Character Index
Zhou Ying: The Emperor and Wenyuan's maternal uncle.
Sir Yang: An elderly eunuch who serves the Empress Dowager. He essentially acts as her right-hand, carrying out her intentions on her behalf.
Sun Ruhui: The Left Secretariat of Justice and Kayla’s supporter.
Chen Caichun: A Chamberlain in the Court of Judicial Review and Kayla’s supporter.
Hu Qing/Liang Hongfei: Lord of the Liang clan and Kayla’s supporter.
Housekeeper Li: Formerly Matron Li, Kayla’s loyal servant.
Chen Jian: A young Imperial Investigator, the protege of Li Que. Chen Caichun’s older brother.
Zhao Mingfang: A member of the Zhao clan who attempted to testify against Kayla and was silenced.
Zhao Mingfu: A member of the Zhao clan who attempted to testify against Kayla and was silenced. Brother of Mingfang.
Ji Fangluo: A sharp-minded and tempered woman whose father was dragged into Qu Boyong/Xiang Daozong’s revenge plot. She became involved in the plan to kill the Grand Duke.
Feng Yi: A good-natured merchant who was dragged into the plots between Kayla and Xianchun, he has since become part of a case that extends the Court of Judicial Review’s reach into the provinces.
Wei Guang: The Imperial Edict Bearer and Kayla’s godfather. Teacher of the current Emperor.
Lady Lin: A blind seer who worked with the Imperial Princess, she had foreseen a terrible future for Kayla and the country.
----------------------------------------
The Empress Dowager set down her cup of tea, glancing expectantly at her son. A visit from the Emperor was nothing out of the ordinary, given the dynasty’s emphasis on the filial piety of its rulers, but a visit from the Emperor right after he met with Wenyuan had different implications. To her surprise, Zhou Ying had yet to voice any half-hearted attempts to defend his nephew, only chatting about the mundane on-goings of the Empress Dowager’s palace.
Just why hasn’t he said anything?
Zhou Ying smiled at her pleasantly. “By the way, mother. About the matter with the Zhao clan’s debt,” he started.
Here it is, the Empress Dowager thought wryly.
“Yes?” The Empress Dowager prompted.
“I’ve extended the deadline indefinitely,” he announced. “The decision has already been sent to the Treasury.”
The Empress Dowager stilled. “What?”
The Emperor gave her a sheepish smile. “I know you had your considerations in setting this up, but two weeks is a little too rushed for Wenyuan, isn’t it now?”
This fool–and he already sent down the orders? Does he not realize that if we do not act now, that boy will end up spinning out of control?
“My son, surely you understand that this is not just about the money,” the Empress Dowager said, a sharp edge in her voice.
“I’m grateful to you for setting this up for me, but I have other ideas of how to handle the situation,” the Emperor replied. “I am raising Wenyuan’s title and position to Dukedom, and dual-appointing him as the Director of the Imperial Investigation Bureau.”
The Empress Dowager reared back in shock. It was as if she had been struck by lightning on a clear and sunny day.
“Your Majesty, are you sure this is wise?!” She demanded.
“It’s fine,” he said blithely, sparking a rush of rage in the Empress Dowager.
“Even after all these years on the throne, you don’t seem to understand! Wenyuan is not obedient, and he’s certainly not unambitious,” the Empress Dowager snapped. “How can you let your affection blind you so? Not just you, but this country will pay the price for it!”
“I know perfectly well, Mother.” The Emperor’s voice cooled, stopping her arguments on her tongue. He let out a soft huff. “I don’t care whether Wenyuan is humble or arrogant, obedient or unruly. What I care about is that he is useful.”
“Useful?!” The Empress Dowager gestured at him sharply. “A sharp blade cuts its owner's flesh just as easily. Your blind doting will only give rise to a monster! Under favor as excessive as what you have shown, there are only two possible outcomes. Either they are coddled into uselessness, or they become prideful and fearless to the point of insubordination. If we keep allowing things to progress this way, that boy will end up on the chopping block!”
The Emperor evaluated her thoughtfully for a moment before chuckling.
