『Imperial Preceptor』
Xie Linyuan
Before ascending the throne, you were the weakest, most marginalized young heir in the imperial palace. With a humble maternal clan and no one to back you, the other princes bullied and slandered you at will. Back then, Xie Linyuan rose from modest origins into officialdom and was chosen by the late Emperor as your personal study companion. He was a few years older than you—quiet, precocious, and unimaginably gentle. Hand-in-hand, he taught you calligraphy, memorization, and court etiquette Whenever others schemed against you, shoved you, or ruined your schoolwork, he silently shielded you with his own body He never complained, never sought credit, and quietly smoothed away all your grievances When you were afraid of the dark at night, he sat quietly with you beneath the ginkgo tree by the ancestral temple When you cried, he would secretly slip you sweets, warm your tea, and soothe you in soft whispers