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Skin as white as ice, naturally cool and sweat-free. Wind blows through the water palace, filling it with subtle fragrance. The embroidered curtain opens, a bright moon peeks at someone, who is not asleep, with her hairpins lying on the pillow, messy.
I stood up, holding hands, the courtyard was silent, and from time to time I could see sparse stars crossing the Milky Way.
The gauze curtains in the hall fluttered gently, and a bright moonlight shone from the window onto Qin Mu. He had his hair untied, and was lying on a jade mat with his head resting on Yang Zhi's legs.
On the rosewood flower stand next to it, a filigree and red stone incense burner was emitting ambergris and faint smoke.
"Ma'am, you've lost weight."
"Your Majesty, I am fine. My father..."
Seeing her mention this, Qin interrupted her and said, "I know that this incident has nothing to do with the father-in-law. I have no intention of blaming him, so don't worry. However, I really don't want to see the ministers take sides too early. The fall of the pre-Qin dynasty was actually due to the brothers fighting for the throne.
When I returned from hunting in Hetao, I offered sacrifices to Meng Tian. I was thinking at that time, if it weren't for the brothers' fight for the throne, if a general like Meng Tian had not been unjustly executed. With these battle-hardened generals and hundreds of thousands of powerful troops sweeping across the world, would the Pre-Qin Dynasty collapse easily
As soon as the ministers started to take sides, the people's hearts were scattered, and what was left was intrigue, exclusion of dissidents, and even the attempt to murder the emperor. The First Emperor suddenly died on his way back to Beijing from his eastern tour. There are many suspicious points, and it is not impossible that he was murdered by treacherous ministers. "
"Your Majesty!" Yang Zhi didn't know what to say for a moment. Qin Mu's words made her jade fingers tremble slightly.
Qin Mu grabbed her hands, covered them in his palms, and said in a gentle voice: "My lady, don't think too much. I have no other intentions. I just want to prevent it before it happens. At the same time, I don't want Ye'er and the others to be involved in this kind of fight at such a young age."
Qin Mu had appointed his eldest son Qin Ye as the crown prince early on, hoping to avoid such a secret struggle as much as possible, although he knew that it might not be avoided, but he did not expect someone to start it so quickly.
"Your Majesty, it's all my fault."
"You, what does this have to do with you?" Qin Mu held her thin cheek, feeling a little distressed. "Okay, my lady, let's not talk about this anymore. The moonlight is just right. Let's go for a walk in the Imperial Garden."
Qin Mu stood up, took Yang Zhi's hand and walked out of the palace. Momo and Ruoruo, who were waiting in the palace, hurriedly called out, "Your Majesty, Queen, please put on your robes first. The night wind in the Imperial Garden is a bit chilly."
Momo and Ruoruo each took a robe and came up to help Qin Mu and Yang Zhi put them on. Qin Mu said to them, "You don't have to follow me. The Queen and I will walk by ourselves."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The moonlight in the Imperial Garden was like water. Between the pavilions and towers, the clear pool was level, the willows were swaying in the beautiful night, and the palace lanterns on the gallery emitted a soft light. Qin Mu held Yang Zhi's hand and walked slowly, turning to the Nine-Curve Bridge. The night breeze blew over the pool. It was refreshing.
Summer insects are singing among the rockery pavilions, making the night seem even more peaceful and tranquil.
Yang Zhi felt the warmth from his palm. She suddenly felt more at ease. She brushed her hair and said softly, "Your Majesty..."
"Call me husband."
"Yeah!" Yang Zhi couldn't help but lean her head on his shoulder, and a deep sense of happiness filled her heart.
Qin Mu took her shoulder and said, "What do you want to say, madam?"
"My husband, you just said that the Qin Dynasty fell due to brothers fighting for the throne, which made me feel uneasy. My husband, I have an idea. Why not let the History Museum re-edit the "History of Qin" and record the events that led to the fall of the country due to brothers fighting for the throne, so that Ye'er and others can learn from it."
"Well, my lady, this is a good idea."
After receiving Qin Mu's affirmation, Yang Zhi revealed a gentle smile, and the bright moonlight sprinkled on her face, making it crystal clear.
"Besides, my husband inherited the legal system of the First Emperor. Compiling a history of Qin will make the thread of inheritance clearer, which will also be beneficial to my husband's governance of the world."
"Yes, yes, my lady, what you said has opened my eyes. I have always felt that something is missing. After you mentioned it, it is indeed the History of Qin. My lady really deserves to be my good wife. Your words really woke me up!"