“You fear he will follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, do you not? There is no need for concern, Mother,” the Emperor said. The Empress Dowager opened her mouth to protest, but the Emperor held up his hand before she could speak. The Empress Dowager fell silent, looking at him expectantly.
“Mother, I’ve already made up my mind, so please don’t interfere in this anymore,” he said. “I just came here today to tell you ahead of time. Anyone else, you can intervene as you see fit, but Wenyuan is mine to make use of.”
“Since when did you decide that?” The Empress Dowager demanded.
You never interfered before, was the underlying accusation.
“After the Grand Duke’s death,” the Emperor replied.
At the Empress Dowager’s frown, he let out a soft laugh.
“I understand your concerns, mother. I had hoped to move slowly with the reorganization of the court and the military to ensure stability, as you and Father wished. But with Wenyuan, I saw a new opportunity come alive right before my eyes. Even my nephew, who has always been as timid as a frightful rabbit, has reached the limits of tolerance–how can I sit still?” The Emperor smiled coldly. “An opportunity has appeared before my eyes, should I allow it to slip through my fingers like sand?”
“Aggressive reforms are extremely risky,” the Empress Dowager warned him, her heart quickening in alarm. “Few rulers have ever been successful!”
“Perhaps, but my mind is made. If we let the current situation continue any further, the dynasty will go downhill. I have an excellent opportunity before me right now–there will be no wars with the Khaganate for some years, thanks to the political marriage, the largest faction at court is coming apart with the death of the Grand Duke, and there is a loyal and capable young official with the courage to take action. And yet should I fail to seize the chance?” The Emperor asked.
The Empress Dowager inhaled sharply. “Indeed, the odds appear to be in your favor, but fortune has not stacked all its blessings upon you alone! Whether it’s the clans or the officers, there is not a single one that is an oil-saving lamp, you must not underestimate your opponents.”
The Emperor’s smile widened.
“Whether I succeed or fail, I am duty-bound to make an attempt. Let history be my judge. Whether it’s praise or criticism, I’ll accept it all.”
There was a slight edge to his voice beneath its pleasant tone. The Empress Dowager’s gaze flickered over her son, whose calm smile did not at all match the burning coals in his eyes.
“Wei Guang is the official my father left for me. And Wenyuan is the official I am leaving to my sons,” the Emperor said, his voice dropping lower. “The decision has already been made. And if it’s been decided, then that’s the end of it.”
The Empress Dowager’s heart dropped into her stomach. From the look in the Emperor's eyes, she read the unspoken accusation–she had prioritized her personal grudges over the Emperor’s interests, the one line she could never cross.
“I understand,” she said quietly.
The Emperor’s smile grew warmer, the intensity to his expression fading away.
“Thank you, mother.”
He carried on with small talk for a while longer before heading back to his own quarters, leaving the Empress Dowager to sit with her heavy thoughts.
If he’s said it to that extent, then I have no choice but to make a show of acceptance. Her heart fell further at the thought. For a show, she would need a scapegoat.
“Sir Yang,” she called out into the empty room. There was a soft shuffling as Sir Yang entered from the alcove.
“Your Highness,” Sir Yang greeted her. On his wrinkled face, there was a placid acceptance that stung her heart.
“You also heard what the Emperor said,” the Empress Dowager said, forcing her voice to remain level. She took a deep breath, steeling herself to say the words.
“There is no need to speak further, Your Majesty. Since I entered your service as a youngster, your favor towards me has been as weighty as a mountain,” he said serenely. “No matter what the outcome is, I have no complaints or regrets.”
“The Emperor’s mind is made, and I have no room for opposition. Leave the palace by tonight,” the Empress Dowager said heavily.
“As per your command,” Sir Yang replied. “It has been an honor serving you.”
The Empress Dowager glanced away from him, suddenly overwhelmed by sentiment. Sir Yang knelt, bowing his head to the floor before leaving without a sound.
----------------------------------------
Kayla said her goodbyes to her team over the communication device, preparing to end the call. The good news had taken a heavy load off their shoulders, and everyone was in a good mood. The one exception was Sun Ruhui, who lingered on after Chen Caichun and Hu Qing had left.
