Chapter 178 : Chapter 178

Chapter 178. Branded a Calamity to the Nation

At ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the same time, in the Great Chu Dynasty—

Above ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Imperial Palace, a streak of light tore across the sky. Chu Feng descended with his hands clasped behind his back, like a god descending into the mortal world.

Cailin ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍followed closely behind him, already curiously sizing up this human Imperial Palace from the air.

“So ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍this is your territory?” Cailin looked around at everything in curiosity. It seemed that it was not actually all that different from the place where she had lived.

It ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍just seemed to carry a bit more of the warmth of mortal life.

Chu ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Feng gave a faint hum of acknowledgment.

Today, Chu Feng did not land directly in the main hall. Instead, he quietly descended at the Imperial Study.

The reason he chose to land there was, first, because Cailin was with him, and he was worried that she would grow nervous if she saw so many people at once.

The second reason was that Chu Feng himself also disliked being surrounded by crowds.

The moment he landed, Chu Feng walked straight toward the Imperial Study.

Cailin curled her lips, lifted her head to glance at the surroundings, then immediately followed after him.

But that was simply how the world worked. If you did not want others to know, then you should not have done it in the first place. The news that Chu Feng had returned to the Imperial Study with Cailin spread through the court like it had grown wings.

“Have you heard? His Majesty brought back another woman...”

“What? Another one? Did His Majesty not just take in that one recently... and now he has brought back a new one? When the time comes, that one certainly will not be easy to deal with.”

“Shh, this one is different! I heard she is a woman from the Ancient Royal Clan, some clan leader from the Heaven-Devouring Python Clan! Naturally, she is not the same as the other women.”

“The Ancient Royal Clan? Are they not foreigners? Why would His Majesty bring a woman like that back? Has he lost his senses?”

For a time, the entire court was in an uproar, with every sort of opinion being voiced.

But in essence, nearly all of them opposed letting Cailin stay in the palace.

Sure enough, at the next morning court session, some people could no longer hold themselves back, and memorials came in one after another.

“This subject has a memorial to present!”

The Censor-in-Chief stepped forward, ceremonial tablet in hand, his expression stern. It was clear that he had come fully prepared to impeach someone.

Seated high upon the Dragon Throne, Chu Feng lazily lifted his eyelids. “Speak, my minister. Present your matter.”

“This subject has heard that Your Majesty has brought back a woman from the Ancient Royal Clan. Is this true? I hope Your Majesty can explain this matter clearly to us.”

Chu Feng curved his lips indifferently and softly uttered a single word: “Yes.”

The Censor-in-Chief drew a deep breath and declared in a ringing voice, “This subject boldly requests that Your Majesty execute this woman, so as to make an example of her. The Ancient Royal Clan are, by nature, a different race, and I have heard that they are brutal and merciless. If Your Majesty brings such a woman here now, would that not provoke conflict between us and the Ancient Royal Clan?”

The moment those words were spoken, the entire court erupted in an uproar.

Chu Feng’s expression remained unchanged. He even seemed faintly amused. “That is your reason? What does the Ancient Royal Clan amount to?”

The Censor-in-Chief spoke with righteous fervor. “The Ancient Royal Clan are not of our kind; their hearts must be different. If this woman enters Great Chu, she must be a spy, sent to probe the truth and weakness of our court. This will be harmful to the development of our Great Chu, Your Majesty!”

“What is more, this subject has heard that this woman is famed for her beauty even within the Ancient Royal Clan. A woman who could bring calamity to the nation and its people—if such a woman enters the palace, she will surely throw the court into chaos. Therefore, this humble subject dares to ask that, for the sake of Great Chu, Your Majesty cast this woman aside!”

“There are already past examples of women who brought disaster upon nations. We must guard against such a danger, Your Majesty.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a wave of agreement rose at once.

“This subject agrees.”

“This subject also agrees.”

“This woman is ill-omened. If she remains, disaster will surely follow. Please reconsider, Your Majesty. Please reconsider.”

As Chu Feng listened to these tired old arguments, the corners of his mouth curled into a playful arc.

These people still understood his strength far too poorly. They were actually worrying about such meaningless things...

Did they not stop to think about who he was? If she truly were the sort of woman who could bring down a nation, he would have already dealt with her once and for all. Why would he have brought her back?

Chu Feng turned his head and looked behind the curtain, a trace of a smile flashing at the corner of his lips.

So Cailin had been arranged to listen in from behind the screen.

In truth, this had been Cailin’s own request. Since she had only just arrived in the human world of the Great Chu Dynasty and knew no one here except Chu Feng, she had wanted to stay by his side at every step.

But who could have imagined that she would hear such words?

At that moment, Cailin’s face had turned deathly pale, and her pearly teeth bit tightly into her red lip.

She did not understand the rules of the human court, but the way those ministers looked at her was as though they were looking at something filthy. Those cold words, in particular, made her entire body turn cold.

Execute her...

She had clearly done nothing since coming here, yet they already wanted her dead?

What had she done wrong?

Chu Feng had forced her...

She was the victim...

Cailin’s eyes reddened, and she desperately held back her tears, refusing to let them fall. She could not even begin to understand these so-called rules people kept talking about.

Earlier, they had all spoken so grandly of benevolence, righteousness, and morality, full of kindness and virtue. So why were they being so heartless now?

When Chu Feng saw Cailin’s expression, he could not help feeling some pity for her.

He withdrew his gaze and looked at the Censor-in-Chief. “Finished?”

The Censor-in-Chief froze for a moment. “This subject has finished. In short, I hope Your Majesty will think carefully.”

“Then let me ask you,” Chu Feng said calmly. “Do I understand her better, or do you? And do all of you not know that I have never liked being told how to do things? Or have you already begun treating me as a foolish ruler?”

“Th-this...” The Censor-in-Chief faltered. “This subject has never met her, nor is there any need to understand her. The moment she was born, her fate was already decided.”

“Have you ever spoken to her?”

“No... I have not.”

Chu Feng smiled, and the smile carried a deep, unreadable meaning. “You have never met her and never spoken to her, yet you already know she is a spy? You already know she will bring calamity to the nation? That is nothing but prejudice. Since I have brought her back, that is proof enough that her identity poses no problem whatsoever.”

The Censor-in-Chief stubbornly lifted his chin. “The old teaching says it clearly: those not of our kind must harbor different hearts!”

“The old teaching?” Chu Feng rose to his feet and slowly walked down the steps. “Then let me ask you: does that old teaching also say what crime should befall one who speaks recklessly of his sovereign? Or have you begun coveting my seat? Do you want to replace me? I said that if I brought her back, then it proves there is nothing wrong with her identity. I do not need you standing here, spouting this nonsense at me.”

The Censor-in-Chief’s expression changed at once, and he dropped to his knees with a thud. “Th-this subject... this subject is only thinking of the state and the people of Great Chu...”

The censor prostrated himself on the ground, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.

Chu Feng stopped in front of him and looked down at him from above. “Thinking of the state and the people? I think you are thinking of your official cap instead.”

“If you truly cared for the state and the people, then you should go examine the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue, inspect the stores of the Ministry of War, and investigate the corrupt parasites who embezzle and break the law.”

“Instead of standing here and making reckless accusations against a woman you do not even know... Let me tell you this: if you continue to spread alarmist nonsense here, what you fail to keep will not merely be your official cap.”

“It will be your head.”