In the morning, soft light fell over two figures in the courtyard, one large and one small, making a harmonious scene.
Liu Le's eyes sparkled as she gazed at Luo Xin with admiration. After nearly a year together, she wanted only to cry out that her brother was simply too amazing!
"Brother, why do the Sage King's writings say the people should regard their ruler as their father? A ruler-father and minister-sons-it's so strange."
Confusion filled Liu Le's large, clear eyes. "Those tyrants you told me about were all so wicked. Should they be treated as fathers too?"
Luo Xin smiled freely at her words and stroked her head. "A Le, the bond of blood between father and child cannot be severed, and their affection is there from birth.
"Parents give their children life and raise them, while children support their parents, see them through their final days, and offer sacrifices to them. In life and in death, this is the natural order of heaven and earth.
"The Sage King compared the relationship between ruler and minister to that between father and child for two reasons. First, the Son of Heaven is the head of the great lineage of All Under Heaven. Second, the Son of Heaven ought to have obligations toward his ministers. Failing to fulfill them is like parents abandoning their children: they are unfit to be parents, and he is unfit to be a ruler."
Little Liu Le looked even more bewildered. Luo Xin shook his head with a smile. Liu Le had no talent for politics; talking to her about this was playing the lute to an ox.
"Well said. I truly gain penetrating insights from you every day, Young Master."
Her voice arrived before she did. Lü Zhi walked gracefully into the courtyard, wearing a