Chapter 23 The Nation's Spiritual Protection, the Celestial Bird of Destiny 23

King Zhao frowned, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with what Zhao Gan said.

Seeing this, Zhao Gan pressed on, claiming he was acting in the best interests of Zhao and had no selfish motives: "With the new king on the throne and Prince Zichu already the crown prince, sending Zhao Ji and her son back would bring many benefits, for the sake of Zhao..."

"This can ease tensions between the two countries."

"The two are vying for the position of Crown Prince's consort."

"Currently, Prince Zheng of Zhao holds the position of the eldest son of the crown prince, which is an advantage for him. If the Crown Prince's wife of Qin were from Zhao, it would increase Zhao's influence in Qin."

It must be said that King Zhao was tempted by this, but he still expressed his doubts: "Just because Prince Zheng is the eldest son, will the Crown Prince of Qin definitely make Zhao Ji his principal wife?"

Their influence in Qin was nowhere near that of Lady Huayang. Lady Huayang could influence the selection of the crown prince and the position of the principal wife... King Zhao still felt that Lady Huayang's people were more likely to take the position.

and……

"I have heard that Prince Zichu had a son immediately after returning to his country, and now his concubines are from both Han and Chu." How could he not know what Zhao Gan was saying? He even knew more.

For example, after Zichu returned to his country, he caused his concubine Han Ji to become pregnant with his second son, Chengjiao. Because of this news, King Zhao was very suspicious of whether Zichu valued Zhao Ji and her son.

Zhao Gan smiled confidently and said, following Wang Yuan's instructions, "Of course, it's not just these things. Sometimes, whether you like something or not isn't the most important thing. What matters most is whether it aligns with your own interests and has value."

“I understand, please continue.” King Zhao frowned slightly, but then he remembered that their Zhao state had never supported Zichu, so how could they have any common interests?

"I will analyze this for you in detail..."

"The power structure of various states within Xianyang is complex, and since the time of Empress Dowager Xuan, the power of Chu within Qin has been constantly expanding. The current Queen of Qin, Lady Huayang, is also a noblewoman from Chu."

"The Crown Prince's birth mother, Lady Xia, was a Han woman, and his second son, Chengjiao's birth mother, Lady Han, was also a Han woman, making the relationship between the two sides even more delicate."

"Your Majesty, although Lady Huayang has adopted Prince Zichu as her heir, Zichu's birth mother, Lady Xia, is still alive. Would Lady Huayang allow Lady Han to become her principal wife?"

King Zhao nodded: "Prince Zichu is neither the eldest son nor born to the Queen, so he has no advantage in terms of status. He became the Crown Prince entirely because of Lady Huayang's status as her adopted son. He doesn't dare to openly oppose Lady Huayang now. Han Ji certainly has no chance of becoming the principal wife, but Prince Zichu's concubines also include Lady Huayang's people."

Zhao Gan shook his head: "Young Master Zichu has already retreated again and again. Starting with changing his name to Zichu, it was a compromise with Lady Huayang. But now he can't retreat any further."

"What bottom line is there if we back down any further? Besides, the matter of who should be the first wife is both sensitive and not sensitive. After all, it is not a major event that will immediately affect the overall situation, but it does have a subtle importance."

"As for the Crown Prince, is he really willing to always listen to Lady Huayang? In the future... wouldn't he want to hold real power? Whether he chooses Han Ji or Lady Huayang, it will disrupt the existing balance. Introducing a third party is his only option at this time."

“Even if the Crown Prince has a bias towards one side, Lü Buwei will remind him that, for the sake of balance, Zhao Ji is the best choice and the only correct answer.”

“Zhao Ji’s advantage is not only that her son Zheng is the eldest son, but also that she is the easiest of the three to control, since she is not a member of the royal family. As a non-royal person, she can not threaten Lady Huayang’s status or power. Lady Huayang will probably not push too hard. If we all compromise, whatever our reasons, if you take this step and send Zhao Ji back to Qin, then the position of the Crown Prince’s wife will definitely belong to us, Zhao Ji.”

As Zhao Gan spoke, he almost began to believe it himself. His eyes grew more and more determined, and he looked at King Zhao with sincere eyes, like a loyal minister eager to share the burdens of the country.

"Excellent!" The more King Zhao listened, the more he felt that Zhao Gan's words made sense. After Zhao Gan's analysis, he also felt that the position of the Crown Prince's wife was already in his grasp, and the future Queen of Qin would also come from their Zhao state. He instructed, "You will be in charge of this matter. You must send someone to safely send Zhao Ji and her child back to Qin."

"By the way, before you send them away, please deliver some gifts on my behalf to appease them." King Zhao hinted to Zhao Gan with his eyes that there were some things that were not suitable for him to do personally, and it would be most appropriate for his subject to do them.

"Yes, Your Majesty is wise, I will certainly handle it well." Zhao Gan replied with a smile, his hand reaching into his sleeve to feel the money pouch he always carried, his smile becoming even more sincere.

