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

Feng Quji's words made the atmosphere a bit heavier.

Wang Jian and Meng Tian also stopped smiling.

Although they looked down on Confucian scholars, they also knew how terrifying this force was.

Back when the six states were still intact, these Confucian scholars and itinerant intellectuals traveled between them, and with their silver tongues, they could instigate wars and overthrow regimes.

Now that the Qin Dynasty has unified the world, although they have temporarily gone into hiding, their influence remains enormous.

As a descendant of Confucius, Kong Fu had a large following among Confucian disciples. If he was determined to oppose the Qin Dynasty, he could gather Confucian scholars from all over the country in Xianyang and incite the people's hearts, which would indeed be a troublesome situation.

"Your Majesty, this matter must be guarded against," Feng Quji said, bowing solemnly. "Confucianism is most adept at bewitching people's hearts. Now, our Great Qin is implementing a series of new policies, such as the curved plow and the refined salt law, all of which are measures that shake up the old order. If we allow them to criticize the government and slander the court officials in Xianyang, it may shake the people's hearts and hinder the implementation of the new policies."

Li Si stood to the side, expressionless, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

He knew that Kong Fu and his group were mainly after him.

Given Kong Fu's vengeful nature, he will absolutely not let this humiliation inflicted on the court today go unpunished.

"What can a bunch of pedantic scholars who only know how to talk big really be capable of?" Meng Tian couldn't help but snort. "Your Majesty, give me three thousand iron cavalry, and I guarantee they'll all shut their mouths and obediently go back to their hometowns!"

Wang Jian glared at him and said in a deep voice, "You brute! If governing a country relies on killing, what use are civil officials? This matter should be addressed through guidance and persuasion, not by force."

"The old general is right," Feng Quji nodded and continued, "Suppressing them will only make them more united and make our Great Qin seem even less tolerant. At that time, everyone in the world will think that His Majesty cannot tolerate even the slightest dissent."

For a moment, several pillars of the Qin Dynasty fell into deep thought.

Only Ying Zheng's expression remained unchanged from beginning to end.

He even picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip.

"Are you finished?" Ying Zheng asked calmly, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Your Majesty, we are foolish and ignorant, please give us your guidance." Feng Quji and Li Si and the others quickly bowed.

Ying Zheng leaned back in his chair, his long fingers tapping lightly on the table. His gaze swept over the several trusted ministers in front of him, and a cold, domineering smile curled at the corners of his mouth.

"I thought it was something important, but it turns out it's just a bunch of filthy parasites trying to shake the foundations of my Great Qin?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority and an air of dominance over the world.

"In the past, the million-strong armies of the six kingdoms, with their golden spears and iron cavalry, could not stop my iron cavalry. Now, a mere bunch of pedantic scholars who only know how to talk nonsense, do they dare to give me trouble?"

"Prime Minister Feng, you are being too cautious." Ying Zheng looked at Feng Quji. "Remember this: this world belongs to me! My words are the rules! My decrees are the will of Heaven!"

"They want to come to Xianyang? Let them come! I want to see what kind of trouble they can stir up!"

"If they're just gathering together to grumble, I can pretend I didn't hear them. But if they dare to extend their claws and hinder my great cause..."

Ying Zheng's eyes suddenly turned sharp, and a terrifying killing intent spread out.

"I wouldn't mind... burning books and burying scholars alive once!"

"hiss--!"

Upon hearing this, even a composed and experienced minister like Feng Quji couldn't help but gasp in shock.

Burning books and burying scholars alive!

These four words, spoken by Ying Zheng, carried immense weight.

Without a doubt, His Majesty is absolutely capable of doing such a thing, given his iron-fisted approach.

Feng Quji was about to offer some advice when Ying Zheng stopped him with a look.

"I know what I'm doing," Ying Zheng said calmly. "Prime Minister Feng need not say more."

Ying Zheng knew what Feng Quji wanted to say—that he was simply concerned about his reputation—but he didn't care.

As long as the Qin dynasty can be preserved for eternity, he wouldn't even bat an eye if it meant burning books and burying scholars alive, or even killing everyone in the world.

