Chapter 42: Grand Commandant, What Are Your Thoughts?

Fusu watched as the imperial guards fetched the alchemy furnace, and spoke once more: "Lu Sheng!"

"Didn't you claim that the provincial system was plagiarized by you and Hou Sheng from the commandery and county system?"

"Now, write it out for this Crown Prince!"

"Write it out completely!"

The faces of Lu Sheng and Hou Sheng turned ashen!

Fusu directly raised his hand and commanded: "Someone, bring brush and ink. This Crown Prince shall write as well!"

"Let us see whether the provincial system written by you, Lu Sheng and Hou Sheng, matches the one written by this Crown Prince!"

Li Si shuddered all over, a look of terror flashing through his eyes as he gazed at Fusu.

Without pausing after he finished speaking, Fusu turned his gaze to Meng Yi: "Minister Meng, you have already seen the regular script."

"Yet, have you ever seen the running script?"

Meng Yi was startled, and immediately shook his head: "Your Highness, this humble minister has never seen it!"

"Good!"

Fusu immediately picked up a brush handed over by a eunuch, while Wang Jian, disregarding his noble status, stepped forward and spread a sheet of paper on the floor.

Fusu immediately began to write: "Our Great Qin uses seal script as the medium to transmit thought and culture."

"Then how is the evolution of writing subdivided?"

"Writing originated in ancient times, starting first with oracle bone script, then the bronze inscriptions of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, followed by large seal script, small seal script, clerical script, regular script, running script, cursive script..."

In one breath, Fusu wrote out several different writing styles, detailing the evolutionary process of Chinese characters step by step.

When he had finished writing everything.

Fusu looked at Li Si and asked: "Lord Chancellor, was this also jointly deduced by myself, Lu Sheng, and Hou Sheng to deceive His Imperial Majesty?"

Gazing at the contents on the paper, Li Si was shaken to his core, as if struck by lightning!

Subconsciously, he took another step back, his face turning pale.

Sneering coldly, Fusu looked at Lu Sheng and Hou Sheng and demanded: "Do you know about these?"

Lu Sheng and Hou Sheng wore blank expressions of utter incomprehension!

This is...

Before anyone could examine it closely, Fusu spoke again: "The evolution of writing—this is already the most detailed account!"

"Next, this Crown Prince does not expect Lu Sheng and Hou Sheng to have achieved anything in the evolution of writing!"

"This Crown Prince will focus on two points!"

"The refining of heavenly thunder and the provincial system!"

"I want to see just how much the two of them actually understand about these things!"

Staring at the alchemy furnace, Lu Sheng was at a loss for how to proceed.

Holding the brush, Hou Sheng hesitated, unable to make a single stroke.

Witnessing this scene, the First Emperor of Qin's face darkened as he demanded: "How long do the two of you expect Me and all the ministers to wait?"

With a heavy thud, Lu Sheng slammed his forehead against the floor. No longer concealing the terror in his heart, he begged for mercy: "Your Majesty, this petty one is guilty!"

"This petty one does not know the specific method for refining heavenly thunder; I only learned of its existence from His Highness!"

Recovering instantly, Hou Sheng hurriedly nodded and chimed in: "That's right, the provincial system was also provided by His Highness Fusu. We merely assisted, we only assisted!"

"We do not really understand these matters!"

The First Emperor laughed out of extreme rage: "Unclear? You don't understand?"

"That is not what your secret missives stated!"

Lowering their heads immediately, Lu Sheng and Hou Sheng were left speechless.

Clang!

The First Emperor stood up abruptly, drew his long sword, and cleaved the inscribed stone tablet into two halves with a single stroke, roaring: "A mere piece of stone dared to sway the court affairs of Our Great Qin twice."

"Ludicrous! How utterly ludicrous!"

"Li Si!"

"This humble minister is here!" Looking somewhat nervous, Li Si stepped forward.

"I ask you now, do you still believe that Fusu colluded with Lu Sheng and Hou Sheng?" The First Emperor gazed at him with a frigid glare.

Trembling all over, Li Si lowered his head and said: "Your Majesty, this humble minister does not know..."

"Fine!"

