Chapter 550 Lucky Ones Line Up
Wow, so many people!
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Ying Zheng knew that Fusu had awakened.
But he didn't turn his head; his gaze swept over the ministers in the hall. Except for Lü Buwei, none of them showed any unusual behavior. Why was that?
What makes Lü Buwei different?
Lü Buwei also wanted to ask this question!
Noticing the unchanging expressions of his colleagues and feeling the king's oppressive gaze once again, Lü Buwei couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. Was it so difficult to be an ordinary, unremarkable person? What did he have that made the eldest son value him so much?
Could it be that the king has a problem with him and he won't live much longer?
That can't be, it shouldn't be like that, right?
Noticing the change in his expression, Lord Changping, Xiong Qi, frowned slightly and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong, Prime Minister?"
Noticing the gazes directed at him, Lü Buwei forced a smile. "It's nothing."
The relationship between them wasn't very good, so Xiong Qi didn't ask any more questions and looked at the King of Qin: "I wonder why Your Majesty summoned us here?"
The bronze lamp flickered, and Ying Zheng stood with his hands behind his back, his dark cloak cascading down like an abyss, shrouding the figures of his ministers in shadow.
Ying Zheng glanced indifferently at the panicked Lü Buwei, then at the others, remaining silent for a long time.
[Are they performing a silent play? Not saying a word for ages? Spending all day with my mute dad, am I going to become mute too?]
Ying Zheng remained silent, then raised his eyebrows slightly, and heard Fusu, as if to verify that he had not become mute, utter "Ah".
That gave him a reason.
Hearing the commotion behind the screen, everyone's eyes turned to it instinctively, and they all thought in unison, "Is that the eldest son inside?"
Seeing the king turn around, he walked behind the screen without hesitation and brought out a chubby little baby who looked like a porcelain doll. Everyone understood and felt that the king truly cherished his eldest son.
But soon, everyone realized that the king doted on his eldest son in an unusual way. He was holding the boy and gently introducing him to everyone present, completely disregarding the fact that the boy was just a child under one year old who didn't know anything.
“This is Lord Changping, the nephew of Empress Dowager Huayang. According to seniority, you should call him Uncle.”
Xiong Qi was flattered and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I am overwhelmed with gratitude."
Ying Zheng didn't mind, ignored him, and continued to introduce him, "This is General Meng Ao, a pillar of the Qin state."
Meng Ao calmly bowed to Fusu: "Your subject Meng Ao greets the eldest son."
"This is……"
As the king introduced each person, the crowd exchanged bewildered glances. Could it be that the court officials had gathered today simply to meet the eldest son?
This doesn't seem like something a king would do, unless there's some other purpose behind it.
Xiong Qi's gaze swept over the feigning composure of Lü Buwei, then exchanged a thoughtful glance with General Meng Ao, recalling the message from Empress Dowager Huayang in the palace. So, is the King's grand introduction of his eldest son a prelude to assuming personal rule?
Meng Ao also had this thought, but because his youngest son always served the King of Qin, he couldn't help but frown slightly. As far as he knew, the King wasn't usually in such a hurry; had something unexpected happened?
Regardless of the various thoughts in everyone's minds, Ying Zheng, having finished introducing each minister, carried Fusu back to the table and stood still, briefly summarizing: "These ministers are the cornerstones of the strength of our Great Qin, and are indispensable."
Everyone was deeply moved upon hearing this.
But at that moment, as if in a dream, I heard a tender child's voice ringing in my ears.
[So much to say... Dad, did you save up all your words for this year and say them all today?]
The crowd was filled with surprise and doubt, exchanging glances.
[This is weird. I woke up to find my family's entire fortune laid out before me. Was it some kind of entrustment ceremony?]
Upon hearing these words again, everyone's gaze couldn't help but fall on the child in the King of Qin's arms.
Ying Zheng seemingly casually turned Fusu's body, avoiding everyone's gaze. The crowd looked up and met his clear, indifferent yet warning eyes, and a chill ran through them, bringing them back to their senses.
Then, one by one, they tried their best to suppress their fear, pretending they hadn't heard anything, and continued to remain silent.
