During the reign of Emperor Taizong in the Tang Dynasty, there was an official named Lu Chengqing. He was tasked with investigating the responsibility for a series of mishaps involving grain transport ships.

During his investigation, he observed one particular official whose performance evaluation he changed three times — sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. Yet, this official consistently displayed an extraordinary composure, remaining undisturbed whether praised or criticized.

Later, Lu Chengqing himself experienced significant fluctuations in his career and faced a challenging fate with many ups and downs. However, just like the official he observed, his own spirit remained as tranquil as still water. He never allowed the unpredictable turns of fortune to sway his character or alter his guiding principles, embodying the true essence of 'undisturbed by favor or disgrace'.