It's my birthday today and I'm getting wiser and younger by the day → _ → not... so I'm posting this one day ahead! And I translated more words as well...
Edited by : Minak Amie. Thank you for your hard work!
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“Well said.”
Within the stillness, one person suddenly rose up like a crane amongst a flock of chicken. Holding a cup of wine, he weaved through the seats in large strides towards Feng Ming. He carefully observed Feng Ming for a second before revealing a beautiful and clear smile. “I had heard about the young Lord from His Highness, Crown Prince of Bo Jian, in the past. At Bo Jian’s imperial palace, the young Lord had spoken about Zhuang Zhou’s Dream of the Butterfly. Its meaning was profound and lasting… causing people to ponder over it endlessly. I never imagined that today, I, Wu Qian, would get the chance to personally listen to the young Lord’s extensive views on human life.”
[TLN: 庄周Zhuang Zhou - I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly dreaming I am a man.]
Remarkably, it was the man who had attracted his attention at the beginning of the banquet.
Since he himself claimed to be Wu Qian, then it looks like Rong Hu’s guess was right.
“I invite the young Lord to drink this cup with me.” Wu Qian solemnly raised his cup in front of Feng Ming. His deep and profound black eyes looked into Feng Ming’s. “With this wine, I give my sincere respects to the Xiao Family’s young Lord for those last sentences.”
“The most terrible thing in life is not the hardship, but rather, looking back on your life before you die and regretting that it was spent insignificantly like an ant.”
“Everyone should cherish their life, and do what they love to do… is that correct?”
Based on his temperament, Feng Ming found him to be really pleasing to the eyes and secretly speculated in his mind. This person’s eyes are full of righteousness. No wonder he can’t get along with that bastard, Qing Li. Even though he is a member of the royal family, he doesn’t act self-important.
He smiled at Wu Qian’s proposal, but just when he was about to accept the cup, Luo Yun blocked him and took it. “With respect.” Without another sound, he tested the wine first.
He will not trying to test it for poison, right?
Not only we are right in the middle of the banquet and in public, the drink was even handed to him by a member of the royal family hosting the banquet! This was too embarrassing……
Feng Ming turned around and looked dumbfounded at the culprit, who was sniffing and dipping his finger inside the cup to test the wine. Soon after, he respectfully handed back the cup and said, “The young Lord can be at ease and drink it.”
Feng Ming had no choice but to take the road of being magnanimous in order to prevent the awkwardness of the slip up. He turned back towards Wu Qian and with a slightly embarrassed smile, said, “Sorry, my mother has always been strict when it comes to my life. Any kind of food or drink has to go through Luo Yun first. It really makes others want to laugh.”
Wu Qian courteously replied, “Being anxious towards one’s beloved son, all mothers should feel the same. It is nothing to laugh about…”
They drank a cup of wine together below the eyes of everyone.
Afterwards returned to their seats, respectively.
Back at his seat, Feng Ming immediately got closer to Luo Yun and whispered, “Next time, don’t act like that. This is a palace banquet. Don’t you know that if you act this way, it will cause embarrassment to the other party?”
“Life is precious, so even a slight bit of carelessness should not exist.” Luo Yun’s cold expression never changed as he replied back in a similarly lowered voice. “As long as I am alive, I will never let an accident happen to those under my protection.”
Feng Ming stiffened.
This brat… He never would have expected him to be so eloquent, unexpectedly knowing how to use his own words against him.
“The words of the Xiao Family’s young Lord, at a glance, seem very reasonable. Unfortunately, it does not have enough weight.” A loud voice suddenly resonated from the other side.
Su Jin Chao had just returned to his seat, next to Hao Yuan Jiang.
It seems the foolish kid was not entirely stupid. During the time between Wu Qian proposing a toast and Feng Ming returning to his seat, he had been thinking and waiting for an opportunity to speak when a gap appeared in Feng Ming’s speech.
“Oh? I hope Assistant Ambassador can tell me how my words do not possess enough weight.”
Su Jin Chao said resentfully, “Just now, did you not say that everyone is equal in life?”
