At this point, Bi Lingkong's mood had plainly soured. The crow in the painting stayed motionless and silent, not saying another word.
A long time passed. Just as Pan Long thought she had let the subject go, she spoke again. "Wen Er once said Zhao Da's mistake would eventually be corrected by history. I still don't understand how history can correct a mistake. After all these years, I've only seen the realm Zhao Da left behind on the verge of collapse. I haven't seen anyone who thinks he made a mistake back then."
"Do you think Di Jiazi made a mistake back then?"
"Of course! He destroyed my Confucian School. My hatred for him is irreconcilable. Do you think I'd say he did nothing wrong?"
Pan Long realized it was a stupid question. He smiled awkwardly. "I meant, do you think there was anything wrong with his policies?"
"Honestly, I think he was a pretty good emperor. He held power firmly, kept his family in line, and restrained his ambitions. If he hadn't been my Confucian School's enemy, I might even say he came close to the 'sage ruler' we dreamed of."
"Then what mistake do you think Wen Er meant?"
"I don't know. I've spent a thousand years thinking about it, and I still don't understand what he meant," the crow replied. "I understood many of Wen Er's criticisms of that bastard Zhao Da. But that one time, when Wen Er condemned him with such righteous conviction and Zhao Da only lowered his head and sighed, not daring to answer... I've never understood the 'mistake' they were talking about."
Pan Long thought he might have an inkling.
"Um... do you know what post Wen Er held at court back then?"
"Censor-in-Chief," the crow replied. "His job was to find