Chapter 3: How to Cultivate a Ten-Thousand-Mile Empire for the Young Emperor Qin? Part 2

 

Chapter 3: Shepherd's Purse and Lean Pork Congee (2/2)

 

The name "Lady Zhao" is only found in a Ming dynasty novel called "Dong Zhou Lie Guo Zhi," and there is no record of the empress's name in official historical records. This suggests that "Lady Zhao" was unlikely to have come from a noble background. In pre-Qin times, while women weren't typically included in official records, the surnames of noble women who became queens or empresses were still recorded in historical accounts. For example, Queen Dowager Xuan and Queen Dowager Huayang both had the surname Mi. However, "Lady Zhao" was referred to as "Empress Dowager" without a recorded surname, which strongly suggests that she was not of noble birth.

So, in this timeline, "Lady Zhao" being a commoner woman named "Chunhua" is perfectly reasonable.

 

Thinking about the series of malicious and foolish things his elder sister had done, Zhu Xiang believed that his sister's behavior matched the persona of "Lady Zhao" quite well, and it made him even more bitter.

 

Regardless of whether "Lady Zhao" made choices of her own accord or was compelled to make them, her fate always turned out very well. Even if she had to plot against her own son for her lover and dreamt of making her illegitimate child the King of Qin, it was evident without much thought that in the event of a successful coup, with so many members in the Qin royal family, an outsider like her would never have the opportunity to usurp the throne. Regardless of the outcome of the coup, she was destined for tragedy.

 

However, surprisingly, Qin Shi Huang was genuinely fond of her. After having a tantrum, he brought her back to Ganquan Palace to continue serving her. She lived her later years comfortably, was posthumously honored as "Empress Dowager," and was buried alongside King Zhuangxiang of Qin.

 

Even if she abandoned her son and fled now, when Zhao returned her to Qin, the Young Emperor Qin Shi Huang , whom he had cast aside, would still have to provide for her well.

 

He just hoped that this time, considering she hadn't raised Emperor Qin Shi Huang properly, she wouldn't make such a self-destructive decision.

 

As Zhu Xiang changed the clothes of the freshly bathed and fragrant Emperor Qin Shi Huang and carried him to the main hall, Ying Zheng finally snapped out of his shock. "Uncle, you know a lot!"

 

"Is it a lot? These are just ordinary pieces of information that anyone can find out," Zhu Xiang replied, puzzled. "The fact that King Wu of Zhao escorted the current King of Qin back to his homeland, and the dealings between Lü Buwei and your father, have been widely talked about among the common people."

 

Ying Zheng's mind was still a bit foggy. "Really?"

 

Zhu Xiang nodded. "Yes."

 

Because of his mental exertion, Zhu Zheng yawned and lay motionless in his uncle's arms.

 

After the bath, Ying Zheng became both tired and hungry. He didn't want to think about anything; he just wanted to fill his stomach and go to sleep.

 

The small bowl of steamed eggs he had before the bath only tickled his appetite, and it seemed like it didn't do much to satisfy his hunger.

 

Zhu Xiang saw Ying Zheng squinting his eyes and nodding off, looking adorable, and his heart was trembling with affection.

 

In the past, Zhu Xiang didn't particularly like children, but this little one in his arms was different.

 

He was our Emperor Qin Shi Huang's son! Do you understand, a little dragon cub! That's completely different.

 

 

Even though Ying Zheng might not appear particularly cute right now due to his thin and frail appearance, Zhu Xiang adored his nephew, the future emperor, endlessly. His love for the child seemed to apply a permanent Instagram filter.

 

He couldn't resist lowering his head and nuzzled Ying Zheng's freshly shaven head with his cheek. "Are you tired, little one? Do you want to go straight to bed?"

 

Ying Zheng immediately tried to widen his sleepy eyes and said, "N-no, not sleepy, I want to eat!"

 

"Alright, let's eat first," Zhu Xiang said, feeling sympathetic. Seeing the child's drowsy eyes widen as soon as food was mentioned, he couldn't help but be concerned.

 

When Zhu Xiang brought Ying Zheng to the dining table, Lin Zhi was already eating with a pair of chopsticks and a spoon in hand.

 

He grumbled while eating, "Why is it still porridge for dinner?"

 

Zhu Xiang placed Ying Zheng on a cushion, but when he realized the child couldn't reach the bowl, he picked him up again, allowing him to sit on his lap. He said, "The lamb milk soup was prepared for the child in the afternoon, not for a regular meal. Eating porridge for dinner is just right to prevent overeating. Xue, please slice the salt-baked chicken for him to go with the porridge so that he won't complain."