“My lord,” Sun Ruhui said politely. “There is a matter I wish to speak to you about, if you happen to have the time?”
“Of course,” Kayla agreed. “What is it?”
“With your permission, I would speak to you in person,‘’ Sun Ruhui replied.
“Alright,” Kayla said, a little befuddled. Sun Ruhui gave his goodbyes and ended the call, presumably to head over from his residence.
“In person?” Kayla muttered under her breath, shaking her head in confusion. She turned her attention back to the evidence and accounts before her, trying to piece together a convincing case that would have the most impact.
It would be best if we can rope in the Lan clan, they have two clan members in just the Secretariat Department.
Kayla flipped through another scroll. This guy’s in the Ministry of Justice…I could charge him with something, but maybe I should hold onto that for a bit? I’ve messed with the Ministry of Justice enough already, best to minimize my actions there for a little while.
A knock on the door sounded out, followed by the voice of Housekeeper Li.
“My lord, Left Secretariat Sun is here to see you.”
Kayla blinked in surprise. It hadn’t been nearly long enough for Sun Ruhui to make the journey.
“Please let him in,” she replied.
Housekeeper Li opened the door and let Sun Ruhui through before quietly taking her leave.
Kayla stood up to greet Sun Ruhui, still in disbelief at his speed. Sun Ruhui’s robes were a little wrinkled and his hair was tousled.
“Left Secretariat, it’s good to see you…just how did you get here so quickly?” Kayla asked.
Sun Ruhui gave her a sheepish look. “I was on my way to hire a carriage when I ran into Investigator Chen making a patrol. He insisted on taking me over.”
“How nice of him,” Kayla replied diplomatically. That explained his appearance. She waved him over to sit on the couch.
“Some tea?” Kayla offered, pouring out a cup from the pot of green tea next to her desk.
“Yes, please.” Sun Ruhui gratefully accepted the hot drink. Though the nights were getting warmer, the chill from high wind-speeds and vertigo was not to be underestimated.
“So, what did you wish to speak about?” Kayla asked after Sun Ruhui had finished his tea. She sat down across from him with an expectant look.
Sun Ruhui took a deep breath. “It’s about your promotion, my lord,” he said heavily.
Kayla nodded encouragingly. “Please go on.”
Sun Ruhui seemed to relax slightly at her reaction, but once again steeled himself before speaking.
“Once again, I repeat the words of the ancient greats. If you love someone, how can you not labor for their sake? If you are loyal to someone, how can you fail to remonstrate with them? I had the fortune of receiving your recommendation and subsequently gained success in my career, and am deeply grateful for your recognition and patronage. I do not dare to devote any less than my full strength to repay you. As thus, I cannot bring myself to watch quietly if you were to stumble into the wrong path, and so have intruded upon you at this late hour.”
Kayla took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Damn, what an opening speech. That’s not a good sign.
“Your words are worth a thousand gold,” Kayla replied. “If you have wisdom to impart upon me, that is a blessing that most cannot gain even if they prayed for it.”
”My lord, I notice as of late that you lack the compassion and benevolence that you oft showed before. Your actions invite scrutiny from your opponents and allies alike, and stir unease in the hearts of your followers. You are setting yourself up for failure,” Sun Ruhui said.
Wow, ok. Damn. He’s going straight for it? Ok, fine, that’s harsh, but fair enough I guess. She had seen this coming for a while now, but it was still discomfiting. Unlike rebukes from anyone else, Sun Ruhui’s actually hit home.
“Is this about Zhao Mingfang and Zhao Mingfu, or about Minister Liang? Or forcing Ji Fangluo to become my retainer?” Kayla asked. At the slight flicker of disappointed disapproval over Sun Ruhui’s face, she winced and kept trying. “Or is this about Feng Yi? Or my idea to pit the Empress Dowager and my godfather against each other, or–do-did you want me to keep going or something?”
“Let’s not speak of individual actions, but of the pattern behind them, my lord,” Sun Ruhui said. “For one, please think of how outsiders see this. No matter how many merits you achieve, the Grand Duke’s shadow will still stain you. The smallest of suspicions would cast a healthy appetite for power as ravenous overindulgence, and the weight of such a burden may end up forcing you down the same path as the Grand Duke.”
