The younger brother of the First Emperor

Chapter 97: Seven-year-old Emperor, Emperor of Chang'an

It's just dawn.

The lifting of the seal on Chengjiao Palace was far less grand than its ban.

Silently, this palace complex, which had lost its owner and its color, came back to life.

The patrolling officials held their heads high, the eunuchs and palace maids were even more delighted, and even the cooks in the kitchen threw themselves into the work, shaking the iron pot over the burning fire, working very hard.

Bai Qi, his granddaughter Bai Wuxia, and Prince Chu of Qin were sitting in the back room of the dining palace. The old man, who was eating freshly cooked dishes for the first time, was full of praise.

The same food, but much more delicious than the stir-fried dishes we had on the third underground floor of Xianyang Prison.

Bai Wuxia had no appetite for the food. She looked at her father, who was gnawing on the lamb leg in his hand and eating with relish until his hair turned white with oil. She felt as if she was in a dream.

Her grandfather, Bai Qi, Marquis of Wu'an, the most famous general in the world who was publicly declared dead by the Qin State, really came out from the third underground level of the dark and gloomy Xianyang Prison?
Her disciple, who often lied to avoid martial arts training and always had a headache or a pain in the ass, did not lie this time...

"Wuxia, this time Prince Chengjiao is going on a diplomatic mission to the State of Zhao, you should accompany him." After the old man finished speaking, he tore off a piece of mutton with his mouth.

Bai Wuxia was in a trance for a long while before her brain came to its senses. Her sweet face, which was always full of energy, was full of surprise, and she suspected that she had heard it wrongly.

"A diplomatic mission to Zhao? He's only seven years old."

"That's why I want you to accompany him." The old man said in a deep voice: "He is too young, and he must not be left without someone by his side. You pretend to be his personal maid and don't let him out of your sight."

Bai Wuxia frowned and wrinkled her nose.

[I can't let him out of my sight. This is so difficult...]
The girl bit the jade chopsticks lightly with her silver teeth, making a "ding ding" sound.

Bai Qi ate in silence for a while, and the "ding ding" sound in his ears remained, so he sighed.

"Flawless."

The girl shut up and took the jade chopsticks out of her mouth.

"Father, you say."

"You are not married yet. Although the young master is only seven years old, the royal family has always matured early. As the saying goes, men and women should not be intimate with each other, and it is a bit difficult for you to stay by his side." Bai Qi pondered for a moment and said, "How about this, when the young master is bathing, you just wait outside. Listen to the sound of water, and go in if you can't hear it."

"Father, what are you talking about?" The girl looked puzzled and bewildered. "He is only seven years old. What's there to be ashamed of when a child takes a bath? What does he know about the relationship between men and women? Father, aren't you worrying too much?"

"…Then what are you hesitating about?"

"I was thinking, this kid is an envoy, and he must go to the palace to meet the King of Zhao. I can't enter the front palace of Zhao State, so he is out of my sight..."

The old man was speechless as he looked at his granddaughter, whose eyes were full of clear stupidity. He felt that Bai Wuxia had embarrassed him in front of the king.

After spending only two days and three nights with Master Cheng Jiao, he already felt a little bored.

Qin's child is only seven years old, but he can become prime minister.

My granddaughter is already fifteen years old, why is she still acting like a fool?

The old man tapped his granddaughter's head with his jade chopsticks and said helplessly:

"I asked you to go there to protect yourself from hidden attacks, not to protect yourself from direct attacks. If the King of Zhao is really determined to kill this kid, what good will it do you to go to the front hall? You will just lose one more life."

"Oh..." the girl responded obediently.

Prince Chu of Qin ate in silence and made no comment on the communication between the grandfather and grandson. There was a warm smile on his face.

Bai Qi sent his foolish granddaughter away, put down the clean leg of lamb, wiped his hands with the wet silk on the table, and looked at Prince Chu of Qin solemnly.

"Your Majesty, I am quite knowledgeable about political tactics, but I don't like it in my heart. I say whatever I want to say."

Qin Wang Zichu put down his chopsticks and bowl to show respect, and said with a serious face:

"Please speak, Mr. Bai."

