After Being Mistakenly Taken for a Fellow Traveler by Emperor Long Aotian - Chapter 39

“But if you must ask why I’m being so good to you, even I can’t find a reason. I just feel like it’s only natural to treat you this way. You know? Actually, I’m here, I…” The emperor scratched his head, “I’m also being an emperor for the first time. Every command I give, every policy I make, it’s all for the first time. But if you seriously listen and nod at me, I feel…”

 

“I’ve always been doing the right thing.” The emperor smiled with narrowed eyes, “Hehe. Although I used to think of you differently, and you were originally… But I don’t know why, I always feel like I and you, we should have met long ago.”

 

Zhou Xun:…

 

“When I see you sitting alone, I want to sit beside you. When it rains heavily, I want to hold an umbrella for you. If I see scars on you, whether or not they have anything to do with me, I want to erase them. When you’re not feeling well, I feel a bit sad too. Anything, I feel you deserve it. If there’s something you don’t have, I also want to help you get it. It’s just this feeling.” The emperor said to him, “I think this might be what they call…”

 

“Brotherly affection!” The emperor said, “I’ve never had a brother, but I’ve heard that’s how brotherly affection is.”

 

Zhou Xun:…

 

“Oh, right,” the emperor stood up from his chair and walked back to his desk, “What’s that book you were working on at the desk before? I saw you writing and drawing on it for several days…”

 

Zhou Xun stood up with him and went to the desk, picking up the deep blue-covered book with his fingers.

 

“I found that Your Majesty seems to be not very proficient in writing.” he said.

 

“Oh,” the emperor nodded somewhat embarrassedly, but then he slapped Zhou Xun’s shoulder generously, “But with you here, what do I have to fear!”

 

Zhou Xun:…

 

“I can’t always accompany Your Majesty, and there will be occasions when Your Majesty needs to handle documents by yourself.” Facing the emperor’s reliance, he couldn’t help but smile wryly, “So…”

 

The emperor drooped his head, “Oh, I see, there will still be closed-book exams… What about this book?”

 

“I have recorded and compiled the words and phrases that Your Majesty often gets wrong, as well as some commonly used and frequently occurring phrases.” Zhou Xun flipped open the book, neatly arranged in beautiful calligraphy, “For Your Majesty’s convenience, I wrote a rhyming poem at the end of the book for recitation and understanding.”

 

The emperor:…

 

Zhou Xun: “About a thousand words.”

 

“This…” The emperor looked extremely touched, “This is… a Classical Chinese dictionary! Thank you, sir, for your hard work! So, sir, you’ve been busy with this these past few days, it’s really…”

 

He hugged the book and said, “I will definitely go back and read this book carefully, study it thoroughly!”

 

Zhou Xun smiled, “It’s not much trouble. Your Majesty, just remember the contents of the book well. Once you’re familiar with it, you’ll be able to recite it.”

 

The emperor: “Good!”

 

Zhou Xun: “Flip through it when you have time, and if there are things you don’t understand when reviewing memorials, you can also check it. Your Majesty is intelligent and eager to learn. With increasing practice, you’ll soon understand Classical Chinese.”

 

The emperor: “Okay! From today on, I’ll read ten pages every day!”

 

The emperor held the book, looking very serious, diligent, and eager to learn. Seeing him promise so earnestly, Zhou Xun felt relieved.

 

The matter of the emperor not being an ordinary person was still a secret to others because the emperor had limited contact with others on weekdays, and with Zhou Xun’s assistance in reviewing memorials, it remained a secret to others. They at most thought the emperor was like King Zhuang of Chu recorded in the Historical Records, rarely making a sound, but startling everyone when he did.

 

But the emperor’s low proficiency in Classical Chinese was still a problem. Zhou Xun had heard from Xiaoli that the emperor’s former teacher, Fang Wuyou, who taught him when he was the crown prince, was now traveling far away from the capital. If he were to return and see the emperor’s deteriorating proficiency in Classical Chinese, he would definitely become suspicious.

 

Personality, style of doing things could be explained by “greatness takes time, great sound is rare,” but the decline in literary proficiency… even within the scope of finding reasons to explain this, the emperor could only decline a little, not this much.

 

But since the emperor promised to study the book well, Zhou Xun felt reassured.

