"Zishou, this was all my fault!"
Cao Mao clung tightly to Guo Ze's hand. This time, he truly felt ashamed.
He had dealt with too many treacherous men and had forgotten how to associate with a gentleman like Guo Ze.
He had always assumed that Guo Ze would be like those literati and immediately begin opposing him upon learning the truth.
He had never imagined that Guo Ze could say such words.
Guo Ze was still the same Guo Ze.
Stubborn, obstinate, and pedantic, yet still the Guo Ze who trusted and supported him absolutely.
But Cao Mao was no longer the Cao Mao of old. Scheming against petty men had made him rather more insincere himself.
Cao Mao shook his head, as though trying to shake all those complicated feelings out of his mind.
Holding Guo Ze's hand, Cao Mao said, "Over these past years, everyone I have encountered has been a treacherous scoundrel. In dealing with them, I dared not reveal half a word of truth. Now that I have met you, Zishou, I have still behaved this way. I am deeply ashamed. Please forgive my mistake!"
Seeing the emperor about to apologize to him, Guo Ze panicked too. He hurriedly stepped back several paces and bowed to Cao Mao.
"Your Majesty, I spoke out of turn. Please forgive me!"
"But I ask Your Majesty to recognize that not everyone under heaven is selfish, nor is everyone versed in the classics a treacherous man."
"In Yuan City, Your Majesty once told me that the sons of great clans were not all cruel, nor were the sons of humble families all hardworking. A man's origins have no bearing on his character."
"Your Majesty rules all under heaven. You should govern through benevolence and righteousness, through righteous spirit. Such a