Professor Xie, isn't this a case of forcing customers to buy products that don't match the

The Zhao family lad was impatient and spoke first.

"Young Master, it was Han Cheng who struck first! Lin Yi and I only said a few words to him, and he pounced on us like a madman!"

Lin Yi quickly looked up and chimed in, "Yes, we were just joking with him, saying he's always alone and never plays with us, and he got angry and pounced on us, scratching and hitting us!"

Han Cheng's lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a complete sentence for a moment, only repeating, "No...they're talking nonsense..."

Xiao Xiejing then asked Han Cheng, "What did they say? Tell me everything."

Han Cheng met his gaze, his tears flowing even more freely, "They...they said I was a hypocrite, that I wouldn't associate with them, that my Han family couldn't climb the social ladder, that you, young master, looked down on me and would send me back sooner or later..."

Xiao Xie Jing understood.

The Zhao and Lin families had always been closer, and they considered themselves to be more respected by the Xie family than the Han family. Seeing that Han Cheng was timid and that they themselves did not seem to be very close to him, they decided to bully him.

Children's malice can sometimes be this direct.

They may not truly understand the depths of the family infighting, but reading people's expressions and bullying others is almost instinctive for them.

Xiao Xie Jing didn't immediately judge, but instead looked at the two others, "Is what Han Cheng said true?"

The young man from the Zhao family blinked slightly: "We...we weren't wrong! He's always so timid and he won't even talk to us. Doesn't that mean he looks down on me and Lin Yi? Besides, Young Master, you usually..."

Xie Jing raised his hand to stop him from speaking, and then made a decision.

"You two have spoken rudely, stirred up trouble, maliciously speculated about the emperor's intentions, and even bullied the weak with your numbers—this is inhumane. Your families sent you to the Xie family to learn etiquette and skills, yet you have not been careful with your words and actions, instead causing trouble—this is unwise. Do you know your mistakes?"

The young men from the Zhao and Lin families hadn't expected their young master to directly rebuke them for being heartless and unwise, and they even tried to argue, "Young master, we..."

Xiao Xiejing interrupted, her voice rising in intensity: "I only ask, do you know you're wrong, or you don't?"

The two looked at each other, but in the end dared not argue any further. They could only lower their heads and whisper, "We know we were wrong."

Xiao Xiejing then turned to Han Cheng, "It's their fault for provoking you, but you knew that the two of them always went out together, and that you were alone and not strong enough, yet you still chose to take action directly."

"What was the result? You drew blood from your forehead, while the other two only had a bruise and were completely unharmed. This was a foolish move."

"Now that you have joined the Xie family, you should know that the Xie family has its own rules and regulations, and will never allow bullying to happen without cause. It is unwise to not follow the right path and not abide by the rules."

Han Cheng was scolded by Xiao Xie Jing, and he didn't dare to shed a tear.

The Xie family has a clear path and rules, but he never dared to think about it.

His parents wanted him to make the young master proud, not to cause trouble for him, and to serve him well.

If he were to complain about something so trivial and ask the young master to stand up for him, what would his parents say to him?

Besides, if the young master doesn't like him, would he really stand up for him?

Little Xie Jing stopped looking at him and turned to his grandfather: "Grandfather, the matter is clear."

"Zhao Jiayan and Lin Yi provoked Han Cheng first and must apologize to him. They will each be punished by copying 'Mencius, Book 4, Part 2' twenty times. Han Cheng acted unwisely and will be punished by copying 'The Analects, Book 5, Part 2' twenty times."

The Mencius, Book 4, Part 2, discusses benevolence and propriety.

The Analects of Confucius, Book 15, "Wei Ling Gong" says, "A lack of patience in small matters can ruin great plans."

"The offenses committed by the three men were all due to the grandson's lax management of his subordinates, which led to discord in the East Courtyard. Such personal likes and dislikes are revealed outwardly, affecting the hearts and minds of the people, causing those who rely on him to either feel fear and insecurity or take advantage of his power to act recklessly. This is truly a great taboo for those in positions of authority."

