Da Ming: I told you to die for your cause, why are you actually going to die?

Chapter 32 How can an elder refuse a junior? [Seeking monthly votes]

Inside a school in the Eastern Palace.

A faint sandalwood scent filled the air.

Zhu Yunwen, dressed in plain white mourning clothes, sat upright on a stool with his hands respectfully folded in front of him. His back was straight as a pine tree, and his face was expressionless, except for a trace of numbness and fatigue that occasionally flashed in the depths of his eyes.

Opposite him was Zhu Yunwen, who was a year younger than him.

Although both were wearing mourning clothes, Zhu Yunwen was noticeably more robust than Zhu Yunwen.

Moreover, compared to Zhu Yunwen's clean and tidy appearance, his mourning clothes were full of wrinkles and stains.

It wasn't that Ms. Lü was being mean to him; it was just that he didn't care about getting it dirty.

"Your Highness Yunxi!"

The voice of Huang Zicheng, the tutor to the Crown Prince, was not loud, but it carried a metallic quality, instantly piercing the silence of the school: "What I just said, 'A gentleman does not seek to be full when he eats, nor does he seek to be comfortable when he dwells, but is diligent in his work and cautious in his speech,' what is the meaning of this sentence? And what is its deeper significance?"

Zhu Yunwen shuddered suddenly and looked up blankly: "Ah? Oh! Mr. Huihui."

His eyes darted frantically across the pages of the book, then he glanced pleadingly at Zhu Yunwen across from him.

But Zhu Yunwen kept his eyes straight ahead, as if he didn't see his younger brother's predicament.

"Ok?"

Huang Zicheng's brows furrowed, and the ruler tapped lightly in his palm, making a chilling "tap, tap" sound.

Zhu Yunwen swallowed hard, steeled himself, and began to recite haltingly: "A gentleman eats not seeking to be full, nor does he seek comfort in his dwelling. He works diligently, and speaks carefully."

He managed to recite the literal meaning, but his tone was stiff and he showed no understanding whatsoever.

"shallow!"

Huang Zicheng slammed the ruler in his hand heavily on the table, making a crisp "snap" sound, which startled Zhu Yuntong and made him shrink back.

"This is the foundation for sages to cultivate their character and strengthen their resolve! How can it be interpreted so superficially as it appears on the surface?!"

His gaze was piercing as he stared at Zhu Yunwen: "Your Highness! I ask you, why does a gentleman not seek satiety or comfort? What is the deeper meaning behind this? And what does it have to do with following the Way and acting righteously?!"

This series of questions completely baffled Zhu Yunwen.

His mouth was agape, his eyes were even more bewildered and helpless, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

How can we help him understand the profound meaning of the sages?
It would be better to let him count how many crickets are in his room!
"Learning without thinking is futile! Thinking without learning is dangerous!"

Looking at Zhu Yunwen's hopeless state, Huang Zicheng said with a pained expression, "How can His Highness Yunwen be so lazy? How can he face the spirit of the Crown Prince in heaven? How can he bear the responsibility of a grandson of the emperor? If he is not severely punished today, how can the academic atmosphere be rectified?!"

As he spoke, he raised the ruler in his hand and pointed it at Zhu Yunwen's palm: "Stretch out your hand!"

Zhu Yunwen turned pale with fright and looked towards the door for help.

Just as the ruler was about to fall, a gentle yet authoritative voice came from the doorway: "Mr. Huang, wait!"

Lu's figure appeared at the school gate just in time.

She was still wearing the same mourning clothes, with a perfectly measured, slightly disapproving, gentle smile on her face.

She walked in unhurriedly, her gaze first falling on Zhu Yunwen. Seeing that he was still sitting upright and focused, a hint of satisfaction flashed in her eyes. Then she turned to Zhu Yunwen, who looked as if he had been granted a pardon, and Huang Zicheng, who was holding a ruler.

"I know that Mr. Huang's teachings are rigorous and his efforts are painstaking. However..."

