Chapter 4, Wisdom does not lead to longevity
Ying Zhu Weiwei raised her chin and looked at Cao Meng, but from Cao Meng's expression, she could discern nothing.
The tiger cub believes that the former is more prevalent
Regarding the death of the Young Emperor, Ying Zhu harbors some suspicions in his heart
The general driving beside him suddenly cleared his throat softly, and Ying Zhu instinctively straightened his body, shifting his gaze from the several ministers to the crowd on both sides.
The threshold of the general's residence is very high
This punch was not heavy at all; at least, Tiger Baby did not sense any malice from it.
I am in the Copper Palace, and there is not much to say, because no one speaks to me
The two individuals locked eyes, and the tiger cub did not avert its gaze either. Ying Zhu felt that this young man was exceedingly bold, daring to act this way in the presence of the majesty of his sovereign.
The general was taken aback for a moment, yet did not stop. He turned back to glance at Ying Zhu and asked, "Your Majesty, what is your intention?"
He was utterly loyal to Emperor Liewu and was one of the five ministers entrusted with the care of the emperor's legacy, wielding control over the military power of the realm and commanding five hundred thousand soldiers of the Great Qin
Cao Meng is very familiar with this sentence
This whip strike from Chen Shang was delivered with great force; even an adult man would cry out in pain from such a blow. However, Chen Shang observed that Hu Ru'er not only did not cry out in pain but instead laughed.
Haven't you figured it out yet? Yu Long glanced at Li Guo
Most of these individuals are dressed in official uniforms, and the Tiger Milk Child cannot discern their official ranks
The late Emperor Liewu often said this phrase. Whenever a minister advised him according to the laws of his ancestors or the regulations of the court, Emperor Liewu would respond, "In my realm, my words are the rules"
While speaking, Chen Xiang swung the whip and struck Hu Ru'er fiercely with a lash.
After hearing the words of the tiger cub, Chen Shang could not bring himself to strike the second lash.
A pair of eyes in the crowd caught his attention, and Ying Zhu turned to look at the owner of those eyes, locking gazes with the tiger cub.
On both sides of the imperial street, tall trees such as mulberry, elm, and birch are planted, along with flowers and grasses like balsam, morning glory, and rhododendron
Chen Xiang smiled broadly, while Li Guo furrowed his brows in thought
Ying Zhu's expression was gloomy, and even though he was now the emperor of the Ten Thousand Chariots Empire, and even though he had become the most esteemed person in the world, he still felt unhappy
Truly intelligent individuals always steer clear of trouble
A long bloodstain suddenly appeared on the body of the tiger cub, with droplets of blood seeping out
The Grand General, the Chancellor, the Grand Commandant, and the Minister of Justice, along with the Grand Minister of Rites, were the last appointed guardians by Emperor Liewu. They are the most powerful figures in the world today
Military power, financial power, legal power, and even the power of the royal family are all in their hands
The Tiger Cub did not bow or salute, nor did he cheer like others; he simply stood there quietly, gazing intently at Ying Zhu, the newly appointed Son of Heaven of the Qin State
Whenever Ying Zhu thinks of this, he feels quite unhappy in his heart
I wish to meet the elders of the capital, said Ying Zhu.
The tiger cub took a breath and stood obediently in the corner, waiting
The onlooking citizens were separated by these plants
However, the tiger cub is not in a hurry
Ying Zhu's breathing became slightly hurried, and she shifted her gaze from the general to a four-horse carriage ahead.
He has done everything he could; what he will encounter next depends solely on the feelings of others
After he came out, he fixed his gaze firmly on the tiger cub, causing the cub to feel somewhat at a loss.
Upon seeing Ying Zhu emerge, the common people bowed and paid their respects
This is not in accordance with the rules, Cao Mang said slowly
He cast a sideways glance at the right side of his vehicle, where the charioteer of the emperor's carriage was the great general. This was a tall, robust, and steady middle-aged man, who, despite nearing fifty, was still full of vitality
Laughing at you for telling lies
However, the tiger cub was still not quite accustomed to this way of expressing affection, and thus moved a little further away from Qi Hu.
