425 And Where Were You? (2/2)

Ning Que asked again, ”What kind of people are worthy?”

Xu Shi answered, ”Those who seem to be playful and careless, but actually know what justice and respect are, like your master, Yan Se.”

Ning Que shook his head, ”My master is already dead. Although you have known him for more than ten years, I think you don't know him well. He was never a fighter for justice and he didn't know what respect is either. He just knew what responsibility was, but I know that as well.”

”You have got too much blood on your hands, so you are not qualified to hold that pestle,” said Xu Shi.

Ning Que replied, ”Yesterday at the General's Mansion, you asked where I was in the 14th year of Tianqi era when the censor Zhang Yiqi died, where I was when the old blacksmith died, and where I was when the tea master Yan Suqing died. And today you asked me where I was last night, when Huang and Yu died.”

Xu Shi looked at him coldly.

Ning Que continued calmly, ”You have asked me where I was so many times. And today I also want to ask you the same question. Where were you when Xia Hou was slaughtering people of a whole village in Yan and burning hundreds of innocent people to death? And where were you when he was burying thirty thousand of alive soldiers after they had surrendered? And where were you when he was killing everyone in the Xuanwei General's Mansion?”

Xu Shi looked as if he had suddenly become a lot older when he heard those questions.

The aura in the attic became less tense, and the view outside turned into life again.

Ning Que stepped forward and came to Xu Shi. He continued, ”I did kill lots of people, and you probably didn't kill anyone. But it does not mean that your hands are cleaner than mine.”

”You were right to say that I am not a good person, and I never cared about whether the world was unfair or ugly as long as it didn't affect me. Maybe I am not qualified to hold the pestle, but not many people are qualified to question whether I am qualified.”

”At least you are not qualified to question me.”

”Xia Hou got away with such a big crime and those generals and captains involved in the slaughtering also did, because, according to the Imperial Court, there wasn't any solid proof, and the law of Tang Empire reads that in such a case, he shouldn't be questioned. But both of us know very well what the true reason was; he contributed for Tang during the war and his army was useful for the Empire.”

Ning Que said, ”Since the Imperial Court follows the law of the Tang Empire strictly, you need to find proof before you ask me questions related to the murders. If you can't, please don't come and bother me.”

After being silent for a long time, Xu Shi said nonchalantly, ”Than can you tell me, did you do it for justice, or for revenge?”

”I am never a fighter of justice.”

Ning Que replied, ”And there is no personal grudge between me and Xia Hou. I hate him just because he was not polite to me in the Wilderness.”

”No one will buy it.” asked Xu Shi.

”As long as both the Headmaster and His Majesty are fine with it, I don't think I need others to believe me.”

”You think His Majesty will spoil you like that forever?” asked Xu Shi.

Ning Que shook his head and said, ”This is not about whether he spoils me. I believe even if he did know about the whole thing, His Majesty would still think I am correct.”

Suddenly he felt that he had said enough today.

So he turned and walked towards the staircase.

But at this time, Xu Shi sighed.

”You are really calm and I can see that you will become really excellent in the future. You would become even more excellent than Ke Haoran, but maybe you will also become more dangerous than him.”

Ning Que stopped when he heard those words. He remembered that His Majesty told him that Xu Shi never lost to any enemy at battlefields, but he had suffered great losses from his Youngest Uncle. Was Xu Shi really going to vent his anger towards his Youngest Uncle on him?

Ning Que turned around and finally became very annoyed.

”As the Defender-general of the State, you have my sincere respect, that was why I spent a long time explaining. But if your real intention was to get me and the law of Tang Empire was just an excuse, why do you even bother to say so much to me?”

”The law of Tang Empire is never an excuse, it is the basis of the Tang Empire. If in your view, it is just an excuse, I really can't let things happen without controlling it.”

Xu Shi looked at him and said peacefully, ”I have many ways to make you disappear without violating the law of Tang Empire.”

Ning Que replied, ”And I look forward to that .”

Then he shook his head and said, ”But don't find more Buddhists to challenge me, I think you know it was not useful.”

Xu Shi asked, ”You really think after you defeated Liu Yiqing, no one would dare to challenge you again?”

Ning Que answered, ”At least some bigwigs like you would not challenge me anymore, because losing to me would be too embarrassing for you.”

At this time, a voice sounded out behind him.

”But it won't be too embarrassing for me.”

Ning Que turned around and saw a fat man standing next to the staircase.

That man smiled and said, ”I am Wang Jinglue.”

Ning Que turned to Xu Shi and said while shaking his head, ”This is too lame.”

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