Chapter 301: Chasing Death

Chen Guanlou longed to storm into the Prison Warden's office, shake Zhao Mingqiao's head, and roar: "Wake up! Stop spouting nonsense, or you'll lose your head!"

What kind of things is he willing to say? Does he truly not fear being implicated? Does he truly not fear the execution ground?

Were all those days of respecting teachers and valuing the Dao nothing but lies? Has his faith truly collapsed?

Sun Daoning clearly came to catch evidence against his teacher and student—yet he still charges forward, so eager to die?

He had sensed Zhao Mingqiao's inner shift over the deposed crown prince's affair—sure enough, it wasn't an illusion. Could this be giving up entirely?

"Zhao Mingqiao, are you certain you wish to say this? Do you understand the consequences?"

"I take full responsibility for my words. The deposed crown prince was surrounded by too many people, and their talents are no less than my teacher's—some even surpass him. The deposed crown prince always respected my teacher, yet never intended to promote him. I know my teacher felt deep disappointment, which turned into resentment toward the crown prince. Should the deposed crown prince one day ascend the throne, my teacher will never be promoted. My teacher pretends to be indifferent to fame and fortune, but in truth, he craves power, wealth, and honor. To be passed over means his official career is doomed. If another heir were chosen, perhaps the situation could change."

After speaking these words, Zhao Mingqiao rose, bowed deeply, "Every word I've said is true, without fabrication. As a student, I failed to restore my teacher's dignity—I deserve to die. Please, Master Sun, petition the court to sentence me to immediate beheading. I offer my life in repayment of my teacher's grace!"

Sun Daoning frowned, sighed, and hurriedly said, "It's not that serious—you needn't go this far. Your crime doesn't merit death. Your righteous speech, your devotion to the public good, everyone sees it. I will report your case truthfully. But regarding Lu Mingchuan, as a student, you must speak with caution. You still have time to change your testimony."

"No, I won't change it. Every word I've said is true. Though I don't know exactly what my teacher did, I'm certain he played a role in the crown prince's downfall."

Is Zhao Mingqiao trying to nail Lu Mingchuan to the wall? Is this what they call love turning to hatred? Once he revered and admired him so deeply—now he hates him so fiercely he wants to peel his skin and break his bones.

When scholars turn ruthless, they're truly terrifying.

"Zhao Mingqiao, understand this: what you're saying will trigger grave consequences. The crown prince has been deposed—the situation is chaotic and unclear. Don't add to the chaos."

"I'm not adding to the chaos—I'm merely speaking the truth. Master Sun, if the crown prince has been deposed, who bears responsibility? If you have the power and authority, why not do more? The crown prince's fall seems irreversible—but precisely because of that, we must forge ahead, cleanse the ranks, and crush the fence-sitters and schemers. Don't think that because the crown prince is gone, they can profit from it. If they want profit, let them first ask whether we'll allow it!"

Zhao Mingqiao's face brimmed with murderous intent. He didn't utter a single "kill," yet every word killed, every sentence killed. His hatred was laid bare.

The other members of the crown prince's faction, since his fall, had become listless, utterly defeated. But Zhao Mingqiao grew bolder with every setback, his killing intent intensifying. Once he believed reason alone could persuade, that principle alone could govern the world. Now he believed only the sword and blood could bring results. Against enemies, one must never hesitate, never show mercy or weakness—only thunderous strikes, total annihilation of the body.

He had transformed from a gentle scholar into a man consumed by killing intent. If he ever left prison and resumed his post, he would become a tyrannical official.

Sun Daoning was speechless—he came to interrogate a prisoner, yet ended up being lectured by one.

He understood Zhao Mingqiao's transformation. The crown prince's fall was a fatal blow to many; countless others had become lost, furious, erratic.

"Zhao Mingqiao, don't act on impulse. The current situation is chaotic—we mustn't add fuel to the fire. That won't help Prince Zhong. We must find ways to stabilize the situation, restore order to the court."

Zhao Mingqiao snorted coldly and retorted, "Will stabilizing the situation and restoring order truly help Prince Zhong? At this point, Master Sun, why deceive yourself? Stability will only benefit other schemers and ambition-seekers. Besides, everything I've done isn't for Prince Zhong."

"If not for Prince Zhong, then for whom?"

Zhao Mingqiao turned his head, gazing out the door, at the vast, boundless sky. "I do it for justice, for ideals, for the faith of countless scholars. Prince Zhong is merely a symbol—he's unimportant. What matters is that someone has shattered the secular values we've long upheld. We must strike back fiercely. We must exterminate them from the flesh. Only death can cleanse their sins!"

"You've gone mad, lost your mind! Zhao Mingqiao, your path has narrowed too far!" Sun Daoning rebuked him in anguish, trying to steer him back onto the right road.

Zhao Mingqiao laughed bitterly at this. "I've gone mad? Then what are you? A coward who accepts reality, keeps his head down, and serves that old bastard, continues to serve alongside those hypocritical colleagues. You know they're destroying the order we painstakingly built—and yet you pretend not to see."

"How dare you! Watch your tongue—some things must never be said. That 'old bastard'? I'll pretend I didn't hear it. If you speak another word like that, no one can save you."

Sun Daoning was furious, nearly exploding on the spot.

He once thought reckless youths, though impulsive, were admirable—still warm-blooded, still spirited, even endearing. Now he found them utterly hateful, unbearable to look at.

When a reckless youth goes off the rails, he spits at everyone—friend or foe alike.

The problem is, reason doesn't work—they won't listen.

It's infuriating!

Sun Daoning felt he must have offended the Year God this year—ever since the new year began, nothing had gone right. He'd have to visit a temple soon, burn some incense, just to get a few days of peace.

"I don't need anyone to save me. If I must die, then so be it. I've long prepared for death."

Zhao Mingqiao's gaze was contemptuous, his demeanor calm in the face of death.

Sun Daoning truly wanted to kill him.

"Do you hate Lu Mingchuan this much?"

"Yes! I want to peel his skin and break his bones! He has no right to be my teacher—he doesn't deserve the title of Great Confucian. He's a filthy, hypocritical little man. I've unilaterally severed our teacher-student bond. Please, Master Sun, inform the world."

If I'm fortunate enough to live, I will devote my entire life to exposing the hypocrites in court. The order we painstakingly built cannot tolerate their wanton destruction. They haven't just shattered order—they've shattered hearts, shattered the faith of all under heaven. Just wait—this world is about to fall into chaos!