Chapter 52: Giant Deer 3

  A few days later, Zhao Gao exterminated the entire family of Left Chancellor Li Si. His heart was cruel and ruthless, simply detestable. However, regarding this eunuch's evil deeds, a huge stir naturally arose among both the court and the people.

  On this day, Zhao Gao's son-in-law came to report to Zhao Gao that the court and the people were discussing it. Although Zhao Gao had expected that after he would destroy Li Si, the left prime minister, and his nine tribes, such a situation would arise, he was also willing to listen to what specific news there was.

  "Yan Le, why don't you tell your master about it? What did those bastards say?" Zhao Gao asked his son-in-law Yan Le while playing with an antique, seemingly nonchalantly.

  "Hmm, this, this... Young Master indeed heard a lot of gossip, but, but, those words are really hard to listen to!" Yan Le said with a gulp.

  "Hurry up, what did those people say? Tell me the truth quickly!" As soon as he heard that people were discussing him, Zhao Gao couldn't sit still anymore and asked his son-in-law Yan Le.

  Those words, as for who exactly said them, Xiao Yu didn't know either, but those courtiers all had a look of outward obedience while inwardly disobeying, and many of the things they said were very unpleasant. They said that the Second Emperor was just a puppet, and that all state affairs were controlled by the treacherous official Zhao Gao. They also said that Zhao Gao's power was so great it was terrifying, and that the Qin dynasty's throne would inevitably be destroyed at his hands.

  Zhao Gao's son-in-law had always been dissatisfied with Zhao Gao's actions, but he didn't dare say anything because Zhao Gao was after all his father-in-law, and had also promoted him many times. However, rumors are to be feared. Every day he was together with those people, every day listening to them speak ill of his father-in-law, and as Zhao Gao's son-in-law, Yan Le naturally felt a sense of helplessness and sorrow.

  At this time, since his father-in-law had given him an opportunity, he took advantage of it to vent his anger at Zhao Gao.

  However, at the beginning, Zhao Gao seemed to be able to hold his temper. Although he knew that nothing good would come out of his son-in-law's mouth, it wasn't that his son-in-law was unwilling to say anything good, but rather that Zhao Gao himself was most aware of what he had done. But when he heard the words "I fear that the great Qin dynasty will be destroyed at the hands of that old villain", he could no longer sit still, his eyes bulging like a wind chime, and he furiously shouted at Yan Le: "Shut up!"

  With one loud shout, Yan Le was so frightened that he didn't dare say another word. It wasn't until after a long while that Yan Le dared to lift his head and look at the old Taishan with a deep mind and a face full of anger. Yan Le knew that next, this old guy would definitely roar at him in pain, venting his grievances. But what made Yan Le strange was that his old Taishan just kept panting heavily, his face as white as paper, his eyes almost bulging out with blood, yet he didn't say another word.

  He had been following this old man for a long time, and as soon as he saw his behavior, Yan Le knew that his old friend must be plotting something again. The more he didn't speak, the more likely it was that he would make a big move. Seeing the terrifying look on her father's face, Yan Le knew it was better not to say anything else, so she bowed deeply to Zhao Gao and then quietly withdrew.

  Three days later, as expected, Zhao Gao came up with another clever move and directed a Chinese version of "The Emperor's New Clothes". This farce was also the signal for Zhao Gao to start his plot to seize power.

  Since the previous one, Zhao Gao knew that Left Chancellor Li Si often spoke ill of him in front of Second Emperor Hu Hai, advising him to distance himself from Zhao. After learning this, Zhao was furious and designed a plan to exterminate Li Si's entire clan, and naturally took over his position as Chancellor.

  As a result, on the one hand, after becoming the prime minister, he felt more and more fond of this power. However, at the same time, he also vaguely felt that Emperor Hu Hai seemed to have a preventive intention towards himself. And he himself increasingly felt that Hu Hai was holding him back. Thus, a more sinister idea in his heart had already begun to brew.

  Chancellor? What's the point of being a chancellor? Let's be honest, isn't it just serving the emperor? Being an emperor is better! Not to mention the position that's only under heaven and above all others, not to mention the power to decide life and death for all people. Just the system of three palaces, six courtyards, and 72 concubines can make one feel like they haven't lived in vain. He has been eager to enter the deep palace, and his eyes have long been coveting those beautiful young women inside. He wants to take them into his arms and hold them down. Once he becomes emperor, he can enjoy all the wealth and glory of the world. All the delicious food is at his disposal, and all the beautiful women are for him to choose from... Hahaha!

