"I am willing to be forever confined to the harem, never to et the Great King again in this lifeti, nor to see Fusu again."
"Forever banned from the harem."
The voice of Mrs. Mi rang out once more, laden with sorrow, yet also carrying a resolute sense of atonent.
She naturally understood.
If this sin were not borne by her, then her entire Mi Family would suffer, and Fusu would be implicated as well.
Only by her, as a daughter, as a mother, bearing this, might she pacify Ying Zheng’s wrath and halt the court’s impeachnt.
Within Zhangtai Palace!
Hearing Mrs. Mi’s words,
The cold indifference on Ying Zheng’s face finally wavered a bit.
For a mother, never to see her son again in this life—without a doubt, this is the greatest punishnt.
Yet even so, it is still not enough.
"All Mi Clan officials are willing to demote ourselves and forfeit our salaries."
"We beg for the Great King’s forgiveness."
A Mi Clan minister kneeling behind Mrs. Mi cried out bitterly.
Within Zhangtai Palace.
Ying Zheng’s brows furrowed tightly.
Even his expression was touched by so emotion.
"Transmit my royal edict."
"From this day forth, Mrs. Mi shall be forever confined within the palace, not permitted to leave."
"All Mi Clan officials are demoted by one rank, and forfeit a year’s salary."
Ying Zheng spoke slowly.
"This servant obeys the command."
Zhao Gao bowed and retreated slowly.
Yet in his heart,
He still felt Ying Zheng’s punishnt for the Mi Clan was too light.
At the mont Zhao Gao withdrew,
Ying Zheng also slowly rose and walked toward the palace doors.
When Zhao Gao stepped out,
Mrs. Mi and all the Mi Clan officials lifted their heads, filled with unease.
"The Great King’s edict."
"From this day forth, Mrs. Mi shall be imprisoned within the palace, never to step out again."
"All Mi Clan officials are demoted by one rank and forfeit a year’s salary," Zhao Gao announced loudly.
"I, your concubine, thank the Great King for such imnse grace."
Mrs. Mi bowed low to the ground.
"We ministers thank the Great King for such imnse grace."
The many Mi Clan officials all kowtowed one after another.
"Uncles, brothers."
"I hope you will all take my father as a warning," Mrs. Mi said to the other Mi Clan officials, then turned and left.
"From this day forth, the Mi Clan has no standing in Qin, and no rank left in the heart of the Great King."
All the Mi Clan ministers were filled with bitterness in their hearts.
At this mont!
"Mother!"
A voice called from afar.
Fusu was seen hurrying over.
Upon hearing his voice,
Mrs. Mi only quickened her pace.
"Mother!"
"Why do you avoid ?"
Seeing this, Fusu cried out loudly.
"Mr. Fusu."
"The Great King’s edict."
"The cri of Mi Qi shall be borne instead by Mrs. Mi and the entire Mi Clan."
"From this day forth,"
"Mrs. Mi is confined to the palace, forbidden to leave, and you mother and son may never see each other ever again."
Zhao Gao directly blocked Fusu’s path, speaking coldly.
"Get out of my way!"
Fusu roared angrily.
But after all, he refrained from using force.
Within the palace,
Watching Fusu’s display, Ying Zheng only shook his head in disappointnt.
If it were him, perhaps he would have seen her at all costs.
If it were Zhao Feng,
Perhaps this scene would not have co to pass at all.
In the end, still not as good, alas.
"Father!"
"I am willing to shoulder the sins of my maternal grandfather alone."
Fusu knelt directly before Zhangtai Palace, loudly pleading.
But Ying Zheng only glanced over, showing no intention of paying heed.
As Zhao Gao entered Zhangtai Palace, it seed he was also requesting an edict.
"Since he wishes to kneel, let him kneel as long as he wishes."
"The cris committed by the Mi Family are unforgivable."
Ying Zheng said coldly.
"This servant understands." Zhao Gao bowed, closed the palace doors, and withdrew.
"Feng’er."
"This lad has saved the Hangu Pass Camp this ti."
"Had it not been for him, Hangu Pass Camp would surely have been ruined by Mi Qi, and the entire army annihilated."
Recalling the matter afresh,
A look of lingering fear surfaced on Ying Zheng’s face.
Though Hangu Pass Camp has the fewest troops in Qin, its elite soldiers are nonetheless the backbone of Qin; if truly besieged by the Chu State, Qin’s national power would suffer greatly.
This ti, thanks to Zhao Feng’s tily warning, the casualties caused by Mi Qi’s treason were minimized.
"As it stands now,"
"It is near impossible for Huan Yi to destroy Chu with only one camp."
"Feng’er must be summoned to the capital, no—directly sent to Yunzhong City to command the Wu’an Military Camp and march south to attack Chu," Ying Zheng mused inwardly.
He had already made up his mind.
Imdiately,
Ying Zheng returned to his throne and picked up two blank royal edicts.
"Hangu Pass Camp cannot destroy Chu; Zhao Feng is to proceed to Yunzhong City, command troops south, and destroy Chu."
Ying Zheng lifted his brush,
And wrote on the two blank royal edicts.
"Dunruo."
Ying Zheng called out.
In response,
Before long,
Dunruo ca quickly before Ying Zheng.
"There are two edicts here."
"One is to be sent to Yunzhong City, handed to Tu Sui."
"One is for Zhao Feng, instructing him to set out for Yunzhong as soon as possible."
Ying Zheng passed the newly written royal decrees to Dunruo.
"Your minister accepts the edict."
Dunruo received them respectfully and quickly withdrew.
Evidently,
This ti, Ying Zheng’s order for the Wu’an Military Camp to attack Chu was issued in secret, not intended for others to know.
Were it public, the edict would be delivered by Shaofu.
This ti, however, Heibing Platform is entrusted with the delivery.
The aim is to catch the Chu State off-guard.
"Next,"
"We shall see how Feng’er conquers Chu."
"As long as Han Fei is instructed to prepare enough provisions, that will suffice."
"As for the rations needed by the Wu’an Military Camp, they can be mobilized from Duchang Territory in the Land of Yan, which is sufficient," thought Ying Zheng.
In original history,
The first attack on Chu, due to Mi Qi’s treason, led to heavy losses for the Qin Army; ultimately, Huan Yi and Li Xin bound themselves and entered the palace, begging the King of Qin for punishnt.
But this ti, thanks to Zhao Feng’s interference, this did not occur. Though the Qin Army lost so provisions, once Mi Qi realized his betrayal had been discovered, he burned all provisions stored in the city, leaving no further ans to harm Qin.
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