Master yourself and return to ritual propriety, and all under Heaven will turn to benevolence

All the officials gazed at Fang Yun, their expressions shifting uncertainly.

They all shared the same thought: Fang Yun's true objective could not possibly be ritual restoration.

Just as his true objective earlier could not possibly have been to drive Jiang Hechuan and Li Wenying away.

The officials who supported Fang Yun were still guessing at his true intentions, but those who opposed him or remained neutral had already reached a conclusion.

If Fang Yun wanted to expand his power, he naturally needed an effective opening through which to dismiss some officials. As things now stood, ritual teachings would become his chief means of eliminating dissenters.

But before Fang Yun formally made his move, no one could readily oppose him.

After all, Jing Kingdom had the Ritual Hall, and the Human Race had the Confucian School. So long as Fang Yun acted strictly according to Confucian standards, it would be difficult for anyone to strike back.

What was more...

Many officials looked toward the Grand Academician from the Ritual Hall standing behind Fang Yun.

No one knew just how much support the Ritual Hall had given Fang Yun. Even the Left Prime Minister had never received such unequivocal support from any hall or pavilion of the Sacred Academy.

Fang Yun swept his gaze over the assembled ministers and said, "After the great war against the Barbarian Race, Jing Kingdom has countless neglected undertakings awaiting revival. The fruits of victory we won by uniting as one must never be usurped. To consolidate Jing Kingdom from top to bottom, to make it more peaceful and prosperous, and to prepare for the coming invasion from the Demon Realm, I call upon the officials of Jing Kingdom to begin with themselves today and undertake ritual restoration through a daily rite. Once every official observes