Chapter 42 Bonus Chapter for 2000 Nutrient Solution (Three-in-One) "Cousin..."
Her cousin agreed to help Banban find the parrot, which made her very happy. She then asked in detail about how to cross the sea.
Ying Zheng only had a rough idea in his mind and did not share it with his ministers: "Send a hundred or so skilled and brave fishermen, and select several dozen loyal soldiers to go out to sea with the tokens of my Great Qin, to temporarily investigate the situation of the surrounding countries. If they can bring back useful information, reward them with a thousand gold pieces or a noble title."
Banban felt a little relieved after hearing what her cousin said.
"Actually, whether we have the parrot or not doesn't matter. What's truly important is that it's good for the Great Qin." Banban felt that she was quite reasonable. Sitting on her cousin's lap, she poked his cheek. "I was just saying it casually. Don't take it to heart, cousin."
“Since you’ve made the request, I will naturally do my best to give you the best,” Ying Zheng gently lifted her up to make her more comfortable. “Otherwise, would I have married you so that you would suffer? It’s almost October, and winter is approaching. You’ll be busy with the New Year’s banquet for quite some time.”
Banban spoke of this sticky, smug sentiment, "I know how to be lazy. I just need to take out the regulations from previous years and refer to them. When Empress Dowager Huayang was in power, there were no mistakes. My sister-in-law did a good job too. There's no reason why others wouldn't be able to do it."
How could I not learn by simply copying what I learned!
"So intelligent?" Ying Zheng raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Mmm!" She nodded and leaned in to kiss his lips.
His large hands gently cupped her cheeks, the pads of his thumbs caressing her soft skin. Their tongues intertwined, and his palms moved down to support her lower back, pulling her tightly into his embrace.
Banban was quickly captivated by the kiss, her toes brushing against his calf, urging him to hurry up.
Ying Zheng touched it and suddenly clicked his tongue.
"Hmm?" Banban opened her eyes.
I noticed my cousin's frustration and dissatisfaction. It turned out that he found it troublesome to sew on her pants.
She quickly stopped her, saying, "I'll take it off, but you're not allowed to pull it off."
The two had drunk some wine together a few days ago. After the wine helped them get into a good mood, they were both quite eager and tore up her favorite dress. She got angry and called him barbaric, and was then roughly pinned down on the bed and tormented.
Although a new one was later made, it never felt as comfortable as the previous one.
Ying Zheng readily agreed, saying, "I won't move."
He found her movements too slow, and after finally managing to take off her clothes, he picked her up again and made her sit facing him.
Banban hooked her arms around her cousin's neck and nestled in his chest, muttering that she wasn't feeling very comfortable.
He wanted to ask her why she wasn't feeling well.
She then bit his neck and began to speak haltingly about her younger brother Geng'er's affair with Lü Buwei's daughter, asking, "What do you think, cousin?"
He didn't say anything.
After a moment, he sighed and hissed softly, "Does it have to be this now?"
He doesn't say anything, but he always causes trouble.
He quickly surrendered and forbade her to move.
"This idea may not be the Prime Minister's own; it was probably Zhao's idea on her own. She might be happier if you had a younger sister."
Banban snorted, "If I had a younger sister, they would only let her marry my cousin as a concubine. How could it be the Prime Minister's turn? Heh." She knew best what a concubine was for. Although this was unfounded, she still felt a lot of jealousy and anger. "If something happens to me in the future or I can't have children, then let my younger sister bear children for my cousin."
Ying Zheng suddenly pressed down hard on her waist, pulling her downwards.
Banban gasped in surprise, her thoughts instantly snapping out of her reverie.
He gripped her tightly to prevent her from getting up, and said in a smiling tone, "It seems I haven't been working hard enough, letting my cousin overthink things and even develop jealousy over baseless rumors."
She shoved his face, but when she finally reached the point where she couldn't bear to scratch him, she ended up being unable to speak a complete sentence.
She could sense that her cousin was truly angry, so she quickly begged for forgiveness, "I won't say anything then."
