The Myth of Daqin: The Soul of Yi Xiaochuan

Chapter 214 Eastern Tour - Sand Dunes (2)

Li Si and Yao Jia were extremely anxious when they saw that the First Emperor was determined to stay here. After looking at each other, they took big steps forward to dissuade him.

However, they had just taken a few steps when they were blocked by Zhao Gao and Xu Fu.

Xu Fu bowed slightly, clasped his hands together in a bow, and with a proud look on his face, he spoke in a neither humble nor arrogant manner, "My Lords, please do not worry! His Majesty has already issued a sacred decree to set up camp here. As important officials of the court, you should respect and support His Majesty's decision, and understand His Majesty's hard work and efforts."

Yao Jia couldn't help but groan inwardly when he heard this. He knew that Xu Fu had recently gained great favor and respect from the First Emperor for his successful search for the elixir. If he rashly contradicted him at this time, he would probably bring himself unnecessary trouble.

He suppressed his discontent and said with a smile, "Prime Minister Li and I are so anxious because we are truly loyal to Your Majesty. We are simply worried that Your Majesty is overworked, so we acted in a moment of urgency. There is no other intention. Please don't be offended, Master Xu."

Li Si, who was standing by, saw this and his expression instantly became serious.

He frowned, staring at Xu Fu and Zhao Gao, and said in a low voice, "You all know that although your majesty has recovered from his illness in recent days, he has been indulging himself in the beauties of the harem every night. If this continues, it will definitely harm his health. As his subjects, we have the responsibility to advise your majesty to take care of his health and put the country first. But you, the emperor's close ministers, not only do not try to persuade your majesty in every possible way, but instead flatter him. Is this the duty of a subject?"

Zhao Gao, hearing Li Si's righteous accusations, showed no sign of shame. Instead, he maintained a smile and responded sarcastically, "Prime Minister Li, your words are truly serious! Ever since His Majesty took the elixir that Master Xu painstakingly retrieved, his complexion has been radiant, and his dragon body has long since returned to its prime. It's only natural for His Majesty to occasionally wish to relax and unwind. As your subjects, we should naturally be considerate of His Majesty."

Li Si's beard trembled with anger when he heard Zhao Gao's words. "Lord Zhao, Your Majesty is the ruler of a country. You should be concerned about the well-being of the people. How can you neglect state affairs for the sake of pleasure? If Your Majesty loses the country because of this, you and I will both be guilty."

Xu Fu gently waved his hand at this time, "Prime Minister Li, please don't be angry. The magic pill has miraculous effects, and the masters have also seen it. With this immortal master here, there will be no problem."

At the beginning, Xu Fu was timid and did not dare to act rashly in front of everyone, but later, when he saw that the First Emperor became full of energy and vitality after taking the elixir, he felt that he was still capable.

Gradually, he felt that even if he didn't find the elixir, the elixir he made would still have miraculous effects, and he suddenly became proud of himself.

Li Si snorted coldly, "Master Xu, don't be too confident. The effectiveness of the elixir is still unknown, and your Majesty's indulgence is already a sign of trouble. If something really goes wrong, can Master Xu bear the blame?"

Xu Fu's face paled slightly, and he was about to retort when Zhao Gao spoke first, "Prime Minister Li, are you questioning the Immortal Master's abilities? The Immortal Master possesses immense powers, and now he's found the elixir, so how could he be wrong? Your Majesty has simply been busy with government affairs for a while, and is now taking a break."

Li Si narrowed his eyes. "Hmph, Lord Zhao is quite eloquent. But it's a fact that Your Majesty has been enjoying the pleasures of the court for many days. The court is piling up with requests. If this continues, the very foundations of the Qin Empire may be shaken."

At this moment, a noise came from deep within the palace, which sounded like the joyful voice of a woman.

Li Si's expression grew increasingly grim. "Your Majesty's health is not something you can speculate about. The matter of elixirs is inherently mysterious. If Your Majesty indulges himself in this way now, there's no guarantee that there won't be problems in the future."

