If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 1096 Power and Privilege

"Yu Fengxian, how cruel of you! You just stood by and watched these brats bully me~~~"

After the beating was over, Empress Dowager Zhao turned her head to look at the indifferent and inactive Xiao Yu, and howled with resentment in her eyes.

Xiao Yu sighed, "Hu Hai has no intention of building a mausoleum for you, the Empress Dowager; he wants to bury your coffin anywhere."

The former king of Qin despised you and made it clear that he would never take you in.

Your final resting place is in the underworld.

If you feel wronged and want revenge, you can only rely on the karmic retribution mechanism of the underworld.

I'm standing here today not because we have a great relationship.

"As the Grand Tutor of Qin, I had to come."

Empress Dowager Zhao's face contorted in anger as she said, "No matter what, I chose you to be my Heavenly Master."

Back then, you were just a barbarian with a murder case on your hands, and you harmed several great immortals of the land, but I didn't look down on you.

I gave you an opportunity, I gave you glory, and I have done you a great favor.

Xiao Yu said, "You were able to appoint me as Grand Tutor not because of your status as Lao Ai's lover, but because you are the Regent Empress Dowager of the Great Qin Dynasty."

When I become the Celestial Master of Qin, I will naturally serve Qin and seek benefits for the Ying clan.

If you had been content with your lot and become the Empress Dowager of Qin, would you have met such a tragic end?

Yang Li also said, "Empress Dowager, you and Lao Ai not only plotted to kill the prince, but you also planned to depose Grand Tutor Yu and seize control of the Nine Cauldrons."

She is now willing to take time out of her busy schedule to personally come to the underworld to help you; she has already done everything she could to be kind and righteous.

Do you know that because you don't trust Grand Tutor Yu and insist on holding this 'Grand Tutor Selection', a large number of Qi Refiners have already arrived at the Imperial Observatory.

None of them were willing to pay attention to you, and some even helped Marquis Lieyang deal with you.

But they were all recruited by you to deal with Grand Tutor Yu.

Sigh, things have come to this point, there's no point in discussing right and wrong anymore.

Whether you regret it or not, Empress Dowager, the outcome is already decided.

Now it's best to listen to Grand Tutor Yu's arrangements and let the King of Hell judge the case, and stop putting on airs as the Mother of the Emperor or the Empress Dowager of Qin.

Don't you know what kind of person the late emperor was?
Seeing you as you are now, his methods towards you and Lao Ai will surely be even more cruel than those towards Marquis Lieyang.

The headless ghost rushed over and pleaded, "Your Majesty, King Yama and Grand Tutor Yu are discerning and will not wrong you."

In particular, the sins recorded in the Book of Life and Death, though impossible to fake, may lead to the loss of merits recorded in secret.

Even if you admit to the crimes recorded in the Book of Life and Death, it does not mean you are guilty.

For example, the old slave

He quickly recounted his experience of being seen through the mirror of karma.

Empress Zhao's expression changed several times, and she cried out to King Qin Guang, "I want to go to the Mirror of Karma to see my karma and cause and effect!"

"as you wish!"

At the command of the King of Hell, two ghost messengers escorted Empress Dowager Zhao into a side hall.

Xiaoyu really wanted to know what terrible things Empress Dowager Zhao had done before and after the "Xianyang Mutiny".

Upon seeing that Empress Dowager Zhao was about to look into the Mirror of Karmic Fate, she immediately followed her.

"Yu Fengxian, you are not allowed to go!" King Qin Guang shouted.

Xiao Yu said, "I can ignore others, but Empress Dowager Zhao is the purpose of my trip."

I need to carefully examine her causes and effects, and her karma, to ensure she is not wronged and humiliated.

King Qin Guang roared, "How dare you doubt my impartiality? I am a righteous god of Heaven and the lord of the underworld. What right do you, a mere grand tutor of a mortal kingdom, have to question me?"

"No, I believe you are selfless, but alas, you previously concluded that Steward Zhao's crimes were unforgivable and that he would go to the eighteenth level of hell!" Xiaoyu said.

