The younger brother of the First Emperor

Chapter 363: The Crown Prince's words lead to the three parties' actions and the court's confrontation

Late at night, Chang'an Jun Mansion.

Ying Chengjiao was lying on the bed dozing off.

There was a knock on the door, and after getting Ying Chengjiao's permission, Hu Mai stepped inside.

"My lord." He handed over the bamboo slips.

Ying Chengjiao took it, unfolded it and read it, silently said "Xiong Jue", and yawned:
"Has the news been released?"

Huh, blinked, the master didn't ask him to release any news...

Ying Chengjiao looked at Hu's expression and laughed:
"You should concentrate on studying in the future, you can't hear any subtext.

"I ask again, when I was taking action, did I see anyone around?"

"I see." Hu nodded, suddenly realizing, "Oh! The master forbids us to touch these people, just to pass on the message!"

----

A day ago, after the two ministers had a banquet.

The candlelight flickered in the copper lamp, illuminating the faces of Xiong Wen and Xiong Qi in varying degrees of brightness.

Xiong Wen, who was calmer than his brother, stared at the opened secret letter on the table, his fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the jade seal.

"Brother." Xiong Wen's voice was very low, but he couldn't hide the trembling in it: "Xiong Jue, was it really not you who arranged the assassination of Ying Chengjiao?"

Xiong Qi stood in front of the window, looking towards the courtyard from time to time, as if the guards would break in at any time.

He shook his head slowly, and the black hair at his temples looked particularly shiny in the candlelight.

"Although I don't like Ying Chengjiao, I'm not stupid enough to fight him at my own banquet." He paused, a hint of gloom flashed in his eyes: "What's more, he is the king's younger brother and the crown prince of Qin after all."

A gust of night wind blew through the hall, causing the candle flame to shake violently.

Xiong Wen quickly stepped forward and closed the window, his silk sleeves bringing up a faint scent of sandalwood:
"Did Xiong Jue say anything before he was taken away?"

"No." Xiong Qi picked up the secret letter and quickly scanned the words he had read dozens of times. His face turned pale. "He only said that it was for revenge for the State of Chu and it has nothing to do with us. But will the king believe this?"

Xiong Jue was the cousin of the two prime ministers and the chancellor of the prime minister's office. He was once caught by the Qin nobles for talking nonsense after drinking and revealing his dealings with Qi merchants. He was an important witness for the Qin nobles to impeach the Chu faction.

Xiong Jue was one of the key figures to be trained by the Chu faction, and the two ministers took a lot of effort to bring Xiong Jue out.

At the banquet, the two ministers arranged for Xiong Jue to sing "Li Sao" and they sang along with it, with the intention of proving their innocence in front of Chang'an Jun.

The reason why Xiong Jue did not leave after singing was because the two ministers planned to introduce Xiong Jue to Chang'an Jun alone after the banquet.

Such an important person in the Chu faction sang poems at Xiong Qi's banquet to assassinate Chang'an Jun. Who could believe that he had nothing to do with the two prime ministers?
Outside the window came the sound of the night watchman's clapperboard, it was already the third watch.

Xiong Qi held the secret letter close to the candle flame and watched it gradually turn into ashes. The ashes fell into the brass animal-patterned incense burner and mixed with the incense ashes inside.

"I really underestimated this bunch of rotten wood, as I was able to instigate Xiong Jue to rebel!" Anger flashed across Xiong Qi's face, and his wide black official robe spread out behind him: "Ying Chengjiao has been staying in Chang'an Jun's mansion these days. Brother, let's prepare a generous gift and send it to Chang'an Jun's mansion together tomorrow."

Xiong Wen looked embarrassed:

"Will it seem like we are guilty if we give gifts at this time?"

Xiong Qi looked sinister:
“You have to give it regardless of whether you feel guilty or not.

“If we don’t say anything, it will be suspicious.

"Chang'an Jun was assassinated at our banquet. No matter who the assassin is, it is our fault.

“We should apologize.