Zhao looked at the emperor and his minister with that kind of gaze, clicked her tongue, and didn't want to say anything more. She wanted to see what kind of crazy things this emperor and his minister could do.

****

Once outside the palace, Zhao Gan couldn't wait to secretly summon Wang Yuan, wanting to ask why...

That's obviously to settle the final payment!

As for the consequences of his advice to the King of Zhao, he didn't care; as long as he got the money, that was enough.

Moreover, he himself felt that Wang Yuan's words were not just made up, but rather quite reasonable; otherwise, he would not have readily agreed.

Even when you're spreading rumors, you need to be discerning about what you're going to say. If it's too difficult... then you'll have to pay extra!

****

Wang Yuan and the others received a message from Zhao Gan after only a few days. Because Zhao Gan had given so much, he simply included Wang Yuan in the escort team.

Wang Yuan temporarily took on the role of coachman. Having traveled back and forth between various countries for many years to serve King Zhaoxiang, he was quite versatile, and driving a carriage was naturally no problem for him.

After thinking for a moment, he ordered his men to disperse in Handan, gather information, and return to Qin on their own. He then went with Zhao Gan to the Zhao family's residence.

When Wang Yuan and Zhao Gan arrived, Zhao Ji's father was holding her hand, expressing his reluctance to part with her.

Although Zhao Ji also showed signs of sadness, as two shrewd people, they could easily see the coldness in Zhao Ji's eyes.

Zhao Gan's eyes darted around, and he coughed, "His Majesty has ordered me to escort Lady Zhao back to her country. Please, Lady Zhao, come with me."

Zhao Ji's father, somewhat embarrassed and speechless, released his grip on Zhao Ji's hand. Zhao Ji turned and, with Ying Zheng in her arms, walked towards Zhao Gan and Wang Yuan, who were standing there, though her eyes remained extremely wary.

Although Zhao Gan accepted Wang Yuan's money, he was still entrusted with a mission by King Zhao and had to honestly do his job for King Zhao.

He glanced at Wang Yuan beside him, who said with a slightly firm tone, "I must guarantee the safety of the lady and the young master."

"But please feel free to say what you want to say, I won't stop you."

Zhao Gan looked at Wang Yuan intently for a while. One of them represented the King of Zhao, and the other represented the King of Qin. They would not easily break off relations. Zhao Gan smiled and said, "Since that's the case, then I'll speak frankly. Anyway, it was you who enlightened me, sir."

Hearing this, Zhao, who had come over with him, could only helplessly retort: ​​"Oh right, right, right, all the credit is yours, and if there's a mistake, it's because someone cheated on you. You take all the credit without missing a single bit, but you don't get a single thing to blame for the mistakes."

Zhao glanced at Zhao Gan with disdain. How could there be such a shameless child among her children?

Zhao Gan, of course, was unaware that he had been rejected by his motherland. He waved to his men to help Zhao Ji's maids carry her luggage, and then, seeing Zhao Ji's father reluctantly leaving, he spoke softly: "Madam is returning to the country to become the Crown Prince's principal wife. I would like to offer my congratulations to Madam."

Zhao Ji suddenly looked up at Zhao Gan, her voice trembling, "Really? It was...it was him who sent someone to pick me up, and he said that?"

Zhao retorted, "It's fake. Qin said that Ying Ji hired Ying Zhu before he died to pay for your pick-up. Your 'benefactor' is at most Qin."

Zhao commented, "Ying Zhu is still not shameless enough. If he were to be as shameless as Ying Ji, he should have handed this matter over to Ying Zichu and let Lü Buwei pay for it. After all, he has already invested so much, so one more time won't make a difference."

Ying Zheng: ...

Ying Zheng listened as the people around him criticized and subtly mocked his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was so adept at pretending the people didn't exist that these complaints, which only he could hear, didn't change his expression. As for what they were really thinking, only he knew.

Zhao Gan shook his head and denied Zhao Ji's guess. He knew that in order to achieve the King of Zhao's goal, he had to first make the couple estranged, or at least create a rift between them.

In short, the person Zhao Ji trusted and loved the most could not be Prince Zichu.

He ruthlessly exposed the truth: "The Crown Prince of Qin returned to the country when Prince Zheng was two years old. After returning, he had a second son, Chengjiao, who is now only three years younger than Prince Zheng."

Zhao Ji seemed to have been struck by a blow, her eyes widening slightly. She murmured, "How could this be... He really likes Zheng'er, he..."

Zhao said bluntly, "What does his liking for Zheng'er have to do with you? Wake up, Wu'er!"

Zhao Gan: "But that doesn't stop him from having other children."

Zhao Ji's chest heaved rapidly as she questioned, "Then why did you congratulate me?"

