Although deep down I hope that everything will be fine for the First Emperor.
But Li Si was already considered an extremely human minister. Wang Wan, the right prime minister, was almost invisible in the court. Li Si had basically reached the extreme of being a human minister. All that was left was to go one step further and become the right prime minister of the Qin Dynasty.
Originally, when the imperial order began, Li Si could become the right minister and achieve his ultimate goal in life.
But everything took a twist because of the First Emperor's body.
Li Si didn't want to think about it carefully, and he didn't dare to think about it carefully, but the more he avoided it, the more his mind got out of control.
Who will become the crown prince? Who will succeed to the throne?
Fusu! There is no doubt that it is Fusu!
Because the First Emperor did not establish a queen, there was no so-called direct concubine in the strict sense.
But Fusu was undoubtedly the eldest son, and the voices in the court were very loud. Even Fusu's brothers and sisters were convinced of Fusu.
Regardless of whether it was the clan or the civil and military officials, Fusu was recognized as the best successor from any perspective. Even the First Emperor himself was inclined to let Fusu inherit the throne.
From among the people, Fusu has always had a virtuous reputation. Fusu's mother is also a direct descendant of the Chu State, and Fusu himself has a very high reputation in the Chu State.
Not to mention, Fusu made great achievements in Longxi this time, defeating the Xiongnu in one fell swoop and expanding the Qin Dynasty thousands of miles. Once the First Emperor encountered any unexpected situation, Fusu's succession to the throne was justifiable.
Only by Fusu succeeding to the throne can the situation in Great Qin be stabilized and avoid any setbacks in Great Qin.
This is the optimal solution for most people, and it is also the optimal solution for Da Qin.
But for Li Si, this doesn't seem to be the case.
Fusu has always respected the enfeoffment system...
Forget about advocating the enfeoffment system, Fusu’s teacher Chun Yuyue was indirectly sent to the West by Li Si...
Fusu has always relied on the Meng family brothers... When the First Emperor had no problems, no one would think about it or dare to think about it. Even if their positions were different, everyone could still put national affairs first under the pressure of the First Emperor.
Because the First Emperor has been in power for decades, he has proven with actual actions that as long as he serves the country, he will not kill the donkey, but will also treat his officials with the most basic dignity.
But what about Fusu?
He is not afraid that he will encounter sudden disasters on the way to realize his ideals, or face the same ending as Shang Jun.
Dismembered by five horses? Li Si has already done some mental construction.
Not to mention five horses, just fifty horses, so what?
However, he was only afraid of losing the possibility of starting everything.
If you want to achieve great things and open up an unprecedented path, you must have the monarch and his ministers get along well with each other. He and Fusu have no such emotional foundation and no such trust at all.
They even have certain festivals.
Li Si rubbed his face, suppressed his almost uncontrollable thoughts, and looked up at the deep night sky.
At this moment he initiated a sincere prayer.
For the sake of the First Emperor, and for himself.
…
The next day, the First Emperor's health still did not improve.
Lying in bed and barely eating two mouthfuls of food, Xia Wuqe still looked gloomy after careful inspection.
On the contrary, the First Emperor's face remained as usual, and he just continued to deal with government affairs with his weak and exhausted body.
Zhao Gao and Zhao Si stayed at home to serve.
Zhao Gao was appointed by the First Emperor, and Zhao Si had no room to refuse.
At this time, Zhao Si could no longer pretend, and his wariness and indifference towards Zhao Gao was visible to the naked eye.
Although Zhao Gao came in to serve, he wisely did not show his eyes in front of Zhao Si. Instead, he retreated to the side. Unless called for something, Zhao Gao would never make any sound or move.
Zhao Si glanced at Zhao Gao, who was standing in the corner, with guarded eyes, and then looked at the First Emperor, who was still handling government affairs with his extremely weak body.
Zhao Si noticed that the First Emperor could no longer even read a complete article on government affairs. Every time he read for a short while, the First Emperor would hold his forehead and rest for a long time.
When I pick up the brush and write a few words, my breathing becomes rapid.
Zhao Si looked worried in his eyes and couldn't sit still after all.
"Your Majesty, please take a rest for a while. At this time of year, please put your health first." Zhao Si said with a sincere expression.
"All the affairs of a country depend on this. I can rest, but things will not stop because of me. They will only become more and more serious." The First Emperor shook his head, with a smile on his face.
"Don't worry, I'm fine." The First Emperor waved his hand, as if he had spent a lot of effort, and he paused for a long time before recovering.
"Your Majesty is only ill, so why have you ever neglected state affairs? At this time, I ask Your Majesty to put your health first so that you can get better as soon as possible. Isn't there anyone who is accompanying you who can share your Majesty's worries?
Your Majesty can entrust political affairs to Prime Minister Li. Prime Minister Li has been in charge of the country for many years without any mistakes. "Zhao Si said.
Zhao Si knew very well that the First Emperor valued political affairs, but at this time, if he still insists on handling the memorial when he can barely breathe three times, isn't he looking for trouble?
The First Emperor didn't say anything, he just looked at Zhao Si quietly.
Underneath the frail appearance is a sharp scrutiny.
