"Compared to the Crown Prince's wedding, why does His Majesty seem so much happier now?"
"It's as if the Crown Prince is not His Majesty's son, but Zhao Feng is."
"To treat a minister with such favor while showing only cold indifference to the Crown Prince, his flesh and blood…"
"His Majesty's actions are truly disheartening for the Crown Prince."
Wang Wan and Kui Zhuang exchanged glances, both feeling a deep bitterness within.
Fusu, watching Ying Zheng seated among the elders with a smile on his face, could only let out a bitter laugh in his heart:
"Father, if you had not arranged for me to marry Li Si's daughter if it were anyone else, even a commoner's daughter I would have been grateful. But you never cared about my feelings, only the supreme power of the throne."
"If you had been this happy during my wedding, I could have died in peace."
Ying Zheng's joyful demeanor at this wedding left many in the hall feeling sour.
In fact
Even in the future, Ying Zheng would look back on this day with joy, glad that he had chosen to attend as an elder for Zhao Feng. Because on this day, he had made the right choice.
"One bow to Heaven and Earth."
Zhao Gao's voice rang out.
Zhao Feng, beaming with happiness, took Wang Yan's hand and slowly bowed.
"A second bow to the elders."
Another loud proclamation.
Zhao Feng and Wang Yan turned to face Wang Jian and his wife, as well as Ying Zheng and bowed.
"Hehe."
"Good, very good."
Wang Jian nodded repeatedly, his eyes even glistening with tears.
One could imagine
How deeply he cherished his daughter, Wang Yan.
Now that she was married, though he felt reluctant to part with her, he was even more overjoyed for her.
"If only Zhao Feng could take Fusu's place."
"With a little more training, he could be the heir to my empire."
"What a pity..."
Looking at Zhao Feng, Ying Zheng let out a silent sigh.
If he could swap them, he would do so without hesitation.
Among all his sons, Fusu had the most outstanding performance.
But even so, he still did not meet Ying Zheng's expectations.
As a great ruler and a sovereign with grand ambitions, Ying Zheng was destined to be revered as the "Eternal Emperor" in the annals of history. Naturally, his standards were incredibly high.
"Husband and wife, bow to each other."
Zhao Gao called out again.
Zhao Feng and Wang Yan slowly turned to face each other.
Zhao Feng's eyes were filled with infinite tenderness.
For him, this wedding was the fulfillment of a promise he had made four years ago.
"Perhaps I was once indifferent to love, but at the very least, I have fulfilled my duty as a man."
"Wang Yan, from this day forth, you are my wife."
Gazing at the stunningly beautiful Wang Yan, Zhao Feng felt an indescribable joy in his heart.
"To establish a family and build a career."
With this wedding, Zhao Feng had accomplished the two most important milestones in a Chinese person's life.
"Ceremony complete."
"The bride and groom shall serve tea."
Zhao Gao announced.
At that moment
The attendants swiftly brought out trays of tea.
Zhao Feng stepped forward first
He respectfully presented a cup of tea to his father-in-law, Wang Jian.
Although Ying Zheng was present as an elder and had shown immense favor, wedding customs dictated that the groom must first serve tea to the bride's parents.
"Please enjoy the tea, Father-in-law." Zhao Feng said with a smile.
"Good, good." Wang Jian nodded again and again.
Then, Zhao Feng served tea to his mother-in-law, Lady Wang.
After that
Wang Yan picked up a cup and respectfully handed it to Ying Zheng.
"Your Majesty, please enjoy the tea."
"Good." Ying Zheng smiled.
And with that smile
The observers below, including Wang Wan, could no longer hold back their emotions.
On the day Fusu had served tea, Ying Zheng had worn a cold expression, looking on with clear displeasure.
But today, the contrast could not have been starker.
Once Wang Yan finished serving tea
Zhao Feng also picked up a cup and presented it.
"Your servant thanks Your Majesty for gracing this ceremony as an elder."
Zhao Feng said sincerely as he offered the tea.
With this act alone, this wedding had become the grandest event of its time.
