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墨書 Inktalez
As the saying goes, beauty is a feast for the eyes! The appreciation it brings and the wonders it contains are simply beyond words. It seems that those of you who lack knowledge will naturally not understand this! It's like admiring flowers; what you see and love is the beauty of the blossoms, not the flowers themselves. If you pick them out of a momentary fondness, even the most beautiful flowers will wither away.
Since the minister heard Zhao Wang Dan speak these words, he was immediately in awe. Who says our king lacks knowledge!? He certainly has his own independent insights!
From that day on, this statement became a topic of conversation among many. Whether it was nonsense or profound wisdom, it was a truth spoken by the king himself. Thus, anyone with a bit of knowledge enjoyed using this phrase to teach others about self-cultivation.
Luzi, well-read and knowledgeable, nodded in agreement with Zhao Wang Dan. If King Zhao were not a good Sovereign, at least through this statement, one could tell he is a kind-hearted person. He sighed, "To act out of emotion but stop at propriety is the minimum standard for dealing with others. As the leader of Zhao State, he could do as he pleases. It seems that King Zhao's character is indeed commendable."
Cai Youdao, who adapted to his surroundings and was also well-read, did not respond after hearing Luzi's remarks. He knew the origin of "to act out of emotion and stop at propriety," so he quietly reminded, "Innkeeper! Please don't blame me for speaking out; there's something I wonder if I should say."
Luzi was not one to be petty and often encouraged department heads to listen to their subordinates' suggestions. Listening widely leads to clarity; that's what this means. Good advice may be bitter! Brothers! Seeing Cai Zhanggui's cautious demeanor, he laughed and said, "Less talk! Speak!"
Cai Youdao quickly bowed and politely reminded him, "You know that since Chancellor Shang Yang's reforms, our country has been advocating Legalism. What you just said about 'to act out of emotion and stop at propriety' is actually Confucianism. It's fine to discuss this privately among brothers, but we must never mention it in public. If someone takes advantage of it, it wouldn't be good. We're not afraid of those Scoundrels; it's just that there are too many people who harm others for their own benefit."
Luzi listened carefully to Cai Youdao's concerns and understood that this was due to Ji Liao and Ji Daifu giving everyone a vivid lesson. Although the story wasn't finished yet, some outcomes were already predetermined. It was like an arrow shot out; its descent is an accelerating process. He expressed his gratitude on the spot and promised to pay attention to this matter in the future.
Everything should be kept within limits; there's no need for smart people to dwell endlessly on issues when discussing matters. Cai Youdao nodded vigorously and continued telling stories about Shishi.
When Lin Xiangru, under thirty years old, fell ill and stayed home idly waiting for opportunities, those with intentions finally realized their chance had come! The reason they had hesitated to act against Ji Liao was that his backing was too strong. Now that his support had lost power, it was time to take action!
Ji Liao believed himself to be straightforward and had no idea that there were Scoundrels in this world. Unaware of the impending danger, he heard that the Chancellor had resigned and took the opportunity to visit his former leader. Lin Xiangru, who was recuperating at home, remained concerned about this subordinate who only knew work; upon meeting him, he barely exchanged a few words before reminding him that when his daughter grew up, she should get married soon. If she stayed hidden at home all day long, it would be hard for her to find a suitor as she got older.
Ji Liao completely missed the underlying message in his teacher's words and simply thanked him for the reminder, stating that he would consider this issue. After leaving his former leader's house, he immediately cast this matter aside without further thought.
Days continued to pass without any significant events occurring. The surface stability persisted until Ji Liao received the Royal Decree requesting a copy of his young daughter's painting, at which point he realized the severity of the situation. By then, it was too late to remedy the issue, and bad news inevitably began to accelerate.
Since King Zhao wanted that Beauty Sketch, the news spread quickly through the streets. After all, this was a woman favored by the king, and no one believed their necks would be tougher than a blade. From that moment on, no matchmakers came to propose marriage. Ji Liao, aware of the dire situation, attempted to approach others for help, only to be met with responses that all eligible bachelors were already engaged. Since they had not yet married, they were hesitant to consider taking a second wife.
If Jia's Young Daughter were engaged, she could completely avoid this calamity. Even a Lord of the Nation would not shamelessly pursue another man's wife. As a model of propriety and an object of public attention, she was expected to uphold certain standards. However, the current problem was that no one dared to agree to this marriage proposal!
There has always been a saying that a Royal Decree is hard to defy, and Ji Liao lamented that the situation was beyond saving. While his family sighed in despair, he finally understood the State Minister's earlier warning. If only he had grasped his teacher's advice back then, how could he be facing such an awkward predicament now?
He did not dare alter the copy of the painting to make her beautiful features appear ugly; after all, many colleagues had witnessed the original work. Making unauthorized changes would be a grave offense against the king! Such actions could lead to severe consequences.
Rumors often take shape in one's mind before revealing their true nature; seeing reality is rarely as pleasant as what was initially said. Zhao Wang Dan was not exempt from this cycle and laughed it off after reviewing the painting. Preference must align with personal taste rather than simply following others; this is called having principles! Even if someone is beautiful, they may not fit one's ideal of beauty. Thus, he encouraged Ji Liao to focus on his work instead of constantly bringing up his daughter. If someone with ulterior motives overheard him, it could lead to unnecessary trouble. After saying this, he waved Ji Liao away.
Ji Liao felt as if he had been granted a reprieve and did not expect things to go so smoothly. He humbly accepted the advice and expressed his determination not to slack off. Fearing that King Zhao might change his mind, he hurriedly left. In his haste, he forgot to take back the Beauty Sketch that Zhao Wang Dan had intended to return.
From that moment on, this painting of Jia's Young Daughter, praised by the people, somehow circulated outside the palace and was replicated countless times. It wasn't until the Ji family faced ruin that it came to an end. However, a mere girl named Shishi found herself caught in this misfortune and ended up among ordinary citizens.
Due to certain reasons unfit for outsiders' ears, Xiaoyue Tower did not publicly promote their acquisition of Jia's Young Daughter's works. Consequently, Shishi suddenly vanished from public view while her numerous paintings circulated widely among the people. It wasn't until this year's Talent Show that Xiaoyue Tower finally unveiled their long-hidden gem after conducting extensive behind-the-scenes promotion.
This led to enthusiastic support from many long-anticipating Young Masters. As a result, Shishi's value reached unprecedented heights and continuously broke historical records—one hundred taels of gold! Moreover, based on analyses from seasoned forecasting experts regarding the competition's dynamics, it remains highly likely that this figure will be surpassed!
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