It's probably too late to say anything now.
Just before going to sleep, he hugged her from behind, and the two lay quietly on the bed. "I won't curse myself like that again."
What do you mean by "something unexpected happened"?
"That was just something I said offhand."
"That's not allowed either."
Oh well.
Banban snapped out of her daze and snuggled into his arms. "Cousin, are you scared?" she asked, afraid that what she said might come true.
He hugged her tighter, saying, "It doesn't matter to me whether you have a dozen or so older or younger sisters."
She softened her tone and kissed his temple. "I know, but the thought that others might actually covet my cousin makes me very angry. My cousin can only be mine."
"It's yours alone." Ying Zheng said firmly and naturally, lowering his voice with concern, "Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
"Uh...no." Banban said softly. Could she really say that although he was angry at the time, his instinct to protect her was still there, and it was indeed quite...exciting.
Especially when her toes couldn't touch the ground, leaving her at his mercy.
How strange, new attribute development.
He was silent for a moment, then chuckled softly and rolled over: "Let's do it again."
Once he said it, he meant it. Ying Zheng was always restrained and wouldn't let such a thing affect his serious business during the day.
After finishing, both of them were covered in sweat, so they went to take a shower and lay down to rest.
Banban slept soundly, losing consciousness as soon as his head hit the bed.
When he got up the next morning, his cousin was already gone. The court meeting always started very early, and he always got up very early.
The three empress dowagers above Banban did not manage much affairs and did not require her to pay her respects every day, so she lived a happy life.
After getting up and washing up, she bumped into an extremely efficient eunuch washing something that looked like a semi-transparent sausage casing. She couldn't help but ask curiously, "What is this?"
“Your Majesty, this is a Ruyi Bag,” the eunuch explained, raising his head with a puzzled expression, as if wondering why she didn’t know it. “Every time Your Majesty finishes using it, the palace servants clean and dry it to keep it in its original state, brush it with honey and oil, roll it up again, and put it into a porcelain jar for storage.”
"Huh?" When did my cousin use this? Is this a glove? A glove is made of five gloves connected together, but this is just one.
She unconsciously leaned closer to take a closer look, just as the eunuch scooped one up and laid it out, leaving her momentarily stunned.
...It looks kind of familiar.
After a few seconds of bewilderment, she suddenly realized what it was, her cheeks flushed red, and she took several steps back.
Oh my god, isn't this just a condom?!
Come to think of it, she was always so confused and had no idea that her cousin wore this every time. So, was this the one he used last night?
Banban's cheeks flushed red, and she quickly covered them before walking back to the inner hall.
My cousin's thinking is so advanced! He even thought of this; he's protecting her.
She rolled around on the bed and then noticed the small copper basin next to the dressing table. Could it be used for soaking *that*?
My heart pounded for a while, but I managed to calm myself down and muttered to myself, "No, I need to find something to do."
She finished all the palace affairs of the past few days in one go.
After resting on the small couch, I got a little hungry and started thinking about what to eat. There were no steamed buns or dumplings at that time, which was mainly because there was no soft dough.
Banban has been eating these since childhood, and indeed, whether it's flatbread or steamed buns, they are all very hard, have no texture whatsoever, and have a strong grain texture. If they are slightly dried, people with bad teeth simply can't touch them.
She doesn't know how to cook, but she vaguely remembers that steamed buns or soft pasta dishes need to be fermented.
"Fermentation..." Banban pondered, "Also, wine needs fermentation. What's the difference between fermented dough and fermented wine?"
She simply called over the cooks from the kitchen to discuss it together, and they all brought out the yeast.
Banban's dislike of porridge stems from the fact that the flour at this time... wasn't flour at all, but rather crushed into small pieces with a pestle, resulting in a very poor texture.
But after careful inquiry, she discovered that there were indeed rotating stone mills at that time, but these were exclusive to nobles and not available to commoners. Moreover, the teeth of the stone mills were extremely primitive and could not grind grains into fine powder at all.
