Chapter 152 My Charming Ancestor 26
"For the sake of millions of people?"
She repeated Zhang Liang's words as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world.
"What a fine example of doing this for the sake of millions of people."
She stood up, paced a few steps, and the aroma of tea around the stone table seemed to be diluted by this invisible pressure.
"Then let me ask you."
Zhou Jue's eyes suddenly sharpened, and he extended the first finger.
"The Qin Dynasty's harsh laws and severe punishments cause suffering for the people. But if war breaks out again, and the feudal lords divide the land, leaving only desolation and exposed bones for miles around, will the people suffer even more then?"
Zhang Liang's pupils suddenly contracted! He hadn't been unaware of this problem, but rather, he dared not think about it! It was the bloody truth he had been deceiving himself with the guise of "righteousness for the nation's destruction"!
Zhou Jue gave him no chance to catch his breath, extending a second finger, his voice growing increasingly chilling.
"Secondly! You've squandered your fortune and gathered a group of assassins, but is it truly to save the people from this dire situation, or for the pitiful glory of your Zhang family's 'five generations serving as prime ministers of Han'?!"
"When you wake up in the middle of the night, are your heart-wrenching screams 'to save the people from suffering,' or 'to avenge your family and country's grievances?!'"
"you--!"
Zhang Liang felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his vision went black for a moment, and his ears were ringing!
Yes, he hated Ying Zheng and the Qin Dynasty. But was the root of this hatred the suffering of the common people or the pain of national subjugation?
He had always thought the two were one, but this immortal had so blatantly dissected them, and he was unable to distinguish them for a moment!
No! He can't fool himself!
What he hated was the loss of his Zhang family's glory! What he hated was that he had fallen from a noble young master to a homeless dog!
Zhou Jue slowly walked up to him, looking down at him. Her voice was as light as a breeze, yet as heavy as a mountain.
"I'll ask you a third question."
"You say the laws of Qin are harsh, that's true. But do you know that in Xianyang today, Li Si and others, under His Majesty's orders, are revising the old laws and formulating new ones?"
"Do you know that His Majesty intends to abolish the system of collective punishment, reduce corvée labor, reform the salt and iron system, and standardize weights and measures?"
"If you truly possess extraordinary talent and a heart that cherishes the world, why not step into the imperial court and use your wisdom to formulate a law that will allow the people to live and work in peace and contentment?"
Zhou Jue suddenly leaned down, his voice almost touching his ear, each word carrying a burning heat, yet also icy coldness!
"Instead, they chose the simplest, and most foolish, method: assassination, to exact revenge!"
"To drag this newly unified world, which has just begun to catch its breath, back into the hell of war?!"
"Zhang Zifang, tell me."
Her voice suddenly turned into a thunderous question!
"Are you acting for the people, or for yourself?!"
"..."
It was deathly silent in the mountain villa; you could hear a pin drop.
Zhang Liang sat stiffly on the stone bench, motionless.
Those words were like bolts of lightning, shattering all his pride, all his faith, and all the beliefs that sustained him!
His prized wisdom was utterly insignificant in the face of the opponent's open and honest schemes.
His desperate attempt to avenge his family was a joke in the face of the enemy's overwhelming power.
Now, even his last steadfast commitment to the morality of "serving the country and the people" has been stripped of its glamorous exterior, revealing its ugly core of "personal hatred."
To restore the family's glory...
So, it turns out I'm the one who's selfish to the core—a coward!
"puff--"
He couldn't suppress the urge to vomit blood, which stained the stone table in front of him and the unfinished cup of tea.
Blood and tea mixed together create an indescribably eerie atmosphere.
"My lord!"
The hidden retainers and assassins were terrified and tried to rush forward, but were blocked by an invisible wall of energy! They could only watch helplessly as Zhang Liang's mind collapsed, his face turned ashen, and his aura weakened!
For a long time, so long that everyone thought Zhang Liang would go mad.
He slowly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve. Then, he stood up.