Qin Mu was so happy that he kissed her on the forehead. "My dear husband!" Yang Zhi hugged his waist tightly with both hands, feeling the warmth between their hearts. A kind of indescribable warmth flowed between them.
The next day, Qin Mu ordered the National History Museum to collect historical materials, and summoned Fu Qingzhu, Liu Zongzhou, and Huang Daozhou to the Huagai Palace, asking them to be responsible for the compilation of "History of Qin".
Huang Daozhou bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, the editing of the History of Ming Dynasty is only halfway through. If we want to edit the History of Qin Dynasty, I'm afraid the History Museum will need more staff."
In this era, editing books was a very noble thing, especially revising history, writing the Spring and Autumn Annals with pen and ink, praising the good and punishing the evil. Every scholar regarded it as a sacred thing.
Since Huang Daozhou and Liu Zongzhou, two stubborn people, were asked to compile history, they have been working day and night and immersed in the vast historical materials. This has benefited Qin Mu, as his ears have been much quieter...
"As many people as you need, just draw up a list and ask the Ministry of Personnel for the people. I have only one request, whether it is the History of Ming or the History of Qin, it must be objective and fair, without too many personal opinions. Especially for the part about Qin Law, you must put aside the positions of Confucianism and Legalism and objectively analyze the pros and cons of Qin Law."
Huang Daozhou immediately said bluntly: "Your Majesty, Qin's laws are harsh and the people can't bear their fate. They are not what a sage monarch should uphold. When Liu Bang entered Guanzhong, he made three laws, but the people refused to follow them. This is the best example. Your Majesty wants us to objectively analyze Qin's laws, but I really don't know what your Majesty means."
Hey, it’s on top now, and it’s really smelly and hard.
Qin Mu said calmly: "Mr. Huang, since you are speaking so frankly, I will not be polite."
"Your Majesty, I will tell you everything I know. If Your Majesty points out that what I said is inappropriate, I will voluntarily accept the punishment."
"I have never punished people for their speech, and you ministers know this."
"Your Majesty is wise." Huang Daozhou did not object to this, so this was a sincere statement, but he was upright by nature and would never change his position just because of your wisdom. "Please enlighten me, Your Majesty."
Qin Mu looked serious and said solemnly: "For two thousand years, our great Chinese people have benefited from the Qin Law for generations. However, there are some people who eat with a bowl in their hands and curse their mothers when they put down the bowl. I would like to ask, if there were no Qin Law, would there be the Qin Emperor sweeping away the empire and unifying the world? If there was no unification, and China was still divided, what would the situation be? Although the Qin Law is relatively harsh, how can its contribution to our China be ignored? It is true that society needs to promote forgiveness and benevolence, but it cannot avoid sin, otherwise it is just deceiving oneself."
Huang Daozhou's old face was red and his expression was agitated. He really couldn't accept the emperor's description of him as "picking up the bowl to eat and putting the bowl down to curse your mother".
Qin Mu waved his hand and said, "Mr. Huang, don't get excited. I am discussing the matter objectively, not targeting Mr. Huang alone. I want you to look at Qin Law objectively. I want you to stand at a higher level and look at the problem from a 'guest' perspective. If you look at Qin Law from a Confucian perspective, it will inevitably be unfair.
Confucianism advocates benevolence, righteousness and morality, which is necessary, and the people should also be educated. However, education alone is far from enough. Didn’t the dynasties have laws? Confucianism guides the people’s morality to a higher level, and the law guards the bottom line of social order. The two are actually complementary and indispensable. "
How can I not be excited? You said that!
However, Huang Daozhou was a man who sought truth from facts, and Qin Mu's words were not groundless. Moreover, he himself admitted that Qin law was too harsh, and at the same time he recognized the merits of Confucian education. His attitude was relatively objective, which made Huang Daozhou feel much more comfortable.
Furthermore, what really excited him was not that the emperor said he picked up the bowl to eat and cursed his mother when he put it down, but that he was worried that Qin Mu would return to the cruel laws of the pre-Qin period. Now that he heard Qin Mu's tone that this was not the case, he felt relieved.
"If Your Majesty can really distinguish between the primary and the secondary, and advocate education as the main and criminal law as the auxiliary, it will be a great blessing for the world. Your Majesty can follow the right path, and when I compile the "History of Qin", I will also objectively analyze the Qin law. Please rest assured, Your Majesty."
Huang Daozhou's attitude, although he still put forward conditions, still surprised Qin Mu. He didn't expect that this stubborn old man would become so sincere.
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.(To be continued..)
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