Chapter 40: The One Who Destroys Qin Is Fusu

After finishing the special forces training manual, Fusu turned his gaze toward the Baiyue youths, his eyes filled with an eager desire to put his new knowledge to the test.

Wang Ruonan looked over the group of young women who had been rounded up, not forgetting the original purpose of her visit. She pointed to a few who were particularly attractive, with alluring, hook-like gazes, and remarked, "Discard these few."

Qian Gou was stunned. "Are you sure? These few are highly sought after! Young Master Feng only wanted to buy the whole lot because he had his eye on them!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Qian Gou noticed the dark look on Wang Ruonan’s face and immediately slapped himself across the mouth. "I... I spoke out of turn! I’ll take them away right now!"

After conducting another inspection and finding everything in order, Wang Ruonan said with satisfaction, "Good, let’s leave it at that for now."

Fusu, seeing this, was about to interject, but the image of Wang Ruonan shattering a wooden pillar with her bare hand earlier suddenly flashed through his mind. He immediately shut his mouth and kept quiet.

Just then, an imperial guard hurried over. "Your Highness, His Majesty summons you to the palace immediately!"

"Now?" Fusu glanced at the servants he had just purchased, who had yet to be settled in, feeling reluctant to leave.

The guard nodded firmly. "Yes! Your Highness, there is no time to delay!"

Fusu frowned. "Did he say what it was about?"

The guard hesitated for a moment before adding, "It seems the two scoundrels, Lu and Hou, have been captured and brought back!"

Hearing this, Fusu’s face lit up with joy. "Let's go, let's go!" Finally, he would be able to clear his name!

...

Xianyang Palace, Imperial Study.

Qin Shi Huang held a brush, his hand moving like a dragon or snake across the paper, writing with immense fluidity and vigor. It was only when he ran out of paper that he stopped and began to stare blankly at the regular-script bamboo slips that Meng Yi had just presented.

What a masterpiece! This style of calligraphy possessed a sense of ultimate fluidity, creating a rhythm that made one unable to stop once they began.

Zhao Gao, standing to the side, wore a smiling mask while cursing inwardly. *What is this? How has Fusu managed to stand out again? Is he just a magnet for attention?*

Zhao Gao felt speechless. After years of meticulous planning, they had already figured out Fusu’s weaknesses and laid a trap, waiting only to drive him out of the inner circle of power. How had he managed to come up with such bizarre and impressive things again?

"Come, Zhao Gao, take a look!" Qin Shi Huang reached out, picked up the paper, and blew on the ink.

Zhao Gao immediately forced a smile that looked worse than a grimace and leaned in to examine it closely. Suddenly, he exclaimed, "Your Majesty, these characters are like flowing clouds and moving water, with a profound charm that is truly intoxicating!"

Hearing this, Qin Shi Huang’s expression turned cold. "Zhao Gao, you are a master of the Greater Seal script; be objective and do not flatter me!"

Zhao Gao’s expression turned solemn. "Your Majesty, your humble servant is not flattering you, but speaking the truth! You have truly written this beautifully. If you don't believe me, have Chancellor Li come and take a look."

As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell into a heavy silence.

Qin Shi Huang looked deeply at Zhao Gao, slowly put the paper away, and said, "Zhao Gao, do you know why, when you committed a crime last time, I had Meng Yi deal with you leniently?"

Zhao Gao trembled and hurriedly knelt on the ground.

Qin Shi Huang spread out a fresh sheet of paper and continued, answering his own question, "It is because you, Zhao Gao, share the same clan as mine! We are of the same kin."

"Your Majesty, your humble servant..." Zhao Gao lowered his head, shivering.

Qin Shi Huang sighed. "I appreciate your talent, and even more, I value your loyalty! But you..."

Just as Qin Shi Huang was speaking, Wei Zhong entered to report, "Your Majesty, all the ministers have arrived and are waiting."

