Chapter 49 Bonus Chapter for 3000 Nutrient Solutions (Three-in-One) "Blushing..."
Banban stayed up too late playing with her cousin at night, and the next day, after a midday nap, she slept until dark.
As Yun came in to help her dress, he lowered his voice and said, "Your Majesty, Lady Gu has been waiting outside the main hall for a long time."
Banban wasn't fully awake yet. After letting out a long sigh, she asked in a hoarse voice, "What urgent matter does she have to discuss?"
“We’ve come to say goodbye,” Cong Yun explained, meeting the Queen’s questioning gaze. “Lord Li Si has left the palace, and Lady Gu will naturally be leaving as well. Li You and his younger brother are waiting outside the palace gates. They haven’t seen their mother for four or five days, and they must be missing her terribly.”
"It's not that I miss her terribly, it's that I'm terribly afraid," Banban said casually. "I'll have someone fetch water so I can wash up and go see her."
The queen valued her appearance, and had done so since childhood.
Cong Yun chuckled to herself, saying that she had instructed someone to prepare warm water early in the morning.
"In addition," Yun said softly as she carefully fastened her waistband, "Young Master Geng'er has been staying in the East Side Hall these days, playing with Li Zhi and Li Xiaoniang every day... This servant saw Young Master Geng'er touch Li Xiaoniang's hand yesterday morning."
Banban paused in his movements and turned his head to look at her.
Cong Yun held her breath slightly. The room was quiet. She lowered her eyes and could see the Queen gently smoothing her black hair, her fingers pausing occasionally as if in thought.
Just when she thought the queen would not speak.
She spoke, with a hint of slight puzzlement.
"He's so precocious?"
"ah?"
The master and servant both wore identical expressions of confusion.
"What is precociousness?" Congyun asked hesitantly.
"……nothing."
Banban quickly shut her mouth, thinking of herself and her cousin. It seemed that her cousin was also precocious? But he had never said what he thought when he was a child, and Banban was not sure when he had such feelings for her.
However, considering that people in ancient times generally got married around the age of fifteen, it's not surprising that they had the concept of gender distinction as early as seven or eight years old.
"This servant thought the Queen would be angry." Congyun looked around and lowered her voice.
"Why are you angry?" she asked, slightly puzzled.
"because--"
Cong Yun pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke, "Young Master Geng'er is the Queen's younger brother. He will surely achieve great things in the future. The King loves the Queen and is willing to promote Young Master Geng'er. He will have a great future," she said, "who knows, he might even become a general. As for Li Si, he is still mediocre. He is just a retainer of the Prime Minister. The King gave the Prime Minister face and allowed him to enter the court, but he doesn't even have a decent official position. How can his daughter be worthy of Young Master Geng'er?"
Banban remained silent for a moment, then stared at Congyun strangely for a long time.
Cong Yun realized she might have misspoke. Her mother, whom she had served since childhood, was now the Queen, and things were different now. She quickly knelt down, "Queen?"
“Congyun, if you have such thoughts, do you also feel that I am not good enough for your cousin?”
Yun was startled and immediately denied it, "No, I swear!" She raised three fingers, "The Queen is the best in my heart, and she is a perfect match for the King."
Banban ignored her and stared at her unhappily. "Congyun, how are you any different from Empress Dowager Huayang? When I first came to Qin, most of the people in the palace thought the same as you, believing that I was just a merchant's daughter and how could I be worthy of the Crown Prince of Qin."
"Whether they are a good match or not is up to the two people involved to decide. Any outsiders' opinions are offensive."
He was in a panic, his knees pressed to the ground.
Banban had grown up with her and never punished her. "Get up. I know you meant no harm; you only think this way because you care about Geng'er." She didn't need her anymore and simply straightened her sleeves herself. "But in Gu's heart, and in the hearts of Li Si's family, Liaoliao is the best girl. How can she not be worthy of Geng'er?"
"In my opinion, Geng'er's domineering nature is unworthy of being well-behaved and adorable. Yesterday I said that my nickname didn't have a good meaning, and she, at such a young age, knew how to comfort me. Isn't that a good child?"
