The younger brother of the First Emperor

Chapter 284: Everything is planned out? Haha... I have plenty of new plans!
open one's eyes.

Call Yingping.

Get up late.

Prince Cheng Jiao was carefully served by a group of palace maids and he didn't even have to wash his face.

Ying Yingying took the warm towel and carefully wiped the young master's cheek.

Ying Parrot was dressing the young master and wanted to suggest changing his sisters' names.

As soon as she started talking, Ying Yingying suddenly turned her head and glared at her. She rolled her eyes in displeasure, pouted her lips and kept silent.

Unable to hear the parrot's chirping, Ying Chengjiao looked up and laughed:
“Parrots also have quiet times, right?”

Just when he felt that his kindness was not rewarded, Ying Niaowu, who was in a bad mood, heard the young master's joke, and pouted, and said angrily:
"Young Master, if you find me annoying, I will just stop talking from now on!"

"Really?" Ying Chengjiao was delighted and raised his hand: "High five! It's a deal!"

Ying the parrot shamelessly pretended not to see it. How could this be possible!
The pretty palace maids who gathered around laughed and joked, and Li Yigong was full of joy as it was approaching noon.

"So lively?" Ji Yaoyao walked in with a smile.

When the girls stopped laughing, they bowed slightly and called each other Madam, like well-educated ladies.

"How did mother know I was awake?" Ying Chengjiao wiped his mouth with a guilty look, wondering if there was any rouge left from last night. "I just woke up and mother came. What a coincidence."

Ying Ping, who had just bowed slightly to Ji Yaoyao, turned towards the young master, bowed again, and was about to speak.

Ji Yaoyao took a breath before him, and walked towards her son, smiling and saying:
"unfortunately.

"I told Chang Yu to tell me as soon as you wake up."

Approaching his son.

She pinched her son's face, gently pulled it outward, and said dissatisfiedly:
"how?

“No way?

"Are you afraid that your mother will monitor you?
"Now even my mother has to be on guard?"

Four fatal questions.

"No, I just asked casually." The boy smiled, opened his eyes wide, and looked well-behaved: "Mother, why are you looking for me so early? What's the matter?"

Ji Yaoyao rubbed her son's cheek, lowered her beautiful eyes slightly, and narrowed them into a slit, with a sharp light flashing in them:

"Don't leave the palace without Mr. Gai."

"Mother, you mean... they dare?!" Ying Chengjiao was slightly speechless.

Hiring assassins is something that military generals do, and aristocratic families would rather not do it.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, before a war, both sides had to agree on the time, place, and number of participants.

If one side is not ready, the other side cannot launch a surprise attack. The two armies need to deploy their positions and communicate with each other:

"are you ready?"

"I'm ready, what about you?"

"I'm ready too."

"Then let's start fighting?"

"Fight beat!"

Only then can you start fighting.

The winner has been decided. If the loser runs fifty steps, the winner can no longer chase him. This is the origin of the saying "the laugh at someone who has taken fifty steps when he has taken a hundred steps."

You would be safe if you ran 50 steps, but you ran 100 steps. Isn't that because you are scared? Hahaha!
Captured enemy soldiers must not be abused, but provided with good food and drink, and only released after the battle is over.

People today find this phenomenon so bizarre because most of the people who joined the army at that time were children of aristocrats, and there were no commoners.

We are all nobles, and we are all relatives. Why would we fight each other? Just let it go if you have the intention.

The nobles who valued their lives only cared about winning or losing, not about life or death.

When the struggles between the aristocratic families of the following countries were like the Spring and Autumn War, it was an unspoken rule not to send assassins.

The struggle is about family reputation and status, and is about demonstrating strength rather than completely destroying the opponent.

If it's a fight to the death, then we'll use every possible means.

Ying Chengjiao knew that the Bai family wanted him dead, but he really didn't think that the Bai family and he had reached the point of a life-and-death struggle.

