The main hall of the imperial palace in Xianyang.

Ying Zheng was summoning Wang Wu, who had just returned from the south.

“Your Majesty, the situation in the South is not optimistic.” Wang Wu said with a solemn expression. “The powerful clans in Jiangnan are deeply entrenched. On the surface, they submit to the emperor, but in secret they collude with local officials to oppress the people and exploit the local community. When I led an inspection team to investigate, we were met with numerous obstacles. Some even set up ambushes to assassinate us.”

Ying Zheng frowned deeply: "How dare they be so arrogant! Have those officials been found out?"

Wang Wu took out a list: "Your Majesty, this is a list of corrupt officials that I have verified, totaling sixty-three people, including many confidants of important officials in the court."

Ying Zheng took the list, examined it carefully, and his gaze grew increasingly cold.

"What a deeply entrenched network! These people appear virtuous and respectable in court, yet they are so despicable in private!"

He slammed the list on the table: "Issue an imperial decree that the Ministry of Justice immediately arrest these people, interrogate them rigorously, and show them no leniency!"

Wang Wu hesitated, "Your Majesty, these people have powerful backers, I'm afraid..."

Ying Zheng sneered: "What's there to be afraid of? No matter who's behind them, as long as the evidence is conclusive, I will punish them severely! No one is above the laws of Qin!"

Seeing Ying Zheng's resolute attitude, Wang Wu no longer hesitated, bowed, accepted the order, and left.

Only Ying Zheng remained in the hall. After a moment of contemplation, he ordered his attendant to summon Chunhui.

Chunhui rushed over and bowed, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Ying Zheng gestured for him to sit down: "How has the court been lately?"

Chunhui frankly said, "Your Majesty, since you and Lord Wu returned, the court has changed a lot. Corrupt officials have been eliminated, redundant officials have been dismissed, and the lives of the people have also improved."

“However,” he changed the subject, “I feel there is still an undercurrent in the court that is hindering Your Majesty’s reforms. In particular, some senior officials are outwardly obedient but in reality they are passively resisting, making it difficult for many decrees to reach the grassroots.”

Ying Zheng pondered for a moment: "Do you know the true intentions of these veteran ministers?"

Chunhui hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke frankly: "Your Majesty, according to my observation, there are two reasons for these people's dissatisfaction: First, Your Majesty and Lord Wu's return has disrupted their vested interests; second, they have doubts about Your Majesty's reforms and are worried about the loss of their own power."

Ying Zheng nodded: "That's right. These people are used to living without supervision, and now that I'm back, they're naturally uncomfortable."

He looked at Chunhui: "So, there are undercurrents in the court. I wonder if this is related to the rebellion in the south?"

Chunhui's expression hardened: "Your Majesty is discerning! I was just about to report that, according to our spies, the mastermind behind the southern rebellion seems to be in cahoots with certain high-ranking officials in the court. They are secretly funding the rebels, intending to use external forces to oppose Your Majesty's reforms."

Ying Zheng's face darkened: "Just as I thought! These ungrateful bastards, who have been unjustly paid by the Qin Dynasty, have committed such heinous acts!"

He said coldly, "Chunhui, I order you to immediately assemble a special investigation team to secretly and thoroughly investigate the crimes of these people. The evidence must be conclusive and there can be no mistakes!"

Chunhui accepted the order and left, while Yingzheng paced alone in the hall, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

He had thought the biggest challenge upon his return would be external threats, but he hadn't expected the internal problems to be so deep. Over the years, the Qin Dynasty's government had been hollowed out, and to thoroughly reform it would probably be even more difficult than conquering all sides.

Just as he was pondering, a palace attendant rushed in: "Your Majesty, good news from the northern frontier! Lord Wu has annihilated the main force of the Xiongnu and captured their leader alive. The northern frontier is now secure!"

Ying Zheng was overjoyed: "Excellent! Send out the good news to all, and let the whole country celebrate!"

He unfolded the battle report, carefully read through the details of the wicked man's battle, and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration: "Old brother, old brother, your military talent has indeed not diminished in the slightest!"

However, the final part of the battle report caused Ying Zheng to frown deeply. The wicked man had learned of the rebellion in the south and was leading his army south at breakneck speed to quell it.

"This old brother truly cares deeply for Qin," Ying Zheng remarked with deep emotion. "However, the rebellion in the south is probably not so simple..."

Just then, another guard rushed in: "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! Minister of Justice Ma Lin was ambushed and seriously injured while on his way to arrest those corrupt officials!"

Ying Zheng jumped to his feet: "What? How dare they openly assassinate a court official? Have they caught the murderer?"

The guard shook his head: "The murderer escaped, but left a letter, saying it was for His Majesty."

Ying Zheng took the letter, unfolded it, and his face immediately turned ashen.

The letter contained only one brief sentence: "The Emperor Qin is dead, the farce should stop."

"Insolence!" Ying Zheng slammed the letter to the ground. "These people dare to challenge my authority! Very well! Since they won't learn their lesson until they see the coffin, I'll show them what true swift and decisive action looks like!"

He immediately summoned Niu Qiang, the commander of the Imperial Guards, and ordered him to conduct a thorough investigation to find the assassin's whereabouts.

At the same time, he ordered the palace to be reinforced and anyone acting suspiciously to be killed without exception.

Niu Qiang accepted the order and left, but Ying Zheng was deeply troubled. Who exactly were these people causing trouble in secret? What were their true motives? If, as Chunhui said, they were indeed connected to important officials in the court, then the situation was even more complicated.

The following morning at court, Ying Zheng, contrary to his usual practice, did not directly address the assassination of the Minister of Justice, but instead listened to the daily reports from various departments.

During this time, he carefully observed the facial expressions and subtle movements of each important official, trying to find clues from them.

After all the reports were finished, Ying Zheng coldly said, "Yesterday, Minister of Justice Ma Lin was ordered by me to arrest a group of corrupt officials, but he was ambushed and seriously injured on the way. I wonder what you, my dear ministers, think?"

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