Chat group: In Daqin, Dongjun brought happiness to us

Repay grievances with virtue, how do you repay virtue? Repay grievances with justice, repay virtue with virtue! This is the orthodoxy of Confucianism.

The same is true for Fusu. Lao Ai has already committed treason. To still treat him with mercy is not kindness, it's stupidity!

If Fusu was really so pedantic, he would not have so many supporters under his command.

"Fusu!!" Ying Zheng seemed to have guessed Ying An's thoughts and said calmly, "I'll leave Lao Ai in your custody for the time being. An'er, please come with me!"

Ying An instantly guessed what Ying Zheng was thinking.

If Lao Ai had not rebelled at this moment, then now would be the time for Ying Zheng, Fusu, Ying An and others to pay a visit to Queen Mother Zhao Ji.

However, because of Lao Ai's actions, the subsequent treatment of Zhao Ji became the top priority.

It was obvious that Ying Zheng intended to have Ying An follow him, and did not want Fusu to be by his side.

It goes without saying that Ying Zheng probably intends to wipe out the entire clan.

Fusu could decisively destroy Lao Ai's martial arts skills, but he might not be able to do the same with Zhao Ji's two bastard children.

In terms of etiquette and seniority, those two bastards are, after all, the uncles of Fusu and Ying'an.

Fusu, who follows Confucian ideas, may not be able to do it.

But Ying An is different.

Since Ying Zheng has already planned to train Ying An as his successor, he must of course try his best to train Ying An to his satisfaction.

In terms of strength, Ying An no longer needed his guidance. But as a king, besides great strength, he also needed sufficient skills. In fact, the latter was far more important than the former.

"Yes!" Neither Ying An nor Fusu would hesitate at all about Ying Zheng's orders.

After completing the handover of Lao Ai in a flash, Ying An followed Ying Zheng and went straight to Zhao Ji's bedroom.

Looking at the disappearing backs of his father and brother, Fusu's face showed a rare hint of sadness.

He clearly felt that compared to the past, his father valued his younger brother more in front of him and Ying An.

Ying An, who had never been taken seriously by Fusu before, was completely regarded as an opponent by Fusu from this moment on.

Zhao Ji's bedroom was not far from where Ying Zheng stayed.

Although the chaos just now was short, at such a distance, it was impossible for Zhao Ji not to hear any movement.

But unfortunately, Zhao Ji never showed up from beginning to end.

Both Ying An and Ying Zheng knew very well what this meant.

When Ying Zheng and Ying An arrived outside Zhao Ji's bedroom.

Dozens of followers who had originally served under Lao Ai suddenly blocked their way.

Ying An didn't need Ying Zheng's instructions at all. With a thought, a long sword gleaming with green light appeared out of thin air, circling the guests who blocked his way like a nimble fish.

In just a blink of an eye, all these guests who were specifically ordered by Lao Ai to protect the safety of Zhao Ji and the children were attacked by Ying An's Yin-Yang Peach Sword.

The attack was so fast and agile that the retainers didn't even have time to react. Their lives were taken away in an instant.

As one retainer after another fell, Ying Zheng completely ignored it all. He strode to the outside of Zhao Ji's bedroom and pushed the door open.

"Is your Majesty Queen Mother waiting for news from Lao Ai, Marquis of Changxin?"

As soon as he entered the door, Ying Zheng looked at Zhao Ji, who was wearing a light long dress, with a sneer.

Ying An's predecessor, due to his frail health, rarely had the opportunity to see Zhao Ji. Moreover, Zhao Ji also didn't care much for Ying An, her grandson with congenital deficiency.

The grandparents and grandchildren hardly ever see each other.

In the memories of his previous life, there were very few memories about Zhao Ji.

In fact, when he saw Zhao Ji at this moment, Ying An could hardly believe that the girl in front of him, with her exquisite figure, extremely delicate skin, and black hair, who looked like a young lady in her twenties, could be the mother of Ying Zheng, the grandmother of this body.

"Zheng...Zheng'er!!" When Zhao Ji saw Ying Zheng and Ying An, her expression suddenly became a little flustered.

