Bab 71: My Guess
His words were calm yet firm.
Mo Qingkuang was indeed a promising talent, proficient in both literary and martial arts, and possessed of keen intelligence. Even just now, he had argued with Dean Hua, his longtime friend and confidant, over Mo Qingkuang's guidance.
But Mo Qingkuang's words deeply disappointed him.
Prime Minister Wang Hua was known for his integrity and selflessness, qualities that had earned him the respect and admiration of the entire nation. Yet, Mo Qingkuang's baseless accusations against him seemed to stem from a personal vendetta against Wang Yu, which made Zheng Tao lose faith in him.
In Zheng Tao's eyes, Mo Qingkuang's attack on Wang Hua was likely a desperate attempt to shield himself from any potential retaliation by Wang Yu's allies. It was a cowardly act that tarnished the reputation of a man who had dedicated his life to serving the kingdom.
In response to Mo Qingkuang's unwavering stance, Zheng Tao felt his patience wearing thin. He even entertained the thought of expelling Mo Qingkuang from the capital immediately.
Mo Qingkuang, however, remained calm and composed, showing no signs of panic at the prospect of being cast out by his newly recognized mentor.
Shaking his head, Mo Qingkuang spoke, "I understand Prime Minister Wang Hua's esteemed position in Tianxuan and the high regard in which all hold him. But the truth is, he is indeed a spy for the Blue Flame Empire."
"Do you still insist on your claims? Boy, Wang Hua's character is known to everyone in the realm! Our people and the palace guards have thoroughly investigated every aspect of Wang Hua's life, including his every meal and conversation, all of which are meticulously recorded!" Dean Hua gritted his teeth, his voice cold.
"These records are meticulously kept in the secret archives of our academy. Do we have to present Wang Hua's flawless record before you before you admit to slandering him?" he demanded, his gaze piercing.
Facing Dean Hua's icy stare, Mo Qingkuang smiled. "Dean Hua, you are a person of great wisdom and experience, but dare I ask, is there anyone in this world who is truly flawless?"
"Dean Hua! No one is perfect! When a person appears flawless, that, in itself, is the biggest flaw!" Mo Qingkuang met Dean Hua's gaze fearlessly, each word ringing with conviction.
"You..." Dean Hua was momentarily taken aback by Mo Qingkuang's audacity. Was he not afraid of death?
However, Mo Qingkuang's words struck a chord in Dean Hua's heart like a thunderclap in spring.
Indeed, in this world, who could claim to be perfect?
Despite his literary and martial arts talents, Dean Hua was unconventional and indulgent, often going to great lengths to maintain his youthful appearance.
Zheng Tao, on the other hand, was upright and loyal but lacked flexibility, often finding his plans thwarted despite his best intentions.
And many others in the court had their own flaws, whether it be in matters of wealth, power, or desire.
Only Wang Hua remained untainted by corruption, leading a frugal life despite his high position, generously aiding the poor, and strictly forbidding any commercial activities in his household.
Although he doted on his grandson Wang Yu, he did not spoil him excessively.
Despite Wang Yu's extravagant attire today, Dean Hua knew that it was the best outfit Wang Yu had. That set of clothes was made from the cloth that was given to Wang Hua on his 120th birthday last year.
Prime Minister Wang Hua, despite holding a high position, never sought power for his own sake and never tolerated corruption. He often mentored young officials who upheld integrity. Furthermore, Wang Hua had only one wife throughout his life, whom he had promised to marry before he even entered school in his hometown. After her passing many years ago, Wang Hua never remarried.
With such a flawless reputation, no one would have ever suspected him of being a spy for the Blue Flame Empire! Though Mo Qingkuang's assertion that 'no one is perfect' did cast a shadow of doubt over Wang Hua in Dean Hua's mind, Zheng Tao still refused to believe it.
"Other than the weak excuse that 'no one is perfect,' do you have any solid evidence?" Dean Hua, not a fool, quickly thought through many possibilities, his tone softening slightly but still filled with suspicion.
Seeing this, Mo Qingkuang felt a sense of relief and continued as per Mo Fan's instructions, "In addition to the imperfections of humanity, there's also the fact that Wang Hua has reached the level of a Martial King in martial arts, hasn't he?"
"Yes."
"For an ordinary martial artist from a humble background, how many resources would it take to reach the level of a Martial King? You two should be well aware of this."
"As far as I know, Wang Hua came from a poor family and spent all his family's wealth on education. He barely had enough money to study, let alone practice martial arts."
"Therefore, before becoming the top scholar, Wang Hua shouldn't have had any martial arts techniques, right?"
"So, after the age of sixteen, when the best time for martial arts cultivation has passed, and when his constitution has already been established, how did Wang Hua manage to cultivate to the level of a Martial King in just a hundred years while being fully devoted to his country and its people, without compromising his integrity? Could he have the legendary Spirit Body that transcends even Heaven Grade roots?"
Mo Qingkuang's words were calm and deliberate, but they struck fear in the hearts of Dean Hua and Zheng Tao.
They had both conveniently forgotten that Wang Hua, who had once been an ordinary person without any martial arts techniques, had become the top scholar without laying a foundation before the age of sixteen.
Yet, despite not having the best conditions for cultivation, Wang Hua's progress in martial arts had surpassed even that of Dean Hua, Zheng Tao, and their generation.
Dean Hua and ZhengTao's hearts began to waver. They realized that Wang Hua was not some mythical being or someone who possessed Heaven Grade roots; he was just a cultivator with Earth Grade roots who had reached the Martial King realm somehow.
Despite his focus on political affairs, theoretically, he had even less time for cultivation than they did.
Why was Wang Hua able to repeatedly break through and even approach the level of Zheng Tao and others?
This was a mystery that was about to be uncovered.
In Mo Fan's original plot, Dean Hua was the first to discover this anomaly. However, it was already too late. By then, Wang Hua's cultivation had already surpassed theirs, and the time for the war to destroy the country had come.
In the end, Wang Hua became the greatest hero, welcomed back to the Blue Flame Empire and rewarded for his achievements.
Now, Mo Fan was just using Mo Qingkuang's words to reveal it in advance.
Even if it wasn't mentioned now, Dean Hua would have discovered it himself in two years' time.
"Thus, I can assert that behind Wang Hua, there must be a huge organization providing him with resources! And, he had already built his foundation at a young age, he just never revealed it!" Mo Qingkuang declared confidently.
Now, he had successfully shaken Dean Hua and Zheng Tao's trust in Wang Hua.
"Besides that, do you have any more concrete evidence? Such as evidence of his contact with the organization providing resources, locations, or personnel involved in the dealings?" After a long silence, Dean Hua asked.
Undeniably, he had been shaken. Even the formal address of 'Prime Minister Wang' had been replaced with a simple 'he.'
"I don't have any. How could I know about those things? With my humble cultivation level, what could I possibly know?" Mo Qingkuang rolled his eyes.
"I'm afraid that I might be silenced before I even catch the wind. These are just my guesses. If you two don't believe me, then just forget that I said anything," he concluded.
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