The Little Demon King's smile froze on his face. He didn't even dare blink, his heart already in a frantic panic.
Help! How did Father find out?
Where did I slip up? Save !!
He lowered his head to look at his policy essay, his eyes darting around as he tried to feign ignorance with forced calm: "No way, why would His Highness teach that?"
Xu Wan had a feeling they wouldn’t get an answer this ti—the boy was trying to weasel his way out again.
But Zong Zhao stared him down and said, "He took you to the Dali Temple not for fun, but to familiarize you with the procedures of handling cases."
Zong Jincheng: "..."
He was starting to suspect his father had so divine insight.
His heart pounded wildly, but he stubbornly insisted, "It was just for fun… I don’t know what you’re talking about, Father."
Zong Zhao cut straight to the point: "You’re lying."
Zong Jincheng’s hand trembled, and he imdiately stood up to bolt.
However, Xu Wan stepped in front of him, blocking his escape.
The Little Demon King whined pitifully, "Father, I still have to study! Can’t I skip this chat? My dearest, most wonderful parents in the world, please let off just this once?"
Xu Wan gave him a complicated look. "I rember you said His Highness forbade you from telling others, but your policy essay gave you away. Luckily, only your father and I have seen it today. If the tutors or the Ministry of Rites had gotten a hold of it, the consequences would be unthinkable."
"W-what’s wrong with my essay?" Zong Jincheng was baffled. "Are you talking about my suggestion for the new emperor to appoint officials? Isn’t that right? Isn’t it an official’s duty to share the emperor’s burdens and offer advice? How could that be unthinkable?"
Zong Zhao laid it out plainly: "Because that isn’t the way of governance."
The Little Demon King was stunned.
"No way! His Highness taught so much—things you can’t learn anywhere else! Once I beco a second-rank official, I’ll be able to advise the emperor anyti." Zong Jincheng grew more and more proud as he spoke. "It’s all thanks to His Highness’s guidance that my essays keep improving. Just wait till the imperial exams—I’ll leave Qin Ye in the dust!"
At this point, he had practically admitted everything.
The Little Demon King then added in a hushed tone, "Father, His Highness made swear not to tell anyone. You have to keep this secret, or he’ll bla for being loose-lipped when he wakes up."
Zong Zhao gave a quiet hum. "We’ll keep it secret, but you must too. From now on, don’t include what His Highness taught you in your essays."
"Why not?!" Zong Jincheng couldn’t understand. He nearly shouted, "His Highness taught how to be a good official—why can’t I write about it? If I don’t, my skills will be cut in half! How am I supposed to pass the palace exams then? And what’s the harm anyway? Only the tutors and the Ministry of Rites would see it. Even if they tried to copy, they’d have to wait till the next exam cycle—it wouldn’t affect my ranking!"
Zong Zhao’s gaze darkened as he looked at him. "Because what His Highness taught you… is the art of rulership."
Xu Wan felt her breath catch.
She had suspected His Highness was secretly teaching Jincheng sothing important, but she had never dared imagine this.
The Crown Prince had been laying the groundwork for this since long ago.
He was paving the way for Jincheng too.
"The art of rulership…" Zong Jincheng murmured in disbelief.
He slumped into his seat, his expression dazed as mories of his lessons with His Highness resurfaced.
In this very study on the second floor, His Highness had gently explained the choices and thods a ruler must employ. He had shown him the workings of the Six Ministries, pointed out flaws in the legal code, and discussed ways to and them.
In every detail, it was as if His Highness’s voice echoed in his ears: "Assassination. A ruler is always guarded by shadow warriors—not just for protection, but also to carry out missions. However, assassinating officials is a disgraceful act, so rulers prefer to use others as their blades."
"A ruler…" Zong Jincheng knew exactly who that referred to. But he had assud His Highness was teaching him how to advise the ruler.
Yet His Highness had said these were things the Emperor had taught him. If both the Emperor and the Crown Prince knew these thods, who was left for him to advise?
There was no one.
Zong Zhao’s words struck him like a bolt of clarity. He suddenly realized the restraint and patience hidden beneath His Highness’s gentle smile.
His Highness had never once claid to be teaching him the way of governance.
What he had been teaching all along—was the art of rulership.
"How could this be… How could this be…" Zong Jincheng couldn’t accept it. He looked to his parents in desperation. "This isn’t true, right? His Highness is the Crown Prince, the heir to the throne. Why would he teach the art of rulership? Isn’t that like raising a tiger to be your own downfall?"
By blood, he was His Highness’s younger brother.
But in the eyes of the court, he was His Highness’s rival—the greatest threat to his ascension.
His Highness… should have killed him.
Zong Zhao spoke patiently. "His Highness’s maternal clan is gone, his health is frail, and the Luo family holds military power, eyeing the throne. He cannot ascend. Only you—only you on that throne can bring peace to the Luo family and to His Highness. You are the pivotal balance in this entire ga. That’s why His Highness chose to teach you everything he knows."
"The silkworm spins until death, the candle burns to ash."
A tear fell from Zong Jincheng’s eye, dampening a corner of his essay. His voice was thick with sorrow. "Why is His Highness so good to ? He never should have spared back then… Without , none of this chaos would exist."
Zong Zhao ruffled his hair. "At first, I didn’t understand His Highness either. But later… I realized. Your existence is both a threat and a salvation. Without you, the Luo family would rebel and overthrow the dynasty. The cost of that would be far worse than a re succession struggle."
Zong Jincheng thought for a mont, his head still bowed. "I suppose… But Luo Jingfeng dotes on so much. Is there really no chance he’d give up on putting on the throne?"
Zong Zhao shook his head. "He’s stubborn—he won’t relent. And it’s not just him. Your uncle, the Prince of Southern Pacification, would never back down either."
Zong Jincheng clenched his fists and muttered, "No wonder His Highness told to hide my brilliance. I always wondered how I could hide when my grades are public. Now I see—he ant hiding what he taught ."
Xu Wan crouched beside him, offering comfort. "Even without what His Highness taught you, your essays are already outstanding. I’ll do my best to help you improve them further."
The Little Demon King pouted. "I get it, Mother. I won’t write about those things anymore. I won’t slip up again."
Then he shot Zong Zhao a resentful look and asked, "How did you know I was lying, Father?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)