The censors were helpless. After all, it was obvious that their young king was deliberately getting angry with Zhang Ji, but Ying Zheng could play like this, but they couldn't really let Zhang Ji stand there stupidly.
The censors of various countries are just historians. The emperor, princes, officials, and subordinates of the governor all have "historians", who are responsible for recording conversations and serving as secretaries. Their nature is more like Lang Guan, but the censors of Qin are supervisory officials. They are responsible for impeaching and investigating officials' faults, and maintaining order and etiquette in the court are also within the scope of the censors' powers.
If Zhang Ji did not stand in front of the place where he should stand at the beginning of the court meeting, it would be a crime of misconduct, and according to Qin law, he would be whipped with a cane.
But although Qin's law is harsh, it is also humane.
Before the courtiers go to court for the first time, there is usually a censor to teach the court etiquette. If the court officials fail to behave during the first court meeting, the censor will be guilty of the same crime, but the punishment can be reduced, and both parties can be fined. Zhang Ji, who goes to court without being taught by the imperial censor, will most likely be exempted from liability.
But Zhang Ji can be exempted from liability. For these censors, it would be dereliction of duty if they failed to teach Zhang Ji etiquette in time.
Dereliction of duty is not just that simple. The crime of dereliction of duty can be serious or minor. The lighter one will be punished with an armor, and the more serious one will be beheaded.
Although even these experienced censors have never seen this kind of situation, and there are no examples for reference, it is estimated that twenty canings are unavoidable.
Fortunately, after all, Ying Zheng was no longer that young man, but the King of Qin. Although he was still a bit young at heart, it would not cause Zhang Ji to lose his manners in front of the court, so he turned his head and looked at Li Si.
Li Si understood and brought Zhang Ji to Ying Zheng's side, standing at the front of the officials.
As the censor's shouts fell, the last court meeting before Ying Zheng took office also began.
"Greetings to the king!"
Civil and military officials paid their respects in unison and bowed.
Seeing the courtiers in black court uniforms bending down to salute him, even Ying Zheng's young and mature mind couldn't help but feel his heart surge.
This was not the first time he had gone to court. He had gone to court countless times since he took the throne at the age of thirteen, but this time was definitely the court he was most looking forward to and the one that made him most excited and excited.
Because this is the first time he holds great power to hold a court meeting, because this is the court meeting where he is about to declare "the crowning ceremony and pro-government administration", and because it is the last court meeting before he takes charge of the country.
Power is like sweet wine, intoxicating, but Ying Zheng is not addicted to it. Instead, he suppresses the heat in his heart and slowly stands up from the throne carved from thousand-year-old black jade.
Xuan was dressed in long clothes, with a windlass sword on his waist and a black jade pendant hanging on his waist. He walked down the steps named "Your Majesty" and bowed to the ministers in the same way. Then he straightened his body and stretched out his hands as a support. , said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, please rise."
"rise--!"
After Ying Zheng's voice fell, the old eunuch Ling shouted in a sharp but loud voice.
"sit--!"
Then, the ministers slowly straightened up and sat on the soft cushions placed behind them at the old eunuch's second call.
"The king has an edict——!"
Li Si gasped softly, suppressing his inner excitement.
The matter of drafting and reading the imperial edict should belong to Lang Guan, but last night Ying Zheng praised his handwriting because his handwriting was straight and horizontal, and evenly rounded. The drafting and reading of the imperial edict were all left to Li Si.
You must know that the content of today's edict is not short, especially the content of Ying Zheng's crowning and pro-government, which is absolutely of great significance. How could Li Si not be excited to read such an edict in front of the courtiers.
After the old eunuch Ling Zai and Ying Zheng looked at each other, he walked towards the position of the officials with narrowed eyes and a smile. He held the black imperial edict in his hands and handed it to Li Si's eyes.
But some things, even if they are very close, are just out of reach.
"Sir, please read the royal edict."
Li Si's eyes were about to burst, and he looked at the old eunuch with wide eyes. He wanted to stop the old eunuch and said that he should read the imperial edict, but his remaining reason told him that this kind of thing must not be done by the old eunuch. It must be Ying Zheng's instruction to make the decision privately.
But after glancing at Zhang Ji, who was still a little confused after receiving the edict, Li Si sighed secretly.
With Zhang Ji's current favor, losing to him... wouldn't be a shame.
He single-handedly gained the favor of the King of Qin and the Queen Mother. He saved many lives and was recognized as his adopted son. According to rumors from the chambermaids and maids, the wound medicine on Zhang Ji's wounds was applied by the Queen Mother herself. , and then bandaged it with cloth strips by hand.
With this kind of treatment and favor, as long as Zhang Ji does not rebel and lives to be fifty years old, the Zhang family can prosper in Qin for at least three generations.
Others who had the same idea were the concubine Meng Jia, Mi Qi, Mi Dian, Feng Jie, Feng Quji, Li Xin, Qiang You and other officials. Everyone either has a superior background or is talented, and no one is convinced.
Li Si wins over them just because of Li Si's character. In addition, Li Si is eight and a half feet tall, has wolf eyes and an eagle nose, tall cheekbones, and a round sky. Although he is not as handsome and elegant as his senior brother Han Fei, he is definitely He has a handsome and heroic appearance, so he was given the task of reading out the royal edict by Political Commissar Ying.
But Zhang Ji... First of all, it is not embarrassing to lose to Zhang Ji. Secondly, Zhang Ji's current favor, power and reputation cannot compete with them on the same ladder, and it will have little impact on them. In other words, as long as they don't let people who are also Lang officials, especially Li Si, win, they have no objection.
Of course, the most important thing is that everyone is clearly aware that this kind of thing must be an order from Ying Zheng, and there will never be any good results from going against Ying Zheng.
Therefore, Zhang Ji respectfully bent down and took the edict from the old eunuch's hand with both hands, then took a deep look at the eunuch and whispered: "Thank you, old eunuch."
Zhang Ji is not a fool who doesn't understand the world. Looking at Li Si's appearance, you can tell that he was the one who was originally scheduled to read the edict. The sudden change to him was simply because of the eye contact between the old eunuch Ling and Ying Zheng at that moment, and It was the old eunuch who took the initiative.
This is tantamount to reminding Ying Zheng that there is another Zhang Ji who is more suitable for reading the imperial edict, so Ying Zheng gave the hint.
The old eunuch smiled slightly, his wrinkled face also wrinkled because of the smile, and nodded lightly.
Having served the king of Qin for four generations, he naturally does not know everything about the palace, but there are few things big or small that can be hidden from him.
Although the old eunuch knew the absurd relationship between Zhang Ji and Zhao Ji, he didn't care.
His allegiance was to the State of Qin, not to any particular King of Qin.
The guests of Chu reported Jueying, and Mu of Qin drank and stole horses.
As an eunuch who served under the fourth generation of King Qin, he was familiar with these two stories.
Today, Zhang Ji has made great contributions to Yingzheng many times like the tasseled Tang Ciao and the horse-stealing Qin people, so he is naturally willing to support Zhang Ji like he helped Lu Buwei in the past.
Of course, if one day Zhang Ji has something wrong with him, the relationship between him and Zhao Ji will also become Zhang Ji's talisman.
Naturally, Zhang Ji didn't know these thoughts of the old eunuch Ling. He held the royal edict in his hand, looked at Ying Zheng on the throne behind him, looked down at the ministers at the foot of the steps, and slowly unfolded the black edict. , took a deep breath.
(2218 words)
(End of chapter)
