The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 284 It doesn’t matter
After speaking, the emperor walked into the imperial palace.

Fusu remained kneeling in the same spot.

After a long while, seeing that his father was about to stand up again, Li hurriedly went forward to support him.

After her father stood still, Li helped him brush the dust off the hem of his shirt.

Fusu stopped his son's actions and made him stand aside.

Li said, "Grandpa had high hopes for Father, and he often said that people loved and respected Father."

When Tian An reached the top of the mountain, he didn't see the emperor, but only Meng Tian and the prime minister, as well as the young master and the young master standing to the side.

Fusu bowed and said, "Go and tell Grandpa that I know."

Seeing that the child was still hesitant, Fusu said again, "Go ahead, it's alright."

"it is good."

Watching the young master run back into the palace, Tian An slowly walked over and said, "The people of Xianyang are all very anxious."

Fusu said, "Send a fast horse to General Zhang Han, instructing him to keep a close watch on Xianyang and inform the court officials that I will be able to return to the palace tonight."

Tian An nodded and said he would go and give the order.

Every power transition was extremely dangerous for Qin, and many people died as a result of these transitions on several occasions.

However, in Li Si's view, this time, no one should die.

Mount Li has many cypress trees. These cypress trees are rot-resistant and insect-resistant, making them excellent timber for building houses. This type of tree is the most abundant in Sichuan. The cypress trees in Guanzhong are neither large nor numerous enough.

The remaining trees on Mount Li include oak and elm.

Fusu helped Tian An down the mountain. They didn't walk very fast, but they could enjoy the scenery along the way.

"Young master, do you still remember the first pomegranate tree that the emperor planted at Mount Li?"

Fusu replied, "I remember."

"The pomegranate really did grow, and the seeds were deep red, they were especially beautiful..."

Listening to Tian An's words, Fu Su helped him all the way to the foot of Mount Li.

Once they stood at the foot of the mountain, Tian An said with self-reproach, "I'm getting old. I used to carry you on my back and hug you, but now I need you to support me."

Fusu said in a low voice, "It's alright."

Tian An lowered his head and went to make arrangements for returning home.

Fusu looked up at Mount Li once more, but he could no longer find the first pomegranate tree that his father had planted. He simply told Tian An that he knew.

Fusu still tasted the sour jujubes in his mouth; the sour jujubes were given to him by his father when they were on the mountain.

These sour jujubes taste very good. Perhaps there is only one pomegranate tree on Mount Li, planted by the Emperor, but the most abundant trees on Mount Li are actually sour jujube trees with strong vitality. As long as they are given some rain, they can grow all over the mountain.

Upon seeing Meng Tian and his teacher descend the mountain, Fusu bowed and said, "Teacher, General."

Meng Tian quickly and formally bowed, saying, "Young Master."

"I haven't even had a chance to tell the General that it's been so many years."

Upon hearing this, Meng Tian lowered his posture even further and bowed, saying, "Wherever you command me, my lord, I will go."

Fusu turned to look in the direction of Xianyang, took out another sour jujube from his sleeve, and put it in his mouth to eat.

Li Si stepped forward and whispered, "I am going to Xianyang to convey the Emperor's decree, to inform Xianyang, and then to have the Prime Minister's office send someone to inform the people of the world."

"it is good."

Upon hearing the young master's approval, Meng Tian immediately ordered a fast horse to be brought over.

Watching a troop of soldiers escort the general and the prime minister to Xianyang, Fusu knew that he was truly about to become the emperor of Qin.

Tian An had already prepared the carriage for their return journey, and then said, "Madam has sent the young master's winter clothes, and has already had them delivered to the mountain."

Fusu said, "Let's go back."

"Yes."

He beckoned a group of guards to ride on either side.

Fusu sat in the carriage, while Tian An, as before, sat on the carriage shaft and drove the carriage.

The escort team was not large, but the person sitting in the carriage would become the emperor of Qin on the first day of the new year, after the winter solstice.

Soon, the news will spread throughout Xianyang, then throughout Guanzhong, and then throughout the world.

Sitting on the carriage shaft, holding a whip, Tian An was thinking of Empress Dowager Huayang again. It was wonderful; the young master was going to become emperor. If the Empress Dowager were here, she would be very happy.

When they returned to Xianyang, it was already night. Fusu entered Xianyang Palace and first went to Zhangtai Palace.

There are still half a month until the winter solstice, which is neither a short nor a long time.

Fusu placed the imperial seal before the throne; this seal represented the nation and symbolized power.

At dusk today, Meng Tian, ​​along with the Grand General and Prime Minister Li Si, had already arrived in Xianyang City and read out the Emperor's decree. Everyone in Xianyang City now knows that the winter solstice will be the day Prince Fusu ascends the throne as Emperor.

The emperor refused to appoint an heir, so the Qin Dynasty never had a nominal crown prince.

In the power struggles among the crown princes of the Qin state throughout history, thirteen official crown princes were appointed, but only three were able to successfully inherit the throne.

Perhaps, in the eyes of his father, this system of succession was a failure.

Standing in the quiet hall, Fusu asked, "Has Teacher gone home?"

Tian An replied, "The Prime Minister went back to his residence for a visit, but did not stay at home before going to Mount Li. He did leave a letter for the young master, which has already been delivered to Gaoquan Palace."

Fusu sighed, "It seems that Master won't be going down Mount Li so easily in the future." Tian An added, "Meng Tian has returned home. It's already night, so he's probably dealing with family matters."

