Starting with ten elixirs of immortality, I led the First Emperor to rebel against the Qin Dynasty.

After listening to Fusu's flawed explanation, Zhao Huan looked at the unconscious woman on the ground, and then at Fusu, who seemed to be saying, "Everything I'm saying is true, you have to believe me." He began to have doubts.

My fiancée, the one my dad found for me?

Looking down at Xu Mofu, although her face was veiled and her full features were obscured, just by looking at her exquisite figure and her captivating eyes that could charm even with her eyes closed, one could tell that she was definitely a top-tier beauty.

Dad has good taste.

Zhao Huan felt a warmth in his heart, realizing that his father was truly good to him, even arranging his marriage.

But then I thought about it again, and realized something was wrong.

"Brother, don't try to fool me. Dad and I are immortal. If you find me an ordinary person to marry, wouldn't that be a disservice to the girl? She'll only live for a few decades, then she'll get old and die. What will I do then? Watch her die, and then I'll just marry someone else?"

Zhao Huan shook his head, looking extremely serious.

"This won't do, it's too irresponsible. I don't agree to this marriage. When she wakes up, brother, please talk to her and tell her to go back to where she came from."

Fusu was stunned.

God is so irresponsible, and you actually believed him?!

However, judging from Zhao Huan's expression, he seemed to believe his "fiancée's" explanation, and Fusu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as we can get through this crisis, that's fine.

"Then... what do we do now, release him?" Fu Su looked at the unconscious Xu Mofu, somewhat troubled.

"We can't let it go."

Bai Qi, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke in a cold voice.

"This person's identity is unknown. He infiltrated this place with ulterior motives. He must be kept under close surveillance until our lord returns."

What Bai Qi was really thinking was that if Fusu hadn't wanted to protect this person, he would have killed him directly to end the matter once and for all.

A stranger who knows of Zhao Huan's existence must not be let go easily.

Fusu nodded in agreement: "Yes, yes, yes! Old Bai is right! Let Father handle this when he returns. We can't make decisions on our own."

He's kind, not stupid; he's already being kind by saving her life.

Xu Mofu's appearance is too strange. What if she really came to investigate? Letting her go would expose my brother's existence.

It would be troublesome if my younger brother were targeted by someone with ulterior motives.

Zhao Huan thought about it and agreed that it made sense.

"Alright, let's lock her up for now."

He picked up Xu Mofu and turned to walk towards the courtyard.

"Where should we lock him? In the woodshed?"

Bai Qi, who was walking behind, stumbled upon hearing this, his face turning as black as the bottom of a pot.

Xianyang Palace, Qilin Hall.

It was already afternoon.

The civil and military officials stood in the hall, whispering and discussing amongst themselves.

"Why has Your Majesty postponed the morning court session today? Is it perhaps due to illness?"

"It doesn't seem like it. When I saw His Majesty just now, his steps were steady and powerful, and his complexion was even better than usual."

"Then why is that? A king suspending court without cause is not a good omen..."

"quiet!"

With Zhao Gao's loud shout, the hall fell silent instantly.

Wearing a black dragon robe and a twelve-tassel crown, Ying Zheng strode up the high platform, surrounded by a group of eunuchs, and slowly sat down on the throne.

His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept over the assembled officials in the hall, and an invisible imperial pressure instantly enveloped the entire Qilin Hall.

As soon as Ying Zheng sat down, an elderly man with white hair and beard eagerly stepped forward from the ranks, holding an ivory tablet, and shouted loudly:

"Your subject, Chunyu Yue, has something to report!"

Ying Zheng glanced at him indifferently: "Speak."

"Your Majesty!" Chunyu Yue's voice echoed in the hall, "Since Your Majesty assumed personal rule for over twenty years, you have been diligent in governing, working tirelessly day and night, a blessing to the people and a boon to the nation! However, today Your Majesty has inexplicably delayed the morning court session, something unheard of since the founding of the Great Qin!"