So if you want to eat steamed buns, you not only need to solve the fermentation problem, but you also need to improve the stone mill... If you want to stir-fry vegetables, you need to invent an iron pot...
These are all examples, one by one.
Banban covered her head, and after a long while she resigned herself to her fate. She raised her head and looked at the people who were all confused and waiting for her instructions.
Fortunately, she doesn't have to do it herself.
He ordered the making of a stone mill to be made, and had several palace servants manually pound wheat into powder. He then ordered people to prepare yeast for fermentation, to test whether he could make the ideal steamed buns.
And so it went until nightfall. The palace servants who had been pounding wheat received their monthly salary. The wheat flour was not entirely satisfactory, but it was certainly fine enough compared to the grains of the past.
Mix water and yeast, knead the dough, cover it with a cloth and let it ferment.
For several days, many people were studying fermented dough. One afternoon, during a midday rest, the kitchen cook suddenly came to pay his respects, saying that the steamed buns the Queen had requested had been made.
Banban immediately woke up, quickly washed up, and rushed out.
“Here it is.” The cook put down the small steamer and lifted the lid.
Steam filled the air, and a faint aroma of wine wafted from inside the cage.
Qian Yin held her breath, her expression mirroring Cong Yun's, "This—"
What comes into view is a slightly bulging, yellowish round cake.
"It has indeed risen quite a bit since it was put into the steamer, but it has a bitter taste of wine and the aroma of grains when you put it in your mouth," the chef explained. "Those who are good at drinking will not like its mild taste, and those who are not good at drinking cannot taste its wine flavor."
Banban tore off a small piece of the flatbread-shaped steamed bun, chewed it a couple of times, and found it to be just as the cook had said.
Even so, the chef had to admit, "However, it tastes very good; the Queen has such a clever mind."
"This cake is soft and fluffy, and the sweetness after tasting it comes from the fermentation of grains and yeast."
Banban was unsure, "How can I get rid of the smell of alcohol?"
"I have no solution at the moment," the cook said, shaking his head.
Banban sighed, "Then steam another basket, and present it to His Majesty for dinner tonight."
The cook obeyed, "Yes."
Night fell over the Qin Palace. Ying Zheng went to the martial arts arena today and rode with Lü Buwei to Shangqiu. Shangqiu is close to the north and closer to the former Yiqu. At the end of the vast grassland, a high mountain covered in silver stands.
Upon hearing this, Mount Everest immediately came to mind.
But then I thought, the geographical location is different. Mount Everest is not within the territory of Yiqu. The former Yiqu Kingdom was a regime established by the Western Rong, and the area it ruled was only the Loess Plateau and the Liupan Mountains region.
She could distinguish these place names clearly and remember them well; she could even draw a map in her mind, but she had never actually been to any of them.
So, I suppose the silver-clad landscape my cousin mentioned is just because winter is approaching.
"What did he say?" Banban asked curiously.
"He's just advising me to calm down and learn what it means to be a ruler. He'll protect the Qin Dynasty for me." Lü Buwei showed him the vast territory and said it all belonged to Ying Zheng.
Banban snorted at him, "You have ill intentions!"
Ying Zheng smiled and said, "The Crown Prince of Zhao is going back to Zhao, and he will probably make some moves. He's here to put my mind at ease."
"Huh?" Banban was immediately shocked. "But Zhao You has only been a hostage in Qin for a few years."
"Because the Qin prince who was held hostage in Zhao escaped and returned, naturally Qin must also send back the hostages from other countries." Ying Zheng said this with mixed feelings. It was hard not to blame the Qin prince, but emotionally he could understand why the Qin prince would escape back to his country.
He suddenly understood Ying Ji, Ying Zhu, and his father Zi Chu.
People with different stances will have different thoughts even if they have the same experiences.
It was clear that Banban and her cousin shared the same idea. The two looked at each other and fell silent.
"Let's not talk about that anymore," Banban changed the subject, "Cousin, try this."
