Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 130, Section 129: Yan Ying Returns
These are the words!

Zhou Ju shuddered violently from his spine to the top of his head!

Such words! Such words! Why is it Qin Qing again offering flattery?! Why not him?!

After Qin Shi finished his subconscious daydream, he also looked at Ji Heng with anticipation.

Historically, the First Emperor was the first emperor to perform the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai. It would be hard for her not to be excited to witness and experience such a momentous historical event firsthand.

Her eyes sparkled; she was filled with excitement.

However, looking up, he saw Ji Heng tightly clutching the cloud-patterned jade cup in his hand, and he was also muttering the same words repeatedly:

"The Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai?"

By the time of the Qin Dynasty, the regime was mostly based in the North China Plain.

The most prominent mountain on the North China Plain is Mount Tai.

In terms of astronomical and celestial positions, Mount Tai is located in the center of the world, so Ji Heng naturally thought that he would climb Mount Tai when he made his eastern tour.

But what he did in climbing Mount Tai was no different from what he did during his western and eastern tours, climbing other hills along the way.

Inscribed on stone to praise virtues, and offered sacrifices to Heaven and Earth.

But now... is it possible that a grand ceremony like the "Fengshan Ceremony at Mount Tai" still exists?!

Qin Shi: ...

At this point, surely no one has yet brought up the matter of the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai?

With a "click," Ji Heng slowly and heavily placed the cloud-patterned jade cup on the table.

His eyes seemed to burn with intense fire, his breathing was heavy, and then he coldly ordered, "Zhou Ju, get out of the car."

Zhou Ju: ???
But that didn't stop him from making a sound, and the carriage came to a sudden stop.

"Your Majesty," he bowed, awaiting instructions.

"Go to the General's residence in person and instruct his family to prepare a set of the General's clothes and hat after the Yan Master is buried. Next spring, I will take the General with me to climb Mount Tai!"

Zhou Juli immediately agreed!

Ji Heng paused for a moment, then said, "This time, in Pinyang, Master Yan and his party will travel along the imperial road, first to Liyang, and then to Pinyang."

Now, the imperial carriage is indispensable in the center of the imperial road. Your Majesty has bestowed this favor and has also specified the route, so it is clear that the journey will be unimpeded and that the post stations along the way will be ready to assist you.

Your Majesty is so meticulous!
Zhou Ju stepped down without hesitation.

……

Now, apart from two silent and inconspicuous servants who resemble bronze lamp bases, only Qin Shi and Ji Heng remain in the carriage.

Ji Heng closed his eyes in thought, his furrowed brows revealing his inner turmoil. His hands, tucked into his sleeves, seemed to be making slight movements; Qin Shi watched him curiously for a while—

When Ji Heng is thinking, does he rub his fingers together?
Coming to her senses, she saw that Ji Heng was also staring at her.

Qin Shi immediately looked away, feeling embarrassed, as if he had witnessed someone's secret actions.

Ji Heng's fingers paused for a moment; the short sword in his sleeve was already warm from being rubbed, but it couldn't compare to the burning intensity in Qin Qing's eyes.

However, when he looked back, he saw Qin Qing looking back at him with a blank and innocent expression, as if she was not trying to hide anything at all.

Ji Heng: ...

He casually placed his hand on the table, and sure enough, Qin Shi's gaze followed: ...

That's it! Let it be.

His slender fingers held up the cloud-patterned jade cup. The tea inside was cool, yet it inexplicably felt hot upon entering the mouth and throat.

……

When they returned to the Southern Palace, Chi Nu helped her out of the carriage with some concern. Once inside the palace, she asked, "King Qin seems quite worried. Was the King displeased in the carriage?" Qin Shi paused for a moment, then shook his head and said, "No, the King is naturally well-mannered. Although he has a temper, he doesn't take it out on others and is very kind."

Many times, she encountered Ji Heng in a state of great anger, but apart from his sharp questions, he did not actually make things difficult for her.

Countless mediocre men in later generations, lacking even a fraction of this achievement, still love to boast, are quick to vent their anger, and are utterly incapable of taking any responsibility.