Moreover, Yun made a mistake. Ying Zheng promoted Geng'er not because of Banban. She had said before that he was not the kind of person who loved everything about someone, but rather the kind of person who hated everything about someone.
Whoever he loves or likes, he only wants that person to be completely his. How could he possibly extend that love to everything related to them? He probably wishes that the other person's life consisted only of him.
She knows all of this very well; she realized it when she was young. Now she is not a child anymore, and she is much smarter than she was then.
For example, when Zhu was pregnant with Geng'er as a child, her cousin was still young, yet he knew how to sow discord between her and her family.
The reason she hasn't continued like this is because she also likes him, gives him a sense of security, and dares to respond to him. There's no need for him to continue. Sometimes she wonders, what would he have done if she had never liked her cousin?
If it were her, she would only secretly cherish her feelings, bitterly wiping away tears, and wouldn't dare to bother him.
But my cousin would never sit idly by and wait to die...
So, it's wonderful to be able to love each other.
Love is a mysterious thing; how many people in the world can truly love each other? If you like each other, then you should be together.
Social status, family background, and power are all unimportant.
Banban didn't know if her thoughts were right or wrong, but that's what she thought anyway.
"If Liao Liao also likes Geng'er, I'll be very happy. If not, it's nothing." Banban smiled. "Don't do that again, or I'll get angry."
Cong Yun nodded with shame, "Yes, this servant has remembered."
Seeing that she had taken his words to heart, Banban said with a serious expression, "Don't look down on anyone."
Yun nodded even more vigorously, "Yes."
After washing up, Banban came out of the palace and saw Madam Gu, who had been waiting for a long time. "You've been waiting for a long time, haven't you? You took a late nap today and got up late."
"Not long, not long." Madam Gu smiled happily. "I have come to bid farewell to Her Majesty the Queen. We should be going now. We have truly troubled Her Majesty these past few days."
"It's alright, I like you all very much. I'll summon you again when I have time in the future," Banban said with a smile. "Go ahead."
After Gu left, Banban packed up and prepared to go to Xianyang Palace. "It must be because Li Si has cleared his name." Otherwise, her cousin would not have let Gu leave the palace.
Zhaoyang Palace is located to the east of Zhaoxin Palace, quiet and peaceful, undisturbed by anyone.
This place used to be a place for royal sacrifices, and no one lived here. Ying Zheng valued it because it had never been inhabited and was clean, so he turned it into his wedding residence with Banban.
After passing by the gate of Zhaoxin Palace, you arrive at the main road leading to Xianyang Palace. Unlike the delicate and exquisite details of the inner palace, the entire Xianyang Palace complex is majestic, imposing, and towering, which is awe-inspiring.
Ying Zheng usually reviewed state affairs in the Chengzhang Hall, which is located west of the Xianyang Palace.
Since being punished by Yun, he always carried a silver belt when he went out.
As soon as they reached Chengzhang Hall, they heard a woman's scream. Tall Qin soldiers came into view, escorting a woman out. Blood flowed from her arm, trailing on the ground and leaving behind beautiful red flowers.
She screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice filled with anguish: "Tyrant! You shall die a horrible death! The rulers of Qin are all ruthless and cunning, do you know how many families you have ruined and destroyed! I hate you, I hate you!"
The voice was shrill, like a sharp blade slicing through the sky, shouting and resentful.
Banban rarely came into contact with matters of the previous dynasty, and for a moment he stood there stunned, not knowing what to think, staring at her figure in astonishment and helplessness.
Inside the palace, Ying Zheng disdained to pay her any attention. Even when he heard such resentful and hateful insults, he didn't care at all. Instead, he laughed arrogantly: "Hate me? There are countless people who hate me. I can't see you anywhere."
Upon hearing her cousin's voice, Banban calmed down slightly and took two steps back, avoiding the guards.