Within the small gatehouse lies the myriad aspects of human existence
The tiger cub listened attentively and looked at Yu Long with surprise
"In any case, I believe you have spoken falsehoods," said the tiger cub, unhurriedly.
Cao Meng revealed a faint smile and said, "Your Majesty is benevolent"
"In my realm, my words are the law," Ying Zhu said, standing tall.
The silk and wine bestowed by the Son of Heaven may bring joy to the common people, yet it is insufficient to evoke gratitude and appreciation. Moreover, the Son of Heaven is far removed in the heights of the palace; the one truly responsible for this matter should be the Chancellor. As far as I know, the national treasury is currently depleted, and there is no appropriate justification for such gifts; it is merely the whim of the Son of Heaven. The Chancellor would certainly not agree to set such a precedent. Thus, the Grand General did not publicly refute the Son of Heaven, not to spare his face, but because he understood that the Chancellor would reject the Son of Heaven's decree. If the rewards promised by the Son of Heaven are not fulfilled, the joy of the people now will turn into anger later. The common people will not concern themselves with the conflicts between the Son of Heaven and the high officials; they will only blame the Son of Heaven for it. Yu Long expressed all his thoughts.
Because he knows that as the Son of Heaven, he possesses only a title without real power, only a status without strength
This vehicle serves as the guide for the imperial carriage, with the charioteer being a general of the cavalry, and the Chancellor, the Grand Commandant, and the Minister of Justice riding together on the carriage
Ying Zhu dismounted from the imperial carriage and walked slowly along the imperial street of Xianyang City
The tiger cub exerted great effort to cross the threshold that nearly reached its knees, following Chen Xiang into the entrance hall.
One's own origins ... must be a sorrowful tale. Now, the tiger cub does not wish to delve into it
He didn't even say a word to the tiger cub
He shifted his gaze and looked towards the common people
He does not wish to have too much involvement with this young man; he is certain that this fellow, from his original background to his experiences in the Copper Palace, must be filled with troubles
I don't know, the tiger cub replied
Qi Hu punched Hu Ru'er, who rubbed the spot where he was hit and chuckled again
The tiger cub continued to follow Chen Xiang.
"What are you pretending for?" Yu Long shot him a glance.
There was a hint of agitation in his voice
He spoke: "Stop the car"
The tiger cub did not wait long; approximately half an hour later, Chen Xiang walked out with a puzzled expression, his demeanor neither clearly joyful nor sorrowful
that kind of dejectedness, that kind of arrogance, that kind of impassiveness, that kind of joy reflected in one's expression
"Kid, what are you laughing at? Is it a foolish grin?" Qi Hu glared at him and asked
At this moment, Ying Zhu felt that these eyes were somewhat frightening
The wind in the capital suddenly became scorching hot
Perhaps due to the nature of the business, Chen Xiang did not wait long. After a while, the arrogant doorman approached with a smile, shaking Chen Xiang's hand as if they were brothers. He whispered a few words in Chen Xiang's ear, to which Chen Xiang nodded in response, and then proceeded directly into the second entrance of the General's residence, leaving behind a crowd of envious and jealous gazes.
In the midst of their conversation, they had already left the main street
In the vicinity of this city of Xianyang, he commanded the vast majority of over 200,000 elite troops
I have heard others say, 'Deep feelings do not last, extreme wisdom does not endure.' Young man, do not be too clever in your dealings; be cautious that your cleverness does not lead to your own downfall
In the elegantly decorated foyer, a bearded man sat arrogantly. Chen Shang greeted him, but he merely cast a sidelong glance, uttering the words "wait" before gesturing towards one side of the foyer.
