Undying Life

Chapter 964: Why

After the morning court session, Prince Zichen reprimanded his son, while Lin Xiao reaffirmed his oath. Prime Minister Shuijing returned to his mansion with a slightly grim expression on his face. The words of the envoy from the Taiji Sacred Court seemed to have struck a nerve.

"Finally, someone brought it up?" Shuijing muttered to himself as he entered his residence, his face darkening further.

"Husband, you're back?" a gentle voice called out. It was Liu Yanyan, Shuijing's wife. She had once been the ninth concubine of King Xuan of the Daluotian dynasty in the small thousand world. Due to their past life's karma, Shuijing had always been deeply attached to her. With the help of Zhong Shan, his wish was eventually fulfilled.

"Yes," Shuijing nodded, his face heavy with thoughts. Liu Yanyan helped him to sit down, massaging his shoulders as he brooded.

"Father, you're back?" A voice came from outside. A man in white robes entered, exuding an air of scholarly elegance, much like Shuijing himself.

"Mother is here too!" the man in white respectfully greeted.

"Jiang'er, you've been looking for your father. Now that he's back, you can talk," Liu Yanyan said.

"Hmm?" Shuijing looked slightly surprised.

"Yes, mother," Shui Jiang smiled.

"Should I leave so you can talk in private?" Liu Yanyan asked.

"No need. You are my mother. Even though what I want to discuss with father is important, it's fine for you to hear it too. Besides, you can help persuade him. Everyone knows father loves you the most," Shui Jiang said sweetly.

"You sweet talker!" Liu Yanyan laughed.

"What is it?" Shuijing asked his son.

"It's about our family's future," Shui Jiang immediately set up a barrier, ensuring only the three of them could hear.

"Our family's future?" Shuijing frowned.

"Father, please stop pretending you don't know. Ever since I was a child, I knew you were the smartest person in the world. I may not remember the Sage King, as I was too young when the heavens were created, but I know that in today's court, no one is smarter than you. You must be fully aware of everything I've done these past years; you just haven't confronted me about it," Shui Jiang said.

Shuijing did not refute but looked coldly at his son, "I can pretend not to see what you've done. But today, you want to bring it up?"

"Yes," Shui Jiang said firmly.

"Conspiring with enemy envoys and plotting against the Grand Zhong, what crime do you think I should accuse you of? Treason?" Shuijing's eyes flashed with anger.

"Husband, Jiang'er is still young!" Liu Yanyan tried to calm him.

"Young? If he were a mortal, he'd be holding his great-grandson by now. Young? Conspiring with various enemy dynasties is a grave crime!" Shuijing said solemnly.

"Would I have done it without your support?" Shui Jiang retorted.

"My support?"

"Yes. The first time I made contact with a foreign dynasty, you knew. But why didn't you stop me? You also wanted to secure a future for the Shui family, right?" Shui Jiang said defiantly.

"Sigh," Shuijing sighed softly.

"Father, an envoy from the Taiji Sacred Court has already mentioned that if you are willing, you will immediately be granted a second-rank official position upon arrival. With your abilities, obtaining a new dukedom would not be difficult!" Shui Jiang quickly added.

"Ridiculous! I am a minister of Grand Zhong. While Grand Zhong stands, how could I think of serving the enemy?" Shuijing's eyes flashed with stern resolve.

Shuijing had a bottom line. He could tolerate Shui Jiang's interactions with outsiders to secure a future for the family, but his own principles were unbreakable. He had promised the Sage King.

"Father, you know better than anyone that the Sage King is dead. If he were still alive under such circumstances, the ancestors of the Grand Thousand World would be ashamed. How could the Sage King surpass them in just over a hundred years since the creation of the heavens? A miracle from the Sage King? Were all those powerful figures blind?" Shui Jiang said gravely.

"The Sage King?" Shuijing sighed softly.

Zhong Shan had died. Shuijing had accepted this fact the day he received the news because his calculations showed no chance of Zhong Shan surviving. He held on for so long partly for a faint hope, but more importantly, to honor his promise to Zhong Shan.

Shuijing was not someone who broke promises or acted treacherously. With the fall of Grand Zhong imminent, Shuijing continued his efforts out of loyalty. Four years later, if Grand Zhong fell, he would seek another path.

Thus, he turned a blind eye to Shui Jiang's efforts to find a way out for the family. But today, his son confronted him directly. Though Shui Jiang was still young and naive, Shuijing couldn't blame him—it was a father and son after all.

