Chapter 206 : Chapter 206

Chapter 206. Hearsay?

Zhang ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Yumou froze. The wrinkled face on that old minister stiffened along with the rest of him, and his eyes darted back and forth. Was that really what His Majesty had chosen to focus on?

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Emperor’s focus was far too bizarre, was it not?

“Th-this…” ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Zhang Yumou’s lips moved, yet he could not force out a single complete sentence.

But ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Zhang Yumou’s reaction only amused Chu Feng. He was no compassionate saint, nor did he intend to let the man off so easily.

Instead, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he pressed the advantage while the iron was hot. His gaze burned like a torch as he stared at Zhang Yumou, who was kneeling in the middle of the court. Then his voice suddenly rose, and he barked out a severe rebuke, “Did you witness it with your own eyes, or did you merely hear it from others? A dignified chancellor of the court has been shouting about evidence this whole time, yet now you yourself have become someone who traffics in hearsay?”

“Your ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Majesty… I… I heard…” Zhang Yumou tried to explain, only to realize that things were exactly as Chu Feng had said.

“Heard it from whom? I do not care who you heard it from. Hearsay is hearsay. If you want your words to stand, then you need direct evidence.” Chu Feng’s voice remained calm, yet it carried an unquestionable pressure.

“But since you are so eager to speak, then speak. I would like to see exactly who has been spreading such absurd nonsense!”

Zhang Yumou opened his mouth, only to find that he could not say anything meaningful at all.

Chu Feng was right. He had no evidence whatsoever. He had only heard people say it, heard many people say it, heard that the entire Capital City was saying it…

But as for who had said it first, he had no idea.

And from the moment this matter began until now, Zhang Yumou had been so bent on believing slander, so intent on persuading Chu Feng in court as quickly as possible, that he had never truly stopped to consider whether the rumor itself was even real.

So at this moment, faced with Chu Feng’s questions, Zhang Yumou opened his mouth again, yet still could not produce a proper answer, much less any convincing argument with which to sway Chu Feng.

Seeing him like this, Chu Feng curled his lips into a cold sneer.

Everything had unfolded exactly as he had expected.

“Minister Zhang, as the Chancellor of the Great Chu court, you stand beneath one man and above ten thousand. You are also a founding elder who has served through three reigns. I have always remembered that service. That is why I entrusted you with the duty of overseeing the officials and setting the order of the court aright. So tell me this—have you ever sent anyone to verify whether these rumors are true or false? And yet now you bring this performance before me. Tell me, who is truly being serious here? Me, or you, with your wild fabrication?”

“Your Majesty…” At that moment, Zhang Yumou was completely flustered. Even as he knelt there, his body began to tremble uncontrollably.

Chu Feng’s relentless string of questions struck straight at his heart, leaving Zhang Yumou with no idea how he was supposed to respond.

Because Chu Feng had completely seized upon his weakness. Every word, every sentence, seemed to land on the very tip of his heart.

It was as though Zhang Yumou had been pinned down beyond escape, utterly unable to explain himself.

“I will ask you one more time. Have you ever seen Cailin in person? Have you ever spoken to her? Have you ever personally witnessed her commit some vile and heinous act?”

Cold sweat seeped from Zhang Yumou’s forehead. “Your Majesty… I have never seen Imperial Consort Cailin.”

At that, Chu Feng let out another cold laugh.

The smile on his face lingered for a long time, while his fingers kept rubbing the armrest of the Dragon Throne.

“A person you have never even met face-to-face, and yet you dare conclude that she is a demoness? That the child in her womb is some demonic spawn? That if she is not removed, Great Chu will perish?

You have lived to such an age. Do you truly think it is fair for you to speak like this? No person, no beast, has any say in the circumstances of their birth.

Cailin was born among the Ancient Royal Clan. That was never something she could choose. But what she does, and what kind of demon she becomes, those are things she can choose.

And according to my investigation, although Cailin is indeed the leader of the Heaven-Devouring Python Clan among the Ancient Royal Clans, she has never done anything to wrong either the Human Race or the Demon Race. She has always devoted herself to cultivation and kept to her place. So how is it that, once the matter passes through your mouth, she becomes some bloodthirsty butcher, some fiendish monster, some utterly vicious criminal?”

Chu Feng’s voice abruptly turned cold, each word falling with deliberate weight.

“And now, merely because you ‘heard’ it, you want to drive such a woman out of our Great Chu Dynasty? Then let me ask you this—how is your conduct any different from those demons and monsters? Is it not just as cruel?”

Chu Feng gripped the armrests of the Dragon Throne with both hands. Word by word, his tone turned colder and colder. Zhang Yumou shuddered all over and prostrated himself on the floor, no longer daring to speak.

Chu Feng’s voice had already been filled with a fury too deep for words. And judging from his attitude, he was clearly determined to protect Cailin to the very end.

The other officials all looked at one another.

They had all felt Chu Feng’s resolve.

With him in this state, changing his mind through mere persuasion was obviously impossible.

Just as all the ministers were starting to feel helpless, uncertain what to do next, another voice suddenly rang out from behind them.

“Your Majesty!”

A middle-aged man rose to his feet, then walked step by step to the center of the court.

It was none other than Li Wenyi, the Minister of Rites. His face was full of grief and indignation, his eyes red-rimmed, as though he had suffered an immense injustice.

“Your Majesty, I believe there is nothing wrong with the suggestions everyone has just put forward. I know that Your Majesty favors that demoness, and such a thing may well be beyond your control, but we, your servants, are doing this for the sake of the realm and the state of Great Chu!

“Does Your Majesty know what the people throughout the entire Capital City are saying now? They say that Your Majesty has already been bewitched by that demoness, that you have forgotten who you are, that you spend every day drowned in a land of tenderness. They say that Great Chu’s realm is about to be ruined by the hands of a foreign woman. That alone is enough to prove that everyone has already accepted this as fact. If Your Majesty still refuses to change, would that not merely confirm the words being spread among the masses? Could it be that Your Majesty truly intends to cast aside the whole world, and all the people under Heaven, for the sake of one woman?”

“We are ministers of Great Chu. How could we possibly stand by and do nothing? If Your Majesty refuses for even one day to expel that demoness, then I will submit a remonstrance every single day.”

He knocked his head heavily against the golden bricks, producing a dull bang.

“Please reconsider, Your Majesty!”

“Please reconsider, Your Majesty!”

The gathered officials all bowed and knocked their heads in unison, their voices shaking the court. All of them felt that Li Wenyi’s words were entirely correct.

Chu Feng watched the scene before him, cold light flickering in his eyes. These people had truly grown bold. They knew exactly how to put a blade to his throat.

How noble that sounded—for the sake of the realm and the state of Great Chu. How righteous that sounded—please reconsider, Your Majesty. What loyal and devoted ministers they were.

Chu Feng was just about to speak when an aged voice suddenly rang out.

“Your Majesty…” The words dragged on with a long, wavering note, carrying a sense of mournful lament.

Zhang Yumou abruptly lifted his head. His muddy old eyes were filled with resolve. Just as Chu Feng frowned, uncertain what new trick the old man was about to pull…

Zhang Yumou rose shakily to his feet. His expression was utterly resolute, his gaze firm, as he began walking step by step toward the Coiled Dragon Pillar in the center of the hall.