"You do not know!" The First Emperor turned his gaze once more to the civil and military officials gathered in the hall, demanding: "What about you?"

"Do you still believe Fusu is guilty?"

All the ministers flickered their eyes, none daring to raise their heads.

At that very moment.

Fusu let out a cold snort and spoke again: "Imperial Father, this son not only possesses the method for refining heavenly thunder, but also numerous marvelous applications for it!"

"This son can even write down a dozen different formulation ratios for heavenly thunder within a short time, to be used according to different scenarios!"

"If heavenly thunder is employed properly, the combat prowess of Our Great Qin's army will rise to yet another level!"

As soon as these words were spoken.

Wang Jian immediately stepped forward: "Your Majesty, His Highness Fusu is truly a pillar of Our Great Qin!"

"A strategist of national policies is no greater than this!"

"Such profound talent is truly rare in this world!"

"Indeed!" Wang Ban also stepped forward at the opportune moment to support his elderly father.

After a moment of hesitation, Meng Yi also stepped out: "Your Majesty, since ancient times, those who initiate reforms rarely meet a good end!"

"His Highness Fusu dares to be the first, which is a great blessing for Our Great Qin!"

"We hope Your Majesty will discern the truth with piercing clarity and not wrong a man of virtue!"

The First Emperor glanced briefly at Meng Yi, then shifted his gaze to Wang Jian.

Wang Jian puffed out his chest slightly, as if saying: *Your Majesty, this old minister has risked everything to support Fusu. Isn't this what you wanted to see?*

The First Emperor then looked toward the Left Chancellor, Li Si, and finally let his gaze fall upon the Right Chancellor, Feng Quji.

Advanced in age, Feng Quji had snow-white hair.

At this moment, he seemed to be dozing off, his head nodding up and down from time to time.

The Imperial Censor-in-Chief, Feng Jie, could no longer bear to watch.

He shifted his stance slightly and gently nudged his old father to signal him to wake up.

Feng Quji jerked his eyes wide open and, out of sheer reflex, nudged Li Si who was standing right in front of him, muttering: "Lord Chancellor Li, continue speaking!"

Cold sweat poured profusely from Li Si's forehead!

Turning his pale face around, he whispered a reminder: "Elder Feng, His Majesty is asking you to speak!"

Only then did Feng Quji come to his senses. He hastily stepped out of the ranks and proclaimed: "Severe punishment!"

"He must be severely punished!"

"How can this matter be cleared of suspicion with just a few words? It must be thoroughly investigated in strict accordance with the laws of Our Great Qin!"

"Chancellor Li spoke well. This old man still remembers those words: before the law, nobles and commoners are all equal!"

"The net of heaven is vast; though sparse, it lets nothing slip through!"

Cold sweat broke out on Imperial Censor-in-Chief Feng Jie's forehead as well.

Oblivious to it all, Feng Quji pointed straight at Fusu and berated loudly: "Fusu, did you bully my precious grandson today?"

Fusu was taken aback!

Feng Quji immediately cupped his hands toward the First Emperor and reported: "Your Majesty, my grandson has been obedient and adorable since childhood, and has always been deeply loved by everyone in Xianyang!"

"Before coming to court today, my grandson merely went out to purchase some servants, never expecting that His Highness Fusu would act so unreasonably!"

"He actually engaged in forced buying and selling, and even beat my grandson into heavy injuries!"

"At this very moment, he is still bedridden at home!"

"I ask you, how can anyone not suspect His Highness Fusu when he commits such atrocious deeds?"

"I beg Your Majesty to dispense justice for this old minister!"

Feng Quji bowed deeply.

The corners of the First Emperor's mouth twitched; he had the urge to curse.

Feng Quji, you old fool, dozing off in the imperial court is one thing, but standing there spouting utter nonsense is something I could tolerate.

After all, you are old.

Yet how dare you claim your grandson is obedient and adorable?

Adorable my foot!

Weren't the Three Young Masters of Xianyang headed by your grandson?

Don't think I don't know what kind of scoundrel your grandson is!

Too lazy to bother with the old fool Feng Quji any longer, the First Emperor turned his gaze to the Grand Commandant, Wei Liao, and asked: "What does the Grand Commandant think?"