“A cake,” Ying Zheng looked at it carefully and added, “a thicker cake.”
"It can't be that simple, can it?" he wondered, and examined the cake again.
“It really is a pancake.” Banban said, trying to suppress a laugh.
He picked one up and was immediately surprised, squeezing it several times. "How can it be so soft?" He had never seen a soft pancake before; he had always eaten hard ones, which were very filling.
"You should try it." She drawled out the last syllable, pleading expectantly.
When Ying Zheng tasted it, he found it truly novel and amazing: "It has a delicious cellar aroma upon entry, initially sour and bitter, but with a refreshing and sweet aftertaste."
Banban nodded. "The sourness must be due to fermentation. I'll ask the cook to add some fine sugar. I wonder if that will mask the sour taste."
"No need." Ying Zheng suddenly grasped Banban's hand and said directly, "The men who go to war will like it, and the people of Qin will definitely love this pancake."
Banban was somewhat bewildered.
He immediately explained, “Cousin, Qin has been waging frequent wars against foreign countries for many years, resulting in a shortage of food. Brewing wine would consume a lot of grain, so since Shang Yang’s reforms, the brewing of wine by ordinary people has been restricted.”
"I am about to implement a policy of prohibition of alcohol, strictly control the private brewing of alcohol by the people, and keep the right to brew alcohol under the control of the government and the royal family. This will not only stabilize agricultural output and the country, but also provide sufficient reserve resources for foreign conquests."
Banban understood, "Group drinking does indeed have a negative impact."
If drinking alcohol is prohibited, then anything with an alcoholic flavor will surely be popular.
"Sending it to the soldiers on the march did satisfy their cravings." They were the group least able to drink alcohol.
As Ying Zheng and Banban had predicted, the cake was named "Wine Soup Cake" and quickly became popular throughout the Qin state.
Taking advantage of this favorable wind, the Ji family made a fortune.
However, less than two months later, a famine struck the Qin Dynasty.
Ying Zheng was anxious about the progress of the Zheng Guo Canal and wished he could arrest people to repair it. After a thorough investigation, he discovered that a large number of locusts had blown in from the east, causing a locust plague. Countless crops had been damaged beyond recognition, resulting in low yields and seriously affecting people's livelihoods.
Some renowned scholars began to say that this was retribution for Qin's frequent wars against other countries, a divine punishment!
Banban had a sudden inspiration and came up with a plan.
Spreading the word that locusts with their wings and heads removed, deep-fried, were a delicious treat that the Queen of Qin loved, led many to rush into catching locusts, hoping to present them to the royal court to please the Queen.
The farmers' burden was significantly reduced, and with everyone working together to eliminate pests, progress was remarkable.
At the same time, Ying Zheng adopted the policy of "paying grain for a title", which allowed ordinary people to obtain a first-level title by paying 1,000 shi of grain, and the title came with a salary.
This is equivalent to the government providing money to its citizens every month.
The famine was immediately resolved, and the locust plague was eradicated at the same time.
As for Banban, she was almost sick of eating fried locusts, so she had no choice but to grind the dried locusts into powder. These things are high in protein and are very good. Grinding them into powder makes them easier to preserve.
"The locusts are coming from the east, saying that the Qin state has been punished by heaven." Banban muttered to her cousin, "Could those things in the east be heaven? They're really good at patting themselves on the back."
"That's just something you can fool if you're brainless."
Ying Zheng smiled at his cousin's disdainful look, "But there are just some brainless people in this world, and there's nothing you can do about them."
Banban advised herself not to get angry, "Don't get angry, it only benefits others." She also patted her cousin's back, "Cousin, don't get angry either."
Ying Zheng shook his head and held his cousin's hand. "You said you love to eat locusts, which is a sensational and bizarre story to many people. Now, people from the six states are saying that the Queen of Qin is the reincarnation of a black phoenix who eats insects. Some even say that you are a demon who eats human hearts."
"...?" A question mark popped into Banban's head. "Daji?"
