Chapter 79: The King’s Collapse
At noon the next day.
The entrance of Cloudtop Academy was already surrounded by a large crowd, because Chen Bai had said yesterday that at midday, the academy would pose a question. Whoever answered correctly could enter the academy and view its collection of books for one double-hour.
Chen Xiaobu was in charge of announcing the question today. His tiny body stood before the academy gate, the bowl-cut fringe on his forehead fluttering in the breeze. He felt especially impressive right now.
“Today’s academy question: when two eggs of the same material collide with each other, one will always break first. Why?”
Everyone could not help freezing.
It seemed like a simple, ordinary question, but after thinking about it carefully, they really did not know how to explain the reason.
“Right, when two eggs of the same material knock against each other, why does one always break first?”
“Even according to the topic Chen Zixiu lectured about yesterday, force is mutual, so they should break at the same time.”
Meng Huanchao had also listened to today’s question with great interest. He could not help thinking that Chen Zixiu had once said the academy’s learning lay in dissecting and studying the essence of the world. It seemed that was indeed so. They even studied which of two eggs would break first. But this kind of learning could also let people live in this world with clarity and understanding. It seemed like a decent school of thought too.
Many people answered. Some even expanded the question into some profound philosophy of life.
It had to be said that the people of the academy were used to looking at the most basic essence, while these students of the sacred Dao often interpreted things from other angles.
Chen Xiaobu: “…”
What were they talking about? His little head was buzzing from all their explanations. Wasn’t it just egg knocking against egg? Weren’t they thinking a little too much?
Mo Qianji froze too. He knew this question, because…
Yesterday, when he had been playing with the wind-up frog with Chen Xiaobu, the two had “exchanged” some learning. He felt that although Chen Xiaobu was young, his mathematical studies seemed quite good, and he could be trained as a successor of Mohist learning. As a result, Chen Xiaobu had explained some mechanics to him, and that knowledge seemed applicable to this question.
Did this count as going through the back door?
But he could not care so much now. The most important thing was being able to enter and view the book collection. Besides, learning was learning. Its nature was pure; it had nothing to do with how he had acquired the knowledge.
Among the strange answers, a voice suddenly rang out.
“Although the force is the same, when two eggs of the same material strike each other…”
He spoke fluently and confidently.
When he finished, Chen Xiaobu announced, “Today’s answering is complete. Mo Qianji of the Mohists may enter the academy for one double-hour.”
Chen Bai smiled as well. Letting Mo Qianji enter the academy through Chen Xiaobu had been part of his plan.
The others exchanged glances. It was good that someone had gone in. When Mo Qianji came out, they could ask him what exactly was different about this Cloudtop Academy. Even the people of Guigu’s Upper Dao had said that whoever obtained Cloudtop Academy could conquer the chaotic age, pacify the world, and make prosperity last for ten thousand generations.
Among these people, some had come because they refused to accept this statement and wanted to see for themselves. In their hearts, they probably believed that only their own sacred Dao could save all living beings.
At this moment, Mo Qianji had already been pulled into the elevator by Chen Xiaobu.
Mo Qianji: “…”
He had originally thought the architectural style of the first floor was already extremely unique, and that the mechanism of the academy gate was already exquisitely clever. Only now did he realize that, for Cloudtop Academy, that was nothing more than an insignificant corner it had revealed.
The Mohists were different from other schools. Aside from coming to investigate what was so miraculous about Cloudtop Academy, they were now even more curious to study this tower that soared into the clouds and the mechanisms within it. It could be said that even if the academy had nothing else, what had been revealed so far already held a fatal attraction for them.
“Do you recognize Arabic numerals? Press whichever number you want, and you can go to that floor. You don’t even have to climb stairs. It’s really fun. Gan Xin comes to play with the elevator whenever he has nothing to do every day. He’s been scolded several times, but he never learns.”
Mo Qianji: “…”
He felt that he could play even more energetically than that person called Gan Xin, because in only an instant, they were actually already high up in the tower. Looking out the window, the height was truly astonishing. Even the clouds were beneath his eyelids. It was almost unbelievable.
This was a miracle-like building, and the mechanisms inside were like miracles too.