The woman was being dragged along when she caught a glimpse of this movement out of the corner of her eye. She suddenly turned her head, revealing a pair of bloodshot eyes. "It's you?"
Does she recognize her?
Before she could even wonder what was happening, the man struggled and lunged at her.
Qian Yin's exclamation was drawn out as she spread her arms to block Banban.
Everything was slowed down, and Banban could see her face clearly. It was beautiful and pale, with a lush and picturesque appearance, but her eyes were full of hatred, as if she were some kind of heinous villain.
'Hiss—'
Blood splattered as the Qin soldier swung his sword, and the severed arm fell to the ground.
Qian Yin screamed and collapsed to the ground in fear.
"As a... Zhao person, you entered Qin and became its queen, you too... will suffer retribution." Blood splattered, flowing down the corner of the woman's mouth, and her hatred poured out towards Banban.
Banban's face suddenly turned pale, then ashen. She trembled twice, her legs went weak and she almost knelt on the ground. She vomited several times as her stomach churned. The stench of blood relentlessly seeped into her body, along with the bone-chilling hatred.
"queen!"
The scrolls inside the hall immediately tipped over, and Ying Zheng roared in fear and rage, "Take them away immediately!"
Fifteen minutes later.
After the physician examined her, he put away her belongings and said, "The Queen was just experiencing palpitations and fright; she is otherwise fine."
Ying Zheng, impatient, seized the opportunity while his anger was still simmering, and asked, "Then why is the Queen constantly retching?"
The physician was troubled. "Perhaps the smell of blood is too strong. Some people are sensitive and feel that the smell lingers. They keep recalling the horrifying scene and find it hard to shake off. Their stomachs are constantly stimulated, and they will repeatedly gag."
Ying Zheng's face darkened, and he waved for the others to leave.
Han Ke died right in front of his wife, only half a foot away. Blood splattered on Qian Yin's face, and there were also bloodstains on her sleeves and the hem of her skirt.
She had never experienced such a bloody scene in her life, how could she not be terrified?
Ying Zheng went to the back hall, expecting her to cry, but to his surprise, her eyes were dry and showed no signs of crying; she was just trembling slightly.
He rushed over and hugged the person, constantly comforting them, "It's alright now, don't be afraid."
Banban was still in a daze, feeling a lingering smell of blood in front of her nose. She didn't even know what she was saying. "Cousin, I just realized that menstrual blood doesn't taste the same as the blood that comes out when someone is hacked to death."
"...Before, I always thought, it's just a little blood, not a particularly horrific scene. Why do some people gag and vomit when they see a dead body? How exaggerated, how pretentious. I would never do that."
"I never expected to see such a huge difference with my own eyes. The smell is so pungent," no, it's a shocking scene. Her vision was stimulated, which stirred her stomach. She couldn't help but gag. Red, a patch of red.
There wasn't much blood, but the bright, glaring red color, originating from the human body, would evoke a person's instinctive fear.
"...She even cursed me." She murmured, clutching her cousin's collar tightly.
As a native of Zhao, you will face retribution for entering Qin and becoming its queen.
"If the curse can come true, then when nations are at war, they can simply curse each other. Why resort to violence?" Ying Zheng was furious, but his voice was extremely gentle as he patted her shoulder lightly. "I will not allow anyone to hurt you. It was my fault today."
"What exactly happened?" Banban tried her best not to recall that scene.
He sensed her instinctive fear and held her even tighter, his large hand covering the back of her hand, the warmth seeping through her skin and into her flesh.
This reassured her a lot, and she buried her face in his chest.
"She was not a real Han guest, but a woman from Zhao. Her entire family of five died in the Battle of Changping."
"At that time, the Zhao army was besieged by the Qin army for 46 days. They ran out of ammunition and food and could not break out. The King of Zhao could not send troops to support them, so his father and brothers died on the battlefield. His youngest brother was eight years old and was killed by the Zhao soldiers in their own way and boiled to eat."
Upon hearing the last sentence, Banban gagged violently again, clutching her cousin's clothes, her face turning deathly pale. "Cooked...cooked???"
