Chapter 551 Zhao Ji

Lu Buwei, prostrate on the ground, was drenched in sweat, while Ying Zheng, sitting upright, remained unmoved, revealing nothing of his true feelings.

Remembering Empress Dowager Huayang's reminder, Xiong Qi gritted his teeth and stepped forward first, loudly proclaiming, "Your Majesty, please assume personal rule!"

"Your Majesty, please assume personal rule!"

Someone took the lead, and the rest followed suit.

It was only at this moment that Lü Buwei finally understood that the King of Qin's personal rule was an inevitable trend, not a lifeline for him, but rather a deadly weakness.

He had considered himself shrewd for many years.

Thinking of this, Lü Buwei smiled sadly, kowtowed again, and said with a do-or-die attitude: "Your Majesty, I am willing to offer all my family property to congratulate you on your assumption of power."

Looking at the middle-aged man on the ground, whose spirits had completely collapsed, Ying Zheng, remembering the man's past assistance, said calmly, "Your Excellency is kind."

Lü Buwei breathed a sigh of relief and said in a deep voice, "I am grateful for Your Majesty's high regard. It is my duty to be loyal to Your Majesty."

The matter of the King of Qin assuming personal rule was thus settled. Chancellor Lü Buwei not only donated all his family property but also took charge of all the celebrations for the King's assumption of power. Anyone who saw this would not say that he was extremely loyal.

The spies from the other six states received the news and couldn't help but question their own existence. Lü Buwei was a loyal minister? Are you kidding me? What kind of show is this?

Regardless of what the six states thought, the King of Qin, who was about to assume power, showed no excitement whatsoever, and his attitude remained unchanged.

That day, he casually grabbed little Fusu from Lady Mi and carried him outside.

【Huh? Where are we going?】

Seeing that the road they were on was not the usual one, the little dumpling, who had been somewhat listless, suddenly perked up and looked around in Ying Zheng's arms.

Ying Zheng casually patted his head... then patted it again; it felt nice.

Don't flatten my round head!

Ying Zheng glanced down at it; it was indeed round and smooth. He then placed his palm on Fusu's head and coiled it around. "I'll take you to see your grandmother."

[Playing with walnuts... Wait, Grandmother, this isn't the way to Huayang Palace... Oh, I remember now, there's also Empress Dowager Zhao. Speaking of which, does she not like me very much? She's hardly ever seen me...]

He sounded pitiful, and Ying Zheng moved his lips, about to say something, when he heard his heart suddenly light up with joy.

It's okay! If she doesn't like me, it's her fault for being tasteless! I don't need one or two more people who like me!

Ying Zheng's hand lingered on Fusu's head for a while longer: "You're very good." At least your mindset is good.

"Ah—" Fusu exclaimed with a broad smile.

[Speaking the truth! Besides, think about it, why does Empress Dowager Zhao dislike me? It's definitely because she dislikes you, Father!]

"..." Ying Zheng reached out and covered Fusu's eyes, only letting go after making sure he had fallen asleep.

Sure enough, the kid looks better when he's asleep.

Inside Ganquan Palace, Zhao Ji unhappily fiddled with the string of beads in her hand.

"It's all over the palace. The King summoned all the ministers to see the eldest son. That boy is so favored by him, why didn't he say he'd bring him here for me to see? The King is indeed not close to me."

Lao Ai knelt on the cushion, approaching her intimately and soothingly holding Zhao Ji's hand: "If Your Highness wishes to see the eldest son, just have Lady Mi bring him here."

"Who wants to see him? I'm just not happy about it!"

With a creak, the palace doors suddenly swung open, and Ying Zheng's black cloak swept across the threshold, revealing a baby wrapped in a fox fur coat sleeping soundly in his arms.

Why is the Empress Dowager unhappy?

Lao Ai hurriedly let go, his knees slamming heavily onto the blue bricks, his forehead almost touching the ground, cold sweat trickling down his temples and into his collar: "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Zhao Ji's fingertips, gripping the hem of her skirt, turned white. The bronze mirror reflected her forced smile: "N-nothing. Why has Your Majesty come?"

Ying Zheng stepped forward slowly, his cold gaze lingering on Lao Ai for a moment before stopping three steps away from Zhao Ji. "I have brought Fusu to meet the Queen Mother."