"Your grandson has failed to exercise self-discipline and maintain moderation, and deserves heavy responsibility. Please allow me, grandfather, to copy the 'Hong Fan' chapter of the Book of Documents thirty times as a form of self-reflection."

The Book of Documents, in the section "Hong Fan", discusses the principle of impartiality and non-partisanship.

Xie Jing's grandfather finally spoke: "Since he's your man, you can deal with him as you see fit."

With that, he waved away the children, leaving only Xie Jing behind.

After the three children left, he turned to Xie Jing and said, "The handling was acceptable, reasonable, and without bias. However..."

"You have volunteered to share the punishment and make the same mistakes as your subordinates; this is the way to win them over."

"From now on, the Han family boy will likely feel more than just fear towards you; he will also have a greater sense of respect and loyalty. As for the Zhao and Lin boys, seeing how strict you are with yourself, they know you can't tolerate any flaws, so they will be more restrained in the future. This is a good thing for you."

"However, everything has its advantages and disadvantages. Where does a ruler's authority come from? It comes from the unfathomable depths and from distance."

"Your self-reflection today confirms that you are not very close to Han Cheng. Although it is a form of self-examination, it also confirms everyone's suspicions. In the future, will you be closer to Han Cheng or more distant? If you are closer, people may say that you are deliberately making amends for what happened today, and that you have lost your naturalness; if you are distant, then today's self-reflection will be in vain."

"What's more, what will others think when they see this? They will try to figure out how to please you and how to avoid being disliked by you like that Han boy did. People's hearts are more easily stirred up."

"When subordinates try to guess what their superiors want instead of focusing on their duties, it is not a blessing for the ruler."

Little Xie Jing asked, "Then, did my grandson do something wrong in this matter?"

Xie Jing's grandfather shook his head. "It's not a matter of right or wrong, but about making choices. In today's matter, it's perfectly acceptable for you to choose to calm down and slightly diminish your authority. After all, you are young and your authority is not yet established. Demonstrating impartiality first will help stabilize people's hearts, which is also the right way."

"But you must understand that this is not a long-term solution, nor should it be used repeatedly. A ruler should not allow others to easily discern his or her joy or anger, nor should he allow others to arbitrarily measure the scale of rewards and punishments."

"Today you have won over Han Cheng's heart by punishing yourself; that is acceptable."

"If someone else commits the same offense tomorrow, what will you do? Will you also punish yourself? If this continues, how can you maintain your authority?"

He looked at Xie Jing's somewhat pale face and softened his tone: "What I'm saying today is to make you understand that managing subordinates is like playing chess; you must think three steps ahead before making a move."

"Your actions today may seem like a good move at first glance, securing the current situation. But going forward, you need to learn how to win people's hearts without diminishing your own authority, and how to make people work for you without revealing your personal likes and dislikes."

"You need time, effort, and even lessons to slowly understand the nuances of this."

"Grandson will remember his grandfather's teachings," Xiao Xiejing replied.

"Go copy the book," his grandfather patted his tender little shoulder.

Xiao Xie Jing bowed and slowly withdrew from the East Courtyard.

When Xiao Xiejing finished copying the "Hong Fan" for the ninth time, it was time for him to rest in the evening.

He stepped out of the study and walked back to his room along the connecting corridor.

In the early summer night, a cool breeze stirred the curtains.

He heard a faint meow and stopped.

As he looked around for the little orange cat, the little orange cat's figure and the flash of a knife came toward him at the same time.

Xiao Xie Jing has received a lot of training.

But perhaps it was the disappointment of failing to go out during the day, or perhaps it was the mental strain of copying books.

Or perhaps it's simply because he's only nine years old.

He did not immediately perceive the danger lurking in the shadows of the summer night.

Therefore, he did not dodge the first blow.

He is alive.

It was only because that nameless little orange cat took the first knife for him.