"I dare you, Your Majesty, please put your body first!
Your Majesty can ask Prime Minister Li to review these memorials. If I am not talented, I can read the results of Prime Minister Li's review for Your Majesty. If Your Majesty is satisfied, I will stamp it with a seal. If Your Majesty is not satisfied, I will send it back to Prime Minister Li for review until Your Majesty is satisfied. until! "
Zhao Si knew how much the First Emperor valued these things, so he put forward a compromise suggestion.
The First Emperor did not speak, and seemed to be just thinking about the feasibility of it.
"Yes!" The First Emperor pondered for a long time and finally gave the answer.
Zhao Si no longer hesitated. He first helped the First Emperor to lie on the bed, and then presented a large number of memorials to Li Si.
So the next process became that Zhao Si sent the memorial back and forth, and Li Si was responsible for reviewing it. After Zhao Si reviewed the memorial with Li Si, it was sent back to the First Emperor and read to him the details of the memorial and the results of Li Si's review.
"Zhao Gao..."
After Zhao Si finished reading a memorial and Li Si's review, the First Emperor suddenly spoke.
Zhao Gao, who has always seemed transparent, bowed and said: "I'm here!"
"print!"
Zhao Gao was overjoyed when he heard this, and immediately bowed forward and stood on the other side of the First Emperor.
Whenever Zhao Si finished reading, the First Emperor gave an answer, and Zhao Gao was responsible for sealing next to him.
Zhao Si knew what Zhao Gao was like in history. When the First Emperor handed over the power of sealing the seal to Zhao Gao, he wanted to speak several times, but he hesitated after opening his mouth several times.
From the perspective of the First Emperor, the First Emperor's choice is understandable.
After all, Zhao Gao had served the First Emperor for ten or twenty years, and Zhao Gao himself was the head of the internal ministers.
The First Emperor was unwell and had difficulty reviewing government affairs. It was impossible to delegate everything to any one person.
To be fair, Zhao Si is indeed not qualified to be responsible for chanting and sealing memorials at the same time.
From any point of view, dividing this power into three parts is a reasonable decision.
Three people, each holding a right.
As long as the three people do not completely reach an agreement, no one can make a fuss about the memorial.
At this time, the health of the First Emperor was the most important thing. Zhao Si was not a person fighting for power and gain, so he did not speak.
He only hoped that the Emperor's health would get better after he completely put down the fatigue of government affairs and received Xia Wuji's medical treatment.
But things went counterproductive.
On the third day after Zhao Si, Zhao Gao and Li Si took full control of the country, the First Emperor's condition further worsened.
This time, it came more violently.
The First Emperor could no longer even get out of bed, and his speech became completely weak. He was groggy most of the day.
The whole person's complexion was withered and yellow, and he seemed to be terminally ill.
Xia Wuqie was urgently invited again.
Zhao Si and Zhao Gao waited outside the palace. It was not until a long time that Xia Wuji's figure walked out from inside.
"Doctor Xia, how is the situation?" Zhao Si anxiously held Xia Wuji's arm.
Seeing Zhao Si's anxious look, Xia Wuqi felt unusually embarrassed and covered his face with his sleeves. He didn't say much, just opened his mouth and let out a sigh and walked away quickly.
Zhao Si stood there, looking at Zhao Gao who also looked flustered and anxious, with a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.
Xia Wuji hid his face and walked away without a face, indicating that the body of the First Emperor might have really reached a point where it was completely irreversible.
Zhao Gao was glanced away by Zhao Si's cold gaze for no reason, and a chill rose up his back.
He didn't know why, but he always felt that the way Zhao Si looked at him just now was full of murderous intent.
But this is completely unreasonable. He clearly has no issues with Zhao Si, and has even shown good intentions many times. Even if the two failed to become friends, they would not show such murderous intentions.
Thinking of the current physical condition of the First Emperor, Zhao Gao had some guesses in his mind.
Zhao Si didn't care, he just entered the palace on his own, and Zhao Gao followed him immediately.
In the side room, many doctors were discussing.
They are all so ill. We must put together our best efforts and we can't count on Xia Wuqie alone.
They all roughly know the situation of the First Emperor, and they all feel that it is extremely difficult at the moment. You say something to me.
Since ordinary medicine cannot cure diseases, medical treatment inevitably begins to lean toward mystery.
Some suggested that shamanic sacrifices could be used to treat the First Emperor's illness.
Some suggested setting up an altar to pray to heaven, earth, rivers and mountains.
Some simply suggested human sacrifice...
Objectively speaking, human sacrifice in this era is not yet dead.
Everything is relatively primitive and barbaric. The Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses of the First Emperor can objectively be regarded as setting an example to avoid human sacrifice.
finally……
A group of doctors came to a relatively reliable conclusion.
"Set up sacrifices and pray to the mountains and rivers."
Zhao Si immediately became alert when he heard the sound.
Why was the Dune Change successful? Meng Yi, as the loyal minister of the First Emperor, what on earth is he doing at this time?
History has already given the answer.
At this critical moment, because the First Emperor was seriously ill, Meng Yi returned to the mountains and rivers to pray for the First Emperor on behalf of the First Emperor!
(End of chapter)