It was as if a fire had been lit in his heart. A miraculous tower like this was something the Mohists yearned for. Their Mohist Village was already considered the most outstanding existence in the eyes of the various states, but… this tower was not inferior in the slightest.
Chen Bai had also heard of Mohist Village. It was said that the houses in Mohist Village were themselves extraordinary mechanisms. He did not know whether that was true or not.
Unfortunately, in history, because of the decline of the Mohists, such techniques had not been passed down. It was truly a pity.
Mo Qianji was brought directly to the library. Qi Zheng was also reading there. He nodded in greeting.
“The books are all inside the cabinets. Take whatever you want to read. But the academy has rules. You only have one double-hour.”
Mo Qianji nodded and did not dare waste time. His goal was The Sayings of Mo Di. However, the book boxes Qi Zheng had built were still very different from modern library display shelves. The books were stacked together. Chen Bai had already begun drawing plans to make new bookshelves so it would be easier for the students to find books.
For now, Mo Qianji had no choice but to search book by book. But every time he picked one up, his hands trembled slightly.
Collected Thoughts from the Five Thousand Words of Daoism, Explanation of Guigu’s Art of Alliance, A Brief Analysis of the Origin and Essence of Yin-Yang and Five Elements Techniques, Star Observation and Basic Astronomical Knowledge, An Elementary Explanation of Sun Tzu’s Art of War…
Mo Qianji felt that every book was scorching hot in his hands. What kind of treasure trove had he entered?
Some of Chen Bai’s books contained the original content, while others were later generations’ analyses of these books.
Analyses and views on these schools of learning from different eras would surely be extremely helpful to the Hundred Schools in perfecting their sacred Dao. They could even look at their own sacred Dao from different perspectives, broadening their horizons. The importance of perspective to a thinker went without saying.
In ancient times, information was blocked and communication was limited. It was very difficult to see different people’s evaluations and understandings of one’s own school of learning. To them, this was absolutely a brand-new method of exchange.
That was right. If these books were truly simple, would Qi Zheng and Meng Huanchao be reading them so obsessively that they forgot to eat and sleep?
Mo Qianji finally found the book he wanted, The Sayings of Mo Di.
Every word and every sentence in it was full of enlightening power to the Mohists. Every line was worth pondering again and again.
So unlike Chen Bai reading this kind of book, Mo Qianji could spend a very, very long time on each sentence.
Even when Chen Xiaobu came to remind him that one double-hour had passed, he felt as if he had only just begun reading.
Did anyone know what he was feeling right now?
He really wanted to hold the book and refuse to leave even if beaten. Besides The Sayings of Mo Di, he had also just seen a book called The Practicality of Mohist Doctrine. He had not even started reading it yet.
The good young man of universal love and non-aggression now had red eyes and looked pitiful.
Qi Zheng said, “If Mohist learning can enter my Great Qian, the academy library can be opened to the Mohists.”
Mo Qianji: “…”
Before this, he had never considered such a possibility, because no one dared risk having their sacred Dao destroyed by entering Great Qian. But now he actually felt an impulse to disregard everything and stay here until he finished reading the books.
Of course, impulse was impulse. Reality forced him to sober up a little.
Then Chen Bai added from the side, “Actually, aside from these two books on Mohist learning, I still have many Mohist-related classics I haven’t brought out…”
“No one would read them even if I brought them out. The academy students even complain that reading them makes their brains hurt.”
Mo Qianji opened his mouth. “…”
They even complained? Damn it, he did not complain. They could let him read them.
These two demons who lured people into traps—he understood very clearly that Prince Zheng was laying a snare for him in order to win the imperial prince competition.
But he still could not help asking, “There are many more Mohist-related classics? How do they compare to these two books?”
Chen Bai threw out a bomb. “They’re only better.”
“Actually, aside from Mohist classics, the academy also has quite a number of classics from other schools. But you know, the academy does not teach the doctrines of the Hundred Schools. Leaving them here only takes up space.”
Was this something a human would say?
With one careless sentence, he showed off spectacularly. Mo Qianji was so envious inside. If they were not going to read them, let the Mohists read them. Letting them sit here gathering dust was a reckless waste of heavenly treasures. They would be struck by lightning for it.