“Feelings and interests have nothing to do with each other, so please rest assured that you will be the principal wife,” Zhao Gan said with a smile, each word piercing Zhao Ji’s heart. “Even if it’s just to use you to balance the power around you, you will definitely be the principal wife. The young master is older and has value, and he will definitely be the crown prince in the future…”

Zhao had completely let loose: "He's right. What's so great about love? The real thing is the rightful wife and the future position of empress and crown prince."

"If I become the Queen Mother in the future, I can keep male favorites as I please."

"Don't look like you've suffered a broken heart, it breaks my heart." 'Zhao' was a head taller than Zhao Ji, and he gently stroked the top of Zhao Ji's head, his tone tender, showing a rare display of maternal love.

Unfortunately, the person being comforted couldn't see her, and those who saw her wouldn't tell Zhao Ji about it; Zhao Ji's expression remained unpredictable.

"No matter how it went, you still won, didn't you?"

Zhao Gan smiled kindly, but his eyes were calculating. He took two steps closer and lowered his voice: "You can rest assured, you are a Zhao person, you have a motherland, what does it matter whether you have feelings for the Crown Prince of Qin or not."

Zhao Ji: "..."

Zhao's words seemed to leave much unsaid, as if they were both an implication and a simple sigh.

"But he was right about one thing: you still have me, so what are you afraid of?" Zhao stood between Zhao Ji and Ying Zheng with a grin, casually putting his arms around one of them on each side, his posture perfectly natural.

Ying Zheng remained silent, wanting Zhao to remove the sheathless bronze sword he was wearing before saying anything.

Zhao Gan felt a gaze coming from the side. He looked down and saw a child of about ten years old. This must be Prince Zheng.

He subconsciously gave a friendly smile and, out of politeness, praised Ying Zheng a couple of times.

However, for some reason, he always felt uneasy under the young master's gaze.

Forget it, I'll just ignore it.

Zhao Gan raised his hand and smiled, "Please, Madam, and your son, get into the carriage."

****

Although Qin and Zhao were neighboring states, the journey from Handan to the Qin-Zhao border and then to Xianyang was quite long.

At this time, the carriage had no walls. Although King Zhao provided them with horses and drivers to pull the carriage, and there was a canopy on top so that the people inside could not be exposed to the sun, it was still drafty from all sides.

Throughout the journey, Zhao Ji was always protective of Ying Zheng, fearing that the child might catch a cold from the wind.

Of course, the long distance isn't without its advantages; some people feel that the long distance suits their needs perfectly.

While acting as a coachman, Wang Yuan also struck up a conversation with Zhao Ji and Ying Zheng. At this point, he was quite honest and directly revealed his identity.

However, he still told a small lie. He said, "Young master, my name is Wang Yuan. I am the man left to you by the late king. You can ask me anything or do anything in the future. I am quite good at finding information."

Ying Ji certainly didn't say that before he died, but that didn't stop him from finding a new patron. Based on what he knew so far, the young prince was undoubtedly the best person to rely on. If they developed a relationship at this time, even if he made some small mistakes in the future, he wouldn't have to worry about being punished.

“This trip back to China might be a little dangerous, but not much. Someone will come to pick us up when we reach the border,” Wang Yuan said in a low voice, almost in a whisper. “That Zhao Gan is a greedy scoundrel and nothing to fear. Just listen to what he said before, Madam. Whether you believe it or not is up to you. But even if you do believe it, it’s best not to show it.”

Wang Yuan subtly hinted to Zhao Ji that he did not deny the harsh words Zhao Gan had said; in fact, he quite agreed with them to some extent. He argued that there was no such thing as family affection or love in the royal family; power was the most important thing.

I hope the mother I chose for my young master won't hold me back.

Zhao Ji frowned slightly: "I know all this, I just..."

Wang Yuan guessed what Zhao Ji was thinking and shook his head slightly to stop her: "Madam, there is no need to say more. This humble subject already understands."

"Madam has never traveled far from home, has she? The weather is lovely today. Although the flowers, plants, and trees on both sides of the road are a bit messy, they still have a rustic charm."

"Mr. Wang, thank you for driving for my son and me, and for pointing out the scenery along the way."

Wang Yuan and Zhao Ji were talking, and Zhao Ji was also persistently trying to talk to Ying Zheng. However, the little brat was very cautious, and even though several days had passed and they were almost at the Qin-Zhao border, he still didn't pay any attention to her.

She was bored following behind the group, and every now and then she would take out her sword to cut the weeds by the roadside, but the sword would pass through the weeds without harming them.

When the procession moved on, she sat back in the carriage. However, unlike normal people who sit in the carriage seat with the driver in front, 'Zhao' took an unconventional route and sat on top of the carriage that Zhao Ji and the others were riding in.

Therefore, as Ying Zheng sat in the carriage, he could occasionally see a patch of dark green gauze fluttering past in front of him. That was the color of Zhao's skirt. Compared to the dull green of her dark robe, her skirt was a slightly lighter green, lightly obscuring one's vision.

