Chapter 906: Finale
Gu Wenheng ultimately couldn’t escape his fate of supporting three different emperors. The current Supreme Emperor, Hua Zhang, had been the biggest headache of them all.
When the previous Supreme Emperor was still on the throne, there was at least someone to help make decisions. After his passing, Gu Wenheng was consulted on every matter, big and small.
Seeing Gu Wenheng growing increasingly impatient, and terrified of pushing him too far, Hua Zhang took action when the Eldest Prince was ten years old. Just because the boy received a few words of praise from Gu Wenheng, Hua Zhang unexpectedly issued an edict to officially name him the Crown Prince, cementing Gu Wenheng’s role as the Crown Prince’s Tutor.
Gu Wenheng had originally thought that after pouring his heart and soul into raising the Crown Prince to adulthood, he could finally retire to the countryside and spend his days growing tea and tending flowers with his wife. However, Hua Zhang suddenly announced his abdication, dumping the court and the young emperor onto Gu Wenheng while he took his concubines out of the Imperial Palace to travel and play.
The courtiers’ objections were futile. Hua Zhang completely checked out, adopting an attitude of total indifference, and in the end, everyone had no choice but to let him have his way.
By the time Gu Wenheng finally helped the young Crown Prince secure his grip on the throne, the hair at his temples had turned completely white. In the end, he only managed to escape by faking an illness.
He submitted petition after petition for retirement, but the Emperor suppressed them all. To the young emperor, Grand Tutor Gu was both a teacher and a father figure; he simply couldn’t bear to let him go.
Left with no other options, Gu Wenheng went straight to Hua Zhang, who was now the Supreme Emperor, to cry and complain. After enjoying several years of a carefree life, Hua Zhang had softened considerably. Moved by Gu Wenheng’s tearful pleas and realizing how hard the man had worked all these years, he generously waved his hand and approved the resignation.
Before the young emperor could even try to stop it, the die was cast.
Without a moment’s pause, Gu Wenheng went straight home the second he left the Imperial Palace. He grabbed his wife and immediately fled the city, leaving the masters of the harem caught between tears and laughter. Among all the courtiers, only Gu Wenheng treated the Royal Family like a terrifying plague. Even when granted supreme power, he didn’t show a shred of reluctance to leave it behind.
Jin Qianqian had taken excellent care of herself over the years. Though she was now in her sixties, she still looked like a beautiful middle-aged woman.
“Should we at least let Luo Luo and the others know?” she finally asked, thinking of their eldest son who was still at the Ministry of Revenue and their youngest son who was traveling somewhere unknown.
“What is there to say? It will only lead to more endless arguments.” Gu Wenheng lifted the carriage curtain. Seeing that they had already passed through the city gates, he finally let out a sigh of relief. “Let’s not go back to Fu County just yet. Let’s go somewhere farther away. What do you think of Hai City?”
His children were all grown up, and he was about to become a grandfather soon. It was high time he let go.
Jin Qianqian held his hand, happy to indulge him. “Whatever you decide is fine. You’ve worked so hard all these years!”
Though being a high-ranking court official looked glamorous to outsiders, only they knew the hidden hardships. Serving under three generations of emperors had been a long and grueling journey. If her little old man hadn’t been strong-willed, he would have thrown in the towel a long time ago.
“It wasn’t hard,” Gu Wenheng said, squeezing her hand tightly. “Although it was a bit exhausting, my life has been truly worthwhile.”
After so many years as an official, he had a clear conscience toward the world.
Jin Qianqian nodded in agreement. “Yes. Half the credit for this golden age belongs to you. As long as the new emperor doesn’t seek his own ruin, nothing will go terribly wrong.”
Gu Wenheng gave a cold snort. “I personally taught him for so many years, constantly beating him into shape with a stick and a sledgehammer. Even if he were an absolute blockhead, I would have sculpted him into something useful by now.
“Besides, don’t we still have Luo Luo? That boy is a meticulous schemer. Even if it’s just for the sake of his own descendants, he won’t let the court fall into chaos.”
