Becoming Puppet Emperor of a Paranoid Eunuch - Chapter 67

Wu Jing, following Ning Qinghong’s instructions, carefully pulled out one of the books, examining the title on the book’s cover. The two large characters were flamboyantly inscribed, resembling chaotic scribbles.

 

He could vaguely make out the first character as “中” (middle), but the second character was unclear.

 

But Ning Qinghong had said it was one of the Four Books and Five Classics…

 

*Could this be the Doctrine of the Mean?*

 

Ning Qinghong, who was preparing to review memorials, sat in the main seat, with another chair placed beside it for Wu Jing. Wu Jing sat next to him, flipping through the pages while glancing occasionally at the slender, two-finger-wide wooden ruler beside Ning Qinghong.

 

It was made of solid wood and was exceptionally heavy, about half a finger’s thickness. Just looking at it made it seem weighty.

 

He recalled how Ning Qinghong had calmly said before, regarding a rabbit lantern, that he always meant what he said.

 

Wu Jing’s heart tightened, and he dared not look at the wooden ruler any longer. He trembled as he opened the first page and was immediately stunned by the incomprehensible text.

 

He couldn’t understand a single character.

 

How could he memorize the entire book?

 

Wu Jing hesitantly offered the book to Ning Qinghong, trying not to let his gaze fall on the ruler. Swallowing nervously, he said softly, “I don’t understand.”

 

He couldn’t help but tug at Ning Qinghong’s sleeve.

 

He just wanted to avoid punishment.

 

“Then brother will teach you. Wu Wu, listen carefully,” Ning Qinghong said, taking the book with a smile. “When you recite the scriptures, if you make a mistake, there will be a penalty.”

 

Not a single character can be wrong? Wu Jing was taken aback.

 

Before he could react, Ning Qinghong glanced at the page and calmly said, “This is the Doctrine of the Mean.”

 

Ning Qinghong could identify the book just by looking at the first sentence without even reading the title.

 

Ning Qinghong continued, “Each of these books is read to the students daily by the teachers at the Imperial Academy, and the major exam questions come from them.” He said, “In next year’s palace examination, students who reach the imperial stage must be able to identify which book, chapter, and section from just a few words I mention—”

 

“And recite it fluently.”

 

Ning Qinghong half-smiled, “Of course, Wu Wu doesn’t need to memorize it to that extent, but you must at least recognize the characters and understand what each student answers in the palace examination.” He spoke softly, “In court, you should also understand the meaning of the poems and writings occasionally spoken by those pedantic officials.”

 

“Even in these memorials, there are people who indulge in calligraphy. What will you do if you are left alone and don’t know anything?” He looked at the dazed Wu Jing, lightly prompting.

 

Wu Jing felt confused. He understood Ning Qinghong was analyzing the situation, but he couldn’t grasp the gravity of the words. He nodded, bewildered.

 

He could only focus on the last sentence, tugging at Ning Qinghong’s sleeve and looking up, asking, “You…”

 

Wu Jing felt helpless, trying to suppress his embarrassment, and said, “You kissed me, and we… you… you can’t leave me.”

 

They had been so intimate, kissing and hugging…

 

How could they talk about leaving?

 

Wu Jing’s mind was in turmoil. He didn’t know his own feelings for Ning Qinghong, nor could he guess what Ning Qinghong was thinking. He couldn’t imagine ever leaving Ning Qinghong or even having that thought.

 

He wouldn’t even think about how to manage alone in the future. He felt content to just enjoy his life while others handled the court matters. Even if he were to step down from the dragon throne one day, Wu Jing wouldn’t be sad.

 

Even though Ning Qinghong was feared as a great villain, he had managed court affairs with clarity, which Wu Jing could sense.

 

Every decision made by those in power affected thousands of people. Wu Jing thought, if he were in that position, he could never bear the weight of a nation.

 

Any decision leading to someone’s death would be remembered for a lifetime.

 

Ning Qinghong laughed softly in his ear, “Why is Wu Wu still clinging to brother?”

 

Wu Jing pulled himself out of his thoughts, unsure how to explain, and realized that his first thought wasn’t about being worried about returning to a past where he couldn’t afford food or clothing.

 

Instead—

 

Wu Jing quietly countered, “I’m not clinging.”

 

Ning Qinghong smiled, “Alright, brother was just speaking casually. But if Wu Wu doesn’t study, there will really be a penalty.” He extended his fingers, signaling Wu Jing to come closer.

 

With only one book, they would naturally read it together.

 

Wu Jing was half-hugged and felt a bit tired standing, so he sat in the chair in front of Ning Qinghong.

 

His small frame occupied only a small space.

