People in the Qin Dynasty, entertained during the Warring States period

Zhao Qian immediately perked up.

“Father, the teacher only asked us to copy it ten times and read it a hundred times.”

Zhao Yan said, "Ten or a hundred times won't do; you'll need thousands or tens of thousands of times to make any progress!"

The queen smiled and said, "Your Majesty, a thousand times or ten thousand times is not as good as Mr. Cao Ze's one time."

"From now on, let Mr. Cao Ze come here often. I will personally supervise Qian'er's studies in Chunqing Palace so that she can make progress."

Kong Chuan stroked his white beard and said, "The Queen is virtuous and a model for the world; she is truly a blessing to the State of Zhao."

The queen smiled demurely. She just wanted to enjoy herself with Cao Ze every day and be flattered by the great Confucian scholar. She couldn't be happier.

Zhao Yan said, "From now on, I will trouble you, sir, to stay in the palace and share my burdens."

Cao Ze wore a cryptic smile. "Serving the King is my duty."

Zhao Yan glanced at the sky.

"Gentlemen, it's getting late. I still have to review some memorials, so I won't keep you any longer."

Cao Ze and Kong Chuan left as ordered.

Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, the Empress Dowager took one last, reluctant look at Cao Ze's departing figure.

"Qian'er, come back to Chunqing Palace with your mother to copy the Three Character Classic."

After being relentlessly beaten by Cao Ze and Chang Hou for a whole day, Zhao Qian left the study with Chang Hou feeling utterly hopeless.

Han Cang stood outside the study, pondering for a long time. He felt that it would be a very good idea to win over Cao Ze and help him to strike at Guo Kai.

Cao Ze and Kong Chuan chatted casually, sharing their insights derived from the Three Character Classic.

Kong Chuan and Cao Ze became more and more engrossed in their conversation, discovering that the young man's understanding of the essence of Confucianism was like a gazelle hanging its horns on a tree—unfathomable yet still giving him a glimpse of its true meaning.

When it was time to leave the palace and part ways.

Kong Chuan raised a question he really wanted to ask.

Chapter 73 Learning to Meow Like a Cat, Doing a Good Deed Every Day

Kong Chuan said, “Mencius said that human nature is inherently good, while Xunzi said that human nature is inherently evil. Both have their reasons. I wonder what you think, young friend, and why the Three Character Classic begins with ‘At the beginning of life, human nature is inherently good’.”

The debate on whether human nature is inherently good or evil has been a long-standing topic in Confucianism.

Their Confucianism, based on the teachings of Zisi and Mencius, mutually recognized each other and tended towards the theory of the inherent goodness of human nature.

Cao Ze pondered for a moment and said, "I will give you four sentences; you can understand them yourself."

"Oh? Young friend, please speak, and I will ponder it carefully."

Kong Chuan, though over fifty years old, remains polite and gentlemanly.

They were not displeased by Cao Ze's boastful words.

That "Three Character Classic" was just right for him.

"The mind in its original state is neither good nor evil; its actions are either good or evil."

"Knowing good and evil is conscience; doing good and eliminating evil is the investigation of things."

After Cao Ze explained to Kong Chuan the classic summary of Yangming's philosophy of mind regarding good and evil, which was also an interpretation of the philosophy of mind, he continued, "As for why I started with the saying 'At the beginning of life, human nature is inherently good,' it is because of a saying I once heard."

Kong Chuan was not a poor student like Zhao Qian; he had an excellent memory and remembered it after Cao Ze said it.

Just by reciting it once, I gained some insight and realized that it was a profound truth.

Upon hearing Cao Ze speak again, he quickly asked, "What did you say?"

"The night gave me black eyes, but I use them to seek the light."

Kong Chuan stood outside the palace for a long time until Cao Ze disappeared and the sky gradually darkened before he came to his senses.

He couldn't help but chuckle to himself. He had come to Handan to lecture and spread the Confucian and Taoist teachings of their school, but he had ended up being the one being lectured.

At his age, he's nothing special.

No wonder their ancestors would take a young child as their teacher.

Learning is not limited by age.

In a short time, Kong Chuan gained a lot, had profound insights, and his mind became much more open.

It moves without wind, subtly showing a tendency to merge with heaven and earth.

Even Cao Ze didn't know that the person he was bragging to today was not only a great Confucian scholar, but also a half-step grandmaster.