Out of the corner of their eye, they saw the child in the king's arms reaching out his little hand to touch him all over, as if checking his physical condition, or as if the child was playing. For a moment, everyone was a little dazed. Could what they had just heard be a hallucination?
[Nice boobs...no, it's nothing! Why did you suddenly introduce me to your ministers? It's like I remember them all. Although I really do remember them, I won't tell you, hehe—]
The ministers looked at each other, and suddenly they weren't nervous anymore.
Ying Zheng's eyebrows twitched, and he grasped Fusu's small hand, feeling that the boy had taken advantage of him.
[You stingy guy, why are you grabbing my hand? What's wrong with touching it?]
"ah!"
Not only did his inner voice reveal his dissatisfaction, but Fusu also cried out unhappily.
Now Ying Zheng was certain that this kid was taking advantage of him.
A faint sense of distress arises. Children who are born with knowledge are also prone to going astray. How should we teach them?
Ying Zheng lowered his eyes, looking at the little creature squirming in his arms. How to teach it was a matter for later; now that his goal had been achieved, so…
The King of Qin stretched out his evil hand, and the eldest prince, powerless to resist, fell asleep with his head tilted to the side.
Ying Zheng raised his eyes. "Children need more sleep."
Everyone echoed in agreement, but some couldn't help but wonder, "Did Your Majesty really knock him out? It's making everyone feel sorry for the eldest son."
After carrying Fusu back behind the screen and placing him on the bed, covering him with a blanket, Ying Zheng stood by the bed and quietly stared at him for a while. He stretched out a finger and poked Fusu's soft little face, then, seeing the red mark under his fingertip, silently withdrew his hand, pretending nothing had happened.
"Did you all hear that?"
When the King of Qin stepped out from behind the screen again, the chattering little dumpling was no longer in his arms, and his demeanor became cold and stern once more.
His tall figure sat upright before everyone, and even looking up at him made people feel a sense of awe and breathlessness.
Faced with the King of Qin's blunt question, the ministers, who dared not play dumb but also dared not be the first to speak out, felt as if they had thorns in their backs.
The atmosphere in the hall was tense, and in the end, it was the veteran general Meng Ao who stepped forward first.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty did indeed hear it. Although the eldest son is young, he can..." His Adam's apple bobbed, his voice filled with awe, "...speak things that others have not spoken of. Perhaps this is a divinely bestowed sign, indicating an extraordinary origin."
From Qin's perspective, this must be a good thing!
Xiong Qi stepped forward immediately afterward: "General Meng is absolutely right! The eldest son possesses extraordinary abilities, which is truly a blessing for Great Qin and a sign of divine favor for our king. This is an omen of national prosperity!"
The eldest son is the son of a princess of Chu. From the perspective of the Chu faction, this must be a good thing!
In an instant, the courtiers, like startled crows taking flight, rose up in waves of agreement.
"Auspicious omen from heaven!"
"This is the destiny ordained by Heaven!"
"The rise of the Qin Dynasty is just around the corner!"
Ying Zheng remained expressionless, his slender fingers rhythmically tapping the table. The sound of his knuckles striking the table gradually drowned out the clamor of the court officials.
As the noise subsided, he suddenly turned to Lü Buwei and asked, "What does the Prime Minister think?"
Lü Buwei slowly prostrated himself on the ground, his voice hoarse yet clear: "The eldest son's abilities are a blessing to Qin. These extraordinary signs are proof that Your Majesty has ordained this man. I implore Your Majesty..." He paused, a sigh escaping his throat, "...to assume personal rule!"
These words were like a thunderbolt.
Everyone looked at Lü Buwei in surprise. The prime minister, who had held power for many years and repeatedly prevented Ying Zheng from ruling in his own right, had actually taken the initiative to resign his power? Could the fact that he could hear the eldest son's thoughts have such a great impact on him?
Lü Buwei gave a wry smile. He wasn't unaware of how the others would react. But Lü Buwei, who knew more than they did, was now desperately trying to cut his losses.
If anyone were to see the eldest son's golden eyes, I doubt anyone could object... No, golden eyes are so special that His Majesty might not allow anyone else to see them. What would become of the only one who did see them?
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