525 Battle of Words. Forced to an Impasse! (1/2)
Once Wu Lie spoke, at least half of the officials who had appealed glared at him in anger.
Wu Lie looked unaffected as he continued in a low voice, ”Perhaps only the one whom you sirs acknowledge can be recognized as royal blood? And whoever you sirs don't acknowledge will be a mere peasant?”
He exaggerated his words, openly hinting that they harbored ill intentions.
The old white-bearded official roared, ”Wu Lie! How dare you have the audacity to decide what is right or wrong! Don't you know how serious this is? It will affect the very foundations of this country. How are matters pertaining to the royal bloodline ever solely personal? Yet here you are, feigning ignorance and trying to befuddle the emperor! I have always thought of you as impartial and loyal. But today I see the truth of who you are Wu Lie, a pandering, maniacal, unscrupulous person indeed!”
Wu Lie lifted his head abruptly, he focused squarely onto the old man's eyes and responded slowly, ”Justice exists intrinsically in one's heart so much so that what should be considered right or wrong need not be argued about! This lower official has only said something fair but Old Sir Wang has accused me of something so severe with such inflated speech? This lower official won't be able to bear such a heavy crime nor is this official willing to bear it or even supposed to bear it.”
”I'd just like to ask Old Sir Wang something – in the entire Empire of Yutang, who should be the one who is the most concerned about the royal bloodline? Is it you or me? No! The one who regards the bloodline most significantly can only be the current emperor! Since His Majesty now recognizes this grandchild in front of the imperial court, countless verifications must have already been carried out – do you think this decision was based on carelessness? I wonder, do you agree with me Old Sir Wang?”
Old Sir Wang was shaking as his face flushed with embarrassment. He said nothing for a long while.
To agree or not to agree? Who would dare to disagree? Disagreeing would be treason, resulting in beheading on the spot without a second word.
Furthermore, what Wu Lie said was indeed the truth. Anyone could suggest an heir who was beneficial to themselves for whatever personal gain. They might not even care if they knew that the identity of the heir they pushed forward was false. But the Emperor would never do so.
The Emperor's quest for imperial inheritance would be reserved solely for his direct descendant. No matter how lousy his heir was, it was still the continuation of his bloodline; even if there were bolder or wiser candidates out there, they would have no direct relation to the Emperor.
Therefore, it was true that only the Emperor would never show a descendant of suspicious identity to the public eye.
Wu Lie scoffed and said, ”This lower official is a few years younger than Old Sir Wang but I'm fortunate enough to have seen the eldest prince a few times several years ago. I still remember the first time I met His Highness, the eldest prince was only five to six years older than this child before us. Old Sir Wang, forget about the others, this child's face alone is about eighty percent similar to the eldest prince, like as if they're from the same mold. Old Sir Wang has been an official for much longer than this lowly official, I believe you must have been younger than this lowly official when you met the eldest prince. This lowly official shall ask of Old Sir Wang again, is my judgement any different from Old Sir's memory?”
Wu Lie, who saw Old Sir Wang at a loss for words, continued speaking, ”I hope Old Sir does not speak about how similar facial characteristics are not considered as substantial proof. There are two sides to a coin, so let us not only look at one side alone. I've only said that this child looks very much like the eldest prince but I did not make any concrete conclusion from it nor did I consider it as sole evidence. Compared to you sirs who argued without any verification or evidence and then firmly claimed that this child's background is unknown without any proof. Moreover, emphasizing that things must proceed with caution, I feel like I'm being more sensible in this situation...”
He raised his head, looked at all gathered officials, and said in a quiet voice, ”This official shall ask Old Sir Wang and the other sirs again, on what basis have all of you decided that this child is of an unknown background? Or that this child is not of the royal bloodline? On what basis did you assume that His Majesty wasn't taking this seriously?”
”All your behaviour just now, the simultaneous kneeling and similar advice from many officials, how are these actions any different from coercing the ruler? These actions are too resolute and uniform!”
Wu Lie paused before he smiled faintly and finished, ”This lower official thinks that, based on the violent reaction of my colleagues, you have so quickly forgotten that you have no evidence. In fact, even if you had concrete evidence, you should all be even more careful, don't you think so, Old Sir Wang?”
”Nonsense! The matters of a country should not be taken lightly at all!” Old Sir Wang finally got out of his daze and countered Wu Lie's words by changing the direction of his argument and basing everything on the concern for the nation.
In spite themselves, plenty of opposing officials, using Wu Lie as a rallying point, stepped out to accuse Old Sir Wang and his colleagues of treason. On the other hand, those who followed Old Sir Wang began to counter them with examples from history.
This went on for some time until hundreds of people were now arguing in the court. It was noisier than a market. Almost everyone's faces were flushed from arguing, glaring at each other as they exchanged verbal daggers.
His Majesty sat on his throne, watching them argue for close to two hours before he finally landed a harsh slap on his armrest in rage.
”Enough!”
The civil and military officials shut their mouths immediately, bringing an abrupt halt to the heated war of words.
The emperor looked infuriated, standing up with arms against his back. ”Yun Xiaoyao!”
”Here.”
”My eldest grandson, Yu Qiankun, shall be assigned to your teaching. Do not lead him astray.”
”Yes, Your Majesty.”
”Any matters pertaining to the actual conferring of titles will be discussed in the future!”
”Brilliant, Your Majesty!”
Observant officials had long noticed that His Majesty's hand had been gently holding onto the child's tiny hand all this time, never once letting go. It had been this way for the entire two hours of the morning assembly.