"Understood." Qin Shi Huang set down his brush and walked out. Zhao Gao rose immediately and followed close behind.

At this moment, Zhao Gao’s face was as pale as paper. The reason he had suggested bringing Li Si over to admire the work was twofold: first, Li Si was indeed a master of calligraphy, and second, he wanted to warn Li Si that Prince Fusu was up to his strange tricks again. But now, Zhao Gao had lost his chance.

...

In the Great Hall, the civil and military officials stood in two rows. Fusu, as usual, found a secluded spot to hide. Everything felt as if it had returned to the scene of the grand court meeting from a few days ago.

Wang Ben stepped forward and reported, "Reporting to Your Majesty, according to the information provided by Prince Fusu, this humble general has captured Lu Sheng and Hou Sheng."

"Bring them in!" Qin Shi Huang said, his face expressionless.

Two Taoists, one dressed in black and the other in white, were brought into the hall. The moment Lu Sheng saw Qin Shi Huang, his face turned ghastly. Hou Sheng, however, threw himself to the ground and wailed, "Your Majesty, something has happened, something terrible! The mandate of heaven has changed! Everything has changed!"

"Shut up!" a guard barked.

Qin Shi Huang waved his hand, his expression unreadable. "Changed? What mandate of heaven has changed?"

Hou Sheng immediately pulled a stone tablet from his robes and pointed at the characters on it. "Your Majesty, look, the words on this have changed!"

Qin Shi Huang looked over in surprise. Zhao Gao hurried over and retrieved the tablet. When it was brought closer, Qin Shi Huang saw the four characters: "The one who destroys Qin is Fu."

The civil and military officials noticed the words as well, and their expressions shifted. Qin Shi Huang’s face darkened, and he demanded in a cold, angry voice, "What does this mean?"

Before Hou Sheng could speak, Lu Sheng chimed in with a look of extreme disdain. "Why look at this trash? What could it possibly mean? Doesn't it just say that the one to destroy the Great Qin is 'Fu'? It’s just the literal meaning!"

Hou Sheng immediately cursed, "Lu Sheng, stop spouting nonsense! This is the record tablet bestowed upon us by the immortals! You are blaspheming the immortals!"

Lu Sheng cast a mocking glance at Hou Sheng and bowed respectfully to Qin Shi Huang. "Reporting to Your Majesty, there are no immortals at all! It was all just a dream!"

"You are spouting nonsense!" Hou Sheng rose, ready to tear into Lu Sheng.

"Silence!" Zhao Gao shouted sternly. The two fell quiet.

"Fusu!" Qin Shi Huang suddenly called out.

Fusu didn't move. *Damn it! 'The one who destroys Qin is Fu'!! Can you be any more obvious? Isn't this just talking about me? These two old vultures—I tried to protect them, and this is how they repay me.*

"Fusu!!" Qin Shi Huang’s voice boomed.

Helplessly, Fusu rubbed his face, stepped out from the crowd, and cupped his hands. "Your son pays his respects to the Emperor! I wish my father health, happiness as vast as the Eastern Sea, and a lifespan as long as the Southern Mountains..."

Qin Shi Huang’s expression chilled instantly. "Rebellious son, what kind of attitude is that?"

Fusu quickly straightened up, adopting a look of attentive obedience. Seeing this, Qin Shi Huang was slightly mollified. "Fusu, let me ask you! Regarding the prophecy 'The one who destroys Qin is Hu,' you once said the 'Hu' was not the Hu people, but Huhai!"

*Gasps!*

The civil and military officials in the hall looked shocked. *Hu... Huhai!!!*

Grand Marshal Wei Liao, hearing this interpretation for the first time, couldn't help but glance at Huhai, who was standing to the side.

Huhai was frozen in terror. His face turned paper-white, and he looked at Qin Shi Huang in a daze. *Why, out of nowhere, was he being dragged into this?* Huhai had a strong urge to scream.