Chapter 1232: People’s hearts are hard to unite, and they will speak out when they feel unfair
They arrived at the Heguang Room again. Just like before, the others stayed outside. Nan Yan followed Zhu Feng in and sat at the low table.
However, this time, the one who poured the tea was Zhu Feng.
Although it was wrong for him as the emperor to pour tea for others, when he did this, it did not seem wrong, because it showed that he was in control of everything in the academy.
Jian Ruocheng sat on the other side of the low table, looking pale as he watched him slowly fill his cup to seven-tenths with tea.
He looked up at Zhu Feng: "What do you want?"
Zhu Feng did not answer him immediately, but slowly picked up the cup and took a sip. Although the tea was still bitter, it seemed to have a different taste this time.
But the bitterness in Jian Ruocheng's heart became even more severe.
Nan Yan sat aside and saw this scene. She didn't know what to say, so she could only stay there quietly.
After a long moment, Zhu Feng finally spoke, saying, "Master, something like this has happened in your academy. Should I immediately seal off your academy and thoroughly investigate every member of the academy to prevent such incidents from happening again?"
“…”
Jian Ruocheng frowned.
He thought for a moment and said, "If Your Majesty wishes to do this, I have no reason to refuse. However, Your Majesty must understand that the academy is a place for teaching and educating people. Your Majesty has just arrested someone. If you were to start a war and affect the students' studies, I'm afraid it wouldn't be a good idea."
"Studying?"
Zhu Feng sneered, "What they read, do, and spread every day, is just studying?"
Jian Ruocheng said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, can't you tolerate any different voices?"
Zhu Feng's voice also sank. "All under heaven belongs to the king. Within my jurisdiction, we should be united. These disturbing voices should not appear!"
Jian Ruocheng said: "People's hearts are hard to unite, and they will speak out when they are dissatisfied."
“…”
Zhu Feng sneered: "It's hard to unite people's hearts, and they will speak out when they feel unfair."
“…”
"But the more this happens, the more I want to smooth out the unevenness and fill in the unevenness!"
Although he said this with a smile, there was a hint of murderous intent in his words. Nan Yan, who was standing by, was terrified, fearing that he would attack the students of the academy. Jian Ruocheng's face also became paler. "Your Majesty, what do you want?"
Zhu Feng said coldly, "In your academy, there has been a murder and a case of false accusation against the prince. Logically, I should immediately close down your academy, arrest all the students, and torture them severely to see if anyone is in collusion with the traitors—"
“……!”
"However," he raised his eyebrows and said, "I can give you a chance."
Jian Ruocheng's breathing became heavy: "What opportunity?"
Zhu Feng glanced outside. Although the students did not crowd to the door of the Heguang Room like before, they were definitely worried about this side. They all stood not far away, eagerly watching.
Those are young faces. Although they are young and impulsive, they are full of passion, expectation and hope.
They have two sides and too many possibilities.
Zhu Feng said, "In two days, I will hold a grand ceremony to open the Da Ci'en Temple and enshrine the late emperor's relics in the Chong'en Pagoda."
“…”
Nan Yan's heart moved and she turned to look at him.
Jian Ruocheng also frowned and looked at him: "What do you mean?"
Zhu Feng said, "That day, many dignitaries will gather. I will invite all the celebrities in Jiangnan. Of course, this will also include those who have been affected by the rumors you spread behind the scenes."
“…”
"This is a major event. As a gathering place for Jinling scholars, how can you not participate?"
“…”
"I require the students of Zhujian Academy to perform the ritual of offering sacrifices to heaven and eulogize loyalty and filial piety during the grand ceremony!"
As soon as these words came out, Jian Ruocheng's breath was choked.
Nan Yan couldn't help but gasp.
It turns out that this is Zhu Feng’s purpose!
They all knew that if Zhu Feng attacked these students in the academy, no matter how right he was, he would be regarded as a tyrant by the students here, and rumors unfavorable to him would spread.
However, if Zhujian Academy, as the leader of the literati in Jinling, actually bowed to him, appeared at the ceremony where he enshrined the relics of the late emperor and opened the Da Ci'en Temple, chanted eulogies for him, and held sacrifices for him, then all the rumors that were previously unfavorable to him would be self-defeating!
This is a really good trick!
Nan Yan looked at Zhu Feng and didn't know what to say for a moment.
Although he sent people to follow Xia Fuxiu today and did not catch the mastermind behind the scenes, he was not affected by that failure. Instead, he seized the opportunity and immediately gained the most favorable situation for himself.
This man is truly worthy of being the King of Yan, Zhu Feng, who has fought on the battlefield for so many years!
At this moment, Jian Ruocheng had been forced into a desperate situation by him.
Everything they had done before would be in vain if they performed the sacrifice and eulogy at this ceremony, and everything he wanted would vanish into thin air!
Jian Ruocheng grabbed the teacup on the table and slowly tightened his grip.
Zhu Feng looked at his pale face and said calmly, "Of course, I won't force you."
“…”
"You have two days to think about it slowly."
“…”
"These students also have two days."
After saying that, he stopped lingering and drank the bitter tea in the cup in one breath. Then he grabbed Nan Yan's wrist and pulled her up: "Let's go."
"well!"
Nan Yan was caught off guard and was pulled up by him. Before she could say anything, she was dragged out of the Heguang room.
When she left, she looked back and saw Jian Ruocheng standing by the window with his head down. His eyes, which were once bright and clear, now seemed to be covered with a layer of shadow. Even though the sun was shining brightly outside, the sunlight could not shine into his eyes.
After Zhu Feng walked out, he immediately took Zhu Chengxuan and Li Bushang away.
However, he left behind countless officers and soldiers to surround the entire Zhujian Academy, not allowing anyone to enter or leave. Even inside the academy, additional personnel were sent to guard it.
The entire Bamboo Academy was under his control.
Nan Yan was pulled by him to the carriage at the door and said softly, "Your Majesty, are you really going to do this?"
Zhu Feng glanced at her and asked, "Why, do you think I did something wrong?"
“…”
Nan Yan was silent for a moment and shook her head.
Of course not.
Seizing the favorable opportunity to counterattack is what he should do most now, and this opportunity is fleeting.
After all, the mastermind behind the scenes was too powerful. Until now, Zhu Feng had already revealed himself, but he had not.
This person is more difficult to deal with than the previous Prince Jing Zhuo Yan, Prince Ning Zhuo Xuan, and even all the enemies they have faced.
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