From the look of him, Marquis Li was most likely a diehard supporter of Ji Chang, and Ji Chang was a proven rebel. With Shang's fall and Zhou's rise looming over everything, these people were all enemies.
Although he was a loudmouth who could contribute Foolishness Value, he was not a loudmouth on Zi Shou's side. Fewer enemies were better. Rebellion and unrest were fine, but they had to remain within controllable limits. Xiqi definitely needed weakening if he wanted a long career as a foolish ruler, and Marquis Li was a good place to start.
The Tai'a Sword's hilt felt warm and smooth as jade in his hand.
Zi Shou looked down at Marquis Li on the floor. "People today differ from those of old, as do rulers and kings. I am neither Cheng Tang nor Emperor Shun. Marquis Li, have you heard that guilt lies with the myriad realms?"
Marquis Li did not understand and answered instinctively, "I believe I have."
He quickly recalled King Zhou's declaration at Chentang Pass that guilt lay with the myriad realms. He had openly overturned the words of the sage king Shun and the former king Cheng Tang. It was utterly unreasonable.
Realization struck Marquis Li, and his pupils contracted. Did King Zhou mean to punish him?
Of course. His first challenge had already offended King Zhou, who must have wanted him dead. He had simply refrained from acting out of consideration for the officials, generals, and feudal lords in the hall.
Marquis Li stopped being afraid. Punish him, then! Surely King Zhou would not dare execute someone in this hall before eight hundred feudal lords and all his civil and military officials?
Throughout the ages, even rulers who wanted to move against a feudal lord had to do it in secret.