56 Chapter 56

◎ Queen Mother. ◎

Fusu offered to take Feng Yi to the glass workshop to see the progress of the telescope. Ying Zheng waved his hand and said, "Go ahead. Don't forget to come back for dinner."

Fusu and Feng Yi bowed and took their leave.

After leaving the palace, Fusu said to Feng Yi, "Mr. Feng, this isn't just about the telescope. If you need anything else, just let me know. My father is busy with government affairs and can't attend to many details, but he's always been respectful, kind, and tolerant. He's the most forgiving person."

Feng Yi, who was now immersed in boundless admiration for the King of Qin, smiled upon hearing this and said, "Your Majesty's grace has benefited the world, and I am deeply grateful."

Hearing this, Fusu's smile grew more sincere. "Does Feng Qing have a place to stay? Do you need to bring your family to Xianyang? Don't worry, I'll just send someone to do it."

Feng Yi answered honestly, "My parents are deceased, and I only have my wife and three children at home. If it would be convenient for you, please bring them all to Xianyang. To be honest, I have a small fortune, which would allow me to buy a house for my wife and children."

Fusu said generously, "Qin's acquisition of Feng Qing is like a long drought followed by a downpour of rain. You don't need to spend any money. I will help you build your household, and Feng Qing can just concentrate on his research on the telescope."

Feng Yi hurriedly said, "I have done nothing of any kind, and I cannot accept such a generous gift from you, sir."

"This wasn't given to you by me, but by my father," Fusu said with a smile. "Mr. Feng, your ability has been seen by your father. These are nothing. Once the telescope is completed, promotions and titles will be a piece of cake."

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a stone suddenly pressing on Feng Yi's heart. The king's appreciation was really a double-edged sword. Feng Yi, who had just been feeling that the King of Qin was really respectful to the wise and virtuous, now felt a little complicated.

However, although Feng Yi was just a commoner before today, his ability was not in governing the country or being an official. As for the skills of Mohism, he was very proud of them.

Therefore, despite the pressure, Feng Yi is not worried about his life like he was in Shu County.

Feng Yi said, "I dare not dream of being promoted to a higher position or given a noble title, but I have always loved to tinker with some unsophisticated and cunning tricks. If I can satisfy this wish and do something for the people, I will have no regrets."

There is no saying now that "all things are inferior except reading", but since ancient times, being able to read and write and seek official positions has always been a privilege for the superior. People like Feng Yi who are devoted to studying technical sciences are indeed considered to be outliers. After all, even the Mohist school itself is divided into schools.

Fusu affirmed, "Mr. Feng, if you love this way, no matter how you perform elsewhere, you will definitely be able to display your talents in Qin. As for working for the people of Qin, Mr. Feng, don't worry about it. You have seen the lives of the people of Qin. What my father is doing is to make the people of Qin the same as them."

Feng Yi was no fool. He knew that Fusu's words concealed Qin's ambitions, but... he was not naive. War was inevitable among the various states vying for supremacy. If the King of Qin could truly put an end to the fighting among the various states, it would truly be a great boon for the people.

Feng Yi bowed and said, "I will do my best."

…

After staying in the glass workshop for a while and settling Feng Yi, it was already sunset. Fusu then remembered that he had originally planned to leave the palace today.

It is impossible to leave the palace now, and Fusu will not be able to leave the palace again in a short period of time. He has to wait in the palace for the telescope to be ready.

Ying Zheng was happy about this. After all, although Han Fei was useful, he was still not happy that his son was so concerned about him.

He is clearly my son, but Han Fei took some of his property. What's going on?

Although he failed to leave the palace, Fusu temporarily broke off his father's order. He traveled between the academy and his own palace every day, paid attention to several matters at hand, and communicated with Han Fei. His life was quite fulfilling.

Feng Yi was still pondering the telescope, and Fusu often went to see him. Half a month later, he reported the good news to his father: "Feng Yi has already come up with an idea, but he still needs to try to make it happen."

Professional matters really need to be done by professionals.

Ying Zheng was looking at the summary of grain production in Shu County. Hearing this, he was even more delighted. He did not plan to send troops this time before the New Year. The time was too short, and any victory of the Qin army would only be a small victory. He planned to accumulate strength and wait until next year to win a big victory.

Taking advantage of the cool autumn weather, Fusu also began to study the cement that Li Ying had always been thinking about.

After all, judging by his father's plan, South Korea will be gone next year, and that would be the perfect time to start this major road construction project.

At this joyful moment, news came from Ganquan Palace that Queen Dowager Huayang was ill.

Fusu was stunned for a moment. He remembered that Queen Dowager Huayang died in the year when Han was destroyed, but Han was still doing well now!

Ying Zheng ordered his men to come, as he wanted to visit the patient at Ganquan Palace.

Fusu hurriedly said, "Father, I'm going too!"

Ying Zheng said, "When others are sick, you still come to them. Stay well. I will be back soon."

Fusu pulled his father's sleeve and said, "Father, the Queen Mother helped me last time, but now that she's sick, I'm avoiding her as much as possible. That's really outrageous, don't you think?"

Ying Zheng was unmoved: "Didn't you give... ice as a tribute to the Queen Mother? This is your commendable filial piety."

Fusu looked at his father eagerly and said, "Then I... I'm afraid that my father will be bullied. I want to accompany him."

