"Ah'Fang."
"I knew you wouldn't refuse."
Ying Zheng tightly embraced Xia Dong'er, his face adorned with a rare smile.
In Xianyang, in the royal palace
No matter which concubine he faced, Ying Zheng rarely smiled.
To him, those concubines were merely tools to extend his bloodline, nothing more.
None of them had ever truly captured his heart.
The concubines of the harem all coveted the title of queen the only rightful wife in this era but Ying Zheng had never wavered, because none of them were worthy.
The woman before him, Xia Dong'er
His Ah'Fang
She was not merely a concubine of the Qin King, Ying Zheng.
She was the childhood companion of the once-humiliated hostage prince, Zhao Zheng, in Handan.
She was the woman who had shared life and death with him.
She was the wife who had once knelt beside him in a ritual of marriage beneath the heavens.
No one could compare to Xia Dong'er's position in his heart.
"Before I came here,"
"I was truly afraid that it wouldn't be you, afraid that I had mistaken someone else."
"But the moment I saw you in that pastoral field, my heart settled."
"So many years have passed, yet how could I not recognize you?"
"Ah'Fang."
"Thank you."
"Thank you for still being alive. And thank you even more for giving birth to our children."
Ying Zheng held her tightly, as if afraid that if he let go, he would lose her again.
Xia Dong'er looked up at the man before her, her gaze soft and tender.
Ying Zheng had missed her, and how could she not have missed him?
She raised her hands gently, placing them on Ying Zheng's face.
"All these years,"
"You've been exhausted too." Xia Dong'er said softly.
"Compared to the hardships you've endured, what I've faced is nothing."
"You carried a child alone, traveled thousands of miles through countless perils, and arrived at this desolate village."
"You raised Feng'er and Ying'er by yourself."
"Even though I was not there to witness it, I can imagine the struggles, the hardships, the suffering."
"Ah'Fang."
"I'm sorry."
"I failed in my duty as a husband, and I failed even more as a father." Ying Zheng spoke with deep remorse.
His words were not mere sentiment but heartfelt sincerity.
Toward Xia Dong'er and their children, Zhao Feng and Zhao Ying, he felt nothing but guilt.
"This is not your fault."
"I have never blamed you."
Seeing Ying Zheng's expression of regret, Xia Dong'er immediately reassured him.
Looking into her tender, affectionate gaze, the guilt in Ying Zheng's heart deepened.
Compared to his Ah'Fang, the concubines of the harem were nothing.
They schemed for the queen's position, and for their sons to become the crown prince.
But Ah'Fang she had never even considered it.
All these years
If she had wanted, if she had come to Xianyang, he would have given her everything.
The coveted title of queen, which other concubines dreamed of, was within her reach, yet she did not want it, nor did she dare to.
"Don't worry."
"I will give you an answer for the past."
"And I will give you an answer for the future." Ying Zheng spoke with unwavering determination.
"I don't ask for answers."
"I only ask for our family to live in peace."
"Is that too much?" Xia Dong'er's voice trembled with concern as she looked at Ying Zheng.
For Ying Zheng, perhaps the Qin Empire was no longer what it once was.
He now commanded armies of hundreds of thousands, no longer the powerless prince he had been.
But for Xia Dong'er, she could never forget
The blood-soaked city of Xianyang.
The palace was stained in red.
The assassins who had hunted her down.
She could never forget the horrors of that night.
"Back then,"
"Who was the one behind it all?"
"Whose orders did Fan Yuqi follow?" Ying Zheng's voice remained gentle, but beneath it lay the fury of a king.
Years had passed, yet the true mastermind had never been found.
Fan Yuqi had been the executioner, but whose will had he carried out? That remained unknown.
When the investigation had reached a certain point, all those involved had been executed by Ying Zheng, yet he knew that the true culprit had escaped his grasp.
Hearing his question
Xia Dong'er's eyes flickered, then she replied, "I don't know."
"It's all in the past."
"Don't dwell on it, Zheng-ge."
But Ying Zheng shook his head, his gaze burning with cold determination.
"He was the reason we were separated for over twenty years."
"How could I ever let him go?"
"Fan Yuqi escaped."
"But one day, I will capture him and make him pay for what he has done."
At that, Xia Dong'er fell silent.
She knew exactly who was behind it all.
But if she revealed the truth, how could Zheng-ge possibly accept it?
"Ah'Fang,"
"How did you escape from Xianyang back then?"
