Hearing Zhao Feng's words, Han Fei felt somewhat helpless.
"My dear Eldest Prince, your status is completely different now."
"Before, you were the foremost military general, still a colleague in the court. But now, you are the Eldest Prince, the future heir apparent. I will be your subject in the future how could I treat you as I did before?"
Han Fei sighed inwardly.
Thinking about how casually he used to interact with Zhao Feng, Han Fei couldn't help but find it a bit amusing.
"Lord Wu'an has once again conquered a nation for Qin, a tremendous achievement. Naturally, I must show my respect," Han Fei said solemnly.
Seeing Han Fei's demeanor, Zhao Feng glanced him up and down before saying, "Are you still Han Fei?"
"Every time I returned before, you would always insist on drinking and feasting. But now, you've turned into a completely different person?"
"What's this?"
"Are you treating me as if I were your superior officer now?"
Hearing this, Li Si, who was standing nearby, immediately chuckled. "Lord Wu'an jests. This is the imperial court Prime Minister Han naturally has to observe propriety."
"Oh?"
"Now that the empire is unified, are you afraid that people will accuse the Prime Minister and the foremost general of colluding and having us impeached?" Zhao Feng smirked, glancing at Han Fei.
"Well…"
Han Fei's expression shifted. He hadn't considered that possibility.
"Sigh."
"Lord Wu'an."
"The court will not be simple from now on."
"His Majesty has just declared the Eldest Prince's return and intends to appoint him as Crown Prince. Does Lord Wu'an have no thoughts on this matter?" Han Fei asked with a smile.
"What thoughts could I have?"
"I'll just wait and see."
"Do you think this Eldest Prince will somehow pose a threat to me?" Zhao Feng chuckled, clearly unconcerned.
However, he was indeed curious about this so-called Eldest Prince.
Who exactly was he?
A figure never before recorded in history.
"It seems Lord Wu'an has never met this Eldest Prince," Han Fei commented with a smirk.
"Have you?" Zhao Feng asked, intrigued.
"I have not."
Han Fei shook his head, but deep down, he thought, "I've seen him countless times. But who could have imagined that the famed Lord Wu'an was the Eldest Prince of Great Qin!"
"Then what are you even talking about?"
"Once His Majesty presents him, we will see."
"If he were revealed now, wouldn't he become a target?" Zhao Feng chuckled, brushing off the matter.
Just then
"Lord Wu'an has returned in triumph."
"Congratulations, Lord Wu'an!"
At that moment, Feng Quji and Feng Jie approached with slow, deliberate steps.
"Now this is rare," Zhao Feng thought.
"The two brothers from the Feng family used to just exchange greetings in passing, yet today, they're taking the initiative to talk to me?"
Seeing the two approaches, Zhao Feng was slightly surprised.
In court, aside from his father-in-law and Han Fei, he had not formed close relationships with many others.
"You two are too kind," Zhao Feng replied with a polite smile, clasping his hands in greeting.
"We heard that Lord Wu'an's sister is engaged to the son of the Minister of Justice. Might we be fortunate enough to share in the wedding feast?" Feng Quji asked with a grin.
"Hahaha."
"The date has yet to be set, but if I have the honor of inviting you both to drink at the feast, it would be my pleasure."
"Once the date is decided, I will personally send invitations," Zhao Feng responded warmly.
He naturally accepted the goodwill from the Feng brothers.
Though he wasn't sure why they suddenly became so friendly, as long as they weren't causing trouble like Wang Wan, he would remain courteous.
But if they were like Wang Wan, he wouldn't hesitate to deal them a crushing blow.
"We shall remember Lord Wu'an's words," Feng Quji said with a smile.
"On the day of the wedding banquet, we will surely attend."
"Of course," Zhao Feng replied with a grin.
Having just returned to court in glory, Zhao Feng had intentionally downplayed his own merits, but most ministers could see that Ying Zheng's favor toward him had not diminished.
For a time, many courtiers gathered around him, offering congratulations.
And with news of his sister's engagement to Li You spreading, numerous officials thickened their skin to come and ask for an invitation to the banquet.
Zhao Feng handled each of them with ease.
At the same time, not all ministers came to congratulate him.
Nearly half of them were restless and uneasy.
Ying Zheng's announcement had struck them like a bolt of lightning, filling them with anxiety.
On the steps below the court
Fusu and Hu Hai remained standing, unmoving, their expressions grim.
"Big brother."
"To think that all our scheming against each other was in vain."
"Who would have thought that above you, there was another elder brother?"
