Late January, the twenty-third year of the Emperor Chongzhen era. Nanjing, Spring Harmony Palace.
Zhu Cilang, Crown Prince of the Great Ming Dynasty, sat upon his stool attending a lecture. His instructor for the day was Liu Lishun, a lecturer at the Eastern Palace. Liu Lishun had placed first in the imperial examinations in the seventh year of the Chongzhen era, at the age of fifty-one. Given his advanced years and his total devotion to scholarship, the Emperor had assigned him roles primarily pedagogical in nature, such as Right Virtuous Advisor, lecturer at the Classics Mat, and lecturer at the Eastern Palace. Now, Liu Lishun had reached the ripe age of sixty-seven.
"Your Highness," Liu Lishun said, suddenly bowing deeply to Zhu Cilang. "I am approaching seventy. Not only are my eyes dim and my hearing failing, but my memory grows increasingly poor. To ensure I do not hinder your studies, I must request to resign my position as lecturer at the Eastern Palace."
Chapter 738