****

"Have we reached the Qin territory yet?" Although several days had passed since their departure and they were about to reach the Qin-Zhao border, Zhao Ji still felt uneasy. She raised her hand to her chest and secretly glanced at the solemn-looking soldiers around her.

The carriage they were riding in was provided by the King of Zhao. Now the carriage had no walls, and Zhao Ji could easily see the throngs of people around her. The soldiers escorting them were all Zhao people, except for Wang Yuan, who was driving the carriage for them.

Although Zhao Ji learned from Wang Yuan during their journey that the King of Zhao had sent her and her son back to Qin in order to ease tensions with Qin, she was not at ease. As long as they did not enter Qin territory, they would still be in danger.

No, even if she returned to Qin, she and her son might not be safe. Some people would find them an eyesore... Thinking this, she glanced worriedly at her son sitting beside her.

Compared to Zhao Ji's deep worry, Ying Zheng, though only nine years old, had already been taught by Ying Ji to be as calm as an adult. He sat in the carriage and even had the mood to appreciate the surrounding scenery, as if he was not worried about the current situation. He only gently comforted Zhao Ji when she showed worry: "Mother, there is no need to worry. If they wanted to make a move, they would have done it long ago. Why wait until now?"

The identities of those "they" were obvious. Zhao Ji forced a smile, pulled her son into her arms, and whispered, "Mother knows, but... I feel uneasy today, as if something is about to happen."

Ying Zheng raised his hand and patted Zhao Ji's back reassuringly, offering silent comfort. He then whispered, "We can already vaguely see the people coming to pick us up ahead. We'll be safe soon."

While comforting Zhao Ji, he also secretly glanced back. Zhao's figure appeared and disappeared, but every time he secretly looked back to search for her, he could always see her.

Ying Zheng was not moved at all. The other party swung the sharp sword in his hand countless times, each time aiming at the pile of weeds, but Ying Zheng had no doubt that if 'Zhao' wanted to turn against him, the next time he would be facing the sword's edge, it would be his own neck.

The two people, one from a different country, inadvertently met each other's gazes. Zhu Qing'ai, disguised as a member of the Zhao state, smiled in Ying Zheng's direction, a smile full of meaning. She always found it amusing to tease the young Ying Zheng with the Zhao disguise.

She could sense Ying Zheng's apprehension towards her to some extent, so she decided to give Ying Zheng a stimulating experience, ensuring that he would never forget her (Zhao) for the rest of his life.

According to the script she wrote, her other alias, 'Qin,' should also make her appearance soon.

This border between Qin and Zhao was the stage she had chosen for her grand opening.

****

The huge wooden wheels on both sides of the carriage carrying Zhao Ji and Ying Zheng rolled forward. The road was not smooth, and even sitting in the carriage was not very comfortable.

But when Zhao Ji saw the figures ahead, she subconsciously ignored the discomfort of traveling for many days. She instinctively gripped Ying Zheng's hand, took a deep breath, and adopted the demeanor of a future crown prince's wife.

At this moment, there was no sign of worry on her face; one could only glimpse her calm and dignified temperament from her beautiful appearance.

When they could see each other, the soldiers who had escorted them to the Qin-Zhao border stopped. Those soldiers were from Zhao and could not cross the border to Qin. Only their carriage continued to travel towards Qin territory.

Both sides were on guard against each other. Ying Zheng could feel the gaze from behind and saw a person coming out from the opposite side and walking towards their carriage.

However, his attention was not on Lü Buwei, who had come to pick them up. He saw his motherland standing by the roadside, nodding at him with a smile in her eyes, and then looking towards the direction of Zhao.

Ying Zheng didn't need to turn around to know that his motherland was watching the 'Zhao' that had been following behind him.

Today, the motherland is dressed in heavy black clothes, her smooth black hair tied back. Her attire is somewhat casual and everyday. Apart from the pattern that looks like it is embroidered with gold thread on the lapel, there is nothing else eye-catching about her clothes. But how could anyone who sees her not notice her noble temperament?

She was standing in the middle of a gap left by the forces of Qin and Zhao, so that he could pass right in front of her when he rode his carriage past.

Apart from him, no one else from either side saw her; they didn't react at all to the 'person' appearing by the roadside.

****

Because it's not yet spring, the weather is very cold, and the cool breeze feels like a sharp blade on your face; you can see a white mist forming when you breathe on it.

But Zhu Qing'ai, as a data entity, had no such worries. She could not feel the chill before all things were revived, so she naturally could not generate heat. Even when she stood in the cold wind, her sleeves would not be blown up, just like a mannequin that could not breathe.

As they got closer, Ying Zheng clearly noticed this as well, but his expression remained unchanged.

From the moment he first saw her, Ying Zheng felt an instant closeness to her, a feeling of being connected by blood despite never having met before, and an almost uncontrollable affection for her. With each subsequent meeting, this feeling grew stronger.