"More or less." Ying Zheng chuckled as he spoke of this. Daji? Daji was skilled at bewitching people; legend had it that she was alluring and seductive, and very adept at serving the king. But his cousin sometimes wasn't even that good.
Banban was quite happy, "That's great."
"Not angry?"
"What's there to be angry about? Isn't 'fox spirit' a compliment?" Banban tilted her head, glanced at herself in the bronze mirror, and was quite satisfied. "It shows that my beauty is already a consensus among the six kingdoms."
“They also say my cousin is a tyrant, then we’re such a perfect match.” She grinned and pretended to roll up a pancake filled with fried locusts. “Your Majesty, have a taste, it’s crispy and delicious, and it has pickles inside.”
Ying Zheng stiffened slightly, hesitated for a moment, and then ate it.
Banban covered her mouth and chuckled, "My cousin ate them with great relish when he didn't know they were locusts, but now that he knows, he's so disgusted with them."
"Locusts eat grain and are very clean. Didn't I show them to my cousin? Locusts are all white and very nutritious. They're just ugly."
Ying Zheng's lips twitched slightly. "Cousin, you shouldn't eat too much."
"I don't want to, let them talk." Banban didn't care at all, and was even quite proud. "I don't want to be a virtuous empress, because if I were, I would suffer grievances."
Ying Zheng comforted her, "Who in Qin doesn't praise the Queen's virtue? These are good words."
As the two were talking, Banban suddenly remembered something else.
“Cousin, most of those who donated a thousand bushels of grain are probably wealthy people. Since Shang Yang’s reforms, our Great Qin has emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce. The selection and promotion of noble titles have always been based on military merit.”
"Now that so many rich people have been selected, can they really be good officials?" He had no self-awareness at all, unlike Ji Xiu, who knew he didn't have the talent to be an official and simply declined.
“Of course it’s not going to be done well.” Ying Zheng told her not to worry. “It’s not an important official position. The policy of granting titles based on grain is just an emergency measure. Once the famine is over, this policy will be abolished.”
"Oh, that's good." Banban was no longer worried.
After dinner, the two took a walk together to digest their food and talked about Lü Buwei's writings. "He did present me with a few articles, which are all about moral education and quite interesting stories."
Banban also knows that "Lüshi Chunqiu" is the earliest ancient book of fables.
“He wrote a few articles early in the morning and couldn’t wait to show them to his cousin. I think he really considers himself your father and wants to educate you.”
Ying Zheng agreed wholeheartedly, but he wouldn't say anything on the surface. On one hand, he disliked it, but on the other hand, he felt that it was indeed not bad.
Footsteps came from not far away, and the two bumped into someone.
Upon closer inspection, wow... what a coincidence!
Lü Buwei!
She had just spoken ill of someone to her cousin and was feeling quite uncomfortable, so she quickly looked away. Only then did she notice that Lü Buwei was accompanied by a tall and burly man. This man was exceptionally strong and looked powerful, yet he had a handsome face.
He was fair-skinned, with slender eyebrows and eyes that gave him a scholarly air, a high nose and thin lips, and exuded a unique masculine charm that lay between youth and adulthood.
At first glance, it seemed so-so.
After a moment of surprise, he quickly lowered his head and bowed to Lü Buwei, then raised his head and glanced at Banban again.
"Is the Prime Minister going to Ganquan Palace?" Ying Zheng asked with a smile, his brows furrowing slightly as he glanced at the man beside Lü Buwei.
Banban tucked his hands into his sleeves, his gaze lingering between the two men.
She was very gossipy; judging from the man's physique and appearance, she knew that this man must be the one Lü Buwei wanted to offer to his aunt.
She scrutinized the man with particular skepticism, noting his good physique and handsome appearance, believing he would be able to serve her sister-in-law well.
The man looked up slightly and met her smiling face. He lowered his head and looked at her again after a while.
That look wasn't the kind that a simple guard or an actor should have. Banban immediately stopped smiling and glared at him.
