inspire-indiana Chapter 13: Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin? That's a myth!
Chapter 13: Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin? That's a myth!
After waking up, Ying Wuyou was full of energy and high spirits. She was like a general preparing for battle, brimming with fighting spirit. She put on the little eunuch's outfit and stuffed most of the large pocket with stones. As for why she didn't fill it completely? One reason was that it would be too heavy if it was full, which would reduce her agility. Another reason was that it would be more difficult to take the stones out when it was full. So, after several experiments, Ying Wuyou found that filling the pocket most of the way with stones gave it the best weight and feel.
After getting dressed, Ying Wuyou headed towards Zhangtai Palace. This time, Ying Wuyou didn't bring Cui'er with him, but instead brought a young eunuch named Shunzi. Since Ying Wuyou was dressed as a eunuch, it wouldn't be appropriate to bring Cui'er along, so bringing a eunuch was very convenient. Along the way, he encountered many other eunuchs and maids, as well as a few classmates on their way to class. Ying Wuyou bowed and greeted them without being noticed. Ying Wuyou arrived at Zhangtai Palace smoothly. At this time, the King of Qin was still holding court. Ying Wuyou was led into a side hall by a young eunuch.
Ying Wuyou obediently stayed in the side hall for about an hour before being told he could go to the main hall of Zhangtai Palace. Ying Wuyou followed the young eunuch to the main hall. Looking at the even taller and more spacious hall, with its pillars that required three people to encircle, Ying Wuyou counted eight in total. [No wonder even Jing Ke, the greatest assassin in the world, couldn't catch the King of Qin while he was running around the pillars; these pillars are truly something special. I wonder what kind of wood they're made of? Judging by their thickness, they must be several hundred years old!] Ying Wuyou thought to himself.
The King of Qin didn't see Ying Wuyou, but he clearly heard her mutterings. He then heard the phrase "King Qin circled the pillar," and his lips twitched. Then he heard Ying Wuyou's research on the pillar's material and the tree's age. For a moment, he didn't know whether to marvel at his child's extensive knowledge of trees, or to admire her quick wit and sharp mind.
At this moment, a guard ran in and reported, "Your Majesty, the envoy from Yan requests an audience!" King Qin only said, "Let him in!" Then Zhao Gao stepped forward and shouted, "Please let the envoy from Yan have an audience!" Then a eunuch in the middle of the hall shouted, "Please let the envoy from Yan have an audience!" Then a eunuch at the hall entrance shouted, "Please let the envoy from Yan have an audience!" Then there was another shout from outside the hall, and so on, for a total of six shouts before stopping.
After a short while, the sound of their footsteps gradually rose. After passing through layers of checks, upon reaching the entrance of the main hall, they were forbidden to bring anything into the hall except for the map of Yan that they were to present. Jing Ke offered no resistance, nor did he express any dissatisfaction during the body search. Only after the search was completed did he enter the Zhangtai Hall with a Yan official. Jing Ke looked at the King of Qin seated high on the throne. His heart was filled with mixed emotions. He actually greatly admired the King of Qin's abilities, yet he also hated the King of Qin for launching wars to unify the six states, causing countless families to be torn apart and lives destroyed!
Jing Ke suppressed his murderous aura and walked towards the King of Qin step by step like an ordinary scholar.
Jing Ke stopped fifty paces from the King of Qin. He knew this was the traditional distance for audiences with the king; taking another step without orders would make him appear as an assassin. [At such a distance, he couldn't possibly kill the King of Qin.] At this moment, Jing Ke was surprisingly calm. [He knew the King of Qin would definitely order him to move forward. As for why he had this feeling? Jing Ke didn't know; the feeling was just very strong, and he was convinced the King of Qin would make him go further.]
At this moment, the King of Qin watched as the greatest swordsman in the world walked towards him step by step. He wanted to see what kind of person this was. After watching him walk fifty paces away, the King of Qin said, "Take another twenty paces."
