Chapter 113

The Great Qin Imperial Court.

Upon hearing the imperial decree, the civil and military officials quickly gathered in the hall.

"His Majesty arrives!"

Zhao Gao's eunuch-like voice rang out.

Before long, Ying Zheng, dressed in black imperial robes, walked over.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

The officials bowed with cupped hands.

The Great Qin does not practice the kowtow ritual.

That is something only the barbarians of the Manchu Qing beyond the passes would do.

"Zhao Gao, read it!"

Ying Zheng commanded.

Zhao Gao took out the state letter from the Great Tang.

After seeing the contents clearly, Zhao Gao was startled.

The Great Tang actually wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Great Qin!

Zhao Gao quickly regained his composure and read the contents of the state letter aloud.

After he finished reading, the officials below began to discuss it.

"Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this from the Tang Huang Li Shimin?"

"The Great Tang and our Great Qin are far apart; why would he suddenly want his daughter to marry a prince of our Great Qin?"

Li Si stepped forward and spoke.

No matter how he thought about it, he felt this matter held no great benefit for either side.

For a moment, he could not quite grasp the thoughts of the Tang Huang Li Shimin.

"I did not bring you here to ask questions, but to express your own opinions."

Ying Zheng said coldly.

Li Si hurriedly bowed and said, "This subject is guilty!"

Fusu was the first to step out, saying, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this son believes the Tang Huang's proposal for a marriage alliance is excellent."

"It will help improve the relationship between our Great Qin and the Great Tang."

"Just imagine, if all nations formed marriage alliances, wouldn't the Nine Provinces be at peace, with no more wars?"

In the Great Qin, even Ying Zheng's sons cannot address him as 'Father Emperor'.

They must address him as 'Your Majesty'!

This is where the Great Qin differs from all other nations.

After hearing what Fusu said, Ying Zheng's brows furrowed tightly.

He had always detested Fusu speaking such whimsical and pedantic words.

"This subject disagrees with what Prince Fusu said."

"There is only one way to ensure there is no war in the Nine Provinces."

"And that is to unify the Nine Provinces."

"Furthermore, even if we form a marriage alliance with the Great Tang, our Great Qin must occupy the dominant position."

Li Si said very firmly.

Having served as a minister to Ying Zheng for many years, he was very clear about the thoughts in Ying Zheng's heart.

In any matter, in any aspect, Ying Zheng must hold absolute control.

This is Ying Zheng's dominance!

It was precisely because Fusu did not see through this point.

Plus, being deeply influenced by Confucian culture, especially those pedantic scholars.

It led Fusu's views to clash with Ying Zheng's at every turn.

Fusu's brows furrowed.

He always felt that His Majesty's style of doing things was too overbearing.

Moreover, he did not like war.

He felt that as long as no one wanted to unify the Nine Provinces, and no one wanted to destroy other nations.

The Nine Provinces could be at peace, and the common people could live good lives.

"Your Majesty, this son feels that even if we concede a little, it does not matter."

"What is important is the marriage alliance between our Great Qin and the Great Tang."

"A marriage alliance between the two nations can help each other and promote the development of both."

"This is a good thing for the people of both nations."

Fusu still held firmly to his own views.

He felt he was not wrong; he felt that as long as the people of the Nine Provinces promoted his views, the Nine Provinces would surely be at peace.

"Pedantic...!"

Ying Zheng angrily threw the memorial in front of him onto the ground.

"Fusu, you are the eldest prince of our Great Qin, not the eldest prince of the Great Tang."

"What you do and think should be for the interests of the Great Qin, not for selling out the interests of the Great Qin!"

Ying Zheng said angrily.

Only when facing Fusu would Ying Zheng be this enraged.

Because he was grooming Fusu as the future successor of the Great Qin.

But Fusu disappointed Ying Zheng too much.

Therefore, Ying Zheng began to groom the eighteenth prince, Hu Hai.

As for the other princes, Ying Zheng felt not one was worth grooming.

This was the conclusion Ying Zheng reached under the observation of the Black Ice Terrace.

It must be said that Ying Ziyu hid himself too well; even under these circumstances, he had not been discovered.

Zhao Gao was secretly delighted to see Fusu being scolded.

He was Hu Hai's teacher and naturally hoped that Hu Hai would ascend the throne in the future.

The more Fusu was scolded, the more his status in His Majesty's heart would be lowered, and this way, the possibility of Hu Hai inheriting the throne would be greater.