"And afterward, Your Majesty is also clear about Zhao Feng’s situation. While burying the dead with the Logistics Army, he killed Bao Yuan’s son to save his commanding officer, a Centurion.
"Following that, while stationed outside Yang City, Bao Yuan launched a sneak attack. In a critical life-and-death situation, Zhao Feng had no choice but to confront the powerful enemy. Only then did he begin to make a name for himself within our Qin Army. He was then summoned into the main battle camp by the Senior General, which led to his subsequent meritorious deeds," Dunruo reported respectfully.
After hearing all this, Ying Zheng smiled faintly, showing no sign of anger. "Indeed, a man of great filial piety. This young man is certainly true to his nature."
"The young man is truly loyal, righteous, and extremely benevolent," Dunruo added. "My investigation revealed that after joining the main battle camp, he would charge to the forefront in every battle, leading by example. In the heat of bloody battle, countless Sharp Warriors owe their very lives to him. Even after the fighting ended, Zhao Feng would go to the Wounded Soldier Camp to help treat the injured, saving many critically wounded Sharp Warriors."
As the head of the clandestine Heibing Platform, he was not only deeply trusted by the King but also understood him intimately. Since Ying Zheng placed such importance on Zhao Feng, Dunruo naturally told the whole truth.
"It seems there is no need to worry about Zhao Feng’s background anymore," Ying Zheng said slowly. "This young man can be entrusted with greater responsibilities."
After Zhao Feng accomplished the feat of breaking the enemy capital and capturing their king, Ying Zheng had ordered Dunruo to thoroughly investigate his background and history. After all, in Qin, Civil Servants might be outsiders, but a man who wields military power absolutely cannot be from another state. Military power is the root of chaos.
"Your Majesty’s words are most discerning," Dunruo agreed respectfully. Then, he asked in a probing tone, "Should we assign informants to watch Zhao Feng?"
Ying Zheng said nothing, merely glancing at Dunruo.
"I understand," Dunruo said, bowing low. He understood immediately.
"You may leave," Ying Zheng said without further comment, waving his hand.
"This servant takes his leave," Dunruo replied respectfully as he withdrew.
After he left, Ying Zheng called out towards the hall, "Issue my decree!"
The palace doors opened. Zhao Gao quickly scuttled into the hall with his body bowed, kneeling before Ying Zheng.
"Deputy General Zhao Feng has rendered great service to the nation. His mother is unattended in her village. Grant craftsmen to build her a mansion, fifty servants, one hundred gold, ten thousand in cash, and one fifty-year-old ginseng root. Order the Shaofu to bestow these gifts without delay," Ying Zheng said slowly.
Afterward, he handed a previously written Royal Edict to Zhao Gao.
Zhao Gao quickly crawled over and respectfully took the Royal Edict in his hands.
"This servant accepts the edict," Zhao Gao said at once, before quickly withdrawing.
Within Zhangtai Palace, only Ying Zheng remained.
Wang Jian... he is indeed a clever man. Fusu, Fusu... you have ultimately failed to meet my expectations! I hope this marriage to Li Si’s daughter enables him to change you. Otherwise, if you continue to let yourself be led about by Wang Wan and his faction, you are destined to accomplish nothing.
Ying Zheng muttered to himself, his eyes filled with disappointment for Fusu.
"Chancellor Wang, what are we to do in this situation?" Fusu asked, his expression gloomy. "Li Si has always been at odds with my political views. He governs with strict laws, while I focus on benevolence. He is destined never to become my right-hand man, yet Father has now forcefully arranged for me to marry his daughter."
The marriage arrangement announced in court today had left Fusu seething with frustration.
"My lord," Wang Wan sighed. "The Royal Edict cannot be defied. The die is cast; it cannot be changed."
"Must I really just wait to marry Li Si’s daughter?" Fusu asked, still unwilling to accept it.
"Who would dare defy the King’s sacred will? What a pity. Wang Jian is too clever, too adept at judging the situation. If he had not refused your marriage proposal, the King would not have decreed Li Si’s daughter for you," Wang Wan said, his expression vexed.
The original intent of proposing the marriage was to bring Wang Jian over to Fusu’s side, but it had unexpectedly resulted in this outcome with Li Si instead. And Li Si was destined never to become Fusu’s ally, not only because of their conflicting political views but also because of the struggle between the Old Nobility and the New Nobility.
If the state of Qin, the world itself, were a large cake, then the King held dominion over all of it. The power below him, however, had to be divided among his subjects. The Old Nobility wanted their own people competing for a slice, and the New Nobility wanted the same. The struggle for power and profit has always been a head-on clash. It is an irreconcilable conflict, a life-or-death fight for power.
Even if Li Si truly married his daughter to Fusu, he would be unlikely to align with him. And Fusu, even if he married Li Si’s daughter, could never hold Li Si in high regard. It was a dead end.
"Could Zhao Feng have been a pretext that Wang Jian deliberately found?" Chunyu Yue said indignantly. "Wang Jian is an utter fool! My lord, you are the future Crown Prince of the state, yet he dared to refuse you? Zhao Feng might have earned some merit in the army, but how could he possibly compare to you? How dare a mere Deputy General compete with you!"
In his view, the sudden appearance of this Zhao Feng had ruined their excellent plan to secure military power for Fusu.
"That matter is in the past," Wang Wan said with a meaningful tone. "Wang Jian said the right thing at the right time. He returned triumphant with military achievements, and at a time when the King values and relies on him, how could he possibly be blamed? Besides... the King still hasn’t forgotten the incident from all those years ago."
Fusu looked perplexed. "The incident from those years?"
Chunyu Yue frowned. "That woman?" ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by novelFirｅ.net
"Did you not hear the King say that the one thing he hates most is to tear a marriage apart?" Wang Wan said with a trace of resentment. "This is a warning to those of us who experienced that affair."