Li You was terrified and covered in sweat, but he had learned a lot from following his father over the years.
At this critical juncture, he wasn't too nervous to speak. Instead, he very methodically shifted the blame and even smeared Li Lin's reputation.
This made Li Lin think more highly of him.
[That Li You is truly clever. His Majesty might actually have believed most of what he said at first glance, and it's true that it was due to a personal conflict. However, he managed to shirk all responsibility, which is quite impressive. With just a few words, he turned a righteous gentleman like me into a 'wolf in sheep's clothing,' thus damaging my image in His Majesty's eyes. He's really brilliant!]
However, I will do the opposite and easily refute his nonsense, avoiding future attacks from similar rumors.
"Really? Li Lin, did you really do what he said before?"
The First Emperor's unfriendly expression made Li You's face light up with joy, but little did he know that this was just a final burst of energy before despair.
"Yes, Li You is right. Your humble servant is indeed as he says, insatiably lustful, and what I did to his sister Li Yao is also true. Your humble servant confesses without reservation!"
But when Li Lin admitted everything, Li You was dumbfounded.
What's going on?
Why should Li Lin admit it?
He admitted to everything, even though it was clearly seven parts fake and three parts real.
"How dare you! Li Lin, how dare you deceive me like this?"
"Your Majesty, if I were to offer any explanation, it would only make things worse. I might as well admit everything. Your Majesty can investigate further and surely clear my name, right? In that case, Commandant Li will be guilty of false accusation. According to Qin law, anyone who falsely accuses another shall have their tongue cut out, be sentenced to eighty feet in length, and have their entire family punished!"
Just as Li You was filled with doubt, Li Lin, who was standing in front of him, said such a thing.
He was so frightened that he started trembling all over.
"Hahaha, you little rascal, I really thought you had done those despicable things. I never expected that you would actually try to punish this guy with the laws of the Great Qin. You have truly impressed me."
The First Emperor was initially frightened.
They really thought Li Lin was going to confess.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, don't listen to Li Lin's one-sided story! Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"
"Li You, I saw everything you just did. You actually poisoned someone in the Censorate's kitchen. Did you think you could get away with it perfectly? Did you think no one could find out? Hmm?"
"Ah? Your Majesty, you saw it all? Ah..."
Li You's legs suddenly went weak, and he collapsed to the ground.
Upon seeing this, the guards protecting the First Emperor immediately arrested Li You.
"Alright, Li Lin, go and tell everyone that you will skip lunch here today and have a meal at the Court of Justice instead!"
"promise!"
[Phew, seeing the First Emperor just now scared me to death! Thankfully it was a false alarm. I hope I didn't act that arrogantly. What if the First Emperor had seen me acting arrogantly? Would that temperamental emperor's attitude towards me worsen afterward?]
No sooner had Li Lin left than the First Emperor, before he could even enjoy himself for a moment, began to twitch his facial muscles.
Damn it.
When have I ever been one to hold grudges? Although I am a vengeful person, I don't usually hold grudges, okay? It's only when Crown Prince Dan humiliated me like he did in Zhao that I truly wanted to kill him.
That brat is really wicked. He's so respectful to me on the surface, but behind my back he's anything but polite.
Got it!
Didn't I intend to dismiss the laborers who were building the mausoleum?
I will issue an edict to have him personally go to Mount Li tomorrow to dismiss the laborers who are forced to perform corvée labor. The round trip will take up the whole month, and he can get married when he returns. It will also put a good rest to your arrogance, you brat!
snort!
At this moment, Li Si, who was handling government affairs in the Court of Justice, was still worried about His Majesty's sudden desire to change the Legalist school's dominant position in the Qin Dynasty that morning. Meanwhile, Li You, whom he had confined at home, secretly ran away.
He was still unaware of the poisoning plot at the Censorate.
If he knew, he wouldn't be sitting here talking to the younger Wang Li.
"General Wang, do you know what His Majesty wanted to do this morning?"
"Yes, Grandpa understands. He said he doesn't understand what His Majesty is trying to do either."
"Alas, General Wang doesn't understand. What about Mr. Wei Liao?"
"He also frankly admitted that he didn't understand it!"
"He didn't understand either?"
Li Si was somewhat surprised, after all, Wei Liao was like a god in his mind, who accurately predicted the First Emperor's character and way of being, so he resigned from his official post early on and went into seclusion to make money and live a carefree life with the help of his family's influence.
If even a politically astute old fox like him frankly admits he doesn't understand, then there's no need to mention the slow-witted Prime Minister of Qin.
"It seems that His Majesty does not intend to harm our group of nobles. If he really wanted to harm us, he would not have suddenly chosen to abandon the Legalist school and his own loyal forces. So, Grandpa doesn't understand, because he can't explain what His Majesty is really trying to do. Is it really just a facade to save the Great Qin?"
Although young Wang Li is familiar with politics, there are still many barriers to understanding it. He can no longer comprehend the discussions of the First Emperor or the elders around him.
Therefore, he became a mere messenger.
Firstly, it would be convenient to avoid suspicion, and secondly, Wang Li was originally under the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice, so being close to him would give him an advantage, and it would be convenient to use him.
"I hope His Majesty truly wants to change the current decadent state of the Great Qin. However, what does General Wang think of Li Lin's sudden overtures to me this morning?"
"Grandpa thinks Li Lin and his brother Li Xin are not on the same side. He can't win over his brother, but he can win over Li Lin. He revealed his intentions this morning. He's a fence-sitter and doesn't want to offend either side too much."
"Oh? Is that really the case?"
Li Si's tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed. He really didn't understand Li Lin's sudden decision to speak up for him this morning.
Of course, Wang Jian's analysis is not without merit.
After all, Li Lin at that time truly chose to protect himself. You could say that he was a fence-sitter, the kind who didn't offend either side.
"Then I must spend the next few days negotiating with the Censor-in-Chief to ensure that the Censorate does not completely side with Li Xin. If Li Xin retaliates against us, we will still have a fighting chance!"
Just as he decided to maintain a good relationship with Li Lin.
Suddenly a voice came from outside the hall: "Prime Minister, Prime Minister, something terrible has happened! Your son has been captured alive by His Majesty!"
"What?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
