陈牧：寡人以俭治天下，然奢侈成风，何也？先生教我。
萧凡：臣以为，改政移风，必有其本。吴王好剑客，百姓多疮痍；楚王好细腰，宫中多饿死。斯言如戏，有切事实。愿大王罢服官，去不急，省奢侈，百姓从行不从言也，如此，则四海诵德，声薰天地，神明可通也。
陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人谨受教。
chenmu：igovernthecountryinafrugalway，butthesocialmoresisextravagant，sirtaughtmewhy？
xiaofan：ithink，ifyouwanttochangethissituation，youmustdealwithitfromthesource，thekinglikedswordsmensomanypeoplewereinjuredbylearningswords，thekinglikesskinnybeautiessomanywomeninthepalacestarvetodeathbecauseofweightloss，althoughthisisaproverb，itisatruething，ihopeyoucancutdownonsomeoftheunimportantinstitutionsandlivefrugally，thepeoplefollowedthedeedsnotwords，onlyinthiswaywilltheworldbeinspiredbyyouandbecomebetter。
chenmu:sirisright，irespectfullyacceptyourteachings。
陈牧：宦官夏桀触犯有司，寡人当如何处之，先生教我。
萧凡：臣以为，内侍之罪，莫大于欺罔，是以明君疾之。今夏桀所为，何异指鹿为马，然卒不能罪之，则奸臣安所惩哉！大王不见赵高乎！人主之于臣下，患在不知其奸，苟或知之而复赦之，则不若不知之为愈也。何以言之？彼或为奸而上不之知，犹有所畏；既知而不能讨，彼知其不足畏也，则放纵而无所顾矣！是故知善而不能用，知恶而不能去，人主之深戒也，望大王察之。
陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人知过矣，当为卿付之大理寺，以正典刑。
chenmu：theeunuchxiajiebrokethelaw，whatshouldidoaboutit？sirtaughtme。
xiaofan：ithink，thegreatestcrimeoftheattendantsisdeception，thereforethekinghatedsuchthingsverymuch，nowwhatxiajiedidwastodescribethehorseasadeer，ifhecouldnotbepunished，thenthetraitorswouldnotrelent，zhaogaooftheqinstatewaslikethis，theking‘stroublewasthathedidnotknowwhothetraitorswere，ifyouknowwhothetraitorisbutforgivehim，thenitisbetternottoknow，thantiswhy？youdon‘tknowthatheisatraitorandhestillhasfearinhisheart，youknowbutyoucan‘tpunishhimthenhewon‘tbeafraid，knowthegoodpeople，butyoucan‘tappointthem，knowthewicked，butyoucan‘tpunishthem，thisisaverydeepwarningfromtheking，ihopeyoudon‘tmakethesamemistake。
chenmu:sirisright，iwaswrong，iwilltakehimtocourt。
陈牧：今有人诽谤吾先君，寡人欲罪之，可乎？先生以为如何？
萧凡：臣以为，凡言诽谤者，谓实无此事而虚加诬之也。至如太祖皇帝，政之美恶，显在晋史，坦如日月，是为直书实事，非虚谤也。夫王者，为善为恶，天下莫不知之，假使所非实是，则固应悛改，傥其不当，亦宜含容，又何罪焉！大王不推原大数，深自为计，徒肆私忌以快其意，自今以后，苟见不可之事，终莫复言者矣。齐桓公亲扬其先君之恶以唱管仲，然后群臣得尽其心，今大王乃欲为太祖远讳实事，岂不与桓公异哉！非王者所为也！
陈牧：先生之言是也，寡人知过矣。
chenmu：nowsomeoneslanderedmyfatherandiwantedtopunishhim，sirwhatdoyouthink？
xiaofan：ithink，therumorsarethatthereisnosuchthing，butsomepeopleslanderit，theachievementsofthepreviouskingsarewritteninthehistorybooks，itisveryclearandtruewithouttheneedforotherstoslander，whetherthekingdoesgoodorbadthingscanbeseenbyeveryoneintheworld，ifsomeonepointssomethingwrongthenyoushouldcorrectit，evenifwhattheysayisnotappropriate，youshouldtoleratetheminsteadofpunishment，youdon‘tthinkabouttheoriginofthings，butonlythinkaboutyourownmoodandanger，thentherewillbenoonetocorrectyourmistakesanymore，thepreviouskingofqiallowedotherstopointoutthemistakesoftheirancestors，sotheministersworkedveryhardtohelphimgovernthecountry，yourapproachisnotasgoodasthatofkingqi，thisisnotwhatakingshoulddo。
chenmu:sirisright，iwaswrong。