Upon hearing this, Ying Wuyou secretly gripped the stone in his hand, preparing to act at any moment should the situation turn unfavorable.
Jing Ke was secretly delighted when he heard he could take another twenty steps forward. Within twenty steps, he was 90% confident of killing the King of Qin with a single blow; within thirty steps, he was 70% certain. Jing Ke took another twenty steps forward. Looking at the King of Qin, who was only thirty steps away, Jing Ke felt very confident. Thinking about how he would secure his reputation as the greatest swordsman in the world after his success, and imagining the countless admiring and grateful eyes of people at that time, Jing Ke's breathing became heavier.
King Qin had heard Ying Wuyou's thoughts and knew that Jing Ke was most likely there to assassinate him. However, since nothing was confirmed, King Qin couldn't be sure it would happen. But precautions were necessary, so when they reached a distance of thirty paces, King Qin didn't let Jing Ke go any further.
Jing Ke bowed to the King of Qin and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty. I am Jing Ke, and I have been ordered by the King of Yan to submit to Qin today. From this day forward, Yan will be a vassal state of Qin. To show our sincerity, I present you with a map of Yan for Your Majesty to review!"
King Qin was deeply moved by Jing Ke's words. He repeatedly said, "Good, good, good! King Yan is a good man. He took the initiative to submit, thus sparing the people of both countries from the suffering of war. If the other kings had the same magnanimity as King Yan, why would the world not prosper?"
Looking at the tall and imposing figure of the King of Qin, and hearing his words of compassion for the people, Jing Ke thought, "This man is truly hypocritical. Wasn't it your Qin that started this war?" Regardless of his inner disagreement, Jing Ke cheerfully said, "The King of Qin has the people in his heart, which is a blessing for the people. This is a map of the Yan state; please take a look, King of Qin."
As they spoke, Jing Ke and the Yan envoy who had accompanied him slowly unfurled a map of Yan, explaining the mountains, rivers, troop positions, granaries, and other landmarks. The King of Qin watched intently, and Jing Ke explained meticulously, unfolding the scroll step by step until the dagger was revealed. Jing Ke swiftly drew the dagger, ready to assassinate, when a stone came hurtling towards him. He dodged the stone, preparing for a second strike, when another stone came hurtling towards him. At this moment, the King of Qin reacted, quickly moving away from Jing Ke, grabbing his sword from behind his throne, and engaging Jing Ke in combat.
Just as Ying Wuyou was about to throw the third stone, she saw the two men fighting. Ying Wuyou was frantic. [Why is the King of Qin fighting Jing Ke? Jing Ke's martial arts are so high, what if the King of Qin can't win?]
When Ying Wuyou threw the stone, Zhao Gao also discovered Jing Ke's dagger. Zhao Gao was terrified and tried to grab something to throw as a shield, but he couldn't find anything. He then watched as the second stone flew over his head, and then he saw the King of Qin pick up his unsheathed sword and fight with Jing Ke.
Zhao Gao was quite surprised: "Does His Majesty know that Jing Ke is planning an assassination? Otherwise, why are the swords not in their sheaths today, and why are they hidden behind the throne instead of hanging at His Majesty's waist? His Majesty is indeed unfathomable; it seems there are spies from the Qin King among the six states." Zhao Gao became even more wary of the Qin King.
Before long, King Qin and Jing Ke were evenly matched in their fighting. Ying Wuyou was also surprised by Qin Shi Huang's fighting prowess. Ying Wuyou kept a close eye on the two, and when Jing Ke turned his back, he threw a stone. While Jing Ke was fully focused on fighting King Qin, he was constantly being ambushed by stones. Several times he was unable to dodge and was hit a few times. The stones didn't hurt much when they hit his body, but the eunuchs who threw the stones always aimed for his head, so Jing Ke dared not let his guard down.
King Qin and Jing Ke made several more rounds in the blink of an eye before the guards outside the palace realized something was wrong and came to the rescue. The guards were all very skilled, and several of them worked together to capture Jing Ke alive in no time.