"Instead of adorning a house, wouldn't it be better to donate it to those who are more in need?"
Zhu Su winked. "Eh?"
"When I took a walk around this area, I found this area is filled with people living in poverty. They don't have a house, when it rains they can only take shelter under a big tree, and they don't have anything to eat. Walking further, I found more poor people. Most of them are women, elderly and children, because the men had been transported by the central government for forced labor to build the new palace and the Grand Canal. There are no healthy men to support them, they don't have any skills so they can't make money, but they still have to live... After all, I just live alone. This house is enough for me, if it's too big, it will make me tired of cleaning it. Of course, it's much better for me to save lives."
Zhu Su sighed. "You are so kindhearted, I really admire you, Sir... and to tell the truth, I am disappointed with the current emperor..."
"Sshhh! Don't ever think that you are a Fan Wang so you are free to speak whatever you want. We never know how many eyes and ears are stalking us!"
"But, there won't be the emperor's agents in such this remote place, will there?…" Hu Nayin turned pale.
"I tell you, the intrigue in the palace is much more complicated than cobwebs. Let alone only in remote areas, there are even their extended eyes and ears in the bottom of hell! For that reason, my brother can be found guilty and sentenced to death!"
Hu Nayin's hands gripped tightly each other. "When I lived in the village, we all thought that the palace is a paradise in the world lived by handsome gods and beautiful goddesses, and only filled with pleasure and free from problems... but why is it even more complicated than our life in the village?"
"Remember that saying? Never judge something until you see and experience it by yourself."
Hu Nayin nid-nodded. Zhu Su said. "I'm also thankful that you are willing to remind me, I'll do as you suggest."
"Good. Never think the Emperor will tolerate you because you are his brother. In fact, maybe he is more afraid of you because you have the greatest possibility of succeeding him as emperor."
"Ah... the Emperor is my own brother... he will be different from Yunwen... he will still be a good brother forever..."
Gao Qing took a sip of tea. "I hope so."
The cold wind blew. Zhu Su's hands wavered in sudden, and the cup in his grasp fell down.
The cup broke into pieces.
Hu Nayin immediately got up. "Let me clean it, Your Highness!..."
"Never mind, I can do it. It is me who drops it." Since Gao Qing did not employ a maid, and they could not order him who was an elder and their Master to clean it, Zhu Su immediately stood up and got a broom.
Hu Nayin snatched the broom from Zhu Su's hand. "This physical work, let me do it." She swept the broken cup agilely.
Observing the conversation between both of them in silence, Gao suddenly asked, "That broken glass, can you glue it to make it an undamaged glass, like before?"
Hu Nayin, who just threw away the broken cup, got dumbfounded. "Eh... of course, we can't, Sir..."
"Because there are many distinct shards on the cup, right? It is the same as trust. If you break it, even only once, whether you do it on purpose or not, their assumption on you won't be completely the same as before. The trust has been damaged forever, and can't be repaired."
That utterance was profound and complex, and combined bizarrely with the chill, cloudy atmosphere. The combination caused a horrifying sensation.
Zhu Su decided to speak his main topic, his main purpose of visiting Gao Qing. "Sir... um, I'm sorry, I have no intention to disturb your quiet and peaceful life... but I really..."
"Need help," Gao Qing cut in. "Yes, I've realized it by seeing your face. And actually, I've guessed that you would come here since the natural disaster and this recent big riot occured."
"True. The rioters have distorted the facts. They accuse me of being a despot and they have got the Mandate of Heaven to overthrow Ming. And the worst is what happened recently. They built a magnificent podium to show their bad intention to the people. They intend to attack us, the royal family, saying the Mandate of Heaven has predestined us - the royal family - to have bad luck. Their words were proven to be true, the flood came again. Even Heaven... supports them... and is hostile to us... "
Zhu Su bowed his head languidly. Gao Qing observed in silence.
"Actually, flood has nothing to do with what they say. Whether they get the Mandate of Heaven or not, the flood will still occur. If the flood surged right after their riot, then it was no more than coincidence."
Zhu Su lifted his head up. He and Hu Nayin stared thoroughly at Gao Qing.
"So, you have understood, haven't you? Does my answer give any help?"
"So... even if the rioters don't exist, Heaven still intends to punish us?"
Gao Qing took a deep breath. "We are not supposed to perceive all disasters as punishment from Heaven. The disaster can occur because it should occur. That is indeed the characteristic of Nature. Nature has the characteristic of nurturing... as well as the characteristic of destructing. There is life, there is death. And here is the false point of the human's mind. Human always believes that happiness will last forever. That our life will last forever. And another false perception. If a man gets sick, has a hard time, or dies, then people will say that it happens because he commits a sin. Yet in fact, an innocent person will still get sick, have a hard time, and die."
Once again, the cold wind blew into the room. Gao Qing took another sip of tea.
And Zhu Su, paid attention to every word the Teacher spoke to him earnestly.
"Thank you very much, Sir. I understand the meaning of your words. However, the perception of most people doesn't reach your level. As you said, people are sustainable to perceive everything only from their own point of view. So they still consider that I am being punished by Heaven. Then how should I convince them not to think like that?"
Gao Qing smirked. "It is very easy question, Boy. I tell you, you must be grateful for your status as Fan Wang. You have power. And with that power, you can change their perceptions."
"Oh, so I have to rally troops to suppress them?"
"So in your opinion, the way to show your power is always by fighting and outpouring blood?"
"Of course not!" Zhu Su replied. "But if it's not the way, then what should I do?"
"Don't orient yourself only to Yin, or to Yang. Instead, make a breakthrough by jumping to Wu Ji. Enter Ultimateless. The Way will appear there."