Chapter 27 A Gentleman Doesn't Go on the Rooftop
'Zhao': ?
She couldn't help but roll her eyes at Qi. If he were just a guest, that would be fine. But being just a guest meant there was a small chance he might run away from Qin.
The problem is that they really do have a throne to inherit. In all her years of life, she has never seen a crown prince abandon the throne and run away.
For things like this, it's easier to dream about them.
"Ha, you're overthinking it."
"Really? Then why are you so nervous? Even Qin wasn't this nervous~" Qi felt more and more that Zhao was hiding something. She asked tentatively, "Because you think that if someone can see us, it means we can hurt them, and you're afraid they'll get hurt..."
Zhao: "...Heh, how could that be..."
Qi drew out the word, observing Qin and Zhao's expressions as he spoke: "How strange, Qin doesn't care about the people in Qin, but Zhao does?"
Qin said calmly, "I'll start to care when you can beat me."
A single, decisive image.
She even had the leisure to arrange the flowers and plants below into ladders, paving a path for those below to climb up.
"Or are you going to do it in front of me?"
Qi: ...Well, I'm not that desperate.
After considering all the options, it seemed that no country could possibly harm someone right under Qin's nose.
But she chose to remain silent, pretending not to hear. If she responded and admitted it, wouldn't that be tantamount to admitting her weakness?
While that's true, which country would willingly admit to being inferior to its enemy?
Ying Zheng looked at the Three Kingdoms above without fear, even though he had never seen one of them before.
He brought attendants with him when he left the palace, but when he left Taishu Daliangzao, he instructed some of his attendants to go on business. When he saw three more figures on the rooftops of the palaces he passed, he dismissed the rest of his attendants, so no one followed him.
The location of the grass and wood ladder was somewhat remote and would not be discovered for a while; it would only be found by patrolling guards passing by.
Without hesitation, Ying Zheng followed the grass and trees up the steps. After he stood firmly on the roof, the grass and trees gradually receded and disappeared among the many plants, no longer standing out.
Now is not the time for the state to cease to exist. Ying Zheng first bowed to 'Qin' and called it 'Mother', and then greeted 'Zhao' and 'Qi' out of courtesy.
Qi asked with a subtle expression, "You were able to walk through the Xianyang Palace without being stopped... You wouldn't happen to be a member of the Qin royal family, would you?"
She didn't make that judgment because of the word 'mother'. From her perspective, all the people of 'Qi' could call her mother, so it was perfectly normal for Ying Zheng to call 'Qin' that way.
Ying Zheng subconsciously looked at 'Qin', unsure whether to tell the truth or to hear what his motherland thought.
Instead of introducing Qin by his name, the author stated Ying Zheng's identity: "He is the new crown prince."
Qi paused for a moment, glanced at Qin, then at Zhao, and raised her hand to her forehead, saying, "Wait a minute, did I understand correctly... he is surnamed Ying and of the Qin clan?"
Qin and Zhao nodded in unison, but Qi gasped, "He's not from the Zhao clan, what are you so happy about?"
Qi was puzzled by this and asked directly. Zhao tried his best to save face: "His mother is from Zhao, so he is also my child. Why can't I be happy?"
There was a moment of silence. This was a really difficult question to answer, and even Ying Zheng himself would find it hard to respond.
After all, he was a grandson of the King of Qin and a prince of Qin.
Qi was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "...They have a throne to inherit, think of something else."
Qin nodded slightly and gave Qi a brief introduction to Ying Zheng: "This is Qi. Among all the states, she has a good character... You can call her Congmu."
Ying Zheng obediently called out to the state: "'Qi' is good because it follows its mother."
Zhao couldn't help but question this differential treatment. No, so those who agree with you get the treatment of a mother, while those who don't don't...
Stop! She wants to be a mother, not a mother.
Zhao comforted herself, thinking that it didn't matter if the child didn't receive the treatment of a mother; sooner or later, she would make the little brat call her "mother."
Ying Zheng felt a chill run down his spine under Zhao's gaze. For some reason, he felt that Zhao's smile was somewhat sinister.
Qi hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help but smile sincerely and reply, "Oh, what a well-behaved child, no wonder Qin likes him."
Although the person was not from the State of Qi, to these countries, as long as they were from this land and called themselves the Huaxia ethnic group, there was no difference. It was just that they might not be so close 'temporarily'. Otherwise, they wouldn't have so naturally called the guest minister from another country "child".
They always followed the principle: "Since we're already here, let's call her 'Mother'."
Inclusivity is a common trait among them.
Ying Zheng smiled politely at the right moment. It was impossible for them to become close just because of a title. He had not forgotten that his mother and these so-called 'sisters' had a life-or-death relationship.
This strange, intimate yet antagonistic relationship, which leaves one feeling bewildered, saddened, yet utterly reasonable upon discovery.
Zhao was unhappy to see them so happy together, mainly because she didn't feel part of it, so she spoke up and reminded them, "Aren't you all worried about anything?"
Qi replied politely, "Oh? This is the Qin Palace. What is there to worry about? Unless the earth shakes and the palace collapses, then we should indeed worry about the safety of everyone in the palace."
"Don't you think there's anything wrong with the Crown Prince climbing onto a roof?"
