“`
The birth of Lin Yuan seemed to transform Emperor Liu Shi into a different person.
He even became much more diligent in attending court.
After all, before Lin Yuan was born,
Emperor Liu Shi once doubted whether he could ever have a son.
Eventually, the imperial throne, however reluctantly, would have to be passed to another’s hands.
Even though this person would certainly be adopted under his name, be one of his descendants, and worship him as if he was their natural father,
not having his own flesh and blood as heir always seemed a bit odd.
This led to a lack of motivation in Liu Shi’s handling of state affairs.
What was the point of all this effort if the kingdom would end up in someone else’s hands?
But now,
everything had changed.
Emperor Liu Shi had a son.
He had produced an heir to inherit all that was his.
Moreover, this son’s constitution and innate talent were so strong that upon examination, Liu Shi found it unbelievable.
With such a constitution and innate talent, the boy might well be able to tear tigers and leopards apart with his bare hands by the age of two or three.
Of course.
While Liu Shi was delighted with this, he was well aware that martial prowess alone was not enough to be a good Emperor.
More importantly, political acumen was needed.
Today’s world was divided among the Central Plains Thirty-Six Kingdoms.
And Greater Yan was merely a dynasty located in the southern Central Plains.
One among the thirty-six kingdoms.
It was not the weakest, but it had nothing to do with being the strongest either.
Especially since in this generation, as the most crucial foundation of the Central Plains Thirty-Six Kingdoms, a Divine Weapon Master had yet to be cultivated.
This made Liu Shi feel extremely troubled.
Without a Divine Weapon Master in place, Greater Yan always seemed a cut below when facing other nations.
Of course, with the foundation of Greater Yan,
there wouldn’t be any serious problems in the short term, even without a Weapon Master.
…
In Emperor Liu Shi’s plan,
he aimed to cultivate a Weapon Master for Greater Yan during his reign.
By the time he passed the throne to Lin Yuan, the Greater Yan Dynasty would be a peaceful and stable nation, both internally and externally.
At that time, Lin Yuan would be able to execute all his political aspirations.
Be it reform,
Or a change in laws,
It would all be up to Lin Yuan to decide.
But all this was based on the premise that Lin Yuan knew how to be an Emperor.
If he knew nothing and acted only according to his whims, wouldn’t Emperor Liu Shi be handing Greater Yan over to a foolish ruler?
Because of this,
as soon as Lin Yuan turned five,
he was made the Crown Prince.
And began his training as the heir.
….
Lin Yuan did not disappoint Liu Shi’s expectations, being able to read and write at the age of three or four.
By the time he was six, he had silenced with his reasoning the Grand Tutor specially chosen by Emperor Liu Shi.
You must know that Lin Yuan’s Grand Tutor was extraordinarily learned, not just a top graduate but also from a family that was a famous literary household within the Greater Yan Dynasty.
Such a person could lay down a dynasty’s cultural foundation and leave a name in history regardless of the era.
Yet he was bewildered by Lin Yuan, a mere child of five, and could not respond for a long while.
If this were to spread, it would surely stun the multitude of scholars who regarded the Grand Tutor as their mentor.
Inside Chengtian Hall,
The Grand Tutor, wearing a helpless expression, complained to Emperor Liu Shi.
“Your Majesty, I really can’t teach him anymore…” the Grand Tutor looked at Emperor Liu Shi seated on the dragon throne and couldn’t help but speak up.
“What happened? Did Yuan’er make you angry again?”
Emperor Liu Shi asked with immediate concern.
He had gone to great lengths to persuade the Grand Tutor to teach Lin Yuan.
After all, threatening a scholar’s life is certainly futile.
For most scholars,
they very much aspire to be executed by the Emperor because at least in this way, they can leave their name in history.
And the Emperor, probably, would have to bear some infamy.
Furthermore, behind the Grand Tutor stood the support of the majority of Greater Yan’s literati.
A single move could affect the whole.
If a forceful approach was ineffective, then a gentle one must be tried.
After various promises and enticing prospects put forth by Emperor Liu Shi, the Grand Tutor finally agreed to teach Lin Yuan.
But what Emperor Liu Shi had not anticipated was that, not even a year into the job, the Grand Tutor was planning to quit?
“If it were just a matter of making me angry, that wouldn’t be much of a problem…”
The Grand Tutor sighed lightly; he had lived for decades and what kind of student hadn’t he seen?
His mentality was already extremely calm, confident in his ability to correct even the most stubborn of students.
But Lin Yuan was not the least bit stubborn; not only was he the opposite of stubborn, but he could also be described as astoundingly exceptional.
All the concepts taught by the Grand Tutor were readily accepted by Lin Yuan without a hint of doubt.
This initially left the Grand Tutor, who was waiting for Lin Yuan to raise questions, dumbfounded for quite a while.
You understood everything with just one explanation?
Then what do you need me for?
At first, the Grand Tutor thought Lin Yuan was pretending to understand.
So he carefully prepared several questions, aiming to expose Lin Yuan.
“`
But what the Grand Tutor had not anticipated was that Lin Yuan not only explained his question once.
