Chapter 14: The Ailment of Cold Constitution
"My Lord, please calm your anger."
Seeing Gu Yan’s expression grow increasingly cold, Yan Xuerui, powerless to soothe him, could only gently brush her fingers against his wrist.
She softly advised, "If we consider it carefully, you and the Crown Prince share a teacher-student bond spanning decades. The Crown Prince is young; if he has gone astray, a gentle admonition and guidance should suffice. There’s no need for such a furious outburst."
Gu Yan always kept his emotions hidden, never letting joy or anger show. It seemed that this time, the Crown Prince had truly provoked him. But the Gu family was already inextricably linked to the Crown Prince's faction. If they now fell out with the Crown Prince, and if he were to ascend the throne in the future, where would the Marquis of Jingyuan's estate find its footing?
This man was a born rebel. Even if not for his sake, then for the sake of their children, she had to counsel him.
Yan Xuerui chose her words carefully, tactfully reminding him, "The Crown Prince... has grown up."
He was no longer the little boy he could easily manipulate.
Yan Xuerui was sharp and intuitive; even without Gu Yan revealing the specific reasons, she could guess a few.
The Crown Prince was gentle and kind-natured. At such a critical juncture, he would certainly not purposely provoke Gu Yan. However, some time ago, during their private conversations, Gu Yan often sighed, mentioning that the Crown Prince had recently been secretly associating with other noble families, which greatly troubled him.
In other words, the Crown Prince was no longer obedient.
According to Gu Yan's temperament, disobedience called for a harsh lesson—only through profound pain would one learn right from wrong. Yan Xuerui herself had been a victim of this and knew exactly how ruthless Gu Yan could be.
Even a clay figure has its limits. Back then, she couldn't endure him and attempted to escape multiple times. How much more so the future emperor? The Crown Prince had grown up and wanted to break free from his Tutor’s grip—this was only natural. She even understood the Crown Prince's perspective.
For the mild-tempered Crown Prince to turn against him, the "lesson" Gu Yan had taught must have been deeply painful.
Yan Xuerui lowered her eyes and said, "Leave some room for maneuver; only then can there be a chance for reconciliation later. My Lord, do not push him too far."
The Marquis's estate had an extensive collection of books. Gu Yan often left his military strategy and historical texts in her room, and she would occasionally pick them up to read in her leisure time. She had once read about a prime minister who poured his heart and soul into assisting a young ruler, overcoming countless difficulties for him. Yet, after the young ruler ascended the throne, he accused the minister of forming cliques, practicing favoritism, and acting arrogantly. Not only was the minister's family executed and his lineage wiped out, but his corpse was also exhumed and desecrated after death. Once glorious and powerful, his end was truly tragic.
Yan Xuerui grew increasingly worried. She furrowed her delicate brows, her eyes glistening as she gazed up at him, appearing docile and vulnerable.
"Alright, alright, don’t worry. I know what I’m doing."
Gu Yan pulled her into his embrace, gently patting her back to comfort her. A man who had just sated his desires was always more amenable, especially when she was concerned for him.
In those beautiful eyes, bright as stars, her worry was almost overflowing, which greatly pleased Gu Yan. He said gently, "Don’t worry, it’s just a minor matter, not worth troubling over."
Currently, the Crown Prince's faction was too prominent in the court. The emperor praised them openly but criticized them covertly—his intentions were unpredictable. By openly falling out with the Crown Prince and having long instructed Gu Yuan to stay away from the Eastern Palace, rumors would soon spread about discord between the Crown Prince and the Gu family. The emperor was a master of balance. At this time, tamping down the influence of the Crown Prince's faction was a good thing.
It was better for him to lay low for a while than for the emperor to intervene.
When the Crown Prince found himself isolated and without support, he would return to beg for Gu Yan's help. Gu Yan would accept him gladly, creating another tale of harmony between teacher and student, ruler and minister.
Gu Yan always planned three moves ahead. Not only had he resolved the immediate court dilemma, but he had also made the Crown Prince realize that without Grand Tutor Gu, he, the Crown Prince, was nothing!
Everything was under his control. The only thing he hadn’t anticipated was that the Crown Prince had developed genuine feelings for that woman.
He also hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to dare mock him.
Not getting what he wanted? Ha, what a joke! Gu Yan now held immense power over the court, with a beautiful wife and children at home. What else could he possibly desire?
Now, she was in his arms, her eyes glistening with concern as she looked at him. What more could he ask for? He was not a weak, useless fool like Zhou Chenghui, who couldn’t even protect his own woman.
Pushing down his annoyance, Gu Yan gently changed the subject and asked, "What did Mr. Gao say after taking your pulse?"
He had always been attentive to her health, but he had returned in a hurry today and hadn’t had the chance to see Mr. Gao yet.
Yan Xuerui: "..."
Now it was her turn to be unwilling to speak.
