Shortsighted

The Plum Garden was silent. The snow in the sky had stopped, and the crescent moon of the fourth day hung high overhead, casting a cold, clear glow.

Several hundred tables stood throughout the garden, disorderly yet ordered.

Now and then, the weight of snow snapped a tree branch. Other than that, only the sound of breathing remained.

Almost no one had expected Ji Zhibai to make trouble at such a time. The Left Prime Minister Faction had already been beaten by Fang Yun until it was routed beyond recovery. Even if it now showed signs of rallying again, it had ultimately suffered grievous losses.

These past few days, the Left Prime Minister had kept his doors closed to visitors. Everyone knew Liu Shan would inevitably lie low for many days, yet Ji Zhibai had suddenly stepped forward. It was truly against all reason.

Those opposed to the Left Prime Minister Faction became exceptionally vigilant. Since Ji Zhibai dared to appear so suddenly at such a time, he must have had a certain degree of confidence.

With a faint smile, Ji Zhibai swept his gaze over the crowd before finally fixing it on Jiang Hechuan, the Literary Prime Minister. "Lord Literary Prime Minister, there is one matter this student does not understand. Today, the Demon Sage's Edict emerged. Next winter, the Grass Barbarians will invade in force, and our Jing Kingdom stands on the brink of catastrophe. My teacher, the Left Prime Minister, was so anxious in his study that he vomited blood and is still bedridden. I had thought Lord Literary Prime Minister would surely be worried over affairs of state, yet at this critical juncture, you have actually attended the Snow-Plum Literary Gathering. This student is exceedingly perplexed, so I wish to ask: is the crisis of Jing