Retort.

"Mr. Zhao Da, you'd better ask the Ai family why they are so polite. Ha, it's really..."

The beautiful widow paused as she seemed to have something left unsaid.

Zhao Rong glanced at her expression.

"Do you want to say that I am a great joke in the world, or that I am a hypocritical Confucian scholar?"

"Oh, the Ai family don't dare to say these rude words, nor do they dare to question the saint. Mr. Zhao, please don't talk nonsense."

Dugu Chanyi raised her chin, turned her profile to someone, raised her head and squinted at the autumn sky outside the pavilion.

The young Confucian scholar squatting on the shore nodded.

"Whether it is a big or small ceremony, it is correct in itself. When we Confucian scholars promote etiquette, our original intention is also good, but etiquette is only in form after all. What our Confucian sages of ancient and modern times wanted to achieve with the help of etiquette,

It is the real human ethics behind it, which is loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, righteousness, and trust..."

He stretched out his hand to scoop up a handful of water, clenched his fist hard, and all the water leaked out.

"If there is no true love, then what is the meaning of this formal courtesy? It is just done for others to see, stolen by selfish rulers, and used as a tool to control the people."

"Once someone succeeds and steals the gifts of the saints and seizes power, there will be a second person, a third person... and everyone will gather together."

"These people...are all big thieves!"

The young Confucian scholar's voice was slightly thicker, but his tone was a bit deep.

The shoulders of his crouched body slumped slightly.

Dugu Chanyi turned her head, narrowed her eyes slightly and said, "Oh? It turns out that Mr. Zhao still has such worrying thoughts, big thief...it turns out that you Confucian scholars also know that some of the things you do are counterproductive."

She chuckled.

Zhao Rong lowered his eyes, sighed and nodded, "I have discussed these with a Taoist friend I have a good relationship with before, but it was a little more in-depth... The saint and... the thief... But I have different views from him, and there are some arguments...

…That fellow Taoist is more pessimistic and his words are also fierce.”

"What about Mr. Zhao?"

"Me? I don't agree with his point of view. I always feel that we should do something... we can't just do nothing and not do it. But... I am actually quite pessimistic. So I can't convince anyone."

The young Confucian scholar stretched out his hand and rubbed his face fiercely, and murmured: "That Taoist friend also asked me a question, but I don't know how to answer it...

That day in the bamboo forest class in Taiqing Mansion, before he left, Tao Yuanran asked him.

How should he "do something" in the face of a thief? How should a saint "do something"...

Dugu Chanyi quietly looked at the back of the Confucian scholar squatting in the pavilion.

Zhao Rong raised his head and said softly:

"But there is one thing. Although big thieves will be rampant, the culprits will have no consequences..."

In the distance, the Queen Mother of Dali frowned, "What do you mean?"

Zhao Rong looked at her and said sincerely: "Your Majesty, the understanding is very simple. Let's make an assumption. Assume that you are a big thief and you have played with this 'ritual'."

"What does playing mean? What word did you use?"

"Well, okay, that's borrowing. Suppose you are a bad person and borrow this gift to do bad things. But have you ever thought that one day this gift will be stolen by others and used by other thieves?

What if I come here and hurt you? So the one who caused the instigation has no consequences... If you play around, something will happen."

Dugu Chanyi stopped talking.

The two were quiet for a moment.

She chuckled, "Mr. Zhao's metaphor is quite outrageous."

Zhao Rong smiled and shook his head, not mentioning it further.

At this time, he finished treating the wound, looked around, and looked for something to bandage.

He looked to the side and saw many clean towels in a bamboo basket.

"Hey, why are there so many towels here? They are all quite clean. Ahem, ma'am, can I borrow one?"

"no."

Dugu Chanyi's eyes widened slightly, and she subconsciously took a step forward.

But she was too late, someone had already pulled out a towel that she had used to wipe her delicate body.

Zhao Rong sighed: "My dear, it's just a towel. Don't be so stingy. There are many more. You don't need them."

Dugu Chanyi: “…………”

Zhao Rong casually took one, tore several strips of cloth, and bandaged the wound.

Then, he changed into a clean Confucian shirt, and his wide sleeves covered the bandaged wound.

Zhao Rong breathed a sigh of relief.

After a while, he turned his head and looked at Dugu Chanyi for a moment.

The latter's face was a little red for some unknown reason, especially against the backdrop of her snow-white fur coat.

The two looked at each other in silence, Zhao Rong nodded and silently left the bath garden.

Dugu Chanyi stood quietly away and watched him leave.

After about a stick of incense.

Zhao Rong left Guanghan Palace.
Chapter completed!