Zhao Ji then noticed the sleeping child in Ying Zheng's arms. She smiled awkwardly and guiltily, and gave a perfunctory compliment: "Fusu is being raised very well."

Just then, the sleeping little dumpling uttered a soft murmur and slowly opened its eyes.

Ying Zheng couldn't quite explain his own feelings at that moment. He gently patted Fusu's back, and seeing that he was fully awake, he naturally introduced him: "Fusu, this is your grandmother."

Let me see—

Fusu blinked his big eyes at Zhao Ji, who was dressed in gorgeous clothes and looked as charming as a young girl. Finally, his gaze fell on the jewels and ornaments on her head.

Wow, a walking jewelry display stand!

Ying Zheng's gaze never left Zhao Ji. Seeing only embarrassment and helplessness on her face, he seemed to want to ease the tension and reached out to hug Fusu: "How about I hug you?"

Ying Zheng naturally dodged her hand, looked at the sleek armor on her hand that she hadn't removed, and said coldly, "No need, Mother, please rest. I'll be leaving now."

Zhao Ji followed his gaze and saw the armor on her hands. She couldn't help but smile awkwardly and lowered her hands unsure of what to do. "Your Majesty, please take care."

Zhao Ji could not hear Fusu's innermost thoughts.

Having confirmed this fact, Ying Zheng inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief, picked up Fusu, turned around, and left without hesitation.

Fusu, who was perched on his shoulder, noticed Lao Ai kneeling on the ground because of the sudden male voice saying "Respectfully seeing off the King."

【Huh? Who's that? Oh, Grandmother's male lover.】

Ying Zheng paused slightly, his brows furrowing. How did Fusu know about all this messy stuff?

Thinking he should still keep him by his side, Ying Zheng continued walking out, when he suddenly heard Zhao Ji scream.

"ah!"

【Huh? Oh? Is this right? Grandmother wants to give my father a younger brother or sister? Oh, and she's even trying to steal my father's throne? I didn't even get a chance to take it, so how could you possibly have a chance?】

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. The moment Ying Zheng heard Fusu's thoughts, he turned around abruptly and looked at Zhao Ji, who was sitting on the ground, staring at Fusu in horror.

"Demon..."

"Shut up!"

Ying Zheng covered Fusu's ears and gave Zhao Ji a cold warning.

Zhao Ji was frightened by Ying Zheng's cold gaze and dared not move for a long time. Then she heard him coldly order, "Summon the physician."

Lao Ai, kneeling on the ground, trembled, and Zhao Ji was terrified: "Your Majesty..."

When faced with Ying Zheng's all-knowing gaze, she couldn't bring herself to say anything to stop him.

She instinctively protected her lower abdomen, ignoring the golden eyes of Fusu she had just seen, her eyes filled with pleading: "Your Majesty, this is your brother..."

“My younger brother is Cheng Jiao.”

"Your Majesty..."

Zhao Ji confessed without being asked, looking at Ying Zheng with tears streaming down her face.

Ying Zheng closed his eyes briefly, his gaze falling on Lao Ai, who dared not raise his head. Zhao Ji panicked instantly, disregarding everything else, and stepped in front of Lao Ai, "Your Majesty..."

[Tsk, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you can't even say a kind word when begging, all you do is yell and scream, taking advantage of my mute father's filial piety. How despicable! Bullying my father, you really have no taste!]

Ying Zheng, who was initially feeling somewhat heavy-hearted because of Zhao Ji's actions, suddenly relaxed upon hearing Fu Su's thoughts. He drew warmth from the little dumpling in his arms, and when he looked up at Zhao Ji again, his eyes were indifferent.

"You should go, go to Yongcheng."

Zhao Ji breathed a sigh of relief, subconsciously thinking that Ying Zheng had let them go. She had just shown a smile when she heard Ying Zheng speak again: "Empress Dowager Zhao only has me as her child. You can choose to be Empress Dowager or Zhao Ji."

After saying this, Ying Zheng turned and left, carrying Fusu in his arms.

The closed palace doors took away the last ray of light, and Zhao Ji collapsed weakly to the ground, touching her lower abdomen, tears streaming down her face.

Ying Zheng is forcing her to her death. She can only save one: wealth and honor or the child in her womb...