She would not allow anything that could harm Gu Zhong to happen.
Fortunately, nothing has even started yet, and there's still time to remedy the situation...
Lingyan was born into a rather illustrious family in this world. Her father was the Imperial Censor and an old man who had accompanied Emperor Gu in his conquests of the world.
However, even if the crown prince is a woman, it does not mean that ordinary women can break free from the constraints of centuries of traditional etiquette and easily participate in politics.
For Lingyan, the only opportunity to interact with the royal family was to enter the palace for the imperial selection, a path she would never choose.
How then could one win the favor of Emperor Gu? Only by becoming famous throughout the world and shining as brightly as the sun and moon.
"The Ling family has a daughter named Yan, who possesses all the talents in the world."
With the accumulation of ten thousand years, even without divine power, achieving this was an easy task for Lingyan.
Emperor Gu values talent, and since Gu Chong is his chosen crown princess, he would certainly want her to receive the best education. No one is more suitable than Lingyan.
As a matter of course, Lingyan was appointed as the Crown Prince's tutor when she came of age, and the Crown Princess should respect him as the Emperor's teacher.
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"Does the gentleman still remember what happened to me a few days ago?"
The young prince slipped out of her arms, tugged at the sleeve of Lingyan's pale yellow silk robe, and looked on with anticipation.
"What is it?"
Feeling a mischievous urge, Lingyan pretended not to know and deliberately asked a question.
"Sir!" Gu Zhong's expression instantly turned extremely aggrieved.
The Crown Princess, who should be as radiant as the sun, put on this pitiful and delicate appearance, which is truly irresistible.
"cough--"
Lingyan unfolded her folding fan, covering half of her eyes, refusing to look at the person feigning pitifulness.
"Your Highness is still under house arrest—if His Majesty finds out, it won't be as simple as just sending you to Changli Palace to copy books."
"I heard there's a temple fair in the city today. I've also made an appointment with Ah Yang—it must have been half a year since you left the palace. I'd like to take you to the city for a stroll."
Gu Zhong circled around to her side, pried open Ling Yan's fan with his claws, and stared intently at her, seemingly certain that this would defeat the person in front of him.
"I've been so bored these past few days!"
"Sigh... I just can't do anything with you."
Fearing that if she continued teasing him, the young prince would truly feel wronged, Lingyan finally agreed to her request.
"I knew then that you loved me!"
Gu Zhong was as happy as a child eating his favorite candied hawthorn skewers, jumping up and down a few times. If it weren't for the manners he was taught, he probably would have done a somersault out of excitement.
"Sir, shall we set off now?"
"It seems that His Highness is getting anxious because the time for his appointment with the Prince is approaching."
Lingyan looked up at the sky; it was a bright, sunny afternoon.
"Sir, you're just teasing me. I have an appointment with Ah Yang, and it wouldn't be good to miss the appointed time."
Gu Zhong said with a serious expression, "But my teacher taught me that 'a person without integrity cannot stand'!"
"Your Highness remembers it clearly."
Lingyan couldn't help but raise her folding fan as if to knock her on the head.
"I remember every word you said clearly!"
He turned his head to avoid her fan, then quickly walked around to Lingyan's side and whispered a smile in her ear.
"Your Highness is getting better and better at sweet-talking people..."
Lingyan's heart skipped a beat, and she involuntarily took a half step back.
"How could I possibly coax you, sir!" The young prince pouted in dissatisfaction.
"Ayan, I will only take your words to heart."
She could vaguely see that person from ten thousand years ago again; a casual remark from him could make her extremely happy.
"Gu Zhong, you really know how to sweet-talk people. Where did you learn so many sweet words? No wonder so many immortals and gods are deeply in love with you..."
Despite being secretly delighted, Ling Yan feigned an arrogant and indifferent demeanor, almost forgetting that she herself had once been so innocent and carefree.
"Where? All I know is how to comfort you..."
The person who used to speak softly and slowly gradually overlapped with the young prince before him.
"If Your Highness is to leave the palace now, shouldn't you make some preparations?"
Ling Yan lowered her eyes slightly, not wanting to continue this topic.
"Eh? Yes, I'll be right there! Please wait a moment, sir!"
After bowing, Gu Zhong hurriedly strode towards the palace gate.
Lingyan remained where she was, slowly unfolding her folding fan, her slender, jade-like hand gently stroking its surface.
Speaking of which, this paper fan was a birthday gift from Gu Zhong a year ago. It had an inscription written by the young prince himself, and she always carried it with her.