 

Propping his elbows on the table, he carefully read the characters on the book, while Ning Qinghong, laughing softly behind him, said, “Wu Wu, read from right to left.”

 

Wu Jing blinked, embarrassed, and shifted his gaze to the correct position.

 

Ning Qinghong slowed his pace and read, “Heavenly mandate is called nature, nature is called the Way, cultivating the Way is called teaching.” He paused, “The first three sentences are broken every five characters.”

 

“The meaning is, human nature is inherently good, and goodness is to be cultivated and learned, given by heaven and cannot be changed later.”

 

“…”

 

Wu Jing struggled to keep up, unable to recognize all the characters yet. As Ning Qinghong read them aloud, Wu Jing tried to match the simplified characters in his mind. He hadn’t fully matched one sentence before Ning Qinghong started on the next.

 

Seeing Wu Jing’s dazed state, Ning Qinghong smiled faintly, “Wu Wu, you were daydreaming, so you must be punished.”

 

Despondent, Wu Jing quickly returned to reality, shaking his head and hurriedly explaining, “Brother read too fast, it wasn’t me daydreaming. Don’t count this time, please!”

 

Wu Jing desperately tried to prove something, pointing to the first character on the page and sliding down slowly, asking, “Brother, is this character ‘heaven’?” Then he asked, “Which ‘mandate’ is this? The command mandate?”

 

He looked back, bewildered, at Ning Qinghong.

 

Ning Qinghong paused, “Yes.”

 

Wu Jing seriously said, “Then I need to remember it first.” He mentally wrote out the simplified characters for “Heavenly Mandate” and slowly matched them to the two chaotic scribbles on the paper.

 

He wasn’t unable to recognize characters; it was just that another language was deeply rooted in his mind, and changing it required a lot of effort.

 

Recognizing and replacing characters one by one was like learning a foreign language. He first confirmed what the “character” meant, then compared it to remember the character.

 

Wu Jing spent a long time memorizing, and had Ning Qinghong use a pen to teach him how to copy the characters twice on paper before he said he was ready to move on to the next character.

 

Not learning sentence by sentence, but character by character.

 

Ning Qinghong asked, “Wu Wu really can’t write his own name?”

 

Wu Jing pursed his lips, shaking his head and nodding slightly, “I couldn’t before, but I can now.” He seemed embarrassed but still honestly explained, “I didn’t deceive you.”

 

He whispered, “I really didn’t know before, I was really learning, and it took a long time to remember.”

 

“Brother’s name is the same.”

 

He remembered the trouble of it and didn’t think to tell Ning Qinghong that he knew another script or dared to secretly write modern characters on paper for comparison.

 

Getting caught was one thing, and being honest was another.

 

After being honest, if a more convenient script appeared, would it be implemented in this era? If the evolution of scripts disappeared for a while, would the final form still be the one he was familiar with?

 

If correct, it would be fine, but if he made mistakes, like writing “纤” (thin) as “忏” (repent), and people read “纤细” (delicate) as “忏细(repent + detailed)”, what would happen then?

 

Wu Jing couldn’t even imagine.

 

He could not become someone who used advanced knowledge to change this era, and he could not bear the consequences of being wrong.

 

His wish was small and easily satisfied.

 

“Brother, I’ve memorized it.”

 

It turned out the character was “之” (of).

 

The easier characters were fine, but when it came to “谓” (say), Wu Jing asked about several characters in a row, “Is it ‘为’ (for)?”

 

Ning Qinghong denied again, pressing his forehead as if it were troublesome, but his gaze was patient.

 

Since he had to teach and support, how troublesome it was didn’t matter.

 

Wu Jing spent nearly half an hour learning just the first three sentences, and Ning Qinghong only started the next sentence with a slower and more deliberate tone, “The Way is such that it cannot be separated for a moment; to be separated from the Way is not the Way…”

 

He spoke while observing Wu Jing calmly.

 

Wu Jing, oblivious, listened carefully to the three sentences. When Ning Qinghong was about to recite the next sentence, he hurriedly grabbed him, “That’s enough…”

 

Ning Qinghong stopped.

 

As Wu Jing began to learn new characters, struggling with difficult ones and trying to match them to familiar characters, Ning Qinghong said, “Wu Wu, let’s not study the Doctrine of the Mean today.”

 

Wu Jing was stunned, “Then what will we study?”

 

Ning Qinghong closed the book, writing a few lines of text on paper at a leisurely pace, filling only half a page. He showed it to Wu Jing and read, “Confucius traveled east and saw two young boys debating. He asked them why—”

 

Wu Jing’s first thought upon hearing him was that he could finally understand without needing a translation. However, the more he listened, the more familiar it became. When Ning Qinghong softly said “as large as a cart cover when the sun first rises,” Wu Jing couldn’t help but tug on his sleeve and interrupt, asking, “Brother, what is the name of this text?”

