The Great Qin Dynasty: The egg of the Black Bird was revered as a national guardian beast.

"His Majesty has awakened?"

Upon hearing the news that the First Emperor had awakened, Zhao Gao immediately rushed into the First Emperor's bedroom, tears streaming down his face.

He then asked the monk standing to the side.

"His Majesty has been in a coma for several days. How did the Imperial Physician manage to revive him?"

"The medicine prepared by the Imperial Physician woke His Majesty up after taking it."

Zhao Gao nodded.

Xia Wuqie once threw a medicine bag at Jing Ke when Jing Ke attempted to assassinate the King of Qin, buying the First Emperor time to draw his sword.

Soon after, he was promoted to Imperial Physician.

It seems he did have some skill; otherwise, Emperor Qin Shi Huang might have remained asleep forever.

Upon entering the sleeping quarters, they found the First Emperor reclining on a couch.

With his eyes closed, he listened as the eunuchs on either side recounted all the events that had occurred recently.

"Your Majesty," Zhao Gao said, and knelt down.

However, the First Emperor still showed no reaction, remaining expressionless as he leaned back on the couch.

Xia Wuqie stood aside and waited.

They watched the First Emperor's every move with tense expressions, fearing that His Majesty would faint again.

After the eunuch finished recounting the recent events...

The First Emperor then waved his hand, signaling him to leave.

The bedchamber was eerily quiet, with only Zhao Gao kneeling and Xia Wuqie standing to the side waiting.

Zhao Gao lowered his head, a chilling aura surrounding him.

Although he was revived by Xia Wuqie's medicine, the First Emperor was still weak and rested with his eyes closed.

But just when Zhao Gao thought the First Emperor was asleep...

He suddenly spoke up: "Xia Wuqie, you used a medicine bag to rescue Jing Ke back then, and now you use a medicinal soup to save me."

As he spoke, he laughed.

He uttered the words he had spoken years ago: "Of all the civil and military officials, only I am loved and respected."

Xia Wuqie lowered his head: "Your Majesty is blessed with boundless fortune. Even without this old minister, you were able to wake up safely."

"Heh." The First Emperor chuckled, then waved his hand dismissively, telling him to go and rest.

After Xia Wuqie also withdrew.

The First Emperor slowly opened his eyes and looked at Zhao Gao.

"The eunuch said that after I fell into a coma, you kept quiet to prevent the news from leaking out and causing chaos in the world?"

"You've again prevented your ministers from seeing me, fearing unrest in the country, is that it?"

Zhao Gao wiped the sweat from his forehead.

He lowered his eyes and said, "Your Majesty, the eunuch is right."

The First Emperor smiled and turned his head to look at Zhao Gao, but there was no smile in his eyes.

He let out a breath.

The First Emperor closed his eyes and made a decision.

"I hereby issue this decree."

"Yes." Zhao Gao nodded, then found a pen and silk and spread them out on the ground.

Then, the First Emperor's voice came through.

"General Tian has been leading hundreds of thousands of troops to garrison the border for more than ten years. He has rendered meritorious service on the border and deserves to be ennobled as a marquis."

"An imperial edict was issued appointing General Meng Tian as Marquis of Lun!"

"The name of the marquis..." The First Emperor pondered for a long time, "Marquis Wujian!"

But it wasn't over yet. The First Emperor then said, "I hereby order him to return to Xianyang to serve as Commandant of the Guards, and to entrust his troops to the subordinate general Wang Li!"

But then he paused,

Zhao Gao raised his head and asked.

"Your Majesty, what about the current Commandant of the Guards, Commandant Jie?"

The First Emperor paid no attention, but simply asked, "Which prefectures in the empire are still vacant as commanders or governors?"

Zhao Gao understood.

Now, everyone, regardless of who they are, must give way to Meng Tian!

As for why the First Emperor wanted to transfer Meng Tian from Shangjun back to Xianyang to serve as the Commandant of the Guards, he vaguely understood.

The Commandant of the Guards and the Chief of the Palace Attendants both wielded real power.