"The Book of Documents says: 'Do not listen to unfounded words, and do not employ plans without consultation.' When a king cancels court without cause, it is an ominous sign that the country is about to fall into chaos! Where are the laws of our ancestors? Where are the rites and laws of our Great Qin?!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of Confucian scholars and doctors behind him, including Shusun Tong and Fu Sheng, immediately stood up and bowed in agreement.

"We, your humble servants, second that it is so! We urge Your Majesty to abide by the laws of our ancestors and refrain from such a foolish act!"

"Your Majesty, please purge the court of corrupt officials and keep away from petty men; do not be misled by treacherous ministers!"

For a time, the entire hall was filled with the Confucian scholars' heartfelt remonstrances, their criticisms directed at the culprit who had caused His Majesty to "neglect state affairs."

Although they didn't know who it was, that didn't stop them from labeling him a "treacherous villain."

Standing at the head of all officials, Li Si was so angry that his nose almost twisted out of shape when he heard these remarks.

Cleanse the court of corrupt officials and distance yourself from petty men!

These old fogies, aren't they referring to themselves and Meng Tian, ​​who accompanied His Majesty on his incognito trip?

Just as Li Si was about to step forward to refute, Ying Zheng raised his hand and stopped him.

Ying Zheng's gaze swept over Chunyu Yue and the others, and he asked calmly, "In your opinion, what should I do?"

Seeing that His Majesty seemed to have taken his words to heart, Chunyu Yue immediately perked up and proclaimed loudly, "Your Majesty, issue an edict of self-reproach, confessing your faults to all subjects! And severely punish those who have misled Your Majesty, so as to set the record straight and reassure the people!"

Good guy!

Li Si sneered inwardly.

Not only does he want His Majesty to admit his mistake, but he also wants to severely punish himself and Meng Tian? Chunyu Yue's audacity is truly growing.

Ying Zheng's expression remained unchanged as he turned to look at Li Si.

"Li Si, what do you think?"

Li Si felt a chill run down his spine, knowing it was his turn to step in.

He stepped forward, first bowing respectfully to Ying Zheng, then turning to Chunyu Yue with a smile on his face.

"Lord Chunyu, you are mistaken."

"Oh?" Chunyu Yue glanced sideways at Li Si. "What brilliant idea does Your Excellency have?"

Li Si calmly replied, "In my opinion, Your Majesty's actions are not only without fault, but also meritorious. You should not only not be punished, but should be rewarded."

These words caused an uproar throughout the court.

Chunyu Yue was so angry that his mustache stood on end: "Li Si! As the head of all officials, instead of offering advice to the emperor, you are here flattering and distorting the truth! You... how can you face the teachings of the sages?"

"The teachings of a sage?" Li Si smiled, a meaningful smile. "Lord Chunyu, we are both trained in Legalism, but I have also dabbled in Confucian classics. I wonder if Lord Chunyu knows what 'winning people over with virtue' means?"

Chunyu Yue was taken aback, and subconsciously replied, "A virtuous person influences others with benevolence and virtue, making them sincerely submit; this is called winning people over with virtue."

"No! No!" Li Si shook his finger, mimicking Zhao Huan's manner, and said mysteriously, "Lord Chunyu, you only know one side of the story!"

"I recently received the true teachings of the sage and only then did I realize that Confucius's saying 'to subdue people with virtue' means that a true gentleman, when reasoning with others, if the other party is not convinced, will use his powerful, forceful fists to subdue them through 'physical' means! This is the true meaning of 'subduing people with virtue'!"

"..."

The entire Qilin Hall fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone stared at Li Si in disbelief.

Standing in the ranks of military officers, Meng Tian, ​​who was in the know, barely suppressed a laugh, his shoulders trembling.

The officials who were unaware of the situation were completely dumbfounded.

Your Excellency Prime Minister... what's wrong with you today? Did you take the wrong medicine?

What kind of indecent words are being used?