For a mere minister to have the King of Qin seated among the elders this was the highest honor possible.
"Haha."
Hearing Zhao Feng's heartfelt gratitude, Ying Zheng chuckled, raised his cup, and drank the tea in one gulp.
Afterward
Zhao Feng turned to the gathered guests.
"Honored guests,"
"I sincerely thank you all for attending my wedding."
"Today, please make yourselves at home."
"I have prepared the finest wines from the Immortal Wine House for you all drink to your heart's content, and leave only when you're thoroughly drunk!" Zhao Feng proclaimed.
"Congratulations to the General on his joyous wedding!"
"Tonight, we shall drink until we drop!"
"Congratulations, General Zhao Feng…"
A chorus of congratulations filled the hall.
"The King regards Zhao Feng so highly it seems we now have another competitor for the position of National Guardian."
Meng Wu turned to look at Huan Yi and spoke slowly.
"Competitor?"
Huan Yi glanced at Zhao Feng and suddenly chuckled.
"Meng Wu, Meng Wu…"
"We're already old men with one foot in the grave. Zhao Feng is only twenty."
"What do we have to compete with?"
"Perhaps you, I, or Wang Jian might claim the title of National Guardian for now, but in the future, that position will surely belong to him."
"In the younger generation, who can compare to him?"
"There's no one."
Hearing this
Meng Wu was silent for a moment before nodding in agreement.
Then
Huan Yi leaned in slightly and whispered, "I heard that you had your second son, Meng Yi, align himself with the Crown Prince?"
As soon as these words fell
Meng Wu's face changed. He immediately asked, "Who told you that?"
"Meng Wu, Meng Wu."
"Did you think there's such a thing as a wall that doesn't let wind through?"
"Your decision to have Meng Yi support Fusu speaks for itself it represents the stance of the entire Meng family."
"This news has already spread in secret."
"You seek to rise higher, to elevate your family's status but have you considered what will happen if you fail?"
Huan Yi's tone carried a warning.
As fellow generals of Qin
Although they were competitors for power
They also respected each other.
He did not wish to see the Meng family destroyed in a struggle for succession.
Hearing this
Meng Wu's expression shifted between emotions.
At last
He sighed. "The choice has already been made. There's no turning back. Besides, among all the princes, none can rival the Crown Prince."
"Perhaps no one can rival him,"
"But as high-ranking generals, the best move is to not participate at all."
"To protect one's family above all else."
Huan Yi said calmly.
Like Wang Jian, it was clear that Huan Yi was well-versed in the art of self-preservation.
"We shall see."
"For now, it's still too early to tell."
Meng Wu remained steadfast in his belief
In his eyes
Fusu was bound to win.
To many ministers, supporting Fusu seemed like the obvious choice.
The aristocracy, the Mi clan, and many officials
All believed that Fusu's victory was inevitable.
For they saw no other prince who could compete with him.
After the Wedding Banquet, in the bedchamber
"Yaner, this time, I have finally given you an answer," Zhao Feng said with a smile.
"Please be gentle, my husband," Wang Yan raised her head and replied tenderly.
…
That night passed in silence!
In the Side Hall
Zhao Feng stood before five alchemy furnaces, each varying in design.
However, none of them were of superior quality they were all ordinary alchemy furnaces.
"As expected…"
"It's impossible to find a high-quality alchemy furnace these days."
"Nowadays, all those so-called alchemists across the land are frauds, and these furnaces are nothing special either."
"I'll have to test them and see if they can withstand true fire."
With that thought, Zhao Feng raised his hand, channeling his internal energy from his dantian into his palm, forming a bright crimson flame.
This was none other than True Qi Fire.
Once a martial artist stepped into the Grandmaster Realm, they could condense such flames. However, most could only sustain them for a short time.
But Zhao Feng, having mastery over all attributes, possessed rapid True Qi recovery, allowing him to produce fire endlessly.
With the fire in hand, he directed it at one of the furnaces.
After only a few dozen breaths, a cracking sound echoed one of the furnaces had split apart.
