(16)
Sun Ge respectfully offered her suggestion.
She would never take full credit and present the finished paper to the First Emperor herself; doing so would leave no room for anyone else to survive.
A subtle, imperceptible eagerness flickered in the First Emperor’s dark eyes. Winning the hearts of the common people, something he had pursued so diligently, might no longer be a distant dream.
At this very moment, the First Emperor became even more convinced that the thunderstorm—during which he had been pointed at by the common folk of the old Qi and Lu lands and mocked by petty pedantic scholars—was a auspicious omen bestowed upon Great Qin by the heavens.
However, wasn't that lightning a bit too partial to Zhao Gao?
A faint sense of grievance stirred deep within the First Emperor's heart.
If there was ever such lightning again, please strike Zhao Gao first.
Whether it was a divine blessing didn't matter; he mainly wanted to share trials and tribulations with Zhao Gao.
After all, they had been master and servant living day and night together for over a decade; he couldn't let Zhao Gao suffer alone.
"If this succeeds, it will be a monumental achievement, and yours shall be the foremost merit."
Holding the bamboo slips, the First Emperor drew a deep breath and said in a ringing voice.
Sun Ge gently shook her head. "An invention of such epoch-making brilliance that rivals the very creation of heaven and earth should be Your Majesty's achievement. This humble servant dare not usurp the credit."
"Encountering the sign of the impending Mount Tai ceremony was also due to Your Majesty's divine protection. Without your Mandate of Heaven, this humble servant would never have had the chance to set foot on Mount Tai."
A profound shock gripped the First Emperor. His eagle-like, sharp gaze was, for a rarity, somewhat dazed.
This was a monumental achievement worthy of grand embellishment, of benefiting all humanity, and of being carved into the annals of history—yet Zhao Gao had simply handed it over to him with a few casual words.
A sense of unreality washed over the First Emperor.
Was this mere flattery and ingratiation?
No, at this moment, Zhao Gao's gaze was frighteningly devout and pure, entirely devoid of any selfish calculation.
It was as if he were truly practicing the sentiment that his very bones and blood should redeem his past mistakes and fight to win a splendid realm for him.
He had never expected that the very person in the vision who would usurp power, disrupt the government, and subvert Great Qin possessed such an unstained, brilliantly glowing, childlike heart.
Zhao Gao, oh Zhao Gao.
The First Emperor sighed deeply within.
Fortunately, he had not killed Zhao Gao in a fit of rage to vent his anger earlier; doing so had left room for both himself and Great Qin to be reborn.
For a moment, the First Emperor's eyes stung with heat.
"Zhao Gao, this king will never let your reputation be stained in the history books. As long as this king lives for a single day, I shall be your backing for a single day."
The First Emperor's gaze was resolute, his tone solemn, and every single word fell like a vow.
The corners of Sun Ge's mouth curved into a smile as she expressed her gratitude.
The bleak and doomed fate predestined for Great Qin would ultimately be rewritten by her and the First Emperor.
Ah, and also that ill-fated, hazy-looking fellow, Li Si.
Whether she possessed foresight didn't matter; what mattered was that Li Si was extremely capable and possessed a ferocious work ethic.
"Then this humble servant will take her leave."
After Sun Ge departed, the First Emperor's gaze was once again drawn to the contents of the bamboo slips.
His heart surged with emotions that remained unsettled for a long time.
This long-lost passion reminded him of the surging fervor when he was conquering the six states.
Since he could unify the six states, he would certainly be able to win the hearts of all the people.
"Someone come, summon the Mohist Grand Master."
Before the papermaking technique was perfected, the First Emperor did not intend to let any news leak out.
An invention of this magnitude needed no prelude; the moment it was unveiled, it would undoubtedly draw the eyes of the entire world.
Time flew by amidst discussions between the First Emperor and the Mohist Grand Master.
The next day.
With a sore and swollen backside, Sun Ge waited early by the First Emperor's side, standing at attention in readiness for the morning court session.
Even with her toes, she could imagine what kind of monstrous uproar would ripple through the imperial court once she proposed the land reform scheme.
