Chapter 189 - Qi Zongbi Must Die
"So... what is the duty of an Imperial Teacher?"
Feeling uncomfortable under the pressure of Fan Shaolin’s gaze, Su Yi awkwardly looked away and pleaded, "Teacher, please enlighten me."
Fan Shaolin looked away and sighed. "An Imperial Teacher... doesn't it mean you must teach the Emperor? Teaching him to read the Four Books and Five Classics, how to govern and manage the world, how to be a wise ruler... That’s how I thought at first. It's only after wasting most of my life... that I’ve only now understood what lies behind those duties... what truly needs to be done."
In Su Yi’s heart, a thought sprouted like a young seedling, ready to break through the soil but lacking that final burst of energy. He couldn’t help but ask urgently, "What... what is it?"
Fan Shaolin didn’t answer; instead, he asked Su Yi, "Does the Emperor represent the nation?"
Su Yi was taken aback, then fell silent. After a long pause, he finally answered, "It may be somewhat disrespectful... but I don’t believe so. The one who represents the nation... has never been the Emperor."
"Then what can represent the nation?" Fan Shaolin asked with a half-smile. There was no trace of reproach in his tone.
Su Yi looked at Fan Shaolin and took a deep breath before he responded, "I believe... the nation is its spirit. This spirit does not come from the Emperor but from every person in the nation. It exists in the heart of every citizen who feels a sense of belonging to their nation. This spirit is the true emblem of a nation’s essence."
"Then why does the nation still need an Emperor?" Fan Shaolin suddenly asked.
Su Yi was stunned and fell silent. He didn’t know how to answer the question. Yes, if that was the case, why would a nation still need an Emperor? He wasn’t a fool. He knew that without a leader, a nation would surely fall into chaos, but this contradicted his earlier thoughts. Conflicted, Su Yi suddenly began to question whether his beliefs were right or wrong.
Seeing Su Yi’s expression, Fan Shaolin knew he was struggling with a dilemma, so he smiled. "Why not look at it from a different perspective?"