Madam Lü looked at Huang Zicheng, her tone earnest, filled with a mother's helplessness and tolerance: "Tong'er is still young, his temperament is not yet settled, and it is normal for him to be a little mischievous and unruly. As the sages said, 'One should guide people step by step.' Mr. Huang is a renowned scholar of our time, with profound knowledge. He should be well aware of the way of education, which lies in teaching according to aptitude and nurturing like a gentle spring breeze, rather than simply being harsh and punishing him, which would only increase his rebelliousness and lose the original purpose of education. Wouldn't that be a loss?"

Her words were full of quotations and earnest, and every sentence was reasonable. She elevated Huang Zicheng's strictness to the level of "missing the original intention of education," leaving Huang Zicheng speechless. His face turned pale, and his hand holding the ruler froze in mid-air, unsure whether to hit him or let him go.

However, Madam Lü stopped looking at Huang Zicheng and instead lowered her head to Zhu Yunwen, who was still in shock but whose eyes were already showing secret joy. Her tone was even gentler:
"Tong'er, if you find today's lessons difficult, there's no need to push yourself. The way of the sages is about gradual influence and cultivation, not something that can be achieved in a day."

"Thank you for your guidance, Mother!"

Zhu Yunwen almost cheered, all traces of his previous fear gone.

But then he chuckled and said, "Mother, when I was studying just now, I overheard some eunuchs in the palace talking about a new 'Master of Pig's Head Meat.' Is pig's head meat delicious?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Lü's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, but she quickly regained her dignified and gentle demeanor and smiled, "Does Teng'er want to eat?"

"Yes!" Zhu Yunwen answered without hesitation, but as soon as the words left his mouth, he hesitated and asked tentatively, "Is it okay?"

"of course can."

With a smile still on her face, Madam Lü said, "How can an elder refuse a junior? From now on, whatever Teng'er wants to eat, just tell your mother!"

"Long live the Empress Dowager!"

Zhu Yunwen immediately stood up excitedly, gave a perfunctory bow to Huang Zicheng and Zhu Yunwen, and then rushed out of the palace gate like a bird released from its cage without looking back. You could still vaguely hear him excitedly calling to the eunuchs: "Quick! Quickly get me some pig's head meat to eat too!"

……

Inside the school, the atmosphere became even more eerie.

Huang Zicheng's face was ashen, his chest heaving, clearly furious, but he couldn't retaliate because of Lu's status and those high-sounding words.

Zhu Yunwen remained seated, seemingly oblivious to everything around him.

However, the moment Zhu Yunwen rushed out of the school with a cheer, his lowered eyelashes trembled slightly, and the fingers gripping the edge of the book turned slightly white from the excessive force.

Lady Lü seemed oblivious to Huang Zicheng's embarrassment and Zhu Yunwen's subtle change in expression.

She turned to Huang Zicheng, her face regaining its polite smile: "Mr. Huang, you've worked hard. Wen'er has good talent and is willing to work hard. I hope you will supervise her strictly and not let her progress be delayed because of others."

She deliberately emphasized the words "strict supervision," her gaze fixed on Zhu Yunwen, filled with expectation.

"Yes, ma'am."

Huang Zicheng took a deep breath, suppressed his frustration, and bowed to Madam Lü.

When he looked at Zhu Yunwen, his gaze became stern and focused again: "Your Highness Yunwen, let's continue. We just discussed being diligent in action and cautious in speech. This saying is consistent with the idea that a gentleman should be slow to speak but quick to act. Your Highness should deeply consider this principle and put it into practice."

"is teacher."

Zhu Yunwen immediately straightened his back, composed himself, and answered loudly, as if the farce had never happened.

Lady Lü nodded in satisfaction, said no more, and turned to leave with graceful poise.

As she walked out of the school, she paused briefly in the corridor, listening to the faint sounds of Zhu Yuntong's cheerful laughter coming from the depths of the garden. A cold and resolute smile curved her lips.

Indulgence is the most effective and subtle weapon to destroy a person.

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(End of this chapter)