Ying Fusu

Outside the maple forest, the Emperor arrived at the camp.

Having become aware and alert a few days earlier due to Meng Yi's "assassination attempt," the accompanying officials finally turned their suspicious gazes frequently toward Zhao Gao at the front of the crowd.

—What's going on here?

Don't tell me nothing happened!

The eldest son has already attacked!

The General has come too!

The reason why a large army has not yet marched on the border is probably only because of the word "holy carriage," to avoid the suspicion of "storming the imperial carriage and causing chaos."

However, this was limited to avoiding suspicion.

If it really comes to the point where we can't care about avoiding suspicion and have to resort to violence...

"May I ask, Commander Zhao?"

"Your Majesty, how are you today?"

Finally, a question that sounded like a death knell rang out from the crowd, drawing everyone's attention back to Zhao Gao.

The unusual events of the past few days, Meng Yi's assassination attempt, and today, the arrival of the eldest son, Fusu, with his troops approaching the Emperor's residence...

All signs indicate that something has happened to the First Emperor.

It is highly likely that the First Emperor had already fallen into a coma and that his condition was extremely critical.

Moreover, at this moment, the Emperor is in Guandong, on the land of the former six states, which is ultimately not as safe as Qin.

Therefore, Zhao Gao and Li Si—one a trusted inner court official and the other a high-ranking official in the court—were ordered by the First Emperor to temporarily conceal the news.

He also dispatched messengers at breakneck speed to summon the eldest son, Fusu, to come and take charge of the situation in response to the great upheaval...

"If the Emperor's arrival is indeed disrupted, the eldest son will be in charge of the overall situation."

"Zhao Shuling did indeed obey His Majesty's orders and refused all audiences with the Emperor in order to protect His Majesty's safety."

"But I shouldn't refuse the eldest son..."

...

"Hiss~"

"Could it be that Zhao Shuling intends to take this opportunity to support his own student, Prince Huhai, on the throne?"

With each question or discussion uttered from the crowd, Zhao Gao's face darkened further.

Until the elite cavalry returned and stopped their horses again outside the camp.

"Young Master, inform Zhao Gao, the Chief of the Imperial Chariots, once again."

"I have come here on important military matters concerning the border, which I must report to His Majesty immediately."

"I trouble you, Commander Zhao, to explain the advantages and disadvantages of this situation to His Majesty."

"The eldest son will repay you in due time."

As soon as Jingqi finished speaking, the noise in the crowd subsided for a moment.

A moment later, the sounds of discussion rose and fell once again.

"What exactly is wrong with His Majesty?"

...

"Where is the imperial physician?"

...

……

Even now, no one is speculating in the direction of the First Emperor's death.

Or rather, he dared not guess.

Even though the area around the imperial carriage was filled with the extremely unusual stench of salted fish, no one dared to imagine that the First Emperor had already passed away.

At the front of the crowd, Zhao Gao's expression changed repeatedly, turning pale and then white again.

Finally, he gritted his teeth, left the elite cavalry with the words "I'll go and inform them," and then ran towards the imperial carriage as if fleeing.

As they watched Zhao Gao's retreating figure, the officials accompanying him continued to discuss and debate amongst themselves.

Inevitably, some of those from prominent families, and also those who were bolder, would strike up conversations with the elite cavalry.

"Not only this time, how many troops did the eldest son bring?"

Upon hearing this, the elite cavalryman's expression hardened, and he blurted out without thinking.

"His Majesty summoned over a hundred border generals and officers, along with their subordinate generals and attendants, numbering in the dozens."

"In addition, there were several hundred craftsmen and officials supervising the construction of the Great Wall."

This is clearly a statement that Fusu has taught him well.

—Three thousand men, all of them cavalry;

Without a plausible explanation, it's impossible to explain why such a large group of people would approach the Emperor's residence.

The only reasonable explanation is that the First Emperor summoned more than just Fusu and Meng Tian.

It's perfectly reasonable for the First Emperor to care about border defenses, summon border generals to understand the situation, and then encourage and admonish them in person, right?

Since I just remembered the Great Wall, I summoned the relevant person in charge to urge the project's progress. That's understandable, isn't it?

With hundreds of generals, hundreds of artisans and clerks, plus their respective attendants and guards—two or three thousand people would be perfectly reasonable.

