Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 156, 155. It is only right to agree.
We set off at 9:00 AM and arrived back in Xianyang late at night.

Qin Shi had already taken a nap in the carriage—this time, