The younger brother of the First Emperor

Chapter 332: Ying Chengjiao, courtesy name Hualong. A wise ruler? A tyrant!

After the continuous heavy rain, there was another light rain.

When Ying Chengjiao arrived at the Fengtian Hall, the rain had stopped.

The damp and cold air stuck to the bricks and tiles like a layer of invisible frost, making the boy feel a little uncomfortable.

The young man and Meng Tian stood outside the hall, staring at the last few drops of water dripping from the eaves, waiting boredly for them to fall.

The boy began to intentionally protect his brother's authority.

When other people were present, he would no longer break into the palace to see the emperor, but would report and wait.

Soon, Zhao Gao walked out of the hall, approached the young man, and whispered:
"Lord Chang'an, the king has summoned you."

When Zhao Gao was issuing the seal and order, he didn't even look at Meng Tian. He still remembered the hatred that Meng Tian had said about him being a person who got promoted by luck. The empty sleeves he saw out of the corner of his eye made him feel refreshed.

Ying Chengjiao nodded, then turned and nodded slightly to Meng Tian.

Meng Tian nodded inconspicuously in response.

The young man then stepped inside and walked into the Fengtian Hall where he had stayed for less than a week as a child.

It was daytime and the hall was still brightly lit by candles.

Qin Wangzheng was crouching over his desk reviewing bamboo slips, writing on silk with a black pen. Although the ink was not dry yet, his decision was unquestionable.

Hearing the footsteps, King Zheng of Qin looked up at his brother and complained:

"What do you want to report? Just come in!"

"Meng Tian is here." With no outsiders around, Ying Chengjiao returned to his normal self and sat down on the chair in front of King Zheng of Qin. He smiled and explained, "My brother is very powerful. Others will disrespect my brother if they see me being rude to him."

Qin Wangzheng put down his pen and looked up at his brother. His sharp eyes were full of amusement:

"If you treat me with courtesy and propriety, they will respect me? I don't need my brother to change his temperament to gain my dignity.

"You and I are brothers, so let it be what it is.

"I let you be free and at ease, so that others will envy your situation and dare not disrespect me. This is my majesty."

Ying Chengjiao raised his hands and said helplessly:

"Okay, okay, you are the king, you have the final say."

Qin Wangzheng chuckled, and most of the negative emotions in his heart dissipated because of his brother. He pulled out a bamboo scroll from the table and gently pushed it in front of Ying Chengjiao:

"I have read the case files handed over by both parties.

"The evidence is irrefutable. The Meng, Xi, Baili... these big clans secretly sent assassins to kill the prince. This is within my expectations.

"What I didn't expect was that this case file actually mentioned that these old Qin nobles colluded with Zhao State and intended to subvert our country."

Ying Chengjiao did not touch the bamboo slips, but just glanced at it, with a hint of surprise in his eyes.

The brothers Xiong Wen and Xiong Qi are even crazier than he imagined.

Colluding with a foreign country... this crime is much more serious than assassinating a veteran.

"Brother, do you believe it?" the young man chuckled.

The corners of Qin Wangzheng's lips curled slightly, as if he was smiling:

"The evidence is here. Do you think I should believe it?"

The two brothers smiled at each other, but their smiles were completely devoid of warmth, and anyone who saw them felt chilled to the bone.

"I didn't ask them to do it. First, I wanted to give the Qin nobles a chance. I, Ying Zheng, remember every meritorious person." Qin Wangzheng tapped on the bamboo slips with his fingertips. "Second, I don't want to make things difficult for you. My relationship with the Chu clan ended after Xiong Wen and Xiong Qi became prime ministers. You didn't."

Ying Chengjiao said “hmm”.

The Queen Mother Huayang had thousands of plans, but she treated him well in essence.

Good is good.

The good boys who have no ulterior motives admit it, and the good boys who have ulterior motives also admit it.

"I will hand over what they found out to you." Qin Wangzheng pushed the bamboo slips in front of his brother and said in a deep voice: "After three days, I will give you an answer, and you give me an answer."

Ying Chengjiao grabbed the bamboo slips and said "OK" in a loud voice.

It’s time to put an end to the Chu faction.

The boy turned around and tried to leave, but his brother grabbed his shoulder.

"What a hurry!" Qin Wangzheng scolded with a smile: "The time has come, call Meng Tian, ​​we will eat first."

"I'm not hungry."

"Even if you're not hungry, you eat more than me. Eat with me first. I can eat a few more bites with you because I see you eat with such relish."