After leaving Zhangtai Palace, Fusu had the door closed and instructed, "Clean this place up. Tomorrow, state affairs will proceed as usual."

"Yes."

The eunuch in front of the palace bowed and replied.

Fusu and Tian An returned to Gaoquan Palace and saw their worried wife.

I also saw the herd of deer inside the palace; they were still very relaxed.

Seeing his wife's worried look, Fusu said, "It's alright, everything is fine."

Wang Tang'er nodded and said, "Father..."

“Father is not seriously ill. There are many people taking care of him at Mount Li.”

"Young master is about to..."

Before she could finish speaking, Fusu said, "I am about to become the emperor."

Wang Tang'er's expression was not one of joy, but rather one of worry as she looked at her husband.

Fusu said, "I remember when we first got married, you always asked Tian An how long I would be busy. I was afraid I would be busy with national affairs for the rest of my life."

"I will take good care of this family for you, young master, for the rest of my life."

Tian An had already entered the main hall.

This old man will probably spend the whole night looking at the memorial tablet of Empress Dowager Huayang and talking.

Late at night, Fusu sat in the palace and opened the letter his teacher had left there.

This scroll of letters appears to have been written long ago, and was only sent to the palace when it arrived in Xianyang.

Fusu opened the scroll and looked at the handwriting on the pale yellow paper. The handwriting described his teacher's life and his stumbling journey from the time he entered the Jixia Academy.

The teacher's life was not smooth, especially compared to Han Fei.

Han Fei was the son of the Prince of Han, and therefore he enjoyed very favorable conditions.

The teacher could only rely on himself to get to where he was, step by step. As a disciple of Xunzi, the teacher was indeed jealous of Han Fei.

After the teacher completed his studies, the various states were at war with each other. When he learned that Lu Buwei, the prime minister of Qin, had recruited retainers, the teacher, who had nowhere else to go, decided to come to Qin.

Coincidentally, Li Si looked down on the scholars of the various states at that time, while the scholars of the various states also disliked Lü Buwei, who had risen from a merchant background to become the prime minister of Qin.

If we really delve into why the teacher came to the Qin state, it's probably because he felt a sense of self-abandonment.

It wasn't until the teacher met King Zheng of Qin and witnessed his methods and decisiveness that he felt the opportunity had arrived.

After reading the letter, Fusu still did not learn the cause of Han Fei's death.

Fusu felt that he would probably never know the cause of Han Fei's death in his lifetime.

Fusu put the letter away among the pages of a book, and then placed the book on the bookshelf.

The night passed, and by morning the court officials were already standing in front of the palace gates, preparing for today's court meeting.

Upon learning of the emperor's serious illness, the court officials were initially worried. However, an imperial edict arrived yesterday evening, stating that the emperor was too ill to manage state affairs and that Prince Fusu should ascend the throne after the winter solstice.

If the young master clearly states that there is no need for a court meeting today, then that would be fine.

But since the prince did not say that court discussions were unnecessary, the officials must stand in front of the palace gates on time.

Unless another message arrives unexpectedly.

Chen Ping was still eating a pancake when he hurried to the palace gate. Even though there was still some time before the morning court meeting, he saw that everyone had arrived very early.

Many people are already discussing yesterday's imperial decree.

Chen Ping heard these discussions and was very pleased. He had made the right choice once again, and Prince Fusu was about to become emperor.

Even though Prince Fusu has been particularly strict since taking charge of state affairs, and will likely be even more ruthless when he becomes emperor, everyone is still happy.

If we really have to say why, it's probably because they felt that Prince Fusu acted fairly, and everyone just needed to do their own job.

Chen Ping overheard Feng Jie's conversation with the Right Chancellor. Feng Jie, the Minister of Justice, spoke in a low voice, which Chen Ping heard clearly.

The Minister of Justice said that there were many state affairs to attend to before the winter solstice, especially before the prince's ascension to the throne. The arrangements for the winter season had not yet been made, and preparations were also needed for the prince Fusu's enthronement ceremony.

Upon hearing this, Chen Ping understood; it seemed everyone was celebrating too soon.

Zhang Han arrived at Xianyang Palace early in the morning. Today was his first day in office, as he had escorted the emperor on his western tour.

I paced back and forth at the palace gate, watching the sun shine on the eaves in the east, while the eunuchs on the city wall loudly announced the time.

When the time came, Zhang Han signaled to open the palace gates, and the officials entered the palace in twos and threes.

Today's court meeting was no different from usual. Prince Fusu still stood in front of the ministers, listening to the Nine Ministers report on state affairs.

The Minister of Justice, Feng Jie, glanced at the young master's expression and saw that the young master looked solemn and seemed to have many things on his mind.

Having presided over state affairs for so many years, the young master had become accustomed to it all. Even if he became emperor, the life of the new emperor would probably be the same.

At this moment, in Huayin County, it was the time when students were just arriving at their study halls to begin their studies, and Sima Xin had arrived in Huayin County very early.

Xin Sheng, leaning on his cane, stood outside the house. Seeing the newcomer, he smiled and said, "What brings you here?"

Sima Xin said, "Yesterday, an imperial edict was sent to Xianyang. The emperor is currently seriously ill at Mount Li and has ordered Prince Fusu to ascend the throne in the new year after the winter solstice."

Upon hearing this, Xin Sheng almost dropped his cane and nearly fell. He grabbed Sima Xin's sleeve and asked, "Is the Emperor seriously ill?"

(End of this chapter)