  Zhao Gao is still dreaming of being an emperor in his dreams. And now, he himself is getting closer and closer to that final goal, so close that it's almost within reach. As long as he makes a little more effort in the future, uses his mind a bit more, and gets rid of those who don't listen to him, then with his own wisdom and abilities, what's to stop him from becoming emperor?

  His next opponent, his next target of conquest, was the so-called puppet emperor Qin II Hu Hai.

  "You all said that he was a puppet emperor, didn't you? Well, well, well, I'll let you see just how much of a puppet emperor Hu Hai is! You all said that he was a puppet emperor, didn't you? Well, well, well, I'll let you see just how much of a puppet emperor Hu Hai is!" Zhao Gao secretly seethed with anger in his heart. And so, on one morning during the imperial court gathering, when all the civil and military officials were already waiting in the court, only Prime Minister Zhao Gao was late to arrive.

  This was already a very strange thing. According to the imperial system, all officials, including the prime minister, would arrive early, and then the emperor could arrive late to show off his majesty. But now, it's the other way around - the emperor has been waiting for a long time, but the prime minister is still nowhere to be seen. As a result, there were whispers of discussion on the court.

  But Qin Er Shi Hu Hai was also a strange figure. He spent his days in the harem, indulging in music and women, without any concern for state affairs or governance. He always thought that his reign was peaceful, that he had nothing to worry about, that his authority was supreme. Little did he know, he was already on the edge of collapse.

  However, the Second Emperor of Qin, Hu Hai, could not have imagined that Zhao Gao, who had always been so obsequious in his presence, who had always carried out his orders with such alacrity, who had always patted his chest and pledged loyalty to him, who had always acted according to his wishes, would now dare to arrive at court even later than he did! Was this not a clear sign of disrespect towards him?

  "It's always been fine, but today, what's going on today?" Qin Er Shi Emperor Hu Hai was also puzzled in his heart.

  Fortunately, Zhao Gao did not keep everyone waiting for too long. Half a time later, he finally came on stage with his prop - a deer.

  "Your Majesty, today I have brought a rare and fine horse, and I wish to present it to you. I wonder if Your Majesty will like it?" Zhao Gao said with an air of nonchalance, while his eyes swept fiercely across the monarch and his ministers. For a moment, the entire hall was once again filled with whispers and murmurs.

  "What? A fine horse? That's a joke! What fine horse, that's clearly a deer!" The monarch and his ministers spoke in hushed tones, their voices barely audible, mostly whispering to each other.

  Zhao Gao's words naturally deceived the Second Emperor of Qin, Hu Hai, who widened his curious eyes and stared at the deer for a long time. Even if he was dull-witted, he wouldn't be unable to distinguish between a deer and a horse. Although he didn't often go on distant trips and had limited experience, in the imperial hunting grounds and gardens, he would occasionally go hunting, and there were no ferocious prey, mostly just deer. Therefore, this Second Emperor still knew what a deer looked like.

  "Chancellor, what kind of fine horse is this you've brought? It's clearly just a deer! What kind of joke is this?" Qin Er Shi said after carefully identifying it for a while.

  It's really a deer. How big is the horse's head? Even if it's a good breed, an unusual horse, it's still a horse and not something else. And this thing brought by Zhao Gao is clearly a deer, where is the horse?

  "Your Majesty, this is indeed a fine horse, which I have gone to great lengths to procure for you from abroad. This is a rare and excellent steed, capable of traveling 1,000 li by day and 800 li by night!" Zhao Gao remained unmoved, still insisting on his own "fine horse" theory.

  The Second Emperor of Qin looked at it and had no way out, so he smiled and said to the ministers: "Everyone has their own opinions. The prime minister says this is a fine horse, while I say it's just an ordinary small deer. Let everyone discuss, what do you think? Is this a fine horse or a small deer?" After finishing speaking, the Second Emperor of Qin still smiled and looked at his ministers, thinking that they would all say "This is a deer, it's obviously a deer".

  But when he had said this for a long time, no one came forward to speak. For a while, the entire hall was shrouded in a very strange atmosphere. Qin II also felt that everyone's expression today, the atmosphere in the great hall today, was indeed somewhat strange. So, he looked at this one and that one, but everyone had a thoughtful look on their face, as if they were all racking their brains, considering whether the animal in front of them was a horse or a deer.

