Twilight.
Li Si walked out of the imperial city and disappeared into the heavy snow.
His mood was heavy and lost, just like the heavy snow in the sky. Since autumn and winter, the First Emperor's words and deeds seemed to have undergone some unpredictable changes, and he had some unpredictable thoughts.
What kind of change? What kind of thoughts?
He couldn't guess.
These days, he is very cautious and has been deliberately guessing. He has vaguely caught some vague shadows, but he has never been able to prove it. He just feels that the First Emperor seems to be very dissatisfied with the current situation, and even has Supplementary ideas for the New Deal.
In fact, he had always been very worried.
When the First Emperor was touring the Liangshan Palace, he also followed him. However, there happened to be a middleman who knew him well, so he secretly told him the First Emperor's complaints. And because he was worried, he deliberately told the size of the chariots and horses. decreased.
Now that I think about it, what I did was actually harmful to others and wronged myself.
Although he is the Prime Minister of the Qin Dynasty, but he has contact with the close officials of the First Emperor, how can he not be afraid of the First Emperor?
He no longer wanted to think too much about Liangshan Palace.
It did pass.
I was too worried that I would be disgusted by the First Emperor, and too worried that I would lose power because of it. I also wanted to find out the First Emperor's thoughts as soon as possible, so I lost my head for a while.
What he was currently pondering was what the First Emperor wanted.
Did the First Emperor begin to think about the pros and cons of the New Deal, and wanted to use this opportunity to correct some of the New Deal? Or are you strongly dissatisfied with some of the political opinions you put forward? If it was the former, he would try his best to assist the First Emperor in correcting his shortcomings. If it was the latter, it would mean something else.
The overall formulation of the Qin Dynasty's New Deal has long been decided. The First Emperor had no objection at the beginning and has been resolutely implementing it. If the First Emperor wanted to make corrections, how could it be so easy?
Can Da Qin really stand up to that kind of trouble right now?
If not.
What did the First Emperor think?
He couldn't figure it out.
At this time, a voice sounded outside the car: "Report to the Prime Minister that he has returned to the mansion."
The rider stopped.
Li Si calmed down, lifted the curtain and stepped out of the carriage.
Cold snowflakes hit his face, and Li Si looked at the sky with his old face. The sky was already dark. He stopped and looked for a few times before entering the mansion.
He did not go to the study as usual.
The fire in the room had already been lit, making a crackling sound.
Li Si sat upright and recalled what happened in the past few months. Suddenly, he thought of Fusu's transformation and what Fusu had done some time ago.
He frowned slightly and whispered: "The transformation of the eldest son is indeed a bit strange. At that time, when he asked us and other court officials, he also mentioned a person, an unidentified person. The transformation of the eldest son may be due to this person. Change, if so."
"The 'Guan Shan Hai' proposed by the eldest son may also include this person."
"This person seems to have other ideas about Da Qin's new policy."
This is the thought.
There was a solemn look in Li Si's eyes.
He carefully recalled the recent actions of the imperial court in his mind. In fact, it was relatively quiet. It seemed more like it was trying its best to maintain the status quo, and it lacked the forge ahead. If the First Emperor really wanted to correct the New Deal, he also found a way to correct it. , the 'inaction' during this period may be an intentional attempt to amend some laws without leaving any trace.
It’s just that the ruling and opposition parties haven’t noticed it yet.
So the First Emperor was taking the opportunity to express his dissatisfaction to his ministers?
Li Si frowned.
He already felt uneasy.
Nowadays, the First Emperor is likely to get along with the eldest son, but he is alienated from the First Emperor's political views. If he continues to be unable to see through the court, can he continue to be the prime minister?
Once you are deposed and investigated, how do you know that you will not be attacked by someone beating a drum?
When the time comes, will my achievements really be able to withstand the tide of fierce criticism?
Shang Jun's achievements are as high as Mount Tai, but his car is broken into pieces. How can his prestige and achievements be greater than those of Shang Jun?
Li Si's heart suddenly became confused.
He thought a lot.
If Da Qin's new policy really changes and moves closer to leniency, then the reputation of Qin's policy as "harsh" may fall on itself. Since ancient times, monarchs have not actually taken responsibility for shortcomings. , the person responsible will only be the Prime Minister.
If the crime of "tyranny" is imposed on oneself, how can it be solved by genocide?
Li Si's expression completely changed.
He stood up suddenly and walked back and forth in the room. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that he was going to be sacrificed and put on the altar.
Especially thinking of the First Emperor's order to kill.
It made Li Si's heart palpitate even more.
at the same time.
Xu Fu was equally uneasy as Li Si.
After hearing that the First Emperor had done something to his servants, Xu Fu couldn't sit still.
He didn't understand the situation in the court.
But the First Emperor's behavior over the years has undoubtedly become more and more cruel. Now he just found a reason to kill dozens of people. If Xia Wuqi detects that the medicine stone he refined is harmful, I am afraid that he will not be able to escape this. Tribulation.
He was very uneasy.
Now it has passed the day when the tide was expected to calm down.
He had to do something.
If he waits any longer, he may die immediately.
Xu Fu paced back and forth in the room, and finally decided to go see the First Emperor again.
During this trip, he had to find out what the First Emperor was thinking, whether he was suspicious of him or whether he already had a suspicion.
If there is nothing he can do, he can only resign on the spot.
He can no longer stay in Xianyang.
Xu Fu straightened his bamboo crown and strode towards Xianyang Palace.
Only this time, I still couldn't see it.
Outside the palace.