Mo Qianji did not even know how he walked out of the tower in a daze.
The people outside had already gathered around.
“Mo Qianji, how was it? Is this Cloudtop Academy hollow in name, or…”
Mo Qianji’s expression turned strange. As fellow sage disciples, they all knew the hardships of verifying their own sacred Dao. That torment of having the road ahead shrouded in darkness, unable to see the future—how could he not know it?
Perhaps it was this shared situation that made Mo Qianji offer a reminder.
“The paradise of the Hundred Schools and their various streams of learning is right here. If you wish to verify your Dao, go and see the academy’s book collection. It will guide every school of learning into another sky.”
Mo Qianji only said such words because he was too shaken.
But when the others heard them, it was different.
First there had been the shocking rumor from Guigu’s Upper Dao. Now there were these words from the Mohist direct heir…
However, Mo Qianji felt he had said too much and refused to say more. When pressed, he merely replied, “I only had one double-hour. I spent it all reading our Mohist classics. How could I have had time to care about yours? Still, your schools’ doctrines have long been dissected thoroughly and recorded in those books.”
Everyone else: “…”
What the truth was could not be determined from Mo Qianji’s words alone.
It would be best if they could personally go in and see. But the problem lay exactly there—they could not get in.
Upstairs, Chen Bai was also discussing things with Qi Zheng.
“Judging from Mo Qianji’s reaction just now, these books really are extremely important to them. But to make them bring their schools of learning into Great Qian, it seems we are still missing that final push.”
Chen Bai and Qi Zheng both understood the fundamental reason.
If they did not eliminate the worry in the hearts of these sage disciples, that concern alone could keep all of them outside Great Qian.
But eliminating their worry was too difficult—unless the King personally stood forward and admitted guilt for what had happened when he destroyed the sacred Dao back then.
Chen Bai sighed. “That probably isn’t possible, right? No matter how you look at it, the King doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would take the initiative to admit his mistake.”
Qi Zheng’s eyes moved. “Not necessarily. I need to enter the palace. Perhaps there’s still a chance for this matter to turn around.”
Before Qi Zheng left, he handed one of the library keys to Prince Ning, who was holding a French bulldog. Right now, only Qi Zheng, Chen Bai, and Prince Ning each had one key. Qi Zheng called Prince Ning aside and gave him careful instructions.
“This place will be the most important treasure of Great Qian. From today onward, you must guard this key well for the Great Qian imperial family.”
Prince Ning looked somewhat dazed and gave an “oh.”
Was it really that important? But his classmates were not willing to read these books.
Qi Zheng also moved over a set of tables and chairs and placed them at the entrance of the library for Prince Ning to use while guarding it.
Chen Bai: “…”
Wasn’t this making a mountain out of a molehill?
But thinking about how much those sage disciples valued these books, perhaps it was necessary.
Coincidentally, the bookshelves Chen Bai had ordered were almost ready. He might as well teach Prince Ning how to organize books and how to number new books for easy searching. Cloudtop Academy really did need a library like this. It was the perfect chance to manage it systematically.
Thus, there was now a little fellow stationed at the entrance of the library.
Of course, Prince Ning could not possibly guard it from morning to night. He still had classes, and this little fellow could not sit still for that long anyway.
So they simply set a fixed time for students to come to the library. He only needed to guard it during that time. At other times, it would be locked directly, with the door tightly shut.
The library management plan was now on the agenda.
However, Chen Bai took a look and felt that the collection was still rather small. How did this look like a proper academy library?
At the very least, he had to bring out all the textbooks from primary school, junior high school, and high school, then add some other books too.
Unfortunately, in this world, books were still limited to hand-copied manuscripts. How long would that take?
Chen Bai thought about it. There was still a lot to do. They could take it slowly.
As for Qi Zheng, he went to Empress Dowager Zhaosheng’s palace.
Empress Dowager Zhaosheng sat quietly in her chair. Only after a long while did she speak.
“That Chen Zixiu truly said that Great Qian needs the guidance of sage thought in order to truly free itself from its chronic illness and survive?”
After speaking, she did not wait for Qi Zheng to answer. Instead, she murmured to herself, “The various states do not bother with Great Qian not because they fear Great Qian’s military strength, but because they are waiting for the day Great Qian decays?”