  It was just a deer, but it caused trouble for all the people inside the grand hall, and these people were all high-ranking officials and elites of the imperial court. This is indeed a strange thing.

  "You are all deaf, didn't you hear the emperor's words? The emperor asked you to take a good look, is this guy a deer or a horse? You are all deaf, didn't you hear the emperor's words? The emperor asked you to take a good look, is this guy a deer or a horse?" Zhao Gao saw that everyone was silent and he couldn't help but get anxious. After all, this play was directed by him, no matter what, there had to be an outcome! If everyone remained silent like this, it wasn't the result he wanted.

  However, everyone remained silent. In fact, the minds of all the officials were racing at this time, each calculating the true intention behind Zhao Gao's move at their fastest speed. It was very clear that it was a deer, and this was absolutely certain. But why did Zhao Gao insist on calling it a horse? And he even dared to contradict the emperor?

  Most people have already guessed Zhao Gao's intention, which is to use this "pointing to a deer as a horse" farce to test his current position, prestige and credibility in the imperial court. If he has a certain degree of influence - regardless of whether it is deliberately pretended or real - Zhao Gao is also very clear that it is impossible to make everyone sincerely convinced by himself. The nature of the path he takes actually explains this point. Fortunately, what Zhao Gao wants now is not these things. Those reputations are completely worthless to him. He wants something that has no use at all. What he wants is power. It is a kind of supreme and absolute power that transcends everything.

  For this power, he can give up everything. He doesn't care about right and wrong, nor does he care about what is straight or crooked. In this world, there was never really any true distinction between right and wrong, good and evil, or straight and crooked. There is only strength. Only the law of the jungle applies. Between people, there are no emotions to speak of, but there is a necessary fear that exists.

  From this point of view, he still admired the former prime minister Li Si who had been killed by himself. The legalist doctrine he advocated was actually identical to what he revered. It's just that Li Si was not good at adapting to changing circumstances, so it was only natural that he was squeezed to death by him unintentionally.

  "What's wrong with you all? Why aren't you saying anything? Don't you think that the horse is not a good omen?" Qin Er Shi Hu Hai looked at the ministers and saw that they were all silent, his heart was furious. He thought to himself: "You bunch of people, what is going on here? You are all fed by the great Qin's salary, but at this critical moment, you can't even recognize a deer, this is truly the greatest shame under heaven!"

  "This is the truth," Zhao Gao asked again, "haven't you heard clearly? His Majesty is asking you, is this a horse or a deer?"

  At this time, Zhao Gao's heart was already secretly feeling that he would basically win this time. Because he had seen that many of the ministers' legs were already starting to tremble!

  "Your Majesty, this is a deer, not a horse! It's really just a deer, and not a horse at all!" The many officials present almost chimed in unison.

  But this time, it really made Qin Er Shi confused. He even began to suspect that he was wrong. Because he heard the sincere voices of his ministers who would never lie, and he also saw the sincere eyes of his ministers who would never lie. Could it be that he was indeed wrong?

  Having thought of this, the Second Emperor of Qin became even more uneasy and hastily got up to walk towards a deer standing steadily in the hall. He gently stroked its head with a very gentle expression. It was clearly a deer, so how could it become a horse?

  "This is indeed a strange thing, a strange thing! This is clearly a deer, how can it be a horse?" Qin Er Shi said with a puzzled expression, stroking his smooth chin.

  "How could it be, how could there be a demon horse in my palace?" Hu Hai said thoughtfully. He was actually not stupid, and even if he really was stupid, he wouldn't be stupid to this extent! It was clearly a deer, but it was being called a horse! The problem was that he himself had said it was a horse, while the prime minister had said it was a deer. But the officials were all siding with Prime Minister Zhao Gao and not with him. This...this...what kind of reason is this? And when the prestige of an official surpasses that of the king, what does this mean?"

  Just then, a foolish old minister stepped forward and bowed to the Second Emperor of Qin, saying: "Your Majesty, this is indeed a deer, not a horse. Perhaps the Prime Minister made a mistake."

  After finishing speaking, the old minister then again cupped his hands and retreated back to his original position. At this time, upon hearing that someone still dared to say it was a deer, he couldn't help but glare fiercely at the old minister, thinking to himself: "Old thief, you truly don't know the times, you truly don't know the times! I will soon make you understand what is actually a deer and what is not a horse!"

  When he got to the side of the two old ministers who had insisted that it was a deer, Zhao Gao gave them a fierce stare and said: "Tomorrow or later, I will let you know whether this is a deer or a horse!"