He straightened his clothes, faced Zhou Jue, and performed an unprecedentedly grand salute, bowing deeply.
This bow is not a gesture of respect between equals, but rather a mortal's kowtow to a deity, a lower-ranking person bowing to a higher one.
“The words of the immortal are like daggers to the heart.”
Zhang Liang's voice was eerily calm, devoid of any emotion, like a stagnant pool.
"Zifang, I have learned a lot."
He straightened up and gave a bitter smile.
“National hatred and family feuds were Zifang’s personal desires and obsessions. Zifang acknowledged this.”
"But, born a Han, I will die a Han ghost! What wrong has Zhang Liang done in avenging his country and family?"
At that moment, his back straightened up again.
"Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together."
"Since the immortal is supporting Ying Zheng, then Zifang has nothing to say!"
He calmly opened his arms, closed his eyes, and adopted a posture of offering his neck for execution.
"Kill me if you want, no need for further words!"
"Zifang, I will never surrender to Qin!"
Better to be a broken piece of jade than a whole piece of tile!
This is his, Zhang Zifang's, last and only pride as a descendant of five generations of prime ministers in the state of Han!
However, the expected swift and decisive action did not materialize. After waiting for a long time, only a light, amused chuckle reached their ears.
"Kill you?"
Zhou Jue sat back down on the stone bench and looked at him leisurely.
"I told you, I'm not here to kill you."
Zhang Liang suddenly opened his eyes, full of confusion.
If they won't surrender, why not kill them? Are we keeping this menace alive?
“Let’s make a bet,” Zhou Jue said.
"A bet?" Zhang Liang frowned, completely unable to follow the other person's train of thought.
“Yes, let’s gamble.” Zhou Jue looked at Zhang Liang.
"Let's bet that if I never showed up, and your plan actually succeeded..."
"You overthrew the Qin Dynasty, you assisted the new king, you achieved great success and reached the highest position in the court."
"Will you regret it in the end?"
A meaningful smile curved at the corners of Zhou Jue's mouth.
"If you have experienced all of that and look back on your life without a single regret, then I will leave immediately, never to interfere in your affairs with the Great Qin again, and I will set you free."
“But if…” Her voice paused slightly, and her smile became unfathomable.
"If you have even the slightest regret..."
"You must put aside all hatred, enter Qin as a subject, serve Ying Zheng, devote yourself to the cause until your dying breath."
"how?"
This bet is too bizarre, too absurd!
Zhang Liang almost thought he had misheard.
Foreseeing the future? What if the immortal hadn't appeared? Did he succeed?
But the immortals have already appeared, so what's the point?
Looking into Zhou Jue's calm eyes, a surge of overwhelming pride and resentment welled up in his heart!
regret?
Throughout my life, Zhang Zifang, I have never regretted my actions!
As long as we can destroy the tyrannical Qin Dynasty and avenge this deep-seated hatred, even if it means eternal damnation, what regret is there!
"good!"
Zhang Liang practically roared out that word!
I'll bet you!
"very good."
Zhou Jue nodded in satisfaction.
She took out a bright yellow talisman from her bosom. On the talisman were drawn intricate patterns in vermilion, which Zhang Liang could not understand at all.
"Please sit down."
Zhang Liang did as instructed, sat back down on the stone bench, straightened his back, and looked like a prisoner preparing to die a heroic death.
He wanted to see what kind of future this immortal would show him!
Zhou Jue took the talisman and slowly walked behind him.
"Relax your mind and do not resist."
Her voice carried a strange, magical quality.
Zhang Liang closed his eyes and felt a touch coming from his forehead. The talisman was gently placed between his eyebrows.
"Buzz—"
In an instant! The world spun around! It was as if the entire world had been plunged into a giant vortex.
When he opened his eyes again, he was standing in his room. He was a little confused. Had he just taken a nap?
Just then, the door was suddenly kicked open with a bang!
A trusted retainer stumbled in, his face contorted with wild joy, his voice shrill and hoarse with extreme excitement:
"My lord! Great news! This is an extraordinary event!"
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