Li Si: "Only those who eat it will know."
Seeing that Li Si was truly fine after taking the medicine and that his eyes were shining, the old doctor said loudly, "Since we share the king's salary, I think we shouldn't just let Li Si risk his life to test the medicine. We should all try it together."
A group of old men stared at the medicine in my hand, eager to try it: "Hmm, that makes sense."
Li Si stood in front of me, waving his hands repeatedly and saying, "No need to try, I'm convinced this is indeed a miraculous medicine."
I exclaimed, "Then they'll be even more eager to try it!"
The ministers exclaimed, "That's a misconception!"
Damn, he didn't fall for it.
Amidst the chaos, the eunuch relayed an imperial decree: "His Majesty commands that the person who presented the medicine must come to court."
I was about to walk in excitedly when I ran into two sleazy eunuchs who shouted in a shrill voice, "You must be searched before entering the palace."
I took a step back and said, "Someone has already searched the place." These were two middle-aged eunuchs with loose skin and sharp fingers. They were nauseating to look at. I would rather sit back in the car and have someone throw feces at me than be touched by such people.
One of the eunuchs chuckled and said, "Men are too clumsy to be trusted. What kind of weapon are you hiding?"
I shuddered, goosebumps rising all over my body, and said, "It's really over. The last weapon I have left can only hurt women."
The eunuch paused, then suddenly covered his face with his hands and said shyly, "You're so naughty."
Damn it, it won't hurt you!
Just then, someone shouted: "By imperial decree, the person who presented the medicine may be exempted from being searched and should immediately go to the palace."
I hurriedly bypassed the two eunuchs and strode inside. The fat man's office was vast and sprawling, with a ceiling at least as high as a badminton hall; from where I stood, I couldn't see the person opposite me at a glance. On either side were twelve massive bronze pillars. The entire hall was majestic and imposing, making those standing within seem as insignificant and fragile as paper. I glanced left and right as I walked. Li Si, not daring to be careless at this moment, whispered, "Lower your head!"
I kept my head down and continued walking. After looking at countless people's ankles, I finally reached the throne. Li Si pulled me up again, and I stood beside him. After a short pause, I heard a powerfully voice from the eunuch above ask, "Guest Minister Li, His Majesty asks how you feel after taking this medicine?"
Li Si hurriedly stepped forward and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I feel refreshed and light as a feather." He then awkwardly added an exclamation at the end: "Ah—"
I couldn't help but burst out laughing. Li Si stretched out a hand behind his back and shook it at me, signaling me to be serious. Actually, his gesture was quite unserious, but as a modern person, he had become much bolder; if it were before, he probably wouldn't have dared to do it even if he were scared to death.
There was silence again for a moment. Then the eunuch said, "His Majesty commands, bring the medicine up." A figure carrying a tray walked up to me, waiting for me to place the medicine on it.
At this critical moment, fearing any unforeseen complications, I disregarded everything and raised my head, saying, "I must personally present this medicine to His Majesty..." Above, the fat Ying sat expressionlessly in the center, his imposing presence accentuated by the dim atmosphere of the hall. Seeing me raise my head, he moved his lips, and the eunuch beside him sternly shouted, "How dare you!"
My worst fears have come true. That damned Fatty Ying is two-faced. He was so kind and amiable when he was with me, but once he became the King of Qin, he instantly turned into a wolf in sheep's clothing and wouldn't even bother to speak to me personally anymore.
Fearing that the fat man might slam me against the wall with another word, I quickly said, "Your Majesty, this medicine will lose its potency once it leaves my hand. My sincere heart is as clear as heaven and earth." As I spoke, I suddenly remembered two lines of flattery and loudly proclaimed, "His Majesty the First Emperor bestows blessings upon all people with his literary and martial prowess, unifying the martial world for a thousand autumns and ten thousand years..."
These few words were only half understood by everyone, but they hit a nerve with the fat man. He scratched his head and asked, "Who is the First Emperor?"
Upon hearing this tone, I almost felt a surge of warmth and tears welled up in my eyes. I said solemnly, "Your Majesty will surely surpass the achievements of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors in the future, and should be called Emperor. Since you were the first to do so, you should be called the First Emperor."
