Chapter 155 My Charming Ancestor 29
Seven days.
Dust billowed on the official road outside Xianyang City.
Zhou Jue yawned, jumped off a dusty carriage, and stretched out a big yawn.
For the past seven days, she has followed the system navigation and traveled almost all over the map of the Great Qin Dynasty.
Not only did they collect enough video footage, but they also bought many local specialties and unearthed some natural resources.
Zhou Jue nodded in satisfaction, patted off imaginary dust, and swaggered towards Xianyang Palace with an air of nonchalance.
It's time to go back and see her charming ancestor, and while we're at it, check out the final evaluation results of those three "intern" students.
However, she had only just reached the vicinity of the palace gate and had not yet had a chance to reveal her identity token.
A eunuch rushed past her as if in a panic, shouting at the top of his lungs as he ran:
"Urgent report! Great news! Your Majesty! This is an extraordinary event!"
Zhou Jue paused, raised an eyebrow, and exclaimed, "Oh, so much good news already?"
...
Inside the study, Ying Zheng was facing a map, his brows furrowed.
Although the world is vast, and the country has only recently been stabilized, the remnants of the six former states have not yet been eliminated, and the people are impoverished. Everything is in need of rebuilding, and every step must be taken with utmost care.
Just then, a joyful shout came from outside the hall.
"What's all this noise about!" Ying Zheng said in a deep voice, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure at being disturbed.
The eunuch scrambled into the hall, knelt down with a thud, and was so excited that his face turned red.
"Your Majesty! Chief Clerk Xiao, Chief Clerk Chen, and Military Advisor Cao have returned!"
Ying Zheng's gaze instantly shifted from the map, sharpening: "They...have returned?"
"Yes!" The eunuch's voice trembled. "They've reached the outskirts of Xianyang! Accompanying them are... and that traitor Zhang Liang!"
"What?!"
Even Ying Zheng could not hide the shock on his face at this moment.
"Zhang Liang? He's been captured?"
"No! He wasn't captured!" The eunuch held the urgent report high above his head: "According to Chief Clerk Xiao's secret report, Zhang Liang... came voluntarily to... apologize to His Majesty!"
The eunuch hurriedly stepped forward, took the secret report, and quickly presented it to Ying Zheng.
Ying Zheng unfolded the secret report and scanned it swiftly with lightning speed.
When he saw phrases such as "a sage's words enlighten even a stubborn stone", "Zhang Liang suddenly understood and wept bitterly", and "voluntarily surrendered to Qin to atone for his sins", he was deeply moved.
Hahahaha!
Ying Zheng suddenly raised his head and let out a hearty laugh! The laughter was powerful and domineering, making the entire palace vibrate!
"Excellent! What a wonderful divine guidance!"
"What a fine example of voluntarily apologizing!"
He slammed the secret report on the table, strode down from the platform, and all the frustration in his heart vanished!
An immortal, truly an immortal! Even Zhang Liang, a proud and stubborn loyalist of the six states, could be persuaded to surrender willingly without losing a single soldier! What extraordinary abilities this is!
Then he thought of Xiao He and the other two: "These three lads haven't disappointed me!"
From panic to composure, and finally to a calculated coup, they grew very quickly along the way!
"Issue my decree!" Ying Zheng waved his hand, displaying his imperial aura.
"Summon Xiao He, Chen Ping, and Cao Can, along with Zhang Liang, to the palace for an audience!"
...
Xianyang Palace, main hall.
The atmosphere was solemn and dignified. Xiao He, Chen Ping, and Cao Can, dressed in brand-new official robes, stood tall and proud below the hall.
Their faces suppressed excitement and elation, their eyes filled with the glory and anticipation of soon gaining the king's favor. A few steps behind them, Zhang Liang stood alone, quietly.
He changed into clean, plain clothes, his face still pale, but his whole being was like a still, ancient well, revealing no emotion whatsoever. Only his eyes, as he stepped into the palace that symbolized the highest power of the Qin Dynasty, flashed a complex and indescribable emotion.
On his throne, Ying Zheng's gaze slowly swept over the four people.
Finally, the focus shifts to Xiao He and the other two.
"Xiao He, Chen Ping, Cao Shen." The emperor's majestic voice echoed in the empty hall.
The three men were startled and immediately bowed, saying, "Your subject is here!"
"You have done a great job on this mission." Ying Zheng's voice was filled with undisguised praise: "You have done a good job in escorting them, you have done a good job in persuading them to surrender, and you have enhanced the prestige of our Great Qin Dynasty. This is an even greater achievement!"
"I never hesitate to reward meritorious officials!"
"Cao Shen!"
"Your subject is here!" Cao Shen exclaimed, his body trembling with excitement.
"I hereby appoint you as Lieutenant Commandant, in charge of the Imperial Guards of Xianyang, to protect the capital region!"
Lieutenant! One of the Nine Ministers!
