Chapter 241 Zhao Ji: I’m afraid, it’s true!
"Compared to the matter of Queen Mother Zhao, there is one thing that Cheng Jiao is very curious about."
The old men were filled with resentment, which they could not get rid of for a while. When they heard Ying Chengjiao speak, none of them gave him any face.
Those who eat vegetables eat vegetables, those who eat meat eat meat, and those who eat drink drink.
But their ears were all perked up, and their movements involuntarily slowed down, waiting attentively for Ying Chengjiao's next words.
Ying Chengjiao narrowed his eyes and said, "The elders are knowledgeable and must know the true meaning of what Chengjiao said at the wax sacrifice altar. Chengjiao can't understand why the Ying family still supports Chengjiao."
The Ying clan is the largest noble family in Qin State. Why do my uncle and his family support me so much...
The old men's movements returned to their normal pace, their expressions did not change, and none of them paid any attention to Ying Chengjiao.
The issues that Ying Chengjiao attached great importance to were not problems at all in the eyes of these old people.
"Because your last name is Ying."
My great uncle had a stern face and tried to look serious, but the kindness in his eyes could not be hidden.
"You kid, do you think the three kings' opinions are just my excuses to the Queen Mother Zhao? Since our father Xiaoxian used Shang Yang and promoted the Legalists, he ruled the world with his hegemony, ignored the complaints of the aristocratic families, and avenged the shame of Wei blocking the pass.
"The Ying family knows that the king's views are not for ordinary people to see. Most of the changes in the world are concentrated in one person. I don't understand why you want to cut off the nobles. If you want to speak, we will listen. If you don't want to speak, we won't ask. If you want us to do something, just say it."
Personal worship?
Ying Chengjiao laughed.
"Ahem." Weiyang Lord Ying Xi coughed artificially. When Ying Chengjiao looked over, he chuckled and said, "I have a different opinion from Uncle Uncle. The absolute nobility you mentioned is essentially the same as what Shang Jun did."
Then uncle, you guessed wrong, it's completely different.
The Legalists’ policies are to make the people stupid, weak, and exhausted, which is completely contrary to my ideas.
Ying Chengjiao thought to himself, but smiled and said, "Uncle, tell me how to do it."
"Shang Yang's law is to collect the power of the aristocratic families and concentrate it in the king alone. He created military merit titles to give the people a way to advance and stimulate their fighting spirit. He also used Qin law to restrict internal strife and imposed high taxes to urge the people to farm.
"You said you wanted to eliminate the nobility. Take the Gan family as an example. Gan Long and Gan Mao made contributions to Qin and can enjoy glory, but Gan Luo did not make any contributions to Qin and is not worthy of the position of Shangqing.
"Shang Yang's law is not thorough. The title can still be inherited, and one can work hard for a lifetime and his descendants can enjoy it in the future. From what you said, I can hear that you want to resolutely abolish hereditary system, and one can only enjoy it for a lifetime after working hard for a lifetime.
"This is just to deepen the law of Shang Yang, so as to make people fight for Qin. Since Qin implemented the law of Shang Yang, all the noble families have opposed it every day.
"But have you ever heard that anyone in my Ying clan opposed Shang Yang's laws? The Ying clan will not oppose the laws of a strong Qin. The wealth and glory that the descendants of the Ying clan enjoy depends entirely on how much merit they have made to Qin."
All the old people nodded secretly after hearing what Ying Xi said. It was obvious that what he said touched their hearts.
Only then did Ying Chengjiao realize that he seemed to have made a mistake.
The Qin Dynasty's royal family, the Ying clan, was not like some later generations' royal families that were good-for-nothings. They didn't have to do anything, and the royal family would pay a large sum of money to keep them like pigs.
If you want to have power, status, and wealth, you need to fight on the battlefield.
The circle of old men sitting around him had all made contributions to the Qin State when they were young.
They don't care about the aristocracy at all, because they have never been infected with aristocratic habits.
Compared with those hereditary families, they stood up since the time of Qin Xiaogong.
Then, the Ying family, which had been competing with various major forces such as Mi Bazi, the relatives of the Chu emperor, and the old Qin family, had not been worn down by arrogance and debauchery.
Of course, this also has a lot to do with the Qin State.
For a boring country like Qin, which only does farming and fighting and has only towers as public entertainment facilities, there really aren't many things that can distract the mind.
Ying Chengjiao smiled and raised the wine bottle, saying, "Cheers to the Ying family."
Some of the old people snorted, while others curled their lips to express their dissatisfaction.
Then, he picked up the wine bottle and drank it all.
…
Afang supported the First Emperor and, accompanied by Gai Nie, escorted Zhao Ji back to Ganquan Palace.
Along the way, there was no word except the sound of four people walking.
Squeak
The gates of Ganquan Palace are closed.
Zhao Ji slapped the round mahogany table in the center of the hall heavily. Anyone could see the anger on her face.
"Your Majesty." Zhao Ji's voice was very cold, very icy, "How long are you going to sleep?"
