Free Web NovelChapter 1364: Chapter 56: Discussion of Merits and Faults
Leaving the tea house, Li Longchuan boarded Yan Fu’s luxurious sedan chair.
The two sat facing each other, neither speaking for a moment.
The sudden confrontation between Zhang Weiyu and Zhongxuan Sheng this time had erupted fiercely.
First came the renowned scholar Er Fengming, who penned a stirring essay titled "On Merit and Faults," eloquent with several hundred words, adorned with beautiful rhetoric and precise citations. It was instantly circulated throughout Linzi.
The core issue discussed in this essay was whether merits could offset faults.
The ensuing debate was arguably the most intense in the past decade, rivaling the uproar sparked by Xu Fang’s denouncement of the abolished Crown Prince years ago.
One side used "On Merit and Faults" as their clarion call, while the other countered with their equally compelling essay "On Heroes and the Nation," serving as their spear.
The heated exchange drew numerous figures from both the court and the public arena.
The final consensus established was, "Merit is merit, fault is fault. Evaluate merit without considering past faults; penalize faults without weighing prior merits."
Thus, it followed naturally that a newly appointed Imperial Censor submitted a memorial to the Court, requesting an investigation into Jiang Qingyang...
This was an all-encompassing political battle, spanning from public opinion to court debates. Zhongxuan Sheng, who was forced into a defensive position, and Zhang Weiyu, who launched the offensive, played out their tactics on every front.
On one hand, Zhongxuan Sheng swiftly organized counterarguments to restore Jiang Wang’s reputation while simultaneously probing into Zhang Weiyu’s vulnerabilities. At the same time, he stirred momentum among the court and public, questioning the motives behind the vilification of heroes. He nearly overturned the situation on Jiang Wang’s behalf even in his absence.
Regrettably, this time too much mud had been thrown on Jiang Wang’s image. Without a proper cleanup, it was hard to justify anything, leaving Zhongxuan Sheng’s position inherently weak.
In the end, the matter concluded with the decision to conduct a thorough investigation into Green Sheep Town, a resolution anticipated by many. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
It was not a fault of strategy.
To the cold-eyed spectators, the political acumen displayed by Zhongxuan Sheng during this confrontation, along with his ability to mobilize the Zhong Xuan Family’s resources, was deeply astonishing.
Who would have thought that the pawn temporarily brought in to check Zhongxuan Zun had quietly solidified his standing? His command of the Zhong Xuan Family’s political resources had already surpassed Zhongxuan Zun!
In other words, within the Zhong Xuan Family, in the absence of a statement from Mr. Zhongxuan, more people sided with Zhongxuan Sheng—even if his opponent was Zhongxuan Fenghua.
This development had long shown signs, but only now did it become so unmistakably clear.
After dismantling Zhongxuan Zun’s private enterprises, Zhongxuan Sheng had already bound many house elders to his cause. His overseas arrangements further isolated Zhongxuan Zun’s influence.
When Zhongxuan Zun made a strong comeback, his best opportunity to reverse his fortunes lay in the Yellow River Gathering. He was fully aware of this and, after assessing the situation, refrained from any redundant actions, choosing instead to focus entirely on preparing for the gathering. He performed impeccably.
But unfortunately, he encountered Dou Zhao. And the one who seized the position of Yellow River Leader was none other than Jiang Wang, who was so close to Zhongxuan Sheng that they were practically inseparable. All glory went to Jiang Qingyang.
To many observers, this confrontation between Zhongxuan Sheng and Zhang Weiyu seemed less about protecting Jiang Wang and more about showcasing power—demonstrating that even if Jiang Wang faced trouble, Zhongxuan Sheng still had the backing of most of the Zhong Xuan Family.
But to friends like Li Longchuan and Yan Fu, what they saw was Jiang Wang’s crisis.
Zhang Weiyu pursued Jiang Wang relentlessly, fixating on Green Sheep Town as if certain there was damning evidence there that could ruin Jiang Wang.
The area around Green Sheep Town had already been sealed off.
If there were truly any issues, hiding or relocating them was no longer feasible.
Being close to Jiang Wang at such a time carried certain risks.
Worried, they visited to share tea and assess what they could do.
Zhongxuan Sheng was tight-lipped and revealed nothing, yet his calm and confident demeanor spoke volumes.
"Brother Yan, what do you think about Jiang Wang’s situation?" Li Longchuan asked.
Yan Fu smiled, "What kind of person Jiang Wang is—you should ask yourself that question, not me."
Li Longchuan responded, "Of course I know what kind of person he is, but I’m asking about the matter at hand."