"Did someone help you? Tell me, and I will repay them." Ying Zheng asked again.
That night, chaos had erupted in Xianyang.
The palace was drenched in blood.
A mere woman could not have escaped alone.
"It was Uncle Zhong."
Xia Dong'er finally answered.
Upon hearing this name,
A light flickered in Ying Zheng's eyes, and his expression suggested he had already suspected the answer.
"So, it was Uncle Zhong."
"Of all the ministers in the court back then, perhaps only he would have dared to help me."
Gratitude filled Ying Zheng's face.
The only person whom Ying Zheng would call "Zhongfu" was none other than the former Prime Minister of Great Qin, Lü Buwei.
"Is Zhongfu doing well now?"
"I heard he was ordered to take his own life. Is that true?" Xia Dong'er asked nervously, looking at Ying Zheng.
After returning to Xianyang back then, the court was full of scheming officials, but Lü Buwei was the only one who genuinely treated her with kindness, truly regarding her as a younger generation to be cared for.
If not for him, Xia Dong'er might have perished in the chaos of Xianyang that year and never had the chance to give birth to Feng'er and Ying'er.
"Ah, Fang."
"Do you think I would be so ruthless as to order Zhongfu's death?" Ying Zheng chuckled and gently patted Xia Dong'er's forehead, just like he used to do when they were young.
"Then why are there so many rumors?" Xia Dong'er was perplexed.
"It was to protect Zhongfu."
Ying Zheng smiled slightly, then explained warmly, "After Zhongfu resigned, all six states sent people to invite him to serve as their Prime Minister. They constantly disturbed him and even tried to sow discord. At the same time, many court officials repeatedly impeached him. To protect Zhongfu, I ordered him to retire to his fief in Luoyang. Later, Zhongfu, wanting to completely avoid influencing me, truly harbored thoughts of taking his own life.
"So, I deliberately spread the news that he had been ordered to die."
"But in reality"
"Zhongfu is still alive and well, living peacefully in Luoyang."
Hearing this, Xia Dong'er finally felt relieved and nodded. "That is for the best. Zhongfu saved my life. If not for him, I would have died in Xianyang long ago, and there would be no Feng'er or Ying'er today."
"In the past, I only appreciated Zhongfu for his mentorship and support."
"But now I realize I owe him an even greater debt of gratitude."
"If he hadn't stepped in, our family might never have been reunited."
"Zhongfu," Ying Zheng said with deep emotion.
His gratitude toward Lü Buwei grew even stronger.
"Mm," Xia Dong'er nodded.
"Has Father-in-law already met you?" Ying Zheng asked with a smile.
"Mm," Xia Dong'er replied softly.
Clearly
Even though she had reunited with Ying Zheng today, she was still struggling to process it all.
"Ah, Father-in-law, Father-in-law…"
"He knew that if he returned to Xianyang, I would see through him immediately. But he didn't realize that if he didn't return, I would be even more suspicious."
"Tell me, how did Father-in-law suddenly figure out you were in Shachiu?" Ying Zheng asked a playful glint in his eyes.
"Because of Yan'er."
"I gave her the jade bracelet my mother left me. My father happened to take her pulse and discovered the truth," Xia Dong'er answered gently.
Upon hearing this
Ying Zheng suddenly understood. "So that's how it was."
"Back when Father-in-law was still in Xianyang, Feng'er asked him to take Wang Yan's pulse. I never expected that to be the reason."
"This must truly be fate."
"If not for this coincidence, we might have never discovered the truth."
Ying Zheng's expression was a mix of amusement and surprise.
Then
He looked at Xia Dong'er again. "Ah Fang, do you know how I found out?"
Xia Dong'er lifted her gaze, clearly puzzled.
"I saw our daughter."
"She looks too much like you seven or eight parts alike."
"At first glance, I felt as if I were seeing you from back then."
"Moreover"
"Ying'er is extremely cautious. When I asked her to chat, she thought I had ulterior motives." Ying Zheng chuckled a hint of helplessness in his voice.
At first, he didn't understand why his daughter was so wary of him.
Later, he realized
Zhao Ying was worried that he had taken a fancy to her and feared being summoned into the palace.
Thinking of this, Ying Zheng couldn't help but feel somewhat exasperated.
"Perhaps"
"This truly is fate."
"No matter how I tried to hide, you still found me," Xia Dong'er said with a trace of resignation.
