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

at the same time.

After a two-month journey, the First Emperor's entourage had passed through Hangu Pass and returned to Guanzhong, and then to Xianyang.

There was widespread discussion throughout the court.

They had served the First Emperor for many years and should know that no one could change the decisions he made.

Then why?

They did not follow the previously planned route for the eastern tour.

Why did they go to Kuaiji in the southeast to worship the god Yu and carve a stone as a memento, but then turn north and return via Hangu Pass?

Could it be...?

What happened to the First Emperor?

Furthermore, some malicious rumors spread, with some saying that the First Emperor had already died and had just returned to Xianyang.

For a time, there was no peace in Xianyang.

Some people have even started to...

He secretly visited Li Si, the Left Chancellor, who was accompanying the emperor on this trip.

They seemed to want to get some information out of him, and what they most wanted to know.

Is the First Emperor alive or dead?

What's puzzling is that Li Si has shown no reaction since his return, and everything remains as usual.

He refused to see anyone who came to visit him.

Left with no other choice, they turned to visit Zhao Gao, the Chief of the Imperial Carriage Office who was accompanying the emperor on his journey.

But strangely,

Zhao Gao refused to see any of these people who came to visit him.

Finally, it was learned from Meng Yi that the First Emperor was not dead, but had fallen into a coma, which was no different from death.

For a time, the entire city of Xianyang was in a state of panic. The First Emperor was still not awake, and it was unclear who should handle the important affairs of the court.

Although previously, it was Crown Prince Fusu who oversaw the state.

However, ever since the First Emperor sent someone to punish Fusu with a cane for his filial impiety, Fusu has been recuperating in his residence, with Feng Quji acting as regent.

But now, the First Emperor has returned in his imperial procession.

If Feng Quji can no longer act as regent, then who should handle these important affairs of the court?

The First Emperor remained unconscious for a long time...

After much deliberation, I realized there were many voices in the court calling for it.

There were subtle calls for Crown Prince Fusu to exercise the powers of the heir apparent and oversee the country.

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

In the palace.

As the weather grew colder, Xuan Ye wore a wide black robe.

He stood there alone, gazing at the First Emperor lying on the bed for a long time.

I don't know what those eyes were thinking.

Finally, he turned and left.

The First Emperor was in a coma, but as long as he was alive, he would not allow the First Emperor's Qin Dynasty to suffer such chaos.

It was just some courtiers betting on the crown prince.

The First Emperor remained unconscious.

In their view, it was a matter of life and death being unknown.

There are countless treacherous people in this world. If Fusu were to take power, given his temperament, would he be able to protect the Qin Dynasty?

There are undercurrents in Xianyang right now.

Thus, Xuan Ye invited the Left Chancellor Li Si and the Chief of the Imperial Carriage Office Zhao Gao to discuss important matters together.

As the Left Chancellor, Li Si enjoyed the First Emperor's deep trust and wielded immense power, unmatched by anyone else in the court.

Zhao Gao, as the head of the Imperial Carriage Office, was no exception.

Although they had no say in the court, they were deeply entrenched in the palace thanks to the First Emperor's trust.

He knew the temperaments of these two men.

In the original history, although these two forged the First Emperor's edict, enabling Huhai to ascend the throne.

However, both of them were loyal to the First Emperor alone.

Li Si, of course, needs no further explanation. As a Legalist, he and Fusu were in a conflict of ideas, and they could not coexist.

Zhao Gao, on the other hand, was a lackey of the First Emperor.

As long as the First Emperor was alive, he had no disloyal intentions.

Xuan Ye made the decision to join forces with the two of them after careful consideration, and now he can't stop.

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

In the slightly chilly palace.

Despite the braziers burning all around, a chilling coldness still permeated the air.

Xuan Ye sat behind a table.

Sitting in front of him were Li Si and Zhao Gao.

Xuan Ye and Li Si are playing chess.

Beside him, Zhao Gao stroked his chin, squinting at the black and white pieces on the chessboard.

Li Si held a chess piece between his fingers and thought for a moment.

"Ahem, the physician's chess skills are truly... truly unrestrained and elegant."