Subconsciously, he stood behind him, on the soft bed, in front of the two children.

"What are you doing, mother?" Ying Zheng sneered at Zhao Ji and asked, "Are you waiting for news from Lao Ai? I can tell you right now that Lao Ai has been captured, and all his retainers have been slaughtered. Even he himself has had his limbs broken, crippling his martial arts skills! Will you be pleased to hear this news?"

Zhao Ji's face turned pale in an instant.

"Zheng'er, I know that I have committed a grave sin. But...but the children are innocent. I am not asking you to let Lao Ai go. But please, for the sake of our relationship as mother and son, let these two children go. No matter what, they are your brothers!! You..."

"Shut up!" Before Zhao Ji could finish, Ying Zheng instantly erupted like a furious lion. He glared at Zhao Ji fiercely and said, "I have never had any younger brothers! I hope your Majesty will remember that I am your only son!"

Chapter 127: Only the name and the weapon cannot be given to others! Put the emperor in shackles!

"No! No!" Zhao Ji was terrified. Her knees gave way and she fell to the ground. She crawled to Ying Zheng and said, "Queen Mother, please let them go. They know nothing!"

"An'er!" Ying Zheng's face was cold. His eyes seemed devoid of any emotion. He asked, "What do you think should be done with these two evil children?"

Zhao Ji was stunned at first, but then quickly realized that Ying An was Ying Zheng's second son and her grandson. Unfortunately, during her time in the Xianyang Palace, she was either immersed in Lu Buwei's sweet talk or hanging out with Lao Ai. She barely cared about Ying Zheng, let alone Ying An, her grandson, who had been born with an incurable disease.

But now, Zhao Ji knew that whether her two children could survive depended entirely on Ying An! !

Looking at Ying An with a pleading look, Zhao Ji said, "An'er, they are your uncles! Please let them go. Grandmother can guarantee that from now on, they will have no relationship with the Ying Qin royal family."

"Queen Mother!" Ying An bowed slightly. No matter what, Zhao Ji's status was there. After all, she was Ying Zheng's mother and the grandmother of this body. Even if they had to kill these two bastards, when it came to Zhao Ji, neither Ying Zheng nor Ying An could kill the other. "Ever since Uncle Cheng Jiao rebelled and was defeated and killed, my father no longer has any brothers."

"An'er! I can let them both leave Yongcheng and Qin State, and let them hide their identities from now on. Is that not possible?" Zhao Ji said in despair.

Ying An shook his head. Although Zhao Ji was stupid, she also had her own cleverness.

With the mind of Ying An who had experienced four thunder tribulations, he could now clearly feel that the fear coming from Zhao Ji was mixed with a bit of secret joy.

"They are your uncles, and you actually want to kill them?" Zhao Ji looked at Ying An angrily like an enraged lioness and roared, "I have already promised to make them leave Yongcheng and leave Qin. Isn't that enough? Do you really have to kill your uncles?"

"I'm so sorry, Queen Mother!" Ying An said expressionlessly, "After Uncle Cheng Jiao died, my father no longer had any brothers. I don't have any uncles either! What's more, they are two bastards!!"

Zhao Ji's face suddenly turned pale.

Ying Zheng seemed very satisfied with Ying An's decision. He said in a cold tone, "Mother, these two evil children were born from you. Since they want to leave, you should do it yourself!"

These words resonated like thunder in Zhao Ji's ears, leaving her dizzy and dazed. She couldn't believe such cruel words could come from her own son's mouth.

"What are you still hesitating about, mother? Could it be that you are reluctant to let me go?" Ying Zheng's expression became increasingly cold, as if he had completely lost all emotion.

But Ying An could feel that hidden beneath Ying Zheng's seemingly emotionless appearance, there was an emotion that was like a volcano that was suppressed and about to erupt.

"No!! No... I... I can't do it!" Zhao Ji seemed frightened, curling up and retreating to the couch. Behind her, two children, who had no idea what was happening, seemed to sense their mother's fear and helplessness and burst into tears.

