Chapter 396 - 175: After Unifying the World, I Will Bring You Back to the Court! (Part 2)

If it weren’t for him, during the battle in Xianyang, Xia Dong’er might have stayed there forever.

"Efang."

"Do you honestly think I would be so heartless as to sentence Zhong Fu to death?" Ying Zheng smiled, patting Xia Dong’er’s forehead, just as he did when they were young.

"Then why are there so many rumors?" Xia Dong’er asked, puzzled.

"It’s to protect Zhong Fu."

Ying Zheng smiled slightly, then softly explained, "Back when Zhong Fu retired, the six states sent people inviting him to be their chancellor, causing much disturbance. They even sent people to sow discord, and there were many impeachments against Zhong Fu in the court. To protect Zhong Fu, I ordered him to retreat to his fiefdom in Luoyi. Later, to ensure he wouldn’t affect me, he indeed had thoughts of suicide, so I deliberately spread the rumor that he was granted death."

"In reality."

"Zhong Fu is now living well, peacefully and quietly in Luoyi."

Hearing this.

Xia Dong’er finally nodded in relief, "That’s best. Zhong Fu saved my life; if it weren’t for him, I would have died in Xianyang, and Feng’er and the others wouldn’t have been born."

"Before, I only appreciated Zhong Fu for his teaching and nurturing."

"But looking at it now, I owe him an even greater debt."

"If he hadn’t intervened, our family might indeed never have reunited."

"Zhong Fu."

Ying Zheng was also deeply moved.

He felt even more gratitude towards Lv Buwei.

"Yes." Xia Dong’er nodded.

"Did Father-in-law already meet you?" Ying Zheng asked with a smile.

"Yes." Xia Dong’er replied softly again.

Evidently.

Seeing Ying Zheng today, she still hadn’t fully processed it.

"Father-in-law, Father-in-law."

"He knows if he returns to Xianyang, I’ll notice something amiss, yet he doesn’t realize that not returning would make me even more suspicious."

"Speaking of which, why would Father-in-law suddenly think you were at Shaqiu?" Ying Zheng asked with a smile, his face showing some reminiscence.

"Because of Yan’er."

"I gave the jade bracelet left by my mother to her, and it just so happened that my father discovered it when checking Yan’er’s pulse," Xia Dong’er said softly.

Upon hearing this.

Ying Zheng suddenly understood, "So that’s it, that’s how it is."

"Back when Father-in-law was still in Xianyang, Feng’er requested him to check Wang Yan’s pulse, never thinking it was because of this."

"Perhaps this really is a true coincidence."

"If not for this coincidence, it might never have been discovered."

Ying Zheng showed a strange smile.

He never thought it was discovered due to such a reason.

Then.

Ying Zheng came to realization, "Efang, do you know how I discovered it?"

Xia Dong’er lifted her head, indeed looking at Ying Zheng with curiosity.

"I saw our daughter."

"She looks so much like you used to, seven or eight parts similar."

"Just one glance, and it seemed like I saw you as you were."

"Furthermore."

"Ying’er is very cautious; when I called her to chat, she feared I had some designs on her," Ying Zheng said with a smile, his tone carrying a sense of helplessness.

Previously, he hadn’t known why his daughter was so wary and cautious around him.

But later he understood.

Zhao Ying was worried he was interested in her, afraid she’d be summoned to the palace by him.

Thinking of this, Ying Zheng felt rather helpless.

"Perhaps."

"This truly is destiny."

"Though I hid, you still found me," Xia Dong’er said with a slightly resigned tone.

Upon hearing!

Ying Zheng held Xia Dong’er’s hand tightly, gently said: "Efang, I tell you, you can stop trying to run away now. Your worries are valid, because indeed those people can do anything, but I promise that once the world is unified, I’ll openly and honorably bring you back to Xianyang."

"Back in Handan, I promised you."

"I want to make the world free of war, to unify the realm, and to have you become the queen of the world."

"These things, I’ve never forgotten from the beginning to the end."

