Zhang Han was naturally pleased, but alongside his joy arose some trepidation. “It was Junior General Wang who ordered this subordinate to flank the enemy and launch a surprise attack on Ji Sheng while he was unprepared. I do not deserve such praise from the Queen Dowager.”
The Senior General Wang referred to Wang Ben’s father, Wang Jian. Thus, Wang Ben could only be addressed as Junior General.
When Zhao Yuanxi learned that this dark-faced general was Wang Ben, her heart remained surprisingly calm. So what if he would later join his father Wang Jian in conquering the six states…
Her own son was the First Emperor, after all!
Very well! She admitted she felt a slight twinge of intimidation.
No wonder he looked so fierce and menacing—he had truly killed countless people.
Zhao Yuanxi tried hard not to imagine how much blood had stained Wang Ben’s long halberd. “He isn’t my subordinate anyway. Rewards are for the King of Qin to bestow upon him.”
Wang Ben, leading the vanguard, felt once again that the Queen Dowager was targeting him. Ever since he had offended her previously, it seemed she held a significant grudge against him!
Although the Queen Dowager no longer handled state affairs, she was still the King’s mother. If she were to speak against him before the King someday, given the King’s inherently suspicious nature, he would need ten mouths to explain himself clearly.
Wang Ben felt he needed to find a way to win over this uniquely temperamental Queen Dowager.
After Ji Sheng was captured, the case of the assassination attempt on the Queen Dowager was quickly resolved.
“Two former retainers of Marquis Chang’an were by Prince Ziying’s side. One was Ji Sheng, who came from Zhao State and became Prince Ziying’s tutor. The prince usually addressed him as Zhong Fu.”
“The other was Yu Nuo, who had long protected Prince Ziying in Yongcheng. Yu Nuo disagreed with Ji Sheng. He always wanted to secretly take Prince Ziying away, gather the old followers of Marquis Chang’an, and launch another rebellion. Ji Sheng, however, believed that Prince Ziying should return to Xianyang and proceed gradually with their plans.”
“When Yu Nuo learned that the Queen Dowager had taken Prince Ziying out of Yongcheng, he conceived malicious intentions to abduct both the Queen Dowager and the prince.”
“Fortunately, the Queen Dowager’s guards were highly skilled in martial arts and intercepted them, preventing their conspiracy from succeeding.”
Wang Ben compiled the entire account of the case into a report and presented it to Ying Zheng.
Ying Zheng closed the bamboo slips and said indifferently, “In that case, handle it according to Qin law.”
Rebels and traitors must suffer extreme punishment (dismemberment by waist-cutting or carts) and have their three generations of family exterminated.
“Is there anything else?” Ying Zheng’s gaze was icy. Usually, Wang Ben spoke bluntly and directly. Why was he hesitating today? Could he be hiding something from him?
Wang Ben bowed his head and produced another set of bamboo slips from his robe. “This was entrusted to me by Prince Ziying to present to Your Majesty.”
Ying Zheng was momentarily taken aback, recalling the child he had met a few times. Yet, he felt no affection for that child whatsoever. In fact, because of Chengjiao’s affairs, he had once wished never to lay eyes on him again.
Why would the child think of writing to him?
The writing on the bamboo slips spanned only a few lines, the characters crooked and almost illegible, with several mistakes evident. Still, one could tell the writer had tried his best.
Ying Zheng scoffed derisively. “Since when has Dian become so soft-hearted? Do you know why Ziying asked you to deliver this letter?”
Dian was Wang Ben’s courtesy name.
Wang Ben immediately knelt to the ground.
Seeing this, Ying Zheng knew he was aware of the contents. “Do you think I should spare Ji Sheng?”
“I only follow Your Majesty’s commands.”
“Enough. Since Ji Sheng was Ziying’s tutor, it is understandable that the child would plead for his teacher’s life. However, the laws of Qin cannot be transgressed. If Ji Sheng was so loyal to Chengjiao, then grant him the honor of being buried with Chengjiao!”
In Ying Zheng’s view, this already represented an extraordinary honor bestowed upon Ji Sheng.