With just this comparison, it's clear that the King truly possesses outstanding character.

Akame: ...

Her expression was indescribable; she had probably never heard anyone praise King Heng of Qin like that before.

But she was a servant, and it was naturally a good thing that a nobleman praised the king so highly, so she asked, "Then why does the King of Qin seem a little worried?"

Qin Shi thought for a moment: "It was probably because he was alone with the King." As she spoke, she remembered the two servants who were like background figures and had no presence at all. In the carriage, they were so quiet that they could not even be heard breathing!

In short.

"When I was alone with the king, I always felt that the way he looked at me was strange."

Could it be that he's upset about her spying on the king? But her expression doesn't seem angry...

However, the overall tone should still be very respectful, so Qin Shi put aside this issue and instead said, "By the way, prepare your luggage in advance. Three days later, His Majesty has ordered me to take Prince Qian, Princess Wen, and others to escort General Yan's coffin back to Pinyang."

According to current customs, after the death of someone of General Yan's status, the family observes a mourning period of about 7 to 10 days.

However, the weather is extremely hot now, and only the two children are by his side. General Yan also does not allow them to be buried with him. Therefore, it was said early on that the mourning period would only last for three days.

Do not linger when escorting the coffin back to the hometown, lest you delay the king's important affairs.

At this moment, Yan Ying, who was stationed in the Baiyue region, rushed home wearily. Before she could even bathe and change her clothes, she heard Yan Cong arrange for her to return home in three days. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"When Father passed away, my elder brother and my sisters were not allowed to return together. Now, is the mourning period only three days?"

"Your Majesty's kindness is immense. My Yan family sons and daughters, stationed in various places, have never harbored the slightest suspicion. Why is Father acting this way..."

She had not yet bathed or changed her clothes, so she did not even dare to kneel before the coffin. Instead, she lay on Old Madam Yan's lap in the inner room and wept bitterly.

"Confused."

Madam Yan stroked her back: "His Majesty's kindness is immense, but we must not be ignorant of our place."

"Moreover..." The old lady wore a sorrowful yet glorious smile on her face: "His Majesty has said that when the mountain collapses and the underground palace of Mount Li opens, your father's coffin will be placed in the underground palace together, accompanying the king for thousands of generations and sharing the sacrifices of the Qin state."

This is an unparalleled honor and an affirmation of the entire Yan family.

Yan Ying raised her head and murmured, "Father...will he share the Qin sacrifice with the King?"

Madam Yan patted her hand: "This is due to the King's great kindness, and the fact that the funeral is being kept simple is also your father's wish."

She looked at Yan Ying's dark face and her bright, clear eyes, like a cold spring. The Baiyue region was not only hot and humid, but also plagued by miasma and teeming with poisonous insects.

When the King last conquered Baiyue, Yan Ying and Yan Xuan stayed there; they were only sixteen years old at the time.

They were neither as experienced as their elder brother Yan Lang, nor as strong as their younger brother Yan Cong. Yet, with unwavering determination, they managed to hold their ground in such a harsh environment for nearly ten years…

The old lady sighed, "Your brothers have all died in battle, and now this heavy burden rests on your two sisters... Yan Ying..."

Yan Ying shook her head: "Mother, Yan Xuan and I have loved playing with swords and spears since we were young, and we are far less composed and dignified than my elder sister..."

As she said this, a pang of pain shot through her heart again.

When her three older brothers died in battle, her pregnant sister learned of this and was deeply traumatized, to the point that...

Madam Yan sighed and shook her head, saying no more. She only urged her:

"Go quickly to bathe and change your clothes, and then go see your stepmother. She is looking forward to your return every day."

　There was no such thing as a cult of personality ties between legitimate and illegitimate children in ancient China! That's a misconception stemming from a hybrid of Korean traditional culture and cultural invasion. Of course, there was some opposition between legitimate and illegitimate children, depending on the dynasty and the family, but it wasn't as extreme as people imagine… This is a long story, and I haven't summarized it well yet; you can look it up yourself.

Here I am! You're here so early today!
(End of this chapter)