This Is the Grand Tutor I Raised with My Own Hands

[Mischievous, gravity-wielding little prince x Beautiful, protective tutor with a bit of martial arts skill]

On his first day as an official, fourteen-year-old Luo Fan was handed a child to teach.

Emperor: You. Teach. Him. Got it?

Luo Fan: Me?

Luo Fan looked at the five- or six-year-old brat, caked in mud and wearing a scornful look, and frowned. The reason was simple: he was dressed all in white today.

Han Chu, courtesy name Yuanying. His name alone made it clear: he was the current emperor's firstborn son, and the legitimate heir to the throne from the moment he was born.

Now he was Luo Fan's disciple. No, he was Luo Fan's pupil, and Luo Fan was his tutor. (Smiles.)

Luo Fan caught the mud ball the little prince threw at him, then hurled it right back. In front of the emperor himself, he beat the future emperor, whom he'd met just the day before, until the boy squealed.

From then on, the little prince followed his every lead.

First tributary nation sends spices? The Grand Tutor gets first pick.

Second tributary nation sends jewels? The Grand Tutor gets first pick.

Third tributary nation sends curios? The Grand Tutor gets first pick.

Fourth tributary nation sends beautiful women? The little prince looks left and right, waves them home, then hums a little tune as he goes to find his own Grand Tutor.

Heh heh heh heh, none of them are as good-looking as him!

The little prince fusses over his Grand Tutor, grinding ink and fanning him one day, brewing tea and bringing fruit the next. Even the Grand Tutor's white robes are replaced with colorful Shu brocade. In the end, the prince rests his head on the Grand Tutor's lap and gazes up with his big, round, watery eyes. Luo Fan can't help but stroke his hair and smooth it down.

It's a trick that never fails.

Han Chu knew from a young age that his Grand Tutor, a civil official, was not only virtuous and sharp-tongued

but also "a little" skilled in martial arts.

Aside from their first meeting, whenever he got into trouble and someone reported him, Luo Fan handled it personally. No ruler, no bamboo switch: just a slap to the back of the head that left him dazed but unharmed.

Han Chu rubbed his head, afraid that at this rate he'd never grow taller, and decided to bribe everyone instead.

For the next ten years, the Crown Prince's flower-picking and gardening were praised as refined taste, his cricket-catching and dog-playing as kindness to all creatures, and his tree-climbing and roof-scaling as being as light as a swallow. As for blowing up the kitchen

Luo Fan looked at the plate of charcoal in front of him, then at the soot-covered child waiting for praise. Guided by the principle that filial duty begins with one's parents, he sent the entire plate to the emperor, untouched.

Emperor: ? What does this mean? Is that brat bored enough to want his backside beaten?

Luo Fan thought it over. It was time for the child to go out and make his way in the world.

So the next day, Han Chu began learning and working at Xuanzheng Hall, at the southernmost end of the palace.

The ministers were not amused.

By the time the story reached Luo Fan's ears, it had turned into:

The Crown Prince has come from the palace, and the minister is delighted.

Han Chu: Whew, another day of keeping up my image.

The Grand Tutor knows no anger, and is he not a wife?

One day, after court, the ministers started discussing Luo Fan's marriage.

Han Chu cut in coldly: "The Grand Tutor I raised with my own hands is mine, of course. What business is it of yours?"

The ministers: ...? Isn't that backwards?

Bonus scene:

Someone files a denunciation against Han Chu today. The historian records: Grand Tutor Luo flew into a rage, tore into everyone present, and declared, "Have any of you even lifted a finger to raise this child? You keep criticizing him, criticizing him, and then when something goes wrong, he comes back to me in tears!"

The officials: He cries too! He's practically made me cry. He's the court's weed killer!

Han Chu: Boo-hoo, Grand Tutor, they're picking on me!

Please note:

① Younger top, eight-year age gap, teacher and student.

② A fluffy story with very little court intrigue. Everyone's just here for a good time, so don't overthink it.

③ The top really is a handful as a child, but he's going to become emperor, so he'll grow up little by little.

④ The main story won't be especially archaic in style. Please forgive the modern expressions.

Theme: Study hard and improve every day