King Qin Guang gritted his teeth.

Trusting in his fairness, what does that even mean?
Is it just a doubt about his abilities?
Ximen Bao quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Grand Tutor Yu, you are so ignorant. The existence of the Mirror of Karma is precisely to make up for the omissions in the Book of Life and Death."

Any deceased spirit who objects to the judgment in the Book of Life and Death will be accompanied by Yama to examine the Mirror of Karma.

Then he said to King Qin Guang, "King Yama, you have just finished hearing Zhao He's case, and you must be exhausted."

For example, have a cup of tea, take a short rest, and let Grand Tutor Yu go and look in the mirror.

"Sigh, the sooner the case is closed, the sooner she can take Empress Dowager Zhao out of the First Hall of Yama."

Without waiting for Yama's permission, Xiaoyu strode inside.

King Qin Guang's face was ashen.

However, he didn't have to wait long.

In the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Xiaoyu came out looking disgusted.

King Qin Guang's expression was even more disgusted than hers; he sat on the dragon throne as if sitting on pins and needles, feeling as if his back was thorns.

To go or not to go?

If he goes there and fails to resolve the karmic entanglement of Empress Dowager Zhao within the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, how will the other ghosts and spirits in the hall view him?
Don't you think that even Yu Fengxian is more suitable to be "King Qin Guang" than him?
—How hateful! Yu Fengxian has offended Buddhism many times and violated the taboos of Heaven and the Underworld many times. Why would Buddha Tathagata teach her the great Dharma?
"Your Majesty~~"

The ghost messenger below tentatively reminded them, "Empress Dowager Zhao has already stopped in front of the Mirror of Retribution."

King Qin Guang had no choice but to get up.

Three hours later, he came out with a livid face and cursed Zhao Ji, "You beast, you had the nerve to cry foul before."

Those you killed are the ones who should cry foul. Your true sins are ten times greater than those recorded in the Book of Life and Death!
You should go to the eighteenth level of hell and be condemned to eternal damnation.

Xiaoyu nodded gently, her face showing agreement.

Empress Dowager Zhao exclaimed, "All of Zhao He's power comes from me. He can earn merit through unseen means, so why can't I?"
For example, the matter of forcing ordinary people to perform corvée labor.

He advised me that he had done a great job, but I was the one in charge. It was I who exempted those lowly people from corvée labor, and my contribution was greater.

For example, he accepted bribes, abused his power for personal gain, and released the imperial tomb official Li Shan.

He was just a chief eunuch; how could he possibly have the authority to release condemned prisoners?
Isn't it all just to curry favor with me and get my approval?

King Qin Guang coldly said, "What is your status, and what is his status? What were your thoughts at the time, and what were his thoughts?"
If you were just going to be a dowager in the inner palace, enjoying the blessings of a noble person, that would be fine.

But you are the 'Regent Empress Dowager'!
According to the position one holds and the authority one possesses, one must fulfill the corresponding responsibilities.

This is the fundamental rule of the Great Dao of Cause and Effect.

Position and authority are also links in the causal chain, forming a complete causal knot with 'performance of duties'.

In other words, enjoying power is the cause, and performing one's duties is the effect. There is cause and effect, but no merit or demerit.

As the Regent Empress Dowager, your duties can be summed up in eight words: protect the borders and ensure the safety of the people, and uphold propriety and morality.

Zhao He is merely a servant; his duty is simply to serve you and be loyal to you. As the Regent Empress Dowager, you should have compassion for the hardships of the people and do everything in your power to ensure their peaceful and prosperous lives.

Allowing the people to rest and reducing their labor is not your achievement, but your responsibility.

If Zhao He blindly flatters and curries favor with you, and agrees with your large-scale conscription of laborers, he will have committed a minor offense.

If Zhao He incites you to impose excessive forced labor when you have no intention of doing so, resulting in the tragic deaths of thousands of people in a foreign land, his crime is heinous, and so is yours.