"Heh." Xuan Ye chuckled lightly and said, "I'll take that as a compliment from the Prime Minister?"

Li Si remained silent.

Don't you know your own chess skills?

If it weren't for the fact that he was reluctant to turn on his enemies, he would have liked to overturn the chessboard. What kind of nonsense is this?

He let out a breath.

He put down the chess piece in his hand.

"So, the Imperial Physician didn't summon us here just to play chess, did he?"

"Oh, of course not."

Xuan Ye held a chess piece on his fingertip but didn't drop it, then looked up at Li Si.

"Now, all the ministers prefer that the Crown Prince govern the country."

"What does the Prime Minister think of this move?" he said, casually placing a chess piece on the chessboard.

Li Si raised his eyebrows a few more times.

But he forced himself to hold back and closed his eyes.

He calmly said, "His Majesty is in a coma, so it is perfectly legitimate for the Crown Prince to govern. I don't see anything wrong with it."

"Is that so?"

Xuan Ye laughed, then turned to Zhao Gao: "What does the Chief of the Imperial Carriage Office think?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gao fell silent for a moment.

But soon he said, "The Crown Prince's filial impiety has worsened His Majesty's condition; how can he govern?"

In my opinion, it is better to let the ministers assist in governing.

Xuan Ye nodded and remained silent, which aroused suspicion in Li Si and Zhao Gao's hearts.

The two of them couldn't figure out what he was thinking at all.

After a long silence, Li Si raised his hand and swept the chessboard and pieces aside.

She raised her eyes and looked at Xuan Ye.

"What does the Imperial Physician intend to do?"

"Heh." Xuan Ye chuckled as he sat there.

Squinting at Li Si and Zhao Gao, the look in their eyes sent chills down their spines.

"I want the Crown Prince to oversee the country."

But then he added, "However, the Crown Prince is new to governing and is not proficient in government affairs, so he needs someone to assist him."

As he spoke, his eyes turned to Li Si.

"The Prime Minister enjoys the deep trust of His Majesty and should be appointed to assist in governing the country."

The words were so casual that Li Si was taken aback for a moment. He quickly stood up, then slumped back down.

Now he finally understands.

The Imperial Physician intends to have the Crown Prince oversee the country, thus making it legitimate and silencing public opinion.

However, given that this was the Crown Prince's first time governing,

Using the excuse of bureaucratic inefficiency, he asked himself to act as an assistant in governing.

He intends to use himself to sideline the crown prince, turning him into a puppet.

Sitting there, Li Si frowned.

However, I had previously promised His Majesty that if His Majesty was not present, I would faithfully assist the Crown Prince.

How could he commit such a heinous act?

As if knowing what Li Si was thinking, he looked at him.

He chuckled and said, "We both know the Crown Prince's character. If he were to seize power, what would become of the world?"

"Besides, His Majesty is only asleep; he will wake up."

Thus, Li Si raised his hand, preventing Xuan Ye from continuing, and simply lowered his head.

"Let me think about it, let me think about it."

"Very well, it's good that the Prime Minister has figured it out."

Then, Xuan Ye looked at Zhao Gao and asked, "What does the Chief of the Imperial Carriage Office think of this?"

Zhao Gao quickly expressed his opinion.

"Ah, Your Excellency, you flatter me. After all, the Crown Prince is handling state affairs for the first time and needs someone to assist him."

Xuan Ye smiled and half-closed his eyes.

He said, "Now all the ministers respect the Crown Prince, and the calls for him are so strong that some people even want him to ascend the throne ahead of schedule."

"This is disloyalty to the First Emperor, and they all deserve to die!"

As he spoke, a fierce glint appeared in his eyes.

"The Imperial Carriage Office has ordered that once the Crown Prince enters the Xianyang Palace to govern, he should be isolated from all sides and no one should be allowed to see him."

Do you understand?

Zhao Gao nodded and said, "Understood."

"In that case." Xuan Ye touched his brow, then waved his hand. "You may all leave now."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Tomorrow, we will welcome the Crown Prince to the palace to begin his administration!"