 

Lu Xian reported that he was currently escorting Miss Zhang Lingsu back to the capital; Zhang Gonggong had already set off for the south to search for the so-called “rice”; a Thousand Mechanisms Pavilion was newly established in the Ministry of War to research new types of war chariots, cannons, and other weapons; Doctor He immediately started organizing the establishment of a “Medical Academy” upon returning to the Imperial Hospital, and the news had been spread to various provinces and counties. Talented individuals interested in studying medicine would be selected to go to the capital to study at the “Medical Academy” and after obtaining a certificate of proficiency, they would return to their hometowns to participate in the construction of local “Health Departments”; the medical officials and military officers who were supposed to treat the epidemic in Xizhou had already set off; the Ministry of Rites was preparing to establish a new examination, and the emperor intended to establish a department specifically responsible for the development of science and technology…

 

Everything seemed to be flourishing in a good direction.

 

Except…

 

On the first day, the emperor summoned Zhou Xun to the study to teach him, and when Zhou Xun entered the study, he saw that blue book placed on the highest shelf. He saw that the words the emperor asked him about were exactly the words on the first page of the blue book.

 

On the second day, the emperor summoned Zhou Xun to the study again, and when Zhou Xun entered the study, he still saw that blue book placed on the highest shelf. He saw that the words the emperor asked him about were exactly the words on the second page of the blue book.

 

On the third day, the emperor summoned Zhou Xun to the study again, and when Zhou Xun entered the study, he still saw that blue book placed on the highest shelf… covered in dust.

 

On the fourth day…

 

“When does Your Majesty plan to start reading?” Zhou Xun asked.

 

The fifth day was overcast. It was now summer, with moisture in the air waiting to be released, and it was uncertain when it would rain.

 

“Huh? Read, read?” The emperor blinked, “What book?”

 

Zhou Xun, who had heard the emperor solemnly promise to read ten pages every day just a few days ago:…

 

“Oh, uh,” the emperor showed a guilty look, scratching his head, “Hehe, I forgot. I’ll start tomorrow!”

 

Zhou Xun:…

 

The emperor: “I’ll read twenty pages every day!”

 

To reassure Zhou Xun, the emperor even specially drew up a schedule and stuck it in the study. At the top of the schedule was the emperor’s daily reading plan, each line of which was written very seriously and in detail.

 

Seeing how earnestly he was taking this, Zhou Xun was also satisfied.

 

Since the emperor had made a plan and made it so perfectly detailed, he would surely start reading the book diligently from tomorrow onwards. Zhou Xun thought so and looked at the emperor.

 

At this moment, in his sight, the emperor sat on the chair, looking at the schedule in his hand, with an expression of “this thing is really well done” and “ah, I don’t know why but it feels like a whole thing is completely finished after the plan is perfectly made”—

 

However, at this moment, Zhou Xun couldn’t yet grasp the second meaning in the emperor’s expression. The joys and sorrows of people are never the same. Just as their joys are not the same.

 

The emperor declared, “By creating this new schedule, it’s also to urge myself to work harder in the next few days. I must learn Classical Chinese, and the first thing is to finish reading the book Sir gave me!”

 

Seeing the emperor so resolute, Zhou Xun didn’t think otherwise.

 

After the plan was completed, another four days passed.

 

On the first day, the emperor summoned Zhou Xun to the study to teach him, and when Zhou Xun entered the study, he saw that blue book placed on the highest shelf, and he saw the neatly pasted blank schedule in the study, clean and free of dust. He saw that the words the emperor asked him about were the same words he had explained two days ago.

 

On the second day, the emperor summoned Zhou Xun to the study again, and when Zhou Xun entered the study, he still saw that blue book in the same position, and he saw the same clean blank schedule. The words the emperor asked him about were still the words he had explained before.

 

On the third day, Zhou Xun pretended to be ill. On the fourth day, the emperor summoned him to the study again.

 

Before entering the study, Zhou Xun looked up at the sky. The sky was still overcast, and pigeons were still flying.

 

After entering the study, Zhou Xun looked at the stack of memorials piled high:…

 

The emperor was very happy, “Sir, I couldn’t finish some of these memorials yesterday, so I left them for today…”

 

Zhou Xun remained silent. In the emperor’s eagerly anticipating eyes, he walked towards the blank schedule posted in the study.

