Such reasoning was something the Sixth Prince had never heard before.
He had listened to many grand principles and witnessed numerous hypocrites who appeared righteous on the surface but were steeped in depravity behind the scenes—yet wasn’t that the norm?
Precisely because everyone was like this, no one bothered to uncover the filth hidden beneath each other’s veils of decency.
Until now, he had genuinely believed this was how things were.
But Sister Hua’s perspective was utterly fresh.
“So, does that mean even if someone does wrong, they’ve merely lost to the selfishness inherent in human nature?”
“Is that statement incorrect?”
“Then why do distinctions between right and wrong exist?”
“Who defines right and wrong?” Hua Zhi glanced at him, her gaze both gentle and resolute. “Whoever holds the power to set the rules is the one who determines right and wrong. Yet this so-called right and wrong isn’t necessarily true—it’s tied to one’s stance, the current circumstances, and the position of the person defining it.”
Her words were somewhat convoluted, but the Sixth Prince understood.
He lowered his gaze, not letting Sister Hua see the ripples of emotion in his eyes. Currently, it was his father who sat in that position of authority. If his father declared someone right, they were right. If one day an elder brother occupied that position and declared someone wrong, then they would be wrong. This must be what Sister Hua meant by it depending on one’s position.
Hua Zhi couldn’t bear to press further and shifted back to the topic of Zheng He. “It’s not that there are truly no people in this world with great love in their hearts—it’s just that compared to the selfish, they are so few as to be negligible.”
Hua Zhi smiled. “Among those I know, only Mr. Zheng could be considered half of such a person.”
“Sister Hua holds Mr. Zheng in high regard.”
“A Jian, you should value the two teachers at the Clan School more. They are both exceptional. Mr. Mu’s integrity is rarely matched. At the time, the Hua Clan School had over twenty teachers, but after receiving the Hua family’s invitation, the others either avoided meeting, pretended not to receive it, made excuses, or politely declined. Only Mr. Mu, as the steward said, personally accepted the invitation and immediately replied to confirm his commitment. Even when the Hua family had fallen into such decline, he was still willing to come and teach. This fully demonstrates his character.”
Seeing the young boy’s ashamed expression, Hua Zhi continued, “Some things don’t need to be taught. When you reach a certain environment and the appropriate age, you naturally understand them. But character must be honed. During the formative years around age ten, a teacher like Mr. Mu is more suitable than great scholars. Don’t look down on him, A Jian. He has much you can learn from.”
“Yes, I was wrong…”
“As for Mr. Zheng, the fundamental difference between him and ordinary scholars is that he doesn’t see studying as a stepping stone to advancement. His goal isn’t to become an official, so his reading isn’t confined to classics, histories, or the eight-legged essays. It’s precisely because of this that he was willing to leave behind the prosperity of the capital to see the world outside, developing such an open-minded and broad perspective. Compared to most scholars, those who have read as many books as he has likely haven’t traveled as far, and those who have traveled as far likely haven’t read as much.”
The Sixth Prince looked puzzled. “But Sister Hua, you said he only counts as half…”
“Because in his struggle against inherent nature, he hasn’t yet achieved complete victory.”Jiang Ziya still played the game of "waiting for the willing fish to bite." If Zhuge Liang had truly remained aloof from worldly affairs, Liu Bei would never have had the chance to visit his thatched cottage three times. First and foremost, it was because they harbored ambitions in their hearts.
Did they only know classic texts and historical records? No, they were well-versed in both astronomy and geography, possessing their own unique perspectives on matters. Zheng Zhi had not yet reached that level, but he was still young. What about in ten years? Or twenty? If he continued to walk that challenging path and enrich himself, it was not impossible for him to one day become a sage.
Moreover, he too had ambitions in his heart. If he didn’t, he would not have left the capital!
Hua Zhi lowered her head to sip her tea. This was the difference between teaching a prince and teaching Berlin. She could not instruct the Sixth Prince on what to do. If he were to become the future emperor, he would not need someone telling him what to do. If he were to become the next leader of the Seven Constellation Bureau, she had no need to place herself in that position either.
She could only guide, and she intended only to be a guide. This was a safe distance—neither too close nor too far. He would remember your kindness but would not feel that you had overstepped.
After digesting these words, the Sixth Prince felt as if a sudden clarity had opened before him. It was as if a wall had been blocking his path, but now that wall had collapsed. He could see further ahead, where there might be thorns, but he believed that among the thorns, there would also be flowers.
Looking at the composed person across from him, who seemed as if she had said nothing at all, Gu Chengqian felt that Zheng Zhi’s brilliance must be real. Otherwise, Sister Hua would not have spoken of him in such a way. Yet he believed that Sister Hua was certainly no less capable than Zheng Zhi—not even when compared to those widely renowned great scholars.
"Sister Hua, if I have doubts in the future, may I come to you?"
Hua Zhi looked up and smiled faintly. "Do you know that I never truly studied under a teacher?"
The Sixth Prince was slightly taken aback. Even among noble families, weren’t women also provided with tutors?
"I was first taught by my grandfather. Only when he had time would he come to instruct me. Most of the time, I studied on my own. Everything I know comes from books. I reflect and ponder deeply, making that knowledge my own. Knowing this, do you still want me to answer your questions and resolve your doubts?"
"Yes," the Sixth Prince replied swiftly and firmly. "I do."
"Then I shall agree," Hua Zhi said, her smile carrying something the Sixth Prince could not quite decipher. "Actually, I am more skilled in the game of Go. Whenever you have free time, you may come to me for a game."
The Sixth Prince could not agree fast enough, nodding so vigorously it seemed his head might fall off. He had long heard from his friend Berlin about Sister Hua’s prowess in this art. Moreover, as a member of the royal family, even without ambitious aspirations, he hoped to become someone who could maneuver skillfully. The game of Go could teach him so much, and he very much wished for Sister Hua to be the one to teach him!
Berlin did not know how Hua Xian had retrieved her divorce agreement, but he did. Sister Shaoyao had proudly told him. He only regretted learning of it too late; otherwise, he would have insisted on going along. He very much wanted to see that ruthless side of Sister Hua.
When Sister Shaoyao asked if he would dislike such a Sister Hua, especially since the palace was never short of ruthless people, he said he would not. And he truly meant it.His mother had always been lenient with others, but if anyone dared to scheme against him, her ruthlessness would starkly contrast her usual demeanor. He felt that Sister Hua Zhi was the same—normally easygoing, but if someone harmed those she cared about, she would undoubtedly retaliate fiercely.
Since he held his mother in such high esteem, how could he possibly dislike Sister Hua Zhi?
The Sixth Prince rose and bowed deeply to Hua Zhi. She accepted the gesture—she was willing to be his teacher in the art of chess.
PS: My son’s fever hasn’t broken yet, and it’s left me utterly exhausted. To make matters worse, this chapter is full of ambiguous reasoning, making it particularly difficult to write… Once my son recovers, I’ll make up for the missed updates. Please comfort me with some monthly votes.
OpenNovel