Chapter 444: Chapter 408: Persuasion
Shengjing, Evil Ghost Bureau’s prison.
He Buning took the lantern from the Ghost Slave prisoner guard’s hands and walked past the cells, heading to the deepest part of the Evil Ghost Bureau.
The cells on both sides were mostly empty; any Evil Ghosts captured in Shengjing and the surrounding area would eventually be sent to other states and counties for imprisonment. Beneath the Emperor’s feet, no hidden dangers could be left.
In the depths of the cell, He Buning lifted the lantern, the light making the disheveled man inside, dressed in plain clothes, squint and turn his head to avoid the sudden brightness.
He was completely bound by chains, his hands encased in a black iron shell, rendering every finger immobile.
"Cough cough, little junior brother, you finally came to see me."
Mo Yan Shu didn’t even open his eyes, yet he knew it was He Buning.
He Buning signaled the Ghost Slave prisoner guard following him to open the cell door, but the guard stood still. He Buning’s expression darkened slightly, and he took out the Prime Minister’s Jade Token from his belt, prompting the guard to open the door and allow He Buning inside.
After instructing the guard to step back, He Buning entered with the lantern and squatted in front of Mo Yan Shu.
Mo Yan Shu gradually adjusted to the light and opened his eyes to see He Buning frowning tightly, a face full of sorrow.
It hadn’t been long since he returned to Shengjing, yet He Buning had already become haggard, no longer the spirited person he was in Qinzhou.
Mo Yan Shu coughed twice, then laughed, "You’re not here to rescue me, but to persuade me, aren’t you? Even you feel the Prime Minister’s actions contradict your sense of justice, and you’re uncertain, aren’t you?"
He Buning furrowed his brow and took a deep breath; he had to admit, Mo Yan Shu could see through people’s hearts.
He Buning took off the water pouch from his waist, opened it, and brought it to Mo Yan Shu’s lips, letting him drink a little.
"The person behind the Ghost Opera Troupe isn’t my father, but Empress Dowager Yu. On the surface, she respects my father, but secretly she has been supporting the troupe to cause chaos everywhere, intending to challenge the Evil Suppression Bureau, accuse my father of dereliction of duty, force him to retire, and return power to Your Majesty."
Mo Yan Shu pursed his lips, took a breath, and said, "Do you believe that nonsense?"
He Buning remained silent, putting away the water pouch.
Mo Yan Shu said, "Even if it’s true, could your father, Da Xuan’s good Prime Minister, have been completely unaware before the affair in Qinzhou? Did he not allow Empress Dowager Yu to act recklessly? Did he not take advantage of the situation, eventually reaping the spoils?"
He Buning frowns deeply, unable to speak.
Mo Yan Shu chuckled, "You’re just being deceived by him. He talks about noble ideals, yet the first to be sacrificed is exactly what he claims to protect."
He Buning still struggled, "He’s doing it to end it all once and for all. The rules of the world are such that he has no other choice. Born in this world, no one has a choice."
Ever since he was little, Zuo Jinye told He Buning that one day he would end this era of rampant ghosts. He Buning believed in his father and grew up under his father’s guidance, leaving his father’s protection at sixteen to train in Qinzhou.
Through his own efforts, he became the Night Travel Captain of Qinzhou, protecting the people there.
Over the years, he watched his father gradually stabilize the court, assisting Your Majesty in issuing many decrees beneficial to the people, although their effects were not great. Yet how could a vast empire change overnight?
But this time, just as Mo Yan Shu said, He Buning couldn’t convince himself anymore.
If it were him, Qinzhou could never have ended up the way it did today.
It was just after he had left Qinzhou, and soon it became a Death Domain—how could it not make him think?
Doubt arose from then. After returning to Shengjing, He Buning met many people and received much information, only to learn that Empress Dowager Yu was behind the Ghost Opera Troupe.
