Zhang Han had a very good impression of Zhao Gao, much better than his later impression of Ge Nie.
In Zhang Han's eyes, Zhao Gao was a loyal, knowledgeable, and qualified confidant to the First Emperor, just like himself.
It stands to reason that people with the same personality should repel each other, just like two strong people cannot play together. But Zhang Han did not exclude Zhao Gao. The safety of the First Emperor was more important than anything else.
After reporting to the First Emperor and confirming that Zhao Gao had the authority, Zhang Han simply handed over the authority and followed Zhao Gao's orders - leading a group of newly formed secret guards to secretly search for the items left by Concubine Hu, and investigate and People who come and go with Hu Ji.
Concubine Hu accidentally fell into a well and drowned while wandering in the garden. There were always eunuchs in Concubine Hu's palace, but the maids did not take good care of them, and most of them were executed in public.
This incident spread as soon as it spread and did not have any impact on the government and the public. Except for the eunuchs in the harem, the maids in the palace were more and more cautious when traveling, and the concubines all lived in seclusion and were cautious in their words and deeds.
As the master of the harem, Empress Afang had real power rather than decoration. As soon as she knew about the incident, she went to the First Emperor to find out the reason.
The maid he grew up serving was also the woman he loved deeply throughout his life. The First Emperor told the truth, clearly explained the cause of Concubine Hu's death, and also said that Concubine Hu framed his brother.
Only Afang in the harem could let the First Emperor tell everything in full without concealing anything.
In Zhangtai Palace, Afang wore a solemn black skirt, embroidered with bird patterns carefully drawn by imperial craftsmen.
After listening to the retelling of the First Emperor, Afang's first reaction was.
"Impossible! Uncle wouldn't do that!"
Her expression was determined.
To say that this uncle of his is so capable that one day he will pull the First Emperor off the throne and sit on it himself, Afang Xin would have such worries.
But when it was said that Ying Cheng was lustful and lustful, he was a devil of lust and raped the concubines of the First Emperor, 10,000 people in Afang didn't believe it. In particular, the person who spoke out about this was Hu Ji, the subjugated princess of Chu who had a deep hatred for the First Emperor.
Afang doesn't have a good impression of Hu Ji at all, and he always sides with Ying Chengyu, both rationally and emotionally.
"A clumsy frame-up! This bitch will die as soon as he dies. How dare you drive a wedge between your uncle and your majesty! Anyone involved in this matter will be punished by the Yi clan!"
Afang, who was usually gentle, was also really angry, with an evil spirit gathering between his brows.
She could be the queen of the Qin Empire and control the concubines in the harem. Afang not only relied on the favor of the First Emperor, but also his own prestige and means.
In the harem, Afang's status is almost equal to that of the First Emperor, and he is the veritable master of the harem. In all matters involving the First Emperor, Afang would kill people without mercy.
The First Emperor nodded slowly with a gloomy face.
"I will let Zhao Gao do this, but I want to see who actually extended his hand into my harem!"
Afangfeng's eyes were filled with evil thoughts, he chanted the word "Zhao Gao" in his mouth, frowned and said:
"Zhao Gao is trustworthy? He was once the son of the Zhao Kingdom. He had a close relationship with the Queen Mother, and his uncle had an ear knocked off. It would be inappropriate to ask him to investigate this matter."
The First Emperor paced back and forth.
"I was confused by Hu Ji's words, and it was Zhao Gao who reminded me that Cheng Xi is a boy. Although Cheng Xi has been wary of him in every possible way, and he also has some dissatisfaction with Cheng Xi, but he is generally credible. He has saved my life so many times that I can’t even count it. Zhao Gao never gets involved in personal matters when it comes to official matters."
Afang followed her husband just like she followed the young master when she was a maid.
"What I wrote is reasonable, but I still think it is inappropriate. Since this matter happened in the harem, I will personally investigate!"
"I have asked Zhang Han to secretly collect evidence and investigate, and I do not fully trust Zhao Gao. Fang'er, you can investigate it yourself... Well, that's fine. The sooner this matter is settled, the better."
Afang's eyes were as cold as stars, and his heart was full of murderous intent.
No one who can be a queen in the Qin Empire is a vase.
Turning his head and looking at the side hall of Zhangtai Palace, Afang felt that there was a weak but strong breath of life there, which was the fire of life of a child.
"Is that girl Yinman in there?"
There were so many princes and princesses in the harem, and they dared to come and play in Zhangtai Palace where the First Emperor worked. The only one who doesn't love nvhong knitting, only loves to dance with spears and sticks, and is fearless of heaven and earth is Ying Yinman, the fifth princess of the Qin Dynasty.
Afang is a little confused, why is this girl so honest today?
No movement was heard.
"No, it's Hu Hai."
The First Emperor said calmly.
The First Emperor concealed his emotions very well, but it was useless in front of Afang, the person he knew and loved.