"Forty-six days is the limit for a person, and many people starve to death. That's human nature; people will do anything to survive." Ying Zheng gently stroked his cousin's hair. "In the face of years of severe drought, it's not uncommon for people to eat their own children."
That's why she hated the Qin state so much.
Ying Zheng did not answer immediately, but paused for a moment. "War is cruel. It's either you die or I live. The people of Zhao have guts. They refused to surrender even after being besieged for more than forty days. They are worthy of respect. Cannibalism to save their lives... is not an unforeseen scenario."
"If Qin and Zhao were to switch places, Zhao would do the same. This is the way of the victor and the vanquished."
Banban was momentarily dazed. She only knew that Qin was the final victor, but she was completely unaware of the many details. Now that she thought about it, from the perspective of the people of other countries, Qin must have been an absolute villain.
Han Ke could not and could never understand why Banban, a person from Zhao, could marry a person from Qin. In her eyes, Banban was a traitor.
This is a momentous event, a matter of national and familial hatred, etched into the very bones and flesh of one's being.
But she wouldn't know that Banban wasn't really from the Zhao state. Rather, her heart belonged to China from the very beginning, to the Chinese nation founded by Ying Zheng.
She didn't even understand the cruelty of war, because she had never experienced it, so how could she have truly experienced it?
"She thought I would be lustful and travel around the country. After living in Qi for many years, I went to Han to look for opportunities. I didn't expect that I would actually meet her. She replaced the Han guest and tried to bewitch me with her beauty, intending to assassinate me after entering the harem."
After all, as a woman, this was the only path she could take. The Qin Palace was heavily guarded, and even entering the court required inspection. Weapons were not allowed inside, and one could not even wear shoes when entering the Xianyang Palace.
She was indeed exceptionally beautiful, but Ying Zheng was not one to be swayed by beauty.
Even if he has no one he loves, he would never take a woman into his harem just because she is pretty.
"Empress Dowager Xia, don't you recognize Han Ke?" Banban asked slowly, belatedly realizing what was happening.
Ying Zheng shook his head. "She has lived in the deep palace for a long time. How could she know Han Ke? She could only have found such a talented and beautiful woman through Han people. Even the real Han Ke is just an ordinary commoner, not a so-called prince or nobleman."
"I never expected to find a spy from the Zhao state..." I wonder what Empress Dowager Xia thinks.
Having said that, neither of them spoke again.
After embracing each other for a long time, Ying Zheng suddenly asked, "Banban, are you scared?"
Her cousin hasn't called her by her childhood nickname in a long time.
After a moment of stunned silence, Banban shook her head firmly. "I'm not afraid. My cousin is doing the right thing. I have no doubt about it, and I will never doubt you or Ying Zheng."
No one in this world would doubt Ying Zheng, at least not in Banban's opinion.
Banban could hear her cousin's heartbeat, thump, thump, thump.
He didn't speak immediately, but gently stroked her cheek. The calluses on his palms from years of martial arts training tickled her skin, and his gentle breath enveloped her from head to toe.
She unconsciously wrapped her arms around his neck and affectionately nuzzled his chin.
He cupped her face in his hands, his gaze drawing closer, and slowly uttered a sentence.
"Do you love me, or Ying Zheng?"
What is this problem?
Banban didn't react immediately and subconsciously asked, "Isn't my cousin Ying Zheng?"
He pressed his fingertips against her cheek and the side of her neck, feeling her throbbing pulse to see if it was rapid or fast-paced. "Don't you understand what I'm asking?"
"I..." Banban's mind went blank, she was indeed at a loss, and answered instinctively, "I love my cousin, no matter who my cousin is."
"Then why didn't you leave with me in Handan that day?" If he hadn't used force, the two of them probably would never have crossed paths again for the rest of their lives.
Now, Banban strangely understood what he was asking.
If that affection had blossomed before she left Handan, then she had indeed been in love with her cousin, not Ying Zheng, from beginning to end. But if not, then her feelings for him were filtered through the lens of 'later generations'.