 

Xue said, "It was already prepared. Lord Lin chose the chicken in the kitchen before husband arrived."

 

Zhu Xiang gave Lin Zhi a sidelong glance and asked, "Then why are you still complaining?"

 

Lin Zhi replied, "I don't want porridge; I want noodles."

 

"Next time," Zhu Xiang said, scooping a bowl of shepherd's purse and lean pork congee for Ying Zheng. "It's a bit hot; blow on it before you eat."

 

Eating in someone else's arms made Ying Zheng feel uncomfortable at first. However, the enticing aroma of the shepherd's purse and lean pork congee made him forget his uneasiness. He held a small wooden spoon, blew on it a couple of times, took a spoonful of congee, licked his lips, and ate his meal neatly, behaving nothing like a child.

 

Lin Zhi marveled, saying, "My child, who is a year older than him, would have made a mess if he tried to eat by himself."

 

Proudly, Zhu Xiang said, "My boy is smart, and jealousy won't help!"

 

Ying Zheng took a big bite of the wooden spoon, nearly dislodging one of his baby teeth.

 

 

Xue's hand holding the plate trembled, almost dropping the salt-baked chicken on the table.

 

Lin Zhi stared at Zhu Xiang with an indescribable expression and said, "You just started looking after him, but you act as if he were your own child. You can't have children of your own."

 

Zhu Xiang replied, "I'm just telling the truth."

 

He patted Ying Zheng's bald head and said, "Ignore him, and eat your meal."

 

For the first time, Ying Zheng received praise, and his face turned redder than the nearby candlelight. He wrinkled his nose and responded with an almost imperceptible "Hmm," standing up a little straighter.

 

Etiquette dictates that we remain silent while eating and not converse during sleep, but most of the time, people are too lazy to follow this etiquette. Instead, they engage in the liveliest conversations while eating and sleeping.

 

Lin Zhi took a bite of the salt-baked chicken leg and said, "He indeed appears somewhat smarter than other children, but not exceptionally so. Didn't you say he calls himself 'Ying Zheng'? That self-proclamation is incorrect."

 

Ying Zheng looked up at Lin Zhi.

 

Lin Zhi smiled and said, "I am a friend of your uncle's. You can call me 'uncle.' Let me tell you, calling yourself 'Ying Zheng' is not correct; for a male, you should be called 'Zhao Zheng.'"

 

Ying Zheng's face turned pale, and he placed the wooden spoon firmly on the table, about to retort. However, Zhu Xiang quickly interjected, saying, "You are mistaken. He can call himself Qin Zheng, but  it is definitely wrong to call him Zhao Zheng.”

Lin Zhi raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh? Where did I go wrong? The royal families of both Qin and Zhao are from the same clan."

After Zhu Xiang drank a bowl of porridge, he wiped his hands clean, picked up another chicken leg, and tore off the meat on the chicken leg one by one. Zhu Xiang continued, "The clan name is 'Ying,' and the family name is 'Gui.' The family name signifies the family's fiefdom, which can change over time. The various branches of different clans with the same surname originate from this."

 

"The ancestors of the royal families of Zhao and Qin both share a common ancestor named Fei Lian. Fei Lian had two sons, Eilai, the eldest, and Ji Sheng, the younger."

 

"Eilai is the ancestor of the Qin royal family, while Ji Sheng is the ancestor of the Zhao royal family."

 

"Originally, Eilai was the clan's head, but he served as a minister in the Shang Dynasty. When the Zhou Dynasty overthrew the Shang Dynasty, Eilai perished, and Ji Sheng's lineage was appointed as the head of the Ying clan by the Zhou King."

 

"Later, in the fourth generation of Ji Sheng's lineage, Zao Fu rendered meritorious service by driving King Mu of Zhou's chariot and was awarded the fiefdom of Zhao City, giving rise to the 'Zhao' surname."

 

Zhu Xiang placed the shredded chicken into Ying Zheng's bowl.

 

Ying Zheng had been focused on eating his porridge without touching the side dishes. Seeing his hesitation, Zhu Xiang helped shred the chicken for him.

 

"In the fifth generation, Fei Zi made significant contributions by breeding horses and was awarded a fiefdom in Qin, known as Qin Ying, which was on par with Zhao. From that time onwards, the Qin royal family's clan name should indeed be 'Qin.' Even if it wasn't at that time, it would have undoubtedly become 'Qin' when Duke Xiang of Qin was designated as a 'Zhou vassal' while protecting King Ping of Zhou."