Kayla frowned, unable to contain her displeasure at the comparison. Sun Ruhui gave her a sympathetic look.
“I know better, but it is indeed a possibility. You must not believe that you are immune to corruption, or that your will is stronger than those who failed before you. It is not a singular event or momentous decision that drove the Grand Duke down the path of denigration, but a series of decisions that build upon one another. It always starts small, and often, even justifiably as well, but once you permit yourself to dirty your hands without regret, you will have given yourself permission to do it a second time. Once it’s taken root, it’ll be as difficult to remove as a weed,” Sun Ruhui said.
Kayla’s frown deepened. “I understand your meaning, but look at my situation here! Can I not defend myself? Do I have to mutely accept insults and sabotage, or even attempts on my life, just to protect my morality?”
“Of course not. If you cannot act decisively when you should, you’ll only suffer from it in the long run. I do not expect you to keep your hands entirely clean–I never did, or I wouldn’t have recommended assassinating the Grand Duke in the first place,” Sun Ruhui said firmly.
Kayla took a deep breath, letting it out in a slow sigh. She leaned back in her chair, tilting her head back to avoid Sun Ruhui’s earnest gaze, instead looking towards the ceiling. Sun Ruhui’s words were not spoken harshly, or even judgmentally, despite their contents. Yet it felt like someone had taken a hammer to a glass window inside her ribcage.
“If the upper pillar is lopsided, the lower pillars are sure to be lopsided. You must not grow careless in your self-expectations for risk of leading the entire faction astray, my lord,” Sun Ruhui warned her. “Rather than carelessly giving into instinct and emotion, can you please stop for a moment and actually think about where you’re headed with all this?”
“I thought I knew,” Kayla admitted. “I know I need to hurry up and take action with everything about to go down in the future, but it’s like I’m floundering just to stay afloat. I’ve gotten a few wins recently, but they don’t make me feel any more secure at all.”
Sun Ruhui nodded patiently. “Then how do they make you feel?”
What the fuck is this, therapy? Kayla resisted the urge to lash out. She owed Sun Ruhui an explanation. Sun Ruhui had always been a virtuous man and a capable official. Though Kayla had dragged him into the muddy waters of the capital, he had no obligation to lose his moral standing because of her.
There was a strange sensation tingling through her fingers, as though the walls were physically closing in as the night grew more vast outside.
Kayla knitted her fingers together on her lap, glancing over Sun Ruhui’s shoulders rather than meeting his eyes. Something about his countenance made her feel like a scolded child in a teacher’s office.
“I once read somewhere that the human touch is actually very sensitive to texture, that if your finger was the size of the earth, you would be able to tell the difference between a house and a wagon by touch alone,” she said.
Sun Ruhui gave a small nod, hiding his confusion at where this was going.
“But I wonder, if you were that big, wouldn’t you crush both? If you were that large…you wouldn’t be able–be able to exist without hurting people. I wonder what that’s like–I wonder if that’s what this is like,” Kayla stumbled through her words, having no more idea where this was going than he did.
“My lord, are you alright?” Sun Ruhui asked after a long pause.
Kayla cleared her throat and tried to force out a suitable response. But something more primal kicked in, and Kayla’s mouth was moving before she could stop herself.
“I’ve seen more than just a glimpse of the future,” Kayla said, the words tumbling out as though they had a life of their own. “I’ve seen further than you could even imagine. I saw a future where leaders were elected by the people rather than ruling by birthright, where steel birds flew in the sky and horseless carriages filled the streets. It was a dizzying world, full of bright lights and brittle connections. There was abundance, enough to keep every person fed, clothed, and housed, and still people went hungry and cold, and they walked through life as fearful and unhappy and angry as people do now. There’s so far to go, and even what lies at the end may still not be the right answer. How am I supposed to find the right steps to take?”
“My lord,” Sun Ruhui said in a stunned voice, faltering as he tried to grasp for words. After a moment, he collected himself and tried again. “My lord, just how far into the future did Lady Lin show you?”