"Useless junk," Zhao Feng cursed before continuing his tests.
In the end, only one out of the five furnaces withstood the ordeal.
"At least I have one that's usable… Hopefully, I can obtain a better one in the future," Zhao Feng thought.
With a wave of his hand, he stored the alchemy furnace in his spatial storage.
"Master, the preparations are complete."
"Young master and young lady are ready as well. We can depart at any time," Zhang Ming reported from outside.
"Prepare the carriage first. I'll head to the palace before we leave," Zhao Feng instructed.
"Understood," Zhang Ming responded respectfully.
"Shacun…"
"I can finally go home."
"Mother, sister…"
"Are you both well?"
Zhao Feng's face was filled with longing.
Inside Epang Palace
"You're returning home?" Ying Zheng asked with a slight smile.
"Yes, my belongings are packed, and I have come to bid Your Majesty farewell," Zhao Feng said with a bow.
"I grant you one month's leave. After that, return to Xianyang to discuss the formation of the military camp with me," Ying Zheng instructed.
"Many thanks, Your Majesty," Zhao Feng said, bowing once more before respectfully taking his leave.
"Go," Ying Zheng waved his hand dismissively.
Zhao Feng straightened and slowly exited the great hall.
At Zhao Manor
Xia Wuqie was already waiting in the main hall.
"Great Physician Xia, why are you waiting here?" Zhao Feng asked in surprise upon learning from Zhang Ming that Xia Wuqie had come.
"I wouldn't dare forget to check on Madam Zhao's pulse," Xia Wuqie chuckled.
"Great Physician Xia, you are truly compassionate," Zhao Feng said sincerely.
"Zhang Ming, go and invite my wife over," he added.
"Understood," Zhang Ming acknowledged respectfully.
Before long, Wang Yan entered the hall, holding the hands of their two children.
"Husband, is something the matter?" she asked.
"This is Great Physician Xia Wuque, the foremost doctor in our Great Qin," Zhao Feng introduced with a smile.
"I have long heard of Great Physician Xia's esteemed name," Wang Yan said, offering a slight bow.
"Haha!"
"Madam Zhao, I have come today specifically to take your pulse," Xia Wuqie said with a smile.
"My pulse?" Wang Yan looked at Zhao Feng in confusion.
"When Great Physician Xia was at the Zhao army's medical camp, you had just given birth. I had heard of his remarkable medical skills and requested that he check on you for a full recovery," Zhao Feng explained.
"So that's how it is," Wang Yan said with a gentle smile.
"But thanks to my husband, I've been taking blood ginseng along with Mother. My health has recovered quite well."
"Even so, let me check just to be sure. While blood ginseng is potent, excessive nourishment can also have side effects," Xia Wuqie advised.
Zhao Feng chuckled. "Yaner, let him take your pulse."
"Alright," Wang Yan nodded.
"Please, sit," Xia Wuqie gestured to a nearby seat.
Wang Yan gracefully walked over and knelt.
Xia Wuqie knelt in front of the table, and Wang Yan extended her wrist, rolling up her sleeve slightly.
But the moment she lifted her sleeve
Xia Wuqie froze.
His aged face trembled, and his eyes quivered with shock.
Even his hand, which was about to take her pulse, stopped in midair.
"This… This bracelet…"
"It's Winter's!"
"This is the bracelet her mother personally gave to her! It is our family's heirloom!"
"How…? Could it be…?"
His heart pounded wildly.
This bracelet he could never mistake it.
It had belonged to his wife, and she had given it to their daughter, Winter.
There was no way it could be fake.
"Great Physician Xia, is something wrong?"
Seeing him frozen, Zhao Feng asked in confusion.
"Th-this bracelet of Madam Zhao's… Where did it come from?"
"It looks… incredibly familiar…" Xia Wuqie asked, his voice trembling.
"Yaner, where did this come from?" Zhao Feng turned to Wang Yan.
"Your mother gave it to me," she replied.
"She said it's a family heirloom, meant only for her daughter-in-law."