"Zhongxuan Sheng was right—Jiang Wang is outside Qi Country now, and his image is left to the whims of others. If you truly want to know the truth, you might as well ask him directly in the future." Yan Fu looked at him. "I imagine he wouldn’t lie to you."
Li Longchuan exhaled deeply, "You’re right!"
Yan Fu merely smiled.
After a while, Li Longchuan asked again, "What do you think is in Green Sheep Town?"
Yan Fu smiled, "That’s exactly the question Zhang Weiyu is equally concerned about."
"Are you saying..."
"Before coming here, I had my doubts, but now I’m certain. No matter what Zhang Weiyu uncovered or how accurate his sources are, everything is ultimately playing into Zhongxuan Sheng’s intentions." Yan Fu spoke with a tone of admiration, "Even someone like you is so worried; Zhang Weiyu must be even more confident. But he’s destined to gain nothing."
"Would Zhang Weiyu be so easily deceived?" Li Longchuan furrowed his brows. "He surely grasped some critical clue to be investing such tremendous effort."
"That’s precisely Zhongxuan Sheng’s brilliance." Yan Fu was genuinely relaxed, "Let’s wait and see."
He pondered for a moment and asked, "How about a bet?"
Li Longchuan shook his head decisively, "I won’t bet with you. If I lose, it pains me; if you lose, it means nothing to you. That’s not a fair gamble."
Yan Fu laughed heartily, and then suddenly said, "We’ve arrived!"
Li Longchuan lifted the curtain to disembark, but seeing the bustling street full of people, he paused and asked, "Arrived where?"
Yan Fu kindly pointed ahead, "Walk a few steps forward, turn that corner, and you’ll be close to the Crushing City Marquis Mansion."
"I know this area is near my house... but wait." Li Longchuan clearly appeared confused, "Am I just going back now?"
His expression clearly asked whether they weren’t going to enjoy themselves together for a bit longer.
"Did you think my earlier excuse to end the conversation at the tea house was random?"
Yan Fu smiled, "Ting Lan is really waiting for me!"
Li Longchuan: ...
...
...
After Yan Fu and Li Longchuan departed, Zhongxuan Sheng also left the tea house.
He had official business today; meeting briefly with Yan Fu and Li Longchuan was just to touch base.
Aside from Shisi, he brought no one else along.
His goal was very clear: he headed straight for the Imperial City Inspection Mansion.
The search party, led by Zhang Weiyu and Ma Xiong, was assembling there.
Ma Xiong, renowned as a seasoned Green Badge Constable, needed no further introduction.
However, though he held the rank of Fourth-Rank Green Badge Constable, his voice carried little weight before Zhongxuan Sheng. Naturally, his supervision of Zhang Weiyu was limited as well.
Of course, Zhongxuan Sheng could not allow such a team to freely conduct their search without oversight.
Zhang Weiyu, with his sharp and formidable demeanor, was the epitome of a resolute young man.
Upon Zhongxuan Sheng’s arrival, he didn’t bother hiding his displeasure, frowning openly, "We are acting in an official capacity during this mission. Noble Zhongxuan, your presence here is rather inappropriate."
Zhongxuan Sheng responded with a smile, "Is there any logic in searching a house when its owner isn’t present? If you were to leave something behind, how would Jiang Wang ever find justice?"
Zhang Weiyu answered suavely, his previous victory elevating his confidence when confronting Zhongxuan Sheng, "You could summon Jiang Wang back to observe in person. You’re capable of reaching him, aren’t you?"
"I cannot." Zhongxuan Sheng replied earnestly, "Jiang Qingyang is a hero of the nation, yet he has fallen victim to slander and assassination attempts. He is missing and his fate is uncertain. Yet someone, so cruel and merciless, now plans to set fire to his backyard..."
"Spare us the irrelevant dramatics. Everyone knows what’s going on." Zhang Weiyu interrupted him, "Just state your intentions directly."
Zhongxuan Sheng pursed his lips, "Jiang Wang isn’t here, so I fully represent him. His responsibilities and duties rest entirely on my shoulders. Thus, this search must have me present."
"You represent him?" Zhang Weiyu raised an eyebrow, "Are you claiming the Zhong Xuan Family will guarantee Jiang Wang’s innocence?"
If that were truly the case, he would need to reconsider the weight of the situation.
The significance of Zhongxuan Sheng and the influence of the Zhong Xuan Family were vastly different.
"The family elder is still alive; it is not my place to represent the Zhong Xuan Family."
Zhongxuan Sheng chuckled softly, but his expression suddenly turned serious, "I am personally vouching for Jiang Wang."
Zhang Weiyu paused in silence before breaking into a laugh, "This is not a trivial matter. There’s no need for guarantees. Since Noble Zhongxuan insists on following along, feel free. I act fairly and openly, unafraid of oversight!"
