Chapter 138: Better to kill a thousand by mistake than to spare a single one

With a direct kick from his imperial father, Hu Hai was sent sprawling to the ground, completely bewildered throughout the entire ordeal.

Who am I?
Where am I?
What on earth have I done?

"Your Majesty, you..." Why resort to violence?

This foolish brat Hu Hai had no inkling of what grave error he had committed to earn such a beating.

"You unfilial wretch!"

Ying Zheng remained engulfed in fury, his emotions completely spinning out of control as he resembled a raging beast.

The assembled ministers trembled with fear at the sight of Ying Zheng's explosive wrath.

When an emperor is enraged, corpses litter the land for a thousand miles.

Today's emperor was truly terrifying.

With a splitting headache and paralyzed on the floor, Hu Hai stared at his imperial father, who looked like an enraged lion. After the initial shock subsided, Hu Hai mustered his courage and asked timidly, "Fa... Father, this son wishes to know what has happened to you?"

Why kick him in full view of all the ministers?
As a prince, he too had his dignity and pride to maintain.

"Hmph, unfilial beast! I wish I could kill you right now."

Having managed to rein in his emotions with great difficulty, Ying Zheng felt his anger flare up uncontrollably once more whenever he recalled those heartbreaking episodes of national destruction caused by this rebellious son's patricide and usurpation of the throne.

Ying Zheng barked a furious command, "Come! Drag this unfilial wretch away. Without my decree, no one is permitted to visit him. Anyone who violates this order will be executed without mercy."

"Ah... Father, please, no..."

Once such an imperial edict was issued, it was no different from keeping a caged beast. Petrified with terror, Hu Hai collapsed onto the floor, panting heavily like a dead dog.

The emperor's repeated outbursts shook the entire Xianyang Palace. Not daring to delay, the palace guards grabbed the trembling Hu Hai and dragged him out of the palace.

From the initial arrests of Chief Chamberlain Zhao Gao and Chancellor Li Si, all the way to the second prince Hu Hai... the timid ministers were paralyzed with fright.

Whoosh!

Was a storm about to break?

Truly, serving a monarch is like sleeping with a tiger; one misstep and your head rolls.

Having suddenly rounded up all these "rebellious subjects and traitors" like Zhao Gao, Li Si, and Hu Hai, Ying Zheng felt his gloomy mood lighten considerably.

Sweeping his gaze across the crowd, he said in a booming voice, "Everyone, you have all witnessed the events of today with your own eyes. I have only one thing to say to you: strictly uphold your duties, tend to your own responsibilities, and do not harbor any chaotic thoughts day in and day out. You are all dismissed."

Long live the Emperor, may he live ten thousand years!

The ministers withdrew from the palace.

The emperor's stern warning left a chilling draft down the spine of every official, each terrified that he might be the next unfortunate soul.

To be able to draw breath and enjoy the fresh air—what a wonderful feeling it was.

After having Zhao Gao and Li Si thrown into the celestial prison, Meng Tian hurried back to the imperial palace.

Seeing that His Majesty the Emperor appeared lost in deep thought, Meng Tian dared not step forward to disturb him, standing quietly to the side to wait.

About a quarter of an hour later, Ying Zheng's expression shifted as he looked at Meng Tian and asked, "General Meng, do you think I was perhaps too cruel to them? To throw them into the celestial prison without even asking for an explanation. Am I..."

"Your Majesty is wise and martial. This humble subject believes Your Majesty has made a thoroughly correct decision."

As a minister, and a military general at that, Meng Tian kept strictly within his bounds regarding court affairs.

Whether the emperor's actions were right or wrong—naturally, other officials would correct them. As a warrior who only knew how to fight and kill, he had best leave such matters undiscussed.

Ying Zheng appreciated Meng Tian's discretion and ability to advance or retreat appropriately. "So be it. The words of the master remain vivid in my mind to this day."

Better to wrongfully execute a thousand than to let a single one slip away.

Zhao Gao must die!

As for Li Si and Hu Hai, according to the master's counsel, these two might still be salvageable.

"Meng Tian, hear my decree!" Ying Zheng suddenly made up his mind.

Meng Tian immediately dropped to his knees.

Ying Zheng proclaimed, "Three days from now, bestow upon Zhao Gao three zhang of white silk, and carry out the execution at noon."

"This subordinate obeys!"

"As for Li Si, sentence him to three months in prison to reflect deeply upon himself. We shall decide his fate based on the circumstances then."

"Hu Hai..."

Sigh, regardless of everything, he was still his own flesh and blood. Even a fierce tiger does not eat its cubs; how should he deal with this foolish brat?

Ying Zheng was troubled.

Once Ying Zheng's decree was issued, Xianyang Palace was shaken once again.

Chief Chamberlain Zhao Gao, currently at the height of his power and influence, had actually been sentenced to death by hanging? Granted three zhang of white silk, to be executed three days later at noon.

A commotion!

As soon as the news spread, the people of the State of Qin were deeply shocked.

Eunuchs meddling in state affairs were utterly intolerable.

That wretch Zhao Gao had acted arrogantly for far too long; had he finally received his retribution?

In the past, he was overbearing, arrogant, and did whatever he pleased, regarding everyone except His Majesty the Emperor as beneath his notice.

Hahaha, it now appeared that this Zhao Gao was merely a fox exploiting the tiger's might, a worthless creature who lost all sense of his own worth the moment he reflected a sliver of imperial power.

Condemned to death by hanging with three zhang of white silk—the scoundrel thoroughly deserved it.

Upon learning that Zhao Gao had been sentenced to death, the common people were overjoyed, running in groups of twos and threes to spread the news to one another.

Meanwhile, in the celestial prison.

When Zhao Gao received the news, nothing could make him believe it: His Majesty had actually bestowed upon him three zhang of white silk.

Three days later, he would be executed by hanging.

Zhao Gao collapsed on the spot, his eyes glazed, his three souls and seven魄 ripped instantly from his body.

After a full half-hour had passed, Zhao Gao, who had slumped like a dead dog, suddenly scrambled to his feet with all his might, shaking the prison gates until they rattled noisily: "Someone come! Let me out, I want to see His Majesty the Emperor, let me out... Your Majesty, this servant has been wronged..."

No matter how sorrowfully and tearfully Zhao Gao cried out, the prison guards paid him no heed.

A man facing death could howl all he liked; in any case, after three days, he would be a corpse.

"Someone come... Let me out, wuwu... Why?"

Why must they kill him? He was merely a eunuch, what grave crime had he committed to warrant a death sentence?

Zhao Gao was filled with unwillingness.

From the moment the imperial edict was issued, Zhao Gao wept and wailed day and night without stopping.

In the neighboring cell, Li Si was terrified out of his wits upon learning that Zhao Gao had been granted three zhang of white silk.

Zhao Gao was to be executed?

What about himself? What would his own fate be? Would he meet the exact same end as Zhao Gao?

Although they were not in adjacent cells, listening day and night to Zhao Gao's tragic, ghost-like wailing drove Li Si to the brink of a nervous breakdown.

What good was being a chancellor, standing above ten thousand people yet beneath one? In the end, he could not escape death either.

The power he possessed had been bestowed by the supreme Son of Heaven sitting high upon the dragon throne.

Once that power was stripped away, he was worth less than a fart.

Three days' time—every single minute and second felt like a year.