 

Seeing his trajectory, the emperor slowly looked at the blank schedule and showed an expression as if he had been struck by lightning.

 

The emperor: “This…”

 

Zhou Xun silently took down the blank schedule from the pillar. The emperor hurriedly covered half of his face with a book, looking at Zhou Xun anxiously and guiltily.

 

Zhou Xun held the sheet of paper in his hand. The emperor looked afraid at the gaze Zhou Xun gave him, which he had never seen before. He dropped the book and hurried over, “Sir, don’t be angry, I, I…”

 

Zhou Xun glanced at him and picked up the schedule paper…

 

At that moment, the emperor’s face twisted. He seemed to hear the sound of the schedule paper being torn apart, or Zhou Xun rolling it into a tube and hitting himself in the face with it.

 

But he didn’t expect…

 

The handsome young man cut two holes in the schedule paper for eyes and covered it on his face like a mask.

 

The emperor: ??

 

With the paper mask on, Zhou Xun looked at him expressionlessly, then turned to leave.

 

The emperor: ?!!

 

If Zhou Xun were angry, scolding him, or throwing a tantrum, the emperor wouldn’t be afraid. He could just obediently admit his mistake. But Zhou Xun’s current appearance… was simply unprecedented!

 

The emperor couldn’t help but feel a little frightened.

 

Could it be… Zhou Xun… was driven mad by him!

 

He quickly grabbed Zhou Xun’s sleeve, anxiously saying, “This… Xun Ge’er, where are you going? I, I…”

 

“Oh,” Zhou Xun’s cool voice, with a hint of puzzlement, sounded, “Your Majesty can still see me? I thought this paper had the function of invisibility.”

 

With that, he flicked the paper mask with his finger, saying, “I thought this paper could conceal my identity.”

 

The emperor: ?!?

 

The emperor was left speechless, staring at Zhou Xun wearing the paper mask with a mixture of surprise and confusion.

 

Zhou Xun, with the paper mask still on his face, looked back at the emperor calmly, waiting for his reaction.

 

Seeing Zhou Xun’s composed demeanor, the emperor’s anxiety grew. He realized that perhaps his actions had caused Zhou Xun to react in such an unexpected way.

 

Desperate to explain himself, the emperor stammered, “Sir, I… I didn’t mean to… I mean, I just forgot about the plan, but I’ll definitely start reading tomorrow! Please don’t be angry…”

 

Zhou Xun remained silent, observing the emperor’s nervousness with a faint hint of amusement in his eyes.

 

After a moment, Zhou Xun finally spoke, his voice calm but firm, “Your Majesty, it’s not about the plan. It’s about your commitment to improving yourself. Reading the book is just one part of it.”

 

The emperor looked at Zhou Xun, feeling a pang of guilt for neglecting his promise.

 

“I understand, Sir,” the emperor said earnestly, “I will do better. Please forgive my negligence.”

 

Zhou Xun nodded slightly, removing the paper mask from his face. “As long as Your Majesty is sincere in your efforts to improve, there’s no need for forgiveness.”

 

The emperor sighed with relief, grateful that Zhou Xun wasn’t truly angry with him.

 

Feeling more determined than ever, the emperor made a mental note to fulfill his commitment to self-improvement, not just for himself but also to regain Zhou Xun’s trust.

 

As Zhou Xun turned to leave, the emperor called out, “Xun Ge’er, please wait…”

 

Zhou Xun paused and looked back at the emperor.

 

The emperor hesitated for a moment before speaking, “Thank you for your patience and understanding. I promise to make it up to you.”

 

Zhou Xun offered a small smile. “Your Majesty’s sincerity is what matters most. I will be waiting.”

 

With that, Zhou Xun left the study, leaving the emperor to reflect on his actions and his determination to do better.

 

The emperor watched Zhou Xun’s retreating figure, feeling a renewed sense of purpose and a deep appreciation for his loyal advisor.

 

From that day on, the emperor redoubled his efforts to study, not just Classical Chinese, but also various other subjects, guided by Zhou Xun’s wisdom and support.

 

And as time passed, their bond grew stronger, built on mutual respect, understanding, and a shared commitment to the prosperity of the realm.