Martial Cultivator

“In broad daylight, Lord Warden Commander, do you intend to slander me with such baseless accusations?!”

Shi Jian stared at Chen Chao before him. Though his expression was stiff, he still managed to remain composed.

“And what about Lord Zheng? Have you nothing to say either?”

Chen Chao paid no attention to Shi Jian and instead turned to look at Zheng Huacai off to the side. With a smile, he said, “This official has always heard that Lord Zheng is an upright and incorruptible official; a rare man of principle and a scholar of unshakable integrity.”

Zheng Huacai remained silent. Although he had heard everything that had been said earlier, it was difficult for him now to betray his old friend.

But in truth, he was already conflicted at this moment. After all, what had just been said was true, and to lie would also go against his conscience.

Chen Chao narrowed his eyes and smiled. “Lord Zheng truly is a fine scholar.”

Ordinarily, the term “scholar” held sacred meaning in Zheng Huacai’s heart. Yet when those words came from Chen Chao’s mouth, it sounded incomparably jarring to his ear.

Zheng Huacai sighed silently to himself. In the end, he still said nothing.

Chen Chao had no interest in continuing to make things difficult for Lord Zheng, this relatively decent official. Instead, he said with a trace of pity in his voice, “Lord Zheng is willing to ruin your own reputation for the sake of a friend, but this friend of yours is no more than a scoundrel.”

Shi Jian shouted in anger, “Chen Chao, you may kill me, but you have no right to insult me like this!”

Chen Chao looked up at Shi Jian and blinked slowly without replying. At that moment, an official brought forth a large chest and placed it before Chen Chao. The chest was opened, revealing tightly packed account books.

And aside from that, there were also some letters.

“Is it truly this official insulting you?”

“Vice Minister Shi, had this official not seen these ledgers, I might’ve believed you truly acted out of loyalty to the state. Even if you sought to frame this official, it might have been mere extremism. But with these account books here, take a look. Do you still have anything to say?”

Chen Chao cast a glance at Shi Jian. The latter’s face turned exceedingly complex, shifting through many expressions in a brief span. In the end, only desolation remained.

Chen Chao chuckled. “Lord Zheng, since your old friend doesn’t dare look, why don’t you take a look for him as his old friend?”

Zheng Huacai was stunned. He looked toward the chest, then back at his friend’s pale face. Realization dawned on him, but he still clung to a sliver of hope. Stepping quickly to the chest, he opened a ledger and flipped through a few pages. Unable to believe his eyes, he dropped it. After a pause, he steadied himself and opened several letters. Upon reading their contents, Zheng Huacai staggered back, his hand trembling as he clutched the letter. Eyes wide with disbelief, he looked at Shi Jian and demanded, “You... Shi Jian... What exactly have you been doing all these years?!”

Shi Jian closed his eyes and said nothing.

There was nothing left to say at this point.

Zheng Huacai was overcome with rage. He staggered forward and pointed a finger at the man who had once been his dearest friend, shouting, “Shi Jian! All these years, I’ve always treated you as a true friend and confidant, but I never imagined... that you would do such things... Are you even worthy of calling yourself a scholar?!”

“And to think you spoke so grandly of your loyalty to the realm. In the end, you’re nothing more than... a fat rat gnawing at the roots of Great Liang!”

”Spit!”

Zheng Huacai’s face turned crimson with fury. Just moments ago, he had been moved to tears on Shi Jian’s behalf. Yet now, in the span of a few short minutes, that very friend had become the person he despised most.

The old official’s anger surged in his heart, nearly causing him to collapse. Fortunately, Chen Chao gave a look, and an official stepped forward to steady him. Otherwise, this old official might well have died right there in the Shi Residence.

“Shi Jian, over the years you’ve taken in how much silver? The ledgers record it all clearly. I heard you reacted most vehemently over the matter of Su Tong. This official casually flipped through the books and it turns out you took quite a sum of money.”

Chen Chao sat back in his chair, eyes filled with disdain. “If you truly were a loyal and upright minister, this official wouldn’t have minded your insults or your scorn. But for a rat like you, hiding behind a banner of righteousness, you truly sicken this official.”

Shi Jian kept his eyes shut and refused to speak.

This once eloquent Vice Minister of Personnel was now utterly broken in spirit.

“Lord Warden Commander, this official is willing to report this vile traitor!”

Zheng Huacai declared solemnly. If earlier he had still considered Shi Jian his old friend, by now, all sentiment was gone. He no longer wished to call the man a friend at all.

“That won’t be necessary.”

Chen Chao glanced at Zheng Huacai and said softly, “Lord Zheng, his crimes are already enough to demand a heavy price.”

The implication was clear, there was no need to bring up Shi Jian’s attempted framing of him.

Zheng Huacai was taken aback, staring at the young Lord Warden Commander in disbelief. He had never imagined that the fearsome youth known for killing without mercy would actually do such a thing.

In that instant, Zheng Huacai suddenly felt his face grow hot. As if he had only just realized, perhaps none of them had ever truly looked at this young martial man.

To pass judgment on someone without ever truly observing them, was that the way of them scholars?

“Lord Zheng, what happened today, there’s no need to speak of it to others. Treat it as if it never happened.”

Chen Chao looked once more at Zheng Huacai, a gesture of consideration for this old official. If Zheng Huacai were to go public with his denunciation, his own reputation in court would surely suffer as well.

Zheng Huacai fell silent for a while, saying nothing.

Chen Chao understood what the old man was thinking, and gently offered comfort. “Your Excellency, no man is perfect. Perfection is but a fantasy. Life is long, no one can truly claim to be without fault.”

Zheng Huacai looked at Chen Chao and sighed deeply. “It seems that Lord Warden Commander is more of a scholar than this old man.”

Chen Chao replied with a self-deprecating smile, “If others heard you say that, this official’s next year would be nothing but trouble.”

Zheng Huacai laughed heartily. The gloom in his heart had lifted considerably. He looked at Chen Chao and said, “After this old man returns, I’ll take time to truly look at what Lord Warden Commander has done these past years, reflect more. In the future, perhaps scold you a little less.”

With that, he did not wait for Chen Chao’s reply, and left the Shi Residence with a smile.

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