Chapter 184: Planting a Benevolent Seed

Chapter 184: Planting a Benevolent Seed

Lu Mingchao lowered her eyes, hiding the glimmer of light within them. "Perhaps he thinks I'm a clever pushover."

"Are you saying nice guys finish last?" Xie Huaiqian's delicate brows furrowed slightly.

Lu Mingchao put down her teacup and patted Xie Huaiqian's hand gently. "Huaiqian, there's no sin in being benevolent."

"They always say people are born good."

"Stand firm on your principles and have your own convictions, and no one can push you around."

"Don't judge the whole spring by one wilted flower."

"Huaiqian, you should pity the common people's suffering and feel compassion, but benevolence isn't the same as being overly lenient. You need to have a sense of balance and a clear line in your heart. That line should reflect right and wrong, fairness, and justice, as well as what you like and dislike."

"Strike the right balance between kindness and principle."

"Benevolent people should never suffer injustice."

"Doing good deeds and accumulating virtue shouldn't become a burden, nor should it become a weapon turned against you."

"It should be your armor, your talisman, your life's direction."

"And justice is the brilliant light that surrounds this armor."

She was willing to plant a seed of benevolence in Huaiqian's heart.

This seed was both soft and strong.

In time, it would stand tall like a canopy, able to protect the people of Daqian from the wind and rain.

Huaiqian, the legitimate son of Emperor Jingxiang and the eldest grandson of Emperor Wencheng.

When the day of vengeance arrived, Huaiqian would ascend the throne.

An emperor's benevolent heart was a powerful instrument for the well-being of the people.

Xie Huaiqian half-understood, stammering, "Is there really justice in this world?"

"If there's no justice, why is your father fighting?" Lu Mingchao retorted.

Xie Huaiqian was momentarily stunned, then murmured, "Father is insisting on justice for my grandfather and the Xie family."

Lu Mingchao rubbed Xie Huaiqian's head. "Huaiqian, justice may sometimes be obscured by chaos, but this is only a fleeting change. It will eventually be restored to its rightful path."

"I know you harbor resentment and anger, but I still want you to feel the vibrancy and beauty of life while holding onto your hatred."

"Hatred is also nourishment, courage, and strength."

"Remember, having been drenched by the rain, knowing the pain of each drop like a thousand pounds, you should have the benevolence to hold an umbrella for the people."

"Do you hope I can be a good person?" Xie Huaiqian bent down, his voice soft.

Lu Mingchao's eyes were gentle and warm. "I hope you can be a good person who follows your heart. If doing good is too difficult, not doing evil is also very good."

The words of the powerful, though light as dust or subtle as rain, fell on the masses like heavy mountains.

Under the eaves, Shu Yuan nudged Xie Yan with his elbow, winking. "Isn't your sister-in-law preparing too early for a what-if?"

Every word and every sentence of those words carried deep meaning.

Lu Mingchao is teaching Huaiqian to prioritize the people's livelihood, promote civic morality, win the people's hearts, and become a benevolent ruler who places the people first.

"Is it too early?" Xie Yan's face was filled with a proud sense of honor. "You're teaching Huaiqian the Four Books and Five Classics; isn't that also preparing him for his transformation into a dragon?"

Shu Yuan lightly pursed his thin lips and shook his head. "It's different."

"Lu Mingchao is nurturing someone."

"Her words are gentle yet powerful."

"Like water, like wind."

"You're quite lucky to have fallen so low and still encountered a shining pearl."

Xie Yan's lips curled slightly, his eyes filled with contentment. "I often wonder if it's because heaven pities me that I was able to meet Mingchao."

"It's not just my fortune, but yours too."

Shu Yuan let out a deep sigh. "Do you think we can truly carve out a path forward?"

In name, they are all dead.

To put it bluntly, they are lost souls wandering the world.

It's incredibly difficult for lost souls to create a bright and just world.

But there is no room for retreat or giving up.

The Xie family, filled with loyal martyrs, ended up bearing the charges of treason and attempting to overthrow the government.

The reigning emperor pardoned Old Master Xie, ostensibly as a gesture of grace.

But in reality?

Better not to mention it.

"Yes, we can."

"Because of the justice my wife spoke of?"

"You should know that when my wife speaks of justice and kindness in front of Huaiqian, it's because she can't bear to see the overly mature Huaiqian sink into the confining obsession of hatred."

"Justice is something you have to fight for on your own."

"And to fight, you need strength."

"Setting down the cup and chopsticks, unable to eat; drawing the sword and looking around, the heart is lost."

"When have you ever eaten little?"

"I'm borrowing it to express my feelings, don't you understand?"

"Common man!"

"Rough fellow!"

"I wonder what Lu Mingchao sees in you?"

"From head to toe, and then from toe to head, after looking at this face, it's hard to find any obvious advantages for a while."

Xie Yan slightly lifted his chin. "You lack the eye to see beauty."

Shu Yuan let out a surprised sound. "Lu Mingchao is probably attracted to your deceivingly handsome face."

"I suppose one could say that," Lu Mingchao replied, lifting the heavy door curtain, half-jokingly and half-seriously.

Shu Yuan nudged Xie Yan with his elbow, a meaningful look in his eyes. "Once-respected Xie Silang has fallen, truly fallen."

"Once a young general on the battlefield who would rather break than bend, now living off his good looks."

Xie Yan didn't give an inch. "Should I remind you that you're living off the pretty boy too?"

"To be precise, you're the pretty boy's lackey."

Shu Yuan took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Lu Mingchao, Xie Yan is picking on me."

Lu Mingchao remained expressionless. "Come on, how can this be called bullying?"

"A fair complexion hides a hundred flaws. He's shy and embarrassed to directly compliment your looks, so he's being a bit more subtle."

Shu Yuan gave a thumbs up. "You're really full of it."

Lu Mingchao smiled. "Thanks for the kind words."

"By the way, when did you get involved with traveling merchants?" Shu Yuan asked belatedly.

Lu Mingchao said seriously, "At a turning point in my life."

Shu Yuan: ...

It might have been an illusion, but the plum blossom tattoo on Lu Mingchao's forehead seemed particularly vivid and alive.

"Should we arrange for someone to secretly follow Wang Laoer?"

Lu Mingchao shook her head. "No need."

"If he wants to die, then let him."

"Not everyone deserves mercy or kindness."

Shu Yuan looked approvingly. "You're starting to show a bit of my spirit."

Lu Mingchao's mouth twitched. Let's not go that far.

Behind his gentle and innocent face, Shu Yuan was thinking about brutal killings.

"Eagerly rubbing his hands together, Shu Yuan seemed ready to intervene as soon as Lu Mingchao nodded.

Lu Mingchao pondered for a moment. "After careful thought, I still don't think it's Sun Zhiye's doing."

"Changhe County is truly a place where dragons and tigers hide," Shu Yuan sighed. "Only the deepest hatred would lead to gouging out eyes, cutting tongues, and disfiguring."

"Startled horse?"