Her fingertips lingered on the line, "Green are your robes, deep is my longing. For your sake, I have pondered until now," a poem that originally yearned for talented people and for harmonious relations between ruler and subject, yet she could never escape the meaning behind this line.
Unfortunately, the person before her has lost all her past memories. Those haunting memories of the past can now only turn into heartache, tearing at her wounds every day.
"Concern..."
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Author's Note:
(Revised)
Chapter 3 The Imperial Tutor and the Crown Princess (Part Two)
==========================
"Today is truly lively!"
Dressed in a silver-trimmed white robe with gathered sleeves, his hair tied up and a headband, the young prince, dressed as a dashing young man from a wealthy family, couldn't resist lifting the curtain of the carriage, his curious eyes scanning the outside.
"Ahem, Sister Wang..."
The other young man in the brocade blue robe sitting opposite her coughed twice, his beautiful peach blossom eyes glancing repeatedly at Ling Yan, signaling his sister to tone it down.
"Huh? What did you call me?"
Upon hearing this address, Gu Zhong turned around abruptly, staring at the blue-robed youth with his large, almond-shaped eyes.
"Big...Big Brother..."
The boy forced a smile and called out with some difficulty.
"Ah Yang, you'd better be careful. We're on an incognito mission right now, so we can't reveal our identities!"
The young prince, having somehow come across a storybook, also knew the term "incognito visit" and showed unparalleled interest in the matter.
"Does Her Highness always look like this when she leaves the palace?"
Watching their conversation with a smile, as Gu Zhong turned his attention back to the window, Ling Yan whispered a question to the other person.
"Reporting to the Grand Tutor, Sister Wang has always been free-spirited. Having been confined in the palace for so long, she has become too unrestrained since coming out. Please bear with her."
The young man in blue—or rather, the young woman, who was Gu Zhong's younger sister, Prince Qinghe Gu Yang—gave Ling Yan a slight bow and answered respectfully with her head bowed.
"I've long heard that the Second Prince is a very proper person. Seeing him today, I can see that he is indeed... completely opposite to the Crown Princess. And yet, you two are both born to the Queen. It's truly a case of the nine sons of the dragon, each different from the other."
Ling Yan squinted at Gu Yang, wondering how this well-behaved man could be so easily provoked and schemed against that he would actually rebel.
"Grand Tutor..."
Gu Yang's peach blossom eyes were full of confusion; she seemed unsure whether Ling Yan's words were praise or criticism.
"It's truly admirable that you often accompany Her Highness the Crown Princess in her playful antics; the affection between the two princesses is something I genuinely envy..."
Knowing only the general outline of what will happen in the future, and seeing the deep sisterly bond between them, Lingyan became even more curious about what would happen between Gu Zhong and Gu Yang in the future.
“Yang and Sister Wang grew up together since childhood. Our identities have always been controversial, and we can only support each other. My father and mother always told Yang to take good care of Sister Wang. Although she is intelligent, she is not very worldly and is easily taken advantage of.”
When Gu Yang spoke of Gu Zhong, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up, and his eyes became warmer.
How could someone whose eyes light up when talking about her sister possibly be so rebellious in the future?
"On the contrary, it sounds like the Second Prince is more like the eldest sister."
Lingyan rubbed her fingertips together, a hint of doubt rising in her heart.
Logically speaking, no matter how alluring a man is, he shouldn't have caused these two sisters to turn against each other. So what kind of spell did Chen Moxian cast on them?
"Is Ah Yang talking badly about me?"
As they were talking, Gu Zhong sat down next to Gu Yang without anyone noticing, reached out and pinched the tender flesh on both sides of his sister's cheeks, gently pulling it outwards.
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!"
Gu Yang cried out in pain, grabbing Gu Zhong's bear paws with both hands, and finally managed to free his face.
"Ah Yang is really insensitive to pain."
Gu Zhong breathed on Gu Yang twice, making his younger sister's face turn completely red.
"Cough cough!"
Lingyan finally couldn't bear to watch any longer and coughed twice. This time, she really felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
She envied Gu Yang for being able to openly and honestly be close to Gu Zhong, while she had to restrain herself and strictly adhere to the rules of being a subject.
"Sister Wang...you should tone it down! The Grand Tutor is still here!"
Gu Yang nudged the foolish Gu Zhong and frowned.
Gu Zhong seemed to only then realize what was happening. He quickly glanced at Ling Yan, unable to discern his master's mood, and obediently sat back down, offering a somewhat awkward explanation.
"I'm just afraid you'll speak ill of me to your husband."