"An'er!" Ying Zheng glanced at Ying An and said, "I'm telling you now, as a king, I absolutely cannot tolerate any betrayal!"

The moment the words fell, a gust of cold wind blew out from Ying Zheng's body. In an instant, it condensed into a black dragon with bared fangs and claws.

The black dragon roared, and under Zhao Ji's anxious gaze, it swung its tail and rushed to the soft couch behind Zhao Ji. Its two claws, one on the left and one on the right, pinched the two crying children and flew into the air.

"No!! Zheng'er!!!"

Zhao Ji let out a cry of grief that was as if her eyes were about to burst.

In the bedroom, Zhao Ji's wailing lasted the entire night.

The next morning, as the Queen Mother of Qin, Zhao Ji, who should have shown up, seemed to have forgotten that Ying Zheng came to Yongzheng to worship his ancestors today. What was even more strange was that the civil and military officials who followed Ying Zheng to Yongcheng this time also seemed to have forgotten that the Qin Dynasty had a Queen Mother in Yongcheng.

The Qin Dynasty's ancestor worship ceremony ended in less than two hours.

Whether it was Ying Zheng or the ministers, they were all very clear about one thing: regarding this trip to Yongcheng, the so-called ancestor worship was, to be more precise, just a cover.

After all, Lao Ai's actions last night were not concealed at all.

Although due to the existence of Ying An, Lao Ai's rebellion was completely quelled in a short time.

However, many of the civil and military officials still knew what had happened last night. They even knew that Queen Mother Zhao Ji had cried bitterly in her bedroom all night.

It is precisely because of this that more and more ministers feel a deep fear of Ying Zheng, the King of Qin.

Everyone knew that the reason why Ying Zheng was able to survive in Handan, Zhao State, was all because of Zhao Ji, such a mother. But even so, at this moment, Ying Zheng could treat Zhao Ji so coldly.

If even his biological mother was like this, let alone these ministers.

As expected.

When the sacrificial rituals were completed, Ying Zheng whispered an instruction to Gai Nie beside him.

But a moment later, when Gai Nie returned, a figure that made countless ministers silent appeared in their sight.

Marquis Changxin, Lao Ai!!

However, the Lao Ai who appeared before everyone at this moment was truly difficult to recognize. Not only were his limbs twisted into a strange arc, but his entire body was in a state of disgrace.

"My dear ministers, I think you should be able to recognize who this man is?" Ying Zheng, holding the long sword at his waist with one hand, slowly came to the many ministers who, after recognizing Lao Ai's identity, lowered their heads and wished they could crawl into the ground.

After a moment, Ying Zheng, who received no response, sneered and said, "Why? Is it so difficult to answer my question?"

He casually pointed at Ying Zheng, a former retainer of Lü Buwei, and said, "Why don't you tell me who this person is?"

The minister being pointed at by Ying Zheng suddenly began to tremble like a sieve. He trembled and said tremblingly, "Reply...Report to the king, this man...this man is Changxin...Changxin Marquis, Lao Ai!!"

"Then do you know why this villain Lao Ai ended up like this?" Ying Zheng asked relentlessly.

"Your Majesty, I really don't know. I hope Your Majesty will understand!" Under the terrifying pressure brought by Ying Zheng, the minister finally couldn't bear it anymore and knelt on the ground with a thud.

"Don't you know? Then I'll tell you!!" Ying Zheng looked unyielding.

Ying An, who was standing with Fusu, looked at Ying Zheng who was questioning his ministers, but he couldn't help but think of last night in his heart.

Just as the history books concluded with Ying An, Ying Zheng used extremely cruel means to kill the two evil children of Zhao Ji and Lao Ai in front of Zhao Ji using a punishment similar to beating with a sang puff.

For Ying An, although he had known all this for a long time and even accepted the rules of the Warring States Period because of his previous life, everything that happened last night still shocked Ying An.

Just as Ying Zheng had said before, as a king, betrayal is absolutely not allowed.

The king is aloof and awe-inspiring. Any betrayal is a blasphemy against his majesty. More importantly, the king doesn't need to please anyone. Even the universally recognized ethics and rites cannot constrain the king!

