Ying Zheng exited Zhao Ji's palace gate and walked slowly, seemingly still thinking about what happened just now. Zhao Gao, who had been guarding the palace gate, followed behind, but seeing that Ying Zheng seemed to have something on his mind, he did not disturb him.
"How should I ask Father Zhong? Directly question him? It's obviously inappropriate. It's okay to be a little petty. If we really quarrel, it will be detrimental to us." Ying Zheng thought in his mind, "The key to the problem is no matter what No matter how he handles it, he can't change the outcome, but he has to show his feelings to some extent, otherwise he will think that the widow doesn't care. As for choosing a concubine, just follow your mood, there are so many women, just choose one that suits your eyes. Why did the Queen Mother want to move out of the palace? Is it really because you are tired of living there and feel bored?"
These things were all major events related to Ying Zheng, but he couldn't make the decision in any of them. He couldn't help but feel like he was at the mercy of others, which was really not a good feeling. The feeling of powerlessness arises spontaneously, which is really unbearable for a king.
Ying Zhengsi thought about it and saw Zhao Gao following behind, so he asked in a low voice: "Zhao Gao, my mother told me a few things today. I want to hear your opinion."
Zhao Gao bowed and said: "Your Majesty, how dare I participate in political affairs?"
Ying Zheng said with some displeasure: "You grew up with me in the Kingdom of Zhao, and you are the cousin of my mother. We are brothers originally. When I returned to Qin, you abandoned your homeland and followed me to Qin. For You accompanied me and even suffered a castration. Just because of this friendship, how can I treat you as a slave? Besides, you don't know that there is no one besides you who can confide in me."
Seeing Ying Zheng's face full of sorrow, Zhao Gao quickly said: "Zhao Gao is just sharing the worries of the king."
"That's right. From now on, when I have something to discuss with you, I can no longer pretend to be evasive." Ying Zheng never likes false politeness.
"I have taken note of it." Zhao Gao followed, folded his hands, bowed and said, "I wonder what the Queen Mother summoned you for?"
"The Queen Mother said three things." Ying Zheng breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I feel that every matter is no small matter to me, and not only can I not make the decision, I don't even have the opportunity to discuss with them. .”
Zhao Gao quickly comforted him: "Maybe things are not what the king thinks. In the future, the king just needs to be the master of the world."
Ying Zheng smiled bitterly and continued: "The first thing is that the Queen Mother and Father Zhong are discussing to postpone the crowning ceremony. This means that I don't have to wait long before I can take over the royal power."
"Your Majesty, please allow me to think about this important matter for a while before returning to the palace to discuss it. Besides, this is not the place to talk." Zhao Gao said, "What about the other two matters?"
"The second thing is my marriage." Ying Zheng said as he walked, "I have reached adulthood, and all countries will send princesses to choose concubines. The queen mother and father Zhong are interested in the princess of Zhao State, but the king Grandma will definitely recommend the princess of Chu."
Zhao Gao frowned slightly and nodded, seeming to be thinking about something in his heart.
"One more thing is that the Queen Mother is bored in the palace and wants to move to Yongcheng. But I can't predict what will happen to the palace in the future if the Queen Mother is separated." Ying Zheng looked at Zhao After taking a high look, he breathed a long sigh of relief. After saying the three things, he continued to move forward, and his pace became much faster.
Ying Zheng's worries are not unnecessary. Although the Queen Mother Zhao Ji does not interfere much in the government affairs in the palace, she still maintains the balance of the various forces in the Qin Dynasty. Once Zhao Ji leaves Xianyang, the balance of forces among all parties will inevitably be broken, and this change will How big it will be, no one can predict.
Zhao Gao took two steps to follow without asking any more questions. He noticed that Ying Zheng was still very depressed and worried.
As a slave, he always serves his master. He has long learned the ability to observe people's emotions, and Zhao Gao is even more familiar with this aspect.
Returning to the palace and entering the study, the maids were ordered to leave temporarily, leaving only Ying Zheng and Zhao Gao.
Ying Zheng pulled Zhao Gao to sit down and said: "You are the only one who can discuss things around me. What do you think? There are no outsiders now, so feel free to speak out."
"I thought about it on the way and then spoke boldly." Zhao Gao straightened his posture and said.
