Chapter 265: Chapter 200: Lu and Wang’s Heart Learning, Public Opinion Reverses! Father-in-Law Ascends to the Twelfth Realm and Meets Emperor Yong’an

As expected of a seasoned court official.

Without uttering a single curse or a single harsh word, he made the expressions on the Great Scholars’ faces absolutely foul.

Seeing no one answer and the atmosphere turning silent, Wang He’fu smiled faintly. "With your great wisdom and profound knowledge, you should have long understood the principles of Lu and Wang’s Heart Learning. What does it mean that the mind is the principle? To put it bluntly, good and evil reside within one’s own mind. Everyone’s perception of good and evil is different, as is their perception of right and wrong.

My grandson was a victim of Witchcraft, a victim in the case of the Demoness, yet you lot—you pen-pushers—have spent an entire year cursing him as a traitor. And you still haven’t stopped? 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Based on nothing but a momentary trend in public opinion, with no evidence, you use flimsy accusations like ’improper establishment of virtue’ and ’unseemly conduct’ to declare my grandson the culprit who let the Demoness escape?"

An elderly Great Scholar gathered his sleeves and snorted coldly. "Wang He’fu, the Three Academies have yet to conclude their investigation. Aren’t you speaking too soon?"

Wang He’fu retorted coolly, "Whether he is loyal or a traitor, the Holy Emperor will judge clearly. What is there for you all to clamor about? And those scholars and common folk outside the Imperial City—was that not your deliberate arrangement?"

A look of panic crossed the elderly Great Scholar’s face. He pointed at Wang He’fu and snapped, "Wang He’fu, watch what you say! Don’t you dare slander me!"

"HAHAHA!"

Wang He’fu let out a great laugh. "I was just making a casual remark. Why so flustered? Now you know what it feels like to be slandered? I didn’t see any of you feeling guilty when you were slandering my grandson.

"And what of the Unity of Knowledge and Action? Only with both knowledge and action can a result be obtained. You have only achieved knowledge, yet you jump to baseless conclusions. This proves that in your hearts, each of you only has your own set of standards."

Evidently, Wang He’fu had been holding this in for a long time.

Although on the surface, he had stayed out of Lu Mingyuan’s affairs to avoid suspicion.

But behind the scenes, he had been stewing with rage. When he passed the gates of the Imperial City and saw all the scholars and commoners begging the Holy Emperor to retract his decree, his expression had turned uglier than anyone’s.

Lu Mingyuan had only just managed to obtain the Holy Emperor’s pardon, only to be met with so much resistance.

Today, he was truly going to demand justice for Lu Mingyuan.

Besides, with the Holy Emperor backing him, what was there to fear?

He didn’t typically get involved in personal grievances or start trouble, but when victory was assured, he would always strike hard.

Anyone who made things difficult for his grandson was making things difficult for him, Wang He’fu!

After being berated by Wang He’fu like this, the expressions on the Great Scholars’ faces grew even more sullen.

"Wang He’fu, what gives you the right to make such vicious slanders!"

"As the Great Yan Prime Minister, can’t you show a little self-restraint?"

"Every other word out of your mouth is ’the Holy Emperor,’ but you’re just using your official authority to throw his weight around! Do you truly hold the Holy Emperor in any regard?"

"On what grounds?"

Hearing this, Wang He’fu revealed a deep, cold smile:

"On the grounds that I am Lu Mingyuan’s grandfather, the Great Yan Prime Minister, who wields the power of the state and controls the official channels of discourse! That’s how I can manage you!"

He was going all out today.

In any case, as Lu Mingyuan gradually gained Momentum, his position as Vice Chief Minister would lose its original value.

Before that happened, he might as well seek some justice for his grandson.

Meanwhile, the true central figure of this entire incident,

Lu Mingyuan, was getting a massive headache.

’It was one thing for Chen Ke to backstab me, but I never expected Grandpa to show up and start backstabbing me too! The more he talks, the crazier it gets.’

’You’re the Prime Minister of the nation, why are you even bothering with these worthless nobodies?’

’Once I’m powerful enough, I can just ascend the throne myself. Won’t all these problems just solve themselves then?’

’Your grandson isn’t quite strong enough yet! I’d like to lie low for a while longer!’

’Heaven knows what my so-called father is planning.’

’Ah, forget it. What’s said is said. Besides, Grandpa is doing this for my own good.’

’At least these Great Scholars won’t believe it...’

"Seniors, why engage in a pointless war of words?"

At the critical moment, Chen Ke stepped forward again.

"The birth of Lu and Wang’s Heart Learning is inextricably linked to Mr. Wang."

"The venerable elder himself said that good and evil are for oneself to judge, there’s no need for pedantic obedience. Whether a so-called truth can become a principle depends entirely on one’s own mind."

"In the art of cultivating one’s character through study, one must cast off the veil of selfish desires, sweep away the prejudices in one’s heart, and restore and reveal the inherent heavenly principles within. That is true, great goodness!"

"This is Attaining the Knowledge of Goodness."

BOOM!

A sudden clap of thunder exploded at that very moment.

Dark clouds gathered over the entire Great Yan Imperial Palace as if a catastrophe was about to strike. Such a celestial phenomenon once again caused a stir in all quarters.

All the scholars in the Imperial Capital were in an uproar, while the common people were terrified, thinking some great calamity was upon them. They immediately began burning incense and praying in temples for peace in the world.

Within the palace gates, Lu Mingyuan recovered his composure slightly and said with a faint smile, "Now it’s all complete."

Mr. Shuijing, the third disciple of the Wen Sheng, recited the new True Words that had come from Chen Ke’s mouth, murmuring softly:

"The mind is the principle."

"The Unity of Knowledge and Action."

"Attaining the Knowledge of Goodness."

These three phrases of the Learning of the Mind were worth more than ten thousand words, surpassing the teachings of most Saints.

Many of the Great Scholars looked up at the startling thunder in the sky. Clearly, this phrase had received the recognition of the Celestial Dao.

Their expressions were dazed. Many students from the Li Xue school began to mutter repeatedly in low voices:

"Could it be... that we were truly wrong..."

"The heavenly principle... is it truly not to be trusted?"

"Is the way of the self... the correct path?"

"BOOM!"

Suddenly, a bolt of golden Thunder fell upon Chen Ke.

It flowed over his body, like thousands upon thousands of golden dragons and snakes.

These electric arcs, as fine as silk threads, gathered to form a new Confucian True Word—"Knowledge."

The word "Knowledge," formed from golden Literary Qi, quickly vanished into Chen Ke’s body.

This scene stunned the Great Scholars on the spot.

"He actually has two Core Words!"

"It is said that only a Saint of the Thirteenth Realm could possibly condense two Core Words!"