The reason why Ying Zheng brought Ying An with him and let him witness all this with his own eyes was to teach Ying An how to become a qualified king rather than a puppet of his subjects.

Don't think that the Confucian use of ancestral teachings and the concept of Heaven and Man's interaction to shackle the emperor in later dynasties will only exist in the future. In fact, at this moment, no matter which school of thought, there are such signs.

Among them, perhaps only the Legalists are the ones that truly and continuously consolidate the royal power. It is precisely because of this that the Legalists are the most bizarre among the hundreds of schools of thought.

Confucianism, Mohism, Yin-Yang School, School of Names, Taoism... No matter which school among the Hundred Schools of Thought, none of them are like the Legalists. The descendants of the Legalists are often self-taught.

While Shang Yang's laws, Shen Buhai's tactics, and Shen Dao's power are all essential to Legalism, it wasn't until Han Fei's birth that they truly integrated and mastered all of these concepts, leveraging his unprecedented wisdom and becoming another master of Legalism.

But even though the Legalists have produced so many famous people throughout the world, they still have no clear inheritance.

If one follows the path of Legalism, then one will inevitably put his own ideas into practice. This will naturally lead to a backlash from the court. Shang Yang and Shen Buhai were both examples of this.

Even though Shang Yang reformed the Qin State, transforming it from a weak state that was repeatedly beaten by the six states of Shandong into the powerful state it is today, Shang Yang's body was torn apart by chariots after his death, and his entire family was killed.

This shows how terrifying the Legalists were. Any great Legalist would be willing to do anything to fulfill his ideals.

It was precisely because the Legalists, unlike other schools of thought, did not attempt to put shackles on the emperor that Ying Zheng went to Xinzheng, Han, in the white dragon fish costume, to meet Han Fei in person.

Because there are really too few descendants of the Legalists.

Just like Fusu, he has been completely brainwashed by Confucianism.

It is impossible that Ying Zheng was unaware of this, which is why the future Ying Zheng chose to send Fusu to exile at the border.

Unfortunately, Fusu was ultimately unable to complete the transformation from a minister to a king as Ying Zheng had hoped.

After deciding to make Ying An his successor, Ying Zheng naturally wanted to pass on the imperial mentality that he had learned to Ying An.

Moreover, it was a powerful opening move, allowing Ying An to witness firsthand how ruthless he was in order to consolidate his royal authority.

Only reputation and tools cannot be given to people! ! To some extent, everything Ying Zheng did was to tell Ying An this.

However, Ying Zheng still held on to his inherent understanding at this moment. He did not clearly realize that when one's individual strength was strong enough to overcome everything, the so-called imperial mentality was nothing at all.

Just as Ying An was recalling what happened last night.

An angry shout instantly awakened Ying An from his memories.

"I ask you, what crime should Lao Ai be charged with? What crime should his accomplices be charged with?" Ying Zheng was like an angry lion or a dragon whose reverse scales were touched, and he let out a roar that was almost like a roar.

The minister being questioned by Ying Zheng was now completely pale, devoid of any color. He couldn't even maintain his kneeling position, let alone answer. A fishy smell emanated from beneath him.

Ying Zheng gave the minister a cold look and said, "If I remember correctly, when I recommended Lao Ai for the title of Marquis of Changxin, you also agreed, right?"

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I am innocent! It was Prime Minister Lu who supported Lao Ai. I dare not disobey!"

When the minister heard that Ying Zheng was going to bring up the past, he was so frightened that he no longer cared about being afraid. He knew very well that no matter what, he could not be labeled as an accomplice of Lao Ai. Otherwise, not only would he die, but even his three clans would not survive.

"Lü Buwei supports Lao Ai? So you support him too?" Ying Zheng sneered, "Then tell me, are you a subject of the Qin Dynasty, a subject of mine, or a subject of Lü Buwei?"

Seeing the minister in front of him speechless, Ying Zheng waved his hand and said, "Come here, take him away and treat him as an accomplice of Lao Ai!"