Chapter 360: Accomplished in Spirit

Speaking, like kissing, is most particular about timing.

The same kiss, if it happens at the right moment, can be lingering and intoxicating; but if it happens at the wrong moment, it may be awkward, distant, and tasteless.

Speaking is the same. The same sentence said at a banquet can become a witty remark that wins applause, but if it is said at breakfast, don't blame it for failing and the whole room being silent.

Wang Yang chose to explain this at this time, rather than when the Prince of Badong questioned him at the beginning, based on the consideration of timing.

First of all, when the Prince of Badong questioned him in a rage before, he already had a presupposition of Wang Yang's betrayal in his heart, and he mentioned life and death as soon as they met. In that situation, any defense heard by the Prince of Badong could not escape the flavor of sophistry, shirking responsibility, and fawning.

Secondly, in terms of communication rhythm, being eager to explain often means being guilty and weak. At that time, the Prince of Badong's psychological state was anger, vigilance, and feeling owed. This is like a taut spring; the more eager you are to press it, the harder it will rebound.

So Wang Yang deliberately did not explain. Not only did he not explain, but he also generously put on the hat of the Eastern Palace. On the surface, this was admitting the Prince of Badong's accusation, but in fact, it was secretly unloading the Prince of Badong's defenses while taking back the initiative.

Through this behavior, he first pulled the Prince of Badong's expectations to the lowest point, and then after the Prince of Badong sentenced him to death, he calmly responded to it, having a last supper. At this time, he was no longer a "prisoner waiting for trial and judgment," but an "old friend about to die," invisibly gaining a psychological status where he could talk to the Prince of Badong as an equal. Wang Yang's last request was certainly to ensure that he could not be interrupted while "casting spells," but it was also to give the Prince of Badong a psychological hint. Once Old Ba allowed him to "speak wantonly," it was essentially equivalent to tacitly allowing this possibility of equality.

After holding this possibility in his hand, Wang Yang began his "pre-spell casting." Every cup of wine, every chopstick of food, every joke, and every memory were tools for laying out psychological warfare.

To the average person, they might think he was trying to use the opportunity of chatting to build relationships, to see if he could pull some emotional points from the advisors so that someone could plead for him at a critical moment. But in fact, Wang Yang's intention was not here at all. What he wanted was respect, what he wanted was composure, what he wanted was to control the rhythm, what he wanted was the accumulation and brewing of the Prince of Badong's emotions, and what he wanted was for the atmosphere to turn from swords drawn to calm and relaxed—

In this situation, Wang Yang deliberately talked to Kong Zhangyu and the others, ignoring the Prince of Badong, inducing the Prince of Badong's emotions, guiding the opportunity for confrontation, and then in the "true and false eruption" of emotions, he brought out a self-statement that he had already drafted while eating. This was no longer a kneeling defense, but a standing confession. It had less of the urgency of survival and more of the sharpness of going all out.

Only in this way did every sentence of Wang Yang's explanation finally have weight and could truly fall into the Prince of Badong's ears and heart.

This is the true meaning of the so-called "placing in death and then living."

Of course, this was just one of the schemes to resolve the Prince of Badong's knot, and it could only be said to be the beginning of life. And Wang Yang's life still had other reliance. Moreover, what he wanted was not just life.

The Prince of Badong knew that Wang Yang had an acting component. At such a time, if he didn't act, he wouldn't be Wang Yang.

But the Prince of Badong felt that there was indeed a true component here, and the true component was very significant.

Actually, thinking about it from Wang Yang's perspective, what he did seemed a bit...

But could this be the reason for his betrayal?

He is a prince! Even if he did something excessive, it should be!

A subordinate being disloyal is unjustifiable no matter what!

The Prince of Badong was actually not as angry as before, his expression was much more lively, and for some reason, his mood had actually improved greatly! It was just that he still kept his tiger power on his face, pretending to be furious:

"Wang Yang, stop giving me this! Betrayal is betrayal, even if you say—"

Wang Yang interrupted directly:

"Old Xiao, let's put aside these external things like status and position. You are not a prince, and I am not from the Langya Wang clan. Let you and I speak calmly—"

"Our friendship began by accident, was mixed with power changes, played in games, and was accomplished in spirit."

"Since it was mixed with power changes, there is no question of who betrayed whom."

"If you insist on calculating it clearly, that's fine:"

"I wrote words to smear you, that is me failing you."

"You used me to accomplish things but had the heart to kill me, that is you failing me."

"You ordered me to go on a mission and intercepted and killed me, surrounding me from several sides, and failed me again."

"I luckily escaped, hid my tracks, neither went to my uncle nor opposed you, but you actually set a trap to kill me, inducing me to be killed by you, and failed me again!"

"I failed you once and you failed me three times. Now I only invite you to toast me one cup, is that too much?!"

The Prince of Badong was silent for a while, then suddenly slapped the table and pointed at Wang Yang:

"Hey, who are you calling Old Xiao?!"