“This Chen Zixiu is indeed no ordinary person.”
“When the sage disciples left my Great Qian back then, they made Great Qian the laughingstock of the world. Now that these sage disciples have returned, this is indeed an opportunity to let them settle in Great Qian once more…”
“The people of Great Qian lack moral instruction, and fierce bandits run rampant. If this continues, although it has given Great Qian a fierce and valiant spirit, it is truly not a long-term solution. Since Great Qian cannot think of a way to cure the root of the problem, placing hope in these sage disciples may not be a bad idea…”
But right now, the same problem stood before them. If they did not give these sage disciples an explanation for the King’s destruction of a sacred Dao back then, how would they dare take such a risk and settle in Great Qian again?
Empress Dowager Zhaosheng fell silent for a long time before finally speaking. “Leave the King to me. All his life, the King has believed himself to be right. But it is time to let him see reality clearly.”
After saying that, she added, “Summon Lan Ruoyun into the palace.”
In the past, in order to help the King build confidence, many things had never been mentioned before him. But times had changed. The King’s confidence had made him too arbitrary, too dictatorial, and had instead become a burden dragging down Great Qian’s stability.
Some truths were too cruel, but without this, how could a self-opinionated person ever see himself clearly?
Lan Ruoyun soon entered the palace. Empress Dowager Zhaosheng dismissed everyone, including Qi Zheng. This could be considered a mother giving her son one last bit of dignity.
Inside the King’s sleeping palace, only the three of them remained.
The King frowned slightly. His mood had not been good lately. First, his physical condition was worsening, completely unlike what the imperial physicians had said about recovering with quiet rest. Second, he had thought he had set an impossible question, but unexpectedly, those proud and aloof sage disciples had actually returned to Great Qian—and quite a number of them had come. It had angered him greatly.
The King looked at the departing attendants and palace maids before saying, “Mother, what is this?”
Empress Dowager Zhaosheng’s expression was cold. “When I asked the King before about sending potatoes to Yan, the King did not answer directly. Instead, you asked me to believe in your original intention. Now that Lan Ruoyun has returned, and all the involved parties are present, it is just the right time to ask clearly, so that no one continues to misunderstand the King in their heart.”
The King’s face instantly darkened even further. He said nothing.
Empress Dowager Zhaosheng was silent for a moment as well. “Does the King have anything to say now?”
Now that Lan Ruoyun had returned, continuing to argue was meaningless.
Empress Dowager Zhaosheng sighed. “It seems an innocent person was nearly wronged.”
Lan Ruoyun was indeed guilty, but his crime did not deserve death. After all, he had acted under the King’s orders. As a subject, that was his duty. Throwing Lan Ruoyun into death row and pinning the charge of colluding with the enemy and betraying the state on him had indeed been too severe.
The atmosphere fell silent again for a while.
Only then did the King speak. “Everything I did had its own reason. In the end, it was also for the good of Great Qian.”
Empress Dowager Zhaosheng lifted her eyelids. “Has the King never felt that he has done anything wrong? Or perhaps, even after making a mistake, you no longer have the courage to admit it?”
A smile appeared at the corners of the King’s mouth. “Mother, every deed I have done for Great Qian is obvious to all. How many of them can be recorded in history? How many are widely praised among the people? In the end, do they not all prove that my decisions were correct? Take this time, for example. Although Mother does not understand why I did this, time will prove that I was the one who was right.”
“Mother, I am no longer that weak prince who could only hide behind everyone and beg for pity.”
Empress Dowager Zhaosheng: “…”
All she knew was that Great Qian at that time needed a king who stood tall and mighty, whose word was absolute. It needed a wise king who would never make mistakes. Only then could the people see hope, and only then could Great Qian survive its weakest period.
But she had never expected that, in the end, someone would truly take all those praises completely to heart, and never once doubt them.
Empress Dowager Zhaosheng sighed and softly called, “Lan Ruoyun, speak of the matter I entrusted to you.”
The King looked somewhat puzzled.
Lan Ruoyun bowed and began to speak.