Now, Zhao He, as your servant, is always kind-hearted. Whenever he has the chance, he will try to please you, first making you feel comfortable, and then, while you are in a good mood, he will offer you a few words of advice.

You obeyed, merely fulfilling your duty, but he, by directly or indirectly saving sentient beings, has accumulated great merit!

Xiaoyu nodded slightly again, her impression of the underworld's karmic retribution system improving even further.

Even King Qin Guang, who was "usually hated by everyone," now seemed much more pleasing to the eye.

Empress Dowager Zhao could not accept it. Her face contorted in pain as she cried out, "How can this be? I am the master, and he is the servant. Why is it that he can earn merit more easily than me?"

King Qin Guang said in a deep voice: "Amitabha Buddha said that all beings are equal!"
In many aspects, such as social status, talent, and life experiences, people are not equal at all.

You are a person of great nobility, destined to enjoy the highest wealth and honor in this life; he is the most lowly person, physically disabled, looked down upon by others, and spends his whole life serving others.

You and him are like clouds and mud.

However, in the practice of good deeds, all beings are indeed equal.

The law of cause and effect does not favor anyone; planting good seeds will surely yield good fruit.

Nobles and royalty can cultivate good karma, and so can the lowly and disabled.

You have never cultivated good deeds in your life, but only loved lust and pleasure, hence this retribution.

Despite his humble circumstances and being tempted by sensual pleasures, Zhao He was able to hold fast to the last vestige of kindness in his heart and practice the virtue of "rejoicing in goodness" in his daily life.

He will not turn down any opportunity that comes his way.

Even though each time, he would first weigh the pros and cons, making sure it wouldn't anger you or implicate him, before taking any action.

Xiaoyu nodded slightly again; these words still aligned with her values.

—Perhaps I am truly suited to Lingshan Buddhism?

The bald monks of Lingshan are full of wicked men and women, but the principles they preach are quite good.

Empress Dowager Zhao exclaimed, "How can such a weighing of pros and cons possibly bring about great merit?"

King Qin Guang said irritably, "Precisely because he weighed the pros and cons, he only had the ability to perform good deeds in secret, which would only ensure that he could be reborn as a human in his next life and barely be a 'good person' with a healthy body and minor blessings."

If he can refrain from doing evil because it is insignificant and from neglecting good because it is insignificant, and disregard his life for the sake of benevolence.

At this point, he was no longer being judged in the underworld; he had long since ascended to the celestial realm and been bestowed a celestial official position by the Jade Emperor.

Empress Dowager Zhao said unwillingly, "I know I am not a great benefactor, but I am also confident that I am not the first incompetent and vicious monarch in history."

King Qin Guang coldly replied, "Whether other rulers are incompetent or not is none of your business, nor is it relevant to today's trial."

Empress Dowager Zhao cried out, "How can it be unrelated? Now I am to be judged by you and cast into hell."

Are those kings who are inferior to me ultimately judged by the King of Hell in the underworld?

They're all fine, only I've ended up like this, and I'm not allowed to complain?

"This..." King Qin Guang hesitated, glanced at Xiao Yu, and slowly said, "'The phrase 'equality of all beings' can only be applied to cultivating good karma."

In terms of retribution after death alone, the difference between the most powerful and the most common is absolutely enormous.

Those who are extremely wealthy and powerful in life will also be buried in a blessed land after death, enjoying the happiness of the underworld.

Since the establishment of the underworld, and since I became 'King Qin Guang', no 'Human Emperor' has ever been judged by ghosts and gods after death.

This applies to human emperors as well as human kings.

Even if you have committed heinous crimes, you are still the Regent Empress Dowager of the Celestial Empire.

"If you don't go to the underworld, I probably won't have the chance to judge you."

Xiaoyu frowned, feeling very unhappy.

Empress Dowager Zhao was overjoyed, "Hahaha, after all this talk, it turns out that the so-called 'cause and effect' really has no effect on a person of great importance!"

Why didn’t you say it earlier!
No, you don't need to say it, you shouldn't be judging me at all.

