Chapter 278 His Desire Was Right Before His Eyes

Chapter 278 His Desire Was Right Before His Eyes

It was ten days later when Li Yuanzhao remembered Chen Yanqing again.

At that time, she was sitting in Yanying Hall dealing with the mess left by the rebellion when Liu Jinzhang's request for an audience distracted her and made her think of Chen Yanqing.

Liu Jinzhang knelt in the center of the imperial study, his voice so calm that no emotion could be discerned.

"Your Majesty, I humbly request to resign from my position as Grand Tutor and retire from the capital."

Li Yuanzhao put down his pen and looked up at him.

Previously, Liu Jinzhang, as her master, had never knelt before her.

"Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher"—teachers, of course, do not need to kneel before their students.

Now that she has become the "ruler," he has no choice but to kneel.

Honestly, Li Yuanzhao and Liu Jinzhang are no ordinary people.

One of them killed his entire family, and when they saw him again, he showed not a trace of remorse or regret.

One man whose entire family was killed by her still felt an overwhelming surge of love for her when he saw her again.

When Li Yuanzhao saw him outside Longwu Gate, she was slightly surprised, because she had never known that Liu Jinzhang was still alive, and even living right under her nose.

But the initial shock passed quickly; for her, his death was simply death, and if he was alive, then he was still alive.

She knew that Liu Jinzhang would not seek revenge on her.

And she didn't want to kill him again.

The reason for killing him before was simply to guard against the danger posed by Chen Yanqing, but now, killing him is no longer of much significance.

Moreover, the court is short of people, and it needs someone like him as a pillar of support to help stabilize the situation.

So she tried to persuade her to stay.

"Why do you suddenly want to resign? If you leave, I will lose another capable minister."

Liu Jinzhang remained kneeling. "Your Majesty is exceptionally capable, the throne is secure, and the country is at peace. I suppose I can no longer play any role."

Li Yuanzhao stared at the top of his head, which was hanging down.

She then noticed that his jet-black hair had been streaked with silver, a sign of age she had never seen before.

"Grand Tutor, you would never have said such high-sounding words before."

Liu Jinzhang's shoulders tensed almost imperceptibly for a moment.

He paused for a moment before slowly speaking, "Every word I have said is true."

Li Yuanzhao rested his chin on his left hand, tapping rhythmically on the rosewood table with his right index finger, and asked, "Is the Grand Tutor blaming me for being too cruel to you?"

Liu Jinzhang replied, "Your subject dares not."

“If you dare not,” Li Yuanzhao’s voice turned cold, “why don’t you dare to look up at me?”

Liu Jinzhang finally raised his head and said earnestly, "I have never blamed you. On the contrary, seeing Your Highness stick to your principles and come this far, I am very happy."

These were the words she spoke to Liu Jinzhang at the Great Ci'en Temple. How did he know them?

Was he at the Great Ci'en Temple at the time? Or did Chen Yanqing tell him?

Li Yuanzhao stared at him, "Then why is the Grand Tutor helping Chen Yanqing?"

Liu Jinzhang's eyes dimmed, and his voice carried a hint of bitterness.

"Your Majesty, don't you already know the reason?"

Because of Chen Yanqing's legitimate identity, he chose to save him and help him.

Li Yuanzhao knew he would choose Chen Yanqing, so he killed him beforehand.

She did nothing wrong, so why would he blame her?

Li Yuanzhao pressed further, "Then why has the Grand Tutor chosen me now?"

Liu Jinzhang said earnestly, "It is the will of Heaven that has chosen Your Majesty. It is not that I have chosen Your Majesty, but that the millions of ordinary people in this world have chosen you."

“Grand Tutor,” Li Yuanzhao suddenly chuckled, “you are truly the most selfless person I have ever met.”

In this world, no one is completely clean.

Everyone has their own desires.

Some people crave power, some are greedy for wealth, and some desire fame...

Even she herself would stop at nothing to get the throne.

Yet there is a Grand Tutor who is so purely devoted to the world and the people.

He can die for the people of the world without hesitation, and he can also put aside his deep-seated hatred for the people of the world.

Liu Jinzhang looked at her, and the emotions that had been suppressed in his eyes surged and boiled like hot water, almost overflowing.

How could he be without desires or wants?

His desire was right before his eyes.

As a teacher, to have such immoral thoughts about one's students is a grave mistake.

He was tormented day and night, both yearning for that sliver of light that was within reach and sinking into the quagmire of self-loathing.

Only he himself knew what a base and wicked soul lay hidden beneath that seemingly upright exterior.

How could he dare let her see even a glimpse of it?

In the end, Liu Jinzhang lowered his eyes, concealing his surging emotions.

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he replied softly, "Your Highness flatters me. I am not a person without desires. I... also have some wishes."

"Oh?" Li Yuanzhao became interested and leaned forward unconsciously. "Whatever you want, I can give you."

Money, power, status...

How could she be stingy with her teacher?

She could give him anything he wanted.

Liu Jinzhang slowly shook his head, a bitter smile appearing on his lips. "Your Highness, you cannot give me something like this."

Li Yuanzhao was slightly taken aback.

Is there anything in this world that even she, the supreme ruler, cannot provide?

But she has never been interested in prying into other people's thoughts.

Since he was unwilling to talk about it, she didn't want to delve into it further.

The most important thing right now is to retain this key minister who can stabilize the court.

Li Yuanzhao leaned back in his chair, regaining his imperial composure and aloofness.

"Grand Tutor, I do not care whether your heart has ever been biased towards Chen Yanqing, nor do I care whether you have ever resented me for killing your whole family."

She looked intently at him, "The court is in dire need of capable people, and I need you."

These words, seemingly meant to persuade someone to stay, actually carried an innate air of authority that made it impossible to refuse.

Liu Jinzhang's heart skipped a beat.

He was eager to escape, not because he felt remorse for betraying her or was afraid to face her.

On the contrary, he was afraid that he would not be able to suppress the heart that had long since transgressed moral boundaries, so he dared not stay by her side.

And at that moment, she said she needed him.

These words instantly shattered all the defenses he had built.

Those emotions that had been so painfully suppressed burst forth like a flood, almost breaking through the cage of reason.

He finally bent down slowly and pressed his forehead against the cool blue bricks.

This was a gesture of complete submission, which also concealed any emotions that might be revealed on his face.

"Your subject..." His voice came from below, trembling slightly, before settling into a subdued obedience, "As you command."

"That's good." Li Yuanzhao smiled. "Now that you've stayed, you'll shoulder even greater responsibilities for me. The position of prime minister is vacant, and the affairs of the state are fraught with difficulties... So please, Grand Tutor, be my first prime minister."

Looking across the entire court, in terms of seniority, ability, and prestige, no one was more suitable to take on this position than Liu Jinzhang.

Liu Jinzhang kowtowed again, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty. I will do my utmost, even unto death."