Chapter 39 Confession (Two Chapters Combined) "When things are accomplished, there will surely be someone beside the throne..."
Banban didn't know how to say it. This was her only and most important secret. Her mind was in turmoil, and she dared not speak.
She didn't know what she was afraid of.
“I recognize you, but you don’t recognize me,” she said dryly, then fell silent.
But she wouldn't say it, and Ying Zheng wasn't one to give up easily. "Why do you recognize me, but I don't recognize you?" He keenly sensed something. "Aren't you my cousin?"
This is the only explanation; otherwise, why wouldn't they recognize it?
She kept shaking her head, stubbornly closing her eyes, trying to get away with not saying anything. Anyway, her cousin couldn't do anything to her if she didn't speak.
But the next moment, his voice boomed like thunder: "You come from the future?"
Banban suddenly opened her eyes, a look of bewildered surprise in her pupils. The hand that had been tightly gripping his collar slowly loosened. "You—"
She froze instantly, her mind going completely blank.
"You want to ask me how I guessed it?" Ying Zheng grasped her drooping hand, his gaze fixed on her. At this point, it was no longer a question of whether he wanted to ask or not. "You recognize me, but I don't recognize you, unless I am already dead."
"Since the papermaking technique and other items you mentioned are not what you thought, they must have been created by someone in later generations and have been used on a large scale, even becoming popular among ordinary people. The time required for these things would not be short, especially paper."
His cousin was not royalty, something he had never doubted during their many years together; therefore, her claim that she must have been a commoner in her previous life was incorrect.
The fact that commoners could use paper freely, even tearing it up for fun, shows that papermaking was already commonplace and paper was practically worthless. The royal family must have had far more advanced technology.
So, how long will this process take?
Decades?
century?
"Since you come from a later era, yet initially knew very little about the states of Qin, Zhao, Han, and Wei, you must come from a dynasty that had already achieved unification, right?"
He suddenly held his breath. "Is it... Qin?"
Banban blinked her sore eyes. How could she not see the tension and expectation on her cousin's face? "Cousin, have you ever doubted that I was lying to you?"
"So you're lying to me?" he immediately retorted.
She clearly didn't say anything, yet he had already guessed most of it. Is this the mind of an emperor?
She was very discouraged and frustrated. "If I really wanted to lie to you, I probably wouldn't have succeeded."
“Yes, I do come from an era that has already been unified, but not from Qin,” Banban said softly. She had barely finished speaking when she sensed her cousin’s horrified gaze. “It is called Huaxia.”
Ying Zheng, lost in thought, loosened his grip on her hand slightly, his chest and abdomen heaving violently, his face alternating between dark and ashen. "Then, Great Qin..."
Banban quickly replied, "My cousin is amazing. He conquered six kingdoms and achieved unification. He is the most powerful king. In my heart, no one can compare to you!"
Ying Zheng's eyes, which had been extinguished, instantly lit up again. In a flash, he realized, "It's split again?"
In that instant, he remembered the scene from two years ago when he dreamed of King Zhaoxiang, Ying Ji, at Taxue Pavilion.
His words seemed to echo in Ying Zheng's ears once more:
"...If you want to crush these different stones and level them again, it can't be done overnight. It's a long and difficult process. While you're leveling the stones, there will always be stones that are unwilling to be crushed and will try to gather again. A slight mistake will lead to your destruction."
'You cannot only focus on the present; you must also ensure that your descendants inherit not only your throne, but also your aspirations and your policies!'
Otherwise, even if unification is achieved by chance, the stones you laid with your own hands will crumble again!
Ying Zheng's pupils trembled slightly. He gripped his cousin's wrist tightly, his voice hesitant, "Who is it?"
Under his gaze, his cousin hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke, "It was your son Huhai who, together with his cousin's personal eunuch Zhao Gao, forged an imperial edict to usurp the throne. There was also a minister, who seemed to be your prime minister, but I only remember Lü Buwei. I don't remember his name or who he was. The three of them conspired to cause chaos, which led to the downfall of the Qin Dynasty after only two generations."
