"More importantly, Zhuge Liang is only eight or nine years old, younger even than the Brocade Sail Marquis. He is muddleheaded and can barely speak coherently, a notorious fool in Langya Commandery. He bears no resemblance to the heaven-defying genius Your Majesty and the Otherworlders described..."
Jiang Yao pondered for a long while before delivering that lengthy account in one breath.
Jian Shang smiled and said calmly, "Heh... verifying the truth is easy!"
"Oh? Does Your Majesty not think he might be feigning madness and stupidity, or hiding great wisdom behind a fool's face?!" Jiang Yao looked at Jian Shang in surprise and curiosity, puzzled that he showed no interest whatsoever in the investigation report on Zhuge Liang.
After all, this was Crouching Dragon, one of the legendary Dragon and Phoenix, supposedly possessed of heaven-defying wisdom!
"Why speculate? Kill him!"
Jian Shang narrowed his eyes and replied mildly.
"Uh..."
Everyone, Jiang Yao included, froze. None had expected a question that fascinated countless people to be so simple in the Huan Emperor's eyes-so simple that killing him would settle everything once and for all!
On reflection, it made sense. How could someone blessed with great fortune die so easily?
To determine whether Zhuge Liang was truly an idiot, merely pretending, or hiding great wisdom behind a fool's face, why not simply assassinate him? Unless destiny favored him, was there anyone in this world the Great Huan Dynasty wanted to assassinate but could not kill? The Huan Emperor had slain even a true god, let alone a child like Zhuge Liang from a minor lineage like the Zhuge Clan.
If he could be killed, he was a genuine fool-the false Zhuge the Otherworlders spoke of. If he could not, his stupidity was feigned-the true Zhuge they spoke of. Nothing could be simpler!