Gao Gun was a celebrated Great Eminent Scholar renowned throughout the world; his standing as a Great Grandmaster of the Martial Dao was secondary. In appointing him as her own son's teacher, the Empress naturally hoped her son would become a dragon.
Wang Chong had no idea what this teacher had actually taught him, but that did not mean he would fail to respect his teacher and his teachings. A teacher who was a Great Eminent Scholar was a rare treasure. Although he thought Gao Gun probably would not fall for his enticements, how could he know it would never work without trying? Even if it did not, what if he could scrape something off him?
That very day, he laid on a lavish feast for just the two of them, master and disciple. Yuzao handled all the running about, allowing no fourth person near.
Gao Gun dispensed with pleasantries and kept asking how he had defeated Yegeluo Clan Ye Hu, how he had driven back those two thousand cavalrymen, how he had dealt with the allied tribal forces, and how he had conquered Ba Prefecture.
Wang Chong did not boast at all. He honestly recounted every single matter.
Gao Gun listened for over four hours, then closed his eyes. Only after a long while did he open them again and say, "Do you know what the Empress said when she asked me to teach you?"
Wang Chong shook his head. "I do not."
Gao Gun said evenly, "The Empress said she had neglected your education from childhood and entrusted you to Wen Zhengxi. Yet when she brought you back to her side, your martial arts were only at the sixth rank, you could not even write an ordinary essay properly, and you knew nothing of worldly dealings, military texts,