Hearing this
Ying Zheng tightly grasped Xia Dong'er's hands and gently declared, "Ah Fang, I'm telling you now, you will never escape again. I know you're still worried because those people are capable of anything, but I promise you once the world is unified, I will bring you back to Xianyang openly, with honor and dignity."
"Back in Handan, I made a vow to you."
"I swore that I would bring an end to all wars, unify the land, and make you the queen of the world."
"I have never forgotten this promise."
As she listened
Looking at the man before her, no longer the young boy from the past but the husband she had longed for over so many years, Xia Dong'er's mind drifted back to the promise that the young man had once made to her.
Her thoughts wandered
Back to the bustling streets of Zhao State.
She could see countless beggars struggling to survive.
Moreover, many noble young men dressed in luxurious clothing were seen beating beggars.
There were also numerous war victims with disabilities begging for alms.
At that moment
Ying Zheng swore an oath to Xia Dong'er.
He vowed to change this situation.
To govern with laws, to rule the world through law.
To bring an end to all wars.
"Ah, Fang."
"When I become the King of Qin, I will lead the Qin army to conquer the six states and unify the land. That way, there will be no more wars in the world," the young Zhao Zheng declared solemnly.
"Mm, I believe you." The young Xia Dong'er nodded firmly.
As her thoughts returned to the present
Looking at the now more mature Ying Zheng
Now
Her dear Zheng-ge was steadily fulfilling his long-cherished wish.
The unification of the world
Seemed closer than ever.
"Aren't you supposed to be in Xianyang?"
"Why did you suddenly come here?"
"If the court officials find out, won't they figure out my existence?" Xia Dong'er asked worriedly.
"Don't worry."
"I came in secret this time. No one knows."
"I understand that you fear Feng'er and the others might become targets. I will never let that happen," Ying Zheng assured her immediately.
He understood Xia Dong'er's concerns, which was why he had traveled in secret. He had even used the excuse of celebrating Empress Dowager Huayang's birthday to divert attention ensuring that Xia Dong'er and the Zhao siblings would not be exposed.
Just as Xia Dong'er feared
Ying Zheng shared the same concerns.
As a ruler
He controlled the court through political maneuvering, but the minds of the ministers were not something even royal authority could completely dominate. For power, for family interests, they were capable of anything.
Just like how they had once schemed against Xia Dong'er, leading to bloodshed in the palace.
Although, after ascending the throne, Ying Zheng had appointed a group of foreign officials to hold power, the aristocratic clans and noble families still occupied a significant portion of the court.
To completely suppress them was nearly impossible.
Because in this era, books, writing, and education were privileges that only noble families had access to.
For ordinary commoners, it was exceedingly difficult.
This was precisely why the noble families continued to exist.
Of course
The aristocratic clans, like parasites, clung to the empire, feeding off the nation's resources. This wasn't something unique to Qin it had been the case in past dynasties and would continue to be so in the future.
As long as power and privilege existed, they would inevitably give rise to an elite class, a vested interest group.
This was an unchangeable reality.
"Are you staying here for a while?" Xia Dong'er asked with anticipation, looking at Ying Zheng.
"What's this?"
"Just a moment ago, you couldn't wait to avoid me, and now you can't bear to see me leave?" Ying Zheng teased, his gaze full of tenderness.
A hint of shyness appeared on Xia Dong'er's face.
Though she was already a mother and even a grandmother, she was still in her thirties, not yet forty.
Yet in front of Ying Zheng, she still had the shyness of a young girl.
Twenty-one years of longing
How could she not miss him?
"Rest assured, I will stay for the night. I'll leave tomorrow evening," Ying Zheng said with a smile.
"Mm." Xia Dong'er nodded, her eyes filled with emotion.
...
Cloud City
Inside the military camp
Over two hundred thousand surrendered soldiers were gathered.
Surrounding them were vigilant elite soldiers and an additional one hundred thousand logistical troops.
For such a massive number of captives
The six thousand elite warriors alone were not enough to maintain order; the extra one hundred thousand support troops were brought in to enforce control.
"General-in-Chief has arrived!"
"All surrendered soldiers, sit down immediately!"
On the command platform
Zhang Han bellowed his order.
"The general has spoken!"
"All surrendered soldiers, sit down immediately!"
Across the training ground, the elite soldiers repeated the command.
The captives, who had been standing in formation, quickly sat down on the ground.
For them, the situation felt eerily similar to what the surrendered Han soldiers had once faced.
Their hearts were filled with unease
Uncertain of what fate awaited them.
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