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The high-ranking officials and nobles mostly lowered their status to associate with him, yet Master Zhu would straightforwardly state the principles of governance without any hesitation. However, whenever the topic turned to glory and profit, he would brush off his sleeves and rise up in disdain. In his interactions with others, he strictly adhered to the Three Bonds and Five Constants (San Gang Wu Chang: the fundamental moral principles of Confucianism) as the criterion for association or separation. He once said, "When the Way prevails in the world, conduct will bear abundant fruits; when the Way is absent from the world, words will be merely ornamental." Conduct is the root, while words are the branches that grow from it. If he encountered such ornamental words that abandoned the root and focused on the branches, anger would overflow on his face, as if he feared being defiled. Master Zhu's outstanding character was thus; therefore, practicing medicine was but a trivial matter among many. However, the general outline of his scholarly pursuits and conduct has already been fully recorded in the epitaph written by my friend, Grand Historian Song Lian, so I shall not repeat it here. Instead, I have privately selected those aspects of his medical practice worthy of transmission to write this biography, hoping that future gentlemen may cross-reference and verify them.

Commentary says: In ancient times, Yan Junping of the Han Dynasty was profoundly learned and versatile, making a living by fortune-telling in Chengdu. When asked evil or improper questions, he would use yarrow stalks and tortoise shells to divine and explain the pros and cons. To those speaking as sons, he guided them based on Filial Piety (Xiao); to those speaking as younger brothers, he guided them based on Fraternal Duty (Ti); to those speaking as ministers, he guided them based on Loyalty (Zhong). Historical records praise his demeanor and integrity as sufficient to stimulate the greedy and rectify social customs. Master Zhu acquired the source and development of Daoist learning (Neo-Confucianism) in Wuzhou, yet mingled with the practitioners of medicine. Whenever anyone came to see him regarding medicine, he never failed to open their minds by teaching them how to preserve Jing (Essence) and nurture Shen (Spirit). Regarding every word and silence, every action and retreat, especially those concerning ethics and morality, he instructed earnestly, inspiring people to strive vigorously and feel moved and stimulated without delay. Zuo Qiuming once said, "The words of a benevolent person bring vast benefits!" This is indeed true. A person like Master Zhu is precisely what the ancients called a beneficial friend who is upright, honest, and well-informed, and can he merely be regarded as a physician?