"Ridiculous."
Hu Hai's face darkened, his eyes filled with resentment and unwillingness.
"If it is not meant to be ours, then it never was."
"We must follow Father's will," Fusu said quietly.
Fusu glanced at Huhai.
Although he felt disappointed in his heart, at this moment, he also felt an inexplicable sense of relief, as if a long-standing burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
All along, Fusu had been supported by Wang Wan and his faction, who sought to push him forward as the future crown prince of Qin.
He bore a heavy burden and faced immense pressure.
Since he had been chosen, he had always given his all for his mother's clan, for the future, and to not disappoint those who supported him. He had strived to earn that position through his abilities.
But in the end, he was never truly in his father's favor.
"Aren't you unwilling to accept this?"
Huhai gritted his teeth and looked at Fusu.
"What does it matter if I am?"
"Who can change Father's will?"
"Besides..."
"I have always been pushed forward by others, carrying too many burdens. Now, at last, I can breathe a little easier."
"So, Eighteenth Brother, you shouldn't dwell too much on this either."
"In the end..."
"Father must have already decided on that position long ago."
Fusu smiled faintly, seeming completely at ease.
After speaking, he paid no further attention to Huhai's dark expression and walked toward the hall's exit.
For the first time, as he stepped outside the palace hall, he felt his steps light and unburdened.
Watching Fusu leave, then looking at Zhao Feng, who was being showered with admiration, Wei Zhuang's eyes flickered with unwillingness.
But he did not linger either and turned to leave.
Sun Yu Yue saw this and quickly followed.
"Fusu..."
"You may be willing to let go of the crown prince's position, but I am not."
"I have fought for this position for so many years I cannot just give up."
"I will find that so-called Eldest Prince and kill him."
Huhai's eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
In a secluded part of the royal palace...
Inside Wei Zhuang's carriage, he and Sun Yu Yue sat facing each other.
"What should we do now?"
"Fusu has lost his chance to become the crown prince."
"All these years of support have been for nothing."
"A previously unheard-of Eldest Prince suddenly appearing like this is far too strange."
Sun Yu Yue spoke with deep resentment.
"Who would have thought that Xia Dong'er was still alive?"
"And even more, that she bore a son for the King of Qin?"
"Ying Xi... what a fool."
"If he had acted back then, why didn't he finish the job?"
"Letting that woman live has ruined all our years of planning."
Wei Zhuang was filled with frustration.
Then, after a moment's pause, he looked at Sun Yu Yue, who was visibly agitated, and spoke slowly:
"Wang Wan is dead. Now, with the emergence of an Eldest Prince, if we do nothing, we will be cast aside by the court."
"You wish to rely on Fusu to revive Confucianism and spread its teachings."
"But if Fusu is not the crown prince, all your efforts will be in vain."
"The King of Qin favors Legalism and Militarism."
"Confucianism will never have its day under his rule."
"As for me, though I am the Right Chancellor, I am old."
"I must secure the future for my family's descendants as well."
Sun Yu Yue furrowed his brows. "I understand what you're saying, but what can we do now?"
"If we want Fusu to become the crown prince, there's only one solution."
"Find the Eldest Prince and kill him."
Wei Zhuang's eyes were filled with killing intent.
"The King of Qin has already acknowledged him. He will undoubtedly be heavily guarded. Judging from the king's tone, he must have known about him for a long time but kept him hidden. If the king wishes to protect him, who could harm him?"
Sun Yu Yue shook his head.
"We must first send people to search for any clues."
"If we can't find him now, then we'll wait until the day he is officially introduced to the court."
"Then, we will seize the opportunity to eliminate him."
"I refuse to believe that any protection could be foolproof."
"As long as he dies, Fusu will be the undisputed Eldest Prince and no one will be more qualified to be crown prince than him."
Wei Zhuang's eyes burned with murderous resolve.
"Hmm."
Sun Yu Yue nodded.
He had pledged allegiance to Fusu for the sake of Confucianism. Though there were many Confucian scholars in the court, they held no power and were merely involved in ceremonial affairs. This was far from the grand vision he had for Confucianism's future.
He wanted Confucian teachings to flourish to spread across the land.
That was the true rise of Confucianism.
But now, that dream seemed impossibly distant.
If Fusu could not become the crown prince and the future King of Qin, then all of this would be nothing more than a joke empty talk.
Inside the court hall...
The ministers gradually dispersed.
Zhao Feng finally finished dealing with the many well-wishers.
"I even demoted myself, and yet so many people are still trying to curry favor with me."
