"Mr. Su is Miss Hu's teacher. Besides, he has proven his prowess by healing Queen Dowager."
"We are not talking about that, Sire. The problem is, do you really know the origin of this person?"
Another official retorted. "Your Majesty, you once said that Mr. Su is an orphan drifter. It means that he doesn't have a qualified background to occupy an important position. What will the future of Ava be if you bestow a very high position to a stranger from an unclear origin so easily? You want our country to be humiliated?"
"Even Lord Buddha broke the caste systems and said that all human beings are equal. Whether he is a stranger, or an orphan drifter, for us Buddhists there is no difference within us!..."
"Still, certain limitations are supposed to be employed, Your Majesty! Have you ever found in any history that the lowly and unclear strangers could occupy high positions in government?!"
The king sighed, very angry. "Arguing with all of you is a waste of time, and useless as well. It has been my dictate! This is the Word of the King, nobody can protest it!"
Since that kind of sentence had been spoken out, no one had the guts to protest anymore, due to fear of being subjected to severe punishment. But the occurring tension had become unfavorable signals for Zhu Su's career.
"How is your first day at work?" Gao Qing immediately asked as soon as Zhu Su returned home. Hu Nayin and Zhu Youdun were also very curious about this.
Zhu Su told about everything that happened during his introduction.
Zhu Youdun cursed angrily. "Those people are so insolent! They don't know whom they're facing with?!"
"Whom are they facing with, Youdun?" Zhu Su replied gloomily.
"But Boy, this problem will certainly occur. I have predicted this occurrence," Gao Qing expressed his opinion.
"It is totally the same with the time when I appointed Payloth as one of the Team of Wellbeing members. Li Heng and Guo Songmi once had crushes with him because he was a foreigner." Zhu Su said calmly. "It will certainly happen everywhere. So I don't care. As long as the King likes me, it will be okay. If the leaders of the country like me, they will become an acknowledged voice." He smiled happily. "Moreover, not only the King who likes me. The Princess likes me, too. I have support from the royal family."
Right now Gao Qing approached Zhu Su so closely. His eyes widened. "You said, Ava Princess likes you?!"
Zhu Su immediately noticed the true meaning of Gao Qing's question. "Hey, Mr. Gao! You are so funny, huh! The Princess knows that I am just an insignificant drifter, how can she like me as you think?! Don't talk nonsense, oh my goodness! What I mean is, the Princess accepts and supports me, so the antipathic officials won't have the guts to cause any trouble with me!"
"By the way, the Princess loves the Queen Dowager so much," Hu Nayin joined in. "Even though she is not the Queen Dowager's own daughter."
"Really? So, the Princess?..."
"The daughter of another queen. The King and the Princess are paternal half-siblings."
"Ah, now I understand. It then explains why their ages differ quite far. The Princess is much older than her brother. She might be of the same age as me..." Zhu Su glared back at Gao Qing. "A princess at this age must have been married. Then, Sir! Don't make any gossip! Gosh, what the crap with you, Sir..."
"I am reminding you, after all. Who said that married women can't get tempted by other men? Look at yourself then, as the nobles, you all are accustomed to polygamy. Have been married, but can still take concubines, right? Well, it isn't limited only to men. Women can also do polygamy if they have power." Gao Qing took a step forward so that his face was really close to Zhu Su's, continued his word in a threatening tone, "Remember, you are now a low-status orphan foreigner. You can only spread your wings as wide as possible for your career, but not to reach the others. Keep your behavior!"
"Mr. Gao! Oh my Heaven, what kind of person do you think I am?! If I had been a lustful person, I would have put all of Kaifeng women into my harem, but I didn't do that!" Zhu Su shouted angrily. "Look! Even when I was powerful I didn't do such that thing, how can I even do it when I am nobody?!"
"What I am worried about is just the opposite, the Princess forces you to be her male concubine with her power, and you have no power to refuse because you want to smooth your career."
Zhu Su let out a harsh breath, shaking his head. Giggling sarcastically besides his father, Zhu Youdun joined the conversation. "Ah, Mr. Gao, your joke is not funny! Ava Princess doesn't look like such the kind of woman, and you can be sure that Fu Wang is a gentleman who can behave according to the etiquette."
"Yes, you must do that. Don't get too close to the Princess even though she is kind and friendly. I know that you are the kind who likes nice and kind people, and you will do everything you can to repay their kindness, regardless they are women or men. So I'm not accusing you of being a lustful person." Gao Qing's tone turned slower. "But, still, you can't do that. Because you are no longer a prince, whereas she is a princess. Don't let that forbidden feeling awaken in her mind. This is for your own safety, Boy! You don't wish to be sentenced to death in a foreign country, do you?"
Zhu Su gave a mirthless smile. He did not believe Gao Qing, and thought that his teacher was just overthinking. He was nobody at all, and his appearance at this moment was dull and unimpressive, then how could a princess who was usually attracted to a handsome man with enormous wealth and power, instead be attracted to a poor drifter? He was positive that the princess had no affection to him, all was no more than admiration due to his ability in healing the queen dowager with "uncommon way", nothing more. He believed in his own intuition. Therefore, he still answered all of the princess' questions as best as he could, just like what his intuition guided him - to be kind to everyone.