Feng Ming secretly complained. I thought you treated my words completely like passing air. Why then, do you remember all the important points I’ve made? He nodded and replied, “Correct.”
“So… in the eyes of the young Lord, those despicable and lowly commoners also have lives worth valuing as well as dreams?”
“Of course.” With a severe countenance, Feng Ming continued, “However, they are just referred to as common people and are not all, as you implied, lowly and despicable. Only a person’s behaviour can decide whether his character is noble or despicable. It should not be based solely on his origin.”
As though he had found the flaw in Feng Ming’s words, Su Jin Chao breathed in and with a slightly pleased expression said, “According to your words, if everyone in the world, including those despicable, lowly commoners, are allowed to pursue their interests in life, then who will work in the fields, weave clothes, and do all the other low-grade tasks? Ha ha… it is clear that what you said a moment ago is nothing more than an idle dream.
Don’t tell me that people would rather starve to death, just for the sake of their dreams?”
This guy……
If they weren’t in the middle of a banquet right now and in the full view of everyone, Feng Ming simply would have hugged him to death. He would have also fiercely kissed that silly and cute face several times in gratitude.
He really felt like he was being favoured by God today!
He was worried that the Grace Order would be revoked, but… the skies above immediately sent him help in the form of the “courageous” Su Jin Chao.
While Su Jin Chao opened up his topic for debate, Feng Ming’s spirit became all the more invigorated. Leaning against the short table, he stretched his long legs into a more comfortable position and sat in a more contented and languid manner. Pulling a beautifully embroidered cloth and unfolding it on his seat, Feng Ming looked incredibly pleased. With a free and tranquil look, he smiled and said, “Whether it is working in a field or weaving, how could it be regarded as a low-grade task? Assistant Ambassador sure finds it difficult to avoid looking down on the people of this world. Different people have different ideas and interests. They have their own natural talents. Some people are good at managing, fit to regulate issues and are suitable to work as officials. Some are good at detecting problems while looking at the big picture, fit to manage state affairs and suited to become courtiers……”
Su Jin Chao smiled in ridicule and said, “Then there are some who are naturally good at farming?”
“Correct.” Feng Ming naturally wouldn’t bother with his attitude since he was using their argument as a way to promote Rong Tian’s Grace Order.
This was one of the important tasks given to him by the prime minister.
Feng Ming said pleasantly, “There are people who are good at planting, mastering their knowledge on soil and the right time for harvest. They are suitable to work in the field. There are also people who are born with deft hands and can create all kinds of earthenware that make others gasp in admiration. Those people can become outstanding artisans. Everyone has their own specialty and skills to work in a certain field. As long as they can utilize their strengths, regardless of what kind of life they live, they can accomplish a lot. Therefore, they can live their own definition of a wonderful life.”
“Humph… that only applies to those who are farming, crafting, or doing other low-grade work. How about those of the courts and ministers?”
Feng Ming, however, did not fret over his words and indifferently replied, “It’s not wrong. Occupation does not apply to social hierarchy. In my eyes, a good farmer that is good at cultivating his fields deserves more respect than a self-indulgent general who flees at the sight of his enemies. A person will have at least one thing they are good at, and to do a good job at that one thing, is something that is honourable, valuable, and worth respecting. Would it not be great to hear that from each of the 360 lines, appears a master?”
[TLN: 三百六十行 360 lines: China's social division of labor for thousands of years produced a variety of occupations, commonly known as "three hundred and sixty lines." Some of these industries have been out of the stage of history, and some industries continue to this day
行行出状元 : Every profession produces its own topmost master]
Everyone was, once again, bewildered.
The 360 lines… each has its own master? Indeed… this had never been heard of before.
Quickly, Su Jin Chao’s face started to turn red from anger. However, as an experienced person, Hao Yuan Jiang could only sigh inwardly.
During the days he had followed Rong Tian while holding a post in Xi Lei’s tax ministry, he had learned a little of Duke Ming’s abilities. Even though he normally looked naïve and simple, on the occasion a big political debate occurred, his speech would always contain astonishing words. The things he said always left his listeners in deep shock. There were times when even the great king himself would greatly praise and appreciate his words. So how could Su Jin Chao think he could triumph in a contest against him?