"Your Majesty, let's go. We shouldn't delay the Prime Minister's important business." Banban tugged at his cousin's sleeve, not wanting to hear him exchanging pleasantries with Lü Buwei.
Ying Zheng complied, "Yes." He then said to Lü Buwei, "Father-in-Chief, go ahead."
As soon as the two left, Banban's expression changed immediately. "That person was so awful. He kept looking up and peeking at me."
Ying Zheng was taken aback, his eyes instantly turning cold. "Is that so?" He turned to look at Lü Buwei and the man's figures.
“Yes, yes.” She nodded repeatedly, puffing out her cheeks. “I’m the Queen, why does he keep glancing at me? Disgusting, cousin, I don’t like him.”
"Alright, your cousin will avenge you." Ying Zheng touched her little face, turning away from the disgust and hatred in his eyes.
On the other side, at Ganquan Palace.
Lü Buwei and Ji Changyue sat at the same table, and the man performed many amazing skills.
Ji Changyue was dumbfounded. Some of the things she saw were not suitable to be shown to outsiders. She stared at the man several times, snorting and laughing, "Lu Buwei, where did you get this wonderful person from?"
Lü Buwei was very modest and said with a smile, "A few days ago, I went to the State of Wei on behalf of Your Majesty. On the way back, the carriage had some problems. Among the junior officers who accompanied me was this man. This man has been with the army for many years and has immense strength. He can lift a huge object with one arm and lift the carriage out of the mud."
“Moreover…” He paused at the right moment and beckoned Ji Changyue to come closer.
Ji Changyue didn't shy away from the conversation and moved closer to listen to his detailed explanation.
Unaware of what Lü Buwei had said, Ji Changyue's face flushed red on the spot. Embarrassed and slightly angry, she slapped him, but she didn't use much force; the slap was light and airy.
"You—" She didn't know what expression to make, but her eyes were honest as she glanced at the man.
Seeing this, Lü Buwei knew that the matter had been accomplished. He rubbed his face and chuckled.
After a while, Ji Changyue cleared her throat, maintaining the demeanor of an empress dowager, and said impartially, "Your performance was good, so stay. There are vacant seats in the music hall, so go there and enjoy yourself. You have been with the army for many years, it's time for you to rest and enjoy yourself."
The man was overjoyed and quickly knelt down. "Your Majesty, I will obey your command and serve you with utmost care." As he spoke, he raised his head to look at the high and mighty Empress Dowager.
To be fair, the Empress Dowager was only in her early thirties, still charming and beautiful, truly a renowned beauty of the Zhao Kingdom.
Lao Ai had lived half his life and never imagined he could meet such a stunningly beautiful woman; his heart was pounding.
Being a king is great; all the women he marries are the most beautiful in the world.
The kings of the former Qin dynasty did this, taking the queen dowager into their fold. The current king of Qin is even more so, at such a young age... His queen is even more fresh and beautiful, as pure and captivating as a peach blossom in March.
Thinking about it this way, he felt extremely jealous.
Why are some people born kings, while others struggle their whole lives only to be pawns?
Lao Ai refused to accept his fate!
The beautiful Empress Dowager is the key to changing his fate; he must find a way to win her favor.
Ji Changyue had not been stared at with such an aggressive gaze for many years. As the Empress Dowager of a country, who would dare to look her in the eye?
But because there were too many cowardly and timid men, she found it all very boring.
This man is interesting.
Her blood was boiling, but instead of getting angry, she stared straight back at him, taking in everything about him with great interest. When she saw that he was staring at her intently, she kicked him without hesitation.
Unlike those timid actors, Lao Ai had served in the army for many years and was quite bold. He even grabbed the Empress Dowager's ankle and wouldn't let go.
Ji Changyue was slightly startled, but failed to retract her foot. She was immediately enraged, "How dare you!"
"Am I being presumptuous?" Lao Ai said, still holding onto that small foot. At that distance, he could even smell the Empress Dowager's fragrance. "I thought Your Majesty was rewarding me."
