People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 359, The Court Debate

Xu Qing was a Zhongchangshi (a high-ranking official in the imperial court), serving as a follower of the King of Qin. His position was second only to the Nine Ministers. When the civil officials saw Xu Qing arrive, they gave up a seat near the front.

Three chimes rang out, and the palace doors were opened by eunuchs from the inside. The courtiers standing outside stepped inside.

After everyone entered the hall, Ying Zheng also walked to the throne and sat down.

As Ying Zheng spread his hands, his wide black sleeves billowing out to the sides, the eunuch shouted loudly.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has arrived! The morning court session shall begin!"

Upon hearing that Zhao Ji had also arrived, Xu Qing slightly raised his head and glanced at Zhao Ji, who was ruling from behind a curtain. Although it was called ruling from behind a curtain, there was actually no curtain to cover her, since there wasn't much distinction between men and women in this era.

Zhao Ji sat in her seat, dressed in a fiery red phoenix robe. Her face, both charming and dignified, was adorned with exquisite makeup, and her red eyeshadow was drawn long.

Lao Ai stood beside Zhao Ji, his face still somewhat red and swollen, and if you looked closely you could still see a blurry handprint.

The chime bells rang again, bringing Xu Qing back to his senses. He and the court officials bowed to Ying Zheng and shouted...
"Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, may the Great Qin Dynasty live ten thousand years!"

Ying Zheng calmly surveyed the assembled officials with a hint of indifference in his eyes, his gaze lingering on Xu Qing for a moment as he recalled the plans discussed the previous day.

Today, the imperial clan will surely take advantage of the court meeting to launch an attack on Lao Ai. However, in the long run, he has no choice but to side with Lao Ai. As for the imperial clan, he can only hope that Xu Qing will explain things to him after the court session.

"Gentlemen, you may rise." Ying Zheng waved his hand and said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The officials straightened up, but before the Chief of the Imperial Secretariat, who was in charge of the court discussions, could speak, Lord Jingyang, who was among the civil officials, strode out of the ranks of the officials and stood in the center of the hall, bowing to Ying Zheng.

"Your Majesty, I wish to accuse Marquis Changxin, Lao Ai, of indulging in a drunken brawl and using iron weapons to injure Lord Weiyang. Our Qin law stipulates that using iron is a crime, and according to the law, he should be imprisoned. Those who privately assault their colleagues should be punished with caning. I implore Your Majesty to order that Marquis Changxin, Lao Ai, be handed over to the Court of Justice for questioning!"

After speaking, Lord Jingyang glared angrily at Lao Ai, his anger seeming to materialize into a tangible rage, as if he wanted to burn Lao Ai to ashes.

"Your Majesty, we request that you order that Marquis Changxin, Lao Ai, be handed over to the Court of Justice."

Several members of the royal family and ministers also stepped forward, raising their tablets and addressing Ying Zheng.

Seeing this, the civil and military officials all looked at Ying Zheng. The incident of Lao Ai injuring Lord Weiyang yesterday had already become common knowledge. After all, the gathering of members of the royal family to Zhangtai Palace was too big a commotion, and it would be difficult for them not to know about it.

Normally, Lao Ai would be severely punished for causing such a big problem. However, Zhao Ji, who had missed court several times in a row, suddenly appeared in court, which clearly meant that the matter was not so easy to resolve.

However, this matter was between the royal family and Zhao Ji. Apart from the relatives of the Zhao family and those promoted by Lao Ai, everyone else adopted a detached, indifferent attitude, waiting to see how Ying Zheng would handle it.

On one side was Empress Dowager Zhao Ji, and on the other side were members of the Ying clan. No matter which choice Ying Zheng made, he would offend one side.

Ying Zheng looked at his relatives below, silently apologized, and then calmly looked at Zhao Ji and Lao Ai.

"Mother, you heard what Lord Jingyang said. Is this matter true?" Ying Zheng asked calmly.

Lao Ai stood beside Zhao Ji, glancing disdainfully at the Ying clan members. He had heard Ying Zheng and Zhao Ji's conversation clearly yesterday, and a scapegoat had been found for him. At most, he would only be reprimanded a few times.

Zhao Ji crossed her hands on her lower abdomen and spoke with a slight smile.

"I am aware of this matter, but things are not entirely as Lord Jingyang described. Bring the person here!"

As Zhao Ji finished speaking, several armored soldiers escorted eight bound men into the hall.

Looking at the eight people whose faces were ashen, Xu Qing thought of what Ying Yu had told him last night. Clearly, these eight people were Lao Ai's scapegoats.

However, more than thirty people were involved in the operation yesterday, and you're only offering eight people to take the blame? Isn't that a bit too perfunctory? Do you really think the court officials are blind?
What Xu Qing thought of, the other civil and military officials naturally thought of as well. After all, those who could stand in the Zhangtai Palace for the morning court were not fools; they were all seasoned veterans of the court. They knew exactly what kind of nonsense Lao Ai was going to spout as soon as he opened his mouth.

However, they were also somewhat surprised, as they hadn't expected Zhao Ji and Lao Ai to be so perfunctory. So they looked up at Ying Zheng, wondering how he would handle the situation.

"Who are these people?" Ying Zheng asked, feigning confusion.

“Your Majesty, these people are the main culprits who clashed with Lord Weiyang yesterday. Lord Changxin was drunk yesterday and was disrespectful to Lord Weiyang under their instigation.”

"After Marquis Changxin entered the palace yesterday, he told me the whole truth. After I reprimanded him, he voluntarily handed over the eight main culprits. As for the other accomplices, they were all sent to the Court of Justice yesterday." Zhao Ji said calmly, glancing at Lao Ai out of the corner of her eye. She had made thorough preparations yesterday to protect Lao Ai.

