Chapter 19: A Private Conversation Between Teacher and Student
Ning Chen furrowed his brow and gazed deeply at the venerable old scholar, whose aura was ethereal and transcendent.
In an instant, he realized the truth.
All his schemes had long been seen through by the old master.
Although the old master had appeared in person, willingly becoming a tool for Ning Chen’s first goal, he needed to test him personally—to see if this nine-year-old puppet emperor truly deserved his help.
As the old master had said, he could both aid him or destroy him.
If Ning Chen passed his test, the old master would support him unconditionally.
If not, he would personally see to his ruin.
With this understanding, Ning Chen bowed deeply to the old master, gratitude shining in his eyes. “Thank you, Master, for saving my life. I had no choice but to use Minister Fan and you as well. I hope you will forgive this.”
Unexpectedly, the old master interrupted sternly, “Enough nonsense. I know all this was your plan.”
“I fear even the words I spoke earlier were calculated by you.”
“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have maintained that feigned innocence all this time.”
Ning Chen was taken aback. He never thought the old master, barely glancing at him the entire time, could see through his disguise so clearly.
Such skill—truly remarkable!
Just as Ning Chen was about to respond, the old master gave him no chance and asked gravely, “Tell me, if I had not appeared today, if the Empress Dowager had not been frightened by me, what would you have done?”
Ning Chen’s brow tightened slightly. He knew that before this old master, no pretense could be maintained.
He exhaled deeply; the childish innocence vanished from his eyes.
He spoke deliberately, word by word: “Desperate times call for desperate measures. I would have taken the Empress Dowager hostage.”
Hearing this, the old master was momentarily stunned. He stared intently at this mere child of nine, shock flashing in his eyes.
After a moment, he stroked his beard and laughed heartily, “Good, very good. A nine-year-old child with such boldness—clearly, you are no longer the puppet emperor you once were!”
He paused, then fixed his serious gaze on Ning Chen and asked solemnly, “Tell me, what is a wise ruler?”
Ning Chen frowned slightly and replied, “A wise ruler must possess three kinds of wisdom.”
The old master was initially surprised, then filled with curiosity.
He expected the textbook definitions but did not anticipate the child speaking of “three wisdoms.”
He asked seriously, “Which three?”
Ning Chen answered, “To see the grand scheme, to discern the truth, and to master the means.”
The old master frowned deeply at this.
To see the grand scheme, discern the truth, master the means?
Even as a literary giant and imperial tutor to two emperors, he had never heard such a concept.
He fell into deep thought, murmuring repeatedly, “To see the grand scheme, discern the truth, master the means...”
Seeing this, Ning Chen explained:
“To see the grand scheme is to hold a commanding view, grasping the entire world’s situation.”
“To discern the truth is to clear away the clouds and see the sun, distinguishing right from wrong, knowing how to employ talents.”
“To master the means is to harbor deep strategy, conceal vast plans, and brave the winds and waves, cutting through thorns and brambles.”
At these words, the old master suddenly brightened with understanding and excitement.
He looked at Ning Chen in disbelief, seemingly on the verge of madness.
“Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful...”
“What a brilliant concept of ‘three wisdoms.’ I never imagined one so young could summarize it so precisely. Truly, the young are formidable...”
He had never heard such a summary before, much less from a mere nine-year-old.
His satisfaction, however, lasted only a moment.
Ning Chen looked deeply into the old master’s eyes, his gaze unwavering.
“But I do not wish to be a wise ruler.”
The old master was taken aback. “You do not wish to be a wise ruler? Why?”
A slight smile curled on Ning Chen’s youthful face, filled with confidence and resolve.
He spoke deliberately, “I seek to be a ruler for the ages.”
“To bring peace for ten thousand generations!”
A ruler for the ages?
To bring eternal peace?
The old master’s expression shifted rapidly, uncertain and troubled.
He had previously judged this young emperor to be a promising candidate for greatness.
He was willing to assist in raising a ruler for the ages.
But this child was only nine. Such words sounded like arrogant boasts, a proud overreach for one so young.
Seeing this, Ning Chen no longer held back.
He said solemnly, “Master, you may think my words are arrogant.”
“But to be honest, I have died once before.”
“Since Heaven has granted me a second chance, I will not waste it.”
“Reborn, I vow to achieve unparalleled feats and become a ruler for the ages.”
