Chapter Thirty: Meng Yi’s Warning

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Inside the Imperial Study of Xianyang Palace.
Since concluding the morning court session, Emperor Qin Shi Huang had been discussing the supervision of officials with Imperial Envoy Feng Jie.
As Meng Yi entered, Qin Shi Huang stretched lazily, a hint of fatigue in his voice: “Very well. Officials across all regions must be thoroughly investigated to prevent corruption.”
Imperial Envoy Feng Jie nodded promptly: “Your Majesty, rest assured. The imperial inspectors will strictly adhere to discipline and oversee the realm.”
Qin Shi Huang nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly asked, “Feng Jie, what do you think of the provincial system?”
Feng Jie was momentarily taken aback.
He had heard of the provincial system but had not studied it in depth.
Now that the emperor mentioned it, it seemed there was some interest.
So Feng Jie answered, “The provincial system seems like an improved version of the commandery-county system, but upon closer consideration, there are many differences.”
“Both systems have their merits and faults. I cannot be certain which is better.”
Qin Shi Huang pondered for a moment before saying, “Very well, you may leave.”
After Feng Jie departed, the emperor turned to Meng Yi and asked, “What is that scoundrel Fusu up to?”
Meng Yi hesitated, then said, “Prince Fusu has replaced all the guards and palace maids in his residence but hasn’t done much else.”
“Hmph!”
“He’s not as foolish as he seems!” Qin Shi Huang snorted coldly and sat back down.
With more officials at court opposing Fusu, many spies had naturally been planted in his household.
Now, dismissing these servants was a form of countermeasure.
Rubbing his brow, Qin Shi Huang frowned at the bamboo slips detailing gunpowder production: “I have some understanding of Lu Sheng and Hou Sheng’s capabilities, but Li Si and the others insist that Fusu colluded with the alchemists.”
“If true, that boy Fusu has indeed grown clever!”
At these words, a gleam of killing intent flashed in the emperor’s eyes.
Meng Yi lowered his head and clasped his fists: “Your Majesty, right and wrong cannot be determined until these two are captured.”
“I have already dispatched men to search Mount Wangyun according to Prince Fusu’s instructions.”
“But...”
“But what?” Qin Shi Huang frowned.
Meng Yi continued, “I cannot fathom how Prince Fusu knew that these two were hiding on Mount Wangyun.”
“Moreover, he has never been to that place but could accurately describe the location and details.”
“If this is true, Fusu is highly suspicious.”
“Yet, considering he previously named the exact whereabouts of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, it seems he truly can foresee certain things.”
Qin Shi Huang was puzzled and thus refrained from making a hasty judgment.
After a long moment, the emperor snorted coldly: “Regardless of whether Fusu has conspired with the alchemists, his proposals and statements are worth considering.”

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“For example, ‘Strict laws in chaotic times, lenient judgments in peaceful times.’”
“This phrase has been on my mind these days...”
“Since Shang Yang’s reforms, our great Qin has grown stronger day by day. Since Li Si became Minister of Justice, he has enforced strict statutes, enabling Qin to unify the six states!”
“But now that Qin is unified, if we still govern by harsh Legalist laws, might that be excessive...”
Meng Yi fell into deep thought, “Lenient judgments in peaceful times...”
“Your Majesty, if you seek long-lasting peace and stability, I believe Prince Fusu’s words hold some merit.”
Qin Shi Huang glanced at Meng Yi and smiled, “I know you’re close to Fusu. Don’t speak up for him just out of loyalty!”
Meng Yi immediately knelt, “Your Majesty, I serve Qin only!”
The emperor considered this, then added, “I had intended to execute Chunyu Yue and the Confucian scholars, but recalling the position Legalism holds in Qin, I spared them.”
“I want to see if Confucianism might bring some change to Legalism.”
“Your Majesty is wise!” Meng Yi praised quickly, though his heart was tense.
The emperor’s words seemed casual but were clearly a deliberate admonishment.
Thus, Meng Yi continued without reservation: “Prince Fusu also requested one hundred dan of grain.”
“Why would he need grain?” Qin Shi Huang asked with surprise.
Meng Yi quickly replied, “The prince said he plans to go to the border and wants the grain for peace of mind.”
“Hmph!”
“That boy is just afraid of going hungry!”
“Approved.”
Meng Yi nodded immediately and was about to leave.
“What are you holding in your hand?” Qin Shi Huang suddenly asked.
Meng Yi handed over a bamboo slip. “Oh, this is Prince Fusu’s handwriting. I thought it was quite methodical, so I took it to study.”
Hmm?
Fusu’s handwriting?
Qin Shi Huang picked up the bamboo slip and saw the characters for “Nine Ministers.” The more he looked, the more he liked it.
He couldn’t help but take a brush and copy it.
His eyes sparkled, “This style is so fluid, much simpler than seal script.”
Meng Yi quickly produced several more bamboo slips: “Your Majesty, here are some other characters. I took them when the prince was unaware.”
“Oh?”
Qin Shi Huang looked over, then wrote a few characters himself, comparing them to the seal script.
The two styles side by side.
Qin Shi Huang was astonished: “The strokes are clear, writing is more comfortable, the structure balanced, and the strokes concise...”

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“Is this really Fusu’s handwriting?”
“It is the prince’s writing!”
“Is there any precedent for it?”
Meng Yi shook his head, “I asked him, but the prince said there was none; he just wrote for fun.”
Qin Shi Huang tossed a set of bamboo slips on the table to Meng Yi: “Go, have Fusu rewrite everything in this style!”
“I want to see if that boy truly has genuine talent!”
Meng Yi nodded and took the slips to make arrangements.
Watching Meng Yi leave, Qin Shi Huang remained silent for a long time before sighing, “Meng Yi, Meng Yi...”
“You remind me that Fusu’s various proposals aren’t something a few alchemists could have concocted together...”
Qin Shi Huang glanced again at the regular script on the slips.
A sharp light gleamed in his eyes as he said, “If Fusu truly is that prophetic one, even if all he says is true, I will defy fate and rewrite destiny to extend the glory of Qin for another century!”
...
Longhui County, Hunan Province.
On a mist-shrouded mountain peak, occasional crane calls echoed.
A mountain need not be tall to be sacred if an immortal dwells there.
Since Lu Sheng and Hou Sheng arrived, the place had been imbued with the aura of a celestial sanctuary.
At this moment, Lu Sheng was refining a batch of elixirs, fanning the leaves carefully, fearful the fire would die out.
Nearby, in front of a thatched hut, Hou Sheng, dressed in black Daoist robes, sat in meditation, eyes closed.
Behind the hut were several wild cranes that occasionally lifted their heads to call.
Those cranes would then arrogantly regard Lu Sheng and Hou Sheng with disdainful eyes.
Suddenly, Hou Sheng opened his eyes, his face shifting: “Senior Brother, my right eye has been twitching lately. I fear misfortune is coming!”
Lu Sheng was too busy to respond.
Hou Sheng sighed and took out a stone tablet.
On it was inscribed: “The destroyers of Qin are the barbarians!”
Hou Sheng stared at the tablet for a long time, gradually noticing that the character for “barbarians” was blurring...
Until the character vanished completely.
Rubbing his eyes to be sure he wasn’t hallucinating, he shouted sharply, “Senior Brother! Senior Brother!”
“Something terrible has happened!!!”