A wise minister is like a mirror; a treacherous one, like fog. When Prince Jian of Chu was killed in Zheng, his son Sheng fled to Wu. The prime minister Zixi planned to recall Sheng, but Shen Zhuliang warned: "Sheng may be brave, but he is narrow-minded and obsessed with revenge. If you recall him without trust, he will resent you; if you trust him, his greed will grow. A nation on the brink of ruin always has a treacherous minister at court. The wise avoid disaster before it strikes. Those who let personal vendettas destroy families and states are the real threats. You should guard against him even behind closed doors—why invite him back?" Zixi ignored the advice, recalled Sheng, and made him a border lord. Later, Sheng defeated the Wu army but rebelled under the guise of a military exercise. He seized King Hui of Chu, killed Zixi and other ministers, and took power.
Life lesson: Choosing the wrong person is like raising a tiger. True character lies not in outward bravery but in inner virtue. A single misjudgment can bring ruin. In modern life, be mindful when choosing friends, partners, or colleagues—look beyond appearances to their true nature.