Moreover, he was grateful for everything his motherland had done for him and had no intention of suppressing such feelings.

Meanwhile, Zhu Qing'ai was also monitoring Ying Zheng's favorability towards her in real time. Seeing the value soar to the top, she couldn't help but sigh. It was indeed the halo that she herself had blended and adjusted. Although it was a bit flawed compared to the standard "everyone loves me" halo, she would call it the best painless motherhood halo.

The results were excellent, and it certainly lived up to her initial investment.

Long before King Zhao decided to send Ying Zheng back to his country, Zhu Qing'ai had already planned to give the young Ying Zheng a grand spectacle.

Of course, we should still adhere to the principle of saving money wherever possible, since she is not a wealthy person in essence.

The outfit she's wearing is a product of data; she's not so extravagant as to use a physical form right now. The alias 'Zhao' not far away is a free projection of her clone. Controlling two aliases by herself is quite easy for her now.

The audience surrounding them was generously provided by Lü Buwei and the King of Zhao. She decided to use half of the 'grand spectacle' and half of the rainmaking using blowers, so overall, she didn't incur a large expense.

As the carriage carrying the two men was halfway through its journey, about to enter the Qin territory but not yet, a fierce wind, like the roar of thunder, swept towards Ying Zheng's carriage from the direction of Zhao. This was not something an ordinary person could create.

The dust and debris piled up on the ground were swirled up, and the leader of the Zhao army saw the black tornado rushing towards them, whipping up flying sand and stones, and instinctively shouted, "Take shelter from the wind! Take shelter from the wind!"

Zhao Gan was completely terrified, but a soldier nearby reacted quickly and tackled him to the ground to protect him.

But the wind didn't stir up any dust when it passed by them, as if it deliberately bypassed them.

They were also confused. They had only been ordered by the king to escort the Qin prince back to his country. Although the two countries had a great feud, the leading general had been repeatedly instructed by the King of Zhao before setting off to ensure that the Qin prince would arrive in Qin safely.

Zhao Gan also emphasized that they must take good care of the safety of Prince Ying Zheng of Qin and not let anything happen to him, at least not within their Zhao territory.

Zhao felt his heart pounding in his chest, looked at the messy ground where they had stood, recalled the king's words, and couldn't help but laugh. This wasn't something they had done; even Heaven couldn't stand it. The Qin people deserved to die!

However, his joy was short-lived, as the gale suddenly stopped, not by disappearing, but by being blocked at the boundary line by something.

"How is this possible?!" The eyes of the Zhao generals and soldiers were practically bulging out of their sockets. They had just seen the Qin prince about to be punished by heaven, so how could it have suddenly stopped?

****

When Lü Buwei saw the raging wind, he was also terrified. However, despite his shock, he remembered Zhao Ji and her child, who were about to be exposed to the wind in their carriage. He reacted quickly and ordered the shield guards to go and protect them.

Even if it costs him his life, he cannot let the young master die before his eyes.

He closed his eyes, unable to bear to look. He remembered the promise he had made to the king and to Zichu before his departure, and he felt ashamed of failing it…

"Lord Lü, look!"

Lu Buwei heard his adjutant's voice in his ear, and his subordinates disregarded etiquette, reaching out to forcefully tug at his sleeve.

"Madam and young master are alright! Look!"

Lu Buwei suddenly opened his eyes and saw a scene he would never forget in his life.

The surrounding flowers, plants, and trees were bent over by the fierce wind, but the carriage, which looked incredibly small against the backdrop of the gale, still moved slowly forward. Even the horses pulling the carriage were not startled. Behind the carriage, the whirlwind was stationary, like a gathering of dark clouds.

Lü Buwei could even faintly hear the exclamations from the Zhao people, but given the distance between them, it was more likely that the sounds were imagined.

The only ones startled were the coachman Wang Yuan and Zhao Ji, who was gripping the edge of the carriage tightly and whose face was pale.

Lü Buwei: "..."

He stood there stunned for a moment, then finally forced a stiff smile and burst into loud laughter: "God bless Great Qin! God bless my Great Qin!"

"Go quickly to greet them... no, come with me to greet the lady and the young master!"

**

To outsiders, this was just an "ordinary" blessing from heaven, but to Ying Zheng, he could see the thrilling games that ordinary people could not see.

As soon as the gale began, he saw Zhao, who was near Zhao Jun, raise his sword and point it toward Qin. As expected, the wind rushed toward them as if it had eyes.

Ying Zheng's first thought was not to worry about himself, but to look towards his motherland who had come to receive him.

It wasn't that he wasn't afraid of death, but rather that he subconsciously felt she would have a solution.

As Ying Zheng had predicted, 'Qin' calmly pulled out a scroll made of bamboo slips from his left sleeve.