She was stunned; she hadn't thought about this question before.
Is my cousin jealous of himself?
It seems to be more than just jealousy...
How did he come up with such an unconventional and novel perspective?
She thought for a moment, then said without hiding anything, "Because as far as I know, you will have many concubines, many, many children, and even after unifying the six kingdoms, you will erase the existence of your queen, and no one will know who your queen really is."
Ying Zheng's hand twitched slightly.
“In my heart, my cousin would love me and protect me. Ying Zheng is not. Ying Zheng is a strange monarch who only exists in history books. I am afraid that I will die. Besides, I have a family. I don’t want to leave Handan and I don’t want to leave them.”
Banban was calm and faced his fears at the time: "I couldn't find my place, and I was afraid of the unknown."
"Are you still afraid?"
"I'm not afraid anymore."
Banban shook her head. "My heart belongs to my cousin, but the reason I choose to believe that he will only have me in the future is because I know who you are. I have a natural trust in my cousin and believe that you will not lie to me or hurt me."
Ying Zheng held her hand and placed it on his chest. "Your place."
"She is the Queen of Qin, not a queen whose existence has been erased. I want our names to be linked together forever."
Banban's gaze was deep and sorrowful; she truly wanted to cry, but thankfully she managed to hold back at the last moment and nestled into his arms. "Then you must live a very, very long life."
In fact, the most important reason why Qin Er Shi died was that his cousin was merciful and did not kill all the remnants of the six states. He allowed them to live, and they were restless. After being defeated by his cousin, they naturally only feared him. Once he died, everything was over.
He accomplished what ordinary people could not, but he was ultimately just a human being, and humans are destined to die.
He founded the Qin Empire, and only he could defend it; no one else could.
How many people were waiting for him to die back then?
Just like King Zhaoxiang, the great demon king of the Warring States period, all the states were waiting for his death.
His death gave other powerful figures a chance.
"Not just long, I want to live for a thousand years, ten thousand years." Ying Zheng closed his eyes, the heavy topic vanished, and the atmosphere seemed less somber.
She seemed to have stopped gagging; talking to her cousin really did have a remarkable effect.
Banban roused himself, unwilling to recall the death of 'Han Ke', and instead began to talk about Geng'er and Li Si's daughter.
"There's no question of whether someone is a good match or not. Just marry someone else."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Ying Zheng was slapped. The slap was incredibly loud, making his shoulder itch.
"..." He rubbed his face, then looked up at his cousin.
"I can't stand hearing such things. Cousin, you'd better not say them to my face in the future." Banban gave a forced smile.
"I was just saying it casually, don't take it to heart."
That's just a load of rubbish.
Men who don't care about people or things speak as if it's nothing, showing no empathy, and are cold-blooded and indifferent.
"If it were our daughter, would you say the same thing about her future husband?"
"He dares to do that? I'll kill him!"
After speaking with a livid face, Ying Zheng gradually calmed down and immediately indicated that he would not say such things again.
He hummed and hawed.
Choosing to marry one wife or take numerous concubines is a personal choice at the time, and it's generally impossible to change the lives of men in those times. Even in modern times, with the system of monogamy, there are countless men who cheat on their wives or engage in prostitution, let alone in ancient times when monogamy and multiple concubines were legal and compliant.
She didn't care about others, much less how many men Geng'er would marry in the future, but her cousin was her husband, and she didn't want him to say that.
That night, the two dined together for the first time in a long time. The kitchen staff prepared a lavish feast. They brought in a servant to report that Empress Dowager Xia was ill.
"Is it a real illness or a fake one?" Banban pursed her lips, not quite believing it.
"This..." Qian Yin hesitated and didn't go in. "That's what the palace servants at Empress Dowager Xia reported. I don't know anything about it."
"He was probably frightened into illness," Ying Zheng scoffed indifferently. "Bringing a spy into the palace is a capital offense."
She probably found out about 'Han Ke's' death, and after learning the truth, she was so frightened that she immediately took to her bed.
