For a son-in-law, a pupil, to shield a friend within your faction?!
The moment those words fell, deathly silence filled the hall, like a needle slipping into water, soundless and cold.
Every gaze fell upon Yao Zhen and Song Jing.
Both old ministers had upheld the censorial standards for half their lives.
Now they stood motionless among the ranks, imposing as mountains, still as deep pools.
Outside the hall, the wind howled; candle shadows swayed.
Everyone held their breath.
Everyone awaited their reply.
Yao Zhen's expression flickered. Without speaking, he slowly raised his head, his clouded old eyes meeting Zou Mo's gaze head-on.
"Zou Mo."
"Do you know what else you condemned with that speech just now?!"
"In the Records of the Grand Historian, Ji An said these words. Today, I shall recite them for you..."
"The Son of Heaven appoints high ministers to assist him. Would he have them flatter him and indulge his wishes, trapping their sovereign in unrighteousness?
And once we occupy these offices, even if we cherish our own lives, how can we bear to disgrace the Court?!!!"
Yao Zhen recited each word distinctly. At the final line, his voice abruptly rose, his beard and hair bristling:
"I hold this office!"
"I attend to its duties!"
"Today, here in this hall, the choice of a single Imperial Envoy concerns a thousand miles of frontier in the Northwest, the lives of a million people!
As Chief Censor, I step from the ranks to speak on affairs of state!!
This is my duty, and the censorial system established by Emperor Taizu himself!!"
"You, Zou Mo, have slapped the word 'faction' upon my head..."
"Hah! But it is not my head you have branded!!"
"It is Great Zhou's two hundred years of open remonstrance! It is the backbone