Li Si's carriage followed Zhao Hao for about two or three miles and entered a small forest beside the road.
Then we walked through various ceremonial guards, carriages and horses, and before we knew it, we were dripping with heat and sweat.
Along the way, they smelled the familiar fishy smell again. The closer they got to the center of the forest, the stronger the smell became, and they couldn't help but feel like vomiting.
By the time they arrived at the center of the forest, Li Si and the two accompanying officials were already dizzy and staggering.
"Sir, what's so stinky, why didn't you smell it?"
Li Si couldn't help but asked in a low voice.
Zhao Hao said with a moderate smile: "My father has recently become obsessed with eating seafood. When we passed by Kuaiji County, we purchased a lot of abalone. We are used to it on the road, so we don't smell it anymore."
As he said that, he looked at Li Si with interest: "What? Li Tingwei doesn't allow my father to eat abalone?"
"this"
Li Si opened his mouth, but hesitated, saying to himself, "I don't care whether your majesty eats abalone, but don't you have a nose?" Can't smell the stink?
However, when he thought about it carefully, he felt something was wrong.
Zhao Hao's usual speaking voice is not like this. It sounds like he has a stuffy nose and makes a loud sound.
"Sir, has something happened to Your Majesty?"
Li Si looked at Zhao Hao gloomily.
Zhao Hao seemed a little impatient; "Didn't I tell you? My father encountered an assassin. If you have any questions, just ask him directly!"
"."
Li Si was helpless, smiled bitterly, and stopped talking.
Based on his innate intuition and deep inner speculation, this matter is obviously full of doubts.
However, there is no real evidence and it cannot be directly stated.
Just like that, in the dark woods, two carriages, one large and one small, were marching neatly.
About half a quarter of an hour later, Li Si saw a clearing in the center of the woods, with dozens of carriages lined up in two rows, forming a corridor.
At the end of the corridor, Gong Ziliang was already waiting outside, shouting loudly: "Li Tingwei has an audience—!"
"Your Majesty, see Li Si."
Before he could finish his words, Li Si fell down amid a stronger stench.
"Li Tingwei must not be rude!" Gong Ziliang strode over to help Li Si, and whispered in a frightened voice: "My father was injured by an assassin and has a bad temper. You must be careful and don't To offend my father."
"this"
Li Si hesitated for a moment and quickly saluted Mr. Liang: "Thank you Mr. Liang."
"please!"
Seeing Li Si salute to Young Master Liang, Zhao Hao raised his hand to signal him to call again.
"My lord, Li Si, see your majesty!"
Li Si wisely saluted the First Emperor's carriage again.
Soon, a dull wheezing and coughing sound came from the car in front of him. It was the familiar voice of the First Emperor.
"Tingwei, what's the matter?"
"Your Majesty, Young Master Fusu, General Meng Tian has something important to report. I dare not delay, so I will deliver it to you personally!"
"well."
The First Emperor in the car said, coughing hard again.
Gongzi Liang walked over quickly, took the wooden box from the official behind Li Si, and walked quickly to the carriage of the First Emperor.
Li Si stared intently at the two attendants who opened the curtain, trying his best to see the face of the First Emperor. However, there were no lights in the carriage, and the smell made him dizzy. He could not tell what was going on inside the carriage.
"Good, give it to me, read it."
Young Master Liang opened the wooden box respectfully and neatly, and took out a memorial. A chamberlain quickly brought a lantern.
Li Si was refreshed, strode forward, looked into the car, and could only vaguely see the gray hair of the senior man covered in the car.
Just when Li Si wanted to take a closer look at the details in the car, Zhao Hao next to him suddenly whispered in a panic: "Li Tingwei, don't be rude again!"
"this"
Li Si paused.
Zhao Hao's words obviously meant to take care of him.
However, his relationship with Zhao Hao has not reached the level where Zhao Hao can take care of him.
So there must be something wrong here.
Before, he was still trying to figure out how to investigate the truth, but now Zhao Hao's behavior of trying to hide the truth made him laugh again.
Does this require investigation?
Isn't it obvious that there is something wrong with you?
Young people, you are still a little young!
"What is Li Tingwei laughing at?"
Zhao Hao keenly caught Li Si's expression and couldn't help asking curiously.
The corner of Li Si's mouth twitched and he said with an embarrassed look on his face: "Young Master made a mistake, I didn't smile!"
"Oh, is it so?"
"Yes, the young master did see it wrong."
"Okay. Maybe I have eaten too much abalone recently and am a little dazzled."
"hehe."
Li Si smiled noncommittally, and then stepped aside.
At this time, I heard Gong Ziliang read loudly: "I support Su, and Meng Tian tells your majesty that the Xiongnu and Dayue clan jointly invaded the Qin Dynasty, and the border troubles have been unrest for a long time. I hope that your majesty will shock the northern border and unify the north in one fell swoop. To promote the prestige of our Chinese nation, I am waiting for you and I am willing to expand the territory for your majesty——!"