“In Great Qian’s thirtieth year, the King personally rushed to Hongcheng to solve Great Qian’s famine disaster. Moved by his sincerity, the heavens relieved Hongcheng’s disaster, and no riot arose. He was greatly praised by the local people…”
The corners of the King’s mouth lifted. Did this not prove that he was a son of destiny? Even if Mother looked down on him, she could not deny that he was the King of Great Qian acknowledged by even the heavens. He had merely gone to Hongcheng to show his sincerity, and the heavens had relieved Hongcheng’s famine.
But…
Lan Ruoyun continued, “In the same year, at the same time, Empress Dowager Zhaosheng used summer retreat as a pretext to travel through various parts of Great Qian. With her supreme status as Empress Dowager, she entered thousands of households and persuaded wealthy families of Great Qian to lend grain, promising to return it in full the following year. In the end, she borrowed a thousand dan of grain and secretly sent it to Hongcheng…”
“Great Qian’s thirty-first year…”
Each and every event was one of the King’s achievements.
It could be said that the King’s good name had been accumulated through these achievements, one by one.
Only…
Behind each event was another story. Without a single… exception.
Now, each of them was being restored to its original face, one after another.
The entire sleeping palace was filled with Lan Ruoyun’s voice.
The King’s breathing also grew increasingly rapid. His eyes bulged, and his face flushed red.
Only then did Empress Dowager Zhaosheng raise her hand and interrupt Lan Ruoyun’s reading from the records.
“Is there any need to continue?”
The King could no longer speak.
“I thought that if the King so much as investigated a little, you would be able to see the truth behind these matters. But… you did not even make the slightest effort to investigate.”
“Or perhaps the King did investigate, but simply never believed it.”
How far must one deceive oneself to reach this point?
The atmosphere at the scene was incomparably heavy.
It could be said that lifting this veil was like tearing open the scars on a person’s body, leaving them wounded all over, covered in injuries.
But it had reached the point where it had to be torn open, because some people would never tear it open and discover it themselves.
“Even now, does the King still feel that every single one of your deeds was correct, that all of them were for Great Qian’s good?”
The King panted heavily, his mind seeming somewhat dazed. “Impossible. This is impossible…”
At this moment, was this not denying his entire life? He had once thought that he was Great Qian’s most magnificent king. In the eyes of the people, he was also Great Qian’s most suitable king.
“Why? Why would Mother treat me this way?” The King’s eyes were filled with bloodshot veins.
Empress Dowager Zhaosheng sighed. “With your weak nature back then, did you truly think you could bring hope to Great Qian? Great Qian at that time needed a king who could bring hope to everyone. That is why you became that kind of king.”
It was not because he himself had truly been flawless.
To spend an entire lifetime and still fail to see the truth within it—how tragic and lamentable.
Perhaps when a cowardly person changed and became different, becoming the hero in everyone’s heart, he would subconsciously resist his former self.
Just as Empress Dowager Zhaosheng had said, with so many matters, as long as the King had paid even the slightest attention, it would have been impossible for him not to discover any suspicious points.
He had simply deceived himself from beginning to end.
“No. It is not like this…”
Why did they have to completely deny everything he had done for Great Qian in his life?
“Since you have lied to me for so long, why… why could you not continue lying forever?”
Even if it meant letting him live forever inside a lie.
People were sometimes very fragile—just like the King at this moment.
Anyone who encountered such a thing would likely be the same.
Empress Dowager Zhaosheng sighed, because the current King had already become so stubborn and conceited that he was endangering Great Qian. How foolish did one have to be to hand over potatoes, something that could change Yan’s fundamental national condition…
It could be said that once wealthy Yan obtained potatoes, within less than ten years, none of the states would be able to rival it. And who would bear the brunt first? Anyone with a brain could figure that out.
The King suddenly raised his head and looked at Lan Ruoyun. “At least… at least among ten thousand people, I discovered a hidden pearl and knew how to use talent…”
The air stilled.
Empress Dowager Zhaosheng: “…”
Lan Ruoyun: “…”
Empress Dowager Zhaosheng sighed. “This is also why we came this time.”
Lan Ruoyun glanced at Empress Dowager Zhaosheng before giving the King a deep bow.
“My King, Lan Ruoyun, direct heir of the School of Names, has a grievance to appeal.”
