Chapter one finished. Thanks to Minak Amie for editing. This post is quite long...Enjoy!

**********************************

Xi Lei’s DukeMing already occupied a high position in people’s hearts. In addition to hiselegant, unrestrained appearance, and the mildly indifferent expression on hisface, the impressions of him slightly improved.

“When G.o.d createdall things below the heavens, he definitely did not wish for their lives to bedefined by status. Rather, his wish was for them to live free and at ease. Theywere to enjoy the gift of heaven and make use of their natural talents tocheerfully live their lives.”

Everyone wa.s.stunned.

To think that XiLei’s Duke Ming, the Xiao Family’s young Lord, who had been tolerant for solong while confronting Xi Lei’s amba.s.sador and his a.s.sistant’s forcefulinterrogation, would suddenly begin a pa.s.sionate counter. However, should henot have at least begun his reb.u.t.tal with a strong and clear argument?

Who could haveknown that the first sentence Feng Ming would say would be filled with emotionand a poetic sentiment. In addition, on his face was a genuine melancholicexpression that made his audience praise and gasp in admiration for him.

After being takenin by surprise, the audience, whom originally harboured the intentions ofmerely watching a good play, could not help but go with the flow. They lookedon with smiles towards Feng Ming’s vision for such a future, immersingthemselves in his brainwas.h.i.+ng.

“Between a monkeyand a fish, which is superior and which is not? Monkeys are adept at pickingwild fruit by climbing trees. In the mountains, they live wild and free. Andfish in water are unrestrained as they travel along rivers and lakes.”

As for farmersand soldiers, who is more valuable?

Farmers work inthe fields to cultivate crops so that this world’s royals, n.o.bles, andcommoners have food to eat. Soldiers protect the kingdom, which is why all thetalented people within the kingdom can live comfortably.

n.o.bles andcommoners, are they really that different from each other?”

Feng Ming’s eyesslowly swept across the faces of the audience within the hall.

His clear, blackeyes did not have a shred of indignation or dissatisfaction. There was only animage of a naïve and pure child merely seeking a simple and just answer. Thisimage gradually captured and moved countless hearts.

“Within then.o.bles, there are indeed many talented individuals. There are brave generalswho guard their kingdom’s territory and protect the commoners from being harmedby their enemies. There are also many talented people who take charge of akingdom’s affairs and keep it running smoothly and unhindered. Judiciaries arestrict and impartial, helping the ordinary citizens resolve their grievancesand disputes.”

His idle chatterpraised the n.o.bles, but he suddenly turned and spoke loudly and clearly onanother aspect. “But… what if a kingdom had no n.o.bles or commoners, what wouldit be like then?”

The hall hadbecome even quieter.

So quiet thateven the sound of a pin dropping could be heard.

Even idiots know,a kingdom without commoners is impossible.

“Without farmers togrow food, n.o.bles will starve. Without soldiers, can just one brave generalwithstand an enemy’s line of a.s.sault alone? Without artisans, the cups, bowls,and dishes at this banquet… where would they come from? Without fishermen, wecannot eat delicious fish and prawn. Without weavers, we would not be able towear such beautiful and comfortable clothes, right?”

Towards FengMing’s chain of questions, the answer was only silence.

Most of theinfluential officials at the banquet had an uncomfortable look on their faces,however many of their maids and attendants, including those kneeling outsidethe hall such as the dancers and musicians waiting to be summoned forentertainment… all their faces revealed a quick expression of approval.

Many of them hadcome from ordinary and small family backgrounds.

Although theywere chosen to serve n.o.bility, obtaining more rewards than ordinary commoners,while their food and clothing were indeed better, the bullying and oppression…how could they forget it?

Su Jin Chao hadbeen looking forward to his time to s.h.i.+ne, but was now standing stiff in thecenter of the hall while thinking of a way to refute. With a “humph” todisguise his nervousness, he reb.u.t.ted, “What you mentioned just now are allthings expected of the commoners. Working on the field, serving the army, andso on, are the things they were naturally born to do. How could this pointerase the difference between them and n.o.bles?”

Feng Ming’s cleareyes that people did not dare to look at directly, were currently measuring SuJin Chao up.

Being stared atfrom head to toe, Su Jin Chao felt extremely uncomfortable. His disdainfullyasked, “What are you looking at?”

This was theexact sentence he was waiting for him to say!

Feng Mingsecretly praised him. Brother Su, youreally are good at lending me a hand. I was worried you wouldn’t ask thisquestion. If you didn’t ask, then this game would not be interesting enough.History has proved that a two-man show is more entertaining than a one-manshow…

Even thoughfacing such a big crowd made his legs feel a bit weak as he worried that hewould slip up and expose his false bravery, he wanted to do as much as he couldto help Rong Tian win back his country. Therefore, no matter what he did, hisgoal was to achieve the best result so they could obtain a complete victory.

Hey…Hey… perhapsif his performance is good and Rong Tian is pleased by his meritorious service,he could ask for a tiny demand as his reward… maybe tonight, he could be theone on top?

Thinking tillhere, his good mood suddenly increased.

“I am looking atyou.” Feng Ming revealed a charming and friendly smile. Looking earnest, hecircled around Su Jin Chao and with a cold expression, looked at him with hisclear eyes and sighed in lamentation before speaking. “You are wearing clothesweaved by a commoner. On you is a beautiful piece of jade that was excavatedpainstakingly deep in the mountains by a commoner. You eat food cultivated by acommoner and live in a house of brick and wood laboriously built by a commoner.a.s.sistant Su, all that you eat, wear, and use, without exception, come from thecommon people. Without them, you would not have a house to live in, a vehicleto be transported by, food to eat, and clothes to wear…”

He sighed with greatemotion as he listed all the benefits Su Jin Chao would lose without the helpof the commoners and finally mentioned another problem. “The commoners, withgreat trouble, have provided so many things for a.s.sistant Su. Their existenceallows a.s.sistant Su to spend the days comfortably up till now. May I ask…ultimately, where should their significance be put?”

The questionfollowed closely after a large list of the commoners’ merits, with a singleremark, he pierced straight to the truth in a straightforward and unreservedmanner.

Zi Yan’sheartbeat quickened hearing Feng Ming’s remark. He raised his head to see SuJin Chao’s dumbfounded face. The silly expression on his face from the questionwas quite amusing. Zi Yan’s lips unconsciously curved upward. The solemnexpression that was always on his face now had a tiny but of a suns.h.i.+ne-likeradiance.

That man’s smile!

The smile He Dihad repeatedly imagined in his mind had finally appeared right in front of hiseyes. A sharp, wolf-like expression could be seen on his face that hetemporarily forgot to conceal as his eyes unreservedlylooked at the kneeling slender figure.

Zi Yanimmediately noticed him looking, he raised his eyebrow in warning as he gave aHe Di a discontented glance. Afterwards, he no longer paid attention to him andturned his eyes back towards Duke Ming.

The smile on hislips, as if it were just a momentary dream, instantly disappeared.

As if it neverwas there.

He Di’s exquisiteeyes narrowed.

This man… truly is… captivatingly obstinate…