There is a small cabin where the tiger cub sees that the small and - picture - book house is already crowded with people, with a few having seats, while most are standing.
This new emperor indeed knows how to win people's favor, granting the common folk wine, meat, silk, and satin, which has brought joy to the people of Xianyang City
"Aren't they with you?" asked the tiger cub, lifting its face.
"Tsk tsk, as expected of the Grand General's residence, even a fourth-rank official who wishes to request an audience must first wait in this anteroom." Chen Xiang's low voice echoed, leaving one to wonder whether he was praising the grandeur of the Grand General's residence or mocking its arrogance
"Are you the illegitimate son of the Grand General?" Chen Shang pulled him out of the Grand General's residence, walked about one hundred steps, and then stopped to ask.
Upon thinking of this, Cao Mang smiled and said, "Then as Your Majesty wishes"
After speaking, Chen Xiang shook his head and led Hu Ru'er through the main gate
The two individuals' gazes met for only a brief moment, and soon, Ying Zhu returned to his carriage to continue his journey
Ying stood proudly, responding to the deep bow with calm composure. He turned slightly to glance at General Cao Meng and said, "The livelihood of the elders in the capital is not easy, General. Convey my decree: each household shall be granted two bolts of silk, one jar of wine, and five pounds of meat."
This street, known as "Zhuque Street," stretches for 10 li and is 30 zhang wide. Every day, several hundred soldiers maintain it. Today, for the suburban sacrifice, it has been early prepared with red earth and sprinkled with clean water.
I am a soldier of the Imperial Guard, serving directly under the Son of Heaven, but for now, we listen to the Grand General. Qi Hu belongs to the Northern Army, and that fellow Yu Long is still a student at the Imperial Academy; do not be deceived by his appearance, for he is indeed a scholar. As for Li Guo, he originally comes from a family of military generals, but he has a grudge against the Grand General and is currently idling at home. Chen Xiang did not rush to enter but instead smiled and explained, then his expression suddenly changed: 'You must remember one thing, do not waste too much breath!'
Before General Cao Meng could respond, the surrounding common people had already begun to cheer
The General's residence is almost here, I will take this kid inside. Brothers, in a few days I will treat you all to drinks said Chen Shang with a smile as he looked at everyone
The other three smiled and clasped their hands, then each departed.
While he waited, he could also observe the officials who were waiting to be summoned
If it concerns matters of battle formations, I can easily take care of it with a single arrow. However, the intricacies of the court are truly not my forte. Ziyun, why don't you explain it to me instead
I did not speak falsely at all!
The tiger cub is also smiling
He was not the crown prince entrusted to these five ministers by Emperor Liewu. After Emperor Liewu passed away, the crown prince Shaodi ascended to the throne, but merely six years later, the sixteen-year-old Shaodi also passed away. The five entrusted ministers, left with no choice, selected him, the less favored grandson King Yingzhu, from the descendants of Emperor Liewu to succeed the throne.
Alright, alright, you certainly do not know, kid, from now on you have to follow me—damn it, they gave me a minor official position as a Feathered Guard, but threw a big trouble at me!
The tiger cub, however, is unaware of what it truly thinks in its heart
Ying Zhu breathed a sigh of relief
The tiger cub did not understand the meaning of these words, but at this moment, he wisely chose to remain silent
The imperial carriage came to a halt, yet no notification was given to the vehicles ahead. Consequently, the emperor's retinue was divided into two parts: one continued to advance, while the other inexplicably remained in place
These are his subjects, and they will also be his supporters in the capital
The great general Cao Meng possesses a pair of very attractive eyes, which are said to closely resemble those of his half-brother Cao Wujin. Cao Wujin is the most renowned handsome man in the city of Xianyang, and even though he has been deceased for nearly thirty years, countless women in Xianyang still remember him fondly
He does not like the feeling of having his fate in the hands of others; the breath of freedom, once sensed, can intoxicate a person