Not long ago, Wang Ben, who had heard the Queen Dowager cursing Ji Sheng’s disloyalty before the tomb of Marquis Chang’an, now wore an extremely subtle expression. He even suspected this was a case of mother and son being so attuned that they had found a way to make Ji Sheng suffer.
“Do you have an objection?” Ying Zheng narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression displeased.
“I wouldn’t dare.” Terrified, Wang Ben knelt on the ground again and honestly recounted everything that had occurred at the tomb of Marquis Chang’an.
Hearing how the Queen Dowager had defended his status, the ice in Ying Zheng’s expression finally showed signs of melting.
He had heard these rumors in Xianyang City before but paid them no mind.
Anyone who dared question his identity could simply be killed.
But the Queen Dowager’s words had directly refuted those who questioned his status and delivered them a stinging slap – this clearly pleased him even more.
As for that Ji Sheng—
Ying Zheng suddenly laughed, “Let Ji Sheng live! Keep him under surveillance and make him guard Chengjiao’s tomb. Bury him beside Chengjiao after he dies.”
A chill ran down Wang Ben’s spine. “As you command.”
In Liyang Palace, Zhao Yuanxi fed Ziying tranquilizing medicine and coaxed him to sleep.
You lowered her voice and said, “Your Highness, Ji Sheng has been sent back.”
Zhao Yuanxi looked surprised. When Wang Ben was about to return to Xianyang to report, Ziying had asked if he could spare Ji Sheng’s life.
He had refused, saying the decision on how to deal with him would depend on the King of Qin’s judgment.
Thus, Ziying had written a letter pleading for mercy himself.
Zhao Yuanxi hadn’t held much hope for this. At best, Ji Sheng’s actions could be called child abduction; at worst, it was rebellion. With Qin’s strict laws, either charge meant certain death.
Was her nominal son really so easily persuaded? Zhao Yuanxi didn’t believe it.
But remembering how her nominal son had agreed to all her requests these past days, Zhao Yuanxi began to feel uncertain.
“Where was he sent?”
You’s expression was complicated. “He was sent to guard Marquis Chang’an’s tomb.”
“Guard the tomb?” Zhao Yuanxi’s eyes widened. “That’s all?”
What kind of punishment was that! Could Ji Sheng possibly cry himself to death before Chengjiao’s tomb?
As it turned out, he certainly could.
Zhao Yuanxi didn’t yet understand the destructive power of her words. Only when she heard that Ji Sung had dashed himself to death before Chengjiao’s tomb did she realize how terrifying Ying Zheng’s order had been.
For someone who believed himself utterly loyal, having his loyalty questioned created enough self-doubt to destroy him.
Returned to the vicinity of Chengjiao’s tomb, Ji Sheng looked at his former master’s name carved in the stone tablet, collapsed to the ground, weeping uncontrollably while vomiting blood.
He remembered when Ziying, still unable to walk, had called him Zhong Fu. His fingers clawed desperately at the ground until they bled, but he seemed unaware of the pain.
“Zhong Fu, can we go home?”
Ziying’s voice seemed to suddenly echo in his ears. Coming back to his senses, Ji Sheng found his vision already blurred. He laughed wildly, “Hahahaha, I have failed the young master’s trust in this life! My lord, I come to meet you!”
His head smashed against the stone tablet, blood splattering everywhere. Before the guards could react, they saw him collapse in a pool of blood.
A final tear fell from Ji Sheng’s eye as his hand firmly grasped a corner of the stone tablet.
Ji Sheng was dead.
When Ying Zheng heard the news, the corners of his lips lifted slightly, his mood quite pleased. In contrast, Zhao Yuanxi remained depressed for quite some time.
Zhao Yuanxi brought Ziying to see him.
Death remained far too unfamiliar a concept for a three-year-old child.
Ziying’s eyes were red as he pointed at the two tombstones—one tall, one short—and said, “Da Mu, Zhong Fu is with Father now.”
“Zhong Fu must be very happy now!” Ziying sniffled, burying his entire face into Zhao Yuanxi’s sleeve as he wept silently.