"When I first visited Shacun, she gave it to me."
Wang Yan smiled as she explained.
"No wonder! This must have been one of my mother's treasured possessions. It looks valuable I'd never even seen it before," Zhao Feng said with a laugh.
Then he turned back to Xia Wuqie.
"Great Physician Xia, you must have seen a similar one somewhere before."
"Perhaps I have… Yes, I must have seen one just like it before," Xia Wuqie forced a smile, suppressing the overwhelming emotions inside him.
"But Zhao Feng's eyes… They look just like Winter's!"
"I could never mistake them!"
"It's true… It must be true!"
"Zhao Feng could very well be Winter's son!"
"He's my grandson!"
"My grandson!"
Overwhelmed with excitement, Xia Wuqie could barely contain himself.
For twenty-one years, he had thought his daughter was dead.
Ever since hearing Zhao Ji's words, he had almost lost all hope.
Zhao Ji might have been mad, but her memories of Winter remained. Even in her madness, she still murmured, 'It wasn't me… I didn't want to kill you…'
Now, however
Everything had changed.
Although Zhao Ji had gone mad and did not reveal a name, Xia Wuque knew exactly who she was referring to.
That day, Xia Wuque fell into despair, completely losing any remaining hope.
Following Ying Zheng to the state of Zhao was also his way of maintaining a glimmer of hope in Ying Zheng's heart. If Ying Zheng were to learn that Dong'er had truly perished, his fury might drive him to massacre Zhao.
Xia Wuque, originally a Zhao native, did not wish for his personal affairs to bring about a slaughter.
Even though Ying Zheng treated him with the utmost respect, seeing him as the last person he could trust practically as a family Xia Wuque understood that if Ying Zheng lost Dong'er, it would be catastrophic. The best course of action was to keep hope alive.
And now!
There was light at the end of the tunnel.
Hope reignited in Xia Wuque's heart.
The jade bracelet that had belonged to his daughter was now on Zhao Feng's wife's wrist, given to her by her mother-in-law. Xia Wuque refused to believe this was just a coincidence.
First, Zhao Feng's eyes bore an uncanny resemblance to Dong'er's. Now, there was this bracelet. Xia Wuque could not accept that this was mere chance.
"Thankfully…
If I had forgotten my promise to Zhao Feng, and forgotten to check on his wife's health, I might never have gotten this opportunity.
Even if I lived until my last breath, I would never have known that Dong'er was still alive."
At that moment, joy surged through him, but a profound fear followed.
If he had not come today,
If he had missed this moment, Zhao Feng would have taken his wife and left for his hometown. By the time they met again, it might have been too late.
"Master Xia."
Zhao Feng called out again, noticing that Xia Wuque had spaced out.
"Allow me to take her pulse."
Xia Wuque collected himself and proceeded with the examination.
After a while, he nodded.
"As expected of the blood ginseng of the 'living dead.'
Even though it was only half a portion, its effects on restoring deficiencies are remarkable.
Lady Zhao's health has recovered, though there is some excess nourishment. I will prescribe some herbal remedies to help her fully absorb the ginseng's medicinal properties."
"And… if my diagnosis is correct"
"Congratulations, General Zhao." Xia Wuque smiled knowingly.
"Congratulations?"
Zhao Feng was momentarily stunned.
Then, realizing what he meant, his eyes lit up.
"Could it be Yaner, are you pregnant again?"
"Haha, indeed."
"That's right.
Lady Zhao is showing early signs of pregnancy. Though still very faint, my years of experience leave no room for error." Xia Wuque laughed.
"Yaner,
You'll have to endure hardship once more," Zhao Feng said gently.
"This is my duty; I wouldn't call it hardship." Wang Yan looked at him tenderly.
In this era, there were few effective means of contraception. Moreover, given Zhao Feng's high status, there was no concern over the number of children they had.
"General Zhao,
I have another request."
Xia Wuque stood up, his eyes filled with anticipation.
"Master Xia, please speak." Zhao Feng responded immediately.
"The jade bracelet Lady Zhao wears is strikingly familiar to me.