Wang Yang waved his hand, looking indifferent:

"I am about to lose my life, so what if I call you Old Xiao?"

The Prince of Badong's tiger eyes widened, as if he was about to unleash thunderous anger!

"Call me that again?!"

Wang Yang did not hesitate:

"Old Xiao."

The advisors were stunned and breathless. Li Jingxuan was overjoyed, seized the opportunity, and immediately fanned the flames:

"The Prince is too lenient, making this boy so arrogant! He actually adds a vulgar nickname to the Prince's body. How can this be tolerated—"

"Hahahahahaha!"

The Prince of Badong's laughter drowned out the rest of Li Jingxuan's words, his eyes shining terrifyingly. Li Jingxuan froze in place.

Kong Zhangyu had an expression of having expected this, glanced at Li Jingxuan, and thought: Don't look at this person being heavily used recently, but when it comes to grasping the Prince of Badong's mind, he is far inferior to me. Just like when I toasted with Wang Yang in public before, this matter might make the Prince of Badong unhappy for a while, but when he thinks back on it in the future, he will definitely value me for this! Thinking of me as a person of temperament, different from other advisors, and can be entrusted with confidential matters.

The gloom between the Prince of Badong's brows was swept away, and his whole person seemed to be suddenly full of vitality. He leaned forward, placed his elbows on the table, and said with eyebrows dancing:

"Good for you, Wang Yang! Are you really not afraid of death or pretending not to be afraid of death!"

Wang Yang brushed his sleeves and said as a matter of course:

"Of course I am pretending not to be afraid of death! It's just that there is only one life, and it's useless to be afraid. Anyway, you promised not to hit me or scold me, and let me say whatever I want. In this situation, if I don't call you 'Xiao Xiaoer' but call you 'Old Xiao,' I am already treating you quite well!"

Even Kong Zhangyu was scared by this!

The Prince of Badong was stunned for a moment, then—

Laughed out loud!

The advisors all gasped, their expressions each wonderful. They thought they had opened their eyes today. Now they knew that their Prince seemed to eat this set, but who the hell dared to learn this? This Langya Wang clan boy is really damn evil! At the same time, they secretly worried that the Prince of Badong would change his mind temporarily and spare Wang Yang's life.

Li Jingxuan was not only worried but also burning with anger. He stood up with a swoosh and said indignantly:

"I dare to speak! Names and positions are different, and rituals are also different! There is a difference between superior and inferior, and the order of the discipline! Wang Yang is arrogant and offends his superior, slighting the royal family! He disrupts the discipline of monarch and subject, destroys the superior and inferior—"

The Prince of Badong didn't want to listen and said casually:

"He is a dying man, why bother with him?"

After speaking, he waved his hand to signal Li Jingxuan to step down.

Everyone heard the Prince of Badong still say Wang Yang was a "dying man," and they were slightly settled, but they also felt the Prince of Badong's tone was casual, and this word might not really represent anything.

Wang Yang looked at the Prince of Badong, pointed at Li Jingxuan with his chopsticks, and asked suspiciously:

"Is this your man?"

"Yes."

Wang Yang's expression was even more suspicious: "Advisor?"

The Prince of Badong raised one eyebrow, a playful smile rippling in his eyes. His gaze turned between Wang Yang and Li Jingxuan, with a bit of interest in watching a show, and he replied slowly:

"Yes, what's wrong?"

Wang Yang held back his laughter:

"It's quite wonderful..."

Li Jingxuan clenched his palms, his breathing gradually thickening.

The Prince of Badong's interest grew stronger in his eyes:

"How is it wonderful?"

Wang Yang ate a piece of fish meat, his smile subtle:

"How should I say this... hmm... anyway, it's wonderful beyond words! The Prince getting such an advisor to help, that is really, really... very wonderful!"

Li Jingxuan couldn't bear it anymore:

"Wang Yang! You—"

"Wang Yang, don't look down on people!" The Prince of Badong said first, with an expression of speaking up for Li Jingxuan!

"Although his literary talent and learning are not as good as yours, when it comes to military planning, geography, and military strategy, what changes in form and opportunity, what governing mountains and rivers, in his eyes, you are just a child!"

After the Prince of Badong finished speaking, he looked at Li Jingxuan for confirmation and said uncertainly:

"Is that how it is said?"

Li Jingxuan held his head high and replied:

"Correct! In the past, Yu Zhengxi said to Du Yi and Yin Hao: 'These people should be shelved, wait for the world to be peaceful, and then discuss their appointment!' I think Wang Yang is exactly like this. Everyone present is a talented scholar, and you should know that Jingxuan's words are not false."

Guo Wenyuan took the lead in seconding:

"Li Gongyu's words are very true. Wang Yang's talent can decorate peace, but it is difficult to relieve urgent difficulties!"

Chen Qiming followed up:

"If Wang Yang is made to live in a school, he will be dazzling; if he is made to plan, he will inevitably hesitate!"