Afang noticed that his husband seemed a little guilty the moment the First Emperor spoke. Without thinking too much, he quickly understood the source of this guilt.
The First Emperor declared to the outside world that Hu Ji fell into a well and died. He could hide this from everyone in the world, but he could not hide it from himself. The death of Hu Ji is inseparable from the First Emperor himself.
The First Emperor did not feel guilty about the death of Hu Ji, but in front of his biological son Ying Hu Hai, it was normal for him to feel a little guilty for forcing his mother to death so that he could become the only son without his mother in the harem.
"I have no heirs, and Afang Palace has always been lifeless. Is it okay to let Hu Hai come to accompany me?"
For an eighteenth-year-old son who has lost his biological mother, naturally no one dares to say anything outside. But in Xianyang Palace, the young masters and princesses who were mostly older than him and of the same status as him would inevitably say some unpleasant things.
But if Ying Huhai was in the Afang Palace and had been brought up by Afang, the princesses would not gossip because of Afang's power.
Xia Ji, the biological mother of King Zhuangxiang of Qin, had no power, so she was sent to Zhao as a hostage. And he was able to return from Zhao to Qin because he recognized the heirless Mrs. Huayang as his mother.
Most of the feudal dynasties in later generations were based on the principle that the mother is more important than the son. They said that the harem was not allowed to interfere in politics, and all the harem forces were blocked. But in the Qin Dynasty, where the power of the harem was not castrated, the son was more valuable than the mother.
The First Emperor knew that this was Afang's rhetoric. The sons and princesses in the harem were all brought up by Afang. If it weren't for him, why would Afang need to take Ying Huhai with him, who had already publicly said he had given up?
He hesitated and said:
"No need, I will just open a palace for him."
"Your Majesty, you can't trust Afang? Do you think Afang will be disadvantageous to him because of his mother?"
"How could I..."
"Then let Afang take care of it."
The queen walked up to her husband and smoothed the horizontal lines on the forehead of the First Emperor with her bare hands.
"Your Majesty is someone who wants to do great things. Don't waste your energy on useless things. This is all A Fang can do for Your Majesty. I am very happy to be able to share His Majesty's worries."
"...I feel wronged."
In the side hall of Zhangtai Palace, the Emperor himself found a clay pot for him, teasing Ying Huhai, the 18th prince who ordered the search for insects.
These few short moments changed his life's destiny.
Under the butterfly effect of Ying Chengyu, in this life, he should have been unable to leave his name in history because of his biological mother's hatred of the First Emperor.
But now, he not only has the favor of the First Emperor, but also the blessing of Queen Afang. Winning Hu Hai once again has the possibility of being named in the history books.
Three days passed.
Zhao Gao, who is in charge of all the power in the harem, Zhang Han, the commander of the Shadow Secret Guards who secretly received orders, and Queen Afang, the master of the harem.
Under the investigation of these three people, the death of Concubine Hu should have come to light long ago. The truth should have been revealed, and the person behind the scenes should not have been able to hide it.
However, what is surprising is that the three parties found nothing. They couldn't find the person Hu Ji would rather die to protect, as if that person didn't exist.
It would be understandable to say that Concubine Chu could hide any information under the influence of the three parties. After all, Concubine Chu was a relative of Chu State, and she also had the identity of sister Ying Chengyu.
But why could Hu Ji, a concubine who was not in power and favored, hide it? There are few secrets in the life of this fallen princess. When he met whom and when he did what he did, it was all found out clearly.
A few days ago, he cursed Zhao Gao, who was ordered by the First Emperor to teach Ying Huhai, and drove him out.
Half a month ago, I wanted to go to the Chu Palace to visit my sister, but Queen Afang blocked her and went back, yelling in the palace.
…
Zhao Gao bowed his waist respectfully and reported.
The First Emperor listened to these things reported by Zhao Gao, and compared them with what Zhang Han secretly reported and the Queen secretly investigated, and there was almost no discrepancy.
Zhao Gao recounted all the events from the perspective of a complete bystander. No personal feelings or thoughts are added, just like a machine.
"You met Concubine Hu."
The First Emperor sat behind the desk and said calmly after Zhao Gao finished reporting.
Most of the people that Concubine Hu saw were palace maids and eunuchs who need not be mentioned at all. The only person who can be called an exception these days is Zhao Gao.
"yes."
Zhao Gao said calmly.
"How many times have you tried so hard to get me to death? Zhao Gao, are you trying to sow discord this time?"
"I do want Lord Chang'an to die, but it's not a personal grudge. It's more because it's not good for Your Majesty."
Zhao Gao admitted it straightforwardly and did not deny it.
"The Lord of Chang'an kept Li Mu as a retainer, offered wax sacrifices to incite people's support, launched a mutiny to massacre Meng Xibai, and even dared to threaten His Majesty's safety. If he is not eliminated, Your Majesty will eventually turn against him!"