"Bullshit, use your strength on stones, bows and arrows, and swords, not on women's bellies. You eat more than me."

"How dare you! You are overstepping your authority! Even the crown prince cannot interfere with the king's harem!"

"Oh, my great father must be very fond of you in heaven, because you are his descendant."

"This is indeed very enjoyable. You have never tried it, so you don't know. I will find two well-trained people from the harem and send them to your palace tonight."

"Don't do it!"

The two brothers talked and walked out of Fengtian Hall side by side...

After having dinner with his brother, Ying Chengjiao left the palace.

The exclusive four-horse carriage rolled over the wet bluestone slabs. The sound of the wheels was very brisk, but the carriage was very stable. It seemed that the driver's driving skills were becoming more and more advanced.

The car drove along the second ring road of Xianyang City.

Ying Chengjiao lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked at the tightly closed doors of mansions on both sides of the street. He knew clearly what was going on.

After Wang He's death, all the military generals felt insecure.

After Baili Sheng of the Baili family was thrown into prison, the old Qin nobles in Xianyang City all felt insecure.

He knew what his brother wanted to do, and he also knew what Xiong Wen and Xiong Qi wanted to do.

Both sides are borrowing swords.

But before the end of the story, it is hard to say who is the sword and who is the person who borrowed the sword.

Xianyang was a bit cold after the light rain.

The young man lowered the curtain and retreated into the carriage, replaying in his mind all the kindness that the Queen Mother Huayang had shown him when she was alive.

In order to rescue him from prison, he did not hesitate to become at odds with the newly succeeded Qin Prince Chu.

He was the first to agree to invite Zheng State to join Qin in flood control.

One by one, one by one...

"Let's go to the Supreme Court first." The young man's voice came from the carriage and entered Hu's ears.

After responding, he turned his horse around and returned to Zhangtai Street.

Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the Supreme Court.

The young man got off the carriage and entered the Supreme Court.

He has been to this place many times.

Since the Queen Mother Huayang passed away, his brother Huayang Bufei became increasingly older.

He has white hair and needs help even when walking.

When he heard the clerk report that Chang'an Jun had arrived, a glimmer of light flashed in the old man's turbid eyes, and he was about to go out to greet him tremblingly.

Before I even walked out of the door, a half-grown figure came in with brisk steps.

The young man saw the old man at a glance, and quickly stepped forward to hold the old man's arm, feeling sad:
"Old Tingwei, how is your health lately?"

When he beat the old man until his head was bleeding, he never thought that one day he would worry about the old man's health.

Huayang Bufei, with a look of surprise on his face, opened his mouth to speak, but as soon as he said the two words "Cheng Jiao", his joy disappeared.

The old man looked at Ying Chengjiao with a blank face, drooling at the corners of his mouth.

Li Si, who was also in the hall, bowed to the young man:
"The Huayang Tingwei is ill again. It's his old problem."

Ying Chengjiao frowned slightly and reached out to feel the old man's pulse.

The pulse under the fingertips is weak and sometimes fast and sometimes slow, which is obviously a symptom of empty marrow sea.

Doctors call it forgetfulness, while people call it senility.

The boy withdrew his hand, remained silent for a moment, and ultimately said nothing more.

He originally wanted to take the old chief justice to meet Xiong Wen and Xiong Qi.

After the death of Queen Dowager Huayang, the Chu faction had three flags.

The Chief Justice Huayang Bufei, the Minister of Guests Mi Chen, and the two prime ministers Xiong Wen and Xiong Qi.

The only one who could suppress Xiong Wen and Xiong Qi was Empress Dowager Huayang's brother Huayang Bufei.

"Take good care of the old Chief Justice." Ying Chengjiao sighed and was about to leave.

The old court official suddenly grabbed his sleeve tightly, his eyes were anxious, but the words he spoke were unclear:

"The Queen Mother... The Queen Mother said... she was sorry... sorry for you... and asked you... to be well... I... I too..."

Ying Chengjiao felt a pang in his heart, and he tightly grasped the old court official's hand and hugged him:
"Uncle, you have to be well too. We all have to be well."

Prime Minister's House.

Not long after Xiong Wen and Xiong Qi received the report from the minor official, they saw Chang'an Jun who broke in.

Xiong Wen immediately stood up with a smile on his face:
"Why is Chang'an Jun here?"

Ying Chengjiao didn't waste any words and directly slammed the bamboo slips given by Qin Wangzheng on the table:
"The king asked me to investigate Wang He's death."

Xiong Wen's smile froze, and Xiong Qi, who had not yet stood up, frowned and said coldly:

"What do you mean, Lord Changan?"