"Doomed after only two generations?"
Ying Zheng murmured in disbelief, then burst into laughter, "Destroyed after only two generations?"
He put down his cousin and stood up. "Death after only two generations!!" Yang Tian looked up at the sky, anger streaming from the corner of his eyes. He clenched his fists, his forearms trembling, and faint blood seeped from between his fingers.
Banban hurriedly got out of bed and took his hand in hers, "Cousin!"
"And the other one?" He turned around abruptly, his eyes blazing.
Banban was slightly taken aback, but immediately realized who he was asking about. "Prince Fusu, it seems that because he was too kind and soft-hearted, was sent by his cousin to build the Great Wall, and Meng Tian was ordered to bring 300,000 soldiers with him. But Huhai forged an imperial edict to usurp the throne, and tricked him into believing that you made him commit suicide."
Ying Zheng's lips twitched, and even the corners of his eyes trembled with rage. "He committed suicide?! Fight back! Fight back?! With troops at your command, why not fight!"
"..." Banban turned into a quail and dared not say anything else, "I don't remember many things, and I've learned very little, so I can't help my cousin."
Ying Zheng paced back and forth in the inner chamber until the night was completely dark before he could barely regain his composure.
He helped his cousin up and settled her back on the bed, rubbing her wrist. "Did I frighten you just now?"
"I..." Panpan was flustered, but felt safe only after her cousin hugged her.
"What you've said is not unexpected," Ying Zheng muttered, his gaze unfocused, but he quickly regained his composure. "Even if you hadn't said it, I would have been on guard."
The fact that King Zhaoxiang Ying Ji appeared in his dream was a wake-up call. He had long been wary of his court officials, especially Lü Buwei. However, since the prime minister his cousin mentioned was not him, he was not surprised. It must be the new prime minister whom he had demoted Lü Buwei and promoted after assuming power.
"You've said enough." He guessed that his cousin probably died at a young age in her previous life. They had been together since childhood, and she was like a child to him. If she were an adult, and her acting skills weren't that good, she would have been exposed long ago.
"Now that we know what lies ahead, we should take precautions," Ying Zheng reassured her.
Banban hesitated, then asked, "Do you still want Fusu?"
Ying Zheng was not the unfamiliar Ying Zheng in his cousin's memory. They were completely different Ying Zhengs. He had no feelings for the two children his cousin mentioned, so how could he possibly want them?
"My first half of life was filled with hardship and displacement. I finally returned to Qin after countless difficulties. If I were Fusu, I don't know how I would have lost." Ying Zheng said sarcastically. He had even given Meng Tian to him. Didn't he understand what he meant? "Suicide? He lacked courage and ability. He was cowardly and incompetent and was not suitable to be a ruler."
However, he knew why his cousin asked that question; she didn't know much, and her heart was only for him.
"For the rest of my life, I will only take care of my cousin. If we have children in the future, I will definitely teach them well."
Banban hugged her cousin's neck and nodded vigorously.
As if the tension from just moments ago had vanished, he stayed with her until she fell asleep, then suddenly asked, "Were you ever married before?"
Banban was about to say no when she suddenly remembered that her cousin had many children. She retorted stubbornly, "He's married, so what? I have many children too, and I've been happily married to my husband for many years!"
His arm around her waist suddenly tightened. He knew she was lying, but the thought still made him feel heavy-hearted. "...Then we're even."
Stripped of the future that the Qin Dynasty could change, he slowly pondered a question: since his cousin came from the future, would she ever return? How did she get here?
He didn't ask, his mind preoccupied, and held her tightly.
If one day God takes her away, will he be able to live to see her again?
He didn't ask how he died either, but he couldn't help but recall how his cousin was terrified when Zichu was seriously ill, fearing that he was also unwell. It seemed that he had a high chance of dying young.
He never believed in the idea that fate was predetermined and lifespan was limited, but the facts before him forced him to take it seriously.
Even if he lives a long and healthy life, he will only be a hundred years old.
He became agitated again.
