Chapter 555 Chaos
"The Qin dynasty perished after only two generations."
This is not a question, but Ying Zheng's certainty.
Looking at Li Si kneeling on the ground, Ying Zheng thought it through very clearly: if he died, Fusu would also... His remaining offspring would not be able to outmaneuver Li Si.
Although he was confident of unifying the six kingdoms, even if he had succeeded, the departure of the tiger would have inevitably caused Qin to lose its control over the world. Even if Qin did not perish after only two generations, it would have become a puppet dynasty, like the Zhou dynasty of the past.
"I am guilty."
Li Si prostrated himself on the ground, his voice filled with fear. Even though he had long been prepared to fight to the death, he still couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat under the imposing gaze of the King of Qin.
Ying Zheng stared at him. He had previously confirmed that Li Si was talented, but now it seemed that he was exceptionally talented.
Even in just a few words, Li Si's bold ambition and keen sense of timing are evident. Should such a person be kept alive?
Sensing a faint killing intent, with a sharp sword hanging overhead, Li Si clenched his fists, a faint sense of regret rising within him.
"Li Si, do not disappoint me."
"only."
Li Si kowtowed deeply and breathed a sigh of relief; he had made the right bet.
Ying Zheng remained unmoved upon seeing this. Li Si was a gambler. Who among those who might enter the Qin court wasn't a gambler?
If you know the future in advance and still don't have the courage to control a gambler, then what are you thinking about unifying the six kingdoms?
Whether Li Si was sincere or not at this moment, he believed that Li Si was a smart man and knew what to do next.
"Father!"
At this moment, the sound of footsteps came from outside the palace. Fusu nimbly flipped over the threshold and ran happily to his side.
Ying Zheng held up a finger to stop him from lunging forward, saying, "Dirty."
Fusu looked like she didn't understand anything, shook her head, shook off his hand, and threw herself into his arms, rubbing her little face against his black robe.
Hehe, it'll be clean after a wipe!
Helpless, Ying Zheng reached out and patted his head. Meeting his innocent, wide eyes as he looked up, he couldn't bring himself to say anything more harsh.
Seeing that Ying Zheng acquiesced to his actions, Fusu unceremoniously found a comfortable seat in his arms, looked at Li Si in the hall, and let out a questioning hum.
[What's Li Si doing here? What's he doing? Is he finally going to resign from teaching me? Is he finally getting ambitious?]
Seeing Fusu excitedly wiggling his little feet, Ying Zheng said, "Li Si said you learn very quickly and is preparing to add some more content for you."
Fusu's face fell instantly.
【Ah? You thick-browed, big-eyed Li Si! I haven't seen you for a while, and you're already adding to my burden? Damn it, should I report you? Let me think of an idea!】
Li Si's heart skipped a beat in the hall, then he breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, he had spoken first. After relaxing, Li Si became curious again: how did the eldest son plan to denounce him?
Ying Zheng was also curious, and he held Fusu's round little head, waiting for him to say something.
Fusu had gotten used to his movements and didn't struggle, lazily slumping in his arms.
Let me think, let me think... No rush, once I've scribbled it all out... then I'll...
Ying Zheng noticed something was wrong. He looked down and saw Fusu blinking his eyes and then slowly closing them without much struggle.
He fell asleep already?
Do children feel this much?
Ying Zheng looked at his palm again. Was it because the way the hair was styled made him feel comfortable? Had he discovered yet another switch on his body?
Li Si: "..."
"I'm talking about something important, Young Master. You're just going to sleep like that? Leaving him hanging here, stuck in this awkward position, must be so uncomfortable. Why don't you report him before you go to sleep?"
...
[Report...Report...]
"woke up."
Fusu opened his eyes groggily and found himself lying in bed, with Ying Zheng sitting beside him looking at the bamboo slips.
He slowly sat up, looking around, "Li Si?"
"He went back."
