After a long silence in the Golden Throne Hall, a sneer appeared on the Qing Lord's face.
"What, now that Fang Yun has attained Saint Enfeoffment, you believe I cannot keep my throne, and cannot even be bothered to answer me?"
The ministers hastily bowed. "We would not dare, Your Majesty."
"You are not doing this for me now, but for the Qing Kingdom-and for the Miscellaneous School members among you!" The Qing Lord swept a cold gaze over his officials.
A middle-aged Hanlin Academician stepped forward and said through gritted teeth, "Your Majesty, the Miscellaneous School's Half-Sage has been sealed on Old Peach Mountain. This is an unprecedented disgrace. If we cannot strike back at the Jing Kingdom, our kingdom will cease to be a kingdom!"
"Indeed! I advocate retaliating against the Jing Kingdom, whatever the cost!"
"As long as the Jing Kingdom survives, the Qing Kingdom will never know peace!"
"Saint Zong has suffered such humiliation. How can we disciples of the Miscellaneous School stand by with folded arms?"
A small number of officials seethed with indignation.
Most of the officials watched calmly.
Those who stepped forward were all young and held low Literary Ranks. This was nothing more than the Miscellaneous School's customary tactic: gambling for a way forward.
The accomplished senior officials of the Miscellaneous School were different. They would no longer take such risks.
Besides, fewer than one in ten of the Qing Kingdom's Miscellaneous School Grand Academicians and Great Scholars remained.
They had all suffered devastating injuries during the previous Sacred Way Suppression.
The upper ranks of the Qing Kingdom were no longer the Miscellaneous School's domain.
The Qing Lord smiled faintly. "You mean that, since we cannot do anything to Sage Fang, we should vent our anger on the people of the Jing