"...I didn't choose this place, you know I haven't been here long." 'Qi' realized something was wrong and quickly shifted the blame.
Ying Zheng took the initiative to defend 'Qin': "Although it was my mother who chose this place, putting everything else aside, I came here of my own volition. Even if there was a mistake, it was my fault."
Qi slightly widened her eyes. The last time she saw someone blatantly lying was the last time.
“Ah…I see,” Qi tried to understand the deep bond between mother and son, and also found a reason, “So it does make sense. You’re sitting on the roof of the palace in the Qin King’s palace, and Xianyang Palace is your home, so of course you can do whatever you want…”
"We are the guests from the other country."
Zhao sighed, not wanting to pay attention to this person and country who were blatantly lying, but still couldn't help but speak up: "You should at least look at the people below you before you say such things."
'Qin' remained unmoved, the entire Qin was within her perception, and naturally nothing that happened in Xianyang Palace could escape her eyes, so there was no need for her to rudely peek down.
Qi, however, moved slightly and, with his excellent hearing, heard someone below calling "Brother." Looking further into the distance, he saw a small child standing in the open space in front of the palace, waving his hands and jumping around.
While jumping around, he shouted, "Brother, you're really up there! I thought they were lying to me~~~"
They were quite far apart. Cheng Jiao was not standing directly under the eaves of the palace, but rather at a distance, where he could only vaguely see Ying Zheng's figure.
If Cheng Jiao already knows, how far is it from Ying Zichu finding out?
"Brother, how did you get up there? I want to go up too!" Cheng Jiao looked up with bright eyes. Ever since he moved into Xianyang Palace, his mother had told him to be more composed and not to run around in the palace.
Life had become quiet and boring, and my brother had been sent out of the palace by my father to work. There was no one to play with, so it was even more boring.
This time, I caught my brother returning to the palace. As soon as he came back, he went up to the roof. It looked very funny, and he wanted to join in!
Ying Zheng: "..." Cheng Jiao, look behind you!
Before Cheng Jiao could ask how Ying Zheng got up there, Ying Zichu, who had rushed over, grabbed him. Ying Zichu's voice was feigned, but there was a smile in his eyes: "Where did you just say you wanted to go?"
“(OO)（—-—（OO）…” Cheng Jiao immediately cowered. His father looked like he could be easy to talk to, but he wasn’t actually easy to talk to. He quickly shook his head, “No, Father, what are you talking about…”
Looking at his youngest son pretending to be stupid, and his eldest son who was clearly composed but actually climbed onto the roof, Ying Zichu smiled in exasperation.
The eldest son wasn't in a hurry. He stood on the roof and bowed respectfully to him, demonstrating that while one's life may be in danger, manners must not be neglected.
So, did he teach this?
Ying Zichu is having an existential crisis.
On the rooftop, Ying Zheng remained calm, while the two states around him burst into laughter, even the Qin state wore a knowing smile.
Qi also said, "Are all the children in the Qin royal family like this? They're quite cute."
Her assessment was clearly of Cheng Jiao, who was currently being held in Ying Zichu's arms, and perhaps also of Ying Zheng, who was calmly bowing from the rooftop.
Zhao also laughed and said, "The two of them really don't look alike."
Ying Zheng smiled slightly; his younger brother was indeed adorable.
He chuckled, then quickly suppressed his expression. Luckily, his father's eyesight was average, so he probably couldn't see him laughing.
Ying Zichu was like a weary old father calling his naughty child home for dinner. Not only did he arrive in a hurry, but he also had people bring out the cloud ladders that were stored nearby and push them under the eaves of the palace. Clearly, he had already thought of a safe way for his eldest son to get down.
Upon seeing this, Ying Zheng quickly moved to the edge, which saved him the trouble of figuring out how to get his father away and ask his motherland to send him off.
He quickened his pace, preparing to descend the ladder, when he heard a voice from below again: "Slow down, don't fall!!"
Ying Zichu felt that his eldest son was both a worry-free and a troublesome one. After Ying Zheng came to him and bowed again, he reprimanded him, "A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. How can you be as fickle as Cheng Jiao?"
Ying Zheng certainly wouldn't argue with his father about how he was on the roof, not standing under a crumbling wall. He simply said he would remember his father's teachings, which calmed Ying Zichu down considerably.
Ying Zichu then had time to reflect on himself. He said, "It is also my fault for sending you to persuade Taishu. If you think it won't work, just say so without worrying about anything. I will find someone else to do it."
In response, 'Qin' could not accept the idea of the King of Qin replacing someone else to persuade him, and even the original Zhu Qing'ai was unwilling to accept it.
She gracefully descended from the rooftop and stood beside Ying Zheng, turning her head to look at him: "If you refuse him, just say... you can do it."
As if afraid that Ying Zheng wouldn't understand why, she added a little more: "The point is not what official position he wants to give to Taishu, but what official position you want to give to Taishu."
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Author's note: There will be no update at noon tomorrow due to the deadline, but there will be an update at midnight!
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Ying Zichu: You two, one climbing the roof, the other wanting to climb the roof, you're both such good bastards! (Angry jpg)
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Part Two: I forgot to mention that during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, a mother's sisters were called "congmu" (从母). This comes from the *Erya* (尔雅), a dictionary of kinship, which was written between the Warring States period and the Han Dynasty.
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