Listening to this.

Looking at the grown-up Ying Zheng, no longer the inexperienced young man, at her husband she had long cared for, visions seemed to appear before Xia Dong’er’s eyes of the young man making promises in front of her.

Thoughts flowing back.

In the bustling market of Zhao state.

Many beggars could be seen begging.

And many richly dressed noble sons were beating the beggars.

Numerous people with war-related disabilities were begging.

At that moment.

Ying Zheng swore to Xia Dong’er.

We must change this situation.

Govern with law, rule the world with law.

Let there be no more war in the world.

"Efang."

"When I become the King of Qin in the future, I will definitely lead Qin’s army to destroy the Six States and unify the world so that there will be no more war." The young Zhao Zheng said seriously.

"Yes, I believe you." The young girl Xia Dong’er nodded heavily.

The thoughts returned.

Looking at this more mature Ying Zheng.

Now.

Her Brother Zheng was gradually fulfilling his former wishes.

Unifying the world.

It seems really not far off.

"Aren’t you in Xianyang?"

"Why did you suddenly come over?"

"If those ministers find out, won’t they know about me?" Xia Dong’er said with some concern.

"Don’t worry."

"This time I came in secret, no one knows."

"I know you are worried about Feng’er and the others becoming targets, I won’t let that happen." Ying Zheng immediately said.

He understood Xia Dong’er’s concern, so he came in secret, with the excuse of celebrating for Empress Dowager Huayang, just to prevent Xia Dong’er and Zhao Feng’s siblings from being exposed.

Just as Xia Dong’er was worried.

Ying Zheng was equally worried.

As a monarch.

He maneuvered the court with power, but the hearts of the ministers in the court are not something that royal power can control. For power, for family interests, they can do anything.

Just like when they dealt with Xia Dong’er, the royal palace was soaked in blood.

Although Ying Zheng, after ascending to power, employed a batch of outsiders to wield power, the court was still significantly occupied by aristocratic families and old nobility.

It is almost impossible to completely suppress them.

Because in this era, books, writing, and education were almost exclusively accessible to aristocratic families.

It is very difficult for ordinary commoners.

This is why aristocratic families exist.

Of course.

Aristocratic families, as parasites clinging to the empire, feeding on the nation, have existed not only in this generation of Qin but in every era before and after.

As long as those with noble titles are allowed to grow, they will gradually form noble classes and interest groups.

This is unchangeable.

"Are you staying here then?" Xia Dong’er looked at Ying Zheng with some expectation.

"Why?"

"You just wanted to not see me, and now you can’t bear to part?" Ying Zheng said with a bit of teasing, his eyes full of tenderness.

Xia Dong’er’s face showed a hint of shyness.

Although she was already a mother and a grandmother, she was also only in her thirties, not yet forty.

But in front of Ying Zheng, she still had the shyness of a young girl.

Twenty-one years of longing as if it were one day.

How could Xia Dong’er not want to?

"Don’t worry, I’ll stay here for one night today and leave tomorrow night." Ying Zheng said with a smile.

"Yes." Xia Dong’er nodded, her eyes full of affection.

...

Yunzhong City!

In the military camp.

Over two hundred thousand surrendered soldiers were gathered.

Surrounding them were vigilant Sharp Warriors and the ten thousand Logistics Army that had been brought in.

For so many surrendered soldiers.

The deterrence of only over sixty thousand Sharp Warriors is insufficient, so naturally the ten thousand Logistics Army is needed as a deterrence.

"Shangjiangjun is here."

"All surrendered soldiers, sit down."

On the Dianjiang Platform.

Zhang Han shouted sternly.

"By the general’s order."

"All surrendered soldiers, sit down."

In every corner of the drill ground, all Sharp Warriors repeated the order.

The surrendered soldiers who had been standing on the drill ground all sat down on the ground.

For them, it was just like the former surrendered soldiers from Han.

Anxious and restless in their hearts.

They did not know what fate awaited them!!

...