Xi Huan first met Shen Qingyun at Yaqing Garden.
He couldn’t understand why this married member of the imperial family would show up in such a place of worldly pleasures.
The second time they met, Shen Qingyun became his tutor.
“What makes a ruler? What makes a minister?”
“The ruler must be a ruler, and the minister a minister. A wise ruler and a loyal minister. The people are the foundation.”
Their first lesson, a discussion of the relationship between ruler and minister, sparked Xi Huan’s interest in this member of the imperial family.
The court was rife with strife. The emperor was suspicious, the realm faced troubles within and without, and everyone he trusted had been reassigned.
To protect his family, Xi Huan implicated them and uncovered the truth about his own birth.
The ruler is unwise, and the minister disloyal.
The current emperor’s decisions bring suffering to the people.
And so we must
serve our country and its people, put the common good first, and bring peace to all.
P.S.:
1. One of them is married; the other will not come between them.
2. The story probably won’t follow the title closely and may go off track.
3. The dynasty is fictional. Don’t associate it with any real historical dynasty, and please don’t overanalyze it.
3. If that bothers you, read no further.
Theme: The people are the foundation and must never be shaken