"well."
After the words fell, there was another burst of wheezing and coughing in the car, and the hoarse voice continued intermittently: "Li Si, please tell Meng Tian and Fu Su. I will return to Xianyang first, and when I recover, I will send troops to the northern expedition.
The South China Sea has just been pacified, and it is not appropriate for the whole country to start another war in the northern Xinjiang. We should focus on defense. Before the border troubles are settled, Meng Tian will take charge of the military affairs.
Fusu is busy with political affairs, don’t go back to Xianyang, this is the overall situation.”
After a period of violent coughing and wheezing, the car fell into silence.
At this time, Xia Wuji's voice came from inside the car: "The medicine has taken effect, and your Majesty fell asleep."
Li Si bowed deeply and said with tears in his eyes: "Your Majesty, take care of yourself. I will go back and issue the decree right now!"
Zhao Hao walked over lightly and whispered: "Li Tingwei, please tell my eldest brother and General Meng that my father's assassination may have something to do with the border, so they must be on guard. In any emergency state affairs, my father will be the first to do so." Let Jiuyuan know when the time comes."
Hearing this, Li Si looked at the Emperor's carriage calmly, and was 80% sure that the person speaking inside was not Ying Zheng.
But he did not expose Zhao Hao to his face, but solemnly raised his hand to Zhao Hao: "Don't worry, sir, I will obey your majesty's order!"
At this time, Gong Ziliang came over again: "Li Tingwei, are you setting up camp for the night, or..."
Li Si waved his hand decisively to interrupt Gong Ziliang: "The night breeze is refreshing, suitable for traveling. I have urgent matters to attend to, so I can't stay here for a long time. Let's see you in Xianyang!"
After saying this, he turned to look at the officials behind him and said in a deep voice, "Get on the road!"
Soon, two officials trotted forward to deliver the order.
About an incense-burning time later, a heavy and fun horn sounded on the straight.
Li Si solemnly raised his hands and said, "You two gentlemen, I have taken my leave."
After saying that, he turned around and strode away.
When only Zhao Hao and a few others were left in the night, Gongzi Liangcai muttered uneasily: "Do you think Li Tingwei can trust us?"
"Oh, who is Li Si? How can we deceive him?" Zhao Hao smiled hoarsely.
"ah?"
Gong Ziliang was a little surprised and didn't seem to react.
But Xia Wuqi, who was listening to the side, laughed and said, "The smarter the person, the more stupid he has to do to deceive him. Otherwise, how can he think he is smart?"
"this"
Gong Ziliang twitched the corner of his mouth and cursed you smart people for being so dirty.
However, he felt that there was some truth, so he asked curiously: "You use stupid methods to deceive smart people, so what method should you use to deceive stupid people?"
"Does a stupid person still need to lie? Isn't it enough if he has the skills?"
Zhao Hao rolled his eyes at Gong Ziliang, then looked up at the moon in the sky, waved his hand and said, "Let's go too!"
Just like that, the huge black current drifted southward quietly, moving slowly in the night wind mixed with the fishy smell.
Two nights later.
Li Si left Zhao Hao's camp and did not return directly to Xianyang. Instead, he changed his route to Kuaiji County.
In the yard of Lucky Gambling House, he met his eldest son Li You after half a month's absence.
"Father, why are you here?"
Li You looked at Li Si wearing a black cloak in surprise.
Li Si didn't say much, just waved his hand for him to come in and talk.
Soon, they arrived at the house in the courtyard.
But Li You said with concern again: "Father, I planned to write you a letter to report to His Majesty, but I didn't expect you to come in person. Has something changed in Xianyang?"
"Everything in Xianyang is under my father's control, except for His Majesty's life and death. My father was not worried about it, so he went to see His Majesty's camp in person!"
"Ah? This"
Li You was slightly surprised and said quickly: "Did father see your majesty with his own eyes?"
"No."
Li Si shook his head and said, "I only heard His Majesty's voice outside the car."
"Um?"
Li You was stunned, thinking that with his father's status, he shouldn't be unable to see the First Emperor.
However, Li Si did not dwell on the fact that he had not met the First Emperor. Instead, he remembered another thing and said in a deep voice: "Tell your father everything Zhao Hao did in Kuaiji County, and what do you want?" Tell all the things you report to your father, as detailed as possible!"
"good!"
Li You responded respectfully, and then told Li Si every detail of Zhao Hao's coming to Kuaiji County.
After listening to this, Li Si was silent for a long time, and then said thoughtfully: "First, I asked people to collect large ice cubes, and then secretly purchased abalone. It seems that it is indeed weird!"
"So, His Majesty is really dead?"
"Probably!"