There's no need to pronounce my sins in the Book of Life and Death, no need to torment me for hours in the Mirror of Karma, just to settle the karmic debts.

It's a complete waste of time.

You have absolutely no right to judge a 'proxy emperor' like me from the Great Qin Empire!

Xiao Yu couldn't hold back any longer and said, "Empress Dowager, do you still remember what happened before you died? The reason you fell into the City of the Wrongfully Dead was because you were cursed by the Qi cultivators under Hu Hai's sect. You were treated as a vengeful ghost and thrown into the City of the Wrongfully Dead, where you were severely suppressed."

So that you won't go on to harm living beings in the human world again.

Empress Dowager Zhao smiled and said, "I'm grateful to Grand Tutor Yu for leading me back to the mortal realm. I have no desire to stay here. Even if it were the blessed land of the underworld, it would not be worthy of a regent empress dowager."

King Qin Guang nodded and said, "That's acceptable. If one doesn't enter the First Hall of Yama, then one won't have to undergo the judgment of cause and effect."

The Empress Dowager beamed with joy, almost turning from a vengeful ghost into a happy one. "Good, very good, excellent! That's how it should be. How can commoners compare to nobles like us?"
Humans are divided into noble and lowly classes, and even ghosts have different statuses. Only in this way can the fundamental principles and ethics of humanity prevail throughout the three realms.

Xiao Yu glared angrily at King Qin Guang and shouted, "How can the mighty King of the Underworld, a great god who controls the life and death of mortals, allow a mortal king to be arrogant and disobedient?"

King Qin Guang paused, then asked uncertainly, "Yu Fengxian, what do you mean?"

Xiaoyu said, "What I mean is, you bully the weak and fear the strong, you only dare to mess with ordinary people, but you don't dare to look down on the powerful and wealthy. You are extremely incompetent and cowardly!"
You should have led 100,000 Yin soldiers to sweep across the Land of Kings of the Nine Provinces and brought all those bastards who committed crimes before the Mirror of Retribution.

Only the innocent can return to the blessed land to enjoy happiness; the guilty will all go to hell.

King Qin Guang stared at her with a strange look, remaining silent for a long while. He was truly speechless, unsure of what to say.

Does he not want to? He wants it to death, but he lacks the ability and authority!
However, not knowing what to say did not diminish Cao's anger: "That barbarian Yu Fengxian is too arrogant and domineering. How dare she speak to me like that? Does she really think I am a coward who bullies the weak and fears the strong?"
At most, I would yield a little before the authority of the Emperor. But now, in the Hall of the King of Hell, I hold the power of life and death!

Just as he was about to explode, Empress Dowager Zhao came to her senses and exclaimed, "Grand Tutor Yu, have you lost your mind? You are the Grand Tutor of Qin!"

Yang Li also awkwardly advised, "Grand Tutor Yu, don't cause trouble. The Empress Dowager's case is almost over."

Xiao Yu said in a deep voice, "If I weren't the Grand Tutor, I would at most curse the King of Hell for being a coward if I encountered something like this."

Now that I am the Grand Tutor of the Central Plains, I should be aware of establishing the principles of humanity and regulating the balance of Yin and Yang in human affairs.

King Qin Guang sneered, "You can only flaunt your power before the gods by virtue of your 'Grand Tutor' position."

Without the title of 'Grand Tutor,' you are nothing, and I won't even pay you any attention.

But where did you get your 'Grand Tutor's power'?
You can obtain the power of Grand Tutor from the Emperor's decree, and thus gain control over a portion of the power of Heaven and Earth.

How much power and authority must the emperor, who holds the power of imperial decree, possess?
Holding even the slightest bit of the power of a Grand Tutor, you dare to shout and yell in front of me.

"Isn't it only natural that the Emperor, who possesses the authority of a human sovereign, and the nobles protected by the Humane Dynasty, would be pardoned in the underworld's judgment system?"

Xiaoyu frowned. "There are no 'special privileges' that are taken for granted."

(End of this chapter)