The Myth of Daqin: The Soul of Yi Xiaochuan

A day later, the sun was shining brightly and the royal city of Xianyang was bustling with activity.

When the day of the grand court arrived, all the civil and military officials dressed in official uniforms and walked solemnly to the main hall of Changle Palace in accordance with the established order.

Along the way, palace guards lined up in neat rows, solemn and respectful; palace maids held incense burners, creating a wisp of smoke that added a touch of mystery. Officials whispered to each other, exchanging recent political developments and important matters, creating a tense yet heated atmosphere.

When the civil and military officials entered the main hall of Changle Palace, the hall was solemn and magnificent.

The First Emperor slowly walked to the throne, his face dignified and his eyes sharp. The ministers knelt in salute, shouting in unison, "Long live Your Majesty! Long live the Great Qin!"

The First Emperor sat upright on the throne, glanced at the ministers who were bowing below, and then said, "My dear ministers, please stand up."

All the ministers stood up and stood respectfully, waiting for the First Emperor's instructions.

The First Emperor continued, "Today, at the great court, what matters do you have to report?"

At this time, an imperial censor stepped out of the ranks, bowed respectfully, and said, "Your Majesty, I have heard that Zhang Liang has been arrested and has confessed. He said that Han Baiwei, a subordinate of Lieutenant Meng, colluded with him and let him escape, and..."

The First Emperor's face was gloomy, and he asked in a low voice, "Anything else?"

The censor continued, "Furthermore, I have heard that Han Baiwei, under the instructions of others, obtained a pass to the Lieutenant Army. This person must be of high rank and great power. I implore Your Majesty to thoroughly investigate this matter and impose severe punishment."

The First Emperor frowned even more tightly. He thought to himself but said nothing.

Chunyu Yue stepped out, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, this lieutenant's token is of paramount importance. How could it be lost so easily? There must be something fishy going on. Your Majesty, please investigate thoroughly."

The First Emperor looked at Feng Jie and said, "Mr. Feng, you are responsible for this matter. What are your opinions?"

Feng Jie hurried out and said in a panic, "Your Majesty, this matter depends entirely on your Majesty's will."

The lieutenant stepped out of the line and saluted, saying, "Your Majesty, Lieutenant Meng is a man of great courage, resourcefulness, and literary talent. I believe he would never collude with the assassins. The loss of the pass token is at most a sign of lax discipline."

The First Emperor nodded slightly and said, "What the Duke said makes sense."

At this time, the atmosphere in the court became tense, and the ministers were whispering. The First Emperor glanced at everyone, his eyes flashing with a cold light.

"Your Majesty, Lieutenant Meng is an important official of the court after all. We cannot convict him based on this alone." Zhou Qing stood up and bowed.

"Your Majesty, the matter of letting the assassin go must be thoroughly investigated. Although Lieutenant Meng has always been loyal to Your Majesty, he may have reached other deals in secret." Another minister echoed.

As the First Emperor listened to his ministers' discussions, he became even more annoyed.

In the court, the atmosphere suddenly became tense, and everyone's eyes were focused on the First Emperor.

The First Emperor sat upright on the Dragon Throne, his face gloomy and his eyes gleaming with a cold light. His brows furrowed slightly, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrests of the throne as he pondered inwardly.

From the beginning of the court session, the voice of the censor echoed in the court.

Then Chunyu Yue's appearance made the atmosphere even more tense. In a firm tone, he expressed his doubts about the loss of the lieutenant's military token and hoped that the First Emperor would investigate the matter strictly.

Then Wei Liao appeared and defended Meng Yi. His words were full of admiration and trust for Lieutenant Meng Yi. He hoped that the First Emperor would believe in Lieutenant Meng Yi's loyalty.

At this moment, a trace of thought flashed in the eyes of the First Emperor. His gaze became deep and solemn, as if he was weighing various factors. The entire court was filled with a tense atmosphere. Everyone held their breath, quietly waiting for the First Emperor to make a decision.