After a mournful howl, Xiao Xiejing saw a flash of orange before his eyes, and warm liquid splashed all over his face.

Through the blood, Xiao Xiejing saw the person who killed him.

He was a complete stranger.

The assassin missed his first attack and swung his knife at him again.

Xiao Xie Jing retreated to one side of the corridor pillar.

They dodged the second attack.

"Jing'er!" An anxious cry came from the other end of the corridor.

It was his second uncle, Xie Wenbo.

His second uncle ran towards him, opening his arms as if to protect him from all harm.

Without thinking, Xiao Xiejing stumbled and rushed towards her familiar relatives.

He stumbled into a warm embrace that carried a cool, pleasant scent. "Second Uncle!"

His second uncle tightened his arms instantly, holding him tightly.

My second uncle's embrace was very warm.

Xiao Xiejing felt at ease.

My second uncle is here; we're safe now.

But the next second, his second uncle neither protected him behind him nor helped him escape.

Instead, it imprisoned him tightly.

The assassin approached slowly.

The third strike left no way out.

He struggled.

So the location is off-center.

It hurts.

It looks like her stomach has ruptured.

The last thing he saw was the darkness in his second uncle's eyes.

The last thing he heard was a gunshot.

His last thought was of his grandfather's words.

My grandfather said that those who have no faith in him cannot be used by him.

My second uncle must have learned this kind of teaching as well.

Later, when he vaguely woke up, he vaguely sensed that his whole body was covered with tubes.

My stomach hurts a lot.

But he couldn't move.

He started to wake up and fall asleep intermittently.

Fewer and fewer when I'm awake, more and more when I'm asleep.

In the midst of another half-awake state, he heard his grandfather seemingly speaking in his ear.

The sound seemed both far away and very close.

"Jing'er...you're all that's left in the Xie family..."

"Jing'er... the Xie family... still needs you to hold it together..."

"How could you... go with your parents...?"

And so, he was dragged back into this world by the responsibilities of the Xie family.

He was over nine years old when he finally regained consciousness, after he had been in the ICU for an unknown period of time.

The eldest grandson of the Xie family, the heir of the Xie family, survived.

He returned to the Xie family.

The Xie family home is truly empty now.

Xiao Xie and her mother were expelled from the Xie clan and driven away from the Xie family.

Uncle Xie Wenyu, ashamed to face his father and even more ashamed to face his young nephew, refused to return home.

When I was ten years old, before the Spring Festival.

After a deep conversation with his grandfather, the first formal order he issued was to execute Xie Wenbo.

He didn't see it with his own eyes.

At the age of fifteen, at his grandfather's bedside, he completely took over the reins of the Xie family.

That year, Lin Zhou had already been assigned to his side and had been with him for five years.

My grandfather passed away when I was seventeen.

A solitary figure amidst the vast天地 (heaven and earth).

The Xie family is now truly down to just him.

*

Why did Xie Jing's grandfather want ten-year-old Xie Jing to deal with Xie Wenbo himself?

Xie Jing's parents suddenly died, leaving only an old man and a young child in the Xie family. The old man could pass away at any time, so how could the young child suppress his ambitions both inside and outside the family?

The title of eldest grandson alone is far from enough.

Thus, Xie Jing's grandfather transferred the power of life and death, which belonged to the head of the Xie family, to young Xie Jing in the most cruel way.

Therefore, this must be a ruling led by Xie Jing.

It is also a most direct power transfer ceremony.

It tells everyone inside and outside the Xie family that although the Xie family has suffered such a great calamity and can only be led by a ten-year-old child, the young master is not weak.

He is a new leader who should not be underestimated and who is ruthless in his methods.

This was certainly cruel to ten-year-old Xie Jing, but at that time when he was beset by internal and external troubles, he needed authority.

This was the gentlest form of violent empowerment his grandfather could offer him when the family was on the verge of collapse.

He no longer had time to let Xie Jing grow up slowly.