Chapter Five: The Capture of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang

At that moment, Li Si entered with a solemn expression and said, “Your Majesty, many Confucian scholars have gathered outside the palace.”

“They intend to petition on behalf of Prince Fusu, hoping Your Majesty will release him!”

“Good!” Qin Shi Huang sneered with rage. “These rotten scholars—let me send them to search for the elixir of immortality. If they fail to find it, so be it.”

“How dare they slander me in secret!”

“I haven’t even taken action against them, yet they come to me of their own accord!”

Li Si nodded in agreement. “Your Majesty, that Lu Sheng is all show and no substance, a fraud who has achieved nothing and has embezzled a great deal of money!”

“He should be severely punished!”

Qin Shi Huang nodded, then waved his hand sharply. “Bring them all to me—bury them alive on the spot!”

Upon hearing this, Li Si’s expression shifted slightly, and he was about to speak in protest when a palace guard hurriedly entered.

“Your Majesty, Prince Fusu requests an audience with you!”

“The prince says he has urgent matters to report!”

Qin Shi Huang snorted coldly. “Perfect timing. I was just looking for him to punish him!”

“Guards, bring this unfilial son before me at once!”

Soon, Fusu was escorted in by the palace guards. Accompanying him was a refined man in his thirties.

Upon seeing Fusu, the man immediately bowed. “Greetings, Your Highness.”

Fusu was momentarily taken aback, suddenly recognizing the man—Meng Yi!

Meng Yi of the Meng family, the foremost military lineage of the Qin dynasty!

Fusu was about to speak when he was led into the main hall.

Inside, Wang Jian, Li Si, and Zhao Gao stood respectfully. Their expressions varied upon seeing Fusu.

“Father, your son pays respects!” Fusu bowed deeply.

With a sharp slap, a bamboo slip was thrown forcefully before Fusu. Qin Shi Huang’s face was cold as he said, “The evidence is irrefutable. How dare you deny it?”

Fusu picked up the bamboo slip and read it once, then looked puzzled—it was written in seal script!

What on earth was this? It looked like scribbles from a ghost!

Seeing Fusu’s bewildered and unrepentant demeanor, Li Si quickly glanced at Qin Shi Huang and advised, “Your Majesty, this matter should not be made public. It would be wise to minimize its severity and let it pass quietly.”

“After all...”

Qin Shi Huang shot a cold glance at Li Si, silencing him instantly.

Then, with a chilling tone, the emperor spoke, “This was originally a family matter, but Fusu is my eldest legitimate son, so it concerns me deeply.”

“That is why I have summoned all of you to discuss how to deal with him!”

Wang Jian looked confused, and so did Meng Yi.

Li Si had arrived earlier and, in consultation with Qin Shi Huang, had obtained the first report on the situation.

He immediately handed copies to Wang Jian and Meng Yi.

After reading, their expressions changed drastically.

They exchanged incredulous glances with Prince Fusu.

The Meng and Wang families had always represented the military faction, with Fusu as their leader.

Upon seeing the report, their first thought was that the civil officials were scheming.

But with the evidence so solid, they looked at Fusu again, doubting—could it really be true?

Oh, Fusu! Fusu!

Why meddle with the emperor’s consort, when there are so many other women you could have?

Both men sighed deeply and grew anxious for Fusu’s sake.

Qin Shi Huang looked at the group with apparent fury, but his eyes held a cold calmness. “Tell me—how should I punish this rebel son?”

Wang Jian sighed but said nothing.

Meng Yi hesitated before speaking, “According to Qin law, this is a grave offense, warranting severe punishment.”

Li Si immediately shook his head. “No, no, that cannot be!”

“Your Majesty, this concerns the royal dignity and cannot be dealt with harshly.”

“Consort Li entered the palace only a little over half a month ago. Though she is a noble consort, she is not yet fully recognized as such. This matter should be considered separately.”

Qin Shi Huang glanced at Li Si, then fixed his gaze on Fusu. “Rebel son!”

“Did you not say Zhao Gao was treacherous and Hu Hai ruthless?”

“Then tell me, what do you make of the Prime Minister and Lord Meng Yi?”

Li Si breathed a small sigh of relief upon hearing this. He had been defending Fusu all along, so the other side would likely stop targeting him.

As for Meng Yi, though he was close to Fusu, his earlier words had been utterly unsparing.

He would surely be targeted.

Thinking this, Li Si’s tension eased somewhat.

Fusu, noticing this, hesitated briefly.

An opportunity had arrived.

He bowed deeply and said, “Father, Zhao Gao altered the will. Such a deed could not have succeeded without support.”

“Oh???” Qin Shi Huang’s eyes narrowed.

Fusu continued, “The Prime Minister is the highest-ranking civil official. If he had also agreed to Zhao Gao’s alteration, then this could have been accomplished!”

“Nonsense!” Li Si’s eyes widened in fury. He shouted, “Your Majesty, do not believe Fusu’s lies!”

“How could I have altered the will? This is a baseless accusation!”

After speaking, Li Si knelt.

Qin Shi Huang said nothing.

Fusu pressed on, “As for Meng Yi, I will say but one thing: as long as the Meng family stands, Qin will not fall.”

At these words, Meng Yi stared at Fusu in disbelief.

Qin Shi Huang suddenly stood, fixing his gaze on Fusu. After a long pause, he laughed heartily.

“Ha ha ha!”

“Meng Yi wants to punish you severely, yet you call him loyal!”

“Li Si pleads for you at every turn, yet you call him a traitor!”

“Interesting, very interesting!”

Qin Shi Huang stepped beside Fusu, clearly unable to read his son.

Fusu then said, “Your Majesty, if I truly committed misdeeds in drunkenness that violate propriety, then I am guilty.”

“But if I have been framed, and no evidence can be found, then I am still guilty.”

“Meng Yi’s words are not without reason.”

“On the other hand, those who defend me—like the Prime Minister and the scholars outside—some seek to exalt me, others may genuinely want to save me.”

“I cannot speak for them all.”

“But I know that matters should not be judged by appearances alone, and one must look deeper for the true meaning.”

Qin Shi Huang sneered coldly.

He kicked Fusu to the ground. “You speak eloquently, but how will you prove your innocence?”

Fusu rose from the ground, shaking his head. “Father, this matter has no living witnesses or evidence. Instead of wasting time here, we should consider the future of Qin!”

“The future?” Qin Shi Huang frowned.

Fusu, realizing how ruthless Zhao Gao and Hu Hai were, no longer held back.

“Imprison Zhao Gao and Hu Hai immediately!”

“These two are traitors to the state!”

“Furthermore, as long as Your Majesty lives, the remnants of the Six States and various villains dare not make a move.”

“I boldly suggest we arrest Chen Sheng and Wu Guang at once, and reduce the wasteful and damaging measures to prevent the outbreak of peasant uprisings!”