The Qin Dynasty perished after only two generations? My Great Qin also needs an Emperor Taizong!

Ying Mu muttered to himself as he went to the east wing. He pushed open the heavy wooden door and was greeted by a large mahogany screen that completely blocked the view from outside. The screen and the two inward-opening doors at both ends formed an entrance that could only accommodate one person at a time.

He pursed his lips, "Not much has changed..."

But when he walked around the alley and saw the layout of the inner room, he was dumbfounded: the room, which was originally quite spacious, now had two tall mahogany bookshelves with ladders on both sides for easy access; scrolls of bamboo slips were neatly stacked, and the north, east, and west sides were completely full without a single empty space, with a desk in the middle, and thick carpets covering the floor.

"That's quite a grand gesture..."

After looking around, Ying Mu sat down at his desk, picked up his brush and wrote a decree, instructing Han Shan to deliver it to the military camp in the southern suburbs as soon as possible. Then, he took a blank letter and went out of the courtyard alone to the Qin King's study.

"Young Master." Zhao Gao quickly stepped forward and bowed.

"Prefect Zhao," Ying Mu returned the greeting with a cupped hand. "Has Father risen?"

"His Majesty is in his study, preoccupied with state affairs, and has long since regained consciousness," Zhao Gao replied with a smile, then asked softly, "Does the young master have something important to discuss?"

Ying Mu laughed, "If there's nothing wrong, why would the prefect prevent his son from seeing his father?"

"Hush! Young master, you mustn't speak carelessly." Zhao Gao was startled, and his eyes flickered as he changed the subject. "I will inform you, young master, but whether the emperor sees or not is not up to me."

"Excuse me for the government order."

"Please wait a moment, sir." Zhao Gao hurried away, and after a short while, he ran back and bowed. "Sir, the emperor is discussing state affairs in the study. If you are patient, please come with me to the front and back courtyards for a while, and wait for the emperor to summon you."

Ying Mu nodded in agreement.

"Please, young master." Zhao Gao stepped aside to invite him.

"Lord of the Palace, how many years have you been with my father?" Ying Mu asked Zhao Gao as they walked.

"It's been twenty-eight years now." Zhao Gao's smile remained the same, but with a hint of reminiscence... Thinking back to when he was down on his luck, if he hadn't met a god-like ruler, he would probably have turned into a handful of dust long ago. How could he still be alive today and be respectfully addressed as the Prefect?

Ying Mu sighed softly, "Father trusts the Prefect too much. The Prefect must not be like that Lord Changping."

Zhao Gao was startled again, then laughed and said, "You flatter me, sir. The Emperor has been very kind to me, and the laws of Qin are strict. I will certainly live up to the Emperor's expectations in this life."

Ying Mu turned her head to look at Zhao Gao's resolute expression. What a loyal servant he looked like, and what a shrewd mind he possessed...

It's truly flawless...

"Does the government order also know the law?"

Zhao Gao chuckled and said, "How could the people of Qin not know the law? Only by not breaking the law can one do things and establish oneself."

"Haha, the Prefect is right."

The two walked and talked for half an hour. Ying Mu felt a little tired and hungry, so Zhao Gao found a warm pavilion and brought the young master a small bowl of mint soup.

"Young master, please have some soup first. The king's mealtime is approaching."

A moment later, a young eunuch came to deliver a message. Ying Mu finished his small bowl of herbal soup and followed Zhao Gao back to the main courtyard.

Upon arriving at the door of the King of Qin's study, Zhao Gao tiptoed forward and gently knocked on the door.

"Young Master Mu requests an audience with the King." Ying Mu bowed respectfully.

As soon as he finished speaking, a voice came from inside the room, "Xiao Gaozi, let Mu'er in, to the north room."

Zhao Gao first bowed to the inside of the room through the door, then gently pushed the door open, watching the young master jump into the room and leisurely walk towards the north living quarters. He then gently closed the wooden door and stood guard outside the room with his back turned.

It is said that a great villain appears to be loyal.