"Now, rumors are spreading that Prince Zichen is planning to change the dynasty. Father, doesn't that frustrate you? Prince Zichen has led Grand Zhong for over a hundred years, and half of the court are his loyal followers. He could change the dynasty whenever he wants! We've been working for him all this time. Are you willing to be his subordinate?" Shui Jiang said earnestly.

"With your talents and pride, I believe you would never acknowledge him as your lord because he is not worthy. In the small thousand world, he was less capable, achieved less, and was stubborn and inflexible. You would never submit to him!" Shui Jiang continued.

"He hasn't changed the dynasty," Shuijing shook his head.

"Isn't it obvious? If he doesn't reorganize and gather new fortune, Grand Zhong will fall within four years. He will certainly claim it's the 'trend of the times' and change the dynasty. The rumors are everywhere, and I even heard it from his son, Shui Quan," Shui Jiang explained.

"He is he, and his son is his son. I am certain Shui Wuhen would never usurp the throne," Shuijing shook his head.

"But what if?"

"There is no 'what if.' Shui Wuhen would never do it!"

"Can I at least make a hypothesis?" Shui Jiang asked helplessly.

"Go on," Shuijing nodded, allowing it.

"Right now, there are only two possibilities: either Shui Wuhen changes the dynasty, or he holds on until the end and you serve for another four years," Shui Jiang stated.

"Jiang'er, how can you speak to your father like that?" Liu Yanyan's eyes widened.

Shuijing wasn't angry. Despite the harsh words, they were better than hypocritical flattery from outsiders.

"So, what do you propose?" Shuijing asked solemnly.

"I think father has three options," Shui Jiang replied.

"Oh?"

"First, join the Taiji Sacred Court now; second, with your abilities, you could leave and start a new dynasty; third, with your talents, you could outmaneuver Shui Wuhen and take over Grand Zhong yourself," Shui Jiang said excitedly.

"Absurd!" Shuijing's eyes flashed with anger.

Supporting Grand Zhong was Shuijing's bottom line, and now his son was suggesting he usurp the throne? It was no wonder Shuijing was furious.

"Husband, calm down!" Liu Yanyan quickly interjected.

"Mother, please persuade Father. Where did I go wrong?" Shui Jiang pleaded.

Liu Yanyan shook her head, "This household is led by your father. I follow his lead."

Shui Jiang felt frustrated.

"Father, the Sage King is already dead. You've served Grand Zhong dutifully for five years—that's enough!" Shui Jiang said anxiously.

"Who says the Sage King is dead? Do you believe the words of those fools?" Shuijing retorted angrily.

"Father, I know you understand the truth!"

"The Sage King still has a chance to be alive, even if it's a slim one," Shuijing insisted, shaking his head.

"How big is that chance? Doesn't Father find it laughable? It's practically zero!" Shui Jiang exclaimed.

Shuijing shook his head, "As long as Shui Wuhen does not usurp the throne and as long as Grand Zhong stands, I am the Prime Minister of Grand Zhong. Usurp the throne? Don't even think about it!"

Seeing that persuasion was futile, Shui Jiang frowned in thought. Persuasion wasn't working—perhaps provocation might.

"Father, don't you feel frustrated all these years? In the small thousand world, Shui Wuhen's talents are inferior to yours, his achievements are inferior, he's inferior in every way. He is even slightly inferior to General Lin Xiao. Why did the Sage King confer him the title of prince? Why didn't you lead Grand Zhong? What qualifications does Shui Wuhen have?" Shui Jiang said.

Hearing Shui Jiang's words, Shuijing's brow furrowed. Indeed, for over a hundred years, although Shuijing never spoke of it, he had felt some injustice. Why Shui Wuhen?

However, this sense of injustice never influenced his work. Public matters were public, and private matters were private—Shuijing distinguished them clearly.

"He's so stubborn, so inflexible, far inferior to you, Father. Even if he doesn't change the dynasty, he will lead Grand Zhong to ruin. Am I right, Father? Such a person is not worthy of your loyalty..." Shui Jiang continued.

As he listened, Shuijing's pupils suddenly constricted.

In an instant, Shuijing seemed to have an epiphany, while Shui Jiang was slightly taken aback—

"Shuijing, you are the most learned person in Grand Zhong. With you as the head of the civil officials, I am reassured," Zhong Shan had said.