The Grand Master of the Palace (郎中令) commanded the Grand Masters' Army (郎中令军) and the various attendants (诸郎侍后), and was in charge of the emperor's personal protection and accompanying him on his travels.

The Commandant of the Guards was in charge of the guards.

They were in charge of verifying access to the palace gates and guarding the outer perimeter.

The Meng family has always been on good terms with the eldest son, and now they have enfeoffed Meng Tian as a marquis and appointed him as the Commandant of the Guards.

Zhao Gao sighed inwardly.

"Your Majesty, this is paving the way for Fusu..."

Sitting on his couch, the First Emperor waved his hand, instructing Zhao Gao to issue the edict, and then ordered Li Si to come to see him.

............

Since being stopped by Lang Wei yesterday.

Li Si was terrified all night and couldn't sleep. He had a premonition that something terrible was going to happen, but there was nothing he could do.

Until someone from the palace came to inform him.

Upon seeing the people in the palace, before he could even speak, he seemed to understand something and headed straight for the First Emperor's bedroom.

Today, the guards outside the gate did not stop them.

Upon entering the sleeping quarters, one sees the First Emperor lying calmly on a soft couch.

Ignoring Zhao Gao standing beside the bed and the gazes of the eunuchs and palace maids around him, he covered his face and wept bitterly.

A gray head trembled on aged shoulders.

This was the first time he had shed tears in many years. He had been a close friend and ruler to the First Emperor for over thirty years.

For more than 30 years,

He had long been accustomed to centering his thoughts on the First Emperor, thinking what the First Emperor thought, and planning what the First Emperor planned.

How can I express my confusion and sadness now that things are like this?

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty."

With a soft call, Li Si knelt by the bedside, lowered his head, and wept aloud.

Zhao Gao looked at Li Si strangely, but said nothing.

Perhaps because the crying was too loud, after a long while, Li Si heard a calm voice coming from above.

Why are you crying?

A disdainful voice came: "I'm not dead yet."

"Your Majesty?" Li Si raised his head, looking at the First Emperor with surprise as he sat up from the couch.

Wipe away your tears.

Then he raised his hand and pointed to Zhao Gao beside him.

"Your Majesty, this official has brought disaster to the country, obstructing our audience; his intentions are surely treacherous, and his crime deserves death!"

"Your Majesty, I request that you order this man to be executed."

The First Emperor leaned back on the couch, his eyes closed.

Zhao Gao lowered his head and remained silent, his life or death entirely in the hands of the First Emperor.

But after a long while, the First Emperor waved his hand.

"Zhao Gao, you may leave."

"Yes." Zhao Gao lowered his head and withdrew.

Watching Zhao Gao walk out of the main hall, even though he was unhappy, Li Si dared not object because it was the First Emperor's will.

After Zhao Gao left,

The First Emperor dismissed his attendants, leaving only Li Si.

In the vast hall, only the First Emperor and Li Si remained.

Li Si was older than the First Emperor, and his hair and beard were all white.

But at this moment, the First Emperor looked even weaker than he did.

Seeing his once mighty monarch so frail and sickly, Li Si couldn't help but kneel before his bedside and weep.

"Prime Minister."

The First Emperor looked at him and asked casually.

"I am unwell, but all my sons are incompetent. However, the country cannot be without an heir. In your opinion, Prime Minister, who should be chosen as the successor?"

Li Si closed his eyes and spoke cautiously.

"I dare not presume to comment on matters of succession, but I will certainly assist the successor as I have assisted Your Majesty."

The First Emperor laughed, but then coughed.

After closing his eyes for a long time, he said, "When I go on my eastern tour, I will appoint my eldest son, Fusu, as regent. What do you think?"

Li Si paused for a moment.

But in the end, he raised his hand and said, "Your Majesty's decision is my due."

The First Emperor did not respond to Li Si's words for a long time, but instead placed one hand in front of him and patted it gently.

After a long pause, he laughed and said, "Prime Minister, you don't want Fusu to be the crown prince, do you?"