Cao Shen felt a surge of heat rush to his head, and immediately knelt down, his voice hoarse: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace! I am willing to die ten thousand times for Your Majesty!"
"Chen Ping!"
"Your subject is here!"
"I hereby appoint you as the Chief Physician, to advise and strategize, and to serve as my eyes and ears!"
The Imperial Physician! Also one of the Nine Ministers!
Overjoyed, Chen Ping kowtowed deeply, saying, "Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail your trust!"
Ying Zheng's gaze finally landed on Xiao He.
"Xiao He".
"Your subject is here." Xiao He's demeanor was the most composed, but his slightly trembling hands still betrayed the turmoil in his heart.
"I have observed that your actions during this campaign were well-managed and you handled matters with composure, demonstrating the talent of a prime minister. I hereby appoint you as the Minister of Agriculture, in charge of the nation's finances and provisions!"
The Minister of Agriculture! In charge of the nation's finances! Among the Nine Ministers, he wielded the most power! Xiao He's breath caught in his throat!
He knew that His Majesty would give him an important position, but he never expected it to be given in such an extraordinary way!
"Your subject...accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude!" He bowed deeply, conveying all his gratitude and promise in those four words.
Ying Zheng nodded in satisfaction and raised his hand: "Go, I have prepared residences for you. Settle in first, and we will discuss state affairs at the morning court tomorrow."
"We take our leave!"
The three bowed respectfully and slowly withdrew from the main hall. As they passed Zhang Liang, all three paused involuntarily. Their eyes were filled with complex emotions.
Inside the hall, only Ying Zheng, who sat high on his throne, Zhang Liang, who stood alone in the center of the hall, and the eunuchs who stood there like wooden statues.
Dead silence.
Ying Zheng did not speak, but scrutinized Zhang Liang inch by inch with a scrutinizing and highly aggressive gaze.
This is the man who plotted an assassination at the banquet, who was always thinking of destroying the country; this is the man who was "persuaded" to return only after the immortal himself intervened.
Zhang Liang felt the pressure of that gaze. In his dreams, he had feared the new emperor's hidden blade beneath his smiling face.
But the emperor's aura was so naked and domineering, as if he were the sky and the earth!
However, Zhang Liang neither flinched nor showed fear. He simply stood there quietly, enduring it all.
After a long while, Zhang Liang moved. He slowly lifted his foot and took three steps forward. Then, under Ying Zheng's slightly surprised gaze...
"Thump!"
With a muffled thud, Zhang Liang knelt down on both knees, performing a perfectly standard kneeling ceremony for a subject.
"Zhang Liang, a loyal subject of the former state of Han and a sinner, pays his respects to Your Majesty."
His voice was clear and steady, without the slightest tremor.
Ying Zheng raised an eyebrow slightly, leaned back in his chair, and looked at the man with great interest.
"sinner?"
Ying Zheng's voice carried a hint of amusement: "What crime have you committed?"
Zhang Liang remained bowed, his voice neither humble nor arrogant, as if he were stating something unrelated to himself.
“Plotting an assassination attempt to kill the emperor and undermine the foundation of the state is the first crime.”
"To squander one's family wealth, gather a group of warriors, and attempt to divide the world, plunging the people back into misery, is the second crime."
“Holding personal grudges and being ignorant of the greater good, putting the hatred of one’s own family above the well-being of all people, this is the third crime.”
He kowtowed once for each statement he made.
The playfulness on Ying Zheng's face gradually disappeared, replaced by a deep inquiry. He was not a prisoner forced to confess; he was more like an old man who had suddenly come to his senses.
"Immortal," Ying Zheng leaned forward slightly, his voice low, "what exactly did he say to you?"
Upon hearing the word "immortal," Zhang Liang's body trembled almost imperceptibly. The regret and pain of that century-long dream surged into his heart once more. He slowly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, his young eyes filled with the vicissitudes of impending death and a deathly stillness.
"Your Majesty, the immortal... made this sinful subject have a dream."
"A dream?" Ying Zheng laughed, his laughter filled with boundless majesty and curiosity: "What kind of dream could make you, Zhang Zifang, willingly abandon national and personal vendettas and kneel before me?"
Zhang Liang's lips moved slightly, his voice hoarse: "A dream... that the Qin Dynasty would perish after only two generations, a new dynasty would rise, and a disgraced official would assist the new ruler, achieve fame and fortune, and be ennobled and appointed as prime minister."
As soon as the words were spoken, the temperature in the entire hall seemed to drop to freezing point! The eunuchs inside were so frightened that they almost fainted on the spot!
However, Ying Zheng did not get angry. He suddenly spoke, his voice calm, yet it was like a thunderclap that exploded in Zhang Liang's mind!
"Then let me ask you."
"In your dream of being ennobled and appointed as a high-ranking official."
Ying Zheng spoke slowly and deliberately.
"Have you ever... allowed your beloved Korea to be destroyed?"
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