If anyone could have seen through the hanging curtain and veil to the Empress Dowager's face at that moment, they would surely have seen undisguised terror in her eyes.
The Empress Dowager now understood perfectly well that if she obstructed this reform, the Legalist School and Fang Yun would inevitably resort to the most drastic measures.
Sacred Way Suppression had already descended. Fang Yun and the Legalist School had only this one road to choose, and anyone who stood in their path would be crushed.
Cao Dean glanced at the Empress Dowager, then swept his gaze over the members of the Legalist School.
As a veteran statesman who had served three reigns in the Jing Kingdom, Cao Dean understood politics and bureaucracy far better even than Fang Yun.
At first, he had merely thought Fang Yun was using the Miscellaneous School to draw out the Legalist School. But on deeper consideration, was Fang Yun not also forcing the Legalist School to integrate into the Jing Kingdom? Was he not using the Legalist School to oppose the Miscellaneous School?
At this realization, Cao Dean suddenly felt at ease.
Ever since he had entered official service, Cao Dean had held to one principle for preserving his position: retreat when the going grew difficult.
That was why he had remained undefeated when Liu Shan monopolized power, and had not fallen when Fang Yun took control.
Even now, Cao Dean did not know Fang Yun's true purpose, nor could he understand why Fang Yun was doing this. But his guiding principle told him there was no need to concern himself with such matters. Fang Yun's strength and realm far surpassed his own. Whatever covert plots or open schemes Fang Yun employed, he, the Right Prime Minister, was utterly incapable of opposing them. He might