Chapter 12 - Wise Words (1/2)
After thirteen presentations of lakes, gardens, desert views, spring encounters, it was finally Lei Xing's turn. She stepped on the platform with a straight face, with a somewhat bored expression. Her piece was showcased and again raised eyebrows, it was really subpar when compared to the rest and Lei Xing knew that, and at this point, she really did not care at all.
She flatly said, ”To this fire ant, the tall grass on the cliff's edge is greater than the distant mountain. Life is all about perspective”
The crowd became enlightened by her words and collectively thought, 'ah, it's an ant'...and they were all waiting for her to continue her explanation but she remained quiet, and they became puzzled and wondered whether she was really done. After a while more of watching her stand there in silence, they realized that she was done. That was really all she had thought up, she really couldn't be bothered to think more on it and so simply said what she had.
”Isn't the ant just ignorant?” Prince Yi finally broke the silence.
Lei Xing inwardly rolled her eyes.
...This a**hole again -_-)...
Lei Xing remained silent, she really did not want to deal with him again and frankly hoped that he would just leave her alone if she ignored him. Unfortunately...
”No matter how you look at it grass can never be greater than a mountain, ignorance is not an excuse for foolishness.” He spoke up again after receiving no reply.
...why can't this guy just-...
”There is the expression that ignorance is bliss.” Lei Xing responded without even looking his way.
”So are you promoting ignorance then?”
”No, I am just stating a fact of reality. What bearing does an unknown fact have on one's viewpoint of life? The more you know, the more you have to worry about. The less you know, the less you have to worry about. That is a fact of life.”
”So you're saying ignorance is the best way to live?”
”No, but given the nature of life, one cannot help but live ignorantly. There is no one who knows everything, there is always something more to be learned. Since there will always be something more one can learn, then we have no choice but to live ignorantly as life is a journey of learning.”
Everyone watched on as Prince Yi and Lei Xing discussed, they remembered that he had also criticized her yesterday and now today again. Normally, Prince Yi does not involve himself in palace matters, even during court he rarely chimes in, unless asked his opinions. But yet he seemed to be interested in the concubine selection, no not the selection, it seems it is just this Lady Yin that he seems to be interested in troubling. The onlookers were curious about how she had offended this aloof person to cause him to publicly criticize her.
”You have spoken well, but how is this relevant to the royal family?” One of the ministers from the back stood up and asked, while covertly looking towards Prince Yi, it seemed he was hoping to get into the Prince's good graces by further making her life difficult.
Lei Xing glanced behind her.
...What sort of dumb question is this? Are they not living life too...
Lei Xing looked back towards the front and said, ”The Emperor like the mountain is mighty and dignified and his presence like the mountain affects the general view of the landscape. All forces in nature work together to create a world in which we can all live and thrive in. While the Emperor is the mountain, nature's greatest and most dignified existence, the officials are the trees, the rivers, the grass and other forces of nature are all actors within the mountain's sphere of influence. The grass is a more important existence to the ant, not because it is actually greater than the mountain, but because it is more easily accessible than the mountain. How likely is it for an ordinary peasant farmer to be able to voice their grievances to the Emperor himself? It is almost impossible, therefore the peasant farmer will look to the grass, the small official for aid. Which is why it is very important that the people assigned as officials are able to be resilient and steadfast like the tall grass which can sway with the wind, survive the storm and no matter the conditions, even if they are trampled upon by the elements, can still grow again and stand tall to provide a safe haven for the small ant.”
Lei Xing said a lot and surprised the crowd and some of them nodded in agreement with her words. Her father and brother covertly smiled, proud of her for putting that small official from the ministry of works in his place.
The minister who had asked the question, stood frozen in place. This had backfired, he did not expect her to actually come out with such a reasonable explanation. He quietly lowered himself to his seat and slightly lowered his head with a frown, embarrassed.
”Wise words.” A calm voice said from above. Lei Xing looked up and saw the emperor's smiling face and slightly flinched and quickly looked down, with a frown on her face. The emperor was a bit perplexed by her reaction, but continued and said, ”You can go down.”