Unless... the Bai family knew that he wanted to start a revolution.

But if this really happens, it will not be just the Bai family that will fight to the death with him, but all the nobles including the old Qin family and outsiders.

"Mother, things haven't gotten to that critical point yet, right?" Ying Chengjiao looked up and said seriously after a moment of deep thought.

If the Bai family sent assassins to assassinate Bai Ma because he beat him up, and the news got out, the Bai family would become the target of public criticism.

"It's better to be prepared, just in case." Ji Yaoyao was as gentle as ever: "Be obedient."

Ying Chengjiao nodded in agreement, looking a little unhappy.

He knew that the possibility was extremely low, but there was still a trace of shadow in his heart that could not be ignored.

He is not afraid of being praised too much.

Assassination, damn!

Three days later.

Prime Minister's Mansion.

Ying Chengjiao walked out of the lobby where Prime Minister Lu Buwei's office was located, and looked at the central royal palace towering into the clouds, with uncontrollable anger between his brows.

The Central Palace is the largest building in Xianyang and can be roughly divided into the front and back parts.

The Front Palace was responsible for governing the country and included six palace complexes and many palaces. The most famous among the palace complexes were Zhangtai Palace and Xin Palace, and the most famous palace was the Yizheng Hall.

The harem is where people live and includes three palace groups and many palaces. Chengjiao Palace is one of the four palace groups, and Ganquan Palace is the largest of the harem palaces.

Ganquan Palace occupies the center of the harem, and palaces are located in regular order around it.

According to the scale, this palace complex can completely form a palace complex, surrounded by walls like Chengjiao Palace.

This palace complex will never be surrounded by walls and will always be directly under the jurisdiction of the harem.

All the people living here are women, most of them are the Qin King’s women, and a few are the Qin King’s close relatives.

One of the important reasons why Chengjiao Palace, which was also located in the harem, was independent was that it was separated from the women of the King of Qin.

Ji Yaoyao, the woman of the previous king, should have lived in the harem group headed by Ganquan Palace, but she had been living in Chengjiao Palace against etiquette.

Although Chengjiao Palace also belongs to the harem, it is not the same thing.

This kind of behavior has long been criticized by the Jixia scholars and ministers of Qi State - do you know what it means to be polite? Do you have any sense of shame?
Qin State...Control Lady Ji? Let's first control Queen Mother Zhao who openly asked her male concubines to sleep with her!

With the Queen Mother of Qin, Ji Yaotiao, who also had the surname Ji, taking the blame, the fire should not have been able to burn Ji Yaoyao.

Unless someone did it on purpose...

Yesterday, Ying Chengjiao heard the rumor for the first time, the rumor about his mother:

The Queen Mother Zhao did not find a male favorite for her own enjoyment, but to share with the wife of the previous king.

Today, Ying Chengjiao heard new rumors:

Lady Ji committed incest and lived with her son, Prince Chengjiao, where they indulged in revelry every night.

Ying Zi is a man of no moral integrity and no virtue. Although he is knowledgeable, he is unworthy of the name of a son.

Chang'an Jun had an affair with his mother, how can he be called a gentleman? He is a despicable villain!

During these three days, Ying Chengjiao was not assassinated.

But after hearing these disgusting words, he felt that it would be better if a few assassins died under Gai Nie's sword!

His mother is his Achilles' heel.

His breath condensed into white mist in the air and quickly dissipated. His cheeks were red from the cold, and the tip of his nose was so cold that he almost lost consciousness.

"Sir, please go inside and wait..." Gan Luo came out of the house and suggested carefully.

He didn't get a reply from Chang'an Jun, and wanted to go forward and persuade him again, but he just took a step forward.

Chang'an Jun looks back.

Frost on eyelashes is worse than coldness under the eyes.

Gan Luo shrank back, closed the door quietly, and sincerely prayed that his master would come back soon.

Maybe sincerity is the key to success.

