Ying Fusu

The next few days were much easier than Fusu had anticipated.

The defense of the emperor's residence and matters of martial law were personally overseen by General Meng Tian, ​​along with more than two thousand border troops he brought, and more than a thousand imperial guards who were already accompanying the emperor, all available for deployment.

The funeral and body collection for the First Emperor were handled by officials from the Fengchang (a high-ranking official position) and Taizhu (another high-ranking official position), with the Left Chancellor Li Si coordinating internal and external affairs, and the Senior Minister Meng Yi supervising, or rather monitoring, the process.

Everything was led by a high-ranking official of sufficient importance, and also handled by professionals.

Naturally, Fusu didn't need to do things personally or worry about anything.

Instead of worrying about specific matters, Fusu spent the last few days planning what would happen after returning to Xianyang.

To be precise, these are several questions that might arise in the imperial court after returning to Xianyang, concerning this matter.

—Was there any hidden reason behind the sudden death of the First Emperor in the countryside?

Fusu could prove, through the accompanying imperial physicians, along with pulse records, medical records, prescriptions, and other corroborating evidence, that the First Emperor did indeed die of a serious illness and naturally.

This matter was also witnessed by important ministers accompanying the emperor: Left Chancellor Li Si.

...

—Was there any ulterior motive in Fusu and Meng Tian leading their troops to Shaqiu?

This point can be cleared of suspicion by examining the content of the "First Emperor's Last Edict" regarding the urgent summons of Prince Fusu.

Meng Tian led several thousand border troops to accompany Fusu to Shaqiu, which can also be interpreted as: the matter was of great importance, and for the sake of safety, he had no choice but to personally escort Fusu.

All of the above were minor issues that Fusu could explain and barely manage to get by with.

There are a few other matters that Fusu cannot answer for the time being, nor can he think of how to handle or deal with.

Firstly, what greatly worried Meng Tian and Meng Yi was that the First Emperor's will did not explicitly pass the throne to Fusu.

This is critical.

This is crucial for Fusu.

Although at that time, the First Emperor felt that his time was coming to an end and that he did not have much time left, he hurriedly summoned Fusu to Shaqiu, which is enough to indirectly show the First Emperor's inclination, which can be understood as an 'hint'.

But ultimately, it didn't explicitly name Fusu and declare that the throne would be passed on to him—it just fell short of the mark.

This also left a "room for maneuver" that greatly angered Fusu, which the Xianyang court could later interpret and understand.

You said that the First Emperor's will stipulated that Prince Fusu should handle the funeral arrangements, which implies that the throne should be passed to the eldest son.

Well.

If we're talking about hints, the prince Huhai, who accompanied the First Emperor on this eastern tour, was also someone the First Emperor greatly favored and even "placed high hopes on," which is why he was brought along.

Prince Fusu was the eldest son who offended the First Emperor with his remonstrance and was sent to Shangjun to endure the wind and sand of the border.

Prince Huhai was the First Emperor's youngest son, who was inseparable from him day and night and was extremely favored by the emperor.

Is it really possible to say who the First Emperor truly intended as his successor?

The will that Prince Fusu should handle the funeral could indeed have been an indication that the First Emperor was passing the throne to Fusu.

But it's only a "possibility".

Even the greatest possibility is still just a possibility, not a certainty.

Another possibility is that the First Emperor favored his son, Huhai, to become the second emperor of the Qin Dynasty.

Two years ago, Fusu was sent to Shangjun to make room for Prince Huhai;

This time, the reason why Prince Fusu was chosen to handle the funeral arrangements was because Prince Huhai was too young and unable to manage the affairs, so Fusu had to be entrusted with the task...

If we follow this line of reasoning, even the First Emperor's vague and ambiguous statements about passing the throne seem more reasonable.

He wanted to pass the throne to Huhai, but he also needed Fusu to help Huhai clean up the mess and complete the transfer of power after his death.

He was worried that if he explicitly stated that he would pass the throne to Huhai, Fusu would not help Huhai, so he spoke vaguely.

Like dangling a radish in front of a donkey, leaving Fusu with a glimmer of hope...

...

"Besides the forged edict ordering the deaths of Prince Fusu and General Meng Tian, ​​I also saw a second forged edict in that dream."

The imperial edict reads: Prince Huhai shall be established as the crown prince.

In the 37th year of the First Emperor's reign, on the 15th day of the 7th month of autumn.

The Holy One arrived on the low hill outside the camp.

Fusu stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at the officials and soldiers who were busily preparing to depart for their fiefdoms.

He uttered a single word, which prompted Li Si behind him to bow and cup his hands in greeting.

"Zhao Gao did indeed have this intention."

"But Zhao Gao and I finally agreed that it would not be too late to draft the second forged edict after the prince receives the imperial decree to be beheaded."

"The prince did not obey the imperial edict to commit suicide, but instead led his troops here. Naturally, the forged edict that supported the prince Huhai could not be made public."

Amidst the busyness of the past two days, Li Si has gradually come to his senses.

—What dreams, what "divine revelation"—it was all just Fusu's pretentious explanation.

The truth is most likely that Fusu had already planted spies around the emperor and the First Emperor.

Over the past two years, everything that happened around the First Emperor was reported to Fusu in great detail by his spies.

This naturally includes Zhao Gao and Li Si, who considered the Dune Coup to be sufficiently secretive.

The dream was based on the premise that "Huhai will ascend the throne," and was the most likely scenario deduced step by step.

Or rather, it's the worst-case scenario.

At this moment, when Fusu mentions "dream" again, Li Si hears it as Fusu subtly warning him that nothing that happened back then escaped Prince Fusu's discerning eyes.

Without hesitation, Li Si gave a reply. After a moment's thought, he understood Fusu's concerns.

Then he added, "Before Zhao Gao left, I specifically searched his body."

"It has been confirmed that Zhao Gao did not carry anything that would be detrimental to the prince or to the Qin Dynasty."

"You can rest assured about Zhao Gao, my lord."

Upon hearing this, Fusu felt somewhat relieved.

There are only doubts and worries on the surface, but there is still no sign of the situation easing.

"Phew~"

Whether or not that forged imperial edict exists is secondary.

"Right now, what puts me in the most difficult position is Eighteen..."

Fusu's words revealed the key point, and Li Si immediately understood.

After a moment of contemplation, he sighed helplessly, "His Majesty's will did not explicitly establish an heir."

"On this eastern tour, Zhao Gao once again misled him with his words, and Prince Huhai was brought along."

"This is indeed a very tricky situation..."

...

"If Prince Huhai had not returned to Xianyang alive, there would have been gossip among the people: the First Emperor had originally established Prince Huhai as his successor, but he was killed by the eldest prince."

"But then the Sand Dune Incident happened first, so the eldest son had no choice but to place the eighteenth son under house arrest..."

As soon as Li Si finished speaking, Fusu turned his head leisurely and looked at Li Si with a dark gaze.

"And Zhao Gao."

"When the First Emperor died in the countryside, his son Huhai's tutor and the chief charioteer Zhao Gao mysteriously 'disappeared'."

"Isn't this just giving people something to criticize?"

"What if, when the gossip in Xianyang is at its peak, Zhao Gao jumps out and says that the First Emperor originally had eighteen sons?"

"As a result, the eldest son, Fusu, harbored treacherous intentions and, together with General Meng Tian and Chancellor Li, 'usurped' the throne that rightfully belonged to his younger brother?"

...

"What exactly were Zhao Gao and Li Xiang's plans?"

Why let them go?

"—Is it really because you were worried I wouldn't be able to handle Zhao Gao that you're helping me out?"