Chapter 454: Using Righteous Qi to Enlighten Yan’er!
Upon hearing this, Li Mo laughed, “When did Master start praising people?”
Everyone knew that Master Xun never complimented anyone. Even if his disciples did a fantastic job, the most they would get is a more pleasant expression from him. Just like Confucius once said: “Do not doubt others for what they cannot do, nor should you boast about what you can.” Master Xun taught others to avoid arrogance and impatience, yet he himself had a notoriously bad temper.
Now, he was actually praising the baby Yan’er, still swaddled in her blanket.
Master Xun stroked his beard, glanced at Jing Ni and Li Mo, and then focused his gaze on the latter, saying, “Whatever you say, whatever you say, haha.”
Jing Ni had been an assassin before. Although she had learned to behave appropriately as a wife, she still lacked strategic wit. She was adept with a sword but wasn’t exactly a mastermind. Master Xun’s praise wasn’t just empty flattery; he genuinely saw wisdom in the little Yan’er. After teaching for years, he had never seen a newborn with such profound enlightenment.
“If she grows up well, she’ll be incredibly wise!”
“Come on, Master, we still have to go into the city.”
Li Mo thought Master Xun was just throwing around compliments in a business-like manner. What could a child that small possibly understand?
Master Xun glanced at the sky; it was indeed getting late. After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped again. He walked back to Jing Ni’s side, hands tucked into his sleeves, and smiled at the baby in her arms. “A gentleman gives advice, a Capital citizen gives wealth. The daughter of the National Advisor surely doesn’t lack mundane items, so I’ll just give you one character!”
Li Mo curiously approached.
Yan Lingji and Hong Liang intended to leave but got curious about what the old man was up to after hearing Master Xun’s words.
Master Xun took his warmed hands from his sleeves and gently pressed them to Yan’er’s forehead. Yan’er, being well-behaved, opened her big eyes and stared at this strange old man.
“Enlightenment.”
As Master Xun’s voice fell, the aura around him suddenly shifted. A gentle breeze swept from him, carrying a righteous presence that made everyone but Li Mo feel a strange sense of guilt.
Hong Liang, for some unknown reason, felt an overwhelming urge to confess about cursing Li Mo last night! She thought to herself that her insults about him being blind were totally unwarranted.
Under this breeze, little Yan’er let out a massive yawn, suddenly overwhelmed by drowsiness. Her big eyes slowly closed, and she quickly drifted into dreamland.
“This is… Righteous Qi!”
Li Mo’s expression showed surprise.
Seeing Hong Liang’s guilt-ridden gaze, he immediately understood what Master Xun was doing. He was using Righteous Qi to help enlighten little Yan’er!
“Alright, take the child to sleep,” Master Xun said, slowly withdrawing his hand from Yan’er’s forehead.
His demeanor suddenly seemed to age a few years, looking quite weary.
“Thank you for your effort, Master.” Li Mo quickly stepped up to support him as he noticed.
Not everyone could possess the Righteous Qi of Confucians. It wasn’t just about reading books; to grasp it, one must truly be open-hearted and filled with righteousness. Righteous Qi embodies uprightness and integrity. Or perhaps, you must appreciate the essence of Confucian teachings like Confucius himself.
“This gift you’ve given is far more precious than a thousand gold or jade pieces.”
In the horse-drawn carriage headed toward the school, Li Mo earnestly thanked Master Xun. With Righteous Qi awakening her mind, little Yan’er would have a pure disposition, quick to learn.
Master Xun chuckled, “Haha, compared to the contributions I’ve made to Confucianism, this is nothing of significance!”
After resting for a bit, Master Xun’s complexion had already recovered. Li Mo added, “Master, you’re quite understated, to even comprehend Righteous Qi.”
Understanding Righteous Qi is indeed rare. Throughout the years of Confucian teaching, only a handful have truly grasped it.
Master Xun remained the only one of his kind today!
“A gentleman carries righteous spirit. If you wish to learn, I can teach you too.”
Li Mo raised an eyebrow, “Really? If I could grasp Righteous Qi, wouldn’t it be even better to enlighten my future children?”
Moreover, Righteous Qi is a great thing that can stabilize one’s heart and inspire feelings of guilt in others. Just like Hong Liang, who felt guilty because of the influence of Righteous Qi, believed that cursing Li Mo was wrong and should apologize.
“I’ve practiced self-discipline for many years; my ability to comprehend Righteous Qi is closely tied to it. You just need to reflect daily, enforce self-discipline rigorously, and read the Confucian classics until your hands are empty yet your heart is full of ideas. If you do that for about fifty or sixty years, perhaps you can start to perceive Righteous Qi like me.”
The extent of grasping Righteous Qi differs based on one’s learning. Master Xun had spent his life and merely scratched the surface of understanding.
That’s why even though Hong Liang felt guilt earlier, she could hold back from speaking out; it was simply because Master Xun’s Righteous Qi wasn’t powerful enough to make her feel utterly remorseful!
力
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