"The King's grace is great, but there is only one Qin Shi Huang."
Watching the departing ministers, Zhao Feng sighed inwardly.
"In the Qin court, no one shines as brightly as you."
"So, you'll just have to get used to it."
"As for your request to be sent to Baiyue, you can forget about it the First Emperor will never approve it."
Wang Jian chuckled as he spoke to Zhao Feng.
"As a military leader who commands the entire nation's forces, staying in Xianyang does make me too powerful."
Zhao Feng said helplessly.
"Do you think the First Emperor would not tolerate you?"
Wang Jian asked with a knowing smile.
"The First Emperor certainly would but what about his successors?"
"Father-in-law..."
"I'm not even thirty yet. I still have many years ahead of me. Not every future ruler will be as tolerant as the First Emperor."
"I must plan."
"At the very least, I need to ensure my family's safety."
Zhao Feng spoke with utmost seriousness.
This words.
Zhao Feng would only say these words to Wang Jian.
To outsiders, he would not speak of it.
Though he feared nothing, there was no need to invite unnecessary trouble.
"Do you think that the Eldest Prince would be so intolerant, unable to accept your presence?" Wang Jian teased with a smile.
"I have never even seen him. Who knows what kind of temperament he has?"
"Besides."
"I have never been one to entrust my fate into the hands of others." Zhao Feng shook his head.
"What if this Eldest Prince treats you with exceptional kindness?" Wang Jian chuckled.
"Then I'll take things one step at a time." Zhao Feng responded casually, not bothering to continue the conversation.
Other than Qin Shi Huang, Zhao Feng had no intention of pledging loyalty to any of his successors.
With the power he now possessed, Zhao Feng had every reason to be proud. He had no intention of passing down his martial skills to unrelated people, nor would he ever willingly offer them up.
Everything had to remain firmly within his grasp.
Just then
"Lord Wu'an."
"His Majesty summons you."
Outside the hall, Zhao Gao approached with measured steps, bowing respectfully to Zhao Feng.
"As expected."
A trace of helplessness appeared on Zhao Feng's face.
Every time he returned to court, Qin Shi Huang would summon him, delaying his return home.
He had thought that after so long, there would be no summons this time but clearly, he had been mistaken.
So Zhao Gao had been waiting outside all along!
"Father-in-law, we shall meet again."
Zhao Feng cupped his hands in farewell to Wang Jian, then followed Zhao Gao toward Zhangtai Palace.
Along the way, Zhao Gao walked with a hunched posture, taking small, careful steps.
As for Zhao Feng behind him, he dared not speak out of turn nor make unnecessary remarks.
After all, he was one of the few in the court who knew Zhao Feng's true identity.
The Eldest Prince of Great Qin the future Crown Prince.
Someone he absolutely could not afford to offend.
Fortunately, he had not blindly sided with Hu Hai. Otherwise, he would already be dead.
Perhaps on the very day in Zhangtai Palace, he would have met his end.
Zhao Gao prided himself on his ability to assess the political climate.
"Lord Wu'an."
"His Majesty awaits inside."
At the entrance of Zhangtai Palace, Zhao Gao bowed deeply.
"Mm."
Zhao Feng nodded and was about to step inside.
"If Lord Wu'an ever has any orders, you may instruct this humble servant directly." Zhao Gao said with great reverence.
"This Zhao Gao…"
Zhao Feng gave him a peculiar look, then simply nodded.
He then strode into the hall.
As always
Ying Zheng sat upon the throne, reviewing memorials.
"Your servant has arrived."
Upon entering, Zhao Feng bowed before taking a seat at the side.
"You're getting more and more casual."
Ying Zheng glanced at Zhao Feng, feigning displeasure.
"There are no outsiders here, so naturally, I can be at ease." Zhao Feng smiled.
"No outsiders, you say?"
Ying Zheng chuckled, amused.
He was quite pleased with his close relationship with Zhao Feng.
"What did you think of today's court session?" Ying Zheng asked with a smile.
Hearing this, Zhao Feng grinned.
"In response to Your Majesty, I was simply sitting and watching."
At these words
Ying Zheng was momentarily stunned, momentarily at a loss for words.
"You little brat, speaking such nonsense."
"I was asking about your thoughts on my Eldest Son." Ying Zheng said, exasperated.
"I have never met this Eldest Prince before. Perhaps when Your Majesty brings him to meet me, I shall have an opinion then." Zhao Feng replied with a lighthearted chuckle.
"It seems you're quite curious about him?" Ying Zheng asked, smiling.
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