Of course, as long as they don't cross his bottom line, Ying Zheng will still proceed with his original plan, using Kong Fu to command the Confucian scholars of the world.

Compared to Feng Quji's fear, Wang Jian and Meng Tian, ​​the two military leaders, were invigorated and straightened their backs.

That's more like it! This is the decisive and ruthless First Emperor they know, who swept across the land!

Why waste words with a bunch of intellectuals? If they don't listen, bury them! Simple and direct!

Just then, Li Si suddenly laughed.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Why resort to weapons to deal with these pedantic scholars and soil Your Majesty's hands?"

Ying Zheng looked up at him: "Oh? What brilliant idea does Prime Minister Li have?"

Li Si put down his teacup, a profound and unfathomable smile on his face.

"I believe that since we have already offended them to death, we might as well offend them even more severely."

"Huh?" Everyone was taken aback.

Li Si said slowly, "Wasn't Kong Fu so angry that he vomited blood and fainted? He must be recuperating at home now. As colleagues, we should visit him and bring some 'gifts' to show our concern."

"A gift?" Meng Tian didn't react. "What kind of gift? A knife?"

Li Si glanced at him and said disdainfully, "A warrior is just a warrior. All he thinks about is fighting and killing."

Turning to Ying Zheng, he bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I wish to have the 'Confucius Manifestation' painting displayed in the palace today framed and personally delivered to Mr. Kong Fu. I hope he can study it day and night so that he can recover soon and feel the sage's teachings of 'strength and power' at all times."

"puff!"

Wang Jian couldn't hold back and spat out his tea.

The others were also taken aback for a moment, then realized what was happening and burst into laughter.

Ying Zheng laughed the most heartily and looked at Li Si, saying...

"Hahaha! Excellent! Well done, Li Si! Truly worthy of being my Left Chancellor!"

"That's settled! Go now! Frame it with the best frame and send it to Kong Fu as quickly as possible! Tell him this is a token of our goodwill, from both me and Prime Minister Li, and that he should take good care of himself!"

Li Si revealed a wicked smile and bowed deeply to Ying Zheng.

"My lord, I obey your order!"

Xianyang City, Chunyu Yue's residence.

The bedroom was filled with a strong, lingering smell of medicine.

Kong Fu lay on the couch, his face still as pale as paper, his eyes closed, his brows furrowed, as if he were having a nightmare.

Beside him, Chunyu Yue and Shusun Tong sat pale-faced. They had woken up before Kong Fu and were now sighing and looking gloomy.

"Li Si... Li Si, that treacherous villain! He's gone too far! He's gone too far!"

Chunyu Yue trembled with rage at the thought of the "Muscle Overlord Confucius" painting in the Qilin Hall.

Now, if I close my eyes, all I can see in my mind is that giant man with bulging muscles all over his body, the character "仁" (ren, meaning benevolence) on his chest, and the characters "德才" (de, meaning virtue and talent) on his back!

"The honor of Confucianism, the reputation of a hundred years, has been ruined by him today!" Shusun Tong beat his chest and stamped his feet, tears streaming down his face. "How can we face our ancestors in the afterlife!"

As the two were weeping, Kong Fu on the bed suddenly let out a painful groan and slowly woke up.

"Water...water..."

"Mr. Kong Fu is awake!" Chunyu Yue and Shusun Tong quickly went over, carefully helped him up, and fed him a few sips of warm water.

After drinking the water, Kong Fu became more lucid and began to recall the events.

The Qilin Hall, Li Si, that painting, the ridicule of the entire court...

"ah--!"

Kong Fu shoved the two away abruptly, his eyes bloodshot, looking like a mad tiger.

"Li Si! I swear I will never forgive you! I will never let you live under the same sky!"

"Mr. Kong Fu, please calm down! You have just recovered from a serious illness, you must not get angry again!" Chunyu Yue and Shusun Tong were startled and quickly stepped forward to hold him down.

"Calm down? How can you expect me to calm down!" Kong Fu pointed to his chest, trembling with rage. "He...he dared to humiliate our ancestors like this! This is an utter disgrace! An utter disgrace!"

Just then, a servant rushed in looking flustered.