 

Zhu Xiang explained while helping Ying Zheng, "Go ahead and eat, don't be too reserved."

 

Lin Zhi put down his chopsticks, saying, "Why didn't you mention that Eilai's lineage had a bad relationship with Ji Sheng's lineage and was unwilling to use 'Zhao' because of it? And after Qin became a vassal state, Zhao was just the Lord of Zhao in Jin, so they had even less reason to use 'Zhao'?"

 

Zhu Xiang gave Lin Zhi a sardonic look and replied, "I didn't say it; you did."

 

Zhu Xiang wasn't afraid of Lin Zhi's comments. In this era, nobles and their retainers would say anything within the confines of their own circles, offering opinions on everything, including various feudal lords, including King Zhao. What Zhu Xiang said was purely an academic discussion, which was much more reserved than the things his friends often talked about.

 

Lin Zhi chuckled, "You, you dare to say anything, really."

 

Zhu Xiang defended himself, "I didn't say anything; I just reviewed the genealogy of the Qin royal family and the Zhao royal family. It was you who were talking nonsense."

 

Lin Zhi laughed and changed the subject, saying, "According to what you're saying, his self-proclaimed name, 'Ying Zheng,' is also incorrect, isn't it?"

 

Zhu Xiang continued, "Since the Eastern migration of King Zhou and the frequent warfare that followed, the system of surnames and clans has gradually been abandoned. People increasingly use given names or combine given names and surnames. Furthermore, after Qin declared itself a king, they refrained from using their own surnames when addressing others, referring instead to their noble titles or positions..."

 

Lin Zhi jokingly prodded, "Why did you stop? Keep going."

 

Zhu Xiang shook his head.

 

Lin Zhi laughed and said, "What's not to say? Under heaven, all lands belong to the Son of Heaven, so the Son of Heaven doesn't need a surname; his surname is the name of the nation. The ambitious Qin King was just keeping it to himself, waiting to declare his dominance over the Zhou dynasty and then claim his surname!"

 

Ying Zheng opened his mouth wide, and the shreds of meat fell from his mouth. He finally understood why his dream self occasionally referred to himself as "Ying Zheng" and why he was always met with mockery and disdain!

 

The Son of Heaven doesn't have a surname, but uses his given name. As the future emperor who would unify all under heaven, his titles would be "Qin Shi Huang" and "Ying Zheng."

 

But this title, he realized, he couldn't use now!

 

No one had taught him before; he had only gleaned fragmented memories from his future self. Ying Zheng now comprehended that he truly couldn't refer to himself as "Ying Zheng."

 

He said solemnly, "I understand. From now on, I am Gongzi Zheng!" ((Note: "Gongzi Zheng" means "Master Zheng" or "Young Master Zheng."))

 

Lin Zhi raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised at the sudden change in tone during his playful banter with Zhu Xiang.

 

Zhu Xiang quickly put on a benevolent smile and said, "Zheng'er is indeed very clever!"

 

He's truly the Emperor's son, bold from a young age! Even if he uses the title incorrectly, he's aiming for the Emperor's self-reference!

 

Zhu Xiang couldn't help but marvel at his nephew's spirit.

 

Lin Zhi nearly choked and cleared his throat, saying, "Alright, alright, I understand. Your nephew is the brightest. I've finished my meal, so I'll head back now. I need to talk to my father about the Qin prince staying at your home. I hope he won't get a headache over it."

 

Zhu Xiang replied, "Where's the problem in having the Qin prince stay at my modest home? This way, the Prince of Zhao can rest easy."

 

Lin Zhi fell silent for a moment and then sighed, "You're right. He would indeed think that way. Well, I should go."

 

He got up and left, and Zhu Xiang quickly washed his hands before seeing him off.

 

As Lin Zhi boarded the carriage and glanced back at Zhu Xiang for a moment, he ultimately decided not to ask the question that was on his mind. Instead, he bid farewell with a smile.

 

The carriage headed back into the city. Lin Zhi closed his eyes, sighed deeply, and spoke softly to himself.

 

"Zhu Xiang, if the Prince of Zhao never chooses to use you, would you still return to Qin with Zheng'er?"

 

He couldn't bring himself to ask aloud.

……………………………

 Remember Note 2. Characters and major events have been adjusted for the sake of the plot. There are many fictional characters and events, with references to historical records. Please don't expect historical accuracy.

 

Previous