Chapter 155: Flatterers should be removed from the court
In Xianyang Palace.
When Zhao Ji said the four words "I disagree", the originally peaceful atmosphere instantly became cold.
The change was rapid and without any trace of transformation.
It was like a glass being thrown hard onto the concrete floor and shattering with a "snap".
The ministers who had been smiling just now all lowered their heads slightly, and their smiles seemed to be eaten by an unknown existence .
The door of the Xianyang Palace was wide open, and the bleak autumn wind blew around the palace and ran away with its tail and urine flowing.
Because at this moment, the Xianyang Palace was even more desolate than the autumn wind.
The First Emperor kept knocking on the handle of the throne with a smile on his face.
This was the only smile in the entire Xianyang Palace.
The other one was Ying Chengjiao, who was sitting in the first row in the hall with his eyes slightly narrowed.
The First Emperor did not squint his eyes, but half turned his head. The joy in his voice did not diminish in the slightest, and it also carried a hint of respect from a son to his mother.
"What does the Queen Mother think?"
"Qin has not yet appointed a crown prince, so today is worse than tomorrow. Fusu respects his parents, understands the people's wishes, is brave and resolute, and has a good reputation. Let's appoint Fusu today."
There was complete silence in the Xianyang Palace, with only Zhao Ji's voice echoing.
The ministers became more careful. They lowered their heads even more, but their backs remained straight.
The person involved, Ying Fusu, wanted to say something, but Ying Chengjiao, who was sitting next to him, grabbed his hand under the table.
Ying Fusu's hands tightened and his heart moved.
There was no expression on his face and no movement in his body.
He was about to stand up, but instead he sat upright on the ground, motionless, like a new clock.
"The Queen Mother is right. I have neglected this matter. From today on, Fusu is the Crown Prince of Qin."
The First Emperor knocked on the armrest and said happily.
Zhao Ji nodded, with satisfaction visible on her face.
The ministers waited for a while, and many of them stole a glance at the First Emperor.
Seeing that the First Emperor looked normal and there was no follow-up, they were certain that the Qin Dynasty really had a crown prince.
Although all the ministers had long considered Ying Fusu to be the crown prince, this matter would not be implemented until the First Emperor gave his consent.
Now it has been confirmed by the First Emperor, albeit in a frightening way.
But that also established the crown prince, and the result was good.
The ministers were delighted to hear this and prepared to stand up.
Ying Fusu stood up, bowed, and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
The ministers were still waiting for Ying Fusu to continue speaking, saying something like Fusu would restrain himself and observe propriety.
But no.
Ying Fusu said these three words and sat down again. His words were brief and there was no unnecessary elaboration.
This is very Qin-style.
When Ying Fusu sat down, it was as if he had turned on the switch for his ministers to stand up.
Led by Li Si, Wang Wan, Wei Liao and others, all the ministers stood up and bowed slightly.
"Your Majesty is wise."
Zhao Ji was often visited by people.
The charm she practiced had made many people fall at her feet.
But the feeling of those people paying homage to him was completely different from that of the most elite group of ministers of the Qin Dynasty paying homage to him.
How could the sense of accomplishment those servants felt when they paid homage to the emperor be compared with that of the ministers in the Xianyang Palace?
The huge crowd all bowed their heads before her, and the ministers who conquered the world lowered their bodies before her, which made Zhao Ji very excited.
This feeling was even more exciting than when she and Ying Yiren were in the dark and chaotic state of Zhao.
"Sit down."
"only."
There was another unanimous response, as if it had been rehearsed countless times beforehand, and the ministers took their seats.
The Crown Prince of Qin, the future Qin II, was established in just a few words.
In fact, it was not so deserted in the past.
For example, Zhou Qingchen, who had just been promoted from Pushe to Doctor, would have sung praises for the First Emperor under normal circumstances.
But now, Zhou Qingchen, who was labeled as a flatterer by the ministers, was extremely obedient, spoke little and didn't say a word more.
As many doctors in the Doctoral Office knelt obediently on the ground, he looked no different from the doctors around him . He looked like a learned man who had been promoted to the doctorate based on his knowledge.
"Now that the crown prince has been appointed, let Fusu handle government affairs as you wish. Since ancient times, it has never been reasonable to send a crown prince away."
Zhao Ji said as a matter of course.
The First Emperor kept knocking on the armrests and said with a smile, "Is that all? Does the Queen Mother have any other reasons?"
"Isn't this enough?"
"not enough."
"What did you say?"
Perhaps it was because the First Emperor had agreed to appoint a crown prince so readily.
For a moment, Zhao Ji was unable to react to what the First Emperor said.
She had been in Yongdi for so many years, and during the few days she returned to Xianyang, the First Emperor basically agreed to all her requests.
Just now, even regarding such an important matter as appointing a crown prince, the First Emperor agreed without hesitation.
Zhao Ji was not used to being suddenly rejected by the First Emperor.
The First Emperor stopped knocking on the armrest and narrowed his eyes slightly. His action was exactly the same as Ying Chengjiao's below.
"I haven't said enough. If this is the only reason given by the Queen Mother, Fusu will still go to Shangjun."
Zhao Ji's eyes narrowed and her voice became cold and icy.
"Then what's your reason for wanting Fusu to go to Shangjun?"
"The Queen Mother is tired. Zhao Gao, send her back to Ganquan."
"only."
Zhao Gao, who was standing on the right side of the First Emperor, walked up to Zhao Ji, bowed his head and clasped his hands with a respectful attitude.
"Queen, please."
Zhao Ji stared at the First Emperor, whose smile was no longer there, and countless storms gathered in her eyes.