Upon hearing my words, the assembled ministers immediately sensed that I was about to have a successful career and enthusiastically echoed, "Hmm, that makes sense!"
Qin Shi Huang was overjoyed and chuckled, "It's very good, come up here."
Li Si and I exchanged a victory sign, then I strode up to the platform... uh, to the throne, and placed a tempting grass in front of Qin Shi Huang, saying, "Your Majesty, please!"
Seeing my enthusiasm, Qin Shi Huang hesitated. He glanced at Li Si below and muttered, "This 'pleasure'..." Before he could finish, he smelled the faint fragrance emanating from the alluring herb. The herb's name, "alluring," comes from this scent; it inherently possesses seductive and tempting effects. The fat man's Adam's apple bobbed at the smell, and he couldn't help but pick up a piece, examine it closely, and slowly put it in his mouth...
Feeling much relieved, I couldn't help but relax and rest one arm on Qin Shi Huang's table, asking with a smile, "Brother Ying, do you remember me?"
Those below couldn't hear what I was saying at all, but the eunuch beside Qin Shi Huang heard it clearly. Before the fat man could speak, he roared, "How dare you! Get down!"
Qin Shi Huang slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "Get down!"
That eunuch, emboldened by his master's power, yelled at me, "Didn't you hear me? Get down!"
Qin Shi Huang turned his head and glared at him: "It's you!"
Chapter Ninety-Two: The Xiao Mansion
It seems that the effects of the Temptation Herb are no slower than those of the Blue Elixir dissolved in water. When Qin Shi Huang just ate it, I saw the muscles on his face twitch, and then he gave me a strange look, looking slightly uneasy. But I could feel that familiar sense of warmth emanating from the fat man.
The eunuch beside him, startled by the fat man's rebuke, hesitated and asked, "Your Majesty... are you referring to me?" It seemed this man was one of the fat man's close attendants. It was well known that emperors couldn't hide many things from their eunuchs; their status was often somewhere between the emperor's servant, friend, and even relative. Therefore, although every dynasty had strictly prohibited eunuchs from interfering in politics, no emperor had ever truly and completely escaped their influence. This eunuch, rebuked by Qin Shi Huang, could hardly believe his ears.
Qin Shi Huang didn't even glance at him, and waved his hand impatiently. I, relying on my master's power, said, "I'm talking to you, get out!"
The eunuch then walked away dejectedly, looking at Qin Shi Huang with a face full of grievance.
Although the eunuch had left, it was still inconvenient to speak. I couldn't very well call Fatty "Brother Ying" in front of everyone, could I? So I looked at Fatty, and he looked at me, both quite embarrassed. I whispered a reminder: "Brother Ying, clear the area."
Emperor Ying suddenly realized something, sat up straight, and said to his ministers, "You all go and vent your anger."
The ministers exchanged suspicious glances, and a few of the older men at the front tentatively asked, "Your Majesty, isn't this inappropriate?"
I quickly stood five steps away from Fatty Ying, spreading my arms to show my innocence. I realized they suspected me of kidnapping their boss, and unless this misunderstanding was cleared up, I wouldn't escape being shot against the wall...
Facing his ministers, Qin Shi Huang calmly said, "I'm perfectly fine. I want to discuss the issue of becoming an immortal with Xiao Qiang. You all go vent your anger."
The courtiers suddenly realized: So the king had truly gained some enlightenment after consuming the elixir of immortality and did not want others to share his secret of eternal life.
I chimed in, adding fuel to the fire, "Why aren't you leaving yet? Do you want to be immortal like the king?"
The officials shrank back and hastily withdrew. To sit on equal footing with the leader had always been a major taboo in officialdom. Whether staying to hear secrets would truly grant them immortality was another matter; they would likely have their names etched into stone immediately afterward…
I looked at Li Si, who was walking out with the others, and said, "Li Si, you stay."
Li Si, still possessing a modern mindset, readily agreed and stood aside. The ministers, seeing his sudden rise to favor after testing medicine for the king, and now his eternal life alongside the king, couldn't help but look at him with a mixture of jealousy and envy. This likely laid a solid foundation for his later fate—when he, as prime minister, was torn apart by chariots, no one would speak up for him.