Calamity of Annihilation

Principal Gregory Gu looked at Gregory Gu Jr.'s reaction, as if he had expected it all along. He spoke slowly, "Zhe'er, your ambitions lie in officialdom, but the Academy is a place for pure scholarship. Lily is much more suited to manage the Academy than you..."

"But—but those are all disciples cultivated by the Gu Family, how can we..." Gregory Gu Jr. forcibly swallowed the words "hand it over to someone else."

In this era, the court was full of nepotism and factions. Gregory Gu Jr. hoped for Phoenix Academy's students to enter officialdom, so that in the coming decades, the court would slowly be filled with Gu Family disciples.

Gregory Gu Jr. was determined to win Phoenix Academy; he had never imagined his grandfather would leave it to someone else.

Now, hearing his grandfather personally say he would leave Phoenix Academy to Lily Evans, it was like a bucket of cold water poured over Gregory Gu Jr., who had been counting on the Academy to expand his own influence.

Lily Evans already had the Royal Academy of Mathematics—an elite institution—in her hands. If she also took charge of Phoenix Academy, then in a few years, two-thirds of the officials in court would be her disciples!

By then, the power of Prince of Qin's Manor would be unmatched, and wouldn't the Gu Family be squeezed out completely!?

In an instant, Gregory Gu Jr. felt that his grandfather was either senile from illness, or Lily Evans had somehow bewitched him at the Academy that day, tricking his not-so-clear-headed grandfather into agreeing to leave Phoenix Academy to her.

"Zhe'er, this is your grandfather's decision. It will not be changed." Principal Gregory Gu was absolutely firm on this matter.

Gregory Gu Jr. wanted to argue further, but seeing his grandfather, who could pass away at any moment, he swallowed all his words and instead stood gloomily by the bedside.

Principal Gregory Gu looked at Gregory Gu Jr.'s expression, sighed softly, and said with difficulty, "All of you leave. I have something to say to Lily—just the two of us..."

Gregory Gu Jr. looked at his grandfather, then at Lily Evans, his face showing deep reluctance. In the end, he silently listened to his grandfather and strode out the door.

Xiao Zetian glanced at Lily Evans and said, "Miss, I'll be right outside the door. Call me if you need anything."

Lily Evans nodded. Xiao Zetian really did step outside, standing at the door—close enough to keep her in sight and ensure her safety, but far enough not to overhear their conversation. He watched Lily from a distance.

Now, only Lily Evans and Principal Gregory Gu remained inside the room.

Principal Gregory Gu looked at Lily Evans and began to sigh repeatedly, as if weighed down by heavy worries.

That sound of sighing made Lily Evans feel a bit uncomfortable. She asked, "Principal Gu, is there something else troubling you?"

Principal Gregory Gu looked at Lily Evans sincerely, his eyes filled with tears, and said, "Lily, sigh... I'm afraid that if I die, the Gu Family will face annihilation in a few years."

Hearing Principal Gu's words, Lily Evans was extremely shocked.

The Gu Family is so powerful at court right now—how could Principal Gu say such a thing?

Lily Evans knew that Principal Gu, once a powerful minister in court, would never say such things out of confusion. She listened quietly.

Principal Gu spoke slowly, but his thoughts were clear: "Lily, Zhe'er's temperament has grown more stubborn over the years. While I am here, I can keep him in check, but once I'm gone, there will be no one to restrain him. I fear his ambition will bring disaster. That is why I entrust Phoenix Academy to you, not to Zhe'er—because I have seen his ambition is insatiable."