The Naivety of the Pure Land  

Xiang Ning, the Emperor of Chu, held a grand wedding, marrying Princess Chang Le of Great Han.

The capital was festooned with lanterns and decorations. Red lanterns hung high above every city gate. All the restaurants, wine houses, and alleyways were as lively as during the festivals, yet the prices were cheaper than usual.

There was a thriving trade between the people of Chu and Han, appearing as intimate as one family.

In contrast, Great Ming was very quiet. They didn't send any congratulatory envoys to either country, and commercial trade with them seemed to be gradually decreasing as well, showing signs of a complete severance of ties.

In the imperial palace, the wedding ceremony was underway. As the Duke of Jin and the current Prime Minister, Fan Li personally hosted Emperor Xiang Ning's wedding, to demonstrate its importance.

All the civil and military officials were present without exception, including Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Sun Quan wearing their court uniforms to the ceremony.

Lü Chunqiu had a prior appointment with Emperor Jiajing and was absent to avoid suspicion, but his chief disciple, Yan Yuan, attended as a representative, sitting amongst the honoured guests.

Wu Gang was heavily injured in his fierce battle with the Blood Phoenix Sage Ruler, and was still in secluded cultivation to recuperate, hence also absent.

The ones who could come but deliberately chose to be absent were the Empress Dowager Li and Xiang Chong!

The Empress Dowager claimed illness as an excuse to miss her own daughter's wedding. Xiang Chong used nursing his mother's illness as a reason to not attend either.

Ever since the Blazing Fire Sect incident exposed the Empress Dowager's ambitions.

So what if Xiang Ning was her own daughter? In Empress Dowager Li's eyes, she was merely a temporary occupant of the imperial throne.

What the Empress Dowager truly wished was to support her son taking over the throne instead. This took priority even over bringing down the powerful minister Fan Li.

"Unfortunately, after the Blazing Fire Sect incident, Empress Dowager Li and Xiang Chong hid themselves in the inner palace. There isn't any evidence of their crimes left," Lü Chunqiu had lamented as such before, but Fan Li didn't respond.

This mother and son duo didn't give him enough of a headache for action yet. The real trouble was... Sage Ruler Qing Qiu!

"Though the ceremony is simple, the majesty is present. The heavens above, the sovereign benevolent. Husband and wife joined in marriage, the auspicious phoenixes matching the dragon. Through proper order everything is established, bringing prosperity to family and state... The bride and groom pay respects to Heaven and Earth!!!"

The Chu imperial palace was extremely vast. The guests numbered several thousand.

Fan Li's cultivation level wasn't high enough. He nearly strained his voice hoarse shouting out the words of ceremonial rites.

He almost couldn't catch his breath, only striving to maintain his upright posture. He didn't want those around him to see his sorry state and embarrassment, lest he lose face.

The only one standing by Fan Li's side was a woman dressed in green, her expression indifferent. She was Sage Ruler Qing Qiu.

"She's actually Princess Chang Le's master..."

Fan Li felt extremely vexed.

These last few days, Sage Ruler Qing Qiu had been following him everywhere.

She claimed it was for her investigation, but she focused completely on Fan Li alone. And she was even stronger than the Blood Phoenix Sage Ruler, giving Fan Li no chance to retaliate at all.

In order not to startle his friends and family, Fan Li didn't dare reveal Qing Qiu's identity. He could only vaguely refer to her as a "new friend".

For Xiang Ning's wedding, Fan Li had entered the palace to serve as the ceremonial official.

He originally thought he could temporarily get away from Sage Ruler Qing Qiu, but she brazenly followed him into the imperial palace.

"Princess Chang Le invited me," was Sage Ruler Qing Qiu's justification, leaving Fan Li helpless.

Only after Fan Li oversaw the bride and groom in their ceremonial bows to Heaven and Earth and entering the bridal chamber could the ministers finally begin the celebratory banquet.

By custom, Fan Li should have joined them at the table to represent the emperor in returning their well wishes. But right now he was in no mood at all.

"Erm... Senior Qing Qiu..."

"You're not someone of the Pure Land, just addressing me by name directly is fine."

Fan Li smiled awkwardly.

Really?

Can a woman's words be believed?

They flip their attitude faster than turning pages in a book. Isn't that the passive skill all women come equipped with?

