She Holds the World After Being Reborn-Chapter 584 - 583: The True Meaning of Tripartite Confrontation
Most people were visibly infuriated, as they hardly knew anything about Qin Zhen. At most, they were aware she shared some blood relation with the Emperor. If it had been some insignificant position due to nepotism, that might have been acceptable, but to elevate her directly to the esteemed position of Prime Minister was a massive leap. It felt to the assembly as if they were being publicly fed a lump of excrement under the bright court lights.
"Your Majesty, if this humble subject may be so bold, may I inquire what virtues and capabilities Miss Qin Zhen possesses to sit in the position of Prime Minister!" a thin, elderly official could no longer hold back and stood up to speak.
"Well asked, Minister Li," Qin Wu nodded, her expression one of great approval, "Indeed, Qin Zhen is but a frail woman, what virtues and capabilities does she have to assume the position of Prime Minister upon her arrival? I know you all harbor many doubts, but Qin Zhen and I will address them one by one."
She scanned the crowd, her gaze became somewhat obscure as it landed on a few individuals, but she quickly masked her eyes again.
"As everyone knows, Qin Zhen was born to my cousin, who unfortunately faced a tragic event a while ago, leaving behind Qin Zhen as an orphan whom I have taken into the palace. All these are superficial, the real secret is..." Qin Wu’s voice was resonant and forceful.
Yan Wanqing, wearing the mask of Qin Zhen, stood below the stage listening to her spouting absolute nonsense with utmost seriousness.
No wonder everyone sneered at her along the way, so there was this blood relation between Qin Zhen and Qin Wu.
Just yesterday, she was curious why she was also surnamed Qin, and meant to ask later, but then she forgot.
Does this mean she has to call Qin Wu ’cousin’ from now on?
Hiss... that’s somewhat hard to say out loud.
Qin Wu roughly explained that Qin Zhen was not only well-versed in poetry and philosophy but had also provided many suggestions during her moments of concern for the nation; therefore, this was the reason she had thoughtfully granted her the position of Prime Minister.
"Just for these reasons, she qualifies to be the Prime Minister of a nation! Across the Six Kingdoms, there has been no nation where a woman has held the position of Prime Minister!" A solemn voice rose in the hall, causing Qin Wu’s eyelids to twitch, and a meaningful smile to spread across her lips.
Her elder brother had finally lost his patience.
Yes, the speaker was the former Crown Prince of the Qin State, the only son left from the battle for succession.
He was naturally dull-witted, thinking he could succeed to the throne by merely surviving, but had never expected that at the last moment, a fiercely ambitious sister would emerge, executing the treasonous princes and ascended as the Emperor herself, while granting him the title of Idle King, allowing him to remain in the Capital City.
Seeing Qin Ying speak up, Qin Wu could hardly suppress her amusement, "Could it be that my brother has forgotten, among the Six Kingdoms, I am the first Empress, and why should it be unacceptable for my Prime Minister to be a woman?"
Rebuffed, Qin Ying’s face fell. He was not clever by nature, and his every emotion was evident on his face, which was exactly why Qin Wu had spared his life.
"What His Majesty, the Idle King, said is not entirely without sense. Traditionally, the role of the Prime Minister is to lead the officials, a supreme position second only to one, a pinnacle unchallenged. Qin Zhen, but a young lady of twenty-eight, still green and without notable achievements or contributions, if she were to be appointed, I’m afraid the officials and the people might not accept it," Minister Li spoke up again.
Qin Wu, seeing that Minister Li had grown wiser and avoided using gender to block her argument, leaned back in the dragon throne, lightly touching the dragon’s head on the armrest, slowly coiling her hand around it, she said, "I would naturally not allow the inept to sit in the position of Prime Minister. Qin Zhen, you have heard enough, now prove to them."
Yan Wanqing, no, now it was Qin Zhen who was called out.
She had delicate features, big watery eyes clear in black and white, dressed in an ink-colored long robe, with a thin and frail frame that elicited an involuntary pity, she really did not seem the part of a Prime Minister.
Yet next, the timid young lady spoke a sentence that left everyone dumbstruck.
"This humble servant can resolve the urgent crises of Qin State, and henceforth fear neither Dawei nor Chu Kingdom’s threats!"
Her voice was not loud, yet it reverberated in everyone’s ears, deafening!
Qin Ying was the first to react, his chubby face filled with scorn as he looked at Qin Zhen as if watching a joke, "Braggart, when you were little, I, the King, have even held you. What skills could you possibly have that I don’t know about? Reading a few storybooks and thinking too highly of yourself, not fearing Dawei and Chu Kingdom’s threats, isn’t this utter nonsense."
As Qin Ying spoke, spittle flew. When he had finished, the looks directed at Qin Zhen also carried a hint of disdain.