"Say it." Ying Zheng's tone was a little urgent.
"In my opinion, Your Majesty is indeed overly concerned. These things may not be all bad things. On the contrary, they may all be good things." Zhao Gao still said in a low voice.
"Oh? Why?" Ying Zheng asked with some confusion.
"Your Majesty is just a fan of the authorities." Zhao Gao bowed to show that he was not disrespectful to Ying Zheng.
Ying Zheng raised his hand to signal Zhao Gao to continue.
"Now, the king has neither royal power nor military power. Although the king is extremely eager for royal power, rushing for success may not necessarily bring the best results." Zhao Gao paused and continued: "Guan etiquette Once the ceremony is held as scheduled, it means that the king has reached adulthood, and Lu Xiangbang should return the royal power to the king. As we all know, Lu Xiangbang may not do so. Once the king performs the crowning ceremony, do you want the royal power or not? ?”
"Of course I will want it." Ying Zheng said with certainty.
"The king will definitely ask for it, but Lu Xiangbang may not hand it over. If he does not hand over the royal power, the conflict will intensify, and such a change will be extremely detrimental to the king." Zhao Gao said.
Ying Zheng nodded, expressing his agreement with this sentence.
Zhao Gao added: "And if you don't want this royal power, it will be equivalent to admitting the fact that the royal power has fallen by the wayside. It will be even harder to get the royal power back in the future."
"Well, it's exactly what you said. It seems that you are right. When I care, I will be in chaos." There was a smile on Ying Zheng's face, "In this case, I will no longer be obsessed with the postponement of the crown ceremony, and slowly Let’s make further calculations. What about the second thing? What do you think?”
Seeing that Ying Zheng's mood had eased, Zhao Gao breathed a long sigh of relief and said, "As for the matter of choosing a concubine, it is a private matter for the king. I dare not make any comments, but I feel free to do as I please."
"In fact, the selection of a concubine is nothing more than a competition between the various forces in the court and a secret struggle for power in the palace." Ying Zheng said, "Especially the choice of the future queen may be more related to the national destiny of this country."
"But it is true. Throughout the ages, who will be the queen has not only related to this country, but even to the interests of other countries." Zhao Gao nodded.
"But do you know why the six countries are so impatient?" Ying Zheng said with a smile on his face, "My father once stayed in Zhao as a hostage, and I also once stayed as a hostage on my father's behalf. It can be said that each other has a hostage in the other party. countries, both sides can avoid many wars and conflicts."
Zhao Gao showed a puzzled expression and asked: "Protons have always been an important means of diplomacy for various countries. What does it have to do with the king's selection of concubines?"
Ying Zheng continued with a smile: "Since I came to the throne, the other countries have lost the constraint of protons. Although the original protons are of the same origin as me, they are not my flesh and blood relatives after all. Therefore, if the six countries want to have good relations with Da Qin, , it is impossible to ignore the role of protons. They are all anxious to send the princess here, give birth to a little prince, and then send her back to be a proton."
"Your Majesty is wise, but this slave has not seen this." Zhao Gaomao said suddenly.
Indeed, as Ying Zheng said, the reason why countries are eager to participate in Qin's concubine selection is that in addition to competing for the title of princess, they also want to have the direct bloodline of the current King of Qin as a hostage to facilitate diplomatic relations.
"I have decided that no prince will be sent as a hostage in the future." Ying Zheng said firmly.
"It really doesn't matter to a powerful country if each other doesn't send their princes as hostages." Zhao Gao nodded.
Ying Zheng asked: "There is a third thing, please go on."
"Your Majesty, it is not necessarily a bad thing for the Queen Mother to leave the palace to live." Zhao Gao said.
"Oh? How?" Ying Zheng asked.
"Your Majesty, there are currently several forces in the palace and in the court. Although they are not equally powerful, they are still pushing each other out and refusing to give in to each other. At this time, the Empress Dowager moves to Yongcheng, which is likely to cause this balance to be broken. What's more..." At this point, Zhao Gao hesitated.
"If you have anything to say, just say it." Ying Zheng said calmly.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhao Gao said with cupped hands, "Although the Queen Mother is lonely, she still controls part of the royal power. Even if the Queen Mother is not in the palace, the palace is still controlled by the Queen Mother, so the harem will not be without a master. If the Queen Mother Without being in the palace, the king can gradually take over the royal power from the Queen Mother. Only when his wings are gradually fuller can he meet with Lu Xiangbang for negotiation in the future."
