In the imperial study room of Xianyang Palace, Ying Zheng put down the white silk in his hand, covered his face and cried.
It's one thing for Ying Zheng to kill Cheng Jiao in anger, but it's another thing for Cheng Jiao to ask for death for the sake of government.
Scenes of wrestling, laughing, and reading together when I was a child all flooded into my heart.
His hatred for Fan Yuqi deepened, and his determination to unify the world became even stronger.
Zhao Gao walked into the study and said softly: "Your Majesty, are you okay?"
Ying Zheng wiped away his tears, breathed a long sigh of relief and said, "It's okay, I'm just a little sad."
"After all, we are brothers. No matter what mistakes he made during his lifetime, the king should forgive him." Zhao Gao said.
"I have never held a grudge against him from the beginning to the end. As for my anger, it also stems from Cheng Jiao's stupidity for listening to the slander." Ying Zheng said, "But after hearing Cheng Jiao's heartfelt words yesterday, I have no anger at all, so what? Talk about forgiveness.”
"It turns out that the king has been relieved for a long time." Zhao Gao said with a sigh of relief.
"I really didn't expect that at Chengjiao's age, she would calm down her emotions in panic, consider the overall situation, and try to make up for his mistakes as much as possible." Ying Zheng said, "If he hadn't been determined to die, he would have died. I will spare him when I learn how much he has grown."
Zhao Gao nodded and said: "This kind of character is indeed valuable. If he had such a character before going on the expedition, he would not necessarily be deceived by Fan Yuqi."
"If Cheng Jiao had been vigilant and not deceived by Fan Yuqi, she would have been poisoned by Fan Yuqi long ago." Ying Zheng said gloomily.
"Hiss..." Zhao Gao took a breath of air, "This is indeed possible."
"People are all destined." Ying Zheng said, "It's like a humble person who becomes confused..."
Ying Zheng realized that he almost let something slip, and quickly stopped his voice.
Zhao Gao looked at Ying Zheng in confusion, knowing that Ying Zheng must have some secrets, but he didn't dare to ask more.
Ying Zheng changed the subject and said: "Cheng Jiao's last words are to persuade ministers to be loyal to the king, so just copy it on the bamboo slips and let the princes and generals circulate it for reading."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhao Gao said, cupping his hands.
"Let's go see grandma." Ying Zheng put away Bai Ling, got up and took Zhao Gao out.
Ying Zheng originally wanted to come to comfort Mrs. Xia, but instead of thinking of Mrs. Xia, Mrs. Xia comforted Ying Zheng instead.
Ying Zheng learned from Mrs. Xia that Cheng Jiao's condition was very bad yesterday, but from Mrs. Xia's tone, he felt that Mrs. Xia had already let go, so he was not worried about anything.
Compared to Mrs. Xia, Mrs. Huayang was not so calm. Ying Zheng coaxed her for a while, and she was accompanied by Lord Changping and Princess Nansu, and finally achieved some results.
The girl's soft voice of comfort can always melt people's hearts.
Princess Nansu was originally comforting Mrs. Huayang, but because of Princess Nansu's words, Ying Zheng gradually felt at peace in his heart.
"Alas!" Mrs. Huayang sighed, as if she had cleared away all the anger in her heart, and asked Ying Zheng: "What does the king want to do with Cheng Jiao's body and status?"
"Cheng Jiao's body is intact and can be placed in the royal cemetery." Ying Zheng said, "Keep the name of Lord Chang'an and bury it with the honor of a monarch."
Mrs. Huayang finally put away her sad expression.
Princes who have not yet become the king of a country can be canonized as "jun" or "zi". This is the origin of the term "junzi".
And Ying Zheng buried Cheng Jiao with royal courtesy, obviously still recognizing Cheng Jiao's royal status, and burying her in the royal cemetery shows that Ying Zheng has forgiven all of Cheng Jiao's sins.
After coming out of Huayang Palace, Ying Zheng decided to bury Cheng Xi personally, so he summoned Lu Buwei into the palace to arrange the affairs of the court.