When Queen Afang was about to excuse the First Emperor, he had already stood still and opened his eyes.
Zhao Ji's face was red and swollen, with faint marks of the slap visible, and there was sadness in her eyes.
The First Emperor only heard the slapping sound and knew that Zhao Ji was beaten, but he did not see it with his own eyes.
The visual impact is often more shocking than the auditory impact.
"Gai Nie, go out and guard, don't let anyone in."
"only."
As Gai Nie responded, he opened the gate of Ganquan Palace and stepped out.
The eunuchs and palace maids in Ganquan Palace were cleared out the moment Zhao Ji entered the palace.
At this moment, there were only three people in the huge Ganquan Palace: the First Emperor, Afang, and Zhao Ji.
"Ying Zheng! You actually teamed up with that brat to humiliate me!"
Zhao Ji pointed at the slap mark on her face, her cold eyes seemed to be spitting fire.
"I'm making a fool of myself in Xuanniao Palace. Is this what you wanted to see? This is how you treat your mother!"
The First Emperor did not say anything like "this was not my original intention" or "I did not want my mother to get hurt."
He lowered his head and said in a very clear and concise voice: "It's my fault."
Bang!
Zhao Ji took off the phoenix crown on her head and smashed it to the ground viciously. The tortoise shell, agate, colored glaze and other rare objects on it were scattered all over the ground, rolling everywhere.
"roll!"
Zhao Ji pointed at the gate of Ganquan Palace and shouted angrily.
"Mother..."
The First Emperor wanted to say something else but was suddenly interrupted by Zhao Ji who was in a rage.
"I told you to get out! You teamed up with outsiders to humiliate your biological mother. I don't want you as my son! Get out!"
The First Emperor was silent for a moment, then said in a hoarse voice, "I'll ask Xia Wuqie to prepare some medicine for mother, and it will be delivered to her later. When mother wakes up tomorrow, her face will be as clean as before."
Queen Afang supported the somewhat distraught Emperor Qin Shi Huang, and the two were about to leave Ganquan Palace.
"I told you to go away alone!"
Zhao Ji stepped forward quickly and pulled open Afang and the First Emperor.
He grabbed the emperor's clothes with one hand and walked towards the gate of Ganquan Palace with an angry face.
He walked and cursed: "Can medicine erase the scars on my face? Can it erase the scars on my heart? Don't pretend to be so sad. If you were really sad, why would you pretend to be dead in Xuanniao Palace!"
After opening the gate of Ganquan Palace, Zhao Ji grabbed the First Emperor and pushed him out of the palace gate. The First Emperor staggered out of Ganquan Palace.
If Gai Nie had not seen that something was not right and had stepped forward to take the blow from the First Emperor, the First Emperor would have surely fallen flat on his face.
Bang!
The gate of Ganquan Palace suddenly closed, making a loud noise in the night.
It seemed that Zhao Ji vented all her resentment today on the door and slammed it down with all her might.
"No need to help me."
The First Emperor said in a hollow voice.
"only."
Gai Nie responded.
All the eunuchs guarding outside Ganquan Palace were so shocked that their hearts were in their throats when they saw the First Emperor, who was like a god in their hearts, being pushed out so violently.
Everyone looked straight ahead and performed the most standard guard movements. They dared not move or make a sound, as if nothing had happened just now.
They knew that if they did this, the First Emperor would not believe that they did not see it, but they had no other choice.
They didn't know whether they could survive after seeing the miserable scene of the First Emperor, but they wanted to live. Even ants try to survive.
The First Emperor stood outside the Ganquan Palace, surrounded by countless strange stone beasts.
The torches burned brightly, but the roaring flames could not brighten the heart of the First Emperor.
After looking at the gate of Ganquan Palace for a while, the First Emperor turned around silently, and Gai Nie followed naturally.
The officials outside Ganquan Palace, whose already straight backs became even straighter.
They couldn't let their guard down and lose their lives at the last moment - what if the First Emperor looked back and saw them breathing a sigh of relief, became unhappy, and sentenced them to death?
Gai Nie escorted the First Emperor all the way to the outside of Afang Palace, still wondering why he didn't return to Zhangtai today.
The First Emperor ordered: "Go to the Imperial Medical Bureau and ask Xia Wuqi for some medicine."
"What medicine do you want?"
Gai Nie spoke without thinking.
The First Emperor paused and stopped in front of the gate of Afang Palace.
He placed his right hand on the gate of Afang Palace and turned his head to the left. There was no sadness in his eyes, but indifference.
"What do you think?"
The First Emperor asked back in a declarative tone.
Gai Nie's sword intent seemed to sense the invisible aura coming at him and began to operate on its own.
Gai Nie's mind suddenly became clear, and he looked into the indifferent eyes of the First Emperor.
Head down, hands up.
"only."
The First Emperor turned around upon hearing this.
He pushed open the gate of Afang Palace and walked in. He did not respond to Gai Nie, nor did he give any other instructions.
He walked to the bedroom under the bowing of eunuchs and palace maids.