After understanding Zhao Ji's look, Lao Ai immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said...
"Your Majesty, it is all my fault. I was drunk and made a mistake. I failed to control my retainers, which caused Lord Weiyang to suffer an undeserved disaster. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

Seeing Zhao Ji protecting Lao Ai and Lao Ai's smug attitude, Lord Jingyang's anger flared up immediately, and he angrily said to Lao Ai...
"How dare you distort the truth before the king? It was clearly you who provoked Lord Weiyang and drew your sword to cut down his carriage."

"It's true that you were drunk, but wasn't it you who ordered the beating of Lord Weiyang? Wasn't it you who used iron weapons to injure Lord Weiyang?"

"How dare you! Lord Jingyang, are you saying that I am turning black into white? Am I someone who cannot distinguish right from wrong?" Zhao Ji slammed her hand on the armrest and glared at Lord Jingyang.

Lord Jingyang was speechless for a moment, his chest heaving with anger. Under Zhao Ji's questioning, his anger not only did not diminish, but intensified.

"I have no such reason. However, even the Empress Dowager is susceptible to being deceived by treacherous people. Every word I said was spoken by Lord Weiyang. Lord Weiyang is a virtuous elder of the imperial clan and would never lie! Moreover, there are more than a dozen witnesses. How could it be false?!"

Lord Jingyang looked at Zhao Ji and Lao Ai and said in a deep voice, "This matter concerns the face of the royal family. Moreover, Ying Zheng promised them yesterday that he would severely punish Lao Ai. No matter how much Zhao Ji protects Lao Ai, he will never back down."

Otherwise, how could the Qin royal family save face after this incident?
Xu Qing sighed helplessly as he looked at the vehemently worded Lord Jingyang. Having a heart full of passion was useless; he had fallen into the trap of self-justification in just a few words.

"So, according to you, I am a foolish and indecisive person? Marquis Changxin once saved Your Majesty during the spring hunt, and he is utterly loyal to Your Majesty. How can he be the villain you describe?!"

Lord Jingyang was speechless. He dared to accuse Lao Ai, but he dared not say anything to Zhao Ji. After all, Zhao Ji was the Queen Dowager. Although he thought so in his heart, admitting it would be an act of insubordination.

So the matter of suing Lao Ai turned into him and Zhao Ji going head-to-head.

"Your Majesty, I dare not say so. Everyone knows what kind of person Marquis Changxin is, so I need not say more. However, today I am here to seek justice for the injury suffered by Lord Weiyang. I beg Your Majesty not to take this too far," Lord Jingyang said, suppressing his anger and remaining rational.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji fell silent and looked at Ling Qi, a high-ranking official and retainer of Lao Ai, who was also a relative of the Zhao state.

Upon noticing Zhao Ji's gaze, Ling Qi immediately stepped forward and spoke.
"Your Majesty, I have something to say."

"Doctor, please speak frankly," Ying Zheng said calmly.

Ling Qi looked up at Lord Jingyang, straightened up, and said...

"Just now, I heard what Lord Jingyang said and took Lord Weiyang's words as evidence everywhere. It is not that I doubt Lord Weiyang's character, but Qin law stipulates that the statements of both parties in a crime cannot be taken as complete evidence. Since what Marquis Changxin said differs from what Lord Weiyang said, it would be better to listen to others."

After Ling Qi finished speaking, he looked at the eight people kneeling there, his meaning already self-evident.

Seeing this, Lord Jingyang pointed at Ling Qi and said in a deep voice...

“These eight people are retainers of Marquis Changxin, and they will certainly favor him. Moreover, they were involved in yesterday’s events, so they cannot be used as evidence.”

“Lord Jingyang said their words cannot be used as evidence, so Lord Weiyang’s followers naturally cannot be used as evidence either. Do you have any other witnesses?” Ling Qi said with a light laugh.

It wasn't that he looked down on Lord Jingyang, but rather that most of the members of the royal family were now incompetent and good-for-nothings, relying only on their good birth to be valued by Ying Zheng and used to counter Lü Buwei and Zhao Ji.

In a true debate, the entire royal family combined wouldn't be a match for him. As for talent, that's laughable. If the royal family were truly talented, how could they have allowed the court to be dominated by scholars from the six states?
"you you."

Lord Jingyang pointed at Ling Qi, speechless with anger. Now he realized he had fallen into a trap.

Lao Ai looked at the speechless Lord Jingyang with disdain. He was not afraid of the royal family's accusations when he came to participate in the court affairs. In fact, he wanted to use the royal family's accusations to raise his own prestige by stepping on them, so as to gain more supporters.

Looking at the Lord of Jingyang trembling with anger, Zhao Ji was afraid that he might do something terrible. Although she had to protect Lao Ai, she couldn't afford to completely offend the royal family.

"Ahem, since you have all presented your evidence, let His Majesty decide this matter. As the King of Qin, His Majesty is certainly fair and impartial, and will not favor either side," Zhao Ji said with a smile after clearing her throat twice.

Mentioning Ying Zheng, Lord Jingyang also looked up at Ying Zheng on the throne and bowed, saying...
"Your Majesty, I beg you to uphold justice. The fact that Lord Weiyang was injured in the street is not only a loss to Lord Weiyang himself, but also a disgrace to our royal family. I urge you to severely punish the culprit."

"Please, Your Majesty, uphold justice."

The rest of the royal family also shouted in unison.

(End of this chapter)