Chapter 747 - Monarch and Ministers
Chapter 747 of "Red Heart Patrols the Sky" introduces new challenges: Xinâan City, Zhuang Royal Palace.Footsteps tapped on the floor tiles with a consistent rhythm.It revealed... Keep following!
Xinâan City, Zhuang Royal Palace.Footsteps tapped on the floor tiles with a consistent rhythm.
It revealed the extraordinary determination and will of the footstepsâ owner.
Lin Zhengren approached from the distant palace gate, and as he drew near, he bowed respectfully, âGreetings to the Prime Minister.â
Du Ruhui, his black hair pinned up in a Daoist bun, nodded slightly, simply saying, âHis Majesty is inside.â
Neither distant nor close.
From the corner of his eye, Lin Zhengren noticed the tall and thin Fu Baosong standing to the side, probably having been talking to Du Ruhui before, standing perfectly erect.
âAs solitary and upright as the green pines,â was how the principal of Wangjiang Cityâs Daoist Academy had described him.
Lin Zhengren felt somewhat uncomfortable.
In his view, Fu Baosong, who had mediocre talent and old-fashioned morals, had achievements that were neither great nor notably hardworking.
Yet, he always seemed self-important, with an air of being the only pure one in a corrupt world.
Who knows what luck had brought him favor from the National Priest and then the Prime Minister, Du Ruhui, who took turns looking upon him favorably.
But such discomfort would never show on Lin Zhengrenâs face; he even turned and gave Fu Baosong a warm smile.
Fu Baosong bowed his head in return, not uttering a word.
Politeness stems from custom; estrangement comes from the heart.
The man had yet to learn the superficial skills of his senior brother Lin.
Although he never spoke ill of Lin Zhengren behind his back, he just couldnât warm up to him in person.
Lin Zhengren walked inside, inadvertently catching Du Ruhuiâs calm yet profound eyes and quickly averting his gaze in respect.
Yet in his heart, he wonderedâ
Did this old fox realize that Zhu Weiwoâs betrayal had a bit of his own handiwork in it?
Although he was certain there was no evidence, as a Prime Minister, Du Ruhui often didnât need evidence.
With these thoughts in his mind, he never stopped walking, continuing at his steady pace, moving slowly away.
After Lin Zhengren had gone, Du Ruhui glanced at Fu Baosong and asked deliberately, âIs he your senior brother from the Daoist Academy?â
Fu Baosong bent forward and responded, âHe is my senior brother.â
âWhat do you think of him?â Du Ruhui asked.
Fu Baosong again bowed deeply: âBaosong lacks the wisdom to know others, the insight to understand them, and is truly insufficient to judge others.â
Looking into the distance toward the Zhuang Royal Palaceâs sky, which was void of bright colors, Du Ruhui said, âA gentleman does not hide othersâ virtues nor speak of their vices.
Your reluctance to speakâdoes it suggest he has flaws, a wicked nature?â
âBaosong harbors no such intention,â Fu Baosong bowed deeply, very earnestly saying, âPlease do not say such things, Prime Minister.â
With a sigh in his heart, Du Ruhui considered the National Priest and the Wangjiang City Daoist Academy principalâs strong recommendations of this young man, and he too recognized the young manâs character.
However, he couldnât help but find him too unbending, lacking in smoothness.
What kind of people did Zhuang Country need now?
With a thousand considerations in his mind, yet his face showed a smile: âSuch an upright gentleman makes it hard for me to deceive.â
Building a reserve of talents was now a crucial consideration for Zhuang Ting.
A strengthening Zhuang Country needed pioneers as well as successors.
Zhuang Country had already displayed its strength through war and must now showcase its potential for the future.
To increase its influence among the Dao-allied nations, to counter Qin and Jingâs oppression, and even to stand against Jinguoâs dissatisfactionâŚ
all these required showing a vision for the future.
The Yellow River Meeting was a very important opportunity.
Which is why Zhuang Gaoxian had called to see the young talents of the nation one by one, offering his personal encouragement.
As one of the six heroes of the National Academy, Lin Zhengren was undoubtedly among Zhuang Countryâs top young cultivators.
With his active presence on Zhuang Yongâs battlefield, he was naturally included in this meeting.
Passing through the palace guards standing solemnly on both sides, he walked into the spacious hall.
The King of Zhuang Country sat on the dragon throne, casting a shadow down from above.
Lin Zhengren advanced calmly and greeted the king with a bow, âNational Academy disciple Lin Zhengren greets Your Majesty.â
Zhuang Gaoxianâs eyes narrowed slightly.
Originally, he did not need to consider the succession of talent.
Zhu Weiwoâs performance had been brilliant enough.
He was an undeniable prodigy, seen favorably by both him and Du Ruhui.