Kayla hesitated. “Over a thousand years,” she finally replied, coming closer to the truth than she had ever set out to say. For some reason, she was compelled to continue rather than backtracking.
Kayla glanced uncomfortably at Sun Ruhui’s shocked expression. “Several dynasties had passed since our time, and the rule of Emperors had already ended in this country and in most places around the world. No matter what we do, this dynasty will come to an end within the next century or two, and the cycle will repeat itself over and over again. Nothing we do can prevent that from happening.”
She scrutinized his expression, unable to tell if he believed her. She desperately wanted him to understand at the same time that she desperately wanted him not to.
Sun Ruhui shook his head, his brow creased in a worried frown. “Heavenly secrets should not be divulged to man, she tempted fate by showing you such a thing. But this explains a great deal about your behavior. It is no wonder that you feel as though you are meandering, my lord. Too much knowledge for too far into the future is enough to bind the hands and feet of any man. You never should have known any of this.”
“Perhaps,” Kayla said vaguely. “But I do. Sometimes, I feel like a lost child wandering alone in the night. The ground feels like it would open up beneath my feet at any moment, but all I can do is to run as fast as I can in hopes of reaching a safe destination. I’ve been overwhelmed ever since I-since I decided to turn against my grandfather, even when things go well. I don’t know if something’s wrong with me or what, but that’s just…how it is.”
She regretted the words almost as soon as she had spoken them, turning her eyes away from Sun Ruhui’s expression. Sun Ruhui regarded Kayla carefully for a moment before responding, his voice thoughtful and measured. “The way I see it, my lord, you lack a sense of security due to circumstance rather than any weakness of character.”
Kayla glanced up at him with a tinge of relief.
“It cannot be helped, given the situation. Whether it is the court, the princes, or the palace, everyone is scrutinizing your actions without consideration for your circumstances, while you yourself are left floundering with the knowledge of a future in which any efforts we have made have already been buried in the flow of history. Moreover, though the Grand Duke has died, your resentment remains unsatisfied. But be that as may, there is no real outlet for your anger, and you only find yourself more and more beholden to the predicaments that you had sought to break free from,” Sun Ruhui went on, carefully watching Kayla’s expression as he spoke.
Kayla stared at him in surprise. Her heart squeezed with a thin, fraught emotion that she couldn’t quite identify.
“Wow, yeah. Yeah, pretty much. That’s spot on,” she said. “You-you should’ve been a psychoanalyst or something.”
“A what, my lord?” Sun Ruhui frowned in confusion.
“Nothing, nothing,” Kayla let out a disbelieving laugh. “Please just go on with what you were saying.”
Sun Ruhui nodded a little uncertainly but went on. “My lord, this may be difficult to hear, but you need to let go of everything you’ve learned about the future. Knowing too much, thinking too much, it’ll be your downfall.”
Kayla drew in a sharp breath. “Easier said than done.”
“But it is necessary,” Sun Ruhui said firmly.
Kayla glanced up at him, her brows knitted together.
”You’re so trapped by what you know and fear will happen that you fail to see the impact your actions have right here and now,” Sun Ruhui said.
He leaned forward in his seat and grabbed onto Kayla’s hands, his voice taking on an edge of fervor. “What does it matter if this dynasty will end sooner or later? Each generation must fight their own battles. Ours is to ensure the peace and prosperity of our times. These schemes and plots of the court are nothing but drops in the ocean of history, amounting to no more meaning than the brawls of street urchins. How can a man of your position allow them to dictate your life? A great man should have the will and ambition of the rushing rivers that flow eastwards into the sea–The right path for us is to do everything in our power to reverse the tumultuous currents. Is that not the case, my lord?”
Sun Ruhui was almost desperate in his sincerity. Kayla glanced down at his hands and then at Sun Ruhui’s expression, a knotted cord at the back of her mind unraveling.
“You’re right,” Kayla said. “But how? I’ve never even wanted to be a part of any of these fights in the first place, but I can’t just ignore everyone trying to screw me over, can I?”