To send troops to aid Qinzhou, the court was divided into two factions, erupting in fierce arguments. Underlying currents surged, and many people silently died in this conflict.
Ultimately, his father, Zuo Jinye, defied the masses, risking offending Your Majesty and Empress Dowager Yu, to send Qiu Wanjun with troops.
From these events, his father was not wrong.
But He Buning couldn’t convince himself why, since his father had already secretly gone to Qinzhou, he didn’t take action before the Ghost Opera Troupe Leader advanced in blood sacrifice, preferring to wait until the advancement.
Mo Yan Shu’s words about ’taking advantage of the situation’ and ’reaping the spoils’ left He Buning unable to refute.
Mo Yan Shu squinted at He Buning, adding fuel to the fire, "Don’t think of your father as so selfless and righteous. He holds power at court; the whole court is already under his control. If he wanted to advance further, it would be as easy as turning a hand. Yet he stays in the Prime Minister position, diligently assisting Your Majesty without showing a hint of selfishness. Have you considered another possibility?"
He Buning looked up at Mo Yan Shu.
Mo Yan Shu spoke bluntly, "When troubles arise, people blame the court, calling Your Majesty dim and incompetent. But if there’s good news, everyone praises the Prime Minister. Have you thought about the underlying reasons?"
He Buning clenched his fists; he had thought about it, how could he not have considered this possibility?
The world belongs to Your Majesty, and whatever good deed Your Majesty does, people assume it’s expected.
But if Your Majesty ever makes a mistake, people will surely call him a fool behind his back.
Now, with Empress Dowager Yu ruling from behind the curtain and the Prime Minister governing the country, He Buning discovered while in Qinzhou that the people believe Empress Dowager Yu is wicked and foolish, and believe Da Xuan would have fallen without the Prime Minister.
In reality, some policies face difficulties or backfire due to various reasons, not just Empress Dowager Yu’s foolishness or Your Majesty’s ignorance—there’s also his father’s responsibility.
In the end, only Empress Dowager Yu and Your Majesty get scolded, while people only sympathize with the Prime Minister’s hardship.
If policies implement smoothly, the good reputation goes all to the Prime Minister, and people think Da Xuan is fortunate to have him.
Because of this, his father managed to rise to a level comparable to the Witch Lady within twenty years after the temples were abolished, reconstructing local temples into Prime Minister’s Temples.
Previously, He Buning could overlook everything, convince himself, and tell himself his father might be hypocritical but acted for Da Xuan, for the world. Even if he appeared morally righteous, he didn’t harm anyone and had the people’s best interests at heart.
Yet, the Qinzhou affair crossed a line in He Buning’s heart, shaking everything he once believed in.
"Given the current situation, it seems there’s no other choice. My father has already half a foot into the Seventh Level, the first person in history. He’s most likely the one to end it all."
Mo Yan Shu shook his head and sneered, "Indeed, ending all humans in the world, leaving only ghosts, is also an end—how profound!"
He Buning’s furrow deepened; he understood Mo Yan Shu’s meaning. Just moving from the sixth to the seventh level sacrificed a million souls in Qinzhou. Going further, perhaps no one in the world could survive.
"That’s why I came to you, hoping you could lend him a helping hand. Once he breaks free from the Blood Curse’s influence and stabilizes in the Seventh Level Ghost God Realm, at least he could devour all ghosts below the seventh level! The future... can come gradually!"
Mo Yan Shu stared at He Buning, "You know I’ve lived to exchange Zuo Jinye’s death. If you dare put the pen in my hand, I’ll use my worthless life to write his death. Don’t believe? Just try!"
"Little junior brother, you need not betray your conscience to assist your father. There’s another path, a cleaner path."
He Buning looked up, staring into Mo Yan Shu’s half-smiling eyes.
"Go find her, little junior brother. Only she can give you the peaceful era you desire."
He Buning remained silent, and the dark cell was silent, with only the flickering flame of the lantern.
