Upon arriving in Chu, "His buttocks weren't flattened; they were still perky."...
Ying Zheng's silence drew many questions: "What's wrong?"
He remained silent for a few moments, then said, "It's nothing."
Li Si pursed his lips tightly, looking very serious, before changing the subject, "The land of Chu is crisscrossed by mountains and rivers and dotted with lakes and marshes, so the worship of gods and myths and legends are prevalent, and the shamanistic culture is the mainstream."
"Hmm? Witchcraft?" Banban thought of Qianyin's neighbor, who had a persistent high fever and asked a witch doctor to exorcise it, but instead of getting better, he was burned into a mentally impaired state. The witch doctor said that a ghost had taken one of his souls, and there was nothing that could be done to save him.
“They are almost the same.” Li Si nodded. “The Chu region has a wide range of rituals for worshipping ghosts and gods that go beyond the official rites. From the palace to the countryside, the practice of witchcraft is very popular. The status of shamans who can communicate with ghosts and gods is extremely high. They not only preside over sacrifices and pray for blessings and ward off disasters, but they can also enter the court to serve as officials.”
"There was even a king of Chu who held the position of high priest, believing that this would connect the gods with the state of Chu. In daily life, when going to war or handling important state affairs, shamans were needed to perform divination and sacrifices to seek the will of the gods."
Ying Zheng remained expressionless. "It seems the gods do not favor the State of Chu. Perhaps we should relinquish the throne to the gods and let them govern it well."
Why ask about everything? How come people have so much free time?
He had always looked down on the other vassal states, and as he listened, he couldn't help but make a few sarcastic remarks.
Banban was used to it, so she put a chestnut in his mouth to signal him to stop talking.
He refused, and even got a little angry. He hadn't even thought about talking to the gods, so why should you, a piece of trash, do so?
The Qin state also had officials in charge of divination, but they were only responsible for astrology and observing celestial phenomena and geography, and had nothing to do with divination of war situations.
No wonder Ying Zheng looked down on the State of Chu. "To entrust the honor and disgrace of the state to divination is no different from being a useless person. It would be better to use that time to train troops than to kneel down and pray to the gods. If we can conquer all the states, then the gods might finally take notice."
Who cares about a piece of trash?
"So they were defeated by the king." Banban knew exactly what to say to please him.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, he curled his lips into a cold snort, and tossed the chestnut into his mouth with a more satisfying force.
After he finished eating, he looked down and searched for her palm.
She peeled three, ate two herself and gave him one, then simply shoved the plate into his hand.
He changed from lying on his side on the soft couch to sitting upright, peeling chestnuts one by one, "Perhaps we're almost there."
“We will arrive in Chu by dawn tomorrow.” Li Si smiled. “Your Majesty doesn’t often lift the curtain to look out the window, yet you can calculate the route so accurately.”
When Ying Zheng was asked to peel chestnuts properly, he didn't eat much. Instead, he neatly arranged a plate of chestnut meat and pushed it in front of Banban.
As evening approached, the group stopped at the post station to rest. Once their feet could touch the ground, Banban immediately slumped into his arms. He was exceptionally adaptable and didn't find anything unbearable for himself. However, his wife had delicate skin, so he quickly massaged her shoulders and waist.
"My butt is all flat from sitting on it." She lay on the tatami mat, lazily closing her eyes to rest.
As she was speaking, a warm hand suddenly covered her buttocks and even pinched them. She immediately kicked him, saying, "You didn't flatten it."
"It's still perky."
With his ministers absent, he acted in such a serious yet unserious manner.
Unfortunately, she was too tired from the journey to be in the mood, otherwise she would have pushed him down.
Having entered the border region of Chu, the food prepared by the post station had taken on the Chu style. Chu was a land of fish and rice, and the dishes served at dinner were mostly elaborate dishes with strong contrasting flavors.
The Chu family's steamed fish, stewed turtle, roasted lamb, and fried wild goose were not much for the two of them, so they weren't served too much of each dish. In addition, they added a honey cake, which was said to be made of honey and rice flour and looked very much like the glutinous rice cakes seen in later generations.
The steamed fish was prepared like plain steamed fish, with a special sauce placed underneath, releasing a fresh and fragrant aroma. The turtle was stewed with chili peppers; lifting the ceramic lid released a spicy and oily aroma. As for the mutton, aside from venison, it was one of Ying Zheng's favorite meats.
However, he always had a special affection for fish, and it's unclear whether it was because he grew up inland and had a great reverence and love for water.
But he just can't swim.
Logically speaking, he was competitive, yet he never mentioned learning to swim.
After eating half of it, Qin Ju came in and brought two bowls of soup. "This is a hot and sour soup. The Queen loves soup. It was sent by the post station to honor you."
"This is made by stewing shredded swan and duck meat, and adding plum and dogwood to make it sour and spicy, which is very appetizing."
"It smells delicious." Banban took a bite, and the sharp, sour and spicy taste went straight to the top of her head. In particular, the scalding hot taste intensified the flavor left in her mouth, making it irresistible.
