Liu Bian at the start, so you're called Dong Zhuo, right?

The room was completely silent.

Empress He and He Jin both breathed a sigh of relief.

This isn't a teacher they've invited, it's a whetstone! It's sharpening Liu Bian's unsheathed sword.

Although Liu Bian was excited, his face still showed the expression of a seven-year-old child, revealing a look of half-understanding:

"Sir, what should I learn first?"

Xun Yu smiled but did not answer, only glancing slightly at the old eunuch beside him.

Empress He understood and spoke:

"That concludes today's etiquette. You may now return to your quarters."

After the old eunuch left, Xun Yu slowly withdrew his gaze, walked to the table, and bowed to Empress He:

"Your Highness, please forgive my bluntness—His Highness asked today, 'What should we learn first?' The first lesson is not in the scriptures."

Empress He's eyebrows twitched.

"In this hall," Xun Yu raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the doors, curtains, windows, and the direction of the corridor, "walls have ears, curtains have eyes. What Your Highness must first learn is to hide yourself well under the watchful eyes of others."

"Then what."

Liu Bian was always very good at using the word "hidden".

Xun Yu bent down, picked up the bamboo pen that Liu Bian had just used, and wrote a single character on the paper spread out on the table.

endure.

"Your Highness must endure three things: grievances, joy and anger, and cleverness."

"Does being smart mean you have to endure it?"

Liu Bian spoke, his voice tinged with a childlike resentment.

Xun Yu looked at him and smiled faintly:

"Cleverness displayed on the edge of a knife is not cleverness, but a death sentence."

"Your Highness should make those people think that you are smart, but still young; that you are teachable, but not difficult to teach; that you are afraid, but also that you will listen."

"Once they see you as someone who can be taught, they won't be in a hurry to ruin you."

Liu Bian swallowed hard, as if he understood, and nodded very seriously.

Xun Yu then wrote a second character on the paper.

remember.

"Your Highness, in this palace, there is no shortage of swords or rules, but what is lacking is—who stands by your side, and who watches you fall."

Liu Bian blinked and asked softly, "How can I remember so many people?"

He really can't remember.

Xun Yu did not answer but asked a question in return:

"When Your Highness entered the palace today, whom did you see first?"

Liu Bian was taken aback, knowing that this was his first test.

He quickly went through the day's events in his mind, remembering everything clearly—from the first day he entered the palace, he had learned to observe, to observe at all times.

But he still maintained a hint of uncertainty and unease in his words:

"First... I met with the Empress Dowager. Then... Zhang Changshi's men taught me etiquette. Then I met with the Emperor... and... and... He Shizhong."

Xun Yu nodded, his voice still gentle, yet sharper:

"Let's rephrase 'He Shizhong'."

Liu Bian immediately changed his address to: "He Jin".

Xun Yu then showed a hint of satisfaction.

"Remember, from today onwards, Your Highness shall address him as 'Attendant-in-Ordinary' in court, and may use his given name in the Empress's quarters. When you are alone in private, you may address him by his given name as you wish."

He Jin stood to the side, feeling a chill run down his spine.

He suddenly realized that Xun Yu had come prepared.

Preparations began the moment he was summoned to the palace.

Empress He glanced at Liu Bian and asked, "Did you hear me?"

Liu Bian nodded obediently: "I heard you."

"I heard that Your Highness met Zhang Rang at Deyang Palace this morning. Did he say anything to you?"

Liu Bian frowned slightly, as if trying to recall: "He tested...rules."

Xun Yu nodded:

"Remember this person's way of speaking. He never says 'I,' only 'rules.' If you want to get back at him in the future, don't start with 'what he said,' start with 'whose rules he borrowed.'"

Upon hearing this, Empress He's fingers tightened.

Liu Bian's heart skipped a beat—

This is the teacher he wanted!

He wasn't a teacher who taught him to recite the Book of Poetry and the Book of Documents, but a true "royal advisor."

Xun Yu pushed the paper in front of Liu Bian, his tone suddenly softening, as if he were assigning homework to a child:

"Your Highness, for today's first lesson, whether you memorize the scriptures or not is not urgent. You only need to do two things tonight."

"First: Name as many people you meet today as you can; if you can't name them, remember the color of their clothes, the sword they carry, and the tone of their voice."

"Secondly: When Zhang Rang's men come to teach etiquette again tomorrow, Your Highness should deliberately make a mistake once more."

Liu Bian was taken aback: "Why?"

"Because they want to see things 'under control'."

"If Your Highness learns too quickly, they will be afraid; if they are afraid, they will look for a safer way—such as making Your Highness 'unable to learn'."

"When His Highness makes a mistake, they feel relieved: he's still just a child."

Liu Bian felt a chill run down his spine.