……

Nighttime, within the city of Handan.

Cao Ze wandered around Handan City.

Because of the assassination attempt last night, the number of patrolling soldiers in Handan City tonight has more than doubled.

Cao Ze then displayed the token Zhao Yan had given him earlier that day, which allowed him free access to the palace.

The city guard said respectfully, "I apologize for disturbing you, sir."

Cao Ze waved his hand: "It's alright, it's all the assassins' fault."

He was determined to spend the next few days finding the Luo Wang's stronghold in Handan.

They didn't even spare the earthworms, splitting them vertically in half.

Considering that the Fierce Tiger Gang has now become the largest underground gang in Handan, he decided to go and investigate Lian Cheng tomorrow.

Cao Ze turned a corner and finally discovered the coded message left by Li Wu.

Immediately following the direction, they headed towards the place where Li Wu and Jing Ni were hiding.

"Meow~"

Cao Ze paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Li Wu, come out. It's me."

Li Wu emerged from the darkness.

Cao Ze teased, "Your imitation of a cat's meow is so accurate."

"I learned it from Xiao Hei."

"Oh, I haven't even met you yet, where's your cat?"

"Who knows where he is? Maybe he's in Xianyang now, playing the King of Cats."

Li Wu felt a little regretful that she hadn't brought Xiao Hei along.

They then pulled Cao Ze into an abandoned hut.

Jingni was feeding Xiaoyan'er inside the house.

Cao Ze finally breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the mother and daughter were safe and sound.

Li Wu closed the door and said, "What do we do now? Keep hiding?"

Cao Ze shook his head. "No need to hide."

"Guo Kai facilitated the assassination attempt by the Luo Wang organization this time."

"With the turmoil still ongoing, Guo Kai cannot afford to take any more risks."

Li Wu asked, "Going home?"

"Back."

Li Wu suddenly narrowed her eyes: "Then... should we take revenge or not?"

"Of course we'll report it. Tomorrow I'll have someone investigate Luo Wang's strongholds in Handan, collect some interest, and clear them out."

According to the words of Dong Zhongshu, a prominent Confucian scholar of the Gongyang School, "Even a feud spanning ten generations can be avenged," he advocated a gentleman's relentless pursuit of revenge, working tirelessly from morning till night.

Jingni coaxed Xiaoyan, who was sleeping in her arms, and said, "I'll go too."

She can get angry too!

The next day.

In the morning, Cao Ze found Lian Cheng and asked him to investigate Luo Wang's stronghold in Handan.

In the afternoon, Cao Ze openly entered the Empress's palace and made Zhao Qian recite the Three Character Classic over and over again.

To make the most of my restless post-event period, I'll do a good deed every day.

Then, he tested the "golden finger" on the queen, slowly adjusting the balance of glands in her body.

Cao Ze originally thought that Lian Cheng would need a few days.

As soon as he left the palace, he was taken to the Fierce Tiger Gang by Lian Cheng's henchmen.

After hearing Lian Cheng's words, Cao Ze realized that the Luo Wang's stronghold was not in Handan, but in the suburbs of Handan.

"It's quite a coincidence. If Luo Wang hadn't sent someone to assassinate you last night, our people might not have been able to find Luo Wang's stronghold in Handan in just one day."

Cao Ze smiled faintly: "Brother Cheng, how about we take care of this stronghold?"

Lian Cheng patted his chest and said, "My brother's business is my business!"

"Ah Hu, gather the brothers with internal energy, grab your weapons, and tonight we'll sneak out under the cover of darkness to avenge Brother Cao!"

"Brother Cheng, bring more people, and prepare crossbows, kerosene, and other supplies."

"okay!"

Cao Ze returned to Qingping Residence before leaving Handan City with Lian Cheng.

Jing Ni secretly followed Cao Ze, while Li Wu hid in Handan to take care of the children.

Hundreds of members of the Tiger Gang in Ulala were carrying knives and swords, and they even brought dozens of crossbows from outside the city by horse-drawn cart, all of which were high-quality goods imported from South Korea.

At Cao Ze's suggestion, he also brought two large barrels of kerosene.

Actively destroy the evidence to cover up the crime.

Night fell over the earth.

Outside Handan city, a stronghold of the Luowang (a secret police organization).