It's too late to feel regret; regret is now futile or useless; to be beyond the point of no return for repentance.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
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Story:
During the Spring and Autumn period, Duke Jing of Qi fell seriously ill. He appointed Guo Huizi and Gao Zhaoli to assist Prince Tu in becoming the next ruler. After Duke Jing's death, the other princes fled to various states such as Wei and Lu.
Chen Qi, a powerful minister in Qi, harbored ambitions to eliminate Guo Huizi and Gao Zhaoli. He strategically sowed discord between them and other high-ranking officials, arguing that if these two were not removed, everyone would suffer deep and unchangeable regret, implying it would be too late to repent. This manipulation ultimately triggered a fierce conflict.