"What do you mean?" Ying Chengjiao sneered, "You are framing the old Qin nobles. Do you really think the king can't see it?"

Xiong Wen lowered his head slightly, looking hesitant.

Xiong Qi, however, remained calm: "Chang'an Jun, please be careful with your words.

"The evidence is irrefutable, how can it be a frame-up?"

"Evidence?" Ying Chengjiao stared at Xiong Qi and pointed at his nose. "You bastard, you want to play this game with me? You couldn't do it when you were little, but you can do it when you sit in this seat? Are you sure you want to play this game with me? Well, let's leave our lives to fate and see who can kill the other. Do you accept it or not? Answer me!"

Xiong Qi looked indignant and just as he shouted "you" loudly, he was stopped by his brother.

“Shut up!” Xiong Wen moved to stand between Ying Chengjiao and his brother, and said with a wry smile: “Sir, calm down. This is just my temper… Alas! We have no choice! We have people behind us.”

Ying Chengjiao snorted coldly:
"The Queen Mother Huayang treated me well when she was alive. I have said that as long as Qin is here, Chu will exist.

“But I only promised You Chu, not Chang Chu, so don’t continue to commit suicide.

"As long as Mi Huang is alive, he has his own way."

Xiong Qi took action and stood up:

"Too deceiving!"

"I'm bullying you, so what?" Ying Chengjiao's eyes were cold: "Say it again, and I'll kill you. If you die, the Chu family will live better."

Xiong Qi was furious.

Xiong Wen covered Xiong Qi's mouth tightly and whispered:

"Please give me some clear instructions, my lord."

"Stop it." Ying Chengjiao walked away, leaving the case file behind. "The water is deep this time, you two can't control it. The Chu clan children who are truly talented and knowledgeable are waiting to enter the officialdom."

When I came out of the Prime Minister's Mansion, dusk was approaching.

Ying Chengjiao stood at the street corner, looking at the brightly lit palace in the distance, and he was not sure whether Xiong Wen and Xiong Qi would listen to his advice.

In the face of power, few people will voluntarily give in.

But he did everything he could and lived up to his conscience.

He sighed again and was about to get on the bus when he heard someone behind him whispering:

"Mr. Chang'an."

The young man looked back, his body tensed up, his hands unconsciously reaching for his waist, and he secretly decided that he must bring Gai Nie with him when he travels in the future:
"Lu Gou Jian, why are you here?"

Lu Gou Jian was a swordsman in the martial arts world and one of Lu Buwei's most capable retainers.

Lu Gou Jian bowed, took out a bamboo scroll from his bosom, and presented it with both hands:
"This may help you, my Lord."

Ying Chengjiao knew that if Lu Goujian really attacked, he would not be able to avoid it, so he did not prepare for defense and simply took the bamboo slips in his hand.

When he opened it, his pupils suddenly contracted.

The bamboo slips were densely packed with evidence of the Qin nobles' crimes of embezzling military pay, occupying land, and suppressing the people over the past decades.

Even...copies of secret letters communicated with other countries.

"These..." Ying Chengjiao looked up: "Where did you get these from?"

Lu Goujian whispered:

“My lord had collected them before he died, but he had no time to use them. Before he died, he asked me to present them to you.

"There are two more things that my lord has ordered me to give to you. I just don't know whether you like them or not. Please listen to me first.

“The Lord gave you a name, Hualong.

"My Lord said that if you don't want to give up, please take in this old body of mine."

In the reflection of the setting sun, the boy's eyes sparkled and crystal clear.

His teachers have always been dissatisfied with his reputation.

A character is an extension of a name and a complement.

The name Cheng Jiao is not good, but the name Hualong is very good.

The name is also very good.

The young man bowed his head, and water drops fell, like the afterglow of rain:

"Please give me more advice in the future, sir."

Lu Gou Jian, who had been wandering in Xianyang these days, was troubled by the fact that his lord died for a teenager and was always hesitant in his heart. He heard the tremor in the child's voice, which he tried hard to suppress but could not completely suppress.

The old man rubbed his eyes, which had been dry for many days and were now moistened, and leaned forward and lowered his head:

"Greetings to the Lord."

The next day.

The Qin King’s central palace, the Xuanniao Palace.

The lights were bright at the night banquet in Xuanniao Palace, and the flames on the candlesticks illuminated the hall as if it were daytime.

Twelve musicians knelt in the corners of the hall and played the soothing "Qin Feng". The lingering sound of the chimes echoed between the beams of the hall.

