Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince

The moment Gu Chengyin and Luo Zhao saw the imperial edict, they both froze.

Was this edict prepared in advance?

Then why wasn't it issued by the cabinet according to usual practice, but instead they were summoned to the palace and it was read to them face to face?

Countless thoughts flashed through their minds in an instant, but on the surface, they both quickly gathered their wits and assumed a posture of respectfully listening to the imperial decree.

Lyu Fang held the edict with both hands, walked to a position slightly below the imperial desk, cleared his throat, unrolled the edict, and read aloud:

"The Marquis of Side-by-Side, Gu Chengyin, possesses deep insight and outstanding talent and strategy. Since entering the court, he has been diligent in royal affairs and has repeatedly presented straightforward advice."

"I deeply appreciate this. Considering his excellent character and learning, outstanding wisdom, and the demeanor of ancient wise teachers, I cherish talent and also plan for the Crown Princess."

"The Crown Princess is the foundation of the country. Teaching her is a heavy responsibility. I have thought about it repeatedly, and only one with both virtue and talent is competent."

"Since Gu Chengyin has the qualifications of a teacher and the talent of an assistant, he is specially granted this favor and promoted to Junior Preceptor of the Crown Princess."

"He will specifically be in charge of teaching the Crown Princess. I hope you will be diligent and untiring, assist with all your heart, guide the Crown Princess on the right path, and cultivate her morality, so that she may become a wise and virtuous ruler, fulfilling my earnest expectations."

"Respect this!"

Junior Preceptor of the Crown Princess!

After hearing the entire content of the edict, even with Gu Chengyin's firm will, his mind went blank for a brief moment.

Emperor Luo actually appointed him as Luo Zhao's Junior Preceptor?

Luo Zhao was equally shocked. She abruptly raised her eyes and looked at Emperor Luo on the throne, her phoenix eyes filled with disbelief.

Let Gu Chengyin be her Junior Preceptor?

This man she thought about getting rid of day and night.

Now he was actually officially appointed by her royal father as the Junior Preceptor of the Crown Princess, possessing the title and power to teach her?

Simply absurd!

Emperor Luo took in the expressions of the two and said lightly:

"Gu Chengyin, why aren't you receiving the edict?"

Gu Chengyin recovered his senses, took a step forward, reached out his hands, and took the edict handed over by Lyu Fang:

"This subject receives the edict and thanks Your Majesty for the grace!"

The bright yellow edict seemed to carry a burning temperature in Gu Chengyin's hands.

And the air between him and Luo Zhao also became more complex due to this sudden appointment.

Emperor Luo seemed to have completed the most important arrangement for today, and a trace of relaxation appeared on his face.

He no longer looked at the two people below with varying expressions, picked up the vermilion brush, and returned his attention to the memorials piled on the imperial desk, while beginning to dismiss them in a flat tone:

"Alright, you both have your own matters to attend to, and it's getting late, so you may return."

Just as Gu Chengyin and Luo Zhao were preparing to bow and take their leave, Emperor Luo seemed to suddenly remember something.

The tip of his brush paused slightly, and without looking up, he said in a meaningful tone:

"Gu Chengyin."

"You are now the Junior Preceptor of the Crown Princess, and your responsibilities are heavy."

"You must teach Zhao'er well, understand?"

Gu Chengyin's heart skipped a beat, and his gaze subconsciously swept over the mountain of memorials on Emperor Luo's desk.

Especially the one casually tossed in the corner regarding the Shuishan City pilot.

He quickly gathered his thoughts, took a step forward, bowed again, and replied, "Your Majesty's teachings, this subject will engrave in his heart."

"Since this subject has received Your Majesty's trust and been entrusted with this task, I will definitely exhaust my efforts to assist Her Highness, and not fail Your Majesty's earnest expectations!"

Hearing this, Emperor Luo nodded slightly and said no more.

Seeing this, Lyu Fang immediately stepped forward astutely, bowed and made a gesture of invitation, whispering, "Your Highness, Junior Preceptor Gu, this servant will see you two out."

Gu Chengyin and Luo Zhao bowed towards the throne together, then silently turned around.