Soon, he heard the master's voice coming from outside:

"Young Master, I've been waiting for a long time."

"It's been a while indeed." Ying Chengjiao lowered his eyebrows. Shuang Luo asked, "Has the commander found out?"

"The news was spread by someone sent by the Bai family." Lu Buwei, dressed in dust, walked a few steps closer and stood with the young master in the courtyard of the Prime Minister's Mansion.

"Is it really the Bai family? I thought it was some family in Xianyang who wanted to use me as a weapon... Master, what do you think the Bai family wants? Do they really have such a big grudge against me?" "Sir, wait a moment. I will be able to find out the Bai family's motive within a day."

"No need, I'm just asking casually. I'm leaving now."

Looking at the young master's back, Lu Buwei frowned:

"Sir, are you going to see the king?"

The prince will definitely take action against the Bai family. Since he doesn't go to Lu Buwei, then the king will do it.

"No, I'm freezing to death. Let's go home and warm up." Ying Chengjiao's voice came with the cold wind.

Lu Buwei stood there, watching Prince Chengjiao go away, and couldn't understand what this disciple was going to do.

Gan Luo, the chief secretary of the prime minister, came out trotting and pulled his master into the house.

Don’t you feel cold, everyone?
Inside the house, the warm ground heating helped Lu Buwei's body temperature rise quickly.

He took off his red fox fur coat, picked up the memorials that he would never finish reviewing, and started reading.

Every time he read two words, the image of Master Chengjiao's departing back would come to his mind.

I haven't finished reading half of the memorial.

He asked someone to bring a blank bamboo scroll, dipped it in ink, and wrote:

【Thank you, Madam, for awakening my fighting spirit. 】

[Madam, please just pretend you didn't hear the rumors in Xianyang and ignore your trip, okay?]

A few moments.

This scroll of bamboo slips came from the Prime Minister's Mansion and was sent to Chengjiao Palace.

Two hours later.

Lu Buwei received a roll of bamboo slips from Cheng Jiao's palace.

This powerful minister, who had never appeared in Qin State before, gently unfolded:

[I will not deceive my son, even if it is for his own good. ]

"Very good." Lu Buwei rolled up the bamboo slips and said, "Madam, this is what I want."

into the night.

Chengjiao Palace, Liyi Palace, and the rear chamber.

Ying Chengjiao woke up and keenly noticed that there was someone next to him.

He kicked the quilt at the person who came over, and the sound and action were almost in sync:
"Somebody come!"

Ying Ping rushed in first, followed by Ying Yingwu, Ying Yingying and other palace maids who squeezed in.

"It's okay." Ying Chengjiao waved his hand.

The women took their leave.

"Mother, why didn't you wake me up when you came in?" Ying Chengjiao sat back on the bed and hugged his quilt back.

"Qian'er, this isn't the first time I've come in when you're soundly asleep." Ji Yaoyao said distressedly, "Are you also restless when you sleep in your own bedroom?"

"Nothing happened." Ying Chengjiao smiled and grabbed his mother's hand: "I had a nightmare. I was being assassinated in the dream. Isn't it so frightening when I opened my eyes?"

Ji Yaoyao did not expose her son's lie, but held his hand:

"I heard the rumors outside."

The smile on Ying Chengjiao's face had not faded, but his eyelashes suddenly trembled like a butterfly with broken wings:
"Leave it to my son to deal with, it will be gone soon."

"How are you going to do that?"

"..."

"Have you found out who started the rumor?"

"The Bai family."

"Who told you that?"

"Master... Commander..."

"It seems that my son has realized the problem. Your teacher is lying to you."

"..."

"The Bai family is one of the three great families. Apart from the throne, there is nothing the Bai family can do. I can't think of any reason why the Bai family would do this."

"My mother said that the Bai family might assassinate me."

"This is also an almost impossible thing, but... I'm afraid." Ji Yaoyao's body trembled violently at the thought of the possibility of her son's death.

