Chapter 37: Paving the Way for Reform

"Good heavens, Wei Yang couldn't possibly be interested in men, could he?"

Zhao Zheng shuddered, goosebumps erupting across his entire body. No, he had to get out of here. He quickly took his leave of Wei Yang and headed straight for Ying Qian’s residence. He needed to win over Ying Qian tonight to clear the path for handing over real power to Wei Yang the next day.

Zhao Zheng knocked on Ying Qian’s gate. When it opened, he raised an eyebrow in surprise; it wasn't a servant, but Ying Qian himself. Ying Qian froze upon seeing Zhao Zheng, then leaned against the doorframe with a mocking smirk, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Well, well, look who has graced us with his presence. If it isn't our busy-as-a-bee Left Shu-zhang?" He dragged out the syllables, "A rare guest, truly a rare guest!"

Zhao Zheng’s eye twitched. Ying Qian was clearly holding a grudge because he hadn't visited since arriving in Qin. It was true; two years had passed, and Zhao Zheng had never once stepped foot in Ying Qian’s home.

"Cough, Big Brother, I’ve been tied up with official business lately. Now that things have eased up, you’re the very first person I’ve come to visit," Zhao Zheng said with an apologetic cough.

"Hmph, you silver-tongued brat. Get in here," Ying Qian snorted, stepping aside to let him pass.

Although Ying Qian was the representative of the noble clans, his household lacked their typical extravagance. The residence was remarkably plain. In fact, there wasn't a single servant to be seen—and even Zhao Zheng kept servants.

"Big Brother, where are your servants?" Zhao Zheng asked curiously.

Ying Qian gestured toward the outside. "When there’s nothing to do at night, I let them go home or find work to make ends meet."

Zhao Zheng clicked his tongue in wonder. While others squeezed every drop of labor out of their servants, Ying Qian was different. This was nothing like the rebellious image of Ying Qian recorded in history!

"Out with it, kid. Say what you came here to say. Stop beating around the bush," Ying Qian said, pouring Zhao Zheng a cup of tea.

"Can’t I just come to visit my Big Brother without an ulterior motive?" Zhao Zheng asked, feigning dissatisfaction.

Ying Qian rolled his eyes. "You wouldn't come to the temple if you didn't have a prayer. You think I don't know you? Fine, speak up. Are we dealing with Gan Long or Du Zhi?"

Zhao Zheng laughed awkwardly. "Heh, you know me too well, Big Brother."

"The Lord intends to implement reforms, but Gan Long and the other nobles are the greatest obstacles."

Ying Qian frowned. "Reform? You don't mean that pretty boy, do you?" He was, of course, referring to Wei Yang.

Zhao Zheng nodded. "Exactly."

"Absolutely not!" Ying Qian rejected the idea immediately. He looked at Zhao Zheng and added, "If you were the one leading the reforms, I’d support you with both hands, but that pretty boy is out of the question!" For some reason, despite having only met him a few times, Ying Qian deeply distrusted Wei Yang, even harboring a hint of murderous intent—a feeling that came from deep within.

Zhao Zheng’s eye twitched. *If I led the reforms? Our friendship would be over before it started.* He knew the villainous role had to be played by Wei Yang. "Big Brother, his abilities are no less than mine. Please, just trust him once... for my sake. I stake my life on it: he will make the State of Qin stronger than it has ever been." Zhao Zheng looked at him with unwavering sincerity.

Ying Qian frowned, sighing as he looked at Zhao Zheng’s serious expression. "Fine. I’ve never done anyone a favor in my life, but you’re the first, you little rascal. Tell me, how do you need me to cooperate?"

Seeing that Ying Qian had agreed to the reform, Zhao Zheng got straight to the point. "The biggest difficulty right now is that the Lord lacks real power, and the old nobles don't take him seriously..."

"Are you asking me to hand over my military authority?" Ying Qian’s expression darkened; he wasn't a fool.

Zhao Zheng nodded.

"No!" Ying Qian shook his head immediately. "I can support everything else, but the military command is the one thing I cannot give up." *As if anyone would just hand over their army like that.*

Zhao Zheng had anticipated this resistance and grew even more solemn. "What if I were to give up my position as Left Shu-zhang to that pretty boy along with it?"

"What?" Ying Qian’s pupils constricted. He was truly stunned. "You... you’re really going to give him the position of Left Shu-zhang?"

"I am," Zhao Zheng confirmed.

Ying Qian stared at him for a long, silent moment before asking, "Is that pretty boy truly worth entrusting with this?"

"He is," Zhao Zheng nodded firmly.

Ying Qian paused, then said, "Very well. I am willing to relinquish my military command. But," his tone shifted, his gaze turning sharp and dangerous, "I have one condition."

"Name it, Big Brother," Zhao Zheng said, his heart tightening, though he agreed instantly. If Ying Qian would hand over the military, any condition was a small price to pay.

Ying Qian looked at him intently. "If that pretty boy ever harms the State of Qin, I reserve the right to execute him."

*Damn... here we go.* Zhao Zheng’s brow furrowed at the condition. He knew this all too well—in history, it was precisely this pretext that led to Ying Qian having Wei Yang torn apart by chariots. Was fate truly inescapable? Was this the "destiny" the old man Wang Xu had spoken of?

Zhao Zheng felt momentarily lost. He swallowed hard and nodded. "Big Brother, I agree to your condition." He knew that without this concession, Ying Qian would never surrender the army.

"Sigh... if you give up all that power, do you intend to leave the Qin court entirely?" Ying Qian asked. The position of Left Shu-zhang was, after all, second only to the ruler. To resign so easily?

Zhao Zheng blinked. "Who said I was leaving? It’s just that Wei Yang needs this status more than I do right now."

"Really?" Ying Qian was surprised.

Zhao Zheng nodded emphatically. "Really. The Xirong in Longxi are still waiting for me to deal with them. With no war in the east for now, the northwest must be stabilized."

Hearing this, Ying Qian spoke up quickly. "I’ve been itching for a fight. Zhao Zheng, make sure to bring me along next time you head out to deal with the Xirong."

"It’s a deal. With the two of us brothers on the field, we’ll make sure the Xirong never return." They nodded at each other, a shared smile passing between them, sealing the pact in wine.

Early the next morning, at the Yueyang Palace.

"Gentlemen, are there any matters to report?" Ying Quliang’s gaze swept across the court.

Wei Yang stepped forward, his voice clear and resonant. "My Lord, I have spent over a month observing the State of Qin. I believe that Qin’s poverty and weakness do not lie in its foundations, but in its methods of governance. If the governance is correct, Qin will soar to the heavens and reach the pinnacle among all the feudal lords."

As Wei Yang finished, Jing Jian stepped forward to echo his sentiments: "My Lord, I have spoken with Wei Yang at length, and I believe his words address the very dilemma Qin faces."

Du Zhi stepped out, sneering, "Hmph! The laws of governance are ancestral traditions. How dare you discuss changing them? My Lord, such scoundrels dare to debate the clan traditions and despise our ancestors. I suggest they be executed as a warning to others!"

The noble officials chimed in immediately: "Execute them! Let it be a warning!"

Gongsun Jia stepped forward, speaking in a low, firm voice to Ying Quliang: "Master Du certainly likes to throw around heavy accusations! My Lord, I suggest you hear Wei Yang’s proposals in full before making any decisions."

Gan Long frowned, his eyes locking onto Zhao Zheng, only to find him dozing off, looking as if none of this concerned him.

*Something is wrong. Very wrong.* Usually, Zhao Zheng would have already jumped out to start a fight.