Conspiracy

The broadcast was abruptly cut off, and the camera switched back to the news broadcast hall, where the host quickly changed the subject.

Seeing this, General Wang understood what was going on. "You even found a scapegoat?"

Si Ming, "Yes, if it were just a prison break, it would have given the Second Prince an opportunity to question the Third Prince. So the Third Prince found a death row inmate with a similar build to you and burned him to death in your cell. Now the tide has turned, and it's the Third Prince's turn to question the Second Prince."

This tactic is actually quite clumsy, and many people can see through it. The problem is that they have no evidence. For example, the Second Prince certainly knows it wasn't someone he sent; his trusted lieutenant was even seriously injured because of it. But now that they've got this in the bag, who would believe it's not shit?

Qi Tailai was seriously injured? Needless to say, it was definitely a ruse.

For the Second Prince to retaliate, he first had to prove that the dead man was not Wang Zhong, and then prove that Wang Zhong had been kidnapped. However, there was no DNA testing technology at that time, and finding clues to identify a completely charred corpse was not an easy task.

"Look, senior, the dignity of the law has been upheld, and you've survived. Isn't that a win-win situation? If you had gone out and turned yourself in, things would have been chaotic."

General Wang said irritably, "A murderer storms into a prison and kills someone; what kind of upholding of the law is that?"

Si Ming declared righteously, "Therefore, we solemnly condemn the murderer and absolutely demand that the Second Prince give us an explanation. Doesn't this symbolize the principle that 'the emperor is subject to the same laws as the common people'?"

General Wang thought for a while, then sighed and said with a helpless smile, "You guys are really something... never mind, it's amazing that you came up with this way of smearing me."

He wasn't an old fogey, but he couldn't compromise on matters of principle. Now that his principles had been preserved, he wasn't unable to let go of the other issues. Moreover, from his perspective, he was more useful dead than alive.

Yan Jinghong said, "My disciple just likes to use his clever tricks, which has caused you to suffer. You can't go out for a while. Only when the Third Prince ascends the throne can the truth be revealed and you be 'brought back to life'."

The law cannot judge a dead man. Unless someone proves that Wang Zhong is still alive, a second trial cannot be initiated to convict him. However, if the Third Prince successfully ascends the throne, he can declare that Wang Zhong is still alive, find a reason to explain the truth of what happened back then, and then push for a second trial to clear Wang Zhong's name.

"Living means suffering, but death brings a turn for the better. Is this the principle of 'putting oneself in a life-or-death situation'?" The old general was somewhat amused and exasperated. "Forget it. Dying and coming back to life would make everyone feel like they've been fooled. I'd rather continue being a 'dead man.' Anyway, I'm already this old and should have retired long ago. This is a good opportunity to get away from the court."

Su Yingbo chimed in, "Yes, yes, Master, you've been busy for most of your life. This is a good opportunity to retire gracefully, relax, travel, enjoy the scenery, appreciate flowers and the moon. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

The old general glared at him, straightened his face, and said sternly, "You rebellious disciple, let's leave the prison break aside for now, but there's something I need to tell you. Your idea of prioritizing personal interests over public duty is dangerous. A nation is the foundation of a family. If the foundation of the nation is shaken, do you still want a stable home? If you want to protect those around you, first maintain the order of this country. In this respect, you should learn from Yan Jinghong."

This time, Su Yingbo did not blindly obey, but said, "Master, everyone has their own opinion. Some people think the country is more important than the family, while others think the family is more important than the country. The debate between public and private interests has been going on since Yang Zhu's time, and there is still no conclusion. Even the Confucian School say that cultivating oneself, regulating one's family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world are important, but regulating one's family comes before governing the state."

The old general said disappointedly, "I'm not asking you to choose between public and private interests. The two are not mutually exclusive. You can 'manage your family' first and then 'govern the country,' but you can't just 'manage your family' without 'governing the country.' You have the ability, so you should stand up, instead of being like Yang Zhu who was stingy... To put it another way, even if you don't 'govern the country,' you can't 'bring chaos to the country.'"

"Master, what kind of person do you take me for? Do I look like someone who would do evil? At most, I'm just unambitious; I would never intentionally harm anyone."

"You weren't like this before, but it's hard to say about you now. I see a hint of it. You'd better swear before me that you will never do anything to 'bring chaos to the country'."

Su Yingbo felt wronged, but seeing that her master was being stubborn, she could only obediently do as she was told.

Just as he was about to take the oath, someone couldn't hold back and jumped out.

