A Corrupt Minister's Self-Cultivation

As the saying goes: Power may seem wicked yet achieve great things; supreme wisdom may seem foolish, while clarity lies within.

With authority in hand, keep your wits hidden.

And so it is said: Those who deceive may instead be regarded as loyal and trustworthy.

In this world, some deceptions are precisely what people mistake for loyalty.

This isn't teaching you to deceive. It's telling you that outward loyalty and hidden calculation have never been the same thing.

The real skill lies in “fishing for feelings.”

Read people's expressions and cater to their preferences. Know what the other person wants, and you'll know when to speak, when to stay silent, when to hand them a blade, and when to offer them a ladder.

Great power seems wicked; supreme wisdom seems foolish.

Loyalty can be a mask, and deception can be one's duty.

Chen Weisheng smiled gently. “And that, good people, is this pavilion's guide to self-cultivation.”