“Whether he accepts gifts or not, whether he meets us or not, is his business.

"If we don't send them off or apologize, it's our business."

Xiong Wen thought about it and nodded:
"That's the truth."

The next day, the two of them went to the Chang'an Jun Mansion with gifts. The carriages loaded with gifts were each pulled by two horses, and there were as many as eighteen carriages.

Eighteen carriages stopped outside the Chang'an Jun Mansion, and the two prime ministers personally knocked on the door and requested a meeting. The momentum was so great that passers-by all looked sideways, and all the civil and military officials in the court cast their eyes in the direction of their gazes.

The door of Chang'an Jun's mansion never opened, and only a voice shouted from inside:
"My master said that if you don't accept the gift, you won't see the person."

The next day was the third and final day of Changan Jun’s investigation.

In the early morning, when the city of Xianyang was still shrouded in mist, the two ministers woke up.

They were in low spirits and had slept poorly last night.

They mobilized all Chu forces to investigate the news and asked Dianke Mi Chen and Lao Tingwei, who had a good relationship with Chang'an Jun, to help find out, but it was all in vain.

From day to night, they heard nothing.

It was not until late at night when the moon was bright and the stars were sparse that they received an important piece of news and rushed to the scene.

By the Wei River, a villa has become a ruin, and a group of armored guards are pouring water to put out the fire.

As the two looked at each other side by side, they could smell the lingering scent of burning in the air; that was the fire that the Chu people loved the most.

"My Lord." The retainer who heard about this bowed and saluted: "The fire-fighting guards are the killing guards. A dozen old Qin nobles died here. Chang'an Jun once surrounded these guards."

Xiong Qi's pupils shrank slightly, and then a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He waved his hand to signal the retainer to leave, and ordered his servants to give the retainer a generous reward, then smiled with relief:

"Brother, Ying Chengjiao is quite capable. He found the murderer in just one day."

Xiong Wen did not respond immediately, his face was mixed with worry and joy, after a moment he said:
"Chang'an Jun's ability to conduct thorough investigations is so amazing, so he must have known everything we did long ago. What should we do at the court meeting tomorrow..."

Xiong Qi understood his brother's hesitation, but he didn't take it seriously:
"Burning the rotten wood was what the king wanted. Do you really think the king is unaware of what we are doing?

“Although the king is in the deep palace, if he wants to know these things, how can he be hidden?
"The king killed people first, and Ying Chengjiao killed people later, doesn't this prove the tendency?
"Don't worry, brother. After tomorrow, the new fire will burn all the rotten wood."

Xiong Wen couldn't find any words to refute, so he nodded silently and sighed:
"I hope so."

Yesterday, he was as high-spirited as his brother.

But Xiong Jue's unexpected betrayal made him no longer dare to underestimate the old Qin nobles who had been beaten and unable to fight back in the past month.

----

As soon as the third watch gong sounded, Wang Kuan, the head of the Qin nobles, was awakened by a hurried knock on the door.

When he put on his clothes and stood up, he found that his fingers were trembling slightly.

"Master!" The housekeeper in the mansion said in a panic, "The Weishui Villa was flooded, and none of the seventeen masters escaped!"

Wang Kuan's legs went weak and he held onto the door frame to avoid falling.

The night wind blew into his thin pajamas, and he realized that his back was soaked.

He knew very well that the people gathered in Weishui Villa were all called by Chang'an Jun.

"Do you know who they are?" he said in a hoarse voice, his throat as dry as if it were filled with sand.

The butler's hands were shaking as he recited the names of the dead one by one.

Wang Kuan heard one familiar name after another, until he heard the seventh name, Gongsun Gong. He suddenly started coughing violently and bent over.

"Water..." he said hoarsely, like a fish dying of thirst.

Gongsun Gong taught Chang'an Jun, but still died at the hands of Chang'an Jun, a man recognized by the world.

But he, Wang Kuan, never taught Chang'an Jun.

The butler handed over a lacquer cup.

