Besides, Jun Moxie’s suspicions had long been confirmed in his own heart; there was no need for further proof. All doubts pointed in the same direction. Jun Moxie only needed the right opportunity!

“Another point is that while you, Jun Moxie, are dangerous, and the Jun family’s power is substantial, the forces belonging to the Jun family have also been dispersed over the years. With peace prevailing across the land now, there aren't many large-scale conflicts, so even if you desired to achieve great merits, you might not find the opportunity. At most, you would become another Jun Zhantian, whom we could still tolerate and would be happy to continue contending with. Only with a balance of civil and military strength can the nation enjoy long-term stability. However, after this decisive battle in the Southern Territories, the Jun family’s strength soared overnight! This speed of ascent is truly…” Terror-inducing! By extrapolation, if you were to fully mature, the current might of the Jun family would undoubtedly multiply several times over!” “At that time, the Sovereign of Tianxiang would cease to be a true ruler, and your subjects would no longer be loyal. It would truly be over.” Mei Gaojie forced a bitter smile, yet it was etched with a look of fierce pride: “I am an old official of Tianxiang; my entire life, from a young boy to one nearing his end, has been dedicated to the Tianxiang Empire! I will never allow the Jun family to shake the very foundations of Tianxiang. Even in death, I will fight with all my might!”

“So that is the reason!” Jun Moxie narrowed his eyes, his voice deep: “But I seem to have done nothing; why does Elder Mei insist that I will surely destroy the Tianxiang nation?”

“On this matter, Young Master knows best why you ask such a question?” Mei Gaojie sneered: “With Young Master Jun’s peerless talent, why the decade of debauchery? With such profound mystical arts, why the decade of forbearance? Feigning foolishness, ruining your own reputation, becoming notorious and infamous—for what reason? Now, after ten years of silence, why does Young Master soar to the heavens in one burst? After ten years of quietude, why does your emergence shake the world, showing utter disregard for the sovereign?”

“Heh heh,” that was due to entirely different reasons. The old Elder calls me his confidant, but on this point, he has misjudged me. Jun Moxie gave a wry smile. This old man’s perception, talent, and insight were indeed unique. However, the former Mo Xie was genuinely a wastrel, but since his own rise, the previous prodigal son has become a legend in the eyes of the world.

Jun Moxie, in effect, a legend of enduring hardship in secret? This could not help but be called an irony! If Mo Xie from the past knew of this, he would likely die again in shock, even as a ghost.

“I can perhaps guess one or two of the Young Master’s reasons. However, this is not the time to discuss such matters.” Mei Gaojie smiled knowingly and waved a hand.

“One final question. Based on your abilities alone, you probably couldn't stir up such a great storm; there must be a higher hand manipulating this. While both esteemed Elders have been meticulous in their planning, they are not inherently this despicable. There must be other participants. If this Young Master guesses correctly, it must be people from Shensi and Yu Tang, yes?”

A needle-sharp glint flashed in Jun Moxie’s eyes: “You collude with them to frame the Jun family, a pillar of the imperial court—this is no different from treason! Why? When I first arrived, I asked Elder for an explanation. Can I have that explanation now?!”

“Hahahaha,” the crime of treason? That is truly the greatest joke under heaven.” Mei Gaojie burst into loud laughter: “If the Jun family goes, there is still the Dugu family, the Murong family. These years of military readiness ensure the border defenses are secure. Even if the Jun family is destroyed, the Tianxiang nation might be chaotic for a while. Even if the two great empires took the opportunity to invade together, with Tianxiang’s accumulated reserves over many years, we could hold out. Even if we were ultimately defeated, it would not necessarily result in a change of dynasty! But if you, Jun Moxie, were to fully mature, such treasonous acts would be inevitable! Between the survival of Tianxiang and temporary chaos, which holds greater weight? The answer is obvious; there is no need to ask what choice we made!”

“Elder Mei, please mind your words.” Jun Moxie looked coldly at the old man who spoke of governing the world, his gaze holding unconcealed sharpness: “Perhaps your deductions are sound, but they are only deductions! They are not facts! And you use these mere deductions to harm our Jun family, the former guardian of the Empire. Do you not feel your actions are excessive? Have you considered how many lives your unverified presumptions might cost?”

“Perhaps you bear a grudge against the Jun family, or perhaps you simply dislike me, but these things cannot hide the truth that you are using distorted facts to attack us. Your speculation is, at best, just your own ideas, without a shred of concrete evidence; most importantly, you use this method to insult a good woman who spared her innocence just to repay a debt of gratitude! And you know perfectly well she is entirely innocent, that this entire affair has nothing to do with her!”

“You also know that although this woman indeed lost her chastity because of me, Jun Moxie, she remains as pure and unblemished as before! And you even know that my Third Uncle adopted her as his goddaughter first, meaning she is no longer a daughter-in-law of the Jun family, nor is she my sister-in-law, Jun Moxie’s wife, yet you cling to her former status throughout your attacks! You still did it. I wish to ask: in the eyes of you great scholars, are a woman’s reputation and happiness objects that can be casually discarded, trampled upon, and exploited?? To achieve your goals, can you sacrifice anyone you deem disposable? I want to know, what exactly are the justice and integrity that your great scholars’ morality has always championed?”