"Mom, I'm strong enough." Ying Chengjiao hugged his mother, rubbed his chin against the top of her head, and comforted her softly, "I won't die, and I will protect you well."

"You think your teacher's power is your power." Ji Yaoyao smoothed her son's wrinkled collar, "No, your teacher's power is your teacher's power. Your teacher has not only undermined the king, but also you."

"Mother said that this rumor was spread by the teacher."

"I was just guessing at first, until I received the bamboo slips from your master, asking me not to ask any questions, and then I was sure it was your master."

"The commander would know this. If my mother knew, she would take care of it."

"Because I knew that, I specifically pointed out the rumor. The current situation is what your commander wanted."

"..."

"This is a conspiracy."

"I understand...my every move from now on has been calculated by the master. Mother, can you help me think of a way out of this situation?"

"Can you kill your commander?"

"No."

"Then there is no solution."

"..."

"Your teacher is sure of your kindness and your loyalty, so he won't kill him. This situation was carefully set up by your teacher based on your personality. If you don't change, how can you break it?"

"..."

"Alas, if I hadn't come to tell you, my son would have already broken the game. This involves my reputation, I don't think my son can wait. When do you plan to take action?"

"…I'm planning to leave now."

"Without Lu Buwei, could my son have wiped out the entire Bai family?"

"Master Chu Mo has been waiting in Xianyang for more than a month at my invitation."

"This is the variable that breaks the deadlock... Unfortunately, your master knows you too well. He originally thought that you would look for him or the king. Since you didn't, he guessed that you could wipe out the entire Bai family by yourself. My son, you can pretend that I have never been here."

Ying Chengjiao smiled bitterly, he couldn't do it.

Stabbing someone with a knife is a very pleasurable thing, but it is a very unpleasant thing after the fact.

The vacant official position of the Bai family and the fact that one of the three great families was wiped out overnight will plunge the entire Qin State into turmoil.

The Bai family deserves to die, they shouldn't die like this.

Ji Yaoyao sighed softly:
"Since you can't do it, I will tell you what I'm thinking. I don't want you to destroy the Bai family like this.

"Qian'er, impulsiveness is another shortcoming of yours.

"Too obvious flaws can be fatal!"

Ying Chengjiao remained silent for a while.

The night wind lifted the curtains, revealing a half-moon.

Amid the ticking sound of the clepsydra, Ying Chengjiao suddenly grabbed the candied fruit on the table and threw it into his mouth, deliberately chewing until his cheeks puffed up.

Under his mother's worried and earnest eyes, the boy shrugged his shoulders, smiled casually, and muttered:
"It doesn't matter. The commander and I have the same goal anyway, so let it be."

"You brat!" Ji Yaoyao was furious: "You know this is not what I'm worried about!"

"I understand, I understand!" Ying Chengjiao laughed and stuffed dried apricots into his mother's mouth. "I understand, I understand. It's okay, it's okay. If mother hadn't shown up this time, wouldn't the commander's plan have been broken by the variable of Deng Ling's student? As your son, I have plenty of variables!"

"There is only one great man, Chu Mo, in the world." Ji Yaoyao turned her head away and said, "Why are there so many variables? You just try to fool me!"

"Yes." Ying Chengjiao turned to face his mother, patted his chest, and shook off the incense ash that was stained when he took the candied fruit: "Yes!"

He is someone who shouldn't appear in this time and space, and he is the biggest variable.

After comforting his mother, the boy dressed himself, stood in front of the window, and looked up at the waning moon in the sky.

Today people do not see the ancient times and the moon, this month once looked like the ancients.

The eyes of modern people who saw the ancient moon lit up and the corners of their mouths curled up:
"Everything is planned out? Haha... I have plenty of new plans!"

The bright moon made the fire in the boy's eyes burn brighter - this soul that should not exist was igniting the decadent, backward and outdated history.

(End of this chapter)