They followed Lyu Fang out of this warm pavilion where the atmosphere had shifted several times.

The heavy palace doors slowly closed behind them. Standing under the eaves outside the warm pavilion, the wind carried a slight chill, blowing away the lingering scent of ambergris from the hall.

Palace lanterns flickered under the eaves, stretching their shadows and casting them on the smooth white jade floor.

Luo Zhao did not leave immediately.

She tilted her head up slightly, looking at the dim sky outside the corridor.

In those usually cold and profound phoenix eyes, a rare look of confusion and daze appeared at this moment.

How did a trip to the palace, hearing a few words, and reading a memorial result in...

An extra Junior Preceptor?

And it just had to be Gu Chengyin!

This man who made her gnash her teeth in hatred day and night, yet whom she had to pretend to be polite to!

Although the Junior Preceptor of the Crown Princess in Great Luo was more of a position where the title was greater than actual power.

Its main duties were clearly limited to teaching the Crown Princess, and it did not directly participate in decision-making or control specific power, but it was still a teacher!

He was an elder in title, an existence who could instruct her, and even required her to treat him with the courtesy of a disciple on certain ceremonial occasions!

What on earth was her royal father thinking?

Even if it was for balance, or some other unfathomable imperial mind game.

He absolutely shouldn't have put Gu Chengyin in this position!

If in the future... wouldn't that become killing one's teacher?

Luo Zhao only felt a sense of absolute absurdity welling up in her heart, mixed with the powerlessness of being teased by fate.

Unlike Luo Zhao's confusion, Gu Chengyin, standing behind her, had clear eyes.

Emperor Luo was unfathomable, and that Second Prince was no good either.

Sure enough, there were no weaklings in this imperial palace.

Thinking of this, Gu Chengyin's gaze couldn't help but drift to Luo Zhao, who was still lost in thought beside him.

Seeing the confusion on her beautiful profile, he silently corrected his thoughts:

Well, not entirely true, isn't there half a weakling right here.

Perhaps this was Emperor Luo's most direct purpose.

Gu Chengyin sighed silently in his heart.

Although Emperor Luo didn't act like a decent person, his expectations for Luo Zhao were truly high.

This was probably the royal version of hoping one's daughter would become a dragon.

Afraid that Gu Chengyin, as Luo Zhao's subordinate, wouldn't dare to speak bluntly.

So he specifically gave him the identity of Junior Preceptor of the Crown Princess.

In essence, it was still to help Luo Zhao grow.

"Your Highness."

Gu Chengyin gathered his thoughts, took a half-step forward, and reminded her, "We should leave the palace."

Luo Zhao was pulled back to reality by his voice.

She took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and nodded slightly.

She restored her cold and aloof appearance, only the confusion and complexity deep in her eyes had not completely dissipated.

She stepped forward, walking along the familiar palace paths.

Gu Chengyin naturally followed a little behind her.

A eunuch carrying a lantern had wanted to step forward to lead the way, but was silently waved off by Luo Zhao with a simple gesture.

She had grown up in this deep palace since childhood; every palace hall, every corridor was engraved deep in her memory, and she wouldn't take a wrong step even with her eyes closed.

And so, in the dead of evening in this deep palace.

The two of them strolled leisurely along the palace path, one in front and one behind.

On both sides were towering palace walls, above was a sky full of evening glow, and beneath their feet were flat stone slabs.

Only the palace lanterns under the eaves cast a warm halo, stretching and overlapping their figures from time to time.

After walking for a while, Luo Zhao finally completely calmed down.

Her red lips parted slightly, wanting to address him directly as usual, but the words caught in her throat.

Remembering the edict just read, Gu Chengyin was no longer her subordinate.

In title, he was the Junior Preceptor of the Crown Princess, her teacher.

He was theoretically an elder she needed to respect.

This realization made a stronger sense of humiliation instantly surge in Luo Zhao's heart.

Being schemed against, controlled, and played with by this man.

Now she actually had to treat him with the courtesy of a teacher and respectfully call him Junior Preceptor?

His nails dug deeply into his palms once again, the sharp pain bringing a sliver of clarity.