Ying Zheng turned his head, skillfully took a piece of silk cloth from the shelf by the bed, wet it, wiped his face with the warm cloth, and then pulled him into his arms.
The palace servants respectfully stepped forward and presented a bowl of honey water, which Fusu loved, on a lacquered tray.
Ying Zheng picked it up casually and looked at him. Fusu nodded repeatedly, reaching out his little hand to grab it, his heart practically singing a song of "want, want, want."
Therefore, Ying Zheng blinked and suddenly took a sip from the bowl.
No, that's my honey water! Mine!
"good."
Ying Zheng commented casually that although he didn't particularly like sweets, the ones he snatched from Fusu tasted especially delicious.
[Damn it, did they not drink it all? I'm going to cry!]
"Drink it."
Before Fusu could even begin to shed tears, a bowl of honey water was brought to his lips. Fusu glanced down and saw that not much had been lost, so he drank from the rim of the bowl.
He complained that Ying Zheng was feeding him too slowly, so he simply held the bowl with both hands, increased the angle of the pour, and drank it all down in a hearty manner.
"ha--"
[Great water! Another bowl, please!]
Ignoring his exaggerated performance, Ying Zheng pointed to the minor official in front of him and introduced him to Fusu, saying, "What do you think of him?"
Now that Fusu can walk, he can't stay still and wanders all over the palace. Ying Zheng was worried that he couldn't be taken care of normally, so he transferred a group of clever people to take care of him.
Of course, the one who truly stays by Fusu's side should be someone he himself is satisfied with.
Upon hearing this, the junior official who was bowing in front of him cleverly replied, "Your humble servant Zhao Gao greets the eldest son."
[Zhao Gao? How strange...]
Fusu's face showed a hint of confusion. Ying Zheng's gaze sharpened as he looked at Zhao Gao, who was trembling and clearly had heard his thoughts. Suspicion arose in his heart.
He could clearly sense that Fusu's behavior towards Zhao Gao was completely different from how he treated others.
[There is Gao... Why is it Zhao Gao... No, no... It shouldn't be Zhao Gao, what is it, what is it...]
"Fusu!"
Ying Zheng, no longer caring about Zhao Gao who was kneeling on the ground in fear, tightly embraced Fusu, whose face was filled with panic, and called out his name.
"No!" With a scream, Ying Zheng saw for the first time the color of Fusu's pupils change so clearly. His dark, jade-like pupils were instantly dyed gold, revealing a lifeless indifference and divinity as he stared straight at Zhao Gao.
[Colluding with Li Si? Forging an imperial edict? I was ordered to commit suicide? Calling a deer a horse? No, it can't be like this...]
Ying Zheng's face grew increasingly grim as he listened, while Zhao Gao had already collapsed to the ground, drenched in sweat.
Is what I'm seeing real? Am I only allowed to look at people? Why can't I look at the Qin Dynasty...?
Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng felt a surge of fear and instinctively called out to stop him: "Fusu!"
But it was too late. The golden eyes, which had almost disappeared, remained on Fusu's face. Then he raised his head and looked at the sky outside the palace.
In an instant, the sky darkened, and only two beams of golden light shot out from Fusu's eyes, piercing through the walls and soaring into the sky.
"ah!"
Fusu suddenly screamed, his eyes filled with blood, and he closed them in agony.
"Fusu!"
The epidemic spread too quickly. As soon as Ying Zheng's outstretched hand touched above Fusu's eyes, he saw two lines of bloody tears slide down Fusu's face, and Fusu fainted.
"Send word to the Imperial Physician! Immediately!"
Although palace servants were already rushing over, Zhao Gao, in order to save his life, also stumbled to his feet and walked out, bumping into the panicked people who rushed in.
People and horses were thrown into chaos, but the palace servants who rushed in didn't care about anything else. They crawled on their knees and shouted, "Your Majesty, there is a strange phenomenon in the sky!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