The only drawback, perhaps, was his arrogance.
But the more arrogant a man, the better controlled.
He didnât need Zhu Weiwo to wield power in the future, he just needed him to become Zhuang Countryâs sharpest spear, a fluttering banner for Zhuang Country.
Towards Zhu Weiwo, he thought he had been exceedingly gracious.
Even during the critical moment of waging a war for his nation, he followed Du Ruhuiâs advice and kept Zhu Weiwo within the country as a seed of hope should the wartime efforts fail.
After He Badaoâs death in battle, he had even decided to entrust the White Feather Army, the guardians of Zhuang Capital, to him!
But Zhu Weiwo had abandoned him, betraying the country.
Such a profound betrayal of the royal grace!
What weeds, what enemies.
He wished he could crush the traitor with his own hands.
But what has happened cannot be undone, no matter how angry it makes us.
As the ruler of a nation, he had to look ahead.
The young man Dong Ah valued most in his life was Li Jianqiu, whom he saw as a potentially shining light.
The most outstanding warrior on the battlefield at Suolong Gate was Du Yehu, who followed the path of the Ancient Soldier Family with a fierce heart, stepping into perilous ways.
Both of these rising talents were very good, but they were both from Maple Forest City Region in Qinghe County.
Zhuang Gaoxian wouldnât have thought much of this, ready to unite with his ministers in heart and purpose, to demand an explanation from Bone Tao, just as they had done when they had previously eradicated Bone Tao.
But the words that Zhu Weiwo uttered when he betrayed the countryââI shall never forget the old affairs of Maple Forestââ
had planted a thorn in his heart.
Although Du Ruhui had already dealt with the situation properly, ensuring that no one else would speak of these words,
and although there wouldnât be any evidence of the incidents in Maple Forest City Region,
he couldnât help but scrutinize the people who came from there.
Among these people, could there be a second Zhu Weiwo?
Who exactly was the person who killed Dong Ah?
And Lin ZhengrenâŚ
On the day of Zhu Weiwoâs betrayal, Lin Zhengren was also in Xinâan City.
Wangjiang City Region was adjacent to Maple Forest City Region; did Lin Zhengren also know something?
âDo you know what has taken place?â Zhuang Gaoxian asked from the dragon throne.
As the king, he had a general judgment of all the young cultivators summoned to this audience, but he wouldnât let anyone see his true preferences or dislikes.
But he couldnât let go of Zhu Weiwoâs betrayal, so he deviated from the original framework of conversation and asked such a question.
Lin Zhengrenâs heart tightened, âThis servant is unaware of what Your Majesty refers to.â
Zhuang Gaoxianâs voice betrayed no joy or sorrow, âAsk about what you should know, and donât about what you shouldnât.â
A monarch can afford to be vague in asking, but a subject cannot afford to be vague in answering.
Because a careless answer could amount to deceiving the king.
Sweat appeared on Lin Zhengrenâs forehead, and after quickly weighing the pros and cons, he finally said, biting his teeth, âThis servant hasâŚ
some conjectures!â
Thus, Zhuang Gaoxian knew that Lin Zhengren was indeed aware of the true reason behind the downfall of Maple Forest City Region.
How did he find out?
Was it due to the same reasons as Zhu Weiwo, or was it a conjecture based on Zhu Weiwoâs betrayal?
But that was no longer important.
If Lin Zhengren had even a bit of sense, he would surely only admit to the latter reasonâŚ
Zhuang Gaoxian waved his hand and dismissed the attendants.
âThereâs a question, from my mouth to your ears, that no third person should know,â he said in a light voice.
âWangjiang City is not far from Maple Forest City; Lin Zhengren, do you not feel a sense of shared fate?â
With Zhuang Gaoxianâs cultivation, he indeed did not need guards.
Alone with just the two of them, Lin Zhengren felt even greater pressure.
Especially⌠when faced with such a question.
But he did not hesitate long, for any hesitation at this moment would be an error.
He decisively prostrated himself: âThis servant knows not of shared fate, only that the nation comes before the family!
Without the nation, where can a home be?
For the great cause, what sacrifice matters!â
âEven if it isâŚâ Zhuang Gaoxian seldomly smiled, it wasnât clear whether it was out of relief or sarcasm, âsacrificing yourself?â
Lin Zhengren banged his head on the floor intensely.
A transcendent cultivator need not prostrate so deeply, but his prostration was still resoundingly vigorous.
âHeaven bless Zhuang, to have such an extraordinary sovereign.
For the eternal endeavor of Great Zhuang, this servant is willing to lay down his liver and brains, what then is a hundred deaths!â
Loyalty and devotion echoed through the hall.
Such was the bond between monarch and servant!
ps: A new volume begins.
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