Chapter 290: Are You Willing?
Following the eunuch, Dong Sheng walked all the way to the waterside pavilion next door.
In front of him was a pond. Dong Sheng walked quietly, and when he looked up, he saw two figures standing on the water corridor in the distance.
One was obviously dressed in eunuch clothes, and the other wore luxurious purple robes. Although his back was turned, from the looks of it, it was clearly the Ninth Wise King who was waiting for him.
Dong Sheng lowered his eyes and silently took a breath.
He did not understand why the Ninth Wise King had called him alone, but since he had come, he had to perform well.
Soon, the two of them followed Hong Zhong to the water corridor.
At close range, both immediately lowered their heads and stopped looking up when they heard the eunuch replying to the Wise King. Then, the two of them saluted together.
“This humble one, Dong Sheng (Zhou Qingfang), pays respects to His Highness the Wise King.”
The young man’s originally clear voice now carried a slight hoarseness, vaguely revealing a deeper tone of a man grown.
His voice, in the midst of changing, was very distinctive. Dong Sheng frowned silently, feeling that this voice sounded somewhat familiar.
Following His Highness’s words, he stood up, but Dong Sheng still dared not look up. His gaze rested only on the other’s chest and did not go higher.
Seeing him so respectful, Wei Yu couldn’t help but laugh genuinely, and he called him out directly, “Dong Sheng, are you really not going to look at me even once? Didn’t you say you admired me?”
Dong Sheng: ???
How did His Highness know that?!
Dong Sheng was surprised; he rarely had contact with outsiders since arriving at the capital and never spoke indiscriminately. He instinctively looked up, then stood there dumbfounded.
“Your Highness?!”
Looking at the face in front of him, which already showed the hardened features of an adult man, smiling particularly kindly, with peaceful eyes completely devoid of the rebelliousness typical of someone his age, Dong Sheng was truly shocked.
He had really never expected that the young man he had chatted so happily with at the clubhouse would actually be the Wise King he had admired all along!
Heaven.
It’s His Highness!
Thinking of how he had previously talked so freely and praised the Ninth Wise King to the skies, Dong Sheng felt like covering his face and fleeing the palace.
This was simply too embarrassing!!!
To analyze his inner thoughts in front of the main person, and even scold His Highness for not understanding himself… just thinking about it made him unbearably embarrassed.
Dong Sheng blushed.
Redder than the red carp in the pond.
Wei Yu chuckled, “When we first met at the clubhouse, you could openly praise the Wise King in front of a stranger. Why now, in front of the Wise King himself, are you too afraid to speak?”
How could it be the same!
Dong Sheng blushed and stammered, “This humble one begs His Highness not to mock me. It is this humble one’s lack of manners that caused His Highness to be displeased.”
“How could that be mockery?”
Seeing Dong Sheng embarrassed, Wei Yu didn’t press the matter. He stopped smiling and became serious, “Brother Dong, you are frank, firm, and righteous. I have seen your writings, and I have always had high expectations for the content you produce. Just as you admire the Wise King’s deeds, how could you not know that the Wise King also admires your aspirations?”
Mentioning serious matters, the awkward embarrassment spreading in Dong Sheng’s heart halted immediately.
Although his face was still red, seeing the Wise King’s earnest gaze, Dong Sheng also became serious.
Understanding the meaning behind His Highness’s words, Dong Sheng was touched and quickly cupped his hands respectfully, “This humble one is ashamed. If His Highness does not dislike what this humble one has written, it is this humble one’s fortune.”
“My expectation for you is not just mere acceptance but true hope.”
Wei Yu looked at him steadily, “You come from a farming family, understand the hardships of the common people, and have witnessed the changes in Ji Commandery over the past twenty years. You wrote that article at the clubhouse out of your feelings; it wasn’t idle talk to seek fame, was it?”
The young man, not yet twenty, had eyes like polished lacquer—no sharpness hidden, yet his gaze oppressed Zhou Qingfang standing nearby so much that he didn’t dare breathe heavily.
Under the Wise King’s intense stare, Dong Sheng immediately retorted, “No! This humble one has no such intention!”
“Everything I said to His Highness then was from my heart! I am weak and insignificant, but like a scholar who reads and worships the sages, I want to join the government to work for the well-being of the people, just as His Highness once did for the people of Ji Commandery!”
Dong Sheng blushed but looked resolute, “I don’t understand the way of officials and don’t want to meddle in factional disputes. What this humble one can do is to follow His Highness’s footsteps, establish order for the people of the world, and bring peace to all generations!”
Wei Yu, who was originally prepared to say a lot, …
He was a bit stunned.
The one to be brainwashed was too self-aware. He did not even need to say much, and the child was already eager to express his will, declaring himself a well-prepared little lamb ready to be led by the nose. How was Wei Yu supposed to handle this?
Not to handle it would be unfair to Dong Sheng’s sincere performance!
Wei Yu looked moved, suppressing the smile of satisfaction on his lips, and kindly nodded at Dong Sheng, “Good! Well done, I knew I did not see you wrong.”
Just now, in the heat of the moment, his true feelings were revealed; now, without that urgency, Dong Sheng again felt a bit shy.
But before he could speak, Wei Yu suddenly changed the subject.
“What if I said, after you finish the imperial examination, you will not serve in the capital but will study thoroughly the Laws of Great Wei, then travel across the Great Wei to inspect local conditions, correct wrongful imprisonments, and amend gaps in the laws so that no one can escape legal loopholes—how would you respond?”
Dong Sheng was stunned.
Zhou Qingfang was also shocked.
What did His Highness mean?
Did he want Dong Sheng to revise and compile the laws?!
Changing the laws is not an easy task. Any amendment or formation of law requires several great scholars’ deep thinking and years of investigation based on actual conditions.
To let Dong Sheng do it alone?
To be honest, Dong Sheng himself had no confidence.
He hurriedly declined, “Your Highness, this is impossible! Such a great matter cannot be done by this humble one alone. I am not learned enough and fear I cannot fulfill the task!”
Wei Yu silently stared at him, “I only ask you one thing—are you willing?”
Dong Sheng hesitated.
After a moment, he nodded.
“This humble one is willing, but…”
“If you are willing, that is good.”
Wei Yu smiled, “In this world, no one is born knowing everything. As long as you are willing, even if you spend your whole life working for the Laws of Great Wei, I am willing to guarantee it during my years. So, Dong Sheng, you need not worry.”
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