"Have the imperial physicians keep her alive with the best medicine; it's not time for her to die yet." Ying Zheng didn't care much and had no affection for Empress Dowager Xia.
"Yes." Qin Ju smiled, a hint of worry showing between his brows.
If Ying Zheng didn't care, then Banban naturally wouldn't care either.
However, after finishing her meal, she discovered something.
"Cousin, where is your sword?" She noticed that Ying Zheng's sword was missing.
"The Qin King's sword has been sent to be reforged. I intend to melt down the iron sword that my cousin gave me years ago and combine it with the Qin King's sword, so that I can wear the sword that my cousin gave me every day."
Ying Zheng's words carried a hint of boasting, but his cousin did not become teary-eyed as he expected; instead, she remained silent.
"...How long must the King of Qin's sword be, cousin!"
"About six or seven feet."
"Then, doesn't my cousin have... uh, a person tucked into his waistband?"
"You mean you?"
Banban: ? ? ? ?
She wasn't talking about herself!
But she is indeed only 1.6 meters tall, so her cousin's question wasn't wrong.
The sword, six or seven feet long, was even taller than her!
"If you're curious, you can play with it as you like once it's finished," Ying Zheng said quite generously.
How could anyone else be allowed to play with the Qin King's sword? Even if someone were to draw it, it would be considered an offense against the Qin King. Ordinary people wouldn't even dare to touch it.
"No need," he said, though he wasn't sure if he could actually pull it off, "but I can't."
Banban looked pale and resentful, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
Ying Zheng knew exactly what she was thinking, and with a smile, he pinched her cheek, saying, "Your Majesty is truly adorable and charming."
After dinner, the two went together to visit Empress Dowager Xia.
Yang Jiang was sitting by the bedside, holding a bowl of medicine, feeding Empress Dowager Xia her medicine.
Empress Dowager Xia was pale, with a hint of fear still lingering between her brows. She was probably terrified and had no appetite. She even drank her medicine in fits and starts, her grief more profound than death.
The two entered without being announced, and Yang Jiang was the first to see them and rise to greet them.
Empress Dowager Xia immediately rose and called Ying Zheng's name repeatedly, "Zheng'er, Zheng'er." Her voice, like a drafty broken window, was filled with fear and regret.
Yang Jiang, pale-faced, put down the medicine bowl and helped her up, saying, "Grandmother."
Ying Zheng watched coldly.
Banban looked over here, then looked at his cousin.
Ying Zheng released her hand and acquiesced.
Banban quickly went over and supported Empress Dowager Xia's other arm, "Empress Dowager, please lie down and rest."
Yang Jiang mouthed something to her and asked what was wrong.
Banban shook her head, signaling her not to ask.
Empress Dowager Xia could not say anything else, otherwise it would be an admission that she intended to control the Qin King's harem, which would be a serious crime. But if she did not speak, she might be accused of colluding with foreign enemies.
She had a bitter pill to swallow.
After Empress Dowager Xia lay down again, Ying Zheng said, "Yang Jiang, why don't you accompany the Queen for a walk?"
Yang Jiang lowered her head and agreed, then quickly pulled Banban out.
The night sky outside was filled with stars. Yang Jiang sighed deeply, puzzled. "What exactly happened?"
Banban didn't hide anything from Yang Jiang, "The Han woman that Empress Dowager Xia brought into the palace is not from the state of Han, but a spy from the state of Zhao. She wants to enter the palace to assassinate the king."
Upon hearing this, Yang Jiang was so startled she nearly tripped and fell. "What did you say?!"
"But Empress Dowager Xia didn't know that she was also deceived," Banban added. "Don't panic."
"Where is that Han woman? No, where is that Zhao woman?" She was completely at a loss.
He was filled with rage and fury, even more annoyed that he couldn't deal with her himself. "A Zhao person? Yes, the Zhao people have a deep-seated hatred for the Qin state. How could she frame my grandmother like this?"
