"It is not confidence. It is certainty."
Such confidence, such arrogance!
Wei Zi's words rang out through the hall.
Seeing him seated as straight and steady as a pine, Shen Duan could not help being stirred...
Use the unexpected to overcome the orthodox; strike at strength with weakness.
This was the art of war, and even more, the art of speech and negotiation!
First cast out a hook, then let the fish swim over of its own accord.
"Certainty?" Shen Duan narrowed his eyes, his voice level.
"Heh. Wei Nisheng, what gives you such certainty?
To put it rather bluntly, in this struggle between the Feng Shen factions, I would like nothing better than to sweep both you and Feng Yan out of Court!"
"Precisely because of that!" Wei Nisheng met his gaze without flinching.
"I dare to be certain that you will help me, Grand Secretary Shen."
"Arrogant brat."
"Grand Secretary Shen, let us both save our breath!" Wei Nisheng lifted his tea and drained it.
"What can be done need not be spoken of.
It is spoken of precisely because it cannot be done." Wei Nisheng paused briefly.
"My teacher no longer attends Court, and the Feng Faction's power appears to be waning.
But you know perfectly well, Grand Secretary Shen...
My teacher is merely absent from Court, not absent from this world."
"Wei Nisheng, what are you insinuating..."
"My meaning is as clear to you as a blazing fire, Grand Secretary!"
Wei Nisheng suddenly raised his voice, cutting him off and pressing straight at him.
"As the august Chief Minister, Grand Secretary Shen, must you really make a junior like me spell certain things out so plainly?"
Looking at Wei Nisheng, Shen Duan settled back into his chair and offered a word of praise.
"Well