That so-called Mr. Gao was nothing but a charlatan.
She turned her head, burying her face in the brocade quilt, leaving him with a smooth, pale back.
"This time, I’ll have the doctor adjust the prescription and simmer the medicine with candied fruit. It definitely won’t be bitter."
Thinking she was afraid of taking medicine, Gu Yan chuckled softly, leaned in close, and whispered coaxingly in her ear.
"Or perhaps... this time I’ll drink it with you? Be good."
"Rui’er..."
As Yan Xuerui shifted back, Gu Yan straddled her, advancing step by step, leaving her no escape. Yan Xuerui was fuming but didn’t dare say a word, glaring at him indignantly. Gu Yan lowered his head, his thin lips landing on her thick eyelashes. Yan Xuerui couldn’t help but close her eyes.
Another round of tender lovemaking followed. This time, Gu Yan was very gentle. In the midst of passion, Yan Xuerui raked her nails down his sturdy back, leaving marks. Matters like the Crown Prince were completely forgotten.
She had never been one to worry about court affairs anyway.
***
Everything that followed unfolded as Gu Yan had anticipated. He took half a month’s leave and ceased giving lectures at the Eastern Palace. The recently returned Second Master of the Gu family also strictly adhered to the rules, cutting off all contact with the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince’s supporters, unsure of Grand Tutor Gu’s intentions, came to probe but were met with Gu Yan’s cool dismissals.
Gu Yan had previously criticized the Crown Prince for his weak temperament, but in this matter, the Crown Prince had shown unexpected firmness, refusing to apologize at the estate. The Upright faction seized this opportunity to revive cases of the Crown Prince's faction selling offices and bullying commoners, accusing the Crown Prince of shielding corrupt officials and lacking the demeanor of a future ruler.
The Virtuous Prince, meanwhile, said it wasn’t the Crown Prince’s fault—he was still young and had merely been misled by villains.
The Upright and the Virtuous Prince worked in tandem, showcasing the Virtuous Prince’s "magnanimity and capability" as an elder brother while subtly implying that the Crown Prince was too young and unfit for great responsibility. The Crown Prince had only been involved in politics for three years, overseeing the Ministry of Justice, which managed the nation’s penal system, and the Ministry of Rites, which oversaw the imperial examinations—both positions of significant power. The Virtuous Prince’s move was an attempt to directly oust the Crown Prince, citing his "youth" and "susceptibility to manipulation."
The Crown Prince's faction would naturally not stand for this. The two sides argued vehemently. Empress Xu, unable to stay out of it any longer, sent multiple messages from the Phoenix Palace, and the Xu family repeatedly visited the Gu estate, only to be turned away.
...
Amid the external turmoil, Grand Tutor Gu, who had closed his doors to visitors, was also facing headaches.
His wife suffered from a cold constitution, enduring this ailment daily, yet she avoided medical treatment. This posed a dilemma for Grand Tutor Gu.
Domestic affairs were not like state affairs. Outside, he was the influential Grand Tutor Gu, who didn’t even spare the Crown Prince’s dignity. But at home, faced with Yan Xuerui’s cold demeanor, he couldn’t maintain the authority of the Grand Tutor.
Previously, Ming Wei had been infatuated with a scholar from the Upright faction. Gu Yan called his daughter to his study and plainly told her that Su Huaimo’s mentor was Li Shuhong, the Minister of Revenue, who had been promoted by the Virtuous Prince and was firmly aligned with the Upright. Moreover, Su Huaimo’s reputation was too prominent—the Virtuous Prince, known for his respect for talent, had also summoned him. The Gu family supported the Crown Prince, destined to be enemies with the Virtuous Prince Faction.
Gu Yan held nothing back, explaining the stakes clearly and giving Ming Wei two choices: either harden her heart, break Su Huaimo’s wings, and reduce him to a dependent kept in the estate for her amusement, or, if she couldn’t bring herself to do it, sever all ties with him early, as they were mismatched in status.
Ming Wei left the study distraught, her spirits low for days, her brow furrowed even when attending the academy, which pained Yan Xuerui greatly. Gu Yan was evasive about the matter, and because of this, Yan Xuerui gave him the cold shoulder for several days.
Then there was the issue of "Divine Doctor Gao." She absolutely refused to see him again, even growing angry.
Yan Xuerui had spent years tending flowers and plants, cultivating her mind and temperament. Her sudden outburst startled Gu Yan, transporting him back to their youth. Back then, she had been stubborn and unruly, and he had employed every means, both soft and hard, to tame her.
Now, seeing those captivating, spring-like eyes once again stirred with intense emotion, Gu Yan felt a stir in his heart. No matter what methods he had, he could never bring himself to use them on her again.
The gentle, serene her was beautiful, but the angry, vibrant her was also delightful. Perhaps it was because he hadn’t seen this side of her in so long that he missed it.