This villain has become a ghost

Shen Yue's slender fingers stroked the chess piece and landed on a corner of the chessboard.

He said, "'Family prestige' must never be valued. If the children of wealthy families are given priority in official advancement, poor scholars will suffer a lifetime of poverty and ultimately be excluded from government service. Citizens will fight the enemy and destroy their families, without having a say in national affairs."

"That makes sense," Yue Liuyun nodded slightly, staring at the chessboard, and said, "Then according to your opinion, Master, what should we do?"

Shen Yue said: "We should respect the law and give opportunities to the poor to rise. Talented people in the world can all become masters of the Tao. We should reduce the high status and make everyone equal."

The two played very quickly, the situation on the chessboard was complicated, and Shen Yue had a slight advantage.

Yue Liuyun remained calm, writing a single word before asking, "If the empire were unified, would the laws tire clerks into overhauling them and lead them to collude with corrupt officials?"

Shen Yue said calmly, "It is not impossible to improve or reduce the laws and regulations, and it is not impossible to increase the positions of civil servants."

Yue Liuyun said again:

"But if the power of the upper classes is reduced, those aristocratic families will lose their former sense of superiority, become emaciated, and face poverty. Their children will cry out in hunger and cold, and some may even die on the roadside or in their beds, being pushed down to the lower class."

At this time, the chess game changed slightly, Yue Liuyun's disadvantage became smaller and smaller, and he gradually became equal to Shen Yue.

Shen Yue frowned slightly and said, "Reductions do not mean extermination. Subsidies can be provided to maintain livelihoods. However, if the glory of the past is gone, they can find another way to make a living with their own hands. With the rise of fairness, talented people can carve out a path."

Then he asked in return: "According to your Majesty's actions, what you advocate is not the criminal law?"

Yue Liuyun shook his head and said, "Criminal laws are fine, but their drawbacks include punishment for slander and extermination of clans. They are cruel to the world and will eventually lead to self-destruction."

"It must be combined with benevolence and righteousness to make it reasonable. Without the rule of law, it will be difficult to bring peace to the world. If it is excessively brutal, it will only backfire."

Shen Yue pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Your Majesty, what you said is very reasonable. Then, is the law I proposed the best?"

"No," Yue Liuyun said, "If the world were united, it could still survive. But now Chiyu is watching us covetously, and Daying is facing internal and external troubles."

"Imagine that in times of crisis, the enemy has advanced deep into our territory, and while the officials are still debating war, peace, defense, or escape, while the discussions are still undecided and the decision on war or peace is still undecided, the enemy has already penetrated deep into our territory without sacrificing a single soldier."

"If the enemy is at the gates and one is still discussing war or peace, and one is always unable to decide between them, and cannot fight or make peace, then the country will eventually be destroyed."

After Yue Liuyun made a crucial move, he stared at Shen Yue with burning eyes.

Shen Yue frowned and said nothing, staring at the chessboard, thinking about how to break the deadlock.

After a while, he sighed, smiled slightly, and said softly: "...I lost."

Yue Liuyun looked at Nangong Mingzhu with a beaming brow, an expression of excitement that said "I can now become a master". His pale face finally took on a hint of color because of joy.

Nangong Mingzhu said with a smile in his eyes, "That's amazing."

Shen Yue made room and made a "please" gesture. Nangong Qianshang slowly sat down opposite him and picked up the white piece.

Just now he was watching the game of chess and had a lot of insights. Now that he has become the chess player, he has to forge his own path.

Occasionally, a gust of cold wind blew, and Yue Liuyun started coughing softly again. Shen Yue and Nangong Qianshang looked at her with some concern. She waved her hand to indicate that she was fine, then picked up the black piece and placed it on the chessboard.

Yue Liuyun said, "It's still the same question as before. If it were my royal brother... what would he choose?"

