People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 566, Xu Qing: Don't rush, let the bullets fly for a while.
"No, absolutely not. The king has just assumed power, and we members of the royal family should do our best to assist him and help him establish his authority. Even if we can't, we should at least try to create some trouble."

Lord Weiyang said somewhat anxiously.

"So what do you think we should do?"

Everyone looked at Lord Weiyang, waiting for his answer.

Seeing that Lord Jingyang and the others were getting carried away, Lord Weiyang knew he couldn't openly oppose them, otherwise it would only make them more impulsive. After a moment's thought, he spoke.

“I know everyone is anxious, and I know this matter cannot be delayed. But now that King Zhaoming has just assumed the position of Chancellor and has read out the King’s decree.”

"If we object now, wouldn't we be making the King and Lord Zhaoming lose face?"

“Scholars should be expelled, but Lord Zhaoming is wholeheartedly loyal to Qin and has made great contributions to Qin. We must not cause trouble when he has just become prime minister, otherwise Lord Zhaoming will think that our royal family also rejects him.”

"So we'll wait two days, and we don't have any substantial evidence that Zheng Guo was a spy."

"Investigate the evidence first, and then we will take action once we have the evidence and Zhaomingjun has secured his position as prime minister."

After hearing what Lord Weiyang said, Lord Jingyang and the other members of the royal family regained some of their composure.

Scholars should be driven away, but Xu Qing cannot leave. After all, the Qin state desperately needs a prime minister who is younger, more loyal, and has greater ability and influence than Lü Buwei.

"Okay, let's find substantial evidence first."

Lord Jingyang and the others said.

Seeing that he had calmed everyone down, Lord Weiyang breathed a slight sigh of relief, but he was even more eager to discuss a solution with Xu Qing.

. . . . . . .

As night fell, the members of the royal family, including Lord Jingyang, left Lord Weiyang's residence.

Upon seeing this, the spy who had been secretly watching looked around and, finding no one else, quickly withdrew.

Just after the scout left, a web-like assassin wearing a straw hat and with black spider webs tattooed on the back of his hand appeared where the scout had been standing.

Glancing at the people leaving the royal court in the distance and then at the direction the scouts had gone, a hint of disdain flashed in the cold eyes of the Luo Wang assassin.

Unaware that he had been discovered, the scout wandered through Xianyang City, eventually returning to the residence of Lord Changping.

Changping Jun's residence
After the scout knocked on the door, he slipped inside and closed the door behind him.

"Your Majesty, the matter has been resolved."

The scout bowed to Lord Changping, Xiong Qi, and Lord Changwen.

Upon hearing this, Chang Wenjun's eyes flashed with a glint of light. He rose slightly and asked a question, but then, remembering that this was Xiong Qi's residence, he sat down again.

"What's the situation? What's the royal family doing?"

Xiong Qi looked at the scout and asked calmly.

“After entering the residence of Lord Jingyang, the royal family members and ministers did not leave until dusk. They did not go to the palace, but instead headed towards their respective residences.”

The scout spoke slowly.

"The royal family hasn't made a move? That shouldn't be the case. When did they become so patient?"

Chang Wenjun said with some surprise.

Xiong Qi glanced at Chang Wenjun, then nodded to the scout, signaling him to leave.

"Subordinates retire."

After bowing, the scout turned and left the room, leaving only Xiong Qi and Chang Wenjun behind.

"Brother, do you think the royal family knows something? After learning that Zheng Guo was a spy, they haven't taken any action?"

Chang Wenjun looked at Xiong Qi and asked in a deep voice.

Lord Changwen knew perfectly well the true nature of the royal family members, including Lord Weiyang. These people had nothing but passion and loyalty to the Qin state, but their own abilities were not particularly shrewd or capable; they were, in fact, incompetent and useless.

Unless the other party is aware of his and Xiong Qi's scheme, it is impossible for them to remain indifferent.

Xiong Qi's expression was somewhat solemn, his face full of contemplation. The fact that the imperial clan had made no move was also beyond his expectations.

Given the temperament of the royal family and the personnel transfer decree issued today by Xu Qing and Ying Zheng to deliberately protect the Lü Buwei faction, it's impossible for the royal family to remain silent after learning that Zheng Guo was a spy.

As for whether the imperial clan would notice anything, Xiong Qi thought it was impossible. If there were truly such wise people in the imperial clan, they wouldn't have been suppressed for so many years and relegated to the margins of the court.

"Don't rush, let things ferment a little longer. Send someone to obtain the evidence of Zheng's leak of military and political information from the royal family in a reasonable manner. If there is substantial evidence, the royal family will definitely not be able to sit still any longer."

Xiong Qi spoke calmly, giving off an air of complete control.

"it is good."

Chang Wenjun nodded, and just as he was about to arrange for someone to deliver the evidence to the imperial clan, he suddenly stopped, looked at Xiong Qi with a slight frown, and asked with some curiosity.
"Brother, how did you know that Zheng Guo was a spy? And how did you obtain evidence that he leaked military and political intelligence of our Great Qin?"

Faced with this sudden question, Xiong Qi looked up at Chang Wenjun and said calmly.
“Back then, Your Majesty was close to the State of Zheng and made him a close advisor. My aunt was worried that this man might have impure intentions, so she asked me to investigate him secretly.” “Just this year, when Your Majesty secretly returned from the State of Han to Huang Ziheng, my men discovered that the State of Zheng not only knew about this beforehand, but had also secretly written a letter to Zhang Kaidi, the prime minister of the State of Han, informing him of this matter.”