"Thank you, Sage King!"

"I trust you! In the days when I am gone, I leave you with three words. Remember them, especially in times of great change," Zhong Shan had said.

"I will keep them in my heart. Please enlighten me, Sage King," Shuijing had replied.

"The three words are 'why' (为什么)," Zhong Shan had said meaningfully.

Why! Why? Just those three words? Shuijing hadn't understood them at first, looking up at Zhong Shan in confusion.

"I know you don't understand now, but remember these words. When the time comes, you will grasp their meaning," Zhong Shan had said—

This was what Zhong Shan had told him before leaving. Shuijing was an extremely intelligent man, and it wasn't long after Zhong Shan left that Shuijing began to understand what "why" referred to.

Why? Why Shui Wuhen and not himself? He was more virtuous and talented than Shui Wuhen, so why did the Sage King trust him so much? Shuijing had long guessed what Zhong Shan meant but couldn't fathom why.

Was it suspicion of himself? No! Zhong Shan trusted him completely—of that, Shuijing was certain.

Was Shui Wuhen more loyal? No! At that time, his loyalty was no less than Shui Wuhen's.

Had Shui Wuhen followed Zhong Shan longer? No! Lin Xiao had been with Zhong Shan even longer!

Then why?

"I trust you! In the days when I am gone, I leave you with three words. Remember them, especially in times of great change."

Was this time of great change what the Sage King had referred to?

Before the great change, even if Shuijing understood the Sage King's words, he didn't fully grasp their meaning. It was only when the upheaval arrived that he truly comprehended them.

He finally understood Shui Wuhen's strengths. In the small thousand world, it was evident that Shui Wuhen possessed a quality that even the ten great army commanders lacked, a trait unnoticed by everyone, including Shui Wuhen himself. Only Zhong Shan had recognized it. What was it?

The ability to remain composed! His unwavering loyalty to Zhong Shan allowed him to maintain his composure.

Over the years, Shuijing had busied himself with the affairs of Grand Zhong, but he had long accepted the Sage King's death. Shui Wuhen, however, had remained steadfast in his loyalty, displaying not just self-cultivation but an innate nature.

Shuijing had failed to remain composed regarding the Sage King's death, allowing his son to seek other paths. Shui Wuhen, however, had always maintained his resolve, never wavering!

"Why? Sage King, I finally understand!" Shuijing smiled bitterly.

"Husband?" Liu Yanyan asked curiously.

"Shui Wuhen, I am not your equal," Shuijing sighed deeply but with a serene smile.

"Father? What's going on?" Shui Jiang asked in surprise.

"Jiang'er!" Shuijing suddenly turned to Shui Jiang.

"Yes?"

"Execute those enemy envoys at the South Gate tomorrow!" Shuijing's eyes flashed with determination.

"What? Father, execute them? But wouldn't that offend the Taiji Sacred Court?" Shui Jiang was shocked.

"I want you to execute them. Both you and I made a mistake once; we cannot err again. Execute them at the South Gate tomorrow to declare our resolve!" Shuijing said solemnly.

"Declare our resolve? But... but...!"

"No buts. From tomorrow on, you are to stay at home and are forbidden from interacting with enemy dynasties. If you do, I will break your legs!" Shuijing stated firmly.

Shui Jiang could not believe how quickly his father had changed his stance. What had caused such a sudden transformation?

"Father, what's happening? Please tell me, where did I go wrong?" Shui Jiang pleaded.

"The Sage King is fine. He foresaw this day before he left. Everything is within his calculations. Hahaha, I fancied myself a genius in calculations, but there are things that calculations cannot encompass!" Shuijing laughed bitterly.

"Father?" Shui Jiang looked at his father, worried.

"Prince Zichen? Prince Zichen is deserving. Sage King, I, Shuijing, have learned my lesson!" Shuijing bowed slightly in the direction of the imperial palace.

Then, turning to Liu Yanyan, Shuijing said, "It seems I am not infallible after all."

"In my heart, you are," Liu Yanyan comforted, shaking her head.

Shuijing shook his head, "I am not. The Sage King is! I almost went down the wrong path. When the Sage King returns, we will all go to apologize to him."

"Yes," Liu Yanyan nodded gently.

Meanwhile, Shui Jiang was utterly confused, not understanding what had just happened. What was going on? Why had his father changed so suddenly?

To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link https://youtu.be/GnU613H6xm8