With a wave of her hand, the scroll unfurled, its pages gleaming with golden light. She spoke, her voice resounding like a bell, echoing throughout the land: "The *Guanzi* states in its chapter on governance: 'Orders must be obeyed…'"

The scroll instantly disintegrated, and the scattered bamboo slips became enormous phantoms. Ying Zheng looked back and saw these bamboo slips standing between the gale and the chariot. Under the gale, these phantoms looked so fragile, but he inexplicably had great confidence in the barrier formed by these bamboo slips.

He said directly to Zhao Ji, who was pale beside him, "Mother, we are safe. Nothing will happen."

"If it is prohibited, it will cease; wherever the law extends, so too will the customs be affected." *1

The scene that appears when the second half of the sentence "Qin" is read out is a strong wind being stopped by bamboo slips, and a figure appearing from behind the wind.

Zhao stood opposite Qin, her long robe trailing on the ground, her hair tied up and hanging down to her shoulders. Though they were far apart, their voices rang out like the tolling of a bell, and their conversation was not hindered.

This was something Ying Zheng realized, but it was actually because Zhu Qing'ai had blocked everyone else and then pulled Ying Zheng into the chat channel alone. If she had given Ying Zheng access, he could have seen the little speaker icon in the nearby channels.

Qin frowned and asked Zhao, "What do you mean by this?"

"Qin, you arrived very quickly today," Zhao said sarcastically. After she clicked her tongue, the atmosphere suddenly changed. "Can't you tell? I'm helping you."

'Qin': ?

"What's gotten into you again..." 'Qin' felt it was really hard to judge her neighbor, but now that so many people in the six kingdoms had gone mad, she figured it wasn't entirely incomprehensible...

The Book of Songs, in the "Ode to Shang," says: "Heaven commanded the dark bird to descend and give birth to Shang, to dwell in the vast land of Yin. The ancient emperor commanded Wu Tang to govern the four directions."

The Book of Songs, in the section on Zhou Song, says: "The mandate of Heaven is profound and never ceases."

Zhao sang the Book of Songs in a light and melodious voice, yet the gathering raging wind did not dissipate.

She added, "We finally reached an agreement, so why not try to break down that barrier?"

"They may forget the strange and eerie places where the phenomena occurred, but they will definitely remember the gentle and unusual scenes."

Qin knew what Zhao was talking about. Of course, the two national consciousnesses coming together could force everyone present to see the commotion they created, but there had never been two national consciousnesses that were so friendly.

The cooperation between Qin and Zhao was not based on friendship. Perhaps in the past, some states had tried to create political capital for those they favored, but neither side could reach that level...

This clash almost implicitly represents the confrontation between the Qin and Zhou systems, the conflict between the old and the new, and the clash between the forces used by Zhao and Qin, causing cracks to appear in that invisible veil.

Together they created this blurred zone, where those within it see, hear, and feel the 'real' world, except for the fact that they cannot see them. This also means that those within it may be harmed by them.

Qin was puzzled and frowned as he asked Zhao, "Are you really that kind?"

How could she not remember that 'Zhao' had a penchant for charity? Ying Zheng was from the Qin clan, not the Zhao clan, so why would 'Zhao' travel thousands of miles to bring prestige to her son?

Are you alright? (jpg)

Zhao laughed, her eyes filled with malice and cunning: "Of course not. If you had been slower, I wouldn't have shown any mercy. They would have been torn to shreds by the wind like silk."

'Qin': ...I'll let it slide since we've been neighbors for so many years.

'Qin': "Oh."

"Hey, what's with that reaction?"

"It's nothing, I'm just not naturally inclined to smile."

Zhao: "? Who asked you that?!"

As they were talking, a torrential downpour began. Given Zhao's influence, it was perfectly normal for this to happen. The people on both sides were so wet from the wind and rain that their vision was blurred, and they could hardly see the faces of the people around them.

While urging the wildflowers along the way to bloom, Qin also made sure to put protective gear on Zhao Ji and Ying Zheng.

The rain that seemed to fall from the sky avoided Zhao Ji and Ying Zheng, while Wang Yuan, who was driving the carriage, was soaked to the bone and could barely open his eyes. Zhao Ji and Ying Zheng, sitting in the carriage behind him, were still clean and dry.

Zhao Ji was shocked and speechless, while Ying Zheng continued to look in the direction where 'Qin' and 'Zhao' were standing.

Wang Yuan, who was closest and the first to notice, looked at the two of them and murmured, "This...this cannot be explained by common sense..."

"So what kind of phenomenon do you want to use? Just some shabby little flowers and plants?" A wisp of wind swirled around 'Zhao's' fingertips, and rainwater passed through the bodies of the two countries and fell to the ground. She was clearly not satisfied with some of the arrangements made by 'Qin'.

"That so-called 'Heavenly Mandate' is too ethereal and difficult to demonstrate. At least it should be at the level of the Heavenly Mandate Mystic Bird."

