Could he realize that the Young Master would value him more?
What if he couldn’t realize it?
For a mont, Guo Li broke out in a cold sweat. He finally understood what it ant to be unfathomably deep.
Seeing that Guo Li was a bit frightened, Xu Qing laughed lightly, "Brother Guo, don’t be nervous. I just think the officialdom is too complicated. If one’s comprehension isn’t enough, so matters aren’t suitable for you guys to get involved in. It’s not about distrust, but so tasks require the right people to do them, otherwise, it’s harming others."
"Let’s eat so roasted at."
"Only."
The roasted at, tender and fragrant, wasn’t actually that appealing in Guo Li’s mouth. Its complex taste was sothing people couldn’t bear to let go of. It seed that this complexity was even more attractive than re fragrance.
At this mont, he felt he was closer to the Young Master than his elder brother.
...
...
After Guo Li left, Yan Shan ca.
Xu Qing felt truly busy.
No wonder the Emperor had to set up a Cabinet and Ritual Supervision. Without anyone to share the burden, daily tasks could bury a person, leaving no spare ti to entertain the harem.
"Brother Gongming, as per your request, the firewood has been sent out in the na of Recovery Society, and I also organized the mbers to personally deliver the firewood to those commoners’ hos." Yan Shan ca to discuss the distribution of firewood.
Luckily it’s winter. If it were sumr, the sll in the slums, tsk tsk...
"Thank you for your efforts, Brother Yan," Xu Qing said sowhat helplessly, noting how quickly the na "Gongming" had spread.
Yan Shan cautiously asked, "I heard that Old Master was promoted to Imperial Censor of South Zhili?"
Xu Qing replied with a nonchalant smile, "So that’s why Brother Yan is so eager to visit . Are you also hoping that Old Master would give you a na?"
Yan Shan was still two months away from his coming-of-age crown ceremony, and currently had no style na.
He was not anxious before, but now he is.
If the Imperial Censor were to give him a na...
Yan Shan’s face turned red, "Brother Gongming, I am also a student of Old Master."
Now is not the ti to be prideful!
Xu Qing chuckled and said, "Actually, I know soone even more suitable than Old Master to give Brother Yan a na."
"Who?"
"It’s ."
Yan Shan, "Brother Gongming, don’t joke with . You’re too young to be giving people nas."
Xu Qing joked, "Brother Yan, do you think I have a less promising future than Master Wu?"
"Well..." Yan Shan recognized Xu Qing’s talent, but does that really compare?
Plus, it wouldn’t be right to outright say that Mr. Wu’s prospects are not as bright as Xu Qing’s!
Xu Qing dropped his smile and said seriously, "Brother Yan, Master Wu’s promotion is a rapid ascent, hard to say whether it’s a fortune or a curse. If you rush over now, I worry you might regret it."
Yan Shan was stunned; he hadn’t thought about it, but after Xu Qing’s reminder, doubts arose in his mind. Indeed, the situation was peculiar.
He felt conflicted.
Xu Qing, "I was actively given a na by Master Wu, and couldn’t refuse. Brother Yan, you don’t need to rush this; after all, if you pass as a Scholar, Scholar, would Master Wu not acknowledge his student? If you don’t pass, even if you receive a na, what good is it?"
Yan Shan thought to himself, that indeed seed reasonable.
For those in power, having connections is important, but the prerequisite is being useful.
That Xu villager, being an old family friend of Mr. Wu, ended up being a ’guest’ detained by the County Master until now, reportedly having lost quite a bit of weight.
Yan Shan, "Then going to bid farewell to Old Master, I can do that, right?"
Xu Qing nodded, "We will go together when the ti cos."
Yan Shan, "What if Old Master voluntarily gives a na?"
Xu Qing rolled his eyes, "Don’t worry, that kind of thing only happens in dreams."
Yan Shan, "..."
He felt a bit hurt.
It took a while for Yan Shan to recover, "Brother Gongming, what do you think would be a good na for ? If there’s no suitable person, I’d like you to help pick one."
He carefully thought about it, Xu Qing’s words made sense.
As long as Xu Gongming doesn’t die young, he’s bound to pass as a Scholar.
Since he couldn’t find anyone reliable to help na him, maybe keeping it as a backup plan...
Xu Qing grinned, "Brother Yan, I was just joking."
Yan Shan, "Brother Gongming, I truly believe in your talent."
"Ah, then let think of one. If you like it later, just say it was your own idea."
"Hmm."
Xu Qing pretended to ponder for a while, then clapped his hands, "Got it, the na ’Weizhong.’ The way of the world, nothing surpasses moderation. The na Weizhong suits Brother Yan well."
"Weizhong? It sounds indeed quite fitting." Yan Shan, hearing Xu Qing’s explanation, also felt the na suited his temperant.
"Then it’s tentatively set."
"Alright, I’ll leave first. Brother Gongming, don’t forget to call when it’s ti to send off Old Master."
"Sure, got it. You’re so naggy."
"Ah."
...
...
Teasing Yan Shan is quite amusing. Xu Qing felt much better in spirit. People, indeed, fear loneliness.
Here, he barely had anyone to talk to, and Yan Shan barely counted.
Even though this guy was quite calculating, he was good at maintaining relationships.
It’s common for humans; even the Emperor likes to keep a few crafty officials around.
It’s because they offer emotional value.
Speaking of which, Yan Shan quite has the potential to be a crafty official.
The guy knows how to handle things with asure.
Pondering these worldly insights, Xu Qing suddenly had a realization. He returned to his study and wrote down four large characters— "Unity of Knowledge and Action."
Unity of Knowledge and Action, in his understanding, ans to do one’s best within feasible limits, summarizing and applying what one has learned and comprehended. That is ’knowledge.’ Without comparing with others, without anxiety, without fear of gains and losses, just doing what one ought to do, and receiving positive feedback, that is ’action.’
This was his current understanding of "Heart Study", which he could also teach to others.
"Why isn’t there any Holy Virtue?" Xu Qing felt strange; previously, thinking about the impoverished people and intending to distribute firewood under the na of Recovery Society evoked a hint of Holy Energy, yet his articulation of "Unity of Knowledge and Action" did not?
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