Banban was slightly stunned, unable to believe that her usually extremely jealous cousin would say such a thing. He wouldn't even let her hold his hand and rub her breasts, and he even childishly compared his strength to a scroll of documents.
"Actually—" Okay, actually no.
Ying Zheng covered her mouth, "Stupid."
Banban inexplicably realized that her cousin knew she was lying, but wouldn't let her explain. Perhaps, it was out of guilt?
He felt guilty that he had promised to be with one person for life, but he hadn't kept his promise, even though that "he" wasn't really him.
“My cousin is the stupid one,” she retorted.
"You must always be by my side."
Banban couldn't see her cousin's expression, but her answer was always the same: "Of course, I will never leave my cousin."
That night, Banban slowly drifted off to sleep, resting in her cousin's arms without any dreams.
Ying Zheng, on the other hand, couldn't sleep all night.
Lü Buwei was the first to notice the anomaly. In the past, during court discussions, even if the young King Zheng of Qin couldn't get a word in edgewise, he would try to express his opinion. Today, his silence was unusual.
After the court session ended, the council hall was filled with officials.
Lü Buwei inquired with concern whether King Zheng of Qin had not rested well.
Ying Zheng was slightly taken aback, seemingly surprised by Lü Buwei's concern. He shook his head with a smile, "Prime Minister, you are overthinking it. However, I did not sleep well last night. Princess Chaoyang is not feeling well, and I have summoned the physician. I am worried about her."
Lü Buwei hurriedly said, "So it is Princess Chaoyang who is ill? Your Majesty is naturally worried. Is it serious? Perhaps I should recruit more physicians from outside the palace?"
"It's just a minor matter," Ying Zheng smiled, "and it's fine now."
"How is the Prime Minister's book coming along?"
Lü Buwei sighed and shook his head. “I have many retainers, but very few of them are truly talented.” At this point, he became more talkative and began to speak eloquently. “However, I did meet an interesting person yesterday.”
"oh?"
"That man is named Li Si, a native of Chu. He studied under Xunzi and is a follower of Legalist thought. He has no interest in our Great Qin. He is an interesting man. I will introduce him to Your Majesty another day."
“Excellent.” How could Ying Zheng refuse?
That's all for the Lü faction.
The two then discussed the Zheng Guo Canal project. Ying Zheng personally supervised the construction and visited the site many times to oversee the work. Lü Buwei said, "Your Majesty recruited officials to build the canal, and more than a million people signed up on the first day. In order to shorten the construction period, they took turns building the canal, working day and night. In a short time, one-third of the first phase of the project has been completed. Even Li Si from Chu was impressed by the cohesion of our Great Qin and thus came to Qin to make a name for himself."
Ying Zheng smiled inwardly, then heard Lü Buwei say apologetically, "It seems that the first phase of the Zheng Guo Canal will be completed and its effects will be visible before next summer. I spoke recklessly that day and almost ruined Your Majesty's important matter. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
To say that Lü Buwei was good at dealing with people is an understatement. He was able to coax Prince Zichu of Zhuangxiang into obeying his every word. He knew exactly when to be humble and when to be assertive.
He waved his hand, "You're being too polite, Prime Minister. We're all family. But I'm very pleased that you've come to apologize to me."
"The Prime Minister will stay for lunch today. I will host a banquet at Zhaoxin Palace, and my family will dine alone!"
"This..." Seeing that King Zheng of Qin truly didn't care, Lü Buwei said happily, "Then I will send someone out of the palace."
"That's right. Let's bring the Prime Minister's wife in so we can all enjoy ourselves together."
It was almost lunchtime at Ta Xue Xuan.
Ying Zheng personally picked up the earrings from the dressing case and handed them to his cousin, saying, "Cousin, just focus on your meal. It's alright even if you don't say anything."
“I understand,” Banban put on her earring. “I’ll control myself from rolling my eyes at him. It’s a piece of cake.”
"Is it pretty?" She examined the bronze mirror from left to right.
"Your Highness is naturally beautiful; I cannot take my eyes off you," Ying Zheng praised.