 

Ning Qinghong replied calmly, “The Debate of the Two Boys.” He added gently, “City children can recite it, so Wu Wu should find it much easier.”

 

“As for the Four Books and Five Classics, take your time.”

 

He sighed lightly.

 

Wu Jing was taken aback, feeling a strong urge to find a hole to hide in, his face reddening.

 

*Wasn’t this a text he memorized in elementary school?*

 

Ning Qinghong taught Wu Jing for the whole morning. Wu Jing barely recognized all the characters, and after recognizing them, he quickly memorized the text and the three sentences from the Doctrine of the Mean.

 

But it was only memorization.

 

Ning Qinghong listened as Wu Jing recited it, then had a servant bring a fresh sheet of paper.

 

Wu Jing had to recite it all from memory.

 

He struggled to recall, painstakingly writing down each difficult character he had barely remembered.

 

After Ning Qinghong reviewed memorials for half an hour, Wu Jing finally finished writing, sighed with relief, and saw Ning Qinghong picking up the paper to examine it. He looked at him anxiously.

 

“There are a total of 134 characters,” Ning Qinghong said as he set down the paper. “Wu Wu made 54 mistakes.” He smiled, “Including the earlier instance of daydreaming.”

 

“A total of 55 instances of punishment.”

 

The **Doctrine of the Mean** (中庸, *Zhōng Yōng*) is one of the central texts of Confucianism, traditionally attributed to Zisi, the grandson of Confucius. It is part of the Four Books and is concerned with moral philosophy, focusing on the concept of moderation and balance in all things.

 

### **Key Themes and Concepts:**

 

1. **The Mean (中, Zhōng):**

   – The “Mean” refers to the ideal state of balance and harmony. It is about finding a middle path between extremes and maintaining equilibrium in thoughts, actions, and emotions. This is not mediocrity but rather the most virtuous way of life, where one acts according to the right degree in every situation.

 

2. **Harmony (和, Hé):**

   – Harmony is achieved when all parts of a situation or relationship are in proper balance. In personal conduct, it means aligning one’s actions with moral principles and societal norms. Harmony is the ultimate goal, leading to peace and order in society.

 

3. **Self-Cultivation (修身, Xiū Shēn):**

   – The text emphasizes the importance of personal development and moral self-cultivation. By understanding and practicing the Mean, an individual can cultivate virtue and become a morally upright person.

 

4. **The Role of Heaven (天, Tiān):**

   – The Doctrine of the Mean also discusses the concept of Heaven, which in Confucian thought represents the ultimate moral order of the universe. The virtuous person aligns their actions with the will of Heaven, which is seen as the source of moral principles.

 

5. **Sincerity (诚, Chéng):**

   – Sincerity is central to achieving the Mean. It involves being true to oneself and others, and acting with genuine intention. Sincerity is the foundation of all virtues and is seen as a way to connect with Heaven and the true essence of things.

 

### **Significance:**

The Doctrine of the Mean is significant because it provides a practical guide to living a virtuous life. It teaches that by following the Mean, one can maintain inner peace, make wise decisions, and contribute to a harmonious society. The text has been highly influential in Chinese culture, ethics, and political philosophy, and its teachings are still relevant today for those interested in Confucianism and moral philosophy.

 

“The Debate of the Two Boys” (also known as “The Two Boys Debate” or “The Disputation of the Two Boys”) refers to a well-known story from Chinese folklore, often used to illustrate wit and intelligence. The story involves a debate between two young boys who cleverly argue about an abstract or difficult topic, showcasing their sharp minds.

 

### **The Story:**

The most famous version of this story comes from the **”Liezi” (列子)**, an ancient Daoist text. In this version:

 

Two boys, often referred to as **Wang Liang** and **Hua Zhou**, engage in a debate about whether the sun is closer to the earth in the morning or at noon. 

 

– **One boy argues that the sun is closer in the morning** because it feels larger and warmer as it rises, just as a fire feels hotter when you are near it.

– **The other boy argues that the sun is closer at noon** because, despite its smaller size, it is hotter, suggesting it is closer, similar to how a small but intense fire feels hotter the nearer you are to it.

 

The debate continues without a clear winner, demonstrating the boys’ quick thinking and ability to argue complex ideas. 

 

### **Significance:**

This story is often cited to illustrate the concept that sometimes, even the sharpest minds cannot resolve certain paradoxes or that knowledge and understanding can be relative. It also highlights the value placed on intelligence and debate in traditional Chinese culture.

 

The story is a charming example of how ancient Chinese literature often uses simple narratives to explore complex ideas and encourage intellectual curiosity.