A young girl in a yellow skirt and green jacket, with remarkable features, followed by his side.
"Mr. Zhao," Scholar Song began, subtly revealing the other's identity to his mentor and fellow disciples.
Lu Cheng was surprised, the rumored gigolo of the Empress indeed possessed an exceptionally handsome façade.
With a square hat on his head, a Confucian robe, and an overcoat, Mr. Zhengyang rose, hands clasped behind his back, gazing openly and fearlessly at Yama Zhao, whom everyone in the capital dreaded.
The autumn breeze brushed by, making his beautiful beard dance, causing Zhao Douan's eyes to light up with admiration, as he exclaimed,
"Is this Old Sir who is acclaimed throughout the Great Yu Dynasty, the Mr. Zhengyang who has guarded the grave at Yunfu for ten years?"
Zhengyang? The person my elder brother wanted to meet was the great scholar who has recently become a sensation?
Zhao Pan was astounded, her dark, lustrous eyes, resembling dark grapes struck by autumn frost, curiously scrutinizing the man.
"It is indeed I," Mr. Zhengyang nodded with a subtle expression,
"I have long heard of Lord Zhao's reputation. Unexpectedly, it is through my student's words that I am invited here. For what reason?"
Puzzled, Zhao Douan smiled and said,
"Old Sir, your words are mistaken. Was it not you who sought me out?"
Zhengyang calmly stated,
"I seek the one who speaks of the unity of mind and principle, the unity of knowledge and action."
Zhao Douan leisurely sat on the stone bench opposite the stone table, while Zhao Pan curiously stood behind him.
For a moment, in the late autumn wind, with fallen leaves fluttering on the ground, in this serene academy, the Zhao siblings and Zhengyang's disciples seemed to be in a subtle confrontation across the stone table.
Zhao Douan, with a smile, earnestly stated,
"Then it was not wrong, it was I who said those words."
As soon as the words were spoken, Lu Cheng and Scholar Song were both startled, the former frowned, the latter looked bewildered.
Neither believed that this martial artist could have uttered words which twice brought their mentor here in search.
Even though he was a martial artist reputed to understand poetry and governance.
But in the end, scholarship is inherently a field distinct from the other two.
Mr. Zhengyang, with a sober face and restrained expression, remarked,
"Lord Zhao, I came here with sincerity, hoping to discuss with the scholar who spoke of unity of mind and principle."
Zhao Douan continued to smile, "Old Sir, do you think I am jesting?"
Mr. Zhengyang slightly furrowed his brows, even with his scholarly composure, he showed a hint of displeasure, his demeanor cooling a bit,
"So, did you compose that phrase yourself? Has Lord Zhao studied the teachings of the Saint?"
Zhao Douan smiled, "I know a little, and I occasionally contemplate, but rarely do I find anyone to discuss with."
Mr. Zhengyang snorted, slightly vexed. Seeing the situation, he straightforwardly said,
"Very well, I will not ask where you heard those words—be it from Dong Xuan, or genuinely your own thoughts—as you claim it, I wish to inquire, what do you mean by telling my disciple these things?
What do you interpret by the unity of mind and principle, bringing one's innate knowledge to fruition, and unifying knowledge with action? Does Lord Zhao have any differing insights into the teachings of the Zhengyang School or the doctrines of the saints of old and present?"
He did not dwell on who originally authored the words. To him, the remarks were likely spoken by Dong Xuan through Zhao Douan's mouth.
What he cared about was merely the philosophical doctrine that was hidden behind Zhao Douan.
"Insights? I do have some,"
Zhao Douan smiled and said,
"Recently, I've been reading and gained some inspiration, composing a short poem."
He briefly recalled, then recited calmly,
In childhood, we know love, in adulthood, we admire, the ancient sage and the men of today heart.
Roughly with a foundation can a house be built, never heard of a sudden peak without a base.
Retaining sentiments transmits notes and overwhelms barriers, careful attention to subtleties turns deep into clarity.
Value friends and mutual refinement, and know that supreme joy is found in the present.
Mr. Zhengyang suddenly changed his expression.