With a 'smack,' Ji Changyue slapped himself so hard his hand hurt.
Blood immediately trickled from the corner of Lao Ai's mouth, but he was not intimidated. Instead, he gently released the Empress Dowager's foot, carefully placed it on the ground, and wiped it with his sleeve. "This humble servant has offended Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
Although he was apologizing, his gaze remained unchanged.
Lu Buwei nodded approvingly, knowing that this young man was bold and completely different from other men. He knew Ji Changyue's fate; she was used to being strong, and there were few men who could make her tender and affectionate, and those who could were all dead.
Because of her past experiences in the State of Zhao, what she longed for was a man who could command her respect and treat her gently, rather than a cowardly man's submission.
That's enough.
In the past two years, Ji Changyue has become increasingly restless, wanting to rekindle their old flame. Although Lü Buwei is tempted, how could he dare to do so? King Zheng of Qin is watching him closely.
Moreover, he was thinking about great achievements and imperial ambitions, not romantic love. He could clearly distinguish between what was more important and would never ruin his future as prime minister just because of a former lover's advances.
After much deliberation, he decided to send Ji Changyue a male concubine who would satisfy her in every way, while also planting a spy in Ganquan Palace to gather information about Ji Changyue and the King of Qin's movements.
This piece is necessary.
Ji Changyue and King Zheng of Qin were of one mind. Although she listened to Lü Buwei on state affairs, she unconditionally supported her son whenever it came to matters concerning the King of Qin.
But the King of Qin was only seventeen years old, and he would make mistakes. In order to ensure that the Qin Dynasty would not go astray, Lü Buwei had to place this pawn in order to prevent problems before they arose.
A win-win situation is one where everyone is happy.
Just then, the sound of armored soldiers pounding the ground came from outside, and the ground trembled in waves.
Ji Changyue abandoned her stance, frowning in displeasure. "Who's making a scene outside?"
The maid nearly fell over as she entered and knelt on the ground, her expression terrified. "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! The King's personal guards have come and say they want to arrest someone."
"Zheng'er?" Ji Changyue exclaimed in surprise. "Who are you arresting?" She glanced around the hall, her expression pausing. "Did you run into Zheng'er when you came?"
Lü Buwei nodded in agreement, “Yes, but His Majesty did not suspect anything. I often bring my retainers into the palace.” As he spoke, he suspiciously looked at Lao Ai.
Lao Ai's expression tightened. Could it be that the King of Qin had found out about the few glances he had given the Queen?
He had a sudden inspiration and knelt down to explain, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. When the Prime Minister and I entered the palace, we ran into the King. I was curious about how wise and powerful the young King of Qin was, and I couldn't help but look up. But the King was also looking at me... He stared at my face for a while and was very displeased."
"But the king didn't say anything afterward, so I thought nothing had happened."
“It seems…” he said with deep sorrow, “that’s the fault of this little man’s face; it looks so unlike what an actor should have.”
The implication of these words is that King Zheng of Qin realized that this was the male favorite that Lü Buwei intended to give to the Queen Dowager. He was displeased, angry on behalf of Prince Zhuangxiang, and wanted to kill him.
Ji Changyue's expression changed slightly, and his gaze became deep.
Without hesitation, Lao Ai grabbed a sharp weapon from the table and slashed it viciously into his face. Blood gushed out instantly, and Ji Changyue screamed, "What are you doing?!"
He endured the pain and said with a bitter smile, "If I could disfigure the face that makes the Empress Dowager feel embarrassed, I would rather be a eunuch serving by the Empress Dowager's side!"
Lu Buwei gave Lao Ai a second glance, then turned his gaze to Ji Changyue.
As expected, Ji Changyue was moved, her expression shifting between light and dark. After a moment, she let out a long sigh, "Alright, why be so extreme? Get up."
Lu Buwei smiled with satisfaction upon receiving this answer, and then said, "It seems I can't be a court jester, but I can still be a eunuch."
Lao Ai gripped his hand tightly and suddenly looked at Lü Buwei.