Each of these, one by one, is a recipe for death for ordinary people. They should have died a thousand and eight hundred times. Zhao Gao's thoughts and words are all right.
The First Emperor told Zhao Gao that he thought that Zhao Gao had treated Ying Chengyu very respectfully before going to Chang'an Palace to meet Li Mu, and also hinted to Li Si not to go against his younger brother.
He nodded secretly and believed Zhao Gao.
"However, this matter has nothing to do with Gao. Your Majesty, how can Gao be so virtuous and want Concubine Hu to die to kill Lord Chang'an? To die for Gao? And that day Gao saw Concubine Hu with a maid and eunuchs present. Your Majesty can pass it on and ask Of.
"Gao knows that Lord Chang'an is a boy, how could Gao say such a thing? Gao wants Lord Chang'an to die because of His Majesty's sake. How could Gao want to kill Lord Chang'an because of His Majesty's reputation?"
The First Emperor was noncommittal on his face, but in his heart he almost believed what Zhao Gao said.
Everything must be logical and reasonable.
No matter how you look at Hu Ji's death, it has nothing to do with Zhao Gao.
The logic doesn't make sense.
The truth is wrong.
The First Emperor grabbed the crystal clear, pure red without impurities, the size of an ordinary person's fist, priceless glass bead on the table, and strange colors appeared in his eyes.
The Qin State loves water, likes black, and has a black bird as its totem.
Chu State loves fire and red, and its totem is the phoenix bird.
"Your Majesty, I have a guess, but I don't know whether to say it or not..."
Zhao Gao hesitated to speak.
"explain."
The expressionless face of the First Emperor was flushed red by the red glass beads.
This kind of glazed beads had never been seen naturally by the First Emperor.
Such a round and pure color should be artificial, and only his brother Ying Chengyu could make it.
Zhao Gao gritted his teeth with a risk-taking expression on his face.
"Gao thought that what Concubine Hu said might be true!"
The First Emperor didn't respond, but he didn't interrupt either. He looked at the priceless glass beads in his hand and waited until Zhao Gao continued.
Investigations by the three forces of Zhao Gao, Zhang Han, and Afang failed to find out the person behind Hu Ji, so this person may not exist at all.
The investigation has ruled out all possibilities, so the only possibility that was subjectively ruled out at the earliest but not ruled out by the investigation is that Hu Ji is telling the truth.
After eliminating all possibilities, what remains, no matter how unreasonable, is the truth.
But this remaining possibility still has one impossibility, that is, Ying Chengyu is a boy, and Hu Ji cannot give birth to Ying Chengyu's child.
Zhao Gao waited for a moment, and still said with a look of resignation:
"The success of Chang'an Jun's "Yellow Emperor" is true, but it is also true that he lingers on the stage!"
Being undefiled can only affect Yingcheng Xiang's sowing seeds, but does not affect his entry and exit.
The First Emperor's arms trembled.
"Concubine Hu didn't know that Chang'an Jun was studying "Yellow Emperor" and mistakenly thought..."
Bang~
That priceless big red glass bead hit Zhao Gao on the head, beating Zhao Gao's flesh to pieces and bleeding, and smashing back all the remaining words of Zhao Gao!
"How dare you frame Chenglong!"
The First Emperor's anger was fully visible!
"Get out! You will be punished by the ten sticks!"
"only."
Zhao Gao let the blood flow from his head, responded, and left Zhangtai Palace.
Soon, the sound of the stick crackling came from outside to inside, reaching the ears of the First Emperor.
The big red glass bead rolled on the ground once and then stopped. It was stained with blood and shone with a strange light under the bright light.
The First Emperor looked at the glass bead and felt extremely irritated.
He knew that all of this should be fake, and there was no way his biological brother could do such a thing.
If his biological brother is really such a lecherous devil, he will not even let his woman go. Then we should have searched the Sixth Palace long ago, let alone asked for the abolition of the towers.
If Hu Ji is still alive, the First Emperor has countless ways to get the truth from Hu Ji.
Hu Ji believes that Ying Huhai is the heir of Ying Cheng, which proves that the two of them should have a long-term ambiguity.
The First Emperor had no problem with being mistreated, and he favored Hu Ji only a handful of times. If Hu Ji mistakenly believes that Ying Huhai belongs to Ying Chengyu, it is only logical that the two of them often collide.
It is easy to verify whether the two people have been having an affair for a long time. Some details cannot be made up, such as where there are moles on Ying Chengyu's body.
If Hu Ji says she has never noticed this kind of thing, then ask Ying Chengyu how long it lasts and what position he likes.
But now, Hu Ji is dead, and there is no evidence of his death.
The anxious First Emperor really wanted to recall Hu Ji's soul at this moment and ask for a clear explanation, hoping to have peace of mind.
(End of chapter)
