a faint, cold smile.
“Is that so? Are you sure you didn’t deliberately wait here for me?”