"Are you serious?" 'Qin' looked at 'Zhao' with a half-smile, as if waiting for her to change her mind.

But what kind of country is 'Zhao'? The enemy country thinks she's not good enough, but she insists she is!

"Of course I'm serious. What, you're afraid to try?"

She turned her head slightly to look at the car frame that had been stationary since the downpour began, and her tone softened: "Zheng'er, please cooperate, stand up, and say something."

Ying Zheng stood up cooperatively, but this strange phenomenon, or miracle, was not quite what he had expected.

People say that miracles come from the heavens, are the manifestation of the will of Heaven, and can only be obtained by those with the right destiny. Now he discovers that these so-called auspicious omens and miracles were given to him by his motherland and... his enemy country.

After these inexplicable words were spoken, the wind cluster over there began to melt away like ice and snow.

Wang Yuan was sitting in the driver's seat in front of the car. Upon hearing this, he subconsciously turned around and looked up at the young boy standing in the rain. His face was covered with rain, but he still insisted on keeping his eyes open and looking at that figure.

Perhaps it was the rain that blurred his vision, but his heart trembled slightly. In that instant, he seemed to see the shadow of his former ruler, King Zhaoxiang, whose confident and strategic demeanor was all too familiar.

He almost blurted out "Your Majesty".

Wang Yuan was breathing rapidly. He thought that his choice was definitely not wrong, and that his future would certainly not stop here.

"They're here..." Qin murmured softly, reminding Zhao on the other side.

A radiant light emanated from Ying Zheng, bestowed upon him by 'Qin', while 'Zhao' slightly widened her eyes; today she had witnessed firsthand what a multicolored black truly looked like…

The dark, radiant light coalesced to form a gigantic phantom of a black bird. With a single flap of its wings, it soared into the sky, its overwhelming presence causing people below, even in the rain, to instinctively kneel and proclaim a divine miracle.

The smile on Zhao's face cracked, and a flicker of fear flashed across his pupils.

That overwhelming aura that seemed to suffocate the heavens and earth, that feeling that made the nation feel suffocated... it was truly awful.

She didn't know what Zhou felt before he died, but she couldn't have felt any worse than this.

She hastily used the rain and storm to block it, but the black bird's chirping was clear and melodious, yet also sharp as a blade, its beak already about to tear the sky apart.

The wind and rain she controls are like silk being torn to shreds... her power is like cut fabric, left to be pulled and torn by others.

She finally understood why 'Qin' had told her to hold on. She spat and quickly said, "Do you have to hold a grudge like that?!"

"Can't we be a little more lenient in front of our children?!"

Zhao's dress billowed in the wind, her long black hair danced wildly, her decorative hairpins were gone, and the jade pendants at her waist jingled sharply, on the verge of breaking. Her figure appeared even more frail. As she shouted sharply, she used the last of the wind to protect the chaotic Zhao army that had come to escort her.

Qin looked apologetic and said slowly, "I'm sorry, it was a slip of the hand. I was thinking of going easy on you."

Zhao, who had just 'not thought of showing mercy,' was bewildered in the wind, while Qin, who had 'thought of showing mercy,' stood like a pine tree in the rain. The raging wind and rain could not ruffle her clothes, and all things in the world bowed to her.

"I'll remember this, you just wait!" Zhao hurriedly uttered these harsh words, then waved his hand and led the Zhao army away from the disaster site.

Once she left that area, she could no longer escape with her people, and her influence vanished once more. But the turbulent currents would no longer harm them.

But the fact that she managed to escape safely with her people shows that 'Qin' let her off the hook...

No! How could she defend 'Qin' herself?!

Zhao quickly pushed the above thought out of his mind, then thought angrily: They really are sworn enemies! Cooperation is absolutely out of the question!

****

Zhao Ji looked at Ying Zheng in surprise. They had survived, and such a... such a miracle had happened. At this moment, her joy outweighed her surprise.

Ying Zheng watched as Zhao led his people away, and then watched his motherland walk along the road towards Xianyang. Wildflowers bloomed naturally where she passed, and dewdrops remained on the petals, showing no sign that it had just been a stormy day.

A voice echoed between heaven and earth: "I'll be waiting for you in Xianyang."

Those around them were unaware of all this; they could only see a fierce wind suddenly rise, followed by a torrential downpour, but after the phantom of the black bird appeared, all the wind and rain were broken apart.

As the rain dissipated and the dark clouds dispersed, the Rainbow Bridge rose from the ground, pointing directly towards Xianyang.

Lü Buwei also arrived before Zhao Ji and her son with his men. He bowed respectfully and said, "It was my oversight that caused your wife and son to be frightened."

After a while, Zhao Ji finally regained her voice. Her face was still a little pale, but she was able to speak calmly to Lü Buwei.

"...Lord Lü, there's no need for such formalities."

Lü Buwei looked up at the young master Ying Zheng sitting in the carriage, his eyes flashing with shrewdness.