The Queen Dowager Huayang was ill, and as a junior, Ying Zheng had to visit her. Zhao Ji was also a junior, and lived with the Queen Dowager Huayang in Ganquan Palace, so she would definitely go to take care of her. Fusu didn't want his father to face Zhao Ji alone.

Ying Zheng was stunned. He had indeed not seen Zhao Ji for many years, but it didn't mean that he would be affected by seeing her.

He was not the young man who had just ascended the throne and needed the assistance of the Queen Mother and the Prime Minister. He was also not the King of Qin who had just been crowned and was plotting a rebellion against by his biological mother and her adulterer for the sake of their illegitimate child.

But his son's filial piety did comfort Ying Zheng, and he was no longer so upset about the upcoming meeting with Zhao Ji.

Holding his eldest son's hand, Ying Zheng smiled and said, "Okay, you go too. Stand further away when you get there."

Fusu quickly agreed.

When the father and son arrived at Ganquan Palace, Zhao Ji was indeed serving Queen Dowager Huayang at her bedside.

After paying his respects to Queen Dowager Huayang, Ying Zheng turned to look at Zhao Ji and said in a flat tone, "Queen Dowager."

Fusu bowed and said, "Greetings to the Queen Mother."

Although Zhao Ji could not leave Ganquan Palace at all and had no freedom in the past few years, she was never short of money in the palace because of the share given to the empress dowager, so she was considered to have lived a life of luxury.

However, even the gorgeous clothes and gold, jade and jewelry could not hide Zhao Ji's aging. She was obviously much younger than the Queen Mother Huayang, but she looked like she was the same age as her.

Hearing the voices, she looked up at Ying Zheng grimly but said nothing.

The relationship between the King of Qin and his biological mother was not just cold and aloof, but clearly deep-seated hatred. The Queen Mother Huayang knew this very well. She did not want the situation to become too awkward, so she whispered to Zhao Ji to go back to her own place.

Zhao Ji bowed woodenly and withdrew. When she passed Fusu, she suddenly stopped and asked in a hoarse voice, "What's your name?"

Fusu didn't expect Zhao Ji to notice him. He was stunned for a moment, and before he could answer, he was pulled behind him by his father. Then, a cold voice ordered: "The Queen Mother is not feeling well. Send her back to the palace."

After Zhao Ji was helped out by the palace maids without any explanation, Fusu was still puzzled. For no reason, why was Zhao Ji curious about what he was doing?

Fusu looks more like his mother. When Zhao Ji looks at him, she doesn't think of her father when he was a child.

Moreover, in Fusu's opinion, Zhao Ji was able to do those things back then, so how could she have any mother-son affection for her father? Why would she miss her father when he was a child?

Fusu didn't know the reason, but Queen Dowager Huayang knew that after Zhao Ji's two illegitimate sons were executed, she went crazy for a while, and from time to time she yelled for Ying Zheng to return her children. Later, she gradually recovered.

Ying Zheng sneered. Zhao Ji had not seen any children in these years. Now that she saw Fusu, she probably remembered her two illegitimate children again.

How dare she, to reminisce about her bastard son in front of Fusu, after all these years of good life, did she really think I wouldn't do anything to her? Ying Zheng rolled up his sleeves indifferently.

Queen Dowager Huayang leaned on the pillow and sighed secretly. She didn't care whether the relationship between Prince Qin and his son was good or bad, life or death, but she didn't want Prince Qin to be unhappy because of her illness.

"I'm fine. Your Majesty is busy with government affairs and there's no need to come again." Queen Dowager Huayang said softly.

Ying Zheng happily said, "Queen Dowager, please rest assured and recuperate. If you have anything to say, just give me your instructions."

The grandfather and grandson exchanged a few polite words, and Ying Zheng took Fusu back.

Fusu was a little bothered by Zhao Ji's strange behavior. Although it was impossible for her to be a demon, but...

Fusu thought for a moment and said, "Father, I will go to the Queen Mother tomorrow to pay my respects on your behalf."

Ying Zheng frowned slightly: "The Queen Mother needs to rest and recuperate. Why are you here? Don't disturb the Queen Mother."

"But..." Fusu pointed to Zhao Ji's residence over there.

Ying Zheng finally understood his purpose and rubbed his eldest son's head. He said calmly, "No matter which queen mother it is, you don't have to take it to heart."

"Yes." Fusu nodded immediately, "Father, don't take it to heart."

Ying Zheng smiled lightly and said, "I never took it to heart."

Fusu pulled his father's arm and said in a childish voice, "Father, let's go back and have dinner. I'm so hungry."

The smile on Ying Zheng's face really became brighter. He tapped his eldest son's forehead and said, "Okay, hurry up. Don't let my eldest son starve."

Fusu thought that the incident of visiting the sick was over, but he didn't expect that Zhao Ji would go "crazy" that night. She made a big fuss in Ganquan Palace, causing chaos.

The next morning, Ying Zheng ordered people to move the Queen Dowager Huayang out of Ganquan Palace. The explanation given to the public was that the Queen Dowager Huayang fell ill because she missed the late King Xiaowen, so she was asked to live in the palace of the former An Guojun to recuperate.

At the same time, the Queen Mother of Ganquan Palace was also ill and needed rest, so Ying Zheng did not allow palace servants or eunuchs to approach Ganquan Palace at will, so as not to disturb the Queen Mother.