The younger sister bent down to help him.
My cousin and Yang Jiang are going to watch a good show together. Who else could they be watching? It can't be Han Fei, so it must be Li Si.
Do we even need to guess?
"You're the kind of person who won't do anything without a reason, so why are you asking why?"
"Don't talk about people like that."
Banban mumbled and argued that she was accompanying her cousin to court so he wouldn't be lonely.
Ying Zheng immediately sneered, "Then starting tomorrow, you'll have to get up early every day to keep me company."
"..." She didn't say anything.
The kitchen staff prepared a hot breakfast early in the morning. Ying Zheng usually only ate a few bites for breakfast and didn't have much of an appetite. But since the Queen was going to Xianyang Palace with him today, he ate more.
The small buns, no bigger than a thumb, were soft and fragrant. I picked them up and ate them one by one. After eating half a plate, I drank some milk and wheat porridge and pushed the remaining half plate to my cousin. The pickled vegetables were salty and delicious, and there was also a small bowl of steaming hot diced chicken.
The braised meat pancakes that Ying Zhao bought outside the palace a few days ago were quite good. The kitchen made some. Ying Zheng prefers savory flavors and is not very fond of sweets. For example, he usually only takes one bite of the dairy products that his cousin likes and then puts them aside.
After having breakfast and rinsing their mouths, they set off for Xianyang Palace.
When officials had to attend court, they lived outside the palace, and many didn't have time to eat. The timing of the morning court was also unpredictable, and if there was a major event, it could last for the entire morning.
Although the palace did not provide them with breakfast, they were served morning tea and ginseng slices. Some people even had ginseng slices in their mouths, yet they did not become weak. This was all due to the emperor's consideration for them.
The ministers had to arrive at the palace gates even earlier than the King of Qin.
It's winter, and this morning it was snowing heavily.
As Li Si listened to these people discussing the wool fabric workshop that the Queen wanted to open, he earnestly sipped his tea, the steam making his vision fog up.
Suddenly, a hand appeared in front of me and picked up two ginseng slices.
Li Si looked in that direction and saw it was Han Fei.
He looked at it for a while, then said leisurely, "It hasn't been soaked in poison, has it?"
Han Fei was speechless for a moment, then put the ginseng slice in his mouth and said vaguely, "You don't want anything that wasn't given to you by the king?"
He was speechless at Li Si's brainless attitude towards the King of Qin.
"Not necessarily, I wouldn't dare accept what you offer." Li Si held the hot tea to warm his hands, his voice unusually leisurely.
It sounds so infuriating.
Han Fei held back for a moment, then glanced at his tea.
Li Si waited for a while, and was quite surprised not to hear Han Fei's anxious and stuttering words. He looked at him several times.
When Banban arrived at Xianyang Palace, Yang Jiang was already there, as if she had been injected with chicken blood.
She grabbed Banban's hand, and the two hurriedly went to the side door, forgetting to even say hello to Ying Zheng.
From afar, the sound of the King of Qin's arrival could be heard. The ministers quickly gathered their clothes and headdresses and lined up to enter the palace at a leisurely pace.
It was warm and cozy by the side door. Yun had prepared a heater, and there were several dishes of food on the table. Yang Jiang sat down and sighed, "Ah... I haven't had breakfast yet. You are such a clever servant."
The underground heating in Xianyang Palace was burning brightly, making it very warm even without shoes in winter.
Yun Chongyang smiled sheepishly and said modestly, "It's all thanks to the Queen's excellent training."
Yang Jiang recognized this maid; she was brought from the Queen's home and had been serving her since childhood. She must have done nothing wrong to have stayed by her side for so many years, otherwise her brother would have found an excuse to send her away long ago.
While eating, Yang Jiang complained, "You couldn't hide it from my brother, could you?"
Banban: "I didn't say anything; Your Majesty figured it out yourself..."
“No wonder it was so easy for me to make croton powder this morning. I thought I would have to bribe that tea servant... Brother Wang really has a wicked sense of humor.” She muttered the last part to herself.
The morning court session officially began, and Banban ate a few snacks while the people below discussed how to punish Zhao Jia, who had declared himself king, and the Yan Kingdom.
Yang Jiang said, "I have heard about what happened between Ji Dan and my brother before. Most people like him cannot accept that his status has been switched with my brother's."
Banban asked in confusion, "Hmm?"
Yang Jiang explained in detail, “Some people can only befriend each other when they are poor. Once they become successful, all sorts of disputes will arise. Moreover, the King of Yan is wary of him and has sent the crown prince of the country as a hostage twice. Although my brother had a miserable childhood, things got better after he returned to Qin. How could Ji Dan be at peace with that?”
People are normal; they feel resentment, jealousy, and bitterness. This is perfectly normal. There aren't that many truly virtuous people in the world.
Banban thought about it and said, "That's true." She had no feelings for Ji Dan; she neither pitied him nor hated him.
