Having finished, Wei Nisheng said no more, leaving Jiang Heng to chew over the rest alone.
For what Jiang Heng lacked was not an answer.
He merely needed someone to tell him...
Your unease is justified.
But your unease will not lead you astray.
For the road is not drawn in advance; its course emerges beneath your feet.
Walk on, and it will take shape.
After hearing this, Jiang Heng remained seated upright, his gentle warmth unchanged, yet he said nothing for a long while.
He had never heard or encountered such an argument.
"Zi'an, you said just now that the principles of order and disorder lie in the human heart, while the balance of praise and blame lies in one's own heart."
Jiang Heng raised his eyes. "But I have a question I wish to put to you."
Wei Nisheng inclined his body slightly. "Please ask, Your Highness."
"The 'Officers of Zhou' in the Book of Documents says: 'Govern affairs with righteousness, govern the heart with ritual propriety.'
"Ritual propriety was ordained by the sages.
"Righteousness was established by the ancient kings.
"If I take my own heart as a ruler, I am measuring public righteousness with private feeling, discarding the laws of the sages for my own inclinations.
"If what my 'heart' measures contradicts the 'ritual propriety' spoken of by the sages, which should prevail?"
This was no trifling question.
It also showed that the young Heir Apparent had taken the matter deeply to heart and was asking out of genuine uncertainty.
"In that case..." Wei Nisheng said with a light smile, "allow me the boldness of asking Your Highness a question in return."
"When Your Highness reads the Book of Documents, have you ever wondered where that 'ritual propriety'
"existed before it flowed from the sages' brushes?"