As for whether this claim holds water?

Such things often do not require very solid evidence.

There's a saying that as long as you can get by, that's fine.

After all, the phrase "coming by calling" is meant for the whole world to hear.

Most of those present knew the truth: the real situation was likely that something had happened to the emperor, and the First Emperor had urgently summoned his eldest son.

To put it nicely, it means taking control of the situation; to put it bluntly, it means being prepared for unforeseen circumstances—being ready to take over at any time.

As for the excuse of bringing troops, it was naturally to cover up the sudden situation of "changes in the emperor's presence".

Enough to deal with outsiders—enough to deal with people who don't know the truth, no need to deceive "our own people".

At this point, the assembled officials and nobles had finally grasped the general situation.

He calmed himself down a bit and waited quietly with the elite cavalry for Zhao Gao to leave.

Little did they know, inside the tent just a few steps behind the imperial carriage.

Zhao Gao and Li Si, however, remained silent as their expressions shifted.

"Where is the young master?"

Li Si asked in a deep voice, and Zhao Gao waved his hand impatiently: "Perhaps he was relieving himself."

...

"Li Xiang believed that if we feign submission and allow commoners and children to approach His Majesty;"

"Then, with soldiers lying in ambush around the emperor, they suddenly attacked..."

"—No."

Before Zhao Gao could finish speaking, Li Si shook his head slightly, rejecting the feasibility of Zhao Gao's plan.

"It's impossible to do it."

"Zhao, the commander, still can't see through the situation?"

"—It's impossible."

"The matter is settled."

In his gentle and soft-spoken manner, Li Si's tone surprisingly lacked the panic and unease of the previous days.

It's like they've resigned themselves to their fate.

It's as if they know defeat is inevitable, yet they are still confident in preserving themselves.

Zhao Gao panicked completely and took two steps forward impatiently as soon as Li Si finished speaking.

"So you just accept your fate like this?!"

"To die, have one's clan exterminated, and leave behind an everlasting infamy?!"

After uttering two low growls, Zhao Gao's blood was churning and his eyes turned bloodshot.

A look of madness flashed in his eyes, but his body trembled violently uncontrollably.

True despair is knowing that defeat is inevitable and that things are hopeless, yet still having no chance of success even when you want to perish together with others.

This was Zhao Gao's mindset at that time.

Admit defeat?

Zhao Gao absolutely did not believe that he could gain several more decades of life in the hands of that eldest son!

Li Si might have a chance.

As the Left Chancellor, Li Si had many protégés and former officials who spoke highly of him both inside and outside the court.

Even if it were due to political considerations—from the perspective of maintaining stability in the court, the newly enthroned and unstable Second Emperor Fusu might very well spare Li Si's life.

At the very least, they should pretend to forgive, wait for the court to stabilize, and then find another pretext to kill Li Si.

But Zhao Gao did not have this honor.

The 600-stone official in charge of the central chariot had no qualifications whatsoever, and the new emperor was hesitant to act against him for fear of causing further harm...

"Why not go all the way and do it all!"

"A draft edict was drafted, accusing a mere child and a commoner of plotting rebellion!"

"Once the imperial edict is issued, the armies of the commanderies and kingdoms will be dispatched to escort the emperor, and the outcome will be uncertain!"

...

"Okay, let's do it this way!"

"I would also like to trouble Minister Li to draft a proclamation on my behalf..."

As he was speaking, Zhao Gao involuntarily stopped talking.

When that mad gaze fell upon the Imperial Seal of the State, carved from the He Shi Bi jade, which Li Si held in his hands, Zhao Gao's eyes were filled with nothing but endless bewilderment.

"I have already sent men to arrest Prince Huhai."

Then Li Si spoke softly, and his eyes dimmed.

"The Imperial Seal of the State shall be temporarily held by me on behalf of the Second Emperor."

"Zhao, run!"

"Escape to the ends of the earth, hide your identity, and live a wretched life."

...

"There needs to be an explanation for what happened here."

"—Zhao Gao, the magistrate of the Central Railway Bureau, plotted treason and fled to avoid punishment."

"And the Left Chancellor Li Si..."

"The Left Chancellor of my Great Qin must never be a traitorous minister!"

"Even if I die, I must never die for the crime of 'treason'..."