If certain people thought they could stir up trouble just because he had left the court, they were sorely mistaken. Gu Benluo might not clash with them as head-on as his father did, but he would definitely make them suffer in silence. As for their grandchildren, Gu Wenheng and Jin Qianqian had even less trouble letting go; that was their parents’ responsibility. Now that they were old, they only wanted to enjoy their world as a couple.
Jin Qianqian smiled and began to discuss the journey ahead. “We bought that courtyard in Hai City years ago but haven’t lived in it once. Going back now will be like revisiting an old haunt.”
Gu Wenheng held her hand, falling deep into his memories. “Actually, those were our most relaxed and carefree days. Let’s stay for a longer period this time, though I don’t know how many old friends are even left to visit.”
He was now in his sixties, and many of his old acquaintances had already passed on from this world.
But today was a happy day, and he didn’t want to dwell on such things. Gu Wenheng lifted the curtain, looked at the passing scenery, and sighed with emotion once again. “I’m finally retired.”
Jin Qianqian felt a sudden wave of realization. That word was both familiar and strange—a term from their past lives that they had mostly forgotten.
“Sir, there’s a carriage catching up to us from behind,” a guard’s voice called out from outside the window.
Gu Wenheng’s heart skipped a beat. “You’ve got to be kidding me. My resignation was approved—are they still not going to let me go?
“Ignore it. Tell the driver to whip the horses and shake them off as quickly as possible.”
Now that he was out, he had absolutely no intention of going back. If they thought they could drag him back to court, there was no chance in hell.
Jin Qianqian lifted the curtain and looked back. She saw a carriage speeding toward them, escorted by guards.
“I don’t think they’re here to chase you down. If they were, wouldn’t it be better to just ride fast horses? Why bother bringing a carriage? Wouldn’t that just be a burden?
“It’s probably just a passing traveler. Given their speed, it must be an emergency. Let’s have our carriage pull over and let them pass first!”
Since his wife had spoken, what else could he do? He quickly ordered the driver to pull the carriage to the side of the road.
To their surprise, when the other party reached them, they didn’t speed past. Instead, the carriage slowly rolled to a stop.
Jin Qianqian was speechless.
“Lord Grand Tutor, your subordinate is the Hospital Director of the Imperial Hospital, Li Gaosong. By the Holy Emperor’s decree, I am to accompany and protect you.”
Li Gaosong breathed a heavy sigh of relief after speaking. He had finally caught up. He had been ordered to serve the old Grand Tutor, and if he had lost track of him, he would have had no way to report back to his superiors.
“I… I am in perfect health. I don’t need an Imperial Physician following me around,” Gu Wenheng snapped in annoyance. Claiming to be ill had just been an excuse; he knew very well that he was as strong as an ox.
Besides, even if he did catch a cold or suffer a minor ache, his wife’s spatial dimension was stocked with countless miraculous medicines. Why would he want an irrelevant outsider tagging along?
Li Gaosong hastily dropped to his knees. “Lord Grand Tutor, your subordinate is only acting on imperial orders.”
Gu Wenheng was struck completely speechless. He had used the excuse of “acting on imperial orders” his entire life to completely suppress the courtiers, leaving them with no way to counter him. He never expected to taste that same bitter medicine himself at the end of his career.
The man had been ordered by decree to stay by his side. If he sent him back, he would have to make another trip to the Imperial Palace to sort it out. With all that tossing and turning, would he ever be able to leave?
Feeling both frustrated and helpless, he could only look at his wife with a pitiful expression.
Jin Qianqian grasped his hand and patted it gently. “This is also the Holy Emperor’s goodwill. Let him follow along!”
Although they had female doctors in their entourage, they were traveling with a large group of people. Having a proper physician along would solve a lot of potential problems.
The moment Li Gaosong heard Mrs. Gu speak, he knew the matter was settled.
Everyone in Shangjing knew that the one person in the Gu family you could never afford to offend was this old Madam.
Aside from the fact that the Lord Grand Tutor had been fiercely protective of her his entire life, the new court elite, Minister Gu, and the fabulously wealthy Mr. Gu were not people anyone dared to provoke.
“Let’s go,” Gu Wenheng said. He was never one to fuss over something that was already set in stone, and his mind quickly turned back to dreaming about his fast-approaching retirement.