Chapter 152: The Defiant Son of a Fallen State: To Kill or Not to Kill?

The overhaul of the repeating crossbow was something Meng Tian was determined to carry out.

If they wished to become the strongest among the kingdoms, then now that they had been granted this opportunity, they had to seize it firmly. Such chances came but once.

These past few days, Meng Tian had been working hard, diligently studying bows and crossbows.

Ying Zheng had given him ample time. He neither hurried nor supervised him, simply letting Meng Tian tinker as he pleased.

There was, however, one matter that still gave Ying Zheng a terrible headache: how to deal with Hu Hai, the spoiled brat he had always indulged.

Should he kill him?

Ying Zheng had considered it. For Great Qin, for the empire’s stability through countless generations—but Hu Hai was, after all, his own flesh and blood. If he really had to cut him down with a single stroke…

Ying Zheng asked himself honestly, and knew he could not bring himself to do it.

If he could not kill him, then all he could do was keep him under house arrest.

Hu Hai was only a boy in his teens, and being inexplicably confined by his own imperial father left him seething with resentment.

After wailing and making a scene in his chambers for several days, he realized that his imperial father was not going to pay him the slightest attention. A deeply troubling thought began to take shape in his mind:

Had his imperial father truly become serious? Was he planning to keep him confined for the rest of his life?

That day, Hu Hai stared fixedly at the entrance to his chambers. After a long while, he suddenly asked Zhang Han, “Old Zhang, tell me—do you think Father, who has always doted on me, has now decided he wants me dead?”

It was an exceedingly sensitive question. But as a palace guard, and more specifically as the guard assigned to the young Second Prince, Zhang Han had no choice but to answer.

“Your Highness, I… truly don’t know how to respond.”

“Heh! So that’s how it is?” Hu Hai gave Zhang Han, whose gaze had begun to waver, a sly smile. “No, you do know. You just don’t want to say it. Or perhaps you, Zhang Han, don’t want to get dragged into trouble. Ha ha…”

Hu Hai suddenly burst out laughing, though his gaze remained shadowed. “When you think about it, given my present circumstances, being confined by Father out of the blue, Father flying into a rage and having Zhao Gao strangled, Li Si taken into custody, and then poor old me, Hu Hai… All this is enough to shake the entire Xianyang Palace.”

“I know it, too. Any minister with a bit of standing and authority would be foolish to get involved in discussing this matter. And you, Zhang Han, are no exception.”

Hu Hai’s incisive analysis startled Zhang Han. It was as if the young prince had suddenly guessed what was in his heart.

Hu Hai might have seemed like an ordinary, mischievous boy, but his intellect and perceptiveness were in no way inferior to those of the Eldest Prince, Fusu.

“Zhang Han, do you regret serving me now? You followed me, an ineffectual Second Prince, and now Father has confined me. It’s easy to imagine how your prospects will suffer because of me.”

“Ha ha… Zhang Han, I saw through your little schemes long ago.”

“Your Highness, I…” Zhang Han suddenly dropped to his knees, as if to prove his loyalty. “Your Highness, ever since I began serving you, I have been yours alone, and always will be. As for anything else… I have never given it a thought.”

“Oh? Are those words true, then? Or are you just trying to fool a boy who hasn’t even come of age?” Hu Hai gave another sly smile.

Zhang Han continued to proclaim his loyalty. “Your Highness, every word I’ve spoken is true. Not a single word is false. Otherwise, may the heavens strike me down with their thunderbolts; may I meet a terrible end.”

“Good, good! Guard Zhang, you truly are a man of iron. No wonder I chose you. Get up and speak.”

Hu Hai’s manner changed in an instant. He personally helped Zhang Han to his feet.

Zhang Han was deeply moved.

Hu Hai’s gaze darkened as he looked at Zhang Han. “I don’t know why Father confined me to my chambers this time, forbidding me to set foot outside. My guess is that Father encountered some extraordinary person, or some sort of fortuitous opportunity, and heard something from them. That must be what changed his temperament so drastically—he had Zhao Gao killed, took Li Si into custody, and confined me.”

So what kind of opportunity had his imperial father encountered that could have changed him so completely?

Hu Hai had been pondering the question relentlessly.

“Your Highness is right. I received word that His Majesty and General Meng Tian vanished for an entire night without explanation. Apparently, after passing through a bank of mist, they simply disappeared…”

“After His Majesty and General Meng Tian returned, the morning court was canceled. Then, around midday, His Majesty summoned the ministers… and the terrible events followed.”

No one knew what had happened during the interval when His Majesty had disappeared.

Hu Hai furrowed his brow in thought, considered the matter again, and finally shook his head. “Ah, I can’t figure it out. What a headache… Never mind.”

Just then, a young palace guard came hurrying in and reported, “S-Second Highness, His Majesty is here. He says he wishes to summon you…”

Hu Hai’s expression changed. “What? Father is here? Why so suddenly? Quick, everyone, come with me to greet him.”

Hu Hai knew his imperial father’s sudden arrival could hardly be a good sign. He hurried out with the palace attendants to receive him.

“Your son Hu Hai respectfully welcomes Father. Long live the Emperor!”

Hu Hai cried out and knelt, and the attendants followed suit.

His imperial father’s expression was dark—terrifyingly so.

As Hu Hai knelt, his heart gave a sudden lurch.

His imperial father’s abrupt arrival did not seem like a good omen.

Hu Hai remained kneeling for a long time, but his imperial father gave no sign of acknowledging him. His knees began to ache, yet he had to pretend that nothing was wrong.

A son’s lot was truly miserable.

He could only endure it. There would be plenty more days like this ahead.

Hu Hai could already foresee that the days to come would be bleak indeed.

From the moment Hu Hai had called out and knelt, Ying Zheng’s gaze had never left him.

In truth, what harm could a boy in his teens do? He was no more than an immature lad. What sort of wickedness could he possibly harbor?

And yet this seemingly harmless boy was the traitorous son who would bring down the Great Qin Empire?

Hah!

The more Ying Zheng thought about it, the angrier he became. Before he knew it, murderous intent had stirred within him once again.

Should this treacherous son who would destroy the empire be killed, or spared?

Ying Zheng was torn.

To keep such a menace at his side—as the gentleman had said, this brat was a ticking time bomb.

Cold sweat poured down Hu Hai’s forehead. He could feel his imperial father’s murderous aura bearing down on him.

Yes, murderous intent—fierce and surging.