The two sisters talked about everything and opened up. Yang Jiang brought up an unusual thing, "The year he went to Qin as a hostage, you and your brother hosted a banquet for him. I was also there when you met him. I noticed that the way he looked at you was a little strange. Did you two have any interaction in Handan back then?"
"Not normal?" Banban asked doubtfully, pursing her lips. "We don't have much interaction. We've only met twice. His companion, Li Xie, is arrogant and domineering. The first time we met, he was so arrogant that he wanted me to be Ji Dan's concubine."
Yang Jiang was so surprised that she dropped the chestnuts in her hand, clicking her tongue in astonishment: "Huh?"
"My cousin was furious. He beat Li Xie up badly and bit off one of his ears."
"Oh!" Yang Jiang exclaimed in realization, "I know, he is indeed missing an ear, it was actually done by my brother, the king?"
"The second time was when he brought Li Xie to apologize, but it was quite a while before he came." Speaking of Ji Dan, Banban did recall some unusual details.
When she and her cousin were only six or seven years old, Ji Dan was fourteen or fifteen, which meant he was about to come of age and get married. He was handsome and always dressed in white. His gentle and refined demeanor, along with his ever-smiling personality, truly captivated her.
She had never seen such a naturally noble young man before, so of course she would take a second look.
She still remembered that he always spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice carrying a gentle, spring-like quality. She asked him many questions about the palace, and he patiently told her everything he knew.
He also called her Chengyin younger sister.
When she was talking to Ji Dan, her cousin would always interrupt her with a sullen face. She didn't realize it at the time, but now that she thinks about it, her cousin was jealous and angry with her. He wouldn't let her see Ji Dan anymore, and later he refused to take her with him when he went out.
My cousin always says that Ji Dan is a petty person who holds grudges.
She really couldn't tell. Could it be that Ji Dan was very good at pretending?
Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore. Anyway, he came to act as a proton and broke a lot of things. She made him pay for it, and he was really angry, he wasn't faking it.
As the two were talking, Ying Zheng on the high platform asked in surprise, "What's wrong with the Chief Secretary?"
Banban and Yangjiang both peeked out.
Li Si clutched his abdomen beneath his wide sleeves, his face ashen. Behind him stood an official, his face dark with despair, who cried out in a panic, "Your Majesty! The Chief Secretary is about to collapse every two breaths! I'm about to die! Help!"
In an instant, the entire court was filled with people covering their mouths and stifling laughter, as well as those hanging their heads in suppressed rage.
"Don't laugh."
"Don't laugh either!"
The two sisters covered each other's mouths, trembling like leaves.
Li Si was extremely embarrassed, his face flushed red, and he was completely devoid of any refined manners. He wished he could turn away and ask others to bear with him.
He turned his head and saw Han Fei.
Han Fei kept a straight face, neither speaking nor smiling.
There was something else he didn't understand. No wonder he didn't utter a single word of rebuttal outside; it turned out he was waiting for him here.
Li Si was so anxious that his legs went weak, and in an instant, he farted again.
Whether it was a misperception or psychological, the minister behind him twitched a few times, looking like he wanted to die, "Chief Secretary!"
"Your Majesty, your subject... uh..."
Ying Zheng: "..." He waved his hand lightly, saying succinctly, "Go."
Li Si breathed a sigh of relief and fled as if his sleeves were tucked in, almost taking flight. As he passed Han Fei, his rear end left a "plop" mark in his direction.
Han Fei's expression immediately fell apart.
"Brother Wang isn't smiling? Is something bothering him?" Yang Jiang couldn't stop laughing, feeling extremely pleased.
"Hmph," Banban said, "His legs are all swollen from being pinched. Don't be fooled by his face, it's all fake."
Yang Jiang looked at Ying Zheng. From this side, she could only see that his sleeves were indeed on his lap, but the sleeves were wide, so she couldn't tell whether he was pinching himself.
His demeanor was dignified and composed, seemingly having nothing to do with 'leg pinching'.
Li Si did not return even after the court session ended.
It is said that he sent a eunuch to ask for help, and Ying Zheng sent someone to deliver a clean set of clothes to him.
As soon as Li Si came out, he bumped into Han Fei, who was waiting for him at the door. The two cursed at each other at the door. Han Fei didn't say much back. He pointed to the outhouse and said, "Go there," so Li Si had to go.
Listening to the palace servant's vivid description, Yang Jiang burst into laughter again, tears welling up in her eyes.
Banban, in a daze, thought: "Is this what power struggles are like?"
The most sophisticated power struggles are fought using the most unassuming methods.
She couldn't wait to find Ying Zheng, who was waiting in the council hall. As soon as she entered, she tried to lift his clothes.
This was the first time Ying Zheng had seen his cousin like this, and he was quite taken aback. "What are you doing? This is the council hall, not Chengzhang Hall." At least the back hall of Chengzhang Hall had beds for people to rest in.