Jun Moxie’s eyes were cold and sharp.

Mei Gaojie held his head high with arrogance, refusing to yield in the slightest: “Such matters are extremely common. I disdained to argue! However, since Young Master Jun has brought it up, I will make an exception and explain. In brutal political struggles, let alone just a woman, even a royal princess must be prepared to sacrifice herself for the nation! Sacrificing one woman for the sake of securing peace for the realm is an extremely profitable exchange! It yields immense profit with no cost! Why shouldn't it be done? Even if she is innocent, so what? She is just a woman!”

“Elder Mei, do you not find that statement shameless?” Jun Moxie sneered: “What if it were your own daughter? What if it were your own wife?”

“I would! This is as it should be, as natural as heaven and earth! I would have nothing to regret! To die for the nation is their honor! If Guan Qinghan were my daughter, I would not hesitate to execute my own kin for the sake of righteousness, even carrying out the sentence myself!” Mei Gaojie held his head high with arrogance, speaking with absolute certainty, without a hint of hesitation! There was even a kind of pride in self-sacrifice!

Jun Moxie laughed in exasperation and anger. He finally understood how vastly different his way of thinking was from these great scholars! Debating this point, this old scholar could likely argue convincingly for another year!

“Then I ask you, when you do such things, do you feel even a shred of guilt?” Jun Moxie suppressed the churning blood in his chest.

“Nonsense! Such matters are inherently righteous; where would guilt come from? Women are like clothes; what does it matter if they are discarded?” Mei Gaojie looked at Jun Moxie with an expression of profound disdain: “I thought you were somewhat of a figure, but I never expected you to be so sentimental over trivial matters! Jun Moxie, I, in my dying moments, warn you: a beauty should never interfere with grand strategy, and a hero’s greatest flaw is excessive emotion! Do not let this old man look down upon you!”

“It is indeed my mistake! Your words just now truly gave me the illusion of a kindred spirit. I truly should not have discussed such things with you.” Jun Moxie completely conceded, shaking his head with a wry smile: “I am not usually sentimental, but no one—not even a nation—can touch what is mine! Elder Mei, this is another reason I sought you out today, and it is a reason you would never expect.” “Mei Gaojie, you are full of grand benevolence and righteousness, of country and realm, but men like you will never know what a man’s commitment is! Thus, you might succeed in politics, but you will never become a true man! Frankly, in my eyes, you are a collaborator, and that includes all the disciples you have taught. Putting aside those who didn't enter the court, all those who did are utterly shameless beings!”

“Nonsense!” Mei Gaojie became furious. Having disciples spread throughout the world was Mei Gaojie’s greatest accomplishment, his greatest pride. Seeing his students flourish everywhere, bearing fragrant blossoms, was the greatest comfort of his life! Jun Moxie could call him whatever he wished, and he would merely smile and ignore it, but this point immediately touched his rawest nerve. This old man, with his flowing white hair, instantly became agitated like a fighting rooster!

“Which of my disciples is not a pillar of the Empire? Nineteen of my disciples have successively become regional governors, benefiting all four seas and bringing prosperity to their regions! They are all mainstays of the Empire, Jun Moxie. What qualification do you, a mere prodigal son, have to speak of my disciples? They are all renowned talents of the Empire!”

The old man stood up, his face flushed red with agitation, his fingers trembling.

“Sit down! What the hell are you getting agitated about! Calling your disciples trash is an understatement! Trash sometimes has some value for recycling; they have no such value at all!” Jun Moxie sneered, flipping his palm: “Mei Gaojie, open your old eyes wide and take a good look at the ‘benefits and prosperity’ brought by your disciples!”

A thin booklet appeared in his hand, which he tossed toward Mei Gaojie.

Mei Gaojie caught it and immediately froze. He glanced at Jun Moxie suspiciously before slowly beginning to read.

It truly contained the ‘glorious achievements’ of all his disciples!

On such-and-such date, such-and-such disciple used his authority to oppress a wealthy merchant, soliciting bribes and compensation of a certain amount. On another day, he forcibly took the merchant’s daughter as a concubine, forcing the parents to death…”

Then followed this disciple’s documented acts of lawlessness and indiscretion. Dozens of cases, each supported by solid evidence, verified testimonies, and irrefutable proof!

And then another…

Every single incident was clearly marked with an investigation date and the name of the investigator, with dates varying. Some pages were slightly yellowed and curled at the edges.

This evidence, this mountain of irrefutable proof… if judged according to the contents listed, executing these wretches a hundred times over would not be enough!

After flipping through several pages continuously, Mei Gaojie’s hand finally trembled, and the booklet fell onto the table with a ‘pat.’

He looked at the courtyard house he was awarded by the late Emperor, and the sparse, unremarkable furniture in the room—almost destitute—and then looked at the astronomical bribes his students had accepted listed in the booklet, where a single transaction equaled his total income for several years or even decades! To know what happens next, please log on to Jizhu for more chapters, support the author, and support genuine reading! Ao Yue Shuai Shan Xun Shu Shai San