“One cannot have the intent to harm another, but also cannot lack the caution to ward against others,” Sun Ruhui agreed. “But then again, perhaps our best plan may simply be to not have a plan. The greatest virtue is like that of water, which benefits all creatures but does not contest with them, and is willing to go where others disdain, hence why it is closest to enlightenment. We must be able to change shape and direction at the slightest turn, so as to overcome all obstacles by flowing over them entirely. If we wish to fulfill your ambitions, we must create conditions conducive to us and detrimental to the enemy. Given that you have such strong backing from the Emperor and the upper hand in terms of improvisation, operating on contingency will do exactly that.”
The sensation of metal gears clicking just into place filled Kayla’s chest.
“Ruhui,” Kayla said. “Thanks to your words, everything makes perfect sense now.”
“My lord?”
“That’s exactly what we should be doing–the opposite of what everyone expects. With the Emperor displaying his favor so brazenly, I have a window of time in which no one can openly move against me. If I want to make the most of it, I need to strike fast and hard, not against my opponents but despite them. Whether it’s the various factions, the princes, or even the Empress Dowager, they’re hindering my movements by dragging me into plots, knowing that I can’t just ignore them, but what if I do the opposite? If I disregard them and persevere on my own path, they’ll all have to run to keep up,” Kayla said, a vindictive smile on her face.
It all boils down to a game of chicken with ridiculously high stakes, doesn’t it?
“And what exactly would you be aiming to accomplish, my lord?” Sun Ruhui asked.
“We need to prepare for the natural disasters and the invasion of the Khaganate anyways, why not launch these projects now and use them to centralize the Emperor’s power? If I push forward with these, people will lower their guards, since I’m not directly impinging on their interests immediately, but the second they realize what I’m really aiming for, they’ll have to drop all their traps and schemes to deal with me. If I do things right, it’ll be too late by the time they realize,” Kayla said, excitement increasing in her voice. “And we don’t need to set things into stone either, it’s just as you said, the more flexible you’re willing to be, the more control you have over how things develop.”
Kayla leaned forward, her eyes glinting with a determined light. “Simply put, whether it’s the court, the princes, the military, or even the palace, fighting them on their terms gains no good results. So here’s what I think we should do–Let them fight their battles, and I’ll fight mine. We’ll see who backs down first.”
Sun Ruhui mulled it over briefly. “It is a brazen strategy, my lord, but I see no reason why it should not work. Most of your opponents have too much to lose to bear much risk, and that’s exactly why they would be susceptible. If that is what you wish to do, I will gladly do everything within my ability to support you.”
Kayla reached over and squeezed his shoulder. “Thank you, Ruhui. That’s exactly what I was hoping to hear.”
----------------------------------------
Cultural Notes
晴天霹雳/Struck by lightning on a clear day: A Chinese saying that refers to a shocking event, usually a misfortune that strikes you unexpectedly out of nowhere.
Reforms in Ancient China: Reforms in Ancient China, especially large-scale ones that impinge on the interests of the clans/court/nobility, tend not to go too well if not carried out carefully and effectively. Like any actions anywhere that damage the elite's interests, it results in massive backlash. Reforms often end up being overturned, or delayed and enacted over a long period of time. If things go wrong, it may even result in rebellions, the execution of primary reformers, the deposing of Emperors, or even the collapse of a dynasty.
不是省油的灯/Not an oil-saving lamp: A Chinese saying that means someone is difficult to deal with or takes a lot of effort to deal with.
功名也罢,骂名也罢/Praise as well, criticism as well: Ancient Chinese elites placed great importance on their reputation, including how they are to be remembered by history. So to knowingly act in a way that may very well invite criticism in the next thousand years or so is a rather brazen move.
恩重如山/Favor as weighty as a mountain: An Ancient Chinese proverb that means to owe someone a great debt, often in terms of favors or help rather than actual money.
无怨无悔/No complaints no regrets: An Ancient Chinese proverb that describes a mindset in which someone broad-minded willingly accepts the outcome without anger or regrets.
