“Sima Han!”
As Ying Zheng’s voice fell, a man in black armor walked out from behind the hall and knelt before Ying Zheng.
“You will lead the men of Black Ice Terrace to monitor Hu Hai day and night, reporting his every move, no matter how trivial, to me! Do not miss a single detail! Even how many times he uses the latrine, you must record it for me!” Ying Zheng said in a deep voice.
“Yes!” Sima Han acknowledged the order and immediately left Zhangtai Palace.
Ying Zheng’s eagle-like eyes stared fixedly ahead, an immense indignation rising in his heart.
At the same time, there was also endless loneliness and unwillingness!
He was born in Zhao, serving as a hostage, living a life worse than pigs and dogs, subject to everyone’s bullying.
Later, he returned to Qin and, with the help of Lü Buwei, ascended to the throne.
However, his mother had an affair with Lao Ai, bore a son, and the two discussed how to have their illegitimate child replace him!
The only person he could trust, the one he could rely on the most, was his mother.
Yet, in the end, his own mother wanted to kill him!
Therefore, he most hated parricide and fratricide.
He never expected that, according to that person, his most beloved youngest son would kill all of his brothers.
All of his bloodline would be slaughtered by this scoundrel!
How could he not be angry!
Most importantly, Zhao Gao and Li Si, these two, dared to conspire to alter the imperial edict and assist Hu Hai in usurping the throne!
This was the family legacy that his ancestors of Great Qin, through the lingering efforts of six generations, had painstakingly accumulated.
The empire that his Great Qin Iron Cavalry had painstakingly conquered!
It was actually usurped by that eunuch!
As the Emperor of Qin, he was above ten thousand men, holding sole power over the world.
But he was also incredibly lonely.
No one to confide in.
No one to rely on.
No one could understand him.
Everyone called him a tyrant!
But how could they know that if it weren’t for him, the wars between the Seven Kingdoms would still be ongoing.
If it weren’t for me unifying the world, how much longer would this war have lasted?
Ten years?
Fifty years?
A hundred years!
Or two hundred years!
Or five hundred years!
After all, the wars, large and small, between the Seven Kingdoms had already lasted two hundred and fifty years.
If he hadn’t unified the world, who knew how much longer it would have lasted?
Would the people of the world be happy?
Would they be able to live in peace and contentment!
They were shortsighted, unaware of everything I had done!
However, listening to that person in the prison today, Ying Zheng seemed to have found a kindred spirit.
That person understood him!
He knew the hardships of establishing his nation.
He knew the difficulty of unifying the world and establishing the first unified dynasty in history.
He knew that I, too, was fumbling in the dark.
It’s just, was what that person said really true?
Just as Ying Zheng was pondering, a clear voice came, “Imperial Father!”
Ying Zheng saw a young man in white clothes stride in, carrying a food box.
It was Hu Hai!
Hu Hai was handsome, much like his mother.
And he was well-behaved and sensible.
His behavior also showed he was imitating Fusu.
But his personality was vastly different from Fusu’s.
He often came to cling to him.
Therefore, Ying Zheng had always treated him as a child.
But the moment he saw Hu Hai walk in with the food box, he suddenly realized.
His eighteenth son was already nineteen.
For anyone else, he would have long since married, started a family, and had several children.
Yet, he remained like a child, only knowing how to play and seek his father’s favor.
He remembered that Meng Tian had a son, also nineteen, who was already following his father on the frontier, killing enemies and countless Hu.
Compared to Fusu, although Fusu believed in Confucian thought and often went against him.
He was also a man of great talent.
In contrast, Hu Hai was utterly useless!
If this son became the Emperor of Great Qin, could the Great Qin empire be defended?
If this son was willing to be a conservative ruler, that would be acceptable.
With so many great generals under me, and Li Si, Feng Quji, and others governing the court.
It could ensure Great Qin’s safety.
But what if he usurped the throne?
Zhao Gao seizing power?
How would this eunuch wreak havoc?
Just as that person said, pointing to a deer as a horse, doing whatever he pleased.
Hu Hai would even kill all his siblings who threatened him.
Zhao Gao would kill all officials not under his control.
How much longer could Great Qin last?
The edifice is about to collapse!
These four words surged into Ying Zheng’s mind.
“Scoundrel!” Ying Zheng slammed the table, angrily rebuking, “Kneel for me!”
Hu Hai was startled and did not kneel, but instead showed a pitiful expression, “Imperial Father, your son… your son came to bring you food. Your son knows you’ve been tired these past few days, haven’t rested well, or eaten much, so I specifically had someone make your favorite dishes…”
“Rebellious son!” Ying Zheng stood up, slamming the table, and pointed at Hu Hai, angrily rebuking, “I told you to get out, and you still defy my order! Guards, drag him out and give him thirty strokes of the cane!”
Hu Hai’s face instantly turned pale with fright.
He didn’t understand why his Imperial Father, who usually doted on him the most, was so strict with him now.
He quickly looked at Zhao Gao.
Teacher Zhao Gao told him to come!
He said now was the best time to please Imperial Father, so why am I getting beaten!
Seeing this, Zhao Gao quickly stepped forward, knelt on the ground, and prostrated himself, crying out: “Your Majesty! Prince Hu Hai is only concerned about Your Majesty, please, Your Majesty…”
“Shut up for me! Drag this eunuch out too and give him thirty strokes of the cane!” Ying Zheng roared.
A tiger-like roar echoed through Zhangtai Palace.
Both of them were stunned.
Heaven’s might is unfathomable.
Heaven’s might is unstoppable!
They were completely intimidated by Ying Zheng’s imperial power, not daring to speak or resist.
It was only when the guards dragged them away that they realized.
They were really going to be punished!
“Imperial Father! No, Imperial Father!”
“Wuwu! Please, Imperial Father, don’t hit me!”
“I was wrong, Hu Hai knows he was wrong, Imperial Father!”
…
Following this were the screams of Hu Hai and Zhao Gao.
Listening to their screams, a satisfied expression involuntarily appeared on Ying Zheng’s lips.
After severely punishing these two traitors who would destroy the nation, Ying Zheng actually felt very relieved.
He even forgot that the one being beaten outside was his once most beloved eighteenth son.
Thirty strokes of the cane.
If it were truly a severe thirty strokes, their lives would be lost.
The guards also knew the identities of Zhao Gao and Hu Hai, so they didn’t use too much force, but they also didn’t dare to hold back too much.
In any case, when they finished their thirty strokes, they were carried away.
Returning to Wangyi Palace.
Hu Hai and Zhao Gao lay on the bed, constantly wailing in pain.
“Teacher, why is Imperial Father like this today! In the past, Imperial Father loved me the most,” Hu Hai cried as he asked.
Zhao Gao gritted his teeth, his eyes gloomy, “I don’t know either! But His Majesty’s temper has become increasingly volatile recently, and his health is deteriorating! Prince, do not hold a grudge against His Highness because of today’s events; he is still your Imperial Father, and he should be better in a few days.”
It seems I need to inform those alchemists to increase the dosage.