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Chapter 15 - Endure Humiliation and Carry Heavy Burdens, the True Face of the Treacherous Minister!
Chapter 15: Endure Humiliation and Carry Heavy Burdens, the True Face of the Treacherous Minister!
Ye Ning spent several hours contemplating in the palace.
Although it seemed like a short time, it was enough for the news of what happened today in the court to spread throughout the entire civil and military officials.
After all, today’s commotion was too great, with the appearance of the projection of the sages and the stirring speeches.
Countless people were paying attention to the palace.
People were eager to know who the young man they saw through the projection of the sages was.
Now, they knew.
That person was called Ye Ning!
Originally just a low-ranking official, he stood up at the most critical moment, willing to die rather than surrender the imperial seal.
He regarded death as home, and in his eyes, all the officials and ministers were like dirt. He even denounced the Immortal Sect, shouting, “Traitors and villains must be punished by everyone!”
What a feat it was!
Such a feat was rare throughout the ages.
In the history books, he would be hailed as the greatest hero of all time!
This was an era of decline for Confucianism.
The more it declined, the more people would reminisce about past glories and long for the appearance of heroes.
Ye Ning’s appearance satisfied the spiritual needs of countless people.
Scholars were just like this!
So, almost half of the scholars in the capital flocked over, most of them inspired by Ye Ning’s demeanor.
They wanted to praise Ye Ning’s feat in their own way.
Ye Ning, who had lived in two worlds, had never experienced such a scene as today.
The crowd prostrated themselves, praising him incessantly.
From their eyes, one could see reverence, fanaticism, and admiration.
This kind of gaze made Ye Ning instinctively uncomfortable.
It also made him momentarily at a loss.
Because he wasn’t actually the person that everyone described.
Selfless, willing to die, righteous, serving the king… It was as if all the best qualities of scholars were present in him.
But he knew, things weren’t like that.
Originally, he was just doing it for himself. The reason why it turned out like this could only be attributed to coincidence and misunderstanding.
“What I did gave them hope.” Ye Ning sighed softly.
At this moment, he suddenly felt a slight sense of integration into this unfamiliar world.
Because he realized that the people of this world were also living beings.
They weren’t “NPCs” in a game, but living people with emotions, aspirations, and dreams.
Like many young people on Earth in his previous life, they also had dreams, but they were stifled for various reasons.
They looked at Ye Ning as if he were their savior.
“I am not a savior, I am just a passerby, and there isn’t much I can do.” Ye Ning remained silent for a long time, but eventually he recognized himself.
Being able to bring hope to people made him very happy, but his original intention wouldn’t change. He just wanted to seek death and then ascend to heaven. It’s as simple as that.
As he walked forward, the crowd parted to make way for him.
Under the fervent gaze of the crowd, he gradually walked away.
—
“Lord Ye has become famous overnight. No matter how many years pass, his name will surely shine with its own brilliance in the history books.” Late at night, in the palace, a slightly old voice sounded.
“Unfortunately, fame has brought him not benefits, but the fear of the Immortal Sect. I am very worried about his safety.” Ji Mingyue’s voice also sounded.
If Liu Jin was here right now, he would surely be extremely angry.
Because sitting opposite the emperor was the leader of the treacherous party, the Left Councilor Liu Shen!
This person was simply despicable and shameless, deceiving the king regularly, harming loyal subjects, and amassing wealth. He was a true traitorous minister.
In the eyes of countless people, Liu Shen was that demon!
Liu Jin believed that Liu Shen had committed such great crimes that he should be punished by everyone. The only reason he could still be alive was because of the emperor’s favor.
But today, with the emperor being coerced by foreign ministers in such a dangerous situation, this traitor, along with his henchmen, didn’t even attend the court session!
What was this?
This was desertion!
Such a person shouldn’t be struck down by divine punishment?
But he was sitting here just fine.
From Ji Mingyue’s expression, there was no hint of blame towards him either.
“Alas, this is also what this old minister worries about. In the current situation, the Immortal Sect still harbors resentment towards our Great Zhou. Any loyal ministers and righteous individuals will inevitably be targeted. To survive, one must do something. Just like this old minister, tarnish one’s reputation, put on the mask of a treacherous minister, and become the greatest treacherous minister of all time!”
Liu Shen’s voice was full of self-deprecation.
Today, Ye Ning received the respect of countless people, hailed as the greatest hero of all time.
And he, on the other hand, received the condemnation of countless people. People said that he was the greatest treacherous minister of all time!
With such a contrast, how could he not feel bitter?
“Don’t worry, Your Majesty, I will immediately send someone to suppress public discussions.”
Looking at the old Liu Shen, Ji Mingyue was filled with guilt.
“You were originally entrusted by the late emperor, a rare loyal and righteous minister. For the greater good, he tarnished his reputation, acted in the name of a treacherous minister, and quietly carried out loyal and righteous deeds.
“Toward others, I have no guilt, but only toward Minister Liu do I feel deeply ashamed.
“I wish I could immediately clear Minister Liu’s name of all accusations!”
Tears welled up in Ji Mingyue’s eyes.
In the eyes of outsiders, Liu Shen was a man of great power, forgetful of ancestral teachings, lacking in filial piety, despicable and shameless, insatiable in greed, and harming loyal subjects.
But in his eyes, Liu Shen endured humiliation and carried heavy burdens, working in the darkness to carry out righteous deeds.
Without Liu Shen, how could he have persevered until now, fighting alone?
The conversation between the sovereign and his subject was known to no one.
If it was to spread, it would surely cause a huge uproar.
Hearing this, Liu Shen smiled indifferently, waving his hand without any concern.
“Your Majesty need not worry about it. Let the people curse as much as they want. The more they curse, the safer this old minister will be.”
He changed the subject.
“But the matter of Ye Ning is a bit tricky.”