Li Si mused: "As my father supervised the construction of the imperial mausoleum for His Majesty, I came across many methods of disposing of corpses, including the ancient method of using ice cubes to suppress corpses. Because the weather is getting hotter and the journey is long, the corpse is likely to be It rots on the way, so ice must be used to inhibit the rot. As for the abalone, it is naturally to cover up the stench of the rotting corpse."
"this"
Li You hesitated for a moment and then said: "So, there is really a corpse in His Majesty's carriage, so the person talking to father is the fake Majesty?"
"Although he imitated His Majesty's voice very much, but as my father thought about it carefully, I felt that it was a little off. Nine times out of ten, he was a fake His Majesty!"
"Then what should we do next?"
"We will wait until father is sure that the body is His Majesty's!"
"only!"
"in addition!"
After saying that, Li Si took a deep look at his eldest son, who was very satisfied with him, and said: "Zhao Hao wants to develop Kuaiji County, which shows that Kuaiji County has something he likes. Although his father doesn't like him very much, he still wants to develop Kuaiji County." My father admires your vision. When my father returns to Xianyang, he will find a way for you to sit on the position of prefect of Kuaiji County. You can plan carefully here, see more and think more!"
"Children, please obey your father's orders!"
Li You handed over his hand in excitement.
"Okay, my father wants to see the sea and then return to Xianyang."
After saying that, Li Si turned around and left.
At the same time, Xianyang, outside Ganquan Palace.
Since learning about Ying Zheng's death, Zhao Gao has been nervous every day. Fortunately, Li Si went to verify it himself.
When Li Si comes back, everything will be settled.
However, before Li Si came back, he still needed to make one preparation, which was to intercept Zhao Hao's army returning to Xianyang.
Although Zhao Hao's power in the capital of Xianyang was not outstanding, as a precaution, Zhao Hao was absolutely not allowed to set foot in the capital of Xianyang before Hu Hai ascended the throne as the second emperor of Qin.
After all, when Hu Hai ascended the throne as Qin II, the first person he wanted to deal with was Zhao Hao, followed by Fusu.
If Zhao Hao knew that he wanted to deal with him and deliberately prevented Hu Hai from ascending the throne as Qin II, it would definitely cause a lot of trouble.
Moreover, imprisoning Zhao Hao will also make it easier for Zhao Gao to deal with him later, so as not to let him escape early.
"Jingyang Lord, this is your majesty's tiger talisman and imperial edict to mobilize the army. You can follow your majesty's order to mobilize eight thousand imperial guards flying cavalry to intercept Zhao Hao and let him enter Ganquan Palace!"
Zhao Gao raised his head and glanced at Ying Ziyang on the horse, and handed the box in the attendant's hand to him with both hands.
Ying Ziyang glanced at Zhao Gao but said nothing. He turned to look at Ying Chengyu who was beside Zhao Gao and said coldly: "Chengyu, is what you said before true?"
"Zhao Gao has served my brother for more than thirty years. How dare he rebel against my brother until he dies?"
Ying Chengyu asked in a funny tone.
He looked down upon the courage of this young uncle.
But except for the young uncle, neither he nor Zhao Gao should step forward to mobilize troops at the moment.
After all, there are still many people loyal to Ying Zheng.
Of course, this is only temporary.
When Hu Hai comes to the throne, those who are loyal to Ying Zheng will be eliminated by them sooner or later.
Seeing what Ying Cheng was saying, Ying Ziyang didn't say much. He immediately ordered someone to take the box from Zhao Gao's hand and rode towards the Imperial Guard camp.
"Zhao Gao, did Li Tingwei say when the edict will be dealt with?" Ying Chengxuan said after watching Ying Ziyang leave.
Zhao Gao replied humbly: "Li Tingwei said that he will wait until he is sure about your majesty's life and death before deciding on the edict. Gao has no other objection!"
"snort!"
When Ying Chengyu heard this, he couldn't help snorting coldly, and said with some dissatisfaction: "I have already confirmed that Ying Zheng is dead. You have also received the news of Impermanence. So why doesn't Li Si believe us?"
"this"
Zhao Gao hesitated for a moment and said helplessly: "Li Tingwei has a lot of thoughts, and I can't say much!"
"What's not to say? He doesn't dare. We will announce the will ourselves!"
"However, in order to announce the will, at least the three princes and nine ministers must gather together. At present, it is better to arrange for His Majesty's funeral first, and then hold the court meeting!"
"That"
Ying Chengyu pondered for a moment, and seemed to think that what Zhao Gao said was reasonable, so he nodded and said: "Then let's wait until Li Si comes back!"
After the words fell, the two of them went their separate ways.
When it got light, a group of eight thousand cavalry set off from the Imperial Guard Camp and headed straight for Zhao Hao's only way back to Xianyang.
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(End of chapter)