He drank half of the drink, and his shaking hands lost their grip, causing the water stains to spread across the brick surface, like a pool of dark red blood. "Are there any people from the Feng family?" He stared at the housekeeper.

"There is no Mr. Feng." The butler quickly went over the name of the deceased in his mind and answered affirmatively.

"Good, good, Feng Quji didn't go. That's good." Wang Kuan suddenly laughed, and his laughter was hoarse and unpleasant.

He turned and looked towards the courtyard. In the moonlight, the shadow of the old locust tree was baring its fangs and claws, as if it was about to pounce on him.

"Prepare your court attire," he said, his voice like an owl in the night.

"Master, what we need now is the carriage! You should leave Xianyang as soon as possible!" The housekeeper was extremely anxious.

"Old Qin people, life and death will never leave Qin."

"Master! This..."

"I have made up my mind. I will prepare my court attire."

"……only!"

----

The Qin King’s Palace, Fengtian Hall.

The one-armed Meng Tian, ​​who had just done something great in Weishui Villa, did not go home but came here directly.

This matter was of great importance, and Meng Tian was afraid that the news would leak out even when writing a letter. He did not bother to disturb the king's rest and went to the palace to make his statement late at night.

Qin Wangzheng was in a very good mood after getting off the concubine. After listening to what Meng Tian did and saw tonight, he felt even better and said with a smile:

"Ever since the word 'transform into a dragon' came into being, this kid has really transformed into a dragon."

"Your Majesty." Meng Tian was very worried: "Are we killing too many people?"

From the thirty-six old Qin noble clan chiefs piled up with corpses at the two palaces of King Zheng of Qin, to Meng Tian who received the king's order to exterminate seven old Qin clans, to tonight he followed the order of Chang'an Jun and killed seventeen more noble old Qin nobles.

These people's families are the cornerstones of the Qin State.

These waves of killings made Meng Tian, ​​who came from a general's family and was not good at state affairs, realize that something was wrong.

Realistic governance is not a video game where one person can control everything.

Someone needs to check the money and grain, and someone needs to store and seal them. Someone needs to try the case and enforce the law. Someone needs to pass down government orders from top to bottom.

And this group is none other than the old Qin nobles.

Killing so many Qin nobles in such a large scale will cause big problems.

"Hualong is the most sensible person when it comes to these little things." Qin Wangzheng was not worried at all: "Go back to sleep and come back tomorrow morning."

Meng Tian lowered his head and responded sullenly, "Yes."

If this is a small matter, he really doesn't know what the big deal is.

Zhao, Wei, and Chu were preparing their troops and were eyeing the enemy covetously.

If there was civil strife in Qin, the Three Kingdoms would not sit idly by and watch.

When leaving Fengtian Hall, Meng Tian's pace gradually slowed down. He wanted to stop and say to King Zheng of Qin, "What he is most worried about is not Lord Chang'an, but you, Your Majesty."

If civil strife breaks out, Chang'an Jun's killing of seventeen people would be the last straw that breaks the camel's back. All the weight on the camel of Qin before the straw was put on by King Zheng of Qin. Only the ruler of a country can decide the national conditions.

His slowed down pace quickened again, and Meng Tian left Fengtian Hall without stopping or saying a word.

The dark night passed.

It was daybreak and the atmosphere in the front hall of Xin Palace was solemn. No one dared to speak loudly.

Xiong Qi and Xiong Wen, dressed in luxurious court robes, walked into the hall with their heads held high. Wherever they passed, officials bowed and made way for them.

Ying Chengjiao sat at the front row of the court, rubbing his eyes and feeling a little sleepy.

King Zheng of Qin sat high on the dragon throne, his face hidden behind the twelve-tasseled crown, so his expression could not be seen clearly.

His eyes swept across everyone in the hall, lingered for a moment on Wang Kuan, who wore his court crown crookedly, then fell on his confidant Wang Wan, and moved away as if nothing had happened.