“She’s dead.” Banban paused for a moment. “Let’s not talk about this anymore. Don’t worry, the King won’t punish Empress Dowager Xia. After all, she was his grandmother, and he knows she’s innocent.”
Ying Zheng indeed wouldn't deal with Empress Dowager Xia, but that wasn't the reason. Banban said that only to reassure Yang Jiang.
"That's good, that's good..." Yang Jiang believed Banban's words without a doubt, and then burst into tears of resentment, "If you ask me, it's all Empress Dowager Huayang's fault!"
"My grandmother was determined to compete with Empress Dowager Huayang. Although she kept a low profile, she always wanted to outdo her."
"She is my father's biological mother. In order to return to Qin and succeed to the throne, my father recognized Empress Dowager Huayang as his mother. My grandmother had no choice but to endure it for the sake of the overall situation. But Empress Dowager Huayang went too far and tried to kill her several times."
"She wants to be the only Queen Mother!"
"My grandmother avoided his sharp edge and escaped death. She dared not be ostentatious. She finally endured until my brother ascended the throne. My brother did not have any particular preference for the Chu faction and made a mistake."
When you're down on your luck, even drinking cold water can cause problems.
Banban pondered, "Since there are so many things involved, do you think Empress Dowager Huayang might be behind this?"
Empress Dowager Xia sent people to search for beautiful women from Korea. Wouldn't those people have carefully checked their place of origin? How could such a big mistake have occurred?
Moreover, the Empress Dowager Huayang's faction remained completely silent from beginning to end. Wasn't she supposed to be all-powerful and have many informants?
Yang Jiang's eyes suddenly lit up, "You're right, I knew Ying Yue was acting strangely a few days ago!"
"How exactly?"
Yang Jiang's eyes burned with fierce flames as she gritted her teeth, "Ying Yue said I am not worthy to be the eldest princess. Although she was spoiled and willful in the past, she would never be stupid enough to show such contempt in front of me."
He seemed to be deep in thought.
As for Cheng Jiao, he has wanted to go to the battlefield to kill the enemy for years. In the past two years, he has been shouting slogans louder and louder, saying that he wants to make military achievements, be granted the title of Marquis, take Lady Han to live in the fiefdom, and never care about the affairs of the royal court again.
Initially, Chancellor Lü Buwei also opposed the idea, which coincided with Ying Zheng's attitude.
In the past two years, he seems to have softened his stance and believes that Chengjiao is grown up and no longer a child.
What exactly does the Chu faction want to do?
What is Lü Buwei thinking and plotting?
The Chu faction and Lü Buwei should not be in cahoots. Banban still remembers that Empress Dowager Huayang looked down on Lü Buwei, and insulted him both behind his back and to his face.
Banban pondered softly, pinching her fingers together, and comforted Yang Jiang for a long time.
A full hour passed before Ying Zheng emerged from the palace. Yang Jiang rushed over, lifted her skirt, and knelt down, asking, "I wonder what Your Highness intends to do with Grandmother?"
"Take good care of yourself. Am I such a ruthless person?" Ying Zheng neither agreed nor disagreed, nor did he tell Yang Jiang to get up. "I am fine, aren't I?"
ah?
do not you?
Yang Jiang hesitated, her expression unsure of what was really going on.
"Cousin, what did you say to Empress Dowager Xia?" Banban couldn't contain her curiosity.
"She wanted to live and maintain the dignity of the Empress Dowager. It was nothing more than an exchange, nothing serious."
Banban suddenly asked, "Cousin, are you keeping her alive to keep Empress Dowager Huayang in check instead of punishing her?"
Ying Zheng glanced sideways in surprise, "Cousin..."
She understood his unspoken question: How did you become so smart?
She combined Ying Yue's eccentricity with Cheng Jiao's persistence and raised her own question, "I feel that Chu Xi is planning something. Even I have noticed it, and my cousin must know it too."
Ying Zheng took his cousin's hand, his tone revealing a hint of amusement. He seemed oblivious to her meaning and instead brought up the matter of sending troops, saying, "Cheng Jiao always wants to lead troops to conquer other states. I will grant his wish. He will be sixteen next year. Ordinary boys are already married by the age of sixteen. Letting him gain some experience is not a bad thing."