“To strive until my last breath!”
Though his voice was childish, it carried the weight of experience and unshakable determination.
He knew well that becoming emperor in this new life meant he could never lie low, unlike other transmigrators.
In the whirlwind of power, one either soars or falls into the abyss.
There was no choice, for countless eyes were fixed on his throne.
If he were ever dethroned, death would be certain.
Perhaps it was this breathtaking declaration, or the inexplicable maturity in his young eyes, that caused the old master to feel slightly dazed.
Looking into those clear, resolute eyes, he realized Ning Chen was not speaking empty words.
He might not yet achieve it, but this was clearly his lifelong pursuit.
Nine years old.
Who in the world can at nine years of age know so clearly what they want from life?
How could such a young emperor not capture his heart and compel his devoted assistance?
He understood why Ning Chen spoke of living twice.
These past three years had been filled with hardship.
The Empress Dowager’s oppression and persecution must have driven him to despair, a living corpse, as if he had died once already.
It was likely the moment a year ago when he witnessed his grandfather torn apart by five horses that awakened him—a rebirth of sorts.
At this thought, the old master’s vision blurred.
His gaze toward Ning Chen softened with sympathy.
But quickly, he composed himself and said gravely, “Do you know that the path you have chosen will only bring you greater danger ahead...?”
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
A sudden series of loud crashes echoed through the Phoenix Ceremony Hall.
Watching the Empress Dowager furiously shatter every porcelain vessel in the room, the old nanny’s face turned pale, and she dared not utter a word.
Nearby, the commander of the Imperial Guards, Pan Yu, trembled on his knees.
“Why?”
“Why has it come to this?”
“Everything was supposed to be under my control!”
“That worthless child already promised in court to issue a self-criticism edict and abdicate after his birthday!”
“I never gave that child a single chance!”
“Tell me—why did a mere disaster relief and a birthday celebration change everything?”
The old nanny took a half step back.
Having raised the Empress Dowager since childhood, she understood that the Dowager was not truly seeking answers but venting her deep grievance and anger.
Pan Yu, however, did not understand.
He lifted his head cautiously. “Your Majesty, please do not be so angry. Be careful not to hurt yourself.”
“If you change your mind, I will immediately have the child emperor seized. At worst, you can revoke your decree and depose him...”
Before he finished, the Empress Dowager suddenly hurled a teacup at Pan Yu’s head, shattering it into a bloody mess.
“Fool! You are nothing but a useless idiot!”
“Do you know why I agreed to the old master’s suggestion never to depose the emperor?”
“Because those rats hiding in the shadows—those damned rats...”
She knew well the “rats” the old master had mentioned—those schemers lurking in the dark, always present.
Even before she began ruling from behind the curtain, they had been there.
Though she had cleansed the palace of many such “rats,” they still thrived outside its walls.
Was it not those “rats” who orchestrated the assassination attempt on the young emperor at the temple?
Plainly put, these “rats” wanted her out of power.
As the old master had said, though Ning Chen had stumbled into power, he had indeed risen through disaster relief and his birthday to stand openly on the stage.
At such a moment, if she truly insisted on deposing him, she would be casting herself into an irreversible abyss.
She understood perfectly why the old master urged her to publicly declare that the emperor would never be deposed and to shape Ning Chen into a future wise ruler.
Only in this way could she maintain the moral high ground, preserve her reputation as the virtuous empress dowager, and deny others leverage.
Thus, no matter how much those “rats” stirred in the shadows, they could never openly seize power or claim legitimacy.
As a royal and the highest-ranking Empress Dowager of Great Ning, “legitimacy” was a grip she could never relinquish.
After weighing all factors, she had no choice but to heed the old master’s advice.
But this meant her plans would have to be delayed.
No one could understand the depth of her frustration and anger at this moment.
After a year of painstaking plotting to depose the emperor and enthrone another, the first step—set to be realized at tomorrow’s court session after the birthday—now seemed impossible.
She never expected the evening banquet to unravel into such chaos.
Thinking of this, she glanced at Pan Yu, bloodied and kneeling silently, then exhaled deeply, struggling to manage her emotions.
After a moment, she suddenly laughed coldly, as if mad, her eyes turning sinister.
“Never deposing the emperor, is it?”
“You worthless child, if I cannot openly remove you, do you think I cannot make you disappear in secret...”