Tao Rui was not polite and directly made a judgment:

"Wang Yang's talent is enough to move people, but not enough to be used; he can decorate governance, but cannot save chaos."

Xue Shao deliberated for a while and also expressed his position:

"The brilliance is too dazzling, easily obscuring real ability. Wang Yang's talent should be displayed between chapters and sentences; otherwise, it will ruin things."

Everyone entered the field one after another, ostensibly belittling Wang Yang's talent, but the real purpose was to strengthen the Prince of Badong's heart to kill.

Kong Zhangyu didn't approve of killing Wang Yang in the first place. Seeing that the Prince of Badong's attitude seemed to have a turning point, he secretly thought about how to speak, but now seeing Li Jingxuan and others attacking him, he stood up and opposed:

"I don't think so. Literature is a great cause of governing the country, an immortal grand event!"

"Zi Chan polished the rhetoric, not just criminal books; Jia Sheng cried bitterly in the Han court, how could it be about weapons?"

"Xiangru persuaded Shu and the border troubles ceased; Shiheng wrote a treatise and the rise and fall became clear!"

"The 'Book of Changes' says 'Those who drum the world's movement are in the words,' and 'Lunheng' says: 'The reason Han can control the nine provinces is the power of documents.'"

"Chapters, memorials, and dispatches are all great uses for the military and state!"

"Since ancient times, a three-inch tongue can retreat a hundred thousand teachers; a one-foot document can move the hearts of the four seas!"

"These are all clear proofs of the hidden operation of literary virtue and the achievements of the country!"

"As for the Three Tombs and Five Canons, they reveal the principles of heaven and earth; the Six Classics and Four Arts clarify the rules of order and chaos."

"Above, they spread the kingly way to pacify the world; below, they promote education to settle the hearts of the people."

"The pivot of order and chaos, rise and fall, and the method of governing the world and saving the world are all in the classics."

"Therefore, for generations, the classics have been used for governance, and Confucianism and learning have been respected, not only to inherit the will of the sage kings, but also to understand their meaning to decide things; to clarify their use to control the times."

"Studying the classics is to be able to observe safety and danger, distinguish gains and losses, judge doubts, and set grand plans! It is not just about guarding chapters and sentences!"

"This is known to all wise men! It is seen by all previous history!"

"Wang Yang's family background is clear and elegant, and his family history is clear!"

"His study of the classics is outstanding, and he is the representative of Jingzhou!"

"His style and talent are both the choice of the time!"

"Such a hero, and young, his future is limitless!"

"If given time, he will surely become a pillar!"

"This is a great talent of the court, how can you say he is useless?!"

Li Jingxuan smiled without smiling:

"Mr. Kong also knows that he is a talent of the court, but unfortunately, where is the court for him to stand now?"

"As for the gentleman's words on the governance of literature and classics, Jingxuan also agrees."

"It's just that the scholars of the world are loaded by carts, and the masters of old Confucianism are measured by dou. Adding one Wang Yang doesn't see an increase, and losing one Wang Yang doesn't feel a loss?"

"And Wang Yang is only famous in Jingchu for his study of the 'Book of Documents'; when he reaches the capital, he will surely follow the crowd and disappear! If placed in the world, it is like a grain of millet thrown into the giant sea, a micro-light disappearing into the long night!"

"If the Prince wants to achieve hegemony, he will take the four seas as his home, take the talents of the eight directions into his trap, why bother to cherish one Wang Yang?"

"Moreover, the Prince has already clearly stated that Wang Yang must die, and publicly bestowed him to commit suicide. Now Mr. Kong is eagerly praising this person, what is it for?"

"Could it be because of the appreciation of the words and articles just now, that you have moved the thought of a soulmate?"

Kong Zhangyu was instantly angered: "Li Jing—"

"Alright, alright!"

The Prince of Badong stopped Kong Zhangyu, then looked at Wang Yang, who had been drinking and watching the show, as if all this had nothing to do with him, and asked puzzledly:

"Are you so calm?"

Wang Yang blinked:

"Otherwise?"

"Do you have nothing to say?"

Wang Yang's eyes were dyed with the color of light drunkenness, his lips held the joy of half-intoxication, and he smiled lazily:

"I'm afraid that if I say it, they will be furious."

The Prince of Badong's eyes almost burst with light:

"I don't believe it, tell me!"

Wang Yang slowly picked up a chopstick, pointed at Li Jingxuan, his eyes playful, and said word by word:

"Earth chickens and tile dogs."

Li Jingxuan was furious and slapped the table and stood up!

Wang Yang immediately explained:

"Don't misunderstand, I'm not just talking about you—"

His chopstick tip swept across the faces of all the advisors except Kong Zhangyu, smiling:

"I mean everyone present, all earth chickens and tile dogs!"

The whole hall was silent. Then—

It exploded.

Wang Yang spread his palms toward the Prince of Badong, his expression innocent.

The Prince of Badong snickered,

Laughing heartlessly. ===== CHAPTER 361 =====