Sima Zheng's brief visit stirred an unusual feeling in Zhang Xing. He clearly sensed the man's struggle and helplessness, and that struggle and helplessness very likely meant this dragon among men was still willing to hold to certain positions for beliefs that had accompanied him since childhood... inevitably, this made Zhang Xing's last little attempt at persuasion seem pale.
Zhang Xing felt deeply sorry for him, but at the same time, it made Zhang Laosan realize still further how profoundly family background and childhood education could affect a person... to put it plainly, everyone's life history was entirely different, and everyone's decisions might lie beyond others' understanding.
So it was with Sima Zheng, Li Ding, Bai Yousi, Qin Bao, Yue Niang, Yue Niang's father, Heluo Huaibao, the two Great Grandmasters Imperial Uncle Cao and Master Zhang, and Zhang Xing himself.
Even the emperor, the Prince of Qi, and Sima Changying were no different.
But the corresponding key point was that everyone ought to give others a decent choice, or one that preserved their dignity. Relying on one's status, violence, or authority to deny others the dignity of choosing was probably the finest strategy for alienating every heart... as for bearing the corresponding consequences after making a choice, that was another matter entirely.
At this thought, Zhang Xing could not help growing a little sentimental. He decided to wait until his future had taken some broad shape before telling Qin Bao and Yue Niang.
Only, Qin Bao had hidden depths, and Yue Niang was no pushover either. He probably could not keep it from them.
But that was fine too. Letting things take their course might be a better way of expressing it.
Returning to the present, Zhang Xing received no more visitors that evening. He ate and drank his fill