Before the Grand Court Assembly convened, the empress dowager sent her most trusted eunuch to invite Fang Yun to the Heaven-Serving Hall.
Everyone feared Fang Yun would plead illness and stay away from court.
Once the formalities were concluded, the Heaven-Serving Hall fell so silent that not even a crow or sparrow could be heard.
Some officials lowered their heads, some looked straight ahead, and others gazed upward, but wherever they looked, they all kept Fang Yun in the corners of their eyes.
Everyone knew that this Grand Court Assembly was, in truth, convened for just one purpose.
To persuade Fang Yun.
They remained silent for a full quarter of an hour before Sheng Boyuan, the minister of rites, gave a light cough and broke the silence. "Since none of my colleagues will speak, I shall be the bird that sticks its head out first. We have already debated this matter enough, so I do not intend to say much today. Void Sage Fang, forgive my offense, but are you willing to admit fault to the Miscellaneous School?"
Fang Yun tilted his head slightly toward Sheng Boyuan and asked, "Admit what fault?"
Sheng Boyuan froze, and all the officials were momentarily taken aback as well.
Many officials suddenly saw the light, and their faces burned.
Indeed, what fault was Fang Yun supposed to admit?
Almost everyone wanted Fang Yun to admit fault and resolve the crisis, yet almost no one had considered this simple question: where had Fang Yun gone wrong, and what fault was he supposed to admit?
After a few breaths, Sheng Boyuan smiled. "Some matters cannot be judged purely in terms of right and wrong. To give the simplest example, you barred the Qing Kingdom from the seas. To me and the people of the Jing Kingdom,