This coincided with his own thoughts, except that he didn't think as thoroughly as Xun Yu.

This is teaching him to act, teaching him to wear his age as armor.

"But the mistake can only lie in 'propriety,' not in 'the heart.'"

"Your Highness, within the Empress's palace, you may cling to her, act spoiled, and show fear; but in front of outsiders, I still maintain the same stance—"

"When one person is virtuous, all nations will be prosperous."

"Your Highness wants the world and His Majesty to see that you are his son and the foundation of his state; to let Zhang Rang see that you are young, teachable, and controllable; and to let the ministers see that your status is proper and your conduct is in accordance with the law."

"Sir, I understand."

This "sir" truly came from the bottom of my heart.

Xun Yu turned his gaze to Empress He:

"Your Majesty, I have another matter to ask."

"explain."

"If Your Highness wants to remember people, someone must first remember things for Your Highness."

"Your Majesty, I request that you appoint a 'secretary' for His Highness—nominally accompanying the officials of rites and attendants, but in reality, from the Empress's own household. This person need not be exceptionally intelligent, but must be discreet, quick-witted, and steadfast."

Empress He nodded.

Having spent several years in the palace, she naturally had people among the eunuchs.

Xun Yu rose and bowed again:

"I have said all I have to say today. As for the rest, I will teach Your Highness a lesson tomorrow after I have made a mistake."

"What's the next lesson?" Liu Bian couldn't help but ask.

Xun Yu paused, his gaze sweeping across the curtain, and said softly:

"Borrowing a knife."

"As for whose knife to borrow, and how to borrow it."

"Your Highness will know tomorrow."

Xun Yu carefully folded the paper with the words "Ren He Ji" written on it and handed it to Liu Bian:

"Your Highness, you must keep this paper safe."

Liu Bian accepted it with both hands, looking expectantly at Xun Yu:

"Will you be coming again tomorrow, sir?"

Xun Yu smiled, did not answer, but bowed to Empress He again, then turned and left the hall.

He Jin let out a long sigh and said in a low voice:

"Sister, this Xun Wenruo... is truly extraordinary."

Empress He did not respond, but instead turned her gaze to Liu Bian:

"Bian'er, have you remembered everything the master said just now?"

Liu Bian obediently replied, "I've remembered it all."

Empress He grasped Liu Bian's hand: "Tomorrow they will come to teach you etiquette, and you should do as Mr. Xun said."

"One mistake is enough, no more."

Liu Bian looked up at Empress He, his eyes clear: "Mother, do I really have to deliberately make a mistake?"

Empress He suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

This child really has to endure much more than other children his age.

She reached out and pulled Liu Bian into her arms, whispering:

"Bian'er, you've really suffered."

"You don't need to think too much, just listen to the master."

Liu Bian hummed in response in her arms, but didn't say anything more.

The hand inside the sleeve clenched the folded paper even tighter.

Xun Yu is just the beginning; many more treasures await his discovery.

The next morning.

Before dawn, the sound of light footsteps could be heard outside Changqiu Palace.

Spring silk lifted the curtain and entered:

"Your Highness, the servants from the Imperial Attendant's side have arrived."

Liu Bian sat up from the couch, rubbed his eyes, and asked in a soft voice, "Have you come to teach etiquette?"

Chunjuan nodded, then whispered:

"The person who came was not that old eunuch."

Liu Bian did not reply.

Whoever comes, he has to complete that first test today.

wrong.

Liu Bian slowly stood up, letting the palace maids tie his sash and straighten his crown, while he softly uttered a sentence, as if to encourage himself:

"Then... I'll just make one mistake."

Outside the palace gate, the curtains swayed gently.

A high-pitched yet authoritative voice rang out:

"The Attendant-in-Ordinary announces: Your Highness, please rise to receive instruction."

Liu Bian walked into the hall and saw a young eunuch leading two attendants into the hall.

"We, your humble servants, pay our respects to Your Majesty the Empress and Your Highness."

Empress He sat in the main seat, her gaze sweeping over the person as if she were examining them from head to toe:

"Guo Changshi's men?"

The young eunuch bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, Attendant Guo said that His Highness has just entered the palace and should not be disturbed while learning etiquette. Yesterday, the old man spoke inappropriately and may have made His Highness afraid, so we have been replaced."

His words were perfectly watertight.

Liu Bian's heart stirred slightly.

Of the Ten Attendants, he knew only one surnamed Guo: Guo Sheng. Guo Sheng was historically associated with the imperial relatives.

Empress He said calmly, "Since this is about teaching etiquette, then follow the rules."

"Here you are."

The eunuch turned his gaze to Liu Bian, forcing a gentle smile onto his face:

"Your Highness, what we will learn today will begin with titles and forms of address."