Those court doctors might not just want to drown her in spit; they might actually want to slip a sack over her head and deliver a few blows with a heavy club.
She didn't care. She was holding the high banner for the First Emperor—let's see who dared to make an enemy of the First Emperor.
With enemies on all sides, she was merely a banner for the First Emperor.
"Are you really going to be fine like this?"
The First Emperor cast a complex, obscure look at Sun Ge, who was subconsciously swaying her body in a show of bravado.
With her backside swollen so high that even her robes couldn't hide it, could she stop wriggling around? She looked like a bloated carp.
Full of fighting spirit, Sun Ge refused to accept the First Emperor's demoralizing behavior of bolstering others' morale while destroying her own prestige. She lifted her chin. "Obviously! A man must never say he can't."
"Even when he can't, he has to say he can..."
The First Emperor: ......
Should he remind Zhao Gao that he was no longer a man?!
An eunuch, an eunuch, did he understand?
And really, was being this brazen acceptable?
This disposition of getting a little sunshine and immediately shining brightly made him too afraid to play the good guy.
"Your Majesty, when are we heading over?"
Sun Ge was already dying to get into the battle.
Alas, she wondered if her little brother Li Si had missed her dearly after just one day apart.
She didn't care; that ill-fated wretch Li Si had better miss her, seeing as their bond was deeper than the Peach Blossom Pool.
If he didn't miss her, he could go celebrate the Qingming Festival.
Little did she know, the Li Si being muttered about at this very moment had a flushed face, and his wrinkled forehead was densely covered with beads of sweat.
He simply couldn't handle the knowing, meaningful looks everyone kept casting his way.
He and Zhao Gao were truly innocent!
He had practically coughed up blood explaining it, but no one would listen; instead, they all wore expressions that said *we understand*.
In the end, they even had to put on a solemn, earnest facade to console him: "Lord Prime Minister, you must take care of your health; don't ruin your moral integrity in your twilight years."
How could such a deranged rumor have idiots believing it?
That single word—idiots—covered the vast majority of officials in the imperial court.
Good heavens, he truly couldn't stay here any longer. Why wasn't the First Emperor coming to court yet?
Amidst Li Si's desperate calls, the First Emperor arrived fashionably late, accompanied by Sun Ge.
Sun Ge: ......
Why was her little brother glaring at her with such resentful eyes? That unsatisfied look was terribly easy for people to misunderstand.
Sun Ge glared back at Li Si, then proudly and coldly averted her gaze.
This exchange of glances was caught by those with discerning eyes, seeming to cement the absurd and baseless rumor even further.
"Ahem."
The First Emperor cleared his throat and looked at Li Si.
Li Si still shouldered the heavy responsibility of moving the old nobles of the six states into Xianyang City; if he didn't bring it up now, was he just daydreaming out of his mind?
His heart jolted. Li Si stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, this subject has a matter to report."
"Lord Li, speak freely."
"Your Majesty, the world has misunderstood Qin for far too long. As long as misunderstandings persist, estrangement follows; when superiors act, inferiors imitate, which harms the stability of the state."
"This subject petitions Your Majesty to cordially invite the old nobility of the six states to enter Xianyang City, so they may bathe in the imperial grace at close range, feel Your Majesty's benevolence, dispel misunderstandings, and secure the realm."
"Your Majesty's benevolence will surely move the heavens, and the old nobility of the six states will undoubtedly be grateful and cherish it."
Li Si lowered his head and spoke respectfully.
Sun Ge couldn't help praising him inwardly. These words were truly spoken with style and sophistication.
As expected of the renowned Li Si.
Before anyone else could speak, the First Emperor frowned slightly and feigned puzzlement. "Oh?"
"The journey is long, with mountains and rivers stretching across—wouldn't this be making too much of a fuss, and instead cause the nobles to harbor resentment?"
He wore the air of someone meticulously and thoughtfully considering things for the old nobility of the six states.
One had to admit, the First Emperor's tone at the moment was somewhat scheming.
Sun Ge silently evaluated him in her heart.
"Your Majesty's words are mistaken."