Banban gave him a strange look. "Cousin, you shouldn't call me princess anymore. It sounds like I'm your daughter."
Upon hearing this, the palace servants inside the room burst into laughter.
Ying Zheng: "..." He pinched his cousin's cheek hard. "You can't even stand flattery."
Banban wrinkled her nose at him playfully, then raised her slender fingers, "I'm all better, help me up~"
Ying Zheng cooperated, humbled himself, and said, "Yes."
The palace servants laughed again; it was all good-natured laughter.
Banban's cheeks flushed slightly, and she echoed the words, holding hands with her cousin as they went out.
Today, Banban was dressed exceptionally solemnly. This was the first time she had privately dined with important officials of the court. Her cousin had said it was a family banquet, and she could tell that her cousin intended to flatter Lü Buwei.
Of course, she had to dress up more formally. The clothes she wore today were very similar in color to Ying Zheng's, with vermilion trim and a black body, and a wide waist that accentuated her slender waist.
However, she only wore a pearl and jade phoenix hairpin in her hair, a gold-decorated tassel necklace around her neck, and two slightly swaying gold earrings that exuded elegance.
She had already started applying makeup. She didn't know how to do it herself, but Qianyin was good at it.
Ying Zheng wasn't lying when he said he couldn't take his eyes off her. He was used to seeing his cousin with her bare face, and he was truly stunned. It's no exaggeration to say that his cousin's beauty was magnified twice as much after she was made up.
As soon as he boarded the royal carriage, he couldn't resist kissing his cousin.
Banban shoved him, glanced around, and saw that no one dared to look up at what the people on the royal carriage were doing; they all had their heads down.
She lowered her voice as much as she could, taking great care of her makeup, "Don't eat all my lipstick."
Okay, okay, it's not time for her to pester him for a kiss.
"My cousin said he didn't care about looks, but today I put on makeup and you treated my mouth like raw fish. Don't you think I'm pretty normally?"
"What kind of description is this? Did I hurt you?"
"……No!!"
It's just a casual description.
"She's beautiful on any other day, but she looks especially beautiful today."
It was such a casual way of coaxing people, but she knew he was telling the truth.
Banban simply leaned against him, remembering that she had always been the one being taken advantage of by her cousin, and that he had touched her all over before they were even married... even though he said it was to help her.
She really didn't mean anything by it, but she felt it was unfair.
She secretly looked up at him, her fingers slipping through his shirt and disappearing inside.
Ying Zheng was slightly startled and quickly grabbed her wrist. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing, something fell into my cousin's clothes." Banban said innocently, "Let me go, I'll look for it."
"What is that? Earrings? Aren't you wearing them properly?"
"Let me go first."
Ying Zheng was suspicious, and actually let go of her hand.
Banban pretended to search earnestly, tugging at his clothes, "Hey, where is it?"
As she tugged, her hand slipped inside his clothes.
Ying Zheng suddenly realized what his cousin was up to. He leaned back slightly without stopping her, and instead looked at her with a smile.
Banban was focused on doing something important. She pressed her fingertips against his skin, feeling the soft yet resilient muscles bounce back when she pressed them. She opened her eyes wide and put her whole palm in to touch him.
She traced her hand down her chest to her waist and abdomen, but the movement was inconvenient, and she couldn't reach the abdominal muscles she wanted to touch. A little disappointed, she gave up and withdrew her hand.
Her fingertips brushed past the obstacle, and she paused. "Huh? It wasn't there just now." She pulled open his collar and curiously peered inside.
Suddenly, a large hand covered the back of her head, pulling her into his arms. "Not enough?"
"Ouch!" Banban's head hurt from the bump, and she rubbed her head, wriggling in her cousin's arms. "Not enough! Not enough!"
My cousin has broad shoulders and a narrow waist, what a great physique!
Lifting his clothes revealed his skin underneath; it was as white as his face and neck, with clearly visible skin texture and large pectoral muscles!
And those two points... uh, so that's what I touched earlier.
"What kind of behavior is this in public? Hurry up and help me get dressed." Ying Zheng tapped her on the head.