He also used the example to deduce other aspects that even the Grand Tutor had not thought of before.
And for the Grand Tutor, the nightmare was just beginning.
In the following lessons, the Grand Tutor completely became a tool.
He only needed to read out the contents of those classical books, as for how to understand them, he didn’t need to say a word.
Lin Yuan would understand the meaning after just one listen.
Besides, sometimes Lin Yuan would sense the Grand Tutor’s confusion and would reinterpret the more obscure content.
After hearing these interpretations, the Grand Tutor would have an epiphany, feeling like the decades he spent studying were in vain.
Thus, a very strange scene occurred.
In front of the study desk, the aged Grand Tutor resembled a student, mostly listening attentively.
While the mere child, Lin Yuan, talked eloquently, his knowledge spanning ancient and modern times.
Most crucially, the Grand Tutor actually found Lin Yuan’s points to be very sensible.
The wisdom of countless sages throughout history, in Lin Yuan’s words, now showed many aspects unknown to others.
The Grand Tutor, although obsessed with this sensation, immediately realized that he could not go on like this.
If he continued to stay with Lin Yuan, he feared he would be unable to resist taking Lin Yuan as his master.
Even if he suppressed this thought, what would the passing palace maids and eunuchs think?
Was it he who taught Lin Yuan, or was it Lin Yuan teaching him?
For these reasons, the Grand Tutor sought an audience with Emperor Liu Shi early in the morning to tender his resignation.
He truly had no face to continue.
“What do you mean by that, Grand Tutor?”
Emperor Liu Shi sat on the dragon throne, scrutinizing the Grand Tutor.
At first, he thought the Grand Tutor had come to complain or perhaps wanted to bargain for something more.
But now, after observing him for a while, Emperor Liu Shi realized the bitterness and resignation on the Grand Tutor’s face was genuine, from the heart.
This made Emperor Liu Shi very curious. What had his son done to make the Grand Tutor, a literary giant, wear such an expression?
“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince’s control over situations and his approach to major issues far exceed that of your humble servant…”
“Us mortals, what qualifications do we have to teach him…” the Grand Tutor said bitterly.
“Far exceeds you?”
Emperor Liu Shi blinked.
For anyone to receive such high praise from a literary giant like the Grand Tutor would usually be a cause for delight.
But for Liu Shi…
His six-year-old son?
Could you not be more credible in your flattery?
Emperor Liu Shi immediately felt that the Grand Tutor might be mocking him…
“If the Grand Tutor wishes to propose other conditions, just speak them. Why the need to…”
Emperor Liu Shi frowned slightly, his tone displaying some dissatisfaction.
Upon hearing this, the Grand Tutor managed a difficult smile.
If he hadn’t experienced it personally, he himself would think he was taking the opportunity to propose conditions.
But that wasn’t the case at all.
The Grand Tutor took a light breath.
And then solemnly said:
“With my virtues, I am no longer fit to teach the Crown Prince…”
In order to make Emperor Liu Shi believe what he said, the Grand Tutor had already begun to abandon his pride, directly admitting his inferiority to Lin Yuan.
“The words the Grand Tutor speaks…”
Emperor Liu Shi was inwardly shocked.
One should know that the most valued thing among scholars was their reputation—they argued for a legacy that would last generations, especially for a literary giant like the Grand Tutor.
Even if he was unwilling to teach Lin Yuan, he wouldn’t admit to being inferior to him.
After all, Lin Yuan was but a six-year-old child.
To admit being inferior to such a child would be a great blow to any scholar’s reputation.
Especially for a literary authority like the Grand Tutor.
Even in death, he would not have admitted such.
In the literary world, there is no first place; in martial arts, there is no second.
This isn’t about who is stronger or weaker.
“What are you suggesting, Grand Tutor?”
Emperor Liu Shi was silent for a while before finally asking.
“Our Greater Yan Dynasty…”
The Grand Tutor paused for a moment, then said with an inexplicable sigh, “Will welcome a Sage Monarch…”
“A Sage Monarch?”
Emperor Liu Shi could hardly believe it.
Since ancient times, the highest praise for an emperor was to be called a Sage Monarch.
Emperor Liu Shi had not expected the Grand Tutor to have such high regard for Lin Yuan, to determine him a future Sage Monarch even before he ascended the throne.
“Your Majesty, this servant shall take his leave…”
Seeing that Emperor Liu Shi remained silent, the Grand Tutor bowed and requested to be excused.
Liu Shi did not stop him but silently watched the Grand Tutor’s retreating figure.
Once the Grand Tutor had completely left Chengtian Hall, Emperor Liu Shi waved his hand, signaling the surrounding palace maids and eunuchs to leave.
He then sat alone in Chengtian Hall, lost in thought.
After a long time, a bout of unrestrained laughter echoed from within Chengtian Hall.
“Hahahaha?!”
“My son, Liu Shi, a Sage Monarch?!”
“Hahahahahaha!!!”
“May our ancestors bless us! May our ancestors bless us indeed!!”
“I, Liu Shi, will have a son who is a Sage Monarch?!!”
“May Heaven bless our Greater Yan! May Heaven bless our Greater Yan indeed!!!”
“Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!”