King Zheng of Qin sat high up at the head of the table, the golden-threaded black bird on his black robe sparkling in the candlelight.

He raised his glass and looked around at the thirty or so old Qin nobles in the hall, and said in a clear voice:
"The three clans of Meng, Xi and Bai followed our Qin clan out of Hangu Pass in the east since the time of Duke Mu.

"Meng Ming saw the shame of the Snow Mountain, Xi Qishu defeated the Jin army at Pengya, Bai Yibing killed the general and seized the flag."

Fingers tapping the table:

"I recite these achievements every day in front of the ancestral temple stele."

The old patriarch of the Meng family was called Meng Hua, and every wrinkle on his face was engraved with arrogance.

The old man's fingers were slightly white as he held the wine bottle, and he raised his glass reluctantly:

"Your Majesty has a very good memory."

"Indeed." Xidi, the old patriarch of the Xi family, suddenly interrupted. This veteran, who was also known for his violent temper when he was young, raised his head and drank the wine in the cup: "When King Zhaoxiang was in power, he didn't have such a good memory as the king."

The wine jar slammed heavily on the table, making a clanging sound.

Among the three old patriarchs, Meng Xibai, the only one who had served as a general, Xidi seemed to be praising King Zheng of Qin, but in fact he was expressing his dissatisfaction.

More than a month has passed, you should have vented your anger, right? Why are you still touching our people? Isn't it enough that you have occupied all the positions in the Bai family?

The hall was suddenly silent, and the musicians' sheng and xiao were out of tune.

Qin Wangzheng's eyes flashed with a hint of coldness, but his smile became more gentle:
“General Xi is a man of few words.

"I remember that your great-grandfather, Xiqimao, once led 300 soldiers to break through the Han army's formation."

Suddenly he stood up, took the pot and walked to the table in front of Xidi to pour the wine:

"Such a brave warrior is rare in our army nowadays."

The wine glowed amber in the candlelight.

Xidi stared at the wine cup that was about to overflow, his face uncertain.

According to etiquette, he should have stood up to express his gratitude, but he just raised his hand to support the wine jug:
"Your Majesty, you have embarrassed me."

A few suppressed sneers were heard at the table.

After the Bai family was exterminated, King Zheng of Qin did not use this opportunity to establish his authority, but handled the matter impartially, causing these old Qin nobles to lose their respect for the young king and become dissatisfied with him.

Some people even hummed "Yellow Bird" under the influence of alcohol.

That was a dirge sung by the Qin people to mourn the three Liangs. Singing it now was clearly ironic.

"Let's talk about the past." Qin Wangzheng pretended not to hear him. When he turned around, his royal robe blew up in the wind. "Meng Gong's ancestor Meng Mingshi was once a general. He led light cavalry to intercept the Wei army's food supply."

He took a scroll of bamboo slips from the servant and handed it to Meng Hua:

"I just found this out of some old documents yesterday."

Meng Hua took it hesitantly and looked at it, his expression changed slightly.

【All of Meng Ming's troops were covered in ink, but they still cut down the Wei banner.】

"What does your Majesty mean?" Meng Hua stood up.

He was white-haired and leaning on a dove-shaped staff. The eyes of the bronze dove on the top of the staff glowed coldly under the candlelight:

"Your Majesty, do you want us old bones to die for the Qin Dynasty again?"

The temperature in the hall dropped suddenly.

The musicians had already stopped playing, and even the palace maids serving wine held their breath.

"Mr. Meng has misunderstood me." The extremely young King Zheng of Qin narrowed his eyes and helped the old man sit down.

He stood up and glanced at the thirty or so old Qin nobles:

"I will remember every person who has made contributions, and the Qin Empire will remember every person who has made contributions.

"I will not touch the nobles and the dukes in your family.

"The benefits that should be given to you gentlemen will not be reduced by a single cent in Daqin.

"Since Baili is not seen in the palace today, the past events are over.

"From now on, if there is any rebellion, don't blame me for being ruthless. The Qin sword will draw blood.

"The officials of Qin are not the private property of you gentlemen.

"The capable ones go up, the mediocre ones go down."

A gust of wind suddenly blew into the hall, blowing out one-third of the candles.

In the darkness, the old Qin nobles saw for the first time the sharpness in the young king's eyes.

Meng Hua's wine bottle fell to the ground with a "bang".

The old man suddenly realized that the young king in front of him, whom they had always despised, had the same cold blood as Shang Yang.

Wise king?

tyrant!

(End of this chapter)