Xu Fu spoke slowly at this moment, "Prime Minister Li, please do not exaggerate. Your Majesty knows how to handle things. Besides, the elixir I offered has been verified by many parties and is indeed beneficial."

Yao Jia gently pulled Li Si's sleeve, signaling him not to argue anymore.

But Li Si shook off his hand and looked directly at Xu Fu. "You know the properties of that elixir best. The situation in the world is delicate right now. If Your Majesty loses his clarity of mind, what will become of the Qin Dynasty?"

A hint of displeasure flashed across Zhao Gao's face. His eyes revealed a hint of irritation, and his voice was filled with obvious displeasure: "Is Prime Minister Li cursing Your Majesty for mismanagement? How bold!"

The air suddenly became tense, as if it had frozen.

Meng Yi heard the quarrel here and walked over.

Seeing this, Meng Yi raised the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a sneer. "Lord Zhao, you are so arrogant. Lord Li is the Prime Minister of the Great Qin, and Lord Yao is also the Imperial Censor, one of the Three Dukes, with the power of remonstration. Who is Lord Zhao, to actually accuse an important official of the court? And who is Master Xu, to actually point directly at the Three Dukes?"

There was a sense of majesty in Meng Yi's voice, and his eyes swept sharply over Zhao Gao and Xu Fu, as if he wanted to see through them.

Meng Yi knew that he could no longer live in peace with Zhao Gao, Feng Jie and others, and they also wanted to kill him, so he didn't care too much.

Xu Fu said proudly: "I am the Taizhu appointed by Your Majesty personally, and I am dedicated to seeking the elixir of immortality for Your Majesty. Your behavior shows that you are dissatisfied with Your Majesty's pursuit of immortality." His voice was high and confident, as if he was declaring his status and authority to everyone.

When Xu Fu said this, everyone was shocked.

Meng Yi chuckled, his laughter tinged with sarcasm. "A mere first-rank alchemist, huh? You're nothing but a charlatan. Who knows if your so-called elixir will harm His Majesty?"

Zhao Gao's face darkened upon hearing this, and his voice was sharp and piercing: "Meng Yi, please do not slander me. Master Xu is someone your majesty trusts."

Meng Yi took a step forward, straightening his body. He spoke loudly, "Your Majesty's trust is one thing, but the Great Qin governs by law. If there is indeed a problem with the elixir, Immortal Master Xu will be held accountable."

Xu Fu's expression changed slightly, a flicker of unease in his eyes. He quickly explained, "My elixir is absolutely fine. Your Majesty has recovered after taking it. It's just that you've been having too much fun lately." There was a hint of panic in his voice, as if he was trying to justify himself.

At this moment, the majestic voice of Emperor Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng came, "I am resting, why are you making so much noise?"

Everyone hurriedly bowed to the ground and saluted, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

The First Emperor walked out slowly, accompanied by several beautiful palace maids. They were dressed coolly, had plump figures, and held feather fans in their hands, which they gently waved, bringing a touch of coolness to the First Emperor.

The First Emperor looked at everyone, frowning slightly, and said with a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone: "After taking the elixir, I feel energetic and relaxed a little. You are important officials of the Qin Dynasty, and you are so disrespectful! How can you behave like this?"

After hearing this, all the ministers shouted, "We are guilty, Your Majesty, please calm down."

The sound echoed throughout the palace.

Xu Fu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that the emperor was quite satisfied with the elixir he had refined, which made him feel a little relieved.

However, Zhao Gao secretly glared at Meng Yi, with a hint of coldness in his eyes.

Meng Yi felt Zhao Gao's gaze. He straightened his body and looked at Zhao Gao without fear.

The atmosphere between the two of them suddenly became tense, as if a storm was about to come.

At this moment, the First Emperor seemed to have noticed something. He coughed lightly, breaking the deadlock: "Alright, I have my own thoughts on the affairs of the court. There is no need for you to argue. Just do your respective duties."

The ministers shouted "Long live the emperor" again, and the storm subsided temporarily.