She turned her head to look at the ministers below the stage.
The ministers remained silent, like deaf and blind people.
See nothing, hear nothing.
Zhao Ji woke up suddenly.
Her time is over.
The ministers in the Xianyang Palace were paying homage to the First Emperor, the puppet Zheng'er who sat on the throne, not to her, Zhao Ji.
The child who used to make mud walls just to keep warm at night is now the king of Qin and the king of the world.
King, why do you need to explain to others?
"I am indeed a little tired. Let's remove this seat."
Zhao Ji stood up and looked at the seats with some nostalgia.
This seat was sat by Queen Dowager Mi and Queen Dowager Huayang.
The Queen Mother of Qin had the power to supervise the country and, according to the law, could sit next to the king.
Zhao Ji was a little sad, but more relieved.
Ten years ago, she imprisoned herself in Yongdi for ten years in order to ensure the stability of Ying Zheng's throne, which was enough to show how deeply she loved Ying Zheng.
Today, she took the initiative to ask to remove her seat. The reason was the same as when she resolutely rushed to Yongdi, which was for the stability of Ying Zheng's throne.
She's making a statement.
Zhao Ji will not come to the court, and she, Zhao Ji, will not interfere with the king's power.
She would not govern the country like Empress Dowager Mi and Empress Dowager Huayang.
Ying Yiren, if you were alive you would see this scene.
Will you regret taking my mother and I back? Will you regret letting Zheng'er replace that brat and become king?
Zhao Ji glanced down at Ying Chengjiao and frowned slightly when she saw Ying Chengjiao and Ying Fusu sitting together.
Zhao Gao bent down and picked up the cushion that Zhao Ji had just sat on.
"No need to move."
The First Emperor knew what Zhao Ji was thinking, but he didn't need it.
The First Emperor was not afraid of anyone and did not avoid anything.
The Queen Mother has the right to hear government affairs, so it’s okay, she just needs to be provided with a seat.
The First Emperor did not mind giving this honor to Zhao Ji, nor did he mind Zhao Ji interfering in government affairs.
As long as Zhao Ji's words were meaningful and reasonable, the First Emperor would naturally listen.
But if the First Emperor cannot be convinced, then it will not work, not even if it is his biological mother who sits next to the throne.
Whether the cushion is there or not, and whether Zhao Ji sits on it or not, it makes no difference to the First Emperor in governing the country.
His power does not need to be established in this way.
In the five thousand years of Chinese history, this is the pride that belongs unique to the First Emperor and the spirit of an emperor who will be remembered forever.
Zhao Ji turned her head and smiled softly, her smile as bright as a spring flower, without a trace of coquettishness in it.
"Then leave it there."
Zhao Ji left the court meeting while it was still going on with light and brisk steps.
With a son like this, what else could I ask for?
"I intend for Fusu to go to Shangjun. Do you have any objections?"
Imperial Censor Feng Quji stood up and answered proudly.
"Shangjun is located on the frontier. As the saying goes, a gentleman should not stand under a dangerous wall. How can the prince, who is worth thousands of gold, leave? I beg Your Majesty to revoke your order."
Doctor Zhou Qingchen jumped up.
"Shen Sheng died in the inner court, Chong Er was safe outside the court. Who says that it is not safe in Shangjun?"
Doctor Bao Bailingzhi pointed at Zhou Qingchen's nose and cursed.
"You are a treacherous minister, a villain who deserves to be beheaded! This is Qin, not Jin. Duke Wen of Jin, Chong'er, was exiled because his father, Duke Xian of Jin, wanted to kill him. Are you saying that Your Majesty wants to kill the prince? How dare you alienate the relationship between Your Majesty and his son? I beg Your Majesty to capture this villain and kill him quickly!"
"Chong'er was forced to live in exile, but wasn't it because of his experience abroad that he became Duke Wen of Jin? Your Majesty's move clearly shows that you have high expectations for the Crown Prince. You don't understand the Holy Spirit. It's really ridiculous that you blindly oppose and slander Qingchen."
The First Emperor laughed heartily, like a tyrant.
"Zhou Qingchen is hidden in my heart."
"I am extremely lucky to have your Majesty's words!"
"This is a treacherous minister! Your Majesty must not be deceived by him!"
“…”
In the court, there was a heated argument over whether Crown Prince Ying Fusu should go to Shangjun.
The person involved, Ying Fusu, said nothing and listened obediently to Ying Chengjiao's scolding.
"What did you want to say when you stood up? Are you having the same old problem again? Do you want them to stop arguing over you?"
"Fusu wanted to say that Shangjun was where Fusu wanted to go."
Ying Chengjiao narrowed his eyes and said, "You know that if you say it, it will spoil the matter. My brother didn't say it because he wanted to prove that he was the one who ordered this. This way, you can carry out the pilot project and development in the northwest. If something goes wrong, my brother can take the blame. It won't give the ministers an excuse to accuse you and affect your position as the crown prince."
"My dear nephew, I beg you to use your brain before you speak or act. You have learned a domineering attitude from your brother, right? Being domineering is not about being reckless. You see your brother making decisions arbitrarily, but you don't see your brother listening to advice before making decisions."
"Fusu knows."
"And what do you think of Zhou Qingchen? How would you handle it if it were you?"
Ying Fusu replied seriously: "Those who flatter others should be removed from the court."
Ying Chengjiao was delighted when he heard this and said, "If you follow the path that your father and I have arranged for you and become a king who maintains the status quo, I will not say this to you today. But if you want to be the second emperor of Qin like your brother, I will have to talk to you about this matter."