Lu Buwei was a little confused as to why Ying Zheng wanted to go there in person. Ying Zheng just said that he wanted to see Cheng Xi off for the last time.
Lu Buwei didn't ask any more questions.
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At the same time, Zhao State, outside Handan City.
Fan Yuqi and Jing Ke each rode a horse and looked at Handan City at the edge of their sight.
"After seeing you for a long journey, we must say goodbye eventually. Let's just say goodbye." Jing Ke looked at Fan Yuqi and said.
"Brother Jing, Fan will surely repay you for your life-saving grace in the future." Fan Yuqi said with cupped hands.
"Brother Fan has entered Handan, what are your plans?" Jing Ke asked.
Fan Yuqi said without hesitation: "When we enter Handan and meet the King of Zhao, we will first find an official position and then make plans."
Jing Ke nodded and said, "That's how it should be."
"It would be better for Brother Jing to stay in Zhao. With Brother Jing's skills, it shouldn't be difficult to find an official position in the court." Fan Yuqi said.
Jing Ke waved his hand and said, "I'm used to being at ease, and I really can't bear those etiquette. But I still thank Brother Fan for your kindness."
Fan Yuqi nodded to express his understanding.
Jing Ke looked at Fan Yuqi and asked, "I have something I don't understand, and I would like Brother Fan's advice."
"Please speak." Fan Yuqi said.
"For Brother Fan, is Cheng Yu really someone who can be discarded at will?" Jing Ke asked.
Fan Yuqi was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect Jing Ke to ask this question. He was silent for a while and then said: "After all, you have watched me grow up since you were a child. How can you just give up? But if you can only live in one of the two, Under the circumstances, I believe anyone’s choice will be the same as Fan’s.”
Jing Ke smiled bitterly but didn't say anything.
"What's more, if Fan is captured and brought back to the Qin State, he will definitely be sentenced to death, but if Chenglong is captured, he may not die." Fan Yuqi added.
Jing Ke nodded and said, "Brother Fan said this, and I feel less guilty about Cheng Yu."
Jing Ke said this just to reduce Fan Yuqi's suspicion of him, but Fan Yuqi understood it differently.
"No matter how Cheng Yu ends up, it is all caused by Fan's hand and has nothing to do with anyone else. Brother Jing should regard it as saving both my life and Cheng Xi's."
"If I need anything from you in the future, I hope Brother Fan won't shirk it," Jing Ke said.
"Brother Jing, don't worry. In the future, even if you take my old life back, Fan will not frown." Fan Yuqi said resolutely.
"Brother Fan is serious." Jing Ke said, clasping his fists, "See you later."
"Brother Jing, take care." Fan Yuqi also clasped his fists.
The two said goodbye.
But he didn't want to meet again more than ten years later, and Jing Ke really borrowed something from Fan Wuqi...
Zhao Wang Palace, meeting hall.
The elderly King Zhao looked at Fan Yuqi who was bowing and saluted, and said coldly: "Did you escape alone?"
"Your Majesty, that's right." Fan Yuqi replied.
"Where's the dragon?" King Zhao asked.
"In the chaos of the army, I accidentally got separated." How could Fan Yuqi dare to say that he abandoned Chenglong and escaped by himself.
"That means Chenglong was either captured or died on the battlefield?" King Zhao asked.
"According to the information I found along the way, Cheng Yu has been brought back to Xianyang." Fan Yuqi said.
"Since Cheng Yu has been brought back to Qin, what's the point of coming to see me alone?" King Zhao said disdainfully.
Fan Yuqi's heart suddenly sank and he said: "Your Majesty, we have agreed before that if we fail to raise an army, we will let Fan and Cheng Xi defect to Zhao."
"Hmph!" King Zhao said coldly: "Since you know that the condition is that you bring Cheng Xiu to join the Zhao Kingdom, then if you abandon Cheng Xiu and come alone, what use do I have for you?"
Fan Yuqi's heart felt numb, and he knelt on the ground with a thud, looking at King Zhao with shrinking eyes.
"If Cheng Yu comes to defect to the State of Zhao, I will definitely worship the general and give him a title in preparation for attacking Qin in the future." King Zhao said, "But you, you have to tell me yourself, what is the use of you?"
