The Price of Flattery
In 462 AD, when Emperor Xiaowu's beloved consort died, he wept daily at her grave, with courtiers weeping alongside. Some even fainted from grief, earning rewards from the emperor. The talented scholar Xie Zhuang, unwilling to follow the crowd, composed a eulogy filled with extravagant praise. The emperor was delighted and promoted Xie three ranks.
But the crown prince, Liu Ziye, deeply resented this flattery. After the emperor's death, he seized Xie and demanded, "When you wrote that eulogy, did you not know I was the heir?" Xie fainted in terror. Imprisoned for a year, he was only freed after Liu Ziye's sudden death.
Flattery may seem a shortcut, but it often leads to ruin. Praising others insincerely diminishes your integrity. Better to walk an honest path, speak with sincerity, and let your character speak for itself. A careless word can bring disaster; an upright heart brings lasting peace.