"Is being selfless so great? You can't even protect your loved ones. What's there to learn from someone like that? Learn from his 'righteous sacrifice of family'?" Su Yingtao stared at Yan Jinghong with indignation. "Sacrificing other people's families to achieve your own heroic reputation, do you feel proud of that?"

Chapter 493 Conspiracy

"Ying Tao, shut up!" Su Yingbo snapped.

Su Yingtao stubbornly retorted, "Brother, did I say something wrong? You always tell me, 'I'd rather betray the world than be at peace with my own family.' Why are you changing your mind in front of outsiders?"

He turned and glared at Yan Jinghong, saying, "What right does someone who can't even protect the people around them have to be called a hero?"

Yan Jinghong remained silent, offering neither explanation nor apology. He simply stood there calmly, and no one could discern his inner thoughts.

The old general sighed. He had witnessed what happened back then and advised, "Ying Tao, you are still young. Many things are not as simple as you imagine. Yan Jinghong also had many difficulties and unavoidable circumstances. You are in pain because of losing your family, but he is in even more pain than you."

"What's the use of pain! Can pain bring someone back to life? Can shed a few hypocritical tears at the grave of the dead wash away the blood on your hands?" Su Yingtao's eyes reddened, completely deaf to reason. "I know he had his reasons and his reasons, but even the most compelling reasons and reasons cannot change the fact that he killed Yinglan with his own hands! I will never forgive him!"

Su Yingbo said sternly, "Ying Tao, go back to your room! You're not allowed to leave for a month!"

Su Yingtao met his gaze without flinching. "Brother, you've changed, you've become hypocritical... but I won't change, I'll always remember Sister Yinglan's kindness."

He turned around briskly, about to leave the room, when suddenly he heard a snap of fingers. He stumbled and almost fell to the ground.

"Hey, you insulted someone else's master to their face, and you think you can just leave like that and treat me like I'm invisible?" Si Ming revealed a villainous face and threatened in a malicious tone.

"What do you want? Are you angry and want to take revenge on me? I may not be able to beat you, but you can't shut me up either," Su Yingtao said bravely and without fear.

Yan Jinghong looked at Si Ming and ordered, "Let him go."

Si Ming, "Master, why do you also think I'm planning to use violence? I've always tried to win people over with virtue, how could I possibly use such brutal methods? He wants to reason with me, so I'll present the facts and reason with him, properly guide him, make him realize his mistake, and sincerely apologize to us."

Su Yingtao snorted, giving him a cold look, his expression saying, "I'm not listening to your nonsense."

"First of all, you've misunderstood something. Non-Self master calls himself a hero, but that others insist on calling him one. I'll return what I just said: there may be many people who can't beat you, but you can't shut them up. They just want to call my master a hero, and what can you do about it?"

"That only proves that your master is nothing but a hypocrite, deceiving the world."

"Using the word 'deception' isn't quite right. Did my master intentionally conceal the truth of this matter? Or did he distort the facts and lie to deceive others? A hypocrite at least forges things, right? Has my master forged anything? If so, please point it out."

Although Si Ming had not personally experienced what happened back then, he knew very well that his master was not that kind of person. Moreover, there were only five people in this room, and four of them knew the truth, which was enough to prove that Yan Jinghong had never concealed the truth.

Su Yingtao clicked his tongue in resentment. Even he had to admit that Yan Jinghong was indeed not a hypocrite. His dislike for Yan Jinghong was not because of this. Rather, it was precisely because he was not a hypocrite that he disliked him even more.

In my anger, I was only focused on venting my frustrations and didn't realize that someone had picked on my words.

"Since it wasn't their family members who died, of course they didn't care about the sacrifice of other people's loved ones."

"Oh, so you're saying that your targeting of my master isn't a moral issue, but a matter of stance. You also believe my master did nothing wrong, but you only target him because it was your family who was sacrificed. If it were someone else's family that was sacrificed, you would consider my master a hero."

If it were merely a matter of stance, then Yan Jinghong could not be morally blamed, just as in a war between two countries, both sides believe they are on the side of justice.

Su Yingtao naturally couldn't admit this, otherwise it would be tantamount to admitting that Yan Jinghong's actions were "fair" and "just," while he himself was merely expressing anger as a victim's family member.

"No, no! That's not it at all! What I condemn is his cold-blooded and ruthless approach. For the sake of what he believes is righteousness, he's willing to sacrifice others, including his own lover and family. For example, you, his apprentice, are someone he can sacrifice. Ask yourself honestly, can you accept this kind of selfless behavior?"

"... It seems you really don't understand anything," Si Ming sighed with a tone of sympathy for the weak. "You didn't understand what Old General Wang said at all. This isn't a matter of abandoning the public or abandoning personal interests."