CHAPTER 455: CHAPTER 185: THE EMPRESS CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE! CHEN MO SURROUNDED!_2

Chen Mo stood in front of the stage with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. The previously somewhat noisy atmosphere quickly quieted down.

"Just now, I heard someone outside shouting ’All crows under heaven are equally black,’ it seems they included me in that too?" Chen Mo slowly spoke, his voice deep, "If anyone has any objections, they can speak to me directly."

The Sword Sect disciple who had been speaking recklessly earlier looked a bit flustered and hurriedly explained, "Mr. Chen, you’ve misunderstood, I wasn’t referring to you..."

Chen Mo looked at him with deep eyes and asked, "Do you know me?"

The Sword Sect disciple scratched his head, "Not really familiar."

"Then among the tens of thousands of internal and external officials in this court, how many do you know?" Chen Mo pursued.

The Sword Sect disciple lowered his head, "Not, not many."

"You’ve only seen a few corrupt officials, but you’re generalizing all officials. This is like being blinded by a single leaf. Where does that leave the diligent and clean officials who work for the country’s welfare?"

"And even using that as a reason to disregard the laws of the court is utterly ridiculous!"

"According to your theory, the Blood Demon, ranked seventh on the Heavenly Demon List, was once a disciple of the Netherworld Sect and massacred over a hundred thousand civilians! Does this not suggest that the entire Netherworld Sect is vile and sinful, and the court should dispatch troops to flatten their mountain gate?!"

Chen Mo’s tone grew increasingly cold and stern.

Facing such a sharp question, the Sword Sect disciple’s cheeks flushed, unsure of how to respond, he finally muttered in a muffled voice, "Sorry, Mr. Chen, I was being biased just now."

"Those who reside high in the temple worry for their people, while those far in Jianghu worry for their ruler." Chen Mo’s expression softened slightly, and he said gently, "The true hero acts for the country and its people! It’s not about temporary bravery, trampling on laws and norms at will; it is the true spirit of a hero to take the country’s affairs as one’s own responsibility!"

The lecture hall was silent for a moment, then erupted in thunderous applause.

"Good! A true hero acts for the country and its people!"

"These words are truly enlightening, a revelation to us!"

"Mr. Chen has killed two Heavenly Demons, alleviating the people’s suffering. In this lecture hall, only he truly embodies the word ’hero’!"

"..."

Wu Shuhong’s eyelids twitched slightly.

What’s different about what Chen Mo just said and what I said earlier?

How come I’m labeled ’ugly face’ while what Chen Mo says is ’enlightening’?

Isn’t this a blatant double standard!

Unbeknownst to him, everyone already held Chen Mo in high regard, not to mention he had spent a joyful night at the Imperial Music Bureau last night. As the saying goes, one doesn’t hit a smiling face... some respect should naturally be given.

"Is there anyone else unconvinced?" Chen Mo said calmly.

The air was silent, a pin drop could be heard. Those who had spoken boldly earlier were now silent, and no voice of doubt could be heard anymore.

Chen Mo turned his head to Wu Shuhong and said, "Sir, you may continue your lecture."

"Thank you, Mr. Chen." Wu Shuhong gratefully nodded.

Today was the first day of the new course, and he couldn’t bear any mishaps. Naturally, his heart was full of gratitude towards Chen Mo.

To prevent this group of troublemakers from causing any more disturbances, Chen Mo planned to attend for a while, instructing Li Yuan to guard the door, while he walked leisurely towards the back of the lecture hall.

Arriving at the last row, just as Chen Mo was about to sit down, he suddenly noticed two figures in black robes in the corner.

Even though they were tightly wrapped, he recognized both of them at a glance.

"Your Highness? Lin Catcher? Why are you here?" Chen Mo asked in confusion.

The Empress kept her head down without a word.

Lin Jingzhu quietly lifted her hood and waved at him, "We meet again, Mr. Chen."

Chen Mo moved a chair over, sat down next to the Empress, and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, do you know that Sun Senior Palace Lady knows you snuck out?"

The Empress, realizing her identity was exposed, slowly raised her head, revealing a fair and smooth goose-egg face, blinked her almond eyes, and said, "Where I want to go, is it necessary to inform someone? However, I’ve covered my face; how did you recognize me?"

"..."

There’s no use just covering your face; look down yourself, you’re almost popping the seams of this collar...

Before seeing the person, their presence is already felt.

Chen Mo twitched the corner of his mouth and said, "Just a hunch... These are all Sect Disciples; they don’t follow rules much. Your Highness is at risk coming here suddenly."

"In the capital of Da Yuan Country, under the Emperor’s nose, what can be unsafe? Furthermore, Zhu’er is accompanying me." The Empress glanced at him and curiously asked, "But speaking of which, why do these unruly people, disregardful of the court, respect you so much?"

Chen Mo, with just a sentence, could make that Sword Sect disciple apologize on the spot.

The respect is indeed significant.

Chen Mo naturally couldn’t admit that he hosted a gathering at the Imperial Music Bureau last night, so he said, "Maybe it has something to do with my identity as the Qingyun Leaderboard."

"That could be possible."

The Empress nodded and didn’t dwell on the matter further.

"Those who reside high in the temple worry for their people, while those far in Jianghu worry for their ruler... Mr. Chen, did you come up with this phrase on the fly?" Lin Jingzhu asked curiously.

Chen Mo candidly replied, "Copied it."

"Liar, I don’t believe you~" Lin Jingzhu was accustomed to being amazed by Chen Mo’s surprising words, just like the "Red Powder Skull" last time.

The Empress silently chewed over it for a moment and asked, "Isn’t there more to this passage?"

Chen Mo nodded, "Indeed, there are a few more sentences."

"Which ones?"

"Worry before the world worries, rejoice after the world rejoices."

"..."

The Empress was stunned upon hearing this.

Those who reside high in the temple worry for their people, while those far in Jianghu worry for their ruler...

Worry before the world worries, rejoice after the world rejoices...

Without great talents for governance and a compassionate heart for the world, it’s impossible to say such words!