Fan Li cautiously probed, "Qing Qiu, I'll say it again. My battle with the Blood Phoenix Sage Ruler was purely self-defense. With my low cultivation level and strength, how could I possibly take the initiative to provoke a Sage Ruler of the Brahma Sound Pure Land? You understand what I mean by justified self-defense, right?"

Qing Qiu glanced at him.

"You destroyed the Blazing Fire Sect. Thirty-percent of their accumulated thousand-year sect resources entered the imperial treasury of Great Chu. Seventy-percent entered the Fan Residence."

Fan Li smiled awkwardly. "Eh... This..."

Because he made preparations against the Blood Phoenix Sage Ruler, the Fan clan bled money terribly. If he didn't think of ways to earn back their capital, how could the Fan clan get by?

Qing Qiu didn't wait for him to make excuses and directly said, "The Blazing Fire Sect is the Blazing Fire Sect. The Pure Land is the Pure Land. You didn't take anything from the Pure Land itself, so I've nothing to pursue you for."

It was only then Fan Li felt some relief.

But Qing Qiu continued, "All who come into conflict with the Pure Land, if they originally committed grave sins and evil deeds, regardless of what sparked the conflict, the Pure Land can always pursue and investigate them until their death is brought about."

Damn!

Fan Li almost cursed out loud.

So no matter if the Blood Phoenix Sage Ruler was unreasonable or deserved death, as long as the Brahma Sound Pure Land found the slightest excuse, they could determine him guilty!?

As expected, in any world, only the strong can dictate right and wrong. Truth only exists within firing range of heavy artillery?

Fan Li felt a terrible headache coming on!

Who was he?

The number one powerful minister of Great Chu. Allegedly second only to Dong Zhuo in terms of ministers who hold power over their sovereign. At least, that was the character setting the system demanded of him.

How could he not have a single exploitable weakness?

Fan Li even lacked confidence in himself!

But Sage Ruler Qing Qiu seemed to see through his thoughts and patiently explained, "The shifts in power between regimes are secular matters of the mundane world. They are unrelated to the Pure Land's criteria for judging good and evil. Whether you're an evil minister of Great Chu or a loyal one, it has no relevance to my investigation."

Fan Li was confused by her words. "What do you mean? Your Pure Land kills even loyal ministers?"

Fan Li thought that since Qing Qiu had this sort of personality, flattering her would be useless. He might as well speak frankly for the refreshing feeling.

"Why?" Qing Qiu instead revealed an unusual curiosity. "When the Pure Land was first established, it was to shelter and protect women who are soft and weak by nature. In keeping with that founding intention, the Pure Land views all matters under heaven impartially, with the common people who are the weakest receiving the most emphasis. Our criteria for good and evil are established based on what benefits the common people. What's wrong with that?"

When it came to comparing cultivation realms, Fan Li fell short. But if the topic was governance and administration, Fan Li was an expert.

He immediately asked, "Qing Qiu, do you think it'd be better if the land under heaven split apart, or if it unified together as one?"

Qing Qiu clearly had a prepared answer and promptly responded, "Fragmentation often leads to much conflict and strife. Strife will inevitably make the common people suffer. I believe unity is better."

Fan Li repeatedly nodded his head as he listened.

"When Great Chu becomes powerful enough, if I launch a war to conquer Great Ming and Great Han, unifying all under heaven, would the Pure Land consider me a sinner or a contributor?"

"Unifying all under heaven...a contributor?" Qing Qiu revealed rare hesitation.

Fan Li laughed. "If I destroy two countries in years of warfare, causing great suffering for the common people, wouldn't the Pure Land consider me a sinner instead?"

Qing Qiu: "..."

She was stunned for a while before saying, "Let each of the three countries live in peace, without wielding the sword." When saying this, Qing Qiu's tone was surprisingly somewhat timid.

However, Fan Li immediately pursued, "Suppose Great Chu faces a natural disaster, the fields yield nothing, and the people will starve. If the Han and Ming nations refuse to sell food to us, can I send troops to attack and force them to sell food?"

Qing Qiu widened her eyes, as if she had never considered such a complex question.

"If I send troops, there is guilt in war. If I don't send troops, the people of Chu will all starve to death. Qing Qiu, at this moment, how do you judge my merit and crime?"

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