Nangong Qianshang played with the white chess pieces in his hand and said, "What my royal brother just said is the national atmosphere. The role of those who govern the country is only to add fuel to the flames. The mainstream actually develops among the middle class. With the promotion of the upper class and the compliance of the lower class, it will become a popular trend and spread throughout the world."

Yue Liuyun agreed: "Royal brother is very smart."

Nangong Qianshang continued, "Since I was young, I have had a deep feeling for the words righteousness and integrity. If the moral principles of a country are based on righteousness and integrity, then criminal law is only a embellishment to them, so that everyone can behave in a righteous way."

His style of chess is gentler than Shen Yue's, revealing integrity and elegance. It seems that no matter how cunning the conspiracy is, it is nothing to him.

Yue Liuyun said, "I've heard that 'the superiors strive for virtue, while the inferiors uphold integrity and righteousness. When righteousness and propriety are formed at the top, and kindness is passed down to the people, then the people will be loyal to their lord and work hard at farming. Therefore, it is said that when the ruler is wise and trustworthy, the five officials are respectful, the scholars are honest, the farmers are foolish, and the merchants and workers are willing, then the superiors and subordinates will be united and the outside and inside will be clear, and the people's nature will be based on the three-family system..." Do you think I'm right, my royal brother?"

Hearing this, Nangong Qianshang paused, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he looked up at Yue Liuyun and said, "That's exactly what my humble servant was thinking."

Yue Liuyun's words directly expressed his true inner pursuit of this Tao and the effectiveness of this Tao in governing the country in the future.

Then, his expression revealed a hint of admiration as he said, "Your Majesty, your understanding of integrity and righteousness far surpasses mine. I am ashamed to be inferior to you."

Just like the current game of chess, she is fighting, but how long can his defense last?

Yue Liuyun said seriously, "Although integrity and righteousness are beneficial in times of national crisis, if this continues for a long time, it can also lead to the formation of hypocritical and incorruptible people who steal reputations, fabricate names and conduct, and deceive the world and harm the people."

Nangong Qianshang seemed to be thinking about something.

His ideas were indeed a bit idealistic, but human nature was the most untrustworthy thing in the world.

Yue Liuyun asked, "What do you think of the late emperor's way of governing the country?"

Speaking of the late emperor, Nangong Qianshang's expression turned colder, and he said in a deep voice:

"Government is multifaceted, institutions are cumbersome, taxes are levied and extorted, laws are multiplied, favoritism reigns, the people are in dire straits, the currency is chaotic, bandits are rampant, and floods and droughts are commonplace..."

"It's not just the late emperor. Over the past few hundred years, his rule has become increasingly corrupt. The people of Daying are living in poverty and declining. Meanwhile, the Chiyu tribe has grown from a small tribe to the current 39 tribes. Their fortunes are bad, and Daying is plagued by internal and external troubles."

Yue Liuyun nodded and said, "If the internal affairs are well managed, and there are enemies and external troubles, the country will not perish. If the internal affairs are not well managed, and there are no enemies and external troubles, the country will definitely perish."

"So, first improve domestic affairs, and then fight against external threats."

"But if we rely on integrity and righteousness, in the midst of mud and corruption, brightness and purity are sins, how can we pave the way for all people?"

On the chessboard, all of Nangong Qianshang's chess pieces were defeated. Being too bright and sunny, they could not survive in the dark quagmire.

Nangong Qianshang sighed in admiration, "Brother Emperor is truly formidable. I accept defeat wholeheartedly."

Shen Yue smiled without saying anything, and his gaze towards Yue Liuyun became even deeper.

Yue Liuyun won two games in a row, finally avenging the defeat in the flying chess game and feeling proud.

However, she had just been showing off for a short while when the poison started to take effect again. A heart-wrenching pain swept over her. She was gasping for breath and sweating profusely.

Under the anxious calls of Nangong Mingzhu, Shen Yue, and Nangong Qianshang, her eyes went dark and she gradually lost consciousness.