"I don't want it, you wear it yourself." He bumped his head on hers.
She wanted to touch and look, and he had just opened his arms and let her look and touch for a long time, which was incredibly generous. She felt like she hadn't gained anything, but rather that he had taken advantage of her twice as much.
Banban glanced around and realized that they were almost at Zhaoxin Palace.
"Hurry up and put it on!" she urged.
"I don't want to." He actually mimicked her voice, showing no fear that he would go in even if she didn't help him.
"……!!!" Banban punched his shoulders and face haphazardly, and angrily helped him put on his clothes.
If he arrives at Zhaoxin Palace disheveled, everyone will know what he did, how embarrassing and shameful!
But she doesn't know how to wear this man's clothes!
She roughly straightened his collar, but after a long while, she still couldn't get it right. The outside was neat, but the inside was a mess, especially since his belt was a bit loose. She was so anxious that she was about to break out in a sweat, so she decided to play the pitiful card, "Cousin, I can't do it."
He stared at her without saying a word, a slight smile playing on his lips.
She understood, glared at him, then looked around to see if anyone was there. She quickly leaned down, pouted, and kissed his lips.
He then lazily got up and quickly straightened his clothes. "There is still much for you to learn in the future. You don't even know how to help your husband change his clothes. How can you be a good queen?"
Stop lying to her, he just wants her to help him put it on.
Banban wouldn't be fooled. She curled her lip and said, "Hmph!"
Ying Zheng suddenly closed the distance between them, saying, "Banban, after I have accomplished my mission, there will surely be a seat for the Queen next to the throne in the Xianyang Palace."
Banban's heart skipped a beat, and she hesitated.
Ying Zheng offered no further explanation and dismounted directly from the royal carriage.
Lu Buwei and his wife came out to greet them. Banban didn't want to ask any questions, so she let the eunuch help her out of the carriage.
With a smile, Lü Buwei looked ahead and, without glancing to the side, instructed his wife, "My lady, the King and Princess Chaoyang are deeply in love and have been together for many years. Their affection is extraordinary. You should spend more time with her and talk to her. Princess Chaoyang is very simple-minded."
Zhao replied with a smile, "I understand."
"Will the Empress Dowager also come?"
Lü Buwei: "Of course she will come." However, she hadn't arrived yet, and Lü Buwei was somewhat worried about Ji Changyue, who was quite fierce.
Lady Zhao had complex feelings towards Ji Changyue. In the past, the two served together by Lü Buwei's side. Ji Changyue was skilled in dancing and had a stunningly beautiful appearance. She was incomparably beautiful, and Lü Buwei doted on her.
Prince Zichu of the Zhuangxiang Kingdom fell in love with her at first sight. Lü Buwei had no choice but to say that she was a singing girl in the mansion and could be given to the prince. Of course, Zichu knew that she was more than just a singing girl; she was just a girl with a beautiful voice.
However, people didn't have much of a concept of chastity, and many remarried into wealthy families with children, so no one cared.
For Zhao, however, the concubines who used to pay their respects to her every day are now the high and mighty Empress Dowager. She is not used to this change in circumstances, but she can maintain the outward respect very well and dares not not to.
Lü Buwei and Lady Zhao knelt to pay their respects, and Ying Zheng personally helped them up, looking at Lady Zhao, "No need for such formalities, I still remember you, Madam."
Lady Zhao was startled and very surprised. "The last time I met Your Majesty, Your Majesty was only two years old."
Ying Zheng smiled slightly, "Has so many years already?"
"I'm the one who's late."
It was the voice of Empress Dowager Ji Changyue.
Naturally, there was another round of greetings. Ji Changyue, maintaining her dignity as Empress Dowager, made sure everyone performed a complete bow. She then turned to Banban and asked, "Who did your makeup today? You should be rewarded."
Banban smiled and said, "Then I must thank my aunt for the gift on behalf of Qianyin. My cousin also said it's beautiful."
The two men continued talking, without responding to Lü Buwei and his wife.