She likes to eat hot food, always feeling that it tastes best when it's hot, and that it's not as delicious as when it's fresh out of the pot once it cools down a bit.
Ying Zheng was puzzled and looked at her, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
Not only was the soup scalding hot, but the water she used for bathing was also scalding. Unless the two of them were going to do something in the bath, he wouldn't be willing to bathe with her, as the temperature was enough to burn him to death.
He was about to stir her soup to cool it down, but she thought he was going to eat her, and she immediately got angry.
After the meal, Ying Zheng rested his forehead on one hand, his gaze falling on his wife who was eating and drinking.
She eats slowly, not because she's not focused on her food, but because she takes every bite seriously. She also has a particular way of eating; for example, she mashes the potatoes in the dishes into a paste with a spoon and mixes it evenly with the rice. If she finds the hot and sour soup delicious, she adds two spoonfuls to the rice to season it.
"Don't be fooled by how disgusting it looks after you've mixed it; it tastes delicious."
"Didn't I say nothing?"
Ying Zheng chuckled, "Chin."
Banban did as he was told and raised her chin, and he took a handkerchief to wipe it clean for her.
"Is it really that delicious?"
"When you're with someone important, even the most ordinary food tastes delicious."
“That makes sense.” He said with a smile, his mind slightly stirred, and he used up the cooled hot and sour soup.
After eating and rinsing their mouths, the two went for a walk along the Chu River.
This river traverses all the land within Banban's field of vision. "Does this river have a name?"
"It is a branch of the river, and there are too many branches, so not every tributary has a specific name," Ying Zheng explained.
"Jiang? Is that all there is to it?" Banban asked, puzzled.
“It is very long,” Ying Zheng said. “It spans the entire region, with the Min Mountains guiding the river to its easternmost point, and it has different names for different sections and countries along its route.”
"It flows through the land of Chu and is called the Jing River; its upper reaches flow through the land of Shu and are called the Shu River. The vast expanse of Chu and the boundless expanse of the sea perfectly describe the Jing River."
Banban somehow knew its true name. "Since the State of Chu is gone, why keep the name Jingjiang? Once my cousin conquers the State of Qi, it won't need any other name. Let's just call it the Yangtze River."
The name suited the Qin state's concise and unpretentious style, and Ying Zheng thought it was good, so he naturally agreed.
Speaking of the State of Qi, with the fall of the State of Chu, only the State of Qin and the State of Qi remain among the Seven Warring States. The State of Qi has been quiet lately. The King of Qin suddenly went to inspect the land of Chu, seemingly without any intention of continuing to annex territory. The King of Qi was very uneasy.
"King Qi has always been a coward. He pays tribute to Qin every year and serves it with utmost care. Perhaps Xiao Heng is right and he might actually surrender."
"They will definitely surrender." Ying Zheng gently tapped his cousin's head. "Why do you believe everything others say?"
Banban was stunned for a moment. When she met his eyes, she remembered that Yao Jia had bribed important officials of various countries with a large sum of money. She was not convinced. "It's because when Xiao Heng said this, my cousin not only did not refute it, but also took the initiative to make a bet with him. I trust my cousin. It has nothing to do with other people."
"My mother praised him as the only one in heaven and earth, and wanted me to meet him. So naturally I had to see his aptitude and give him a chance to show his talent."
Upon hearing this, Banban looked resentful.
She slapped his arm several times, then turned and walked away.
He suddenly swept her up from behind, startling her. She punched him hard, yelling, "What are you doing!"
"Let my cousin see a wider view."
Is it higher?
He was so loud and boisterous, yet still not satisfied, he wanted to sit on his shoulders.
“That’s easy.” He lifted her up with ease.
She gripped his shirt tightly, her heart pounding with fear. "Hold my hand tight, I'm afraid I'll fall."
Seeing that she was really scared, he asked her to ride on his neck, so that she could squeeze her legs together tightly and feel a little safer.
Banban was still a little shy, and only did it after he urged her twice. Sure enough, this reduced her fear a bit. She raised her head and looked into the distance, and then she exclaimed "Wow!"
"It looks like a citrus fruit!"
As the sun begins to disappear below the horizon, it distills a fine mist from the river, reflecting a shimmering orange path of light that stretches towards the sky.
The western sky was ablaze with magnificent rosy clouds, as if trying to melt the most glorious scenery into the approaching twilight of the river.
"It looks just like a duck egg yolk!"
Her metaphors are mostly related to food, exuding a delicious aroma and adding a touch of everyday life to this magnificent scene.
It was as if the smoke from cooking fires was right there, and even the miracles created by ghosts and gods no longer inspired awe.
Ying Zheng swallowed back the descriptions that were on the tip of his tongue, such as "the red pearl that has been tempered to the extreme", "the flaming jade that is still burning at the bottom of the river" and "a drop of molten gold".
He chuckled softly, then said seriously, "How about we have duck eggs for breakfast tomorrow?"
"Okay, okay!" She danced on his shoulder. "I want to drink soy milk, with lots of sugar." Soy milk is made from soybeans. In recent years, the technology of grinding soybeans in Qin has become increasingly advanced, and it is now possible to drink soy milk. However, after boiling, the soybean residue in the milk must be sieved twice.
