boyutpedia Chapter 272 Chunyu Yue and Shusun Tong's Secret Talk
Chapter 272 Chunyu Yue and Shusun Tong's Secret Talk
In the afternoon in Xianyang, the blazing sun hung high in the sky, radiating endless light and relentlessly scorching the vast land. The snow that had fallen a few days earlier had melted quickly, leaving the streets muddy, but the joy of the New Year still lingered in everyone's hearts, making Xianyang even more lively.
Inside Chunyu Yue's study, the air seemed to freeze, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive, almost suffocating. Chunyu Yue wore a plain Confucian robe, which fluttered gently with his slow steps. His face was thin, his cheekbones slightly prominent, and his deep eyes revealed profound worry and unwavering determination. At this moment, he slowly walked to the window, gazing at a few chirping birds outside, his sorrow growing ever stronger.
Shusun Tong sat quietly to one side, tall and slender, his fingers deftly manipulating a bamboo slip in his hand. His slightly weathered face bore the wisdom and composure of someone who had experienced the world. At this moment, the room was silent, broken only by the soft footsteps of Chunyu Yue and the occasional rustling of Shusun Tong turning the bamboo slip.
Finally, Chunyu Yue stopped and broke the unbearable silence. His voice was low and slightly hoarse, as if squeezed from the depths of his throat: "Lord Shusun, the current situation in Qin is really getting more and more baffling to me." As he spoke, he turned his head and looked directly at Shusun Tong, his eyes full of doubt and unease.
Then, Chunyu Yue continued, "Back then, His Majesty was completely absorbed in seeking immortality and elixirs, and he didn't even care about state affairs. But now? He's no longer enthusiastic about that, yet he shows absolutely no interest in matters as fundamental as choosing an heir. Now, even the eldest son has been sent to the remote and desolate land of Baiyue. If this continues, the foundation of the state will surely be unstable, and it might even lead to a huge upheaval!" At the end, Chunyu Yue sighed heavily, his face showing even greater worry.
Shusun Tong carefully placed the bamboo slips on the desk, his brow furrowed slightly as if a heavy stone was pressing on his heart. He sighed softly, “Brother Chunyu is quite right. Our king is inherently suspicious and extremely stubborn. Now he dotes on Princess Jiayang to the extreme. The things that happened before were one thing, but who would have thought that he would actually appoint Princess Jiayang as the head of the Coal Transport Bureau? This is really against etiquette. We have earnestly advised him, but the king has completely ignored us. If this continues, what will become of him in the future?”
Upon hearing this, Chunyu Yue slowly turned around, his gaze sharp and unwavering. He said, “Even though the situation is so dire, as subjects, we enjoy the stipends bestowed by the king and should serve him with utmost loyalty. How can we stand idly by and watch things unfold? Prince Fusu has always been known for his benevolence, kindness, virtue, and wisdom. His reputation is widespread. If we can support Prince Fusu as the crown prince, then perhaps the Great Qin Kingdom will still have a glimmer of hope for long-term peace and stability.”
Upon hearing this, Shusun Tong nodded, then abruptly rose and began pacing back and forth in his study. He would sometimes lower his head in deep thought, sometimes gaze out the window, seemingly racking his brains for a solution. After a while, he finally stopped, paused briefly, and then said, “If we directly bring up the matter of establishing a crown prince with Your Majesty, Your Majesty will surely be displeased. In my opinion, it would be better to avoid this sensitive topic for now, and instead discuss the governing strategies of the Qin state. By citing classical texts and using examples of the rise and fall of ancient dynasties, we can subtly imply that Your Majesty should pay attention to the moral character and governing abilities of your successor. In this way, perhaps we can provoke Your Majesty's deep thought without offending the emperor.”
Chunyu Yue nodded slightly in agreement and said slowly, "Establishing a crown prince is a matter of great importance to the state. The Great Qin already harbors a lot of resentment towards us Confucian scholars. Therefore, it is probably not appropriate for us to bring this up directly. If we want to successfully promote this matter, it would be best to get more people on the same side and speak up together. This way, we will have a greater chance of success."
Upon hearing this, Shusun Tong nodded repeatedly in agreement, expressing his strong support for Chunyu Yue's viewpoint. He then asked, "In that case, in Brother Chunyu's opinion, who would be the most suitable person to bring up this topic first?"
After a moment's thought, Chunyu Yue replied, "In my opinion, General Meng Tian is an excellent candidate. He and Your Majesty have known each other since childhood and share a deep friendship. Moreover, as everyone knows, General Meng Tian has always been a sharp sword that Your Majesty has specially reserved for the future monarch. If he were to be the first to propose the appointment of a crown prince, the effect would surely be quite ideal."
After listening to Chunyu Yue's words, Shusun Tong nodded at first, but then frowned and said with concern, "That's true, but General Meng Tian is ultimately a military officer! He's never been good at expressing himself, and besides, he has no connection with us. If we rashly go to visit him and ask him to propose the matter of establishing an heir, it's very likely that those with ulterior motives will notice. If that happens, I'm afraid our situation will become even more difficult."
Upon hearing this, Chunyu Yue gave a soft "hmm," acknowledging Shusun Tong's concerns, and then continued, "Hmm, you've considered it very thoroughly. In that case, why don't we first go and sound out a few censors, try to get them to mention this matter, and thus test His Majesty's true attitude and thoughts on it."
Upon hearing Chunyu Yue's words, Shusun Tong nodded slightly in agreement. He replied, "Yes, this plan is excellent! I will go and contact the censors immediately." With that, Shusun Tong hurriedly left Chunyu Yue's study, his anxious demeanor suggesting that he was afraid of wasting even a moment.
After Shusun Tong left, Chunyu Yue remained alone in his study, pondering for a moment. Then, he picked up a brush from his desk, dipped it in ink, and began to write rapidly. In no time, several letters addressed to familiar officials were completed. Chunyu Yue carefully checked the contents of the letters, and after confirming they were correct, he meticulously stacked them neatly and then summoned his steward.
Upon hearing the commotion, the steward hurried into the study and respectfully took the stack of letters from Chunyu Yue. Chunyu Yue, with a grave expression, instructed, "These letters must be delivered to the respective officials' residences as soon as possible, without fail." The steward nodded repeatedly in agreement, then turned and left the study, summoning a quick-witted servant. He handed the letters to the servant, explaining in detail the address and recipient's name for each letter.