He was always gentle and considerate towards Banban, even speaking softly, which gave his words a false impression.
If there were other people present, they would only think that the King of Qin loved his younger brother and thought of him in everything, and was a truly responsible and good older brother.
After saying that, Ying Zheng gently patted his cousin's hand, signaling her to stop thinking about these messy things. "Meng Ao hasn't been doing well lately. He caught a cold during the hot summer. Although he recovered after taking medicine, his health is not as good as before."
"Cousin, please accompany me out of the palace for a visit."
Banban was surprised, "General Meng Ao is also ill!" She wanted to go.
Meng Ao made outstanding military achievements for the Qin Dynasty, conquering countless battles throughout his life, and was undoubtedly the strongest military force in the Qin state.
The two set out in the dead of night. The streets of Xianyang were deserted, and there wasn't even a candle lit after the curfew. As they lifted the carriage curtain, a sinister terror descended upon them.
Banban quickly lowered the curtain, took out a palm-sized handheld bronze mirror, and checked his appearance.
She came out without heavy makeup, just a light layer, her hair slightly tied up, simply adorned with a phoenix hairpin, and wearing a light purple robe. In the night, she resembled a blooming orchid with purple eyes.
Ying Zheng dressed casually, still in a black everyday robe, without a crown, traveling light, revealing his fair forehead and unconcealed brow bone, which added a touch of approachable gentleness.
"When people get old, their bodies become like this." In the past two years, many old ministers in the court have passed away. Banban still remembers the Huayang Palace Coup, which was suppressed by Meng Ao.
Meng Ao was an undisputed royalist.
"It seems like we haven't heard anything about Ying Yue's feelings for Meng Tian for a long time."
Could this be considered a tactic employed by Empress Dowager Huayang to win over the Meng family?
“Meng Tian is not a fool,” Ying Zheng said leisurely, glancing at Banban.
"In truth, Ying Yue is beautiful, how could Meng Tian not be moved?" But he still refused, which is enough to prove that he was not stupid and did not want to be used.
So, his foolish appearance back then was all an act?
He fooled everyone.
"Sigh." Banban sighed, thinking to herself that she didn't want to play with people like you who have eight hundred cunning minds. They just couldn't get along. "Is it only women who care about love and romance, while men have lofty ambitions and romance is something to be done later and not put first?"
"The timing of people meeting is very important." However, Ying Zheng did not deny what his cousin said. "Men and women see the world differently, and their thinking is naturally different. This is not caused by gender, but by environment."
"If only women could study whenever they wanted and see a wider world whenever they wanted."
"Then the Queen will have to work hard. As the Queen Mother of Qin, I will not stop you from doing whatever you want to benefit the women of Qin."
Banban seriously engaged in immersive thinking.
She still remembered her cousin saying that even if paper could be invented, the poor still wouldn't be able to afford to go to school. This wasn't a problem with paper or Qin bamboo slips, but rather that knowledge wasn't circulating among the common people.
If she could help her cousin educate the people, wouldn't that also make the resistance of the people from the six countries less intense?
Alas, she doesn't know how to teach people to read, and she can't bear to donate money...
She looked up and saw her cousin smiling at her, his eyes reflecting her satisfaction and appreciation.
"Why are you looking at me like that, cousin?" Banban felt shy from his gaze and pushed his face away.
Ying Zheng took her hand and placed it on his face. "Of course, it's my cousin Xinyue. I can never get enough of looking at her."
It's strange that this person suddenly started saying sweet nothings.
Banban's cheeks suddenly flushed red. "Oh."
She answered dryly, and although she had been married for a year, she showed little of the awkwardness and shyness she had before marriage.
She flinched, then moved closer to her cousin, following her heart, and wrapped her arms around his waist.
He cupped her chin in his palm like he was cradling a puppy's head, smiling gently and feigning confusion, "Why are you blushing?"
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