The old man looked Qin Wangzichu up and down somewhat presumptuously, his gaze lingering longest on Qin Wangzichu's thin face, and his sight was mostly focused on Qin Wangzichu's slightly protruding eyes.

The old hand pointed at the chopsticks and bowl used by Qin Wang Zichu.

"I saw the king eat three tripods of meat today, and he also ate as much as he could in Xianyang prison last night. It is unreasonable for the king to be so thin despite his appetite. Is the king sleeping very little at night?"

Qin Prince Chu answered truthfully:

"I only need to sleep for three hours a day to feel refreshed, which is enough to last a day. If necessary, it is no problem to not sleep for three days." The old man showed a look of as expected, and his expression became more serious.

“When I was fighting against the State of Chu, I had a personal soldier named Bu by my side.

“He eats more than others even though they both eat two meals a day, but his body never gets stronger. He is just like a skinny monkey and gets hungry earlier than others.

"He could stay awake all night and still not feel sleepy the next day.

"He fought very bravely. The more intense the battle, the more he stood out. Others were too exhausted to hold their guns, but he charged in and killed with ease, as if nothing had happened.

"Before the attack on Ying, he died without any warning, clutching his heart and dying suddenly.

"The king's behavior is very similar to that of Bu. He is full of energy and sleeps very little at night. Even his appearance is very similar. They are both thin and have bulging eyes...

"Your Majesty should have consulted the imperial physician long ago. What did the imperial physician say?"

Qin Wang Zichu felt calm.

[The goiter (ying third tone) will not live long.]
His face was full of surprise, and he exclaimed:

"Is this happening?
"I have seldom been ill since returning from Zhao, and I have never seen a doctor. I went to see him as soon as I entered the court.

"Thank you, Wu Anjun, for telling me the truth and saving my life!

"When I knew Wu Anjun was still alive the night before, I should have released him from prison immediately.

"I was afraid that Wu'an Jun might have some grudge against me, so I dared not let him go. But Wu'an Jun treated me like this. I am a beast!"

As he spoke, tears fell.

After the two men finished their meal, Bai Qi stayed in Chengjiao Palace, while Prince Chu of Qin brought his two sons to the court.

The front hall of Xin Palace.

A grand court meeting was held yesterday, and another grand court meeting was held today.

After the new king ascended the throne, he held grand court meetings for two consecutive days, so frequently.

At the grand court meeting yesterday, Wei Zhe was dismissed from his position as prime minister, and Li Li, the powerful and influential Chief Censor with a rank of Qianshi, was beaten to death outside the palace.

Five thousand sticks, he was no longer recognizable as a human being. Except for his head, his entire body was beaten into a pulp. The traces of cleaning were still there, and the bloody smell lingered.

All these things made the ministers in the palace feel a little uneasy.

They looked at the vacant throne on the high platform, wondering who would be dismissed from office and lose their title, and who would be beaten to death in the court.

The palace door opened wide, and Prince Chu of Qin entered amid the eunuchs' shouts to make way, holding one of his sons in each hand.

The ministers were all shocked and surprised.

The eldest prince Ying Zheng behaved normally, and it was not the first time he was brought to the court.

How come Prince Chengjiao is here too? What's going on? Shouldn't he be imprisoned in Xianyang Prison?
The king said yesterday that no one would be allowed to plead for mercy and that he would be imprisoned for a period of time. Isn't this a contradiction?

The old prime minister has not left Xianyang yet, but Li Li’s soul is still floating outside the palace!

Just as the ministers were confused and brainstorming.

Prince Chu of Qin left his second son under the platform and led his eldest son onto the platform.

He knelt on the simplest throne of straw mat, and swept his eyes across the stage. The already quiet hall suddenly fell silent.

"I want to make my second son Ying Chengjiao the Lord of Chang'an. What do you think?"

The ministers, who had been trying hard to remind themselves not to lose their composure and remain calm, were all shocked and pale.

Changan, sir?

Becoming a king at the age of seven?

　The opening of the second volume is finished. Thank you brothers who have been reading along... and sisters, I actually have female readers? You don't need to give me rewards or vote for monthly tickets, I will be very happy if you subscribe.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)