Red Heart Patrols the Sky

Chapter 2523 - 111: National Grievance and Personal Hatred (Part 4)

He was unarmed, with only white socks on his feet, his natural aura was already at a disadvantage.But his demeanor was composed, he first bowed to the Son of Heaven, then to Jiang Wang, earnestly saying: "I, a commoner, have always respected the military merits of the Marquis. Today’s words are a trial, if there are errors, please do not be merciful, but reprimand me directly. If that does not vent your anger, even if blood splashes three steps, I, too, have no complaint."

Facing this famous scholar who had repeatedly berated him severely, Jiang Wang raised an eyebrow slightly: "Please speak."

Er Fengming straightened up, his wide sleeves fluttering aside, which exuded a free-spirited aura of a scholar: "May I ask the Marquis, between national hatred and personal vendetta, which is of lesser or greater weight?"

"What is national hatred? What is personal vendetta?" Jiang Wang countered: "Mr. Er, feel free to speak clearly, what does Fa Xia count as? What does the eradication of the Church of Lifeless count as?"

Er Fengming said: "Naturally, Fa Xia is for national hatred, eradicating the Church of Lifeless is for personal vendetta."

Jiang Wang looked at him calmly: "Has the eradication of the Church of Lifeless affected this marquis’s Fa Xia?"

Er Fengming was taken aback, realizing he had fallen into a linguistic trap, feeling a ridiculous sense of bewilderment... Wasn’t Marquis Wu’an supposed to resort to fists often?

But he quickly reacted: "The words are not meant as such. If the Church of Lifeless is an evil cult, it indeed ought to be eradicated. I also utterly detest evil cults. But how should it be eradicated? How much power to expend?"

"A mere Church of Lifeless is like ants compared to a mighty mountain, is it worth Great Qi expending such national power?"

He was in the mood, becoming increasingly agitated: "Such a small sect, a mere reward notice to the Patrol Inspection Bureau would suffice! Yet the Marquis stirred up a huge commotion out of personal hatred. Now the entire nation speaks of the Church of Lifeless, everyone desires to sever Zhang Linchuan’s head. The whole court acts for the personal hatred of the State Marquis, does the Marquis really not feel the slightest unease?"

Jiang Wang looked at him steadily for a while.

Seeing Er Fengming somewhat bewildered, his fervent diligence for the nation unconsciously weakened.

Yet he remained upright, with the integrity of a literati, saying: "Where did I err, Marquis, speak forthrightly."

Jiang Wang said: "If this marquis were to speak of the harms of the Church of Lifeless, I could say many things. The dangers of the Unborn Sect Founder Zhang Linchuan, sufficient to list them one by one. Perhaps you understand, perhaps you do not, perhaps you pretend not to understand. But today, these... are all not important."

He sighed: "You speak of personal vendetta, indeed."

"The Church of Lifeless is a bitter vendetta against this marquis, must kill them to be relieved... Before Your Majesty, before all colleagues, this marquis cannot deny."

He turned around, no longer looking at Er Fengming, only bowed to the Great Qi Emperor on the dragon throne: "In the past, during palace hearings, Your Majesty questioned, and I could not fully answer. Today, I attempt to speak—"

Although his body was bent, he spoke loudly: "I know the honor of the Hegemony Country, the nobility of princes and marquis! Four years of fame, willing to use it utterly for personal vendetta! May Your Majesty grant it!"

He does not explain, does not refute, he admits handling the Church of Lifeless and Zhang Linchuan was more about his personal hatred. He admits he is not the kind who is selfless, with only the nation in his heart. He admits he embraces his own loves and hates, gratitudes and grudges.

Now, he is willing to use everything won through life-and-death struggles in these four years, to make this exchange!

The present world is too vast, the world still has space for the Bone Tao to survive, he wants to request Emperor Qi, to issue a National Book!

The hall fell silent.

Zhongxuan Sheng was also silent, this did not match his prior suggestion, and left his subsequent preparations unusable. The outcome of today’s court discussion became elusive and uncertain. Is it prosperity or disaster? Is it right or wrong?

Er Fengming opened his mouth to speak, but finally closed it again.

Jiang Wang admits his eradication of the Church of Lifeless is for personal vendetta, admits he is a person who does not understand the bigger picture. What else could he say?

Just watch the Son of Heaven’s attitude.

Today’s Son of Heaven, both grace and punishment are without excess.

There can be extreme favor, there can be extreme coldness.

So for a military meritorious marquis who does not prioritize national affairs, what will his attitude be?

No matter king, marquis, minister, or noble.

Everyone held their breath.

Even Zhongxuan Zun, who stood silently on guard, opened his eyes.

But heard the Son of Heaven’s voice rise: "How could one say personal vendetta?"

Then slightly heavily fell again: "You are a State Marquis!"

"You say you already understand the nobility of prince and marquis, I think you do not understand."

He watched Jiang Wang from the dragon throne, slowly saying: "You, as a marquis of Great Qi, share the honor with the nation. Your personal affairs, are Great Qi national affairs!