"Thus, following this lead, I discovered his identity as a spy and the evidence that he leaked military and political information to South Korea."

"Because the Guanzhong irrigation canal is about to be completed, I have been holding back the evidence and not releasing it. I will wait until the canal is clear and there are no problems before reporting to Your Majesty."

Hearing his elder brother's explanation, Changwenjun's heart stirred slightly, but he didn't say much, nodding thoughtfully as he spoke.
"So that's how it is. Luckily, my aunt asked you to keep an eye on Zheng, otherwise we would probably all be kept in the dark."

The aunt they referred to was Empress Dowager Huayang, the true spiritual leader of the Chu state's foreign relatives.

"Indeed, Zheng's actions have betrayed the trust of the King and Qin," Xiong Qi sighed.

"Alas, life is unpredictable. I'll go arrange the manpower first."

Chang Wenjun did not continue the topic. After bowing to Xiong Qi, he turned and walked outside.

After Changwenjun left, a thoughtful look flashed in Xiong Qi's eyes. He glanced at the bamboo slips on the table that he hadn't had time to hand to Xu Qing, and said softly...

"Does he suspect me? Probably not. It seems I need to be more careful from now on."

The fact that Zheng Guo was a spy was not something he discovered as he claimed; rather, it was Zhang Kai who told him on his own initiative.

When Zheng entered Qin, Ying Zheng issued an edict ordering them to build an irrigation canal, and Ying Zheng secretly exerted considerable effort in this matter.

Few people knew his true identity, and Zhang Kaidi, who was openly a supporter of Qin, was actually an anti-Qin figure.

Zhang Kaidi was also one of their anti-Qin allies. He secretly helped them a lot. Otherwise, why was Zhang Kaidi the only one who was able to successfully complete the peace talks between Han and Qin?

However, in order to better conceal his identity and weaken the Qin state, he had no choice but to betray the Zheng state, using it to intensify the conflict between the royal family and the scholars, plunging the Qin state into internal strife once again.

On the other side, after leaving Xiong Qi's residence, Chang Wenjun got into his own carriage.

Inside the carriage, Chang Wenjun recalled Xiong Qi's words, his expression somewhat somber, his eyes darting around, his hands clenched tightly.

"I hope I'm overthinking it. My brother probably did this for the sake of the future of the Chu state's powerful relatives, thus sacrificing the country for personal gain and deceiving the emperor. I'm probably just imagining things."

Chang Wenjun comforted himself and gradually loosened his clenched fist.

. . . . . . . .

As night gradually enveloped Xianyang, Xu Qing, who had spent the day reviewing documents at the Prime Minister's residence, returned to his own mansion.

Xu Qing hadn't even had a chance to eat when Lord Weiyang came to his door to discuss matters concerning the State of Zheng.

In a side room of the residence of Lord Zhaoming, where guests were being received.

"Lord Zhaoming, something terrible has happened! Lord Jingyang has discovered that Zheng Guo is a spy, and today he is dissatisfied with your and Your Majesty's protection of officials from Lü Buwei's faction. He has gathered members of the royal family and is preparing to threaten Your Majesty with suicide."

Lord Weiyang looked anxious and recounted what had happened at his residence that day.

Xu Qing looked at the anxious Lord Weiyang with a calm expression, as if the important matter that Lord Weiyang mentioned, which could affect the foundation of the Qin state, was just a trivial matter.

"Lord Weiyang, please don't be in a hurry. Sit down and have a sip of tea."

Xu Qing pushed the tea towards Lord Weiyang and said slowly and deliberately.

"What time is it? I have no appetite for tea. It was you and the King who made me lead the royal family against the scholars. Now that such a big mess has happened in Zheng, I have no appetite for tea."

Looking at Xu Qing, who remained completely calm, Lord Weiyang tightened his sleeve and said urgently.

"You don't need to worry. I already knew that Zheng was a spy and that someone had secretly leaked this information to the royal family. I already have a plan to deal with it, and everything is under control."

Xu Qing chuckled softly, then pushed the tea towards Lord Weiyang again, and said slowly.

"Huh!? You knew all along!?"

Lord Weiyang stared at Xu Qing in astonishment and said in disbelief.

"Correct."

Xu Qing nodded. He had known from the beginning that Zheng Guo was a spy for the state of Han, after all, this matter was quite famous in history.

It is true that Zheng Guo was Zhang Kaidi's spy, but he was also genuinely dedicated to building the Guanzhong Canal for the Qin state, fulfilling his duties to the best of his ability without any compromise.

Zhang Kaidi achieved his goal of delaying Qin's eastward expansion, but the Zheng Guo Canal, as Zheng Guo had said when he entered Qin, transformed the Guanzhong Plain into fertile land.

This ensured that Qin never lacked provisions for its external campaigns, eliminating the need to expend enormous manpower and resources transporting grain from Ba and Shu to Guanzhong. If Qin had possessed this canal before the Battle of Changping, why would it have needed to gamble its national destiny with Zhao?

As for the matter of Chu's foreign relatives leaking information to the royal family, Lord Changwen did indeed do it extremely discreetly, but the Luowang (a secret police organization) was not to be trifled with.

Earlier, Lü Buwei had ordered Luo Wang to keep an eye on Xiong Qi and Chang Wenjun. The moment Chang Wenjun sent someone to leak the information, Zhen Gang told him about it.

He was originally thinking about how to resolve the conflict between the royal family and the scholars, and how to make the royal family and the Chu state relatives fight each other. Unexpectedly, Xiong Qi and Changwen Jun gave him a ready-made solution.

(End of this chapter)