Achieving the Dao from the Hundred Schools of Thought

"Zilu, Weiyang, have you encountered danger?"

Confucius opened his eyes and asked a question. He looked around and found that everything was peaceful, which reassured him.

Zilu respectfully performed a disciple's salute and stepped forward to reply:

"Master, that's not it! I've summoned you here because of some very joyous occasion!"

Confucius concealed the weariness in his eyes and smiled at Zilu.

"What good news is it? Why did you call me over in such a hurry?"

Zilu, displaying his pure and innocent nature, offered up the sacrificial meat in his hands.

"Master, this sacrificial meat was distributed by the Primordial Sage! I often hear you lament: I regret that I was not born in the same era as the Primordial Sage!"

Therefore, we offer this sacrifice to express our heartfelt sentiments!

Zhuang Weiyang then realized that Zhou Gongdan held such a high position in Confucius's heart.

only……

"Brother Zilu, why did you so readily give away the sacrificial meat, yet remain completely silent about the wine bestowed upon you by the Primordial Sage?"

Zilu raised the sacrificial meat high and cried out that he was wronged.

"Junior Brother Ziyang is spouting nonsense! I just didn't have time to say anything!"

Zilu, however, did not see that Confucius was looking at the sacrificial meat with a very complicated expression.

Zhuang Weiyang, with her keen insight, took in everything and smiled as she moved on from the topic.

"Brother Zilu, what do you think of this?"

You offer the sacrificial meat, I offer the wine; you preserve your true nature, to be savored by the Master in the future.

"That's excellent!"

Zilu was a lover of wine, and upon hearing this, he nodded repeatedly.

"You, do not do to others what you would not have them do to you! I appreciate your kindness. Keep the things for yourselves!"

"The Master has been very busy with political affairs lately, so he will not have time to chat with you."

After he finished speaking, Confucius's eyes returned to their lifeless state, clearly indicating that his spirit had departed!

Zhuang Weiyang had a vague guess in her heart.

"Let's ask the teacher again tonight!"

Having made up her mind, Zhuang Weiyang stuffed the wine and meat in her hands into Zilu's arms.

"Please, senior brother, seal it with your true nature and offer it to the Master!"

Zilu felt a little embarrassed by what the Master said. He declined several times, but he couldn't resist Zhuang Weiyang's insistence. He could only accept it with a wry smile, his face showing some shame.

"Junior Brother Weiyang, I was being stingy this time."

I still have an elderly mother at home. Although the flesh of demons is nourishing, it is too potent for my mother to eat!

This wine contained the essence of human destiny. Zilu originally intended to offer the meat to his master and leave the wine for his elderly mother at home to prolong her life.

But unexpectedly…

Zhuang Weiyang also felt ashamed.

"I thought my senior brother was fond of wine, but I never imagined it was for my mother."

Indeed, Brother Zilu was a very filial person; the story of carrying rice to support his parents perfectly describes Brother Zilu...

I deserve to die!

Seeing this, Zhong Yue was about to say something when her expression suddenly changed. She picked up the military token hanging on her waist and looked at Zhuang Weiyang.

"Wei Yang, the Second Young Master has urgently summoned us to his residence!"

Zhuang Weiyang was puzzled, but dared not delay. After bidding farewell to Zilu, she left with Zhong Yue.

We had just finished the sacrificial ceremony and were in a period of leisure. Why would Prince Di contact the two of us through the military tally?

Unless it's a major event, the military tally would definitely not be needed!

"Weiyang, if there is any danger, be ready to ignite the fire in your heart!"

I sense your presence and will immediately set off to help you!

She could faintly hear Zilu calling from behind. Without time for pleasantries, Zhuang Weiyang thanked him and headed straight for the young master's residence.

……

Inside the Prince's residence, Prince Di wore a fake smile as he raised his wine cup to Crown Prince Shi Ying beside him.

"Haha, Crown Prince of Yue, please try some of our Wu's sacrificial wine!"

Shi Ying nodded reservedly, without returning the greeting, but instead picked up his wine cup and took a sip.

"This wine... is just so-so."