It resembles one that belonged to an old acquaintance of mine.
May I accompany you on your journey home and ask your mother about it?
Perhaps I may finally learn news of this old friend." Xia Wuque spoke cautiously, though the eagerness in his aged eyes was hard to conceal.
Hearing this,
Zhao Feng chuckled.
"Master Xia is truly kindhearted.
To think you remember even matters from years past and made a special trip to check on my wife's health how could I refuse such kindness?"
"Moreover, my mother is highly skilled in medicine.
She would be delighted to discuss the art of healing with a master such as yourself."
Zhao Feng smiled, showing no hesitation.
"In that case, I shall shamelessly impose upon you." Xia Wuque laughed heartily.
"My lord,
The carriages and baggage are ready. We may depart at any time." Zhang Ming reported respectfully.
"Then let us be off."
"The estate shall be entrusted to Lin Fu." Zhao Feng nodded.
"Master Xia, is there anything you need to prepare? I can have someone escort you home to make arrangements." Zhao Feng turned to Xia Wuque.
Xia Wuque shook his head.
"I only need to retrieve a few garments.
I am but a man with no ties, so I have little to prepare."
"In that case, let us depart." Zhao Feng nodded.
Then,
Zhao Feng took Wang Yan's hand and walked toward the exit.
"Dong'er…
I hope it's truly you.
No this must be you.
I have so few years left to live, but if I can see you again before I die, I will have no regrets.
I have been waiting for you all these years."
Xia Wuque's heart swelled with an unprecedented sense of anticipation.
Before long,
Surrounded by five hundred elite guards,
A convoy of carriages set off from Xianyang toward the countryside.
The only brief stop was at Xia Wuque's residence.
And as soon as Xia Wuque left his estate,
His steward rushed into the palace to report.
"Your Majesty,
Master Xia's steward requests an audience."
Zhao Gao respectfully informed Ying Zheng.
Hearing this,
Ying Zheng raised an eyebrow and immediately set aside the memorial he had been reading.
"Summon him."
Soon,
Xia Wuque's steward hurried into the hall and knelt.
"Your Majesty,
The master has left Xianyang with General Zhao Feng.
He sent me to inform Your Majesty not to be concerned."
Upon hearing this,
A peculiar expression crossed Ying Zheng's face.
"He left with Zhao Feng? Why?"
"The master said he found life in Xianyang too dull.
Since he and General Zhao Feng had known each other from their time in Zhao, he wished to visit the general's hometown to unwind.
He also said that with General Zhao Feng present, Your Majesty need not worry about his safety.
When General Zhao Feng returns to Xianyang, the master will return as well."
After listening,
Ying Zheng finally relaxed and nodded.
"Very well.
Master Xia has indeed lived too quiet a life in Xianyang.
Now that his disciples are accomplished, and the Imperial Medical Academy runs smoothly without his constant oversight,
Letting him travel for a time is good.
As for his safety, Zhao Feng's men are battle-hardened, and they remain within Qin's borders there is no need for concern."
The steward bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty is wise."
"Your master is absent now.
You must manage the household well.
Do not slack off." Ying Zheng said firmly.
"This servant understands." The steward answered with the utmost respect.
Ying Zheng nodded and waved his hand.
The steward then stood up and backed out of the hall.
In the entire court,
Perhaps only Xia Wuque could leave without seeking Ying Zheng's permission.
To Ying Zheng,
As long as his father-in-law did not go to an enemy state or a dangerous place,
He would not interfere.
As long as his father-in-law was content,
That was enough.
"Tell me,
Do you think Master Xia finds life in Xianyang too dull?
Does he see it as a cage?"
After the steward left,
Ying Zheng suddenly spoke.
Only Zhao Gao remained in the hall, and it was clear that the question was directed at him.
Although Zhao Gao had only been at Ying Zheng's side since the events of years past, he could tell how much Ying Zheng favored Xia Wuque.
The entire court could see it.
"This servant dares not speculate."
Zhao Gao replied fearfully.
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