The contrast between them was stark; apart from Zhao Ji and Ying Zheng, everyone else's clothes were soaked through, and some were even covered in mud.

When everyone around them was in a terrible state, these two people, dressed neatly and sitting upright, stood out even more.

Lu Buwei glanced at the surrounding flowers and plants out of the corner of his eye and spoke in a flattering tone: "These plants are all congratulating the Lady and the Prince on their return to the country. I will report today's events to the King. The Heavenly Mandate Black Bird has come for the Lady and the Prince. The Prince is a man who bears the Mandate of Heaven, and our Great Qin will surely be the one favored by Heaven!"

The rain had obscured his view, so he couldn't see very clearly. He could only see that the black bird was connected to the young master, but that was enough to explain a lot.

“Madam and Young Master have probably never traveled this road before. Following the rainbow’s guidance will lead you to Xianyang,” Wang Yuan quickly interjected, determined to be the first to serve them.

"This must be Mr. Wang Yuan, whom the King sent to Handan. You have worked hard, sir. Once you are in the territory of my Great Qin, you will be safe."

Wang Yuan bowed to Lü Buwei with a calm expression, maintaining a certain distance from him. He knew that Lü Buwei was the Crown Prince's man, but he did not want to serve the Crown Prince. For some reasons, he would not associate too closely with the young master's father's people.

"Lord Lü, you are too kind. I was merely sharing the King's burdens; it was nothing to do with hardship."

Lü Buwei remained noncommittal, waving his hand: "Let's set off. We'll walk forward for a while and then rest when we reach the open space ahead!"

Military discipline in this era was generally not as strict as it is in modern times, so even as Ying Zheng sat in his chariot, he could hear the hushed sighs coming from the crowd of guards around him.

He also saw soldiers who were nearby hurry up to catch up with the carriage, reach out and quietly touch the outer wall of the carriage, muttering words as if they were asking for some kind of protection.

Ying Zheng: ...

-----------------------

Author's Note: Zhu Qing'ai: Watch carefully, I'll only demonstrate once how to use the Mary Sue's charm halo!

-

Cheng Jiao's birth and death dates are unknown, but his age is not entirely unfounded. I have analyzed it. First, it is known that Ying Zheng ascended the throne at the age of thirteen. Cheng Jiao (?-239 BC) was the Lord of Chang'an of Qin during the Warring States period and the younger brother of King Ying Zheng of Qin.

In 239 BC, during the Qin Dynasty's eighth year of reign, Cheng Jiao defected during the Qin's war against Zhao and committed suicide at Tunliu. This means that when Cheng Jiao led the army, Ying Zheng was around 21 years old. If Ying Zheng was two years old when Ying Zichu returned to Qin, and even if Cheng Jiao was conceived immediately upon his return, the two brothers would be at least three years apart in age. Therefore, Cheng Jiao would have been at most around 18 years old when he led the army. Even excluding the possibility that Cheng Jiao might have changed his name to Huo Qubing (?), which wouldn't be problematic for a military leader, Cheng Jiao would have been at least 18. Working backwards, this means that Ying Zichu returned to Qin and immediately had Han Ji pregnant with Cheng Jiao. Although he lost his first wife and eldest son, he seamlessly transitioned to having a younger son, seemingly enjoying a life of luxury (?). From a modern perspective, this is incredibly despicable. However, the Qin king was a creature of political achievement, not sentiment, so it didn't matter. But it's understandable that those who like the First Emperor might dislike him.

The poem "The Dark Bird" in the "Odes of Shang" section of the Book of Songs states, "Heaven commanded the dark bird to descend and give birth to Shang, settling in the vast land of Yin. The ancient emperor commanded Wu Tang to rectify the four directions." This means that Qi, the ancestor of the Shang dynasty, was born of a dark bird, thus making the dark bird the progenitor of the Shang. (Note: The Qin dynasty also revered the dark bird.)

"The Mandate of Heaven" (from the Book of Songs, Zhou Song)

The mandate of Heaven is profound and ceaseless. How manifest and pure is the virtue of King Wen! May it overflow to me, and I will accept it. King Wen's great favor is deeply appreciated by his great-grandson.

The *Guanzi* (a classic Chinese text) states in its chapter on "Establishing Government": "Orders are obeyed, prohibitions are stopped; wherever the law reaches, customs follow." (宪: law; 俗: customs and traditions; 被: to obey)

Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 23:34:33 on April 21, 2024 and 00:19:31 on April 23, 2024!

Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: Yinyuejun's Dog (1);

Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Lavender that year 86 bottles; Qingluo, Midnight Moon 60 bottles; tgu 52 bottles; Qianqianxun 11 bottles; Zuishengmengsi, Lengyueluoxing, Ajiu 10 bottles; Wenrou under the sunset, Mo Dengxian, Yuxi, Presence, Xinxin 1 bottle;

Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!