Longevity by Picking up Attributes in the Battlefield

Chapter 771  Chapter 315: Zhao Feng: If All of You Serve with Devotion, Even Longevity Is Not Impossible

Ying Zheng suddenly spoke.

As these words fell.

The Ministers at Court all looked at one another, at a loss; to be so highly valued by Ying Zheng, and moreover to have been a key Minister of Qin in the past—none of them could imagine who it might be.

After all, those who had withdrawn from Court had either retired home due to age, or had been dealt with like Wang Wan and the others.

”Zhong Fu.”

Ying Zheng called out loudly.

As these two words fell.

In the full Court, almost everyone was shocked and lost their composure, their gazes all turning toward the outside of the great hall.

Only Zhao Feng remained calm in expression; clearly he had long since known of this matter.

To be addressed as Zhong Fu by Ying Zheng.

To be held in such respect by Ying Zheng.

Under Heaven there were only two such men.

One was his father-in-law Xia Wuqie.

The other was precisely his Zhong Fu, Lv Buwei.

In those days, when Ying Zheng had just ascended the throne, the Court was encircled by powerful Ministers, the Clan held the power, Concubine Zhao controlled government affairs, and Lv Buwei was also the undisputed foremost Minister of Qin; yet he did not, because of his high rank and great power, show Ying Zheng any disrespect. On the contrary, he strove with all his strength to make Qin strong and did all he could to safeguard royal authority.

When Ying Zheng came of age to rule in person, he withdrew after his功成.

Only.

Outsiders did not know this.

In the eyes of the outside world.

Once Lv Buwei had been exiled from Xianyang back then, he had already been granted death.

In truth.

When Lv Buwei went far from Xianyang back then, it was also Ying Zheng protecting him; the later ”granting of death” was even more a form of protection.

For ever since Lv Buwei stepped down from the Chancellorʼs post, all the Various Countries had designs on him, wanting to use Lv Buwei to deal with Qin. Yet Lv Buwei had staked his entire Life on Qin—how could he betray it?

In order not to burden Ying Zheng, not to harm Qinʼs fundamental strength, Lv Buwei had harbored the will to die. It was only that Ying Zheng discovered this and, in the name of a Royal Edict, ”granted him death,” so that the Various Countries under Heaven finally gave up on using Lv Buwei to deal with Qin, until this very day.

Under the gazes of the Hundred Officials.

A figure with snow-white hair walked slowly into this Morning Discussion Hall.

Though aged, his whole being emanated an indescribable aura, the sort that made one not dare to look down on him at a single glance.

Even though he had been far from the Court for many years, this momentum of his, once it arrived, was such that no one dared belittle it.

”It truly is him.”

”The former Chancellor of Qin, Lv Buwei.”

”In those days, the greatest power-holder of Qin.”

”Was he not granted death by Royal Edict?”

”Who would have thought this power-holder was actually still alive...”

With Lv Buweiʼs appearance.

The entire Court was aghast.

All were struck by Lv Buwei.

After all, for the Great Qin Dynasty Court of those years, Lv Buwei was precisely an undisputed power-holder.

Even Wang Wan and Huai Zhuang, the power they had obtained was not even one-tenth of what Lv Buwei had once wielded; one could imagine how great was the authority Lv Buwei held in those days.

”The legendary power-holder Lv Buwei.”

”To think he is still alive.”

”My old man really did hide him deep enough. But thinking on it, my old man must truly be exhausted, urgently needing someone to share his burdens—otherwise he would never have invited Lv Buwei to come down from the mountain.”

Seeing Lv Buwei, Zhao Feng smiled inwardly.

Clearly, he understood the reason why Ying Zheng had invited Lv Buwei to re-emerge.

State affairs were myriad.

The state affairs generated by the implementation of national policy were even more myriad.

Zhao Feng was responsible for proposing the national policy; its concrete implementation lay with the Hundred Officials, with Qinʼs officials, but the handling and review of it all fell upon Ying Zheng.

Now Zhao Feng had already mastered the Way of leisure.

However.

With Lv Buweiʼs emergence, Ying Zheng would naturally be much relieved.

”Your old Minister Lv Buwei pays his respects to Your Majesty.”

Lv Buwei walked into the hall, face solemn, and bowed to Ying Zheng.

With this bow.

Lv Buweiʼs expression carried a kind of tumult of feelings.

Perhaps he himself had never thought that after so many years apart, he would still be able to return to Xianyang; never thought that in this twilight of his years he would be able once more to stand openly and upright upon this Court, and still less that upon setting foot here again, Qin had already unified the world.

This feeling left Lv Buwei with a sense as if a lifetime had passed.

From the corner of his eye, he looked at the civil and military officials filling the Court.

Most gazes held a look of awe.

The old Ministers of those days had almost all vanished; now all were Qinʼs new blood, Qinʼs new nobility.

If not for Zhao Feng.

Lv Buwei might still have been able to see men like Wang Wan; they, of course, knew Lv Buwei. In that era, Lv Buwei had been first among the Hundred Officials, even above the Grand Commandant.

Now.

All had already changed.

Of course.

If not for Zhao Feng.

Lv Buwei might never have come down from the mountain again, and would surely have been passed down in history as having been granted death by King Zheng of Qin.

”Zhong Fu.”

Ying Zheng gazed at the figure before him, and in his eyes also surged a look of remembrance.

Back when he had been a hostage in Zhao and returned to Qin.

Ying Zheng had always been at Lv Buweiʼs side, receiving his instruction. It could be said that Lv Buwei had the grace of a teacher toward him, and later, after he became King, if not for Lv Buweiʼs intervention, perhaps he would never have seen his Efang again.

”Your Majesty truly has not disappointed the late King.”

”The realm brought under one rule, the world unified.”

”I never thought this old Minister would still be able to see this day.” Lv Buwei straightened his body, smiling, his words filled with recognition of Ying Zheng.

Hearing this.

Ying Zheng was deeply moved within.

”For Zhong Fu to come down from the mountain.”

”I, am greatly pleased.”

Ying Zheng said with a smile.

Then.

He looked down over the civil and military officials and said loudly: ”My lords.”

”My Zhong Fu has returned this day.”

As this declaration fell.

The civil and military officials all, bearing looks of awe, bowed toward Lv Buwei: ”We pay our respects to the Marquis of Changxin.”

”I have met you, honored Ministers.”

Lv Buwei smiled faintly, joined his hands in salute, and returned the courtesy to the Ministers in the two ranks to left and right.

”The implementation of national policy.”

”The state affairs I must handle are intricate and numerous; today I summon the Marquis of Changxin back to the Capital precisely so that he may assist Me in dealing with these intricate state affairs.” Ying Zheng looked down over the Court, his tone leaving no room for doubt.