The next day, sure enough, there was soy milk to drink early in the morning. Banban knew that the people at the post station had been very busy in order to serve them a good meal and a good night's sleep, so he ordered people to make arrangements.
She insisted on paying for her own meals, refusing to let anyone work for free, and made sure that the money reached everyone's hands, preventing any embezzlement.
When Ying Zheng came out, he heard his wife talking to the cook in the kitchen, who was probably expressing her gratitude.
Banban suggested, "If you add some milk to the soybean milk and cook it before selling it, you can earn more money every day. This is a post station with many people coming and going. If you find something to put it in, people who are in a hurry will be willing to buy some to fill their stomachs on the way."
When she saw him come out, Banban said she was leaving.
The cook held up the reward money and looked up to show it off. The queen was such an approachable, gentle and kind woman. She even taught her how to make money. Aren't all the profitable things firmly held in the hands of the upper nobility?
From that moment on, the Queen seemed to be separated from the King in her heart. The Queen became an independent individual. It was no longer "the Queen must be a good person to be favored by the King for so many years", but "the Queen is a good person".
The carriage swayed and rattled as it arrived at the inner city of Chu.
The atmosphere here was solemn, and no one was peeking.
Their accommodations were arranged early in the morning. Yingyue and Liyou came over to pay their respects. Banban told them to go and settle in first, as they had been working hard for many days and needed to rest well.
"Your body is so robust, yet you've survived the bumpy journey unscathed." Ying Zheng commented on Li Si, finding him remarkable. He could endure both good and bad times without being affected at all; in some ways, his body was not weak.
"Your Majesty, I must keep up with your pace. How can this be a problem?" Li Si said with a smile, his hands tucked into his sleeves.
"Stop flattering me, hurry up and follow me." Ying Zheng glanced at him.
"Yes, sir." Li Si hurriedly followed.
The King of Qin was tall and imposing, while Li Si was much thinner. If the King of Qin walked quickly, Li Si would have to speed up to keep up.
Ying Zheng's first task was to meet with the officials who currently controlled the Chu region. He had not yet issued any formal orders regarding the specific arrangements for the people of Chu. On his first day in Chu, he would certainly want to take a look around.
These are tedious and boring things, so Banban didn't go along.
As soon as they entered, they heard Yingyue's wails. Banban laughed at her, "As expected, you can't take it."
Ying Yue immediately fell silent and adopted a serious demeanor again, "Why did Sister-in-law Wang enter the door so quietly?"
"There's no one guarding your house outside." She plopped down and rolled her eyes at her. "What are you pretending for?"
"...You've become just like Yang Jiang after spending so much time with her."
Why didn't she come along?
"What do you think?" Banban asked. "Would you go to South Korea?"
"..." Ying Yue said sullenly, "I thought she and Han Fei were inseparable."
"If she hears you say that, you're finished." Banban chuckled and poked her forearm. "What are your plans for the afternoon?"
"I've heard there's a sacrificial ceremony in the capital tonight, perhaps..."
"good!"
So, in the afternoon, we naturally changed our look to blend into the Chu region!
They found a local hairdresser from Yun to style the two of them's hair. High buns or double buns were popular in Chu, and Banban styled the latter, with hairpins, combs and other hair ornaments adorning the buns, making them more gorgeous and exquisite than those in Qin.
I wore the shenyi all over the Qin state, but the shenyi in the Chu region was different from that in the Qin state.
Its waist is tight, the sleeves are wide, and the skirt is flared, making it flow gracefully when walking. Qin women's skirts were not so loose and were usually worn with small steps, which is why the ladylike walk was popular in Qin.
The people of Chu favored red and vibrant colors. Their clothing even featured various exquisite embroideries, with patterns often depicting coiled dragons and flying phoenixes, or auspicious beasts and cloud patterns.
Everywhere you look, there are traces of the gods that are revered.
It turns out that at this time, dragon and phoenix patterns were available for everyone to wear, and were not limited to royal special supply.
The people of Chu were so relaxed and free that it felt unreal to Banban. The women wore wide robes with long sleeves, belts that accentuated their slender waists, and embroidered fine clothes.
She's fallen for all the women here.
Ying Yue said, "This is because there was once a saying that the King of Chu loved slender waists."
"As a result, many women starved to death in order to please the King of Chu."
"Just as my brother loves the Lingyun bun and the five-colored flower skirt, the Qin women also often wear the Lingyun bun and the flower skirt."
Banban curled her lip, "Sure enough, what's popular among the common people is guided by the powerful and wealthy."
The merchant who loudly proclaimed that the King of Qin loved women who wore flower-patterned skirts must have been selling flower-patterned skirts.
Instead, she rarely wore the five-colored floral skirt after getting married. She wore it more often when she was young. In the corridor of the Ji family in Handan, all that could be seen were her figures wearing various floral skirts, kneeling, sitting, or lying down lazily.
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Author's note: Here we go.
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