Sheng Boyuan retorted, "Sage Kong once criticized Zi Chan, saying that he was like a mother to the people, able to feed her children but unable to educate them. In truth, Sage Kong meant that Zi Chan's administration could only govern the people, not instruct and transform them. Ultimately, Zi Chan was no sage."
"If everyone could instruct and transform the people, what would we need Sage Kong for? Becoming a mother to the people was already immensely great. Why insist on picking hairs to find faults? Moreover, when Zi Chan refused to destroy the township schools, Sage Kong said that if anyone claimed Zi Chan was not a man of benevolence and righteousness, he would not believe them. Sage Kong might not have agreed with all of Zi Chan's policies, but he wholeheartedly approved of his refusal to destroy the township schools. Your tricks of plucking passages out of context and grafting flowers onto another tree are hardly clever," Fang Yun shot back.
"Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, this humble subject believes we must not open this breach. Once opened, it will bring endless troubles!"
Fang Yun countered, "How would that compare with ten thousand people gathering outside the palace gates?"
Sheng Boyuan froze where he stood, unable to answer.
The officials stared blankly at Fang Yun. Only now did they realize why he had not feared Sheng Boyuan's impeachment in the slightest.
Sheng Boyuan had constantly attacked Fang Yun over the people blockading the palace and government offices, but Fang Yun had turned his own spear against his own shield. Now anyone would consider the question: since the people had nowhere to voice their concerns, was it better to establish township schools that could be controlled, or let them gather outside the palace and government offices?
Everything Sheng Boyuan