爱之能勿劳乎?忠焉能勿诲乎?/If you love someone, how can you not labor for them? If you are loyal to someone, how can you not remonstrate with them?: A quote from the Ancient Chinese classic The Analects by Confucius, it emphasizes the duty of a loyal subject to offer good advice when necessary, even if it may invite anger or dislike. In Sun Ruhui's opening introduction to his critcisms, there is a lot of stuff that I couldn't fully translate without clogging up the flow, but Sun Ruhui was using extremely formal speech that signaled to Kayla that it wasn't anything good, so here is what Sun Ruhui said in Chinese for anyone interested: "如古之贤人所言, “爱之,能勿劳乎?忠焉,能勿诲乎?” 我幸得大人提携,深受其知遇之恩,不敢不竭力报之。今见大人误入迷途,目不忍睹,故来相劝。"
知遇之恩/Debt of recognition and patronage: An Ancient Chinese proverb that refers to the debt you owe a mentor/recommender/master who recognizes your true talents and worth and give you an opportunity to make the most of them.
目不忍睹/Unable to bear watching: An Ancient Chinese proverb that is the approximate equivalent of "Oh my god, I can't watch this."
一言值千金/One word is worth a thousand gold: An Ancient Chinese saying that describes the great significance one places on the words/advice of another.
蔓草难除/Weeds are difficult to remove: An Ancient Chinese proverb that stems from the pre-Qin historical record, The Commentary of Zuo. It is used in the line "蔓草难除也,何况君之宠弟乎?/Weeds are difficult to remove, not unlike Your Majesty's excessive doting on your younger brother" from the story of Duke Zheng, the ruler of a pre-Qin fief, whose mother detested him and favored his younger brother. His mother wanted her younger son to succeed the position of ruler, and kept trying to gain more concessions from her older son, who decided to go along with it and doted upon his younger brother. Eventually, his younger brother became arrogant enough to rebel, just as he had hoped, and he finally had an excuse to crush his younger brother through military strength. Though the Duke of Zheng's actions were understandable to some extent, the fact that he more or less led his own brother into committing a crime just to vent his frustrations was harshly criticized in the Commentary of Zuo. Beyond the fact that he acted in a decidedly un-brotherly fashion, the Duke also caused his people and soldiers to suffer for the sake of his own grudges by letting it come to war.
上梁不正下梁歪/If the upper pillar is crooked, the lower pillars will be lopsided: An Ancient Chinese saying that means a corrupt leader will result in corrupt followers.
天机不可泄露/Heavenly secrets should not be divulged: An Ancient Chinese saying and superstition, where it is believed that certain things, such as knowledge of the future, should not be known to man.
大丈夫之志,应如长江东奔大海/A great man's ambitions should be like the rivers that flow eastwards towards the sea: Many writings in Ancient China encouraged scholars to have great ambitions towards the uplift of the country, as a way of encouraging a sense of societal responsibility, and lines such as these appear in many poems and pieces of prose. This particular line is actually from the TV adaption of The Romance of the Three Kingdoms (1994 version). Despite popular belief, is not actually in the original novel written during the Ming dynasty.
力挽狂澜/[Strain to] reverse the tumultuous currents: An Ancient Chinese proverb meaning to exert yourself to restore order/to prevent something bad from happening. Usually used for someone who does the impossible by holding their ground and keeping shit together when everything is devolving into chaos.
害人之心不可有,防人之心不可无/One cannot have the intent to harm another, but also cannot lack the caution to ward against others: A Chinese saying that is often doled out as life advice.
上善若水,水善利万物而不争,处众人之所恶,故几于道/The greatest virtue is like that of water, which benefits all creatures but does not contest with them, and is willing to go where others disdain, hence why it is closest to enlightenment: A quote from the Taoist classic the Dao De Jing.
反其道而行之/Go against the path they are taking: An Ancient Chinese saying that means to go against what everyone is doing/trying to get you to do, or to do the unexpected.
他们打他们的,我们打我们的/Let them fight their battle and we'll fight ours: A saying used to refer to military tactics in Ancient China where one side abandons defense to attack at their opponent's vital positions, a situation in which whichever side poses a greater threat within the shortest time wins by forcing the other to withdraw. In other words, a high-stake game of chicken in which whoever has more guts (to abandon defense and thus concentrate more resources in offense) is likely to emerge victorious.