socalfunplaces Chapter 980 Keqing's Review
Chapter 980 Keqing's Review
Two days later, the sun was shining brightly in the morning, and the Yujing Terrace was crowded with people, and it was very lively.
This day was the day Keqing was going to hold a public review meeting. She sent some Thousand Rocks soldiers to publicize it throughout Liyue Harbor and invited everyone to come and observe.
The news quickly spread throughout the streets and alleys of Liyue, and the people were very surprised when they heard it.
After all, Keqing is Yuheng Star, one of the Seven Stars of Liyue, and her every move is closely watched.
Everyone is very curious about how this strong woman who has always been decisive and resolute will review herself in front of everyone.
Therefore, anyone who had time flocked to Yujingtai, wanting to witness this rare public review meeting.
The last time Yujingtai was so lively was the annual "Ceremony of Inviting the Immortals" a few years ago.
Keqing looked at the densely packed crowd below the stage and couldn't help feeling a little uneasy.
To be honest, she was still a little scared about doing self-examination in front of so many people.
However, at this moment, her eyes were suddenly attracted by a familiar figure not far away - the person was Shao Yun!
Keqing had never expected that Shao Yun would actually come! She had thought he was just being perfunctory at the Qun Yu Pavilion the other day!
This is so unexpected!
Her heart was beating faster with excitement, and she couldn't help but trot forward with a shy blush on her face.
"Mr. Shao Yun, you're here." Keqing greeted softly, her voice revealing a hint of excitement that was hard to conceal.
Shao Yun nodded and said calmly, "Of course, I promise you."
His tone seemed very casual, but for Keqing, Shao Yun's arrival gave her great encouragement.
Keqing placed her right hand on her heart and said gratefully, "I'm ready to confess to the people of Liyue. To be honest, when the day finally comes, I'm still a little scared."
Shao Yun had never expected that his arrival would give Keqing such great courage, and he didn't know how to respond.
"So, now that I'm here, you're brave enough?"
Keqing nodded gently, expressing her sincere gratitude, "Yes... indeed, thank you for coming. Now I have the confidence to reveal the truth to the people of Liyue."
Seeing this, Shao Yun pointed to the podium and comforted him, "Keep going, don't worry, don't worry about anyone assassinating you."
After receiving Shao Yun's assurance of safety, Keqing breathed a sigh of relief.
In the past two days, while preparing for the review, she had been worried about whether Ningguang would do something bad to her.
Now, with Shao Yun's assurance, she believed Ningguang would definitely have some concerns.
However, despite this, Keqing's heart is still full of contradictions.
On the one hand, she did hope that Liyue could return to the independence it had enjoyed after the Osel Crisis and the Bazha Rebellion.
But on the other hand, she is now also relying on Shao Yun's prestige.
Contradiction is an eternal topic for mankind...
After more than ten seconds, when she had said everything she wanted to say, Keqing waved to Shao Yun and said goodbye, "I think most people have gathered. See you later."
Shao Yun yawned and wished, "Good luck to you..."
……
At this moment, the temporary podium at Yujingtai was packed with people.
The makeshift cedar podium exuded the acrid smell of resin.
In this sea of people, people from all walks of life gathered here, from wealthy businessmen to peddlers, and everyone was talking about it.
They talked about what was about to happen and speculated what Keqing, the Jade Star among the Seven Stars of Liyue, would say in this speech.
After all, the last time the Liyue Seven Stars conducted a review was a hundred years ago. Every review by the Seven Stars would bring considerable shock to Liyue's political arena.
Suddenly, the crowd fell silent.
Everyone's eyes were focused on the podium, for no other reason than Keqing was standing there.
Keqing stood on the stage and addressed the assembled Liyue people in a clear voice: "Fellow Liyue elders, fellow brothers and sisters."
"I am Yuheng Star Keqing. Thank you all for taking the time out of your busy schedules to come and listen to the words of this incompetent Seven Stars."
Then, she took a deep breath and began to read out how she had failed to fight against Ba Che, resulting in the death of 80% of the elite soldiers of the Qianyan Army, while she herself remained unscathed and received no punishment at all.
When telling all this, Keqing did not mention that Ningguang had protected her, but simply took all the responsibility on herself.
On the one hand, she didn't want to completely break up with Ningguang. On the other hand, she had to consider Shao Yun's feelings.
"More than two years ago, we braved the waves and marched westward. I led 80% of the elite troops of the Qianyan Army to meet the enemy, vowing to pin the battle line outside the Solitary Cloud Pavilion. However..."
Keqing paused, then continued with a trembling voice, "All the soldiers were buried in the sea because of my mistakes in preparation."
"The Seven Stars should have dismissed me, taken my seal, and even..." Keqing dragged out the words, made a beheading gesture, and the veins on the side of her neck jumped.
"But I'm still standing here, not a single hair missing. You may ask why. I can only say that my savior took the knife for me."
"He saved my life and secured my future. I know that he was doing this for my own good!"
"But, I made a mistake, so I have to accept the punishment!"
……
While Keqing was standing on the stage, he openly revealed in front of all the people of Liyue his guilt for failing to fight against Bache, which resulted in 80% of the elite soldiers of the Thousand Rocks Army dying in the sea.
