Zong Wuyuan had not expected Fang Yun's tone to be so stern. He could only quibble, "You wrong me! I truly meant no such thing. I merely felt that your reaction was excessive."
"I bear the expectations of Jing Kingdom's hundreds of millions of people, its civil and military officials, and the scholars attending this gathering. As governor-general of two prefectures, I preside over a Literary Assembly rare among the human race. Its significance and nature are both extraordinary. On behalf of Jing Kingdom's countless people, sovereign, and ministers, I welcome the rulers of other kingdoms, Great Scholars, and distinguished figures. Before I could offer even the first toast, you interrupted me. I have yet to hold you accountable, and you instead accuse me of overreacting? A trivial matter? Are the expectations of Jing Kingdom's countless people trivial? Is the dignity of its civil and military officials trivial? Or are the concerns of the million attendees here trivial? Must I use Tongue Blossoms Thunder and ask the scholars of the world and the people of Baling City to judge who is right?" Fang Yun stared at Zong Wuyuan, every word a sword.
As soon as Fang Yun spoke, the atmosphere between heaven and earth underwent a subtle change. Waves rose and fell across the Yangtze River and Dongting Lake for hundreds of miles around, powerful winds swept through the sky, and all of Baling City seemed to condense into a majestic, imposing will that gazed down upon Zong Wuyuan from above.
The Qing Lord's expression changed on the spot, and he instinctively looked at Zong Ganyu, the head of the Zong Family, seated beside him.
Zong Ganyu sat steadily, as though he had not noticed his own son's peril.
"I... failed to give the matter due consideration." Zong Wuyuan gritted