Xu Fu said coldly: "Zhao Gao, I was ordered by the First Emperor to go find the elixir. It's already past the low tide. If we don't seize the time, if we really miss it, the next time Fu Island appears, I don't know. When is it, how dare you stop me?!"
Zhao Gao said coldly: "Alchemist Xu, I, Zhao Gao, also obey your Majesty's orders."
"Your Majesty doesn't want to see you right now, how can I dare to resist?"
"Besides."
"As you said, the day of low tide has passed. If we continue to catch up, we may not be able to reach the fairy island. Why are you so anxious, sir?"
Xu Fu rolled his sleeves and said, "That's wrong."
"Back then, His Majesty encountered a sea demon and fell into a dream, and his health was already in bad shape. Over the years, he has wasted a lot of time waiting for Fudao to appear. Now, it is finally time for Fudao to appear. If we don't seize this opportunity, wouldn't we be wasting our time? A gift from God?”
"I, Xu Fun, am a scholar. I don't want to be an official. I don't want to make money. I only want to go to sea to seek immortality."
"Seeing that Fu Island is about to disappear, wouldn't I be anxious?"
Zhao Gao smiled faintly and said: "I don't know much about going out to sea to find immortals, but I also know that Mr. asked for hundreds of boys and girls, as well as five large ships, which were filled with food, vehicles, silk and other tributes to the gods. , how can you say you are not greedy for money?"
Xu Fu gave Zhao Gao a cold look.
He already knows.
Zhao Gao will not send messages for himself.
He whispered: "The sun in the east is coming, coming from the vast ocean, it is embracing hundreds of rivers, the sea is swaying, the new policy of the Qin Dynasty is coming, it is endless -"
"Since Your Majesty has no intention of seeking immortality anymore, I, Xu Fu, dare not hope for it anymore."
"Begging for mercy and returning to the mountains."
Said.
Xu Fu bowed towards the main hall.
Zhao Gao remained unmoved.
Seeing this, Xu Fu sighed and left quickly.
When Xu Fu completely walked away, the smile on Zhao Gao's face faded and he sneered: "Ziyun alchemist is delusional, and this is indeed the case."
"Now your Majesty doesn't believe it, but Xu Fu is panicked. He no longer has the same grace as before. However, you have been refining elixirs for your Majesty for so long, and you know your majesty's physical condition. How can it be so easy to return to the mountains? Now you are panicking. But it’s full of mistakes.”
"Then I won't let you stay."
Zhao Gao entered the palace and reported everything Xu Fu said.
Ying Zheng said: "Xu Fu has protected me for many years, and I have always trusted him, but now his attitude is really chilling to me."
Said.
Ying Zheng's eyes turned cold and he said in a cold voice: "Since the tide has passed this time, then wait for the next tide and notify Xu Fu to stay in Xianyang and continue to refine medicine stones for Da Qin. I won't He will be treated badly.”
Hear the words.
Zhao Gao showed a strange look on his face and said: "No."
Zhao Gao retreated slowly.
After leaving the hall, Zhao Gao's eyes moved slightly and he whispered: "Xu Fu, you asked for this, but don't blame me."
"I, Zhao Gao, can't help myself."
"Your Majesty's temperament has changed now. If I don't clear up the relationship with you, I might be implicated. I, Zhao Gao, have been imprisoned once. I'm really scared. If I do it again, I might not be able to save my life. You I've received a lot of favors in the past, now it's time to show my 'loyalty'."
Zhao Gao sneered and walked towards Fang Shiju.
Soon, Zhao Gao arrived at Fang Shiju and conveyed the First Emperor's order.
Finished.
Zhao Gao ignored Xu Fu's expression and left directly.
But before leaving, he glanced at Fang Shiju invisibly, and in the copper tripod not far away, he saw a few strange stars that were neither purple, nor red, nor black, but seemed purple, red, and black. When he took the pills, his expression paused, and a hint of coldness appeared at the corner of his mouth.
the other side.
Xu Fu's face changed slightly.
He already knew something was wrong.
At all times in the past, the Alchemist's Residence was a secret place, and other non-alchemists were not allowed to enter. Even if the First Emperor had an order, he would always pass the order outside the Alchemist's Residence. Now Zhao Gao just broke in and took the Alchemist's Residence inside. Sweep it all in one glance.
The attitude is very obvious.
The First Emperor no longer trusted the alchemists at all. The reason why he still kept him was just waiting for Xia Wuqi and other imperial doctors to verify his pills. Once the results were verified, he might be like the servants a few days ago. Kill directly.
This is the thought.
Xu Fu could no longer remain calm.
He no longer dared to have any more thoughts and was only filled with thoughts of escape.
the other side.
Zhao Gao has returned to resume his duties.
However, when reporting back, he reported Xu Fu's anomalies and slight embarrassments to the First Emperor after learning the news. At the same time, he also reported the situation of the pills Xu Fu refined.
Finished.
Zhao Gao then retreated.
He has done everything he can.
Now that he has said these words, he can be regarded as completely severing his relationship with Xu Fu. Even if Xu Fu involves him in the future, His Majesty will not convict him.
and
He believed that Xu Fu would be restless now.
I'm afraid that he has already started planning to escape, and when Xu Fu escapes, he will be killed.
Zhao Gao looked around and whispered: "Yan Le, Yan Le, I have given you the opportunity. It depends on whether you can seize it. If you can seize it, your name will fall into His Majesty's ears." , it will be too easy to get an official position by then."
"Don't let me down!"
(End of chapter)