Banban always wore pants sewn together, and over time Yingzheng started wearing them too. Lifting his robes, she couldn't directly see his legs, and she didn't want to just pull down his pants. "Did you pinch your leg just now? I'm just checking to see if my cousin's leg is swollen."
"..." He pinched her cheeks and picked her up, holding her close in his arms.
"What are you doing?" She was being choked and her words were slurred. She twisted and turned in his lap, struggling.
"Let's see just how good my cousin's silver tongue is at deceiving people." He said condescendingly, leaning down to her nose and swallowing all her unfinished words.
So he wanted to kiss her.
She would give me a kiss one moment and not the next, their actions creating an ambiguous, lingering atmosphere. "Let me touch you," she would say.
"When did I pinch your leg?" He acquiesced, letting her touch it.
"I saw it, my cousin was putting on a serious act." Banban touched it a couple of times, the solid flesh felt no different from before, and there was no swelling of her legs as she had expected. She was very discouraged, her eyes rolled, and she stretched her finger to the left.
Ying Zheng noticed that her hands were not behaving properly and immediately grabbed her wrist.
She gave him a pitiful, innocent look and affectionately kissed his chin.
"I think you're looking for an opportunity to get revenge." There was nothing they could do at the moment; her actions were no different from simply provoking him.
"No, I'm giving my cousin a massage!" Banban volunteered, peeking out and shouting, "Qin Ju, make sure no one comes in. Tell them His Majesty is a little tired and needs to rest for a while."
Qin Ju responded from outside.
She looked up, and as she expected, he was helpless. She didn't stop her, but instead playfully leaned closer to his nose and gently kissed his lips.
He had barely shown any sign of getting up to agree when she shoved him in the chest, pinning him to the spot. "Don't move."
From the lips to the corners of the mouth, extending to the ears, jaw, and even the side of the neck, even the slightly moving Adam's apple was taken care of.
The two of them were originally very infatuated with each other in that area.
As soon as she did this, his breathing became disordered, and as the frequency of his chest rose and fell, she followed suit and went down.
I gently rubbed it in my palm and immediately felt a different sensation.
Banban found it strange. Normally, this thing is soft and feels very nice, somewhat like the sponge she used to knead in her previous life. In another form, it looks like a dried sponge, hard and strangely like a spring.
After a while, he finally couldn't resist and pressed down on the back of her hand.
She nestled in his arms, lifted her face to kiss him, their breaths mingling, inseparable.
She then opened her palm to look at it; it was slightly red. He took her hand and kissed it.
Banban only gave him a kiss. The carpet in the council hall was soft. She knelt on the carpet and looked up at him. He seemed to be having an internal struggle, and struggled slightly. "Banban, you—" He tried to pull her up.
Of course, she wouldn't listen, muttering that he was being hypocritical, clearly very interested and wanting it.
He immediately bent down.
Around noon, Ying Zhao came to Chengzhang Palace for a meal. He was used to eating with his father and mother, and felt lonely eating alone.
I felt that my parents were being unusually affectionate today, even eating together, whereas they usually sit opposite each other.
He wanted to sit between the two of them, but his father's gentle smile immediately disappeared, and he ordered him to sit down.
His mother comforted him, put food on his plate, and patted his head.
He then made a face at his father, then buried his head in his food and ate heartily. After finishing his meal, he wiped his mouth and said, "I'm going to shoot arrows with Meng Huan later. Grand Tutor Meng said he'll teach us to shoot rabbits, and I'll shoot one to give to my mother."
Ying Zheng gave a perfunctory reply, "Make your promise only after you can draw the bow."
Ying Zhaochao was angry. "I'll pull it open! Father, just you wait!"
He ran away immediately after saying that in a fit of pique.
Banban said to him, "Why don't you encourage your son?"
"The more you encourage him, the more arrogant he becomes. This kid needs to be suppressed; he has a very strong competitive spirit." Ying Zheng had already planned it out. In the future, he would find a minister who would speak harshly to him, and he would grant that minister a pardon from death. He would just scold him with a stern face.
Before he could finish speaking, Ying Zhao returned, much to the surprise of his parents.
He buried his head in his belly and listened intently, puzzled. "Mother, when will the little sister come out? Why can't I hear her talking?"
"She can't talk yet." Banban rubbed his head. "And it might not be a sister, maybe a brother?" She felt she had to say this in advance, otherwise if it turned out to be a son, she would become a mother who didn't keep her word.
“No,” Ying Zhao said seriously, “it’s my sister. I’ve dreamed about my sister many times.”
Ying Zheng was also surprised, "What does my sister look like?"
Ying Zhao thought for a moment, then counted on his fingers and said, "Beautiful, with big eyes, and doesn't like to talk." As he spoke, he glanced at his father, as if making a comparison, "I have to say three sentences for her to respond to one, just like my father."
Banban: "..."
Ying Zheng: "..."
Son, just because someone doesn't want to talk to you doesn't necessarily mean they don't like to talk.
-----------------------
Author's note: Extra chapter at 11 PM as usual, mwah mwah mwah mwah.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