Lu Buwei said to Ji Changyue, who was puzzled, "I have a plan. Since Lao Ai has been disfigured, I will first hand him over to the king's personal guards. Afterwards, I will change his appearance, pretend that he has been castrated, and send him to the Empress Dowager's Ganquan Palace disguised as a eunuch."
"Your Majesty, please calm down."
Ji Changyue composed herself, pondered for a few moments, and then said, "Then I will leave it to the Prime Minister."
Because of Lao Ai's words, Ji Changyue didn't blame her son, but she couldn't be happy either. Originally, she was indeed guilty because no one said anything, but once someone pointed out that she had betrayed Prince Zhuangxiang, she would hate him very much.
Why should she remain chaste for Zichu?
Zichu was the one who wronged her! He died before he could make it up to her!
He owes her, so why should she remain chaste for him? Why should she remain chaste for any other man?
Why are there no stories of men remaining celibate for their deceased wives?
Why should that woman remain chaste for her deceased husband?
That's so unfair, she won't comply.
Chaoyang Hall.
Banban came back from her walk, had a bowl of peach milk tea, and lay down to cling to her cousin, saying that her stomach was bloated and she felt uncomfortable.
"You're the one who wanted to drink, and you're the one who's uncomfortable." Ying Zheng snorted and slowly rubbed her stomach.
"He's just angry, he's just having another bowl to vent his anger, cousin doesn't understand." Banban muttered, leaning against him and pulling his wrist to her stomach, "Hey, don't touch me like that."
Why does the hand keep moving downwards as you touch it?
With ill intentions.
"I've already sent men. He'll surely die tonight. Kill him to avenge my cousin," Ying Zheng said, gently patting her head.
Upon hearing this, Banban's mood brightened, and she happily kissed his neck haphazardly. "Cousin is so good, I missed you so much." As she spoke, she groped around, trying to take off his clothes.
Ying Zheng grasped her wrist. "Didn't you just tell me not to touch you?"
"If you move around, the milk tea in your stomach will disappear." Banban's words made perfect sense. "Did you make that?"
Ying Zheng stared at her and smiled, then nodded and called Qin Ju in.
She couldn't wait, and though shy, she was very generous. She straddled his waist, clinging to him tightly, and said, "I want to be on top." She kissed him affectionately.
Ying Zheng responded softly and kissed her.
The arm moved downwards.
A little while later she urged him, "Hey, is it done yet?"
"I don't want to!"
"Don't rush, or you'll feel uncomfortable." He told her not to rush, listening to her soft, warm whimpers in his ear.
After a while, someone brought in a copper basin, bowing low and not daring to look at the person inside the bed curtains. After delivering it, the person backed out and closed the palace door.
Upon hearing the Queen's voice, half of her body went numb, her face flushed, and her heart raced.
Ying Zheng withdrew his fingers, the silver threads still clinging to his fingertips. He casually wiped them clean with his discarded clothes, then got up and scooped the contents of the copper basin out.
The next day, when it was fully light, the sky brightened.
It was a rare occasion for the couple to wake up together. Ying Zheng, dressed properly, asked, "Aren't you going to sleep?" He kissed his wife's forehead.
"I'm not sleepy anymore." Banban rubbed her eyes and sat up.
Ying Zheng pinched her cheek and said gently, "That person was poisoned yesterday, and his body has been dragged out and thrown into a mass grave." Banban was delighted and rubbed her hand against his. "Good." That kind of person wasn't worthy of serving her aunt; he was fickle. She tentatively asked her cousin, "Then shouldn't we compensate my aunt with a courtesan?"
Ying Zheng gave her a half-smile, half-smile. She quickly looked away and playfully kissed his palm, saying, "Cousin."
He wasn't actually angry. He shook his head and remained very amiable. "The Prime Minister will choose someone else. Don't worry about it."
He could ignore it, but Ying Zheng really couldn't do it in person.
"Great!" Banban waved to him excitedly. "Then cousin, go to court!"
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