"I heard that the crown prince of our Great Qin was assassinated in Xianyang, twice." Qin Wangzheng's anger was obvious in his voice: "Left Prime Minister, I heard that the second time was at your banquet?"

"Yes!" Xiong Qi stood up, bowed, and his wide sleeves fell to the ground: "I have a memorial."

His voice was loud and powerful, echoing in the hall:

"Wang Kuan and others formed a clique for personal gain and framed loyal and honest people.

"How dare you to murder the crown prince! Your Majesty, please investigate!"

There was an uproar in the hall.

Wang Kuan's face turned pale, and he stood up with his hat crooked. He argued:
"Xiong Qi, you little bastard! Stop slandering me!
"That assassin sang "Li Sao" in court. He is obviously a Chu man and a member of your Xiong clan. What does it have to do with me?"

Left Prime Minister Xiong Wen stood up and looked back at Wang Kuan with great momentum:
"It's true that the assassin is from Chu and from my clan, but he was bribed by you!"

"Nonsense!" Wang Kuan said to the two of them, "The assassin is Xiong Jue, and he is the chancellor of your government. He was the one who colluded with the smugglers in Qi a few days ago, and the evidence is irrefutable. If it weren't for the two of you who ordered him to be taken away by force, he would still be in prison! It's obvious that you were afraid that Chang'an Jun would find out the truth, so you deliberately sent Xiong Jue to assassinate Chang'an Jun!"

"Lord Wang knows the situation very well!" Xiong Qi sneered: "If this was not ordered personally, it would be difficult to imagine, right? It seems that this assassination was planned by Lord Wang himself."

Wang Wan stood up, defended his father, and shouted:
"Xiong Qi! Stop slandering me! Even a child can figure out the truth!"

"Idiot!" Xiong Qi cursed back, "You and your son are hopelessly stupid. Would I be stupid enough to assassinate someone at my own banquet?"

Wang Kuan sneered:

“Zuo Xiang is indeed smart.

“Send your confidant to assassinate at your own banquet, use the most suspicious method to clear suspicion, and think in reverse.

"My father and I are far less intelligent than the left prime minister."

The two brothers Xiong Wen and Xiong Qi, and the father and son Wang Kuan and Wang Wan each insisted on their own opinions and argued fiercely.

Ying Chengjiao supported his chin with his hand and closed his eyes, waiting for the process to be completed. He was really a little sleepy.

He was resting with his eyes closed when he suddenly heard someone calling him.

"May I ask Lord Chang'an?" Xiong Qi said with a determined look on his face, "The assassin was captured on the spot and taken away by Lord Chang'an. Now a day has passed. Can Lord Chang'an learn from the assassin who was the mastermind?"

Ying Chengjiao opened his eyes but did not get up, as if he was still a little sleepy.

Upon seeing this, Xiong Wen made a decision in his mind and winked at an old Qin noble.

The old Qin noble gritted his teeth, stood up and said:

"Last night, Chang'an Jun led his guards to the Wei River and killed more than ten people on the spot. They set a huge fire to cover up everything.

"I dare to ask Lord Chang'an, what crime did those people commit? Do you have a royal decree?
"If not, why did Lord Chang'an commit such a brutal act? What crime should he be punished for killing a minister without authorization?"

Wang Kuan's face suddenly turned pale.

This is not about holding Chang'an Jun accountable, it is clearly about demanding the life of Wang Kuan!
Wang Wan, who was unaware of the situation, was at a loss at first, and then glared at the old Qin noble who was holding him accountable. Although he did not know the specific situation, he knew that holding Chang'an Jun accountable now would definitely be disadvantageous to him.

Xiong Qi looked at the father and son's faces and sneered more deeply. He thought that the overall situation was already decided and it was not only Rotten Wood who would rebel.

"Why kill people..." Ying Chengjiao slowly stood up under the gaze of the entire court.

The entire court was looking at the young man, and many ministers even held their breath.

They knew that the crown prince's words would determine the outcome between the old Qin nobles and the Chu clan, and would determine the future situation of the Qin State.

(End of this chapter)