Chapter 312: Assuming Everyone Wants to Climb Higher

Xie Changling appeared melancholy, but not impatient.

This guy's emotions are remarkably stable.

Chen Guanlou noticed that officials who attained Dao insight in Tianlaomiao all shared one common trait: emotional stability. They rarely became agitated and were skilled at finding small joys in miserable days.

Yu Zhaoan was like this, Zhao Mingqiao was like this, and Xie Changling was the same.

Officials like Zhang Wenfu were the majority—mediocre at best. They reached their positions through family background, connections, or patrons—not through their own talent, or at most only a tiny fraction of it.

They clung to life, feared death, scrambled to build relationships and pull strings, trying to escape prison life. They would never learn to pluck chestnuts from the fire, to seek advantage in danger, or to engineer their own escape through personal strategy.

Who could believe that Zhao Mingqiao, with no background and little Qian Cai, could escape Tianlaomiao and even be promoted through mere words and a few letters? Sun Daoning made no effort to hide his admiration for Zhao Mingqiao; though he kept denying it aloud, his fondness spilled from his eyes.

The gap between people is greater than the gap between humans and beasts.

Niu Yucheng defied Sun Daoning and could only choose to slink away from Tianlaomiao and seek another post.

Zhao Mingqiao defied Sun Daoning and instead received all kinds of favors, his release speed rivaling a rocket. Chen Guanlou refused to believe this happened without Sun Daoning's maneuvering.

"Your Excellency, don't worry about Prince Zhong. Focus on yourself instead. Prince Zhong has no shortage of strategists around him."

Xie Changling gave a self-deprecating smile. "You're right. I am a prisoner, and I should act like one. I hear you enjoy reading outdated official bulletins—could you share some with me?"

"A trivial matter—I'll have the outdated bulletins sent to you shortly. But don't cause trouble. This is a critical time; the court is in chaos. I don't want any incidents in Tianlaomiao, especially in the Jia-class cells."

"You underestimate me, Chen Yuli. I am not someone who ignores rules. Prince Zhong's fate is sealed. Even if I am unwilling, it changes nothing."

Chen Guanlou nodded. As long as he didn't cause trouble, that was fine. He preferred cooperative prisoners—easier to manage, orderly.

But then he asked curiously, "During the coup, were you in Donggong?"

"I was. Why do you ask?"

Chen Guanlou glanced around, puzzled. "You all are so clever, gathered around Prince Zhong, with three thousand fully armed Donggong guards—and still lost? You surrendered without a fight?"

It's unbelievable!

Even clay figures have three drops of defiance. Yet Prince Zhong chose to bow his neck and be executed. He didn't even attempt the slightest resistance. It was… simply unbelievable.

Xie Changling's expression froze the moment Chen Guanlou said "could lose."

Long silence.

Chen Guanlou thought he wouldn't get an answer and was about to leave when the other spoke.

Xie Changling let out a bitter laugh. "We were all self-righteous fools. One misstep led to another. We always looked down on brute fools—but at the critical moment, it was precisely our lack of that brute courage that cost us the chance. Once the opportunity was lost, we were passive the whole way. By the time we tried to act, it was too late."

He looked tormented, full of regret.

Clearly, this group of Donggong officials had replayed the events countless times, distilled endless lessons. In the end, one truth: they overestimated the old Emperor's integrity and Prince Zhong's advantages. Had even one person possessed the courage of a brute fool, stood up and cried out at the critical moment, the outcome might have been entirely different.

But at that time, no one dared to stand up—no one could bear the consequences of failure, nor the crime of rebellion and palace coup.

Everyone clung to life! They lacked the courage to fight to the death. Intelligence meant nothing against sheer determination.

Conversely, the old Emperor was willing to gamble everything—his reputation, his realm, his foundation, his state's very essence—to depose the Crown Prince. And he succeeded.

"I once believed a wise ruler was one who listened to advice. Now I understand: a truly wise ruler not only listens, but also makes decisive choices at critical moments, and is willing to sacrifice everything to achieve his goal. Prince Zhong lacked exactly that resolve, that willingness to risk all."

"That doesn't seem to have much to do with Prince Zhong—he was surrounded and manipulated by you clever men since childhood. He was your puppet. Of course he followed your advice. You told him to stay calm, avoid force—he naturally couldn't decide." Chen Guanlou felt he had to speak up for Prince Zhong.

Xie Changling did not contradict him; instead, he nodded in agreement. "You're right. The Donggong education failed. A gentle gentleman is not a qualified ruler."

"But everyone loves gentle gentlemen. Gentlemen are so easy to manipulate! Unlike villains—you have to outwit them. You all looked down on real villains, yet in this world, only real villains thrive." Chen Guanlou spoke a hard truth.

If he had to choose, he'd pick being a real villain, not a gentleman. Gentlemen may be noble, but lying flat and giving up is better. Had Prince Zhong embraced lying flat and giving up, perhaps the outcome would have been different.

Xie Changling had no reply.

In the end, after replaying the entire affair, every Donggong official had nothing to say. Blame Prince Zhong? Their conscience wouldn't allow it. Prince Zhong had been raised entirely according to Confucian gentleman ideals. Even if his private morals had flaws, in public affairs and scholarship, everyone had been deeply satisfied with him. He was, in their hearts, the perfect ruler: humble, erudite, open to advice, governing with the people's welfare in mind, willing to share power.

So good it made you want to cry.

Such a fine Crown Prince was deposed. The reason was absurd and laughable—even a plausible excuse to deceive the world couldn't be found.

Xie Changling sighed deeply. "The Emperor bears sixty percent of the blame, we thirty percent, and the Prince ten percent. Do you agree?"

Chen Guanlou paused. "About right. I'm surprised you realize you made mistakes. I thought you were all lofty types who'd blame everything on the old Emperor."

"Precisely because we were arrogant, we couldn't allow ourselves to err. This lesson was deep enough to kill us. Even if we all claim innocence, we all know deep down: no one is innocent. We are all guilty." Xie Changling sighed, weary.

He leaned back against the wall, staring at the dark ceiling.

"Chen Yuli, you come from the Chen family, you've studied, you speak well, you're capable. Why not seek greater advancement? Why settle for this filthy place, Tianlaomiao?"

"Because it pays well, has little work, and brings few troubles. Is there any other office better suited for a lazy man like me who doesn't care to advance?"

Chen Guanlou's attitude was perfectly reasonable, his reasoning solid.

Xie Changling laughed silently. He had been blinded by a single leaf—he assumed everyone wanted to climb higher.