"Your humble servant didn't play very well, I've embarrassed myself in front of Your Imperial Majesty," Luo Wei put on a face of innocence.

"I thought it was very good," Emperor Xing Wu doted, then asked Gao Cheng Feng, "What does Minister Gao think?"

Gao Cheng Feng quickly answered, "If Young Master Luo takes a few more days off, he will most definitely surpass his teacher."

Emperor Xing Wu said, "You're right about that, but Luo Wei's tutelage with you will end today. He does not need to be a study companion any longer."

Hearing this, Luo Wei thought that his father must have found an excuse for him so that the emperor could release him from his role as a study companion.

But he was wrong, this was Emperor Xing Wu's own decision. At the very thought of Luo Wei's appearance--one so much like Luo Zhi Jin--Emperor Xing Wu's own joy at it was mixed with worry. There were quite a few people in the palace who knew about his past with Luo Zhi Jin. If he could guess that Luo Wei was Luo Zhi Jin's son, then Emperor Xing Wu knew that the women that the Empress Dowager has trained all these years in the Back Palace could also guess the same. With Luo Wei in the study, there was no way to protect him from those who seek to harm him.

Long Xuan spoke up at this point, "Does father wish for Chancellor Luo to find a tutor just for Luo Wei? The tutors who come to the imperial study are the very best in the world, there's no reason for Luo Wei to leave."

Not expecting this, Luo Wei shot a look at Long Xuan. Did he want to use Luo Wei so much that he's actually arguing with Emperor Xing Wu?

Emperor Xing Wu also dealt a look to his second son, "Are you afraid that Chancellor Luo would hinder his own son's studies?"

Long Xuan looked at Luo Wei. Luo Wei had always wanted to stick close to him and he didn't believe that Luo Wei wanted to leave the imperial study, but faced with the apathy in Luo Wei's eyes, Long Xuan felt as if someone was sticking a needle in his heart.

Emperor Xing Wu address Luo Wei, "You can follow me from now on. You're the Senior Chancellor's son, both of your brothers are employed in the military, at least one of you from the Luo family ought to be employed in politics."

The emperor's words sent waves through the hearts of everyone present. A single sentence from Emperor Xing Wu and Luo Wei has become the emperor's disciple. From the emperor's tone, Luo Wei might even inherit the position of Senior Chancellor in the future.

"Your humble servant thanks Your Imperial Majesty for his kindness," After a moment's pause, Luo Wei quickly sunk to his knees to declare gratitude.

Emperor Xing Wu felt a wave of sadness as he heard Luo Wei address himself as a 'humble servant'. They were father and son, but can only address each other in polite terms of emperor and servant. Xing Wu quickly helped Luo Wei up again, "You've only just recovered, there's no need to pay these empty courtesies. Come with me."

"Master," Luo Wei paid his obeisance to Gao Cheng Feng, "I humbly excuse myself."

Emperor Xing Wu was very satisfied at Luo Wei following proper protocol. He heard tell of Luo Wei's arrogance, but it seems that those were mere rumors.

Long Xuan watched as Emperor Xing Wu held Luo Wei's hand and walked out of the imperial study, unsure of how exactly to feel. Luo Wei has changed into someone different, and he'd seen the gentle side of his royal father. The routine he'd once been so familiar with has suddenly been altered.

Long Xuan couldn't help but admit that he had been captivated by Luo Wei's music. If Luo Wei had let him hear this earlier, Long Xuan believed that he'd definitely be better to Luo Wei. Now it seemed that he had absolutely no grasp of what Luo Wei was thinking--no. A thought popped into Long Xuan's head and scared him: maybe he never had any grasp on what Luo Wei was thinking.

Gao Cheng Feng watched Long Xuan. He thought that with Luo Wei gone, the happiest person in the study would be Long Xuan. In the past, even he had been annoyed at the sight of Luo Wei bothering Long Xuan, not to mention how Long Xuan felt at the center of Luo Wei's attention. However, at this very moment, Long Xuan's face darkened without a single shred of joy. This was a mystery that simply could not be solved by Gao Cheng Feng.

TRANSLATOR'S NOTES:

Things are heating up even more!!! Though it's going to be a while yet before we meet the other half of the main couple. : ) You guys are going to have to bear with Long Xuan for a little while longer.