Ying Fusu

There's a saying that Meng Tian was right about.

—With the imperial seal and tally in hand, Zhao Gao could issue edicts at will.

As the Left Chancellor, Li Si was able to provide official endorsement at the court level for the edicts and decrees produced by Zhao Gao.

Furthermore, with the death of the First Emperor, the two were no longer restrained;

The secret of the death allowed the two men to gain crucial access to information.

This made the two of them almost omnipotent, at least for this period of time.

At the same time the plan was finalized, the First Emperor, who had been stranded in Shaqiu for more than ten days, was able to set off eastward.

Continue the eastern tour.

Just as when the First Emperor was still alive, it seemed that nothing had changed.

At the same time, fishy and smelly salted fish appeared outside the imperial carriage due to the edict of the First Emperor.

Don't ask.

The answer is that His Majesty has a poor appetite and wants to smell this to whet his appetite.

The seemingly absurd and bizarre scene went completely unnoticed by anyone.

—In recent years, the First Emperor has done quite a few absurd things.

Especially in the pursuit of immortality and enlightenment, it's as outrageous as it gets.

In addition, their already not-so-gentle temper became increasingly violent with age, and over time, the ministers all developed this trait.

Can't afford to provoke, can I still not hide?

Do whatever you want.

Anyway, they won't listen to advice, and I'll just get beaten up for no reason...

Even Zhao Gao's preemptive arrangement to have someone relay messages on his behalf, preventing the accompanying ministers from meeting the emperor, was largely ignored.

—Who would be so kind as to have nothing better to do than voluntarily pay homage to the aging First Emperor?

...

Well, you know what?

There really is such a person.

"not see?"

A dozen or so paces outside the imperial carriage, Minister Meng Yi arrived, looking travel-worn, clearly having just caught up with the eastern inspection team.

In front of Meng Yi, Zhao Gao bent slightly, using one hand to block Meng Yi, and then nodded slightly.

"His Majesty is unwell and unable to see his ministers."

After speaking, Zhao Gao paused briefly in silence, then added, "If there is anything important, the Grand Minister may draft a memorial and have it forwarded by Prime Minister Li."

"Well…"

"Even if it is to be forwarded, it will probably be necessary to choose an auspicious day."

"Today, I'm afraid..."

As soon as Zhao Gao finished speaking, Meng Yi frowned.

While secretly annoyed, he couldn't help but feel a slight chill.

—On this eastern tour, the imperial entourage first went to Kuaiji, and then took the sea route north to Langya.

From the moment the emperor left Xianyang, Meng Yi remained by his side, never leaving the First Emperor's side.

However, on the sea route from Kuaiji to Langya County, the First Emperor's condition suddenly worsened.

Perhaps it was the sea breeze, or perhaps it couldn't withstand the turbulence of the waves.

Therefore, he ordered Meng Yi to turn back and return to Kuaiji to pray to the mountains and rivers for his own good.

That's precisely the crux of the problem.

—When Meng Yi set off on his mission and returned to Kuaiji, the First Emperor was already seriously ill!

In the course of their journey, the imperial entourage had traveled from Langya County to Shaqiu, where they stayed for nearly twenty days.

In Meng Yi's view, who knew that "the First Emperor was seriously ill," the twenty days that the emperor stayed in Shaqiu was a sign of great change!

Earlier, when he learned that the imperial procession had set off again from the dunes to continue its eastern tour, Meng Yiben was somewhat relieved.

But at this moment, seeing Zhao Gao blocking his way from a great distance outside the imperial carriage, Meng Yi's heart, which had been at ease, was once again gripped by anxiety.

"His Majesty……"

"Are you alright?"

The question, which seemed to imply something but was actually meant to be said, made Zhao Gao's heart tighten immediately!

Without showing any emotion, he nodded slightly again.

"She is out of danger."

"Your Majesty has been traveling on this eastern tour, and Your Majesty's entourage stayed at Shaqiu for more than ten days before Your Majesty was able to rest and recuperate."

...