As the person involved, Meng Yi had already prepared to resign. He thought to himself: "At present, the Confucian scholars headed by Chunyu Yue have jumped out and pointed the spearhead at me, while Zhao Gao, Feng Jie and others have not yet come to an end. It seems that today's hurdle is not easy to get through." Thinking of this, he couldn't help but take a deep breath and straightened his back.

At this moment, the First Emperor sat in the court, his majestic gaze sweeping over the ministers below, finally stopping at Wang Ben. Then, he slowly asked, "Marquis Tongwu, do you have any opinions?"

Upon hearing the First Emperor's words, Wang Ben stepped forward and respectfully stated, "Your Majesty, during the Eastern Tour, Lieutenant Meng personally captured the assassin alive, which fully demonstrates his unwavering loyalty to Your Majesty. Therefore, Meng Yi was certainly unaware of either the loss of the pass or the collusion between his subordinates. Therefore, I believe a minor punishment will suffice."

The First Emperor turned his gaze to Meng Yi. Although Meng Yi lowered his head, he straightened his spine.

After a moment of silence, the First Emperor stared at Meng Yi with a sharp gaze and slowly said, "Meng Yi, I want to hear how you explain this matter!"

Meng Yi raised his head abruptly, a glint of determination flashing in his eyes. He puffed out his chest and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, please trust my loyalty. I and my subordinates are utterly loyal to Your Majesty and have absolutely no second thoughts. If I tell even a single lie, I will die as an apology."

Upon hearing this, Fusu, standing nearby, quickly stood up, bowed to the First Emperor, and said anxiously, "Father, I firmly believe that Lieutenant Meng would never collude with the assassins. Whether guarding the northern border or hunting down bandits in the capital, Lieutenant Meng has always been diligent and dedicated to his duties. Moreover, it was you, Father, who personally ordered him to be transferred back to the capital from Jiuyuan!"

Hu Hai was about to step out of the line to protest, but Zhao Gao shook his head slightly, signaling him to remain calm. Hu Hai, though somewhat unwilling, obediently retreated back into the line. He thought to himself, "The teacher must have his own plans. I'd better observe the situation before making a decision."

Meng Yi looked at Fusu with gratitude.

The First Emperor's gaze turned to Wang Ben again, and a trace of worry appeared on Wang Ben's face. He was a little nervous, wondering how the First Emperor would deal with Meng Yi.

Meng Yi bowed and continued, "Your Majesty, I am willing to resign and retire to prove my innocence." His voice was low and firm, with a hint of helplessness and determination. He knew he was in a desperate situation, and only by retreating could he prove his innocence.

Upon hearing this, the First Emperor's face changed. He stood up abruptly and slammed the documents on the table in front of the throne. His eyes flashed with anger, and his lips were tightly pursed, as if he was trying hard to suppress his anger.

This sudden move startled all the ministers in the hall. They all knelt on the ground and shouted in unison: "Your Majesty, calm down!"

All that was heard was the First Emperor's deep voice: "Issue an order to dismiss Lieutenant Meng Yi."

The ministers in the hall, some such as Xin Qiliu and Zhou Qingchen, expressed regret and sorrow. They sighed inwardly, thinking that Meng Yi was a rare and good official, and his departure was truly regrettable.

Some people, such as Zhao Gao and Chunyu Yue, were secretly pleased. They had always been dissatisfied with Meng Yi, and now that he was finally dismissed, they couldn't help but feel secretly happy.

Some, like Wang Ben and Feng Jie, looked puzzled. They couldn't understand why the First Emperor had so easily dismissed Meng Yi. Was it because he was too close to Fusu? Or was there some other reason?

Others, such as Feng Quji, Wei Liao, and Gan Luo, remained calm. They thought, "This is just a political struggle. Don't panic." They knew that staying calm would help them better handle the situation.

At this time, the hall was dead silent and no one dared to make a sound.