Mysteries of the Great Zhou Dynasty

Chapter 228 Extra: The Third Prince (3)

Days passed, and the Third Prince was finally five years old and ready to begin his formal education. Consort Xian pleaded with the Emperor several times outside the Imperial Study, and the Emperor finally granted her request, sending Eunuch Li to deliver a message that he agreed to let the Third Prince go to the academy.

That day, all four princes were practicing calligraphy in the Xuande Hall.

The tutor held the third prince's small hand and wrote down "benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom," with the tip of his brush drawing a neat "benevolence" character. Of the four children, the third prince was not the youngest, but he was the last to arrive at the academy. However, his handwriting was the most beautiful, and he knew many characters. He could already recite many articles.

Even the usually strict old gentleman stroked his beard and exclaimed in admiration, "Your Highness is intelligent and will surely achieve great things in the future."

The third prince's eyes sparkled with praise, and he blushed slightly, saying modestly, "It's all thanks to my mother's excellent teaching!"

The old man looked at him, then at the three princes who were slacking off and causing trouble from time to time, and liked them even more. These children are teachable! They are indeed teachable!
The Third Prince Xiheng's palms were sweating slightly as he gazed longingly at the palace gates. He had heard that his father would come every few days to inquire about the princes' well-being. He had only seen his father from afar when he secretly went to play in the Imperial Garden and saw his father holding his elder brother, the Crown Prince, and feeding him a pastry that looked like a lotus flower.

He fantasized that if his father saw these words, would he receive a compliment? Or perhaps, he would hold his own hand and write a few words himself? Just like the Grand Tutor had done?
If that's really the case, then his daily practice of calligraphy and diligent study of poetry since he was three years old must have paid off, right?
The third prince was full of anticipation, but when his father came the next day, he kindly inquired about the other three princes, even patting their heads and hugging his young fourth brother. When the emperor walked to the crown prince's seat, he saw the words "May the mountains and rivers be forever secure" written by the crown prince, praised him a few times, and even held the crown prince's hand to rewrite a version.

He alone received no attention from the Emperor, and even his father avoided giving him a position. Aside from a disdainful look, he gained nothing.

Even the Grand Tutor did not mention him to the King.

He didn't understand why. Was it because he hadn't done enough? Why was he being treated so unfairly?

His initial joy gradually cooled, and the Third Prince's eyes filled with tears of grievance. He held back his tears, stubbornly refusing to let them fall. Taking advantage of a moment when no one was looking, he quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeve.

"Hey, what are you still doing here? Isn't school over?" A voice came from above the Third Prince's head. The Third Prince looked up and saw that it was the Crown Prince!
"Crown Prince!" The Third Prince bowed respectfully.

"Could it be that he's still studying hard?" The Crown Prince looked the Third Prince up and down, speaking in a sarcastic tone.

"Hahahaha." The attendant beside the crown prince burst into exaggerated laughter.

"Him? Humph!" Another person entered from outside the door. It was the Second Prince. The Second Prince had always been at odds with the Crown Prince. He was born only a few hours after the Crown Prince, and every day Consort Shu instilled in him the idea that "he should have been the Crown Prince," so he was also very arrogant.

These two men were always arrogant and disdainful of speaking to the Third Prince. However, these past few days, the Third Prince had been praised by the Grand Tutor, which made them jealous. Today, the Grand Tutor was absent, and their father had completely ignored him, making them incredibly smug.

Previously, the Second Prince and the Crown Prince were at odds, but now that the Third Prince has arrived and been praised by the Grand Tutor, the two have become united against him. "You don't know, do you? Why doesn't Father pay him any attention? Because he's an unlucky person. I heard from Mother that when he was born, strange phenomena occurred, with torrential rain. He should have died young, but he survived thanks to his parents' longevity and the fortune of our Great Zhou Dynasty. Father's not killing him is already merciful. Who wants to associate with this jinx?" the Second Prince said smugly. "Aren't you afraid of getting tainted by this jinx if you all gather here around him?"

Several children cheered as they left the school, deliberately pushing his books, pens, and other items onto the ground as they passed his desk and chair.

The bustling schoolroom fell silent. The Third Prince stood there blankly, watching the sky gradually darken. His heart sank deeper and deeper.

"Third Prince, why haven't you gone back yet?" A figure secretly entered from outside the door; it was the Grand Tutor.

"Grand Tutor..." The Third Prince remained as respectful as before, but the light in his eyes had vanished.

The Grand Tutor understood immediately, walked over to him, sat down, looked directly at the five-year-old child, took his little hand, and held it in his palm. "Have you heard the story of Emperor Zhi of Han, Liu Zuan?"

The third prince shook his head blankly. He only knew that his mother had made him memorize the articles, but his mother had never told him any stories.

The Grand Tutor began to speak, his voice deep and resonant: "Emperor Zhi of Han, Liu Zuan, was the tenth emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty. In the first year of Yongjia, after Emperor Chong of Han died, Liu Zuan ascended the throne with the support of the powerful minister Liang Ji, a relative of the empress. At that time, Liu Zuan was only eight years old, just three years older than you. He was intelligent and precocious. During a court assembly, dissatisfied with Liang Ji, he called Liang Ji 'this arrogant general' in front of all the ministers, which enraged Liang Ji. Liang Ji felt that Liu Zuan was difficult to control, and at that time he decided to kill him! In the intercalary sixth month of the first year of Benchu, Liang Ji had his confidants add poison to the boiled cakes that Liu Zuan was eating. After eating them, Liu Zuan died of poisoning at the young age of nine."

The third prince listened intently, but still didn't quite understand what the Grand Tutor meant.

"Let me tell you another story about Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, Yuwen Yong. Yuwen Yong was the fourth son of Yuwen Tai. After his elder brother Yuwen Yu was poisoned to death by Yuwen Hu, the 17-year-old Yuwen Yong ascended the throne. He knew that his two elder brothers had been killed by powerful ministers in the same way, so he adopted a strategy of concealing his abilities and biding his time, obeying Yuwen Hu's every word, and even issuing an edict forbidding the use of Yuwen Hu's name in imperial edicts, making Yuwen Hu think that he was really afraid of him and lower his guard."

The Third Prince's eyes grew brighter and brighter as he listened, his gaze fixed intently on the Grand Tutor.

The Grand Tutor continued, “As he grew older, Yuwen Yong secretly amassed power and cultivated his confidants. In the first year of the Jiande era, Yuwen Yong falsely claimed that the Empress Dowager enjoyed drinking and had Yuwen Hu read the ‘Wine Proclamation’ in front of her to offer advice. While Yuwen Hu was reading, Yuwen Yong quietly approached him from behind with a jade pendant in hand, struck him down with a sudden blow, and then dealt with Yuwen Hu’s remaining followers with swift and decisive action, thus seizing control of the court.”

Upon hearing this, the Third Prince was overwhelmed with emotion, his chest heaving, and his earlier frustration vanished completely.

The Grand Tutor patted his head and smiled, "Do you understand now? What should you do?"

The Third Prince rose and performed a deep bow: "Hide your talents and bide your time!"

"A promising student!" The Grand Tutor nodded, quite satisfied. He was indeed a student he had his eye on. "We learn not for the praise of others, but for our own growth. Do you know why I don't praise you in front of His Majesty?"