At this time, Shao Yun started chatting with Grandma Ping.
Shao Yun's eyes swept over Keqing who was sincerely reviewing herself to the public on the stage.
Then he turned to look at Grandma Ping, who was hunched over beside him, and pouted at Keqing on the podium, asking curiously:
"Grandma Ping, what do you think about this?"
A kind smile appeared on Grandma Ping's face, which was full of traces of time. She said slowly, "How can I watch? Of course I can only watch from afar."
Shao Yun looked at the easygoing Grandma Ping and couldn't help but teasing her, "You are as easygoing as ever."
Grandma Ping smiled slightly and responded slowly: "Oh, it's not a big deal."
"As you told the Emperor before, this is just an ordinary political turmoil."
After saying that, Grandma Ping remembered something and started talking to Shao Yun about a piece of Liyue’s history.
"Besides, this isn't the first time I've seen Qixing publicly reviewing something like this."
"Not all of the Liyue Seven Stars are perfectly qualified for their positions. I remember about three hundred years ago? There was also a Yuheng Star."
"I remember that person was guilty of dereliction of duty and also made a public self-criticism at Yujingtai."
"At that time, it was still the era of immortal rule. At that time, the emperor was still floating in the sky and observing."
Shao Yun looked at Keqing, who was sincerely apologizing to everyone on the podium, and commented coldly, "Yes, this is just an ordinary political incident... There is nothing new under Mavica (the sun)."
When Grandma Ping heard Shao Yun's humorous metaphor, she chuckled and said, "Haha, you are still so humorous."
Then, Grandma Ping picked up a teapot and poured a cup of hot water for Shao Yun.
"I know you don't like tea, can you give me some hot water?"
Shao Yun took the teacup handed to him by Grandma Ping and said, "Thank you very much."
……
Keqing's review lasted about ten minutes.
After the review, Keqing bowed deeply and apologized to the people of Liyue who gathered in front of Yujing Terrace to listen to her speech.
"I'm sorry, people of Liyue. Yuhengxing has failed you all and betrayed your trust. I offer my sincerest apologies!"
"I will compile a report on my mistakes and submit it to the other six Liyue Seven Stars for review!"
"I will definitely give a reasonable explanation to the families who lost their loved ones because of this!"
……
After Keqing finished her review, the people of Liyue in the audience were completely shocked and started talking about it.
Amidst the noisy voices, there were discussions from everyone from wealthy businessmen to peddlers.
A poet banged his folding fan against his palm and suddenly realized, "So that's how it is!"
"Back then, the ointment used to mask the stench of corpses in the Hall of Rebirth burned continuously for a month, the ashes drifting like snow, and then there was the stench of corpses at the harbor... I didn't even dare open the window to write poetry at night!"
A noble lady from Yujingtai pinched her nose, and her voice leaked out through her fingers.
"I heard that the faint stench of corpses at the port took half a year to dissipate!"
The kite vendor's eyes flashed with a sly light as he said, "Something from two years ago is only being brought up now? I'm afraid it's an internal conflict among the Seven Stars, and Yuheng Star was pushed out to take the blame."
A wealthy businessman, playing with the jade in his hand, scoffed, "Leave your crimes to the other six-stars for trial? Ha, judging yourself? It's like passing it from one hand to the other. Even my opera troupe couldn't pull off such a stunt!"
The dock worker spat and complained, "None of my business! I have three ships of ore waiting to be loaded this afternoon. Who has time to shed tears with the rich young lady?"
His companion grabbed him, his veins bulging, and said a few fair words.
"Bullshit! Two years ago, the leader was about to run away with the money. Who was it that led the Qianyan Army to seal the warehouse overnight and get our wages back?"
"Also, back then, Yuhengxing punished the black-hearted bully who exploited us in order to get our wages? You stuffed a knockout drug in your mouth, don't you remember?"
"It's just a show!" The man shook off his companion's hand and sneered, "Who knows, the leader might be a dog raised by Yuheng Star, biting people and then killing them to gain fame!"
The waves of discussion grew louder and louder, rushing towards the podium.
Keqing still had her head lowered, her purple hair covering her face, making it impossible to see her expression at the moment.
……
The audience was crowded with people, and the noisy voices were like a swarm of buzzing bees.
People were whispering to each other and discussing Keqing's public review.
Some local reporters in Liyue wrote down every word of Keqing as if they had found a treasure, and then rushed back to the newspaper office without stopping, racing against time to print newspapers, for fear of missing out on this hot topic.
Although the audience had mixed attitudes towards Keqing, with some expressing sympathy and understanding for her and others mocking her, Keqing didn't care.
After she poured out the words from the bottom of her heart, she felt much more relaxed.
As the review ended, the crowd gradually dispersed, and the originally noisy Yujingtai gradually returned to calm.
Only after the last person disappeared from her sight did Keqing slowly straighten her back and take a deep breath.
At this moment, she was reborn and became completely different from the previous Keqing.
In the past, Keqing always had a vague sadness between her brows.
No matter what she does, she seems timid and lacks confidence.
Even when exercising her power and punishing bullies, she seems to lack confidence.
Keqing has now completely broken free from the constraints of the past.