Once inside the hall, they all took their seats. Ying Zheng and the Empress Dowager sat at the front, while Banban sat to Ying Zheng's lower left. Palace servants filed in, presenting her with dishes she loved.
Her cousin told her to just focus on her meal and not worry about anything else, and she did as he said, barely speaking during the meal.
After finishing her meal, she went out to change her clothes and washed her hands, only to bump into Madam Zhao.
Lady Zhao curtsied, saying, "The princess's majesty is even greater than before."
"You recognize me?" Banban asked curiously.
Yun took some perfume to wipe her hands. She moistened the back of her hands and tried to recall Zhao's face, but she couldn't remember where she had seen her before.
Zhao had a kind face, with long, narrow eyes like Guanyin's, and naturally red lips. Now over fifty, she was kind and gentle, inspiring affection in people. "Princess, I am from Zhao, have you forgotten?"
...I really forgot.
"However, my ancestral home is not Handan. When Lü Buwei led King Zhuangxiang to flee, I took my child back to my ancestral home to hide. But I have heard of the Ji family of Zhu Lane in Handan. I have attended the princess's full moon banquet with Lü Buwei."
"I don't remember." Banban was unaware of Lü Buwei's purpose; there must be a reason behind this deliberate intimacy. "Your child must be quite old by now?"
"Yes, my eldest son is twenty-one years old this year, my second son is the same age as Your Majesty and will soon be sixteen, and I also have a little daughter who just turned six this year."
Six years old?
Banban suddenly thought of her younger brother, Geng'er, who was also five years old.
She was suspicious, but smiled sweetly and said, "I like girls who are delicate and beautiful. When you have time, Madam, bring them to the palace so I can take a look."
Zhao quickly curtsied and agreed, "Yes."
As the two were talking, a young man suddenly burst into Zhaoxin Palace. The palace servants could not stop him, nor did they dare to actually harm him.
Banban was furious. "Who's making such a racket here? How annoying! Doesn't he know his cousin is entertaining guests?"
She glared at the two guards who showed no tact whatsoever.
The guards all bowed their heads and knelt down to beg for forgiveness.
"Sister Chaoyang, that's great, you're here too!"
Upon closer inspection, Banban exclaimed, "Wow, Young Master Chengjiao!"
He's even taller than her...!
"Chengjiao knows that my brother will listen to what you say, sister. Please let me in, sister. I have something important to say," Chengjiao pleaded, tugging at Banban's sleeve.
"What's so important?" Banban pulled out his sleeve.
He didn't hide anything, "Wang He has been seriously ill these days. My brother intends to send troops to attack Han. I would like to go with General Meng Ao. I ask my sister to make an exception for me."
Zhao was slightly taken aback, glanced at Young Master Chengjiao a few times, then kept her eyes down and didn't say anything.
“You’re still a child. Your brother, the king, wouldn’t agree.” Even a child wouldn’t send a child to the battlefield. If he died outside, what would others think of Ying Zheng?
Banban said impatiently, "Stop talking." She even suspected that Madam Han had instructed him, but what mother would want her child to go to the battlefield? His own idea was even less likely!
Chengjiao clung to Banban relentlessly, pleading incessantly. Zhao had never seen such a persistent child before.
Just then, Qin Ju came out, probably to see what was going on since Princess Chaoyang hadn't returned for a long time. Cheng Jiao's eyes lit up and he immediately switched to pestering someone else.
Banban: "..." You're crazy!
But attacking Han? Isn't that Empress Dowager Xia's motherland?
Sure enough, as soon as her cousin gave Empress Dowager Xia a sweet treat, he was about to slap her with a stick.
No wonder Cheng Jiao was in such a hurry to go; could it be that he wanted to dampen the prestige of the Korean group?
She concealed a smile, adopting a dignified and authoritative demeanor, "Then let's take him in. The King and the Prime Minister are dining together; this is a family banquet, so it's not a problem."
Everyone present could see that Princess Chaoyang's attempt at portraying the queen's demeanor was clumsy and not very good; instead, it made her look rather cute. Qin Ju covered his mouth and smiled, "Yes."
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