Murim's Weakest Princess

For the next few days, Anji did nothing else apart from taking the medicine provided by Song Min and meditating to recover her health. In between these moments, Song Min would hover around her and chat in a familiar manner. Anji was still bitter about everything. However, Song Min treated her with respect as a worthy opponent and not a helpless child. Nowhere in the past four days did he disclose more of his plans. If anything, he merely exchanged poetry and classics with Anji.

Jousting with philosophy was not a battle Anji thought she would have to prepare for when encountering a world-dominating, vengeful ghost. However, she came prepared with her answers. The conversation they could not have at the Crystal Lake’s Pavilion, they now shared through venomous exchange of couplets. The yellow river would have been dyed red with the amount of spite Anji infused in it.

Yet, Anji had to admit how effective Song Min’s treatment was. Not only did her body recover, but she felt surprisingly better after cursing him to the ninth hell and back. Anji had always been a polite person. She had never cussed until she met Song Min. The ghost general just had a very particular way of irritating her to no end. She had no idea she could be such a petty character until Song Min started talking. Even just the sight of his smile made her want to punch him. Anji chalked it up to past-life conditioning.

But just as Song Min got underneath Anji’s skin so much, the opposite was true too. Despite his thousand years of patience and poker face, Anji still found cracks in the same spots. Like a wicked dance, they bickered back and forth with barbed compliments and philosophical challenges.

"A good emperor leads the government with wisdom and foresight to prevent disasters for the people," Anji recited. "He is a good father, and the prosperity of his children reflects his character."

On the surface, it was a classic scholarly debate. The Book of Rites, covering Shi Jing’s poem and explained by Confucius, is an all-time hot topic in governance for those aspiring to take the imperial exams.

"But an emperor cannot manage all his children without being a tyrant. When officials put wool in his ears and over his eyes, greed festers. Even a single rotten apple can spoil a whole basket of good ones. The prosperity of his children does not reflect the emperor’s character. It reflects the character of the governor assigned to them. And the governor was chosen by the imperial rankings if not rigged by eunuchs."

Pivoting from the classics to an adjacent study on corruption and justice, Anji could not fault Song Min for his views. Guan Zhong was a philosopher less well known than Confucius. Only those intending to partake in governance study his works on establishing a government system. Those working in the outer palace have never heard of him either, and even within the inner palace, only those of higher ranking would be acquainted with this name. Fortunately, Zhong Kui knew his works enough to discuss government systems with Song Min.

"But that is why we do not have a single basket. With three departments and six ministries keeping power in check, the cabinet has a shared duty with the emperor to select talents outside of official streams. Merit is awarded accordingly. The heaven has eyes."

Scoffing, Song Min turned cold. His extreme yin energy radiated in his aura as he lost a little composure at the provocation. How dare this self-righteous kid spout nonsense even after a thousand years? If heaven truly had eyes, why did he suffer an unjust death?

"Even with the censorate, the emperor and cabinet rotted to the core. What makes you think heaven was watching? It’s all a lie. They only favour kings and gods like you."

This was it. The core of Song Min’s hatred, and Anji recognised it at once.

"But I was just an ordinary human like you once were," she reminded calmly. "I was nothing special either. I was never born a God like the others. The Jade Emperor is just, Song Min. If he truly favoured kings, would the one with a terrible reign have lasted past three generations?"

Teacups shattered, but none of the shards was from Anji. She held her gaze steady and watched as Song Min flared with anger.

"That’s because you were privileged," he hissed. "Not everyone can be born a selfless hero who lays down their life for even dogs. Not everyone can forgive and forget their enemies. Not everyone can be born as foolishly trusting as you and smile when others spit in your face. Zhong Kui, you and I are not the same. I’m the inferior version of you, but you know what’s more inferior? The one chosen to lead the people who failed. And I’m taking him down with me. You can try and stop me, but you’d fail. Because that’s what happens to self-sacrificing fools who give away all their power to help the unworthy for a thousand years. Do people even remember you as a God anymore? If you feel aggrieved, blame yourself for being too kind."

Having said his piece, Song Min left and slammed the door behind him. Anji stewed in silence as every word cut her deeply.

It was true she helped those who bit her back. It was true she would lay her life down easily for anyone. It was also true that she was now weak because she spent a huge amount of divinity to maintain the system and fulfil her immortal duties. While she was becoming smaller, Song Min was becoming bigger.

Yet, Anji remained stubbornly unmoved by facts.

"But Song Min, times have changed," she whispered to an empty room. "The emperor you wish to kill is no longer around. You’re only setting out to harm an innocent and good man in blinded rage. You have the wrong guy."

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