"Perhaps it was the sincerity of your prayers to the mountains and rivers that brought Your Majesty the favor of the gods?"

The calm, even deliberately composed, response made Meng Yi's heart sink again.

—His Majesty is unwell and cannot see his ministers.

—His Majesty has been recuperating in the sand dunes for more than ten days and is now out of danger.

Since stopping Meng Yi, Zhao Gao has only said these two sentences.

Two contradictory sentences that don't make sense...

"His Majesty……"

"His Majesty……"

...

"His Majesty!"

"Get out of the way!"

"Minister Meng Yi requests an audience with His Majesty!"

In the silence, a sudden roar drew all eyes around the Holy Emperor toward the source of the sound.

Everyone turned to look in the direction of the sound and saw that Meng Yi, the usually stern and amiable high-ranking official, was being forced to kneel on the ground by several eunuchs.

With his hands tied behind his back and his head being forcefully pressed down, Meng Yi still managed to use all his strength to stubbornly look up at the distance.

That almost manic gaze landed squarely—right on the imperial carriage a dozen steps away…

"His Majesty!"

"His Majesty!!"

"Your subject is returning!!"

...

"Your Majesty~~~!"

The continuous roars drew even more people to the vicinity of the dragon carriage.

Before Meng Yi, Zhao Gao, the chief eunuch in charge of the imperial carriage, looked pale and repeatedly waved his hand, directing the eunuch: "Mouth!"

"Gag me!"

...

"Do not disturb His Majesty!!"

At Zhao Gao's command, a smelly cloth was stuffed into Meng Yi's mouth.

Poor Meng Yi, he traveled back and forth to Kuaiji for more than a month, without even having time to drink a sip of water, before rushing to meet the emperor to report back.

At this moment, however, he was pinned to the ground by several eunuchs, thrashing and struggling like a live fish.

He could only utter indistinct "mmm" sounds, his eyes still fixed on the dragon carriage not far away, his eyes wide with rage.

"Help! Help!!"

"Protect the Emperor!!!"

...

After a brief moment of panic, Zhao Gao finally regained his composure and let out several stern shouts.

In the blink of an eye, dozens of armored guards rapidly gathered from unknown places around them, erected dozens of giant shields, and surrounded the dragon carriage.

After a long silence, one of the imperial guards stepped forward and approached Zhao Gao with an uneasy expression.

"High Minister Meng Yi has suddenly launched an assassination attempt on the Emperor!"

"Take it down immediately!!!"

Before the commander of the Imperial Guards could ask a question, Zhao Gao suddenly raised his hand and pointed at Meng Yi, who was wriggling like a maggot.

But then the commander of the Imperial Guards frowned and knelt down in front of Meng Yi.

He tilted his head and observed carefully for a moment, and when he found that it was indeed Meng Yi, the Minister of Works, his expression became even more strange.

"this……"

Seeing that the commander of the Imperial Guards had some doubts, Zhao Gao suddenly raised his foot and kicked the sword at Meng Yi's waist.

He glared menacingly at the Imperial Guard Commander, then turned back and feigned fear, bowing slightly towards the imperial carriage.

Seeing Zhao Gao's attitude, the commander of the imperial guards, though still having doubts, dared not dwell on it any longer.

He immediately waved his hand, ordering someone to lift Meng Yi off the ground.

Just as he was about to reach out and take the rag out of Meng Yi's mouth, a slightly hoarse but still imposing deep voice came from the direction of the dragon carriage behind him.

"Get out of the way!!!"

!!!

In an instant, hundreds of figures knelt down within fifty paces of the imperial carriage.

No one dared to utter a sound.

No one dared to look up.

Naturally, no one noticed that Li Si, the Left Chancellor who should have been among the crowd, was nowhere to be seen until now.

Not far away, inside the dragon carriage surrounded by the crowd, the First Emperor, who had just shouted angrily, now covered his mouth and nose and closed his eyes tightly.

They dared not utter a sound either.

They didn't dare to look up either.

He dared not open his eyes to look at the tall, slender figure lying flat in the carriage beside him...