Chapter 528 The Important Matter of Enlightenment (Confucianism)

With his tutor chosen, Liu Ju was about to begin his formal education.

The prince's first education is no small matter; the selection of teachers for the first half is no small matter; and the formal commencement of the second half of the education is no small matter either.

The three families discussed the specific timing and order of starting education for a long time.

Ultimately, to allow Liu Ju to absorb the teachings from various schools more efficiently and to prevent bias, it was decided that a 28-day cycle would be used. Students would rotate between Confucianism, Legalism, and Mohism every seven days. After three seven-day periods, a final seven-day period would be dedicated to consolidating learning from all three schools, reviewing teaching outcomes, and analyzing any areas requiring adjustment.

The first seven days belonged to the Confucian school, and they sent Zhang Liang.

Bowang Garden was part of the Eastern Palace. Although Liu Ju was the Crown Prince, he was too young to live in the Eastern Palace yet. Bowang Garden was specially renovated and opened to the public for his education.

On the first day of school, the morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the bamboo slips on the desk exuded a faint fragrance of ink.

Zhang Liang, dressed in a moon-white long robe, sat upright on a futon, gently waving a folding fan in his hand, looking at Liu Ju opposite him with a gentle gaze: "Today is the initiation ceremony, Your Highness, there is no need to be reserved. Let us take some time to get to know each other first."

Liu blinked his bright eyes curiously, his eyelashes fluttering: "Can I ask you anything?"

Zhang Liang nodded calmly and elegantly: "Of course."

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door. Zhang Liang turned around and saw Wei Zifu walking slowly towards him, her gentle gaze filled with apology and worry.

"I apologize for bothering you, sir. Ju'er has never left my side..."

Having understood her unfinished words, Zhang Liang nodded, appreciating the mother's love, and allowed Wei Zifu to come in and chat with Liu Ju for a few words.

After watching her leave, Zhang Liang turned around and saw Liu Ju take out a bamboo slip.

A sense of foreboding rose in Zhang Liang's heart, and hesitantly asked, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"

Liu Ju pursed his lips, revealing a sly smile: "A little preview. Sir, may I ask?"

Zhang Liang glanced at the unfolded bamboo slips, then at Liu Ju, who was eager to try. What kind of preparation was this?

But since the words had already been spoken, he could only grit his teeth, straighten his back slightly, and put on a composed demeanor: "Your Highness, please."

"The first question," Liu Ju looked up at Zhang Liang with a smile, "is it you or Han Xin who is more powerful?"

“…” Zhang Liang paused. This question was truly absurd. “My skills are different from those of General Han Xin. He is a master strategist who wins every battle and captures every city. I, on the other hand, am only somewhat knowledgeable in the art of strategy and can offer advice to the monarch. We are simply incomparable.”

Liu Ju nodded, but still pressed on, "Then can you fight Han Xin?"

Zhang Liang gave a fake smile. "No."

Liu Ju sighed regretfully.

Just as Zhang Liang was about to speak, Liu Che entered from outside the door with his hands behind his back. He nodded solemnly at Zhang Liang and asked, "Was the lesson going well, sir?"

Zhang Liang replied, "Everything went smoothly, Your Majesty need not worry." He was simply unprepared just now; handling a child was more than enough for him!

Liu Che nodded without asking any further questions. He walked straight to Liu Ju's side, patted his head, and said, "Ju'er, you must listen carefully to the lesson. Mr. Zhang is very talented. If you don't understand something, ask him in time. He is not an impatient person and will not blame or punish you."

"..." Zhang Liang was speechless. Was this an instruction to the Crown Prince or a direct message to him?

After Liu Che finished speaking, he casually gave a couple more instructions, then reluctantly left. Oh, what if Ju'er misses him too much? Maybe he should stay and listen in…

Seeing that Liu Che's pace was slowing down, Zhang Liang preemptively said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will do my best. Your Majesty, please."

After hearing what he said, Liu Che could only leave regretfully, saying, "Then I'll have to trouble you, sir."

"It's alright, I'm not tired at all." Zhang Liang smiled insincerely. Little Emperor, if you're so capable, don't tell me tonight, I'll have your ancestors come and have a dream talk with you!

Having finally seen off the reluctant Liu Che, Zhang Liang breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and walked back, casually asking, "Where were we?"

Liu Ju asked with great interest: "The second question!"

Meeting his large, watery eyes, Zhang Liang took a deep breath, convinced he was prepared, and asked, "Ask."

Liu Ju glanced at the contents of the bamboo slip, then looked up and asked seriously, "Some people say you're two-timing, outwardly Confucian but inwardly Mohist. Do you agree?"

"..." Zhang Liang's lips twitched, speechless, and he asked, "What?"

Liu Ju explained carefully: "As a Confucian disciple, you secretly helped the Mohists escape their predicament and insisted that the two schools of thought should not exclude each other. Isn't that like dividing one heart between two people?"

Zhang Liang was speechless. He silently comforted himself, "His Highness is young and doesn't know any better. What do you mean by 'two-timing' and 'darling'?"

Who on earth taught them this?! Who taught them this?!

Just then, a rustling sound came from the leaves outside the hall. Huo Qubing jumped up and down in the tree, looking at the situation inside the hall, and kept muttering, "What's going on? What are they teaching? I didn't see them take any books. Is it no good? They might as well learn martial arts from me..."

It was all because Zhang Liang's ears were too sharp; he heard it clearly, and couldn't help but bulge the veins on his forehead. He snapped his folding fan shut and threw it outwards, pinning Huo Qubing to the tree.

Huo Qubing: "!"

Zhang Liang strolled out, smiling at him: "If you like climbing trees, stay up there a little longer. No need to thank me."

Huo Qubing knew he was in the wrong and was too embarrassed to speak. When he saw his cousin peering at him from the windowsill, he awkwardly covered his face.

Therefore, Zhang Liang turned his head and saw the young prince who was watching the excitement with great interest.

At this moment, Liu Che, who hadn't gone far, walked in again. "What's going on? Qubing is acting recklessly; I'd rather not..."

Knowing what he was up to immediately, Zhang Liang decisively retreated into the hall and closed the door. "Since Your Majesty trusts me, please allow Zifang to teach with peace of mind. If Your Highness's teaching is flawed after the day is over, I will accept the punishment."

After he finished speaking, golden light curtains rose from the four walls of Bowang Garden, completely blocking Liu Che and Huo Qubing from entering the hall.

"..." Liu Che poked at the light screen, then regretfully withdrew his hand and turned to look at Huo Qubing. "It's all your fault!" Otherwise, he could have accompanied Ju'er to class!

Liu Che left dejectedly, while Huo Qubing struggled and thrashed about, crying, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I was wrong! Please help me down!"

Inside the hall, isolated from all external distractions, Zhang Liang looked at Liu Ju with a gentle smile, as if a spring breeze were caressing his face: "Alright, Your Highness, no one will disturb our class anymore."

"That……"

"Of course, the introductory session is over for now, and we're about to begin the lesson."

Without giving Liu Ju a chance to ask questions, Zhang Liang realized that it was better not to try to build a closer relationship.

With a flick of his wide sleeves, Zhang Liang sent a scroll of bamboo slips, engraved with cloud patterns, landing with a "thud" on the table in front of Liu Ju.

"Your Highness, please look." He flicked his finger at the bamboo slip, and the seal script instantly transformed into fireflies, piecing together the three large characters "仁" (benevolence), "义" (righteousness), and "礼" (propriety) in mid-air. He tapped the plain white fan on the table: "Today, let us learn the character '仁' (benevolence)—if the world is a chessboard, the hearts of the people are the foundation for each move..."