"Your Majesty..." Fan Yuqi looked embarrassed, and it was difficult to speak.
"I'll tell you for you." King Zhao said with the same disdainful expression, "You reported the news secretly, but because you were afraid of being exposed, you didn't make good use of the key figure Mrs. Huayang. You went out with Cheng Yu, and you only knew how to persuade He rebelled, but you didn't help him with a thorough plan. You only knew how to bribe the mid-level generals, but you didn't understand the thoughts of the officers and soldiers. In the end, you only knew how to live alone, feeling that Chenglong was a burden, so you abandoned Chenglong and ignored him."
Fan Yuqi was said to be worthless by King Zhao, and his collar was already wet with cold sweat.
"Until the end, you still have the opportunity to make meritorious deeds for the State of Zhao." King Zhao continued, "Even if you brought back Chenglong... it's a pity that you didn't."
The last life-saving straw just drifted away in the wind. Fan Yuqi seemed to have suddenly lost his soul, looking at the ground with empty eyes.
For Zhao Guo, he has no value at all.
At this time, a military general stood in front of the hall, majestic and extraordinary.
It was none other than the famous general of Zhao State, Li Mu.
Li Mu cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, General Yi Mo has seen that there is indeed a place for Fan Yuqi."
Fan Yuqi looked at Li Mu as if he had seen a savior, eager for Li Mu to say a few good words for him.
"Oh?" King Zhao asked doubtfully, "General Li is here to tell you where he can be used."
Li Mu Lingran said: "Presumably, the entire Qin State will now hear Fan Yuqi's curse, and Qin King Ying Zheng must also hate him. If he is left in the court, it will definitely attract Qin's revenge. That way If so, please ask the king to send troops to fight to the death with the Qin army in order to avenge Changping."
As soon as these words came out, the corners of King Zhao's mouth twitched twice.
The positions of generals and kings are not necessarily the same.
Military generals want to kill the enemy, seize the city, and achieve great achievements. Even if they die in battle, it will be an honor.
The king thinks more about profit and loss, just like the Heshi Bi back then, even if he had to exchange several cities for it, he might not be willing to exchange it. What's more, after the Battle of Changping, the overall strength of the Zhao State has not yet recovered to a certain level. If it really confronts the Qin State head-on, there is no chance of winning.
However, Li Mu's words reminded King Zhao.
This Fan Yuqi is not only useless, but also a hot potato.
"Come here, push this Fan Yuqi out and behead him, and then send his head to King Qin." King Zhao said sternly.
Fan Yuqi sat there on his knees with no expression on his face.
"No, Your Majesty." A powerful official took a step forward and said with his hands raised, it was Guo Kai.
"Why?" King Zhao asked.
"First, even if the king kills Fan Yuqi, the King of Qin may not appreciate it, because the rumors of his life experience came from the Zhao Kingdom. Ying Zheng must have guessed or learned about the conspiracy between Zhao, Wei, Han, Jin and Fan Yuqi." Guo Kai said, "If Fan Yuqi's head is sent back to Qin, the King of Qin will think that we are afraid of him."
"Secondly, although Fan Yuqi has not accomplished anything, he has been serving Zhao for a long time. If he is killed, it will probably chill the hearts of those who are in other countries but serve Zhao."
"Thirdly, once the problem intensifies, Princess Hu Yu may be implicated."
King Zhao narrowed his eyes, pondered for a while, and asked, "In your opinion, how should this person be dealt with?"
"In my opinion, it is enough to give him a private house and some money, which will be enough for the rest of his life. If he doesn't want to stay in the Zhao Kingdom, then so be it." Guo Kai said.
King Zhao nodded and looked at Fan Yuqi: "I think this arrangement is very reasonable, and I believe you won't have any objections."
Fan Yuqi saved his life, so he could not hesitate at all. He quickly responded: "I would like to thank the king for this gift."
King Zhao waved his hand, and two guards took Fan Yuqi down.
In Fan Yuqi's disappointed eyes, the glorious Zhao Palace gradually faded away, and along with his hope, it turned into an afterimage.