She waved away the palace maid who wanted to serve her, spread out the silk quilt on the bed with her own hands, and lay down on the rosewood wooden bed.
"Queen, come back and wake me up."
He ordered.
"only."
Ping'er, the Queen's personal maid who used to be inseparable from the Queen, responded.
The First Emperor closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
He was a little tired and wanted to go to bed early.
Outside the palace gate, Gai Nie used his Qinggong skills to run towards the Imperial Medical Office.
He knew that his little thoughts had been seen through by the First Emperor, who was very dissatisfied, extremely dissatisfied.
But so what?
Fire him? I wish I could.
Inside Ganquan Palace, after Zhao Ji closed the door, she faced Afang without a trace of anger left on her face.
It was as if her anger was only directed at the First Emperor and had nothing to do with the Queen.
Afang, who stayed behind, did not feel out of place in Zhao Ji's territory. She stepped on the rare treasures that fell from the phoenix crown, sat down at the round table, and looked at Zhao Ji calmly.
She was born a maid, was narrow-minded, and did not have the magnanimity of the First Emperor.
There was no way she could maintain genuine respect for a woman who had once wanted her dead.
"What is it?"
Afang asked softly.
Zhao Ji ignored him and went to the side hall. She took out two jars of wine from somewhere and placed them on the round table.
After removing the mud seal, Zhao Ji sniffed lightly, a look of intoxication on her face.
"Can you drink?"
Afang smiled gently and said, "Yes."
Zhao Ji didn't even look for wine jars, cups, or bowls.
He pushed the opened wine jar directly in front of Afang, and the wine inside splashed out and spilled all over the table.
As the wine and water collided, the smell became stronger.
A very strong drink.
Afang frowned slightly, dipped a finger in the wine on the table, and put it in her mouth to taste it.
He raised his head slightly and looked at Zhao Ji, saying, "This is the wine brewed by my uncle."
"It was that boy who brewed it." Zhao Ji gave an affirmative answer.
She held up the jar of wine with both hands and poured the wine into her mouth without stopping.
The mouth is too small and there is too much wine . I can’t drink it all.
A lot of wine flowed down her cheeks, making her face hot.
Zhao Ji didn't care and kept moving her throat to drink as much as she could.
The clothes on her chest were wet with wine, and the burning pain on her face had become somewhat numb.
Zhao Ji held the wine jar until the mouth of the jar was facing downwards and the bottom of the jar was facing the top of the palace.
The wine in the jar no longer flowed down, but dripped, and the jar was thrown on the ground.
"No wine is as strong as the one brewed by this bastard!"
Zhao Ji wiped the wine from the corner of her mouth and exclaimed in admiration with sparkling eyes.
She saw that the jar of wine in front of Afang didn't move at all, just like when she pushed it over just now.
"Don't waste it if you don't drink it."
Zhao Ji reached out to take the wine jar, but was stopped by Afang with her arm across.
"If the Queen Mother wants to drink, she can wait until Afang leaves. If you have nothing to say to Afang, Afang will take her leave."
Zhao Ji pushed Afang's arm away, picked up the wine jar with both hands, and smiled sweetly.
"I have nothing to say to you. Go away, Queen."
Afang was stunned for a moment, not realizing what Zhao Ji wanted to do by keeping her.
In just a short while, Zhao Ji had started to drink the wine in small sips again, and the aroma of the wine was everywhere.
Afang took a deep breath, and his mouth and nose were filled with the aroma of wine.
"Farewell, Queen Mother."
Get up and leave.
After walking a few steps, he stopped.
Looking back, I saw Zhao Ji drinking like a voracious wolf.
Snap~
Another wine jar was shattered.
Zhao Ji's eyes became brighter, and she sat down, holding onto the round table. She was already a little unsteady on her feet.
"You're not leaving, you want to drink with me?"
There was a hint of confusion in Afang's eyes, and she spoke softly.
"Since the Queen Mother guessed that Uncle and Your Majesty were acting, why did you still cooperate with Uncle in the Xuanniao Palace and behave like that?"
Afang couldn't understand. With Zhao Ji's temper, she should have taken advantage of the situation to make a big fuss and cause trouble for Ying Chengjiao. Why would she make a fool of herself to cooperate with Ying Chengjiao?
Zhao Ji chuckled. The high-concentration liquor made by Ying Chengjiao using the distillation method made her eyes blurry.
"I'm afraid it's true."
Zhao Ji murmured.
"What?"
The whisper was too soft and Afang couldn't hear it clearly, so he quickly walked up to Zhao Ji.
Zhao Ji grabbed around with her hands unconsciously, grabbed Afang's hand, and held it tightly.
"I'm afraid it's true." Zhao Ji raised her face and whispered, "I'm afraid Zheng'er will die."
Afang originally wanted to pull his hand back, but after hearing this, he just pulled it back lightly symbolically and did not move again.
"Except for the wine brewed by that bastard, nothing in Xianyang is as good as Yongcheng. Remember to send me some wine."