No wonder the king couldn't tell the difference...

Ying Mu then rounded the northern entrance and saw six bronze lamps lit in the northern room, illuminating the room brightly. One wall in the center was lined with bookshelves and bamboo slips. A bed was placed against the west wall, and a desk was set up by the window on the east side. The King of Qin sat upright at the desk, with two bronze vessels placed before him.

One contained boiled mutton with scallions and garlic, while the other had a stack of hard flatbread.

Ying Mu leaned closer, feeling somewhat delighted... During this period, supplies were scarce throughout the country, and he hadn't tasted fish for over a month.

"Come, eat with your father at the same table." The King of Qin smiled and pointed to the empty seat opposite him.

"Father..."

Just as Ying Mu was about to speak, the King of Qin waved his hand to interrupt him. He then used his long chopsticks to scoop up a large piece of mutton from the basin, picked up a flatbread, rolled it up, and put it in his mouth.

"Let's not talk about that now, we'll finish eating first."

"Oh." Ying Mu quickly sat down, picked up the long chopsticks, and dipped them into the basin.

A moment later, when Ying Mu was only half full, the King of Qin had already put down his chopsticks and was calmly watching Ying Mu. Seeing him struggling to pick at the lamb bones, the King of Qin laughed and said, "No rush, eat slowly." As he spoke, he took a pair of empty chopsticks and happily picked out some shredded meat for Ying Mu and put it in Ying Mu's bowl.

"Thank you, Father King."

After a cup of tea, Ying Mu put down his chopsticks with satisfaction. After Zhao Gao finished tidying up and left, the father and son sat down on the same bed.

"Father," Ying Mu leaned back, propping himself up as he looked at the King of Qin. Knowing Ying Zheng's pragmatic nature, he didn't keep him in suspense and spoke directly, "Father has given me many books and scrolls, which I cannot finish reading. Moreover, I will become a general in the future, but Father always leaves me with classics, histories, philosophical works, and other historical texts. Although those books and scrolls are precious, I do not like them."

"Oh? What are Mu'er's thoughts?" Ying Zheng still had a faint smile on his face.

Why did Ying Mu stand out to the King of Qin?

Thirty percent of his success stemmed from his exceptional personality and abilities, while seventy percent was due to his lack of restraint, unlike that of other sons. It was precisely this harmonious relationship, reminiscent of a farmer's father and son, that always reminded the King of Qin of his time as a hostage in Zhao, when he and his mother depended on each other for survival.

Although he suffered hardship and humiliation at that time, it was indeed a pure land for his soul.

Unfortunately, after returning to Qin, my mother changed...

"In my opinion, history books are more interesting. Father, you might as well send more history books and military books," Ying Mu said lazily to the King of Qin after he had eaten and drunk his fill.

"Good!" Ying Zheng readily agreed.

In fact, he had been conflicted about Ying Mu's arrangements. At present, Ying Mu neither studied law nor Confucianism, and could be said to be not close to any civil official faction in the court.

Since Ying Mu can only rely on Fu Su in the future, that would be the best outcome.

"Then please leave your seal, Father."

Ying Mu beamed with joy and hurriedly pulled out a scroll from his robes. His movements were so swift that Ying Zheng was momentarily stunned.

"Hehe, so be it." King Qin stroked his beard and chuckled a few times. He picked up his brush and wrote on a blank bamboo slip that he permitted Ying Mu to go to the treasury to move historical books from various countries. He agreed with Ying Mu to exchange them every three months. Then he got up and went to his study to get the King Qin seal and stamped it on.

"Thank you, Father." Ying Mu put away the bamboo slips and looked at the King of Qin again. "Actually, there is something else I want to say to you, Father."

"speak."

"I only have two thousand soldiers under my command. If Father really wants them, he can just say so. Why go to such lengths?" After saying this, Ying Mu looked intently at Ying Zheng.

You are the King of Qin, if you want it, do you think I won't give it to you?

But even the King of Qin couldn't take it for free... Seriously, this shouldn't be considered getting something for nothing, right?