Zhao Gao used the word "negotiation" to refer to Ying Zheng and Lu Buwei discussing government affairs together. But now, Ying Zheng obviously doesn't even have a chance to negotiate.
The Queen Mother Zhao Gao refers to is Mrs. Huayang, the queen of Yingzheng's grandfather, King Qin Xiaowen, Yingzhu. It was precisely because Ying Zheng's father Ying Yiren returned to Qin from Zhao and was adopted as his heir by Mrs. Huayang that he became the King of Qin. However, he died of illness and passed the throne to ten people seven years ago. Three-year-old Ying Zheng. However, the government of Qin has always been controlled by Lu Buwei, and the Queen Mother Zhao Ji keeps the royal seal of Qin.
"Hahaha, what a negotiation." Ying Zheng laughed even more happily, "As for what means will be used in the future, it can only depend on the situation. As you said, these so-called major events that concern me, although I can't help but I make my own decisions, but it may not be a bad thing, but more likely a good thing. In this way, I will no longer have to worry about anything."
After listening to Zhao Gao's analysis, Ying Zheng seemed to be enlightened and in a much better mood.
"It is also the duty of a slave to be able to give some advice to the king." Zhao Gao looked pious.
"It seems that many things really need to be brainstormed!" Ying Zheng said with some emotion, "By the way, I asked you to hunt down the capable people in the world who can be used by me. What's the progress?"
"Your Majesty, there are many capable people with lofty ideals who are interested in serving our country, but most of the sages in our country have become guests in the houses of major sects." Zhao Gao said, "If you deliberately win over them, it is very likely to cause The palace where he is located is dissatisfied. The servants believe that when the king chooses his trusted ministers, he should look at the whole world, not just the Qin State. Among the countries, choosing idle ministers and good generals to serve the emperor should be the first choice."
"That makes sense." Ying Zheng nodded, "Could it be that you already have a suitable candidate?"
"Back to the king, when I left the palace that day, I happened to meet two strong men dressed as villagers. They said that they wanted to enter the palace to see the king. How could you break into the forbidden area of the palace privately, but after being stopped by the guards, the two men simply The guards couldn't stand it when they took action. After being stopped by the slaves, they learned that the two men were named "Er Geng" and "San Geng". They had learned martial arts. They came to Qin State to serve as kings under the orders of their masters. Serve your orders. I have investigated these two people and found that there is nothing wrong with these two people and they are honest and honest people. I just don’t know where they learned from. Now I have arranged for them to wait at the post house."
"Okay, please make arrangements for me to meet the two knights another day." Ying Zheng said happily.
"Your Majesty, there is another scribe who is special and is currently in Qin." Zhao Gao said.
"How special?" Ying Zheng asked.
"This man's name is Li Si. He is from the Chu State and a disciple of Xunzi. He has just traveled to the Six Kingdoms and said that Qin was his last stop. I heard that when he was traveling in the Six Kingdoms, he discussed the affairs of the world with the princes. He has made great achievements. There are many kings of the six countries who are interested in him, but he politely declined, saying that he would make plans after traveling to all the countries in the world. Currently, he is living in the post house and has no direct contact with the various clans. I feel that he also wants to meet the king and discuss the world with the king." Zhao Gao lowered his voice and said.
"I must see this kind of talent. Even if I can't use him, it would be good to learn some insights from him." Ying Zheng said while thinking, "Besides, if he defected to another country, he might become an enemy in the future. It's always good to have some understanding. You should also make arrangements. When I see Father Zhong, I must see him."
"I respect the king's orders." Zhao Gao turned around and left.
"Wait a minute, let's summon him to meet with me immediately." Ying Zheng changed his mind and said, "I would like to hear what his opinions are on how to deal with Father Zhong. Remember, we must act in secret. Don’t let anyone know just yet.”
"I will take care of it immediately." Zhao Gao did not dare to delay and withdrew.
Ying Zheng sat quietly for a while, feeling much better and looking forward to meeting Li Si.
"No matter what, I must grasp the power of the king and become a great emperor. I must."
Ying Zheng made this determination more than once in his heart.