As he spoke, Shi Ying frowned, ignoring Fan Li's unpleasant expression beside him, and continued:

"Back in the past, when my Yue Kingdom held a sacrificial ceremony, my father presided over the ceremony and offered dragons from the East Sea as sacrifices, which attracted the arrival of a great general under the command of Emperor Yu!"

That fine wine…tsk tsk, Second Prince of Wu, you've definitely never tasted it before.”

Prince Di nodded repeatedly and echoed:

"Yes, yes, it is normal that the wine bestowed by my Ji family ancestor, the sage Duke of Zhou, does not suit the taste of the Crown Prince of Yue."

"Zhou Gongdan..."

Prince Di nodded with certainty, then asked with a puzzled look:

"What's wrong, Crown Prince of Yue? Why do you look so pale? Did the wine upset your heart? Haha."

"Someone come here!"

Prince Di clapped his hands to summon a servant, pointed to the fine wine on the table in Shiying, and instructed:

"The wine for Prince Shiying has been changed!"

"Here you go!"

Shi Ying's face was grim, and he could only watch helplessly as the servant cleared away the wine and food in front of him.

Fan Li, standing to the side, sighed inwardly.

"You're just worrying unnecessarily!"

Fan Li then stood up and saluted, his every move behaving in accordance with the etiquette of a vassal state.

"Second Prince of Wu! We have traveled from Kuaiji, day and night, and are now weary from our journey. Please arrange lodging for us!"

Just as she finished speaking, Zhuang Weiyang and Zhong Yue entered the room.

Zhuang Weiyang was taken aback, thinking to herself: They called me here, and I've only just arrived, and they're already leaving?

Prince Di, who was seated at the head of the table, saw Zhuang Weiyang and her companion arrive and his eyes lit up as he greeted them repeatedly.

"Weiyang, please take a seat!"

Zhuang Weiyang readily agreed and sat next to Zhong Yue, opposite the Yue Kingdom group. She subtly observed the two opposite her, her mind filled with doubt but her expression remaining impassive.

"Oh dear! Weiyang, look at me!" Prince Di slapped his forehead, feigning regret.

"All this hard work these past few days has ruined my brain! Come, come, Weiyang, this is the Crown Prince of Yue, and the one next to him is Fan Li, a high-ranking official of Yue!"

Fan Li!

When the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away; when the cunning rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked!

The White-Robed Minister – Fan Li!

Zhuang Weiyang maintained her usual demeanor and bowed to the Crown Prince of Yue, which gave her the opportunity to properly observe Fan Li.

Fan Li appeared to be in his thirties, with a thin face. Although young, two wrinkles on his forehead added a touch of weariness to his handsome appearance.

Faced with Zhuang Weiyang's scrutiny, Fan Li returned the smile, and Shi Ying, standing to the side, couldn't help but straighten his back.

The more Shi Ying tried to project the demeanor of a crown prince, the more counterproductive it became.

Zhuang Weiyang sized up the two of them and made up her mind.

A strategist whose mind is twisted like a pretzel and a master who is single-minded.

The combination of "Careless" and "Grumpy" is truly a classic.

Zhuang Weiyang smiled at Fan Li, then looked at Prince Di.

Prince Di was still angry because of Shi Ying's pretentious behavior earlier. He wanted to end the reception, but when he saw Zhuang Weiyang arrive, he seemed to remember something.

Clearing his throat twice to draw everyone's attention to himself, Prince Di then spoke:

"I have heard that the beautiful concubine that the Yue Kingdom is going to present is Shi Yiguang, who has a face that can make fish sink!"

Legend has it that Xi Shi's beauty was so captivating that even the fish in the river were mesmerized, forgetting to swim and sinking to the bottom. But…”

As he spoke, the prince hesitated for a moment, then continued:

"I have heard that the Yue people have always liked to boast and exaggerate, and many of their rumors are untrue! As the second prince of Wu, I, Prince Di, need to have my father investigate."

"Could you please ask the Crown Prince of Yue to summon Xi Shi so that we may have a meeting?"

Upon hearing this, Shi Ying immediately stood up to argue with the prince.

These words are truly insulting!