Many could not hide their disappointment in Qin Wu.
This is the imperial court, not a place for children to play house.
Yan Hongzhao, who had been silent all this time, was getting anxious.
In her life, she hated most when someone argued with her older sister, and now she wished she could simply erase Qin Ying’s neck.
The most useless person in the entire Qin State was this Crown Prince, a drunkard and troublemaker, ranking first in creating chaos.
However, Qin Wu hadn’t spoken yet, and the older sister hadn’t shown any appreciation either, so she couldn’t step forward without raising suspicions from others.
Qin Zhen looked around at everyone and shrugged, "Your Highness, the Idle King, do not worry. Please give me a chance to finish speaking. If after I’ve spoken you still believe I’m talking nonsense, you are free to have the Emperor order me to be beaten out with sticks."
The Idle King laughed, "Alright, to make your death clear and understandable, go ahead, Qin Zhen. What capabilities do you have that could cause the Qin State to rise rapidly and establish a tripartite balance of power?"
Qin Zhen slowly paced forward in the great hall, taking two steps with his hands clasped behind his back, fully assuming a grandiose air.
Upon seeing this, Yan Hongzhao entirely set aside her worries; it seemed her older sister was about to play dumb and strike later. She decided to enjoy the show too.
Qin Zhen stood in the great hall with hands behind his back, "Currently, Dawei is militarily strong and thriving, undoubtedly the foremost superpower, while the Chu Kingdom’s forces are next in line. Recently, these two states have just battled, both reorganizing; Dawei has retreated from three cities, exposing Jinyang of our Qin State to the Chu Kingdom’s scrutiny. Right now, the two sides are watching each other like tigers, the Chu Kingdom worried the Qin State might reap the benefits of the fisherman, the Qin State equally concerned that either Dawei or the Chu Kingdom might launch an attack. This is the current situation of the Qin State, and it is also what the Emperor has been worried about. Does Qin Zhen’s explanation align correctly?"
She looked around, the courtiers were whispering among themselves, nodding frequently towards her.
To discern such a situation, she was clearly not just a naive little girl.
But Minister Li scoffed coldly, "Then tell us, how do you propose to resolve the Emperor’s current worries? Merely discussing the situation doesn’t solve the problem."
"Minister, please do not rush," Qin Zhen sighed reluctantly at his impatience, "The solution is coming up. Really, at such an age, you should take care of your heart with less haste."
Minister Li, "You..."
"When the world is in chaos, what defines chaos? Missing a country, a city, a village, that doesn’t count as chaos. It must be an upheaval that turns the world upside-down, where civilians are displaced, bodies are strewn everywhere, and rivers run with blood, isn’t that right?" Qin Zhen raised his voice, cutting off Minister Li, "So you’ve all overlooked a very important point, Zhao Kingdom and Song Kingdom!"
"Zhao and Song have long been looking to Dawei for leadership. Don’t spout nonsense here, your majesty, please have her removed quickly!" Minister Li immediately shouted.
As for someone who interrupted him, Qin Zhen did not conceal his eye-roll, "Minister Li’s words differ! Everyone in the world is driven by interests, Zhao and Song included. Moreover, when has Dawei ever accepted their surrender?! Since that has not happened, how can they not be considered independent states? You all overlooked one issue: Zhao and Song are distant from Dawei and Chu Kingdom, but to our Qin State, they are but an arm’s reach away. If our Qin State were to extend an invitation, how do you think the situation would change?"
The crowd was shocked, the noisy court instantly fell silent.
If Zhao and Song were to surrender to the Qin State, though small, the Zhao people are skilled in archery, and the Song people are adept at ferrying, naturally adding to our strengths.
"Here is the geographical map, please look," Aman called as the eunuch spread out a map of the world in front of everyone for a clearer view.
Minister Li was still stubborn, "Just with your sweet talk, Zhao and Song would be willing to surrender, is it? What if Dawei takes this as a reason to trouble our Qin State?"
Qin Zhen smiled, "If Dawei troubles the Qin State, would the Emperor of Chu, Chu Qi, just watch Dawei swallow up the Qin State and then strengthen itself to annex him?"
Feeling somewhat doubtful, Minister Li, under the Idle King’s cue, added, "What if the Chu Kingdom takes action first?"
This time Qin Zhen didn’t even want to speak; she just helplessly shook her head at Minister Li.
Minister Li’s face turned the color of liver.
At that moment, Qin Wu stood up.
"If the Chu Kingdom acts first, they are merely courting death. Regardless of who initiates, what follows will be a tri-nation brawl, a true chaos under heaven! No matter who emerges victorious in the end, they will be greatly weakened, so no one will take action lightly. This is the true essence of — a tripartite stand!"
