Da Qin: Conquer all heavens and all realms

Three days later.

Outside the Xianyang Palace, Buddha's light shines everywhere.

A Bodhisattva riding a green lion, holding a wisdom sword, wearing a white veil, with a handsome face and extraordinary temperament, slowly descended from the sky.

Behind him, twelve golden lotuses bloomed, each of which contained infinite Buddhist principles and exuded a holy aura that brought peace of mind.

Manjushri Bodhisattva, we have arrived.

He did not kneel like the other envoys, but clasped his hands together and nodded slightly to Ying Zheng above the palace gate. His voice was clear and melodious, like the sound of nature, spreading in all directions:

"I, the humble monk Wenshu, greet His Majesty the Emperor Qin."

"I have heard that Your Majesty governs the universe with laws and acts on behalf of Heaven with codes. Your divine power is so great that it terrifies the heavens. However, I have a question, and I have come to ask for your advice."

"What is 'good'? What is 'evil'?"

"What is 'cause'? What is 'effect'?"

"Your Majesty's laws can sever the body of the devil, but can they also sever the 'devil' in the hearts of all living beings?"

"If we can cut off the 'evil' of the world, can we also cut off the 'cause' of reincarnation?"

The three questions, like three heavy hammers, struck hard on the hearts of everyone who heard them.

This is not just a question, it is a challenge to the fundamental laws of the Qin Dynasty and a questioning of the legitimacy of Ying Zheng as the "Emperor of Heaven"!

Above the palace gate, Ying Zheng's figure was still as tall as a mountain. He looked at Manjushri Bodhisattva below, with no anger in his eyes, only a playful smile.

"Buddhism talks about cause and effect, reincarnation, and compassion." Ying Zheng spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but with an unquestionable dominance, "I will not talk about it."

"I only say, whoever kills someone must pay with his life."

"Those who harm others will be punished."

"Those who protect the country will be rewarded."

"Those who have made contributions will be rewarded."

"What is good and evil? My laws are good and evil! What is cause and effect? ​​My rewards and punishments are cause and effect!"

"As for the demons in the hearts of all living beings..." Ying Zheng's gaze swept across the refugees below, those who had just been resettled, and those people from various countries who were trying to adapt to their new lives. A hint of tenderness flashed in his eyes.

"My laws will build schools for them, so they can learn and understand right and wrong."

"My laws will reclaim wasteland for them, allowing them to have enough food and clothing and live in peace and contentment."

"My laws will eradicate all injustice for them and make them believe that as long as they work hard, they can change their fate."

"When there is no more hunger and cold, no more oppression, and no more war, I want to see where that 'inner demon' can arise from."

Upon hearing this, a trace of emotion appeared on Manjushri Bodhisattva’s compassionate face for the first time.

He looked at Ying Zheng, the emperor who ruled with tyranny, as if he truly knew him for the first time.

This is no longer a simple mortal emperor.

This is a madman... who wants to reshape the order of heaven and earth with his mortal body!

In other words, he is an unprecedented, great "legislator"!

"What a saying, 'Laws are good and evil, rewards and punishments are cause and effect!'" A golden light flashed in Manjusri Bodhisattva's eyes, and the twelve golden lotuses behind him shone brightly. "Since that is the case, Your Majesty, please answer this humble monk's question!"

"If someone did evil in their previous life but is good in this life, according to your majesty's laws, should they be rewarded or punished?"

"If someone does good deeds in this life, but brings disaster to his descendants due to karma from a previous life, according to your majesty's laws, should he be saved or not?"

"If there is a person who harbors great evil in his heart but has not committed any evil deeds, according to your majesty's laws, should he be sentenced or not?"

Three more pointed and core questions were raised.

This has gone beyond the simple scope of law and has risen to the level of philosophy and metaphysics.

Outside the Xianyang Palace, you could hear a pin drop.

Manjushri Bodhisattva's three questions were like three invisible swords, hanging at the apex of the heavens and all worlds, and also piercing the lonely and domineering figure in the Xianyang Palace.

Each of these three questions goes straight to the core of the law of causality, and each touches the foundation of the existing order.

In countless epochs of the past, these questions have been answered by the Way of Heaven, by the Buddha, and by the Taoist Ancestor. The answers may be compassionate, mysterious, or ethereal, but they all follow a common principle - transcending the mundane and returning to destiny.

And now, how should a mortal emperor, a king who tries to rule the heavens with human laws, answer?

Outside the Xianyang Palace, the envoys from all realms were on edge. They knew that Ying Zheng's answer would determine the future of the Qin Dynasty.

Everyone held their breath and looked nervously at Ying Zheng above the palace gate.

If you answer poorly, you will not only become a laughing stock in the universe, but your newly established faith in the law will also collapse in an instant.

Manjushri Bodhisattva stood on the clouds, with a solemn appearance, but a barely perceptible sharpness flashed in his eyes.

He wasn't trying to be difficult, but rather to seek peace of mind and a future for this world, and for the countless lives affected by the laws of the Qin Dynasty. Karma and reincarnation were the fundamental principles of heaven and earth; how could they be so easily overturned?

Above the palace gate, Ying Zheng was silent.

He did not answer immediately, but slowly closed his eyes, as if feeling something.

The atmosphere throughout the Great Qin Empire grew solemn at this moment. The righteous spirit emanating from the Code of Laws of the Heavens converged and flowed around him like a tide.

After a long time, he opened his eyes again.

There was no longer cold majesty in those eyes, but a depth and enlightenment that penetrated the ultimate principles of heaven and earth.

He spoke slowly, his voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by every living being, as if it carried the power of some law.

"Bodhisattva, your questions are excellent." Ying Zheng's gaze rested calmly on Manjusri. "These three questions are the very foundation of my thoughts, day and night, since the very beginning of my legislation."

"My answer is very simple."

"Be evil in your previous life, be good in this life, and you will be rewarded!"

"If you do good in this life, it will bring disaster to your descendants. Save them!"

"If you have great evil in your heart, but have not committed any evil, you will not be judged!"

Just three short sentences, shocking!

Manjushri Bodhisattva's brow furrowed instantly. This answer was completely contrary to what he had expected, and to the workings of heaven and earth!

"Your Majesty!" Manjushri Bodhisattva couldn't help but speak out. "If past sins go unpunished, how can we serve as a warning to the world? If future generations suffer from disasters and are not saved, how can we demonstrate the law of heaven's responsibility? If those harboring great evil go unpunished, how can we prevent it from happening again? These three approaches are all biased and may disrupt the moral principles of the world!"

"Gang of laws?" Ying Zheng sneered, his laughter filled with endless arrogance and confidence, "My laws are the new Gang of laws!"

He took a step forward, and the entire blue sky world seemed to shake.

"What are rewards and punishments? Rewards and punishments are meant to 'guide people to good', not 'resolve old grudges'!"

"If someone who committed evil in a past life repents and practices good deeds in this life, and I punish him for his past sins, wouldn't that be telling all living beings that reforming is useless? Wouldn't that be blocking their path to goodness? What I want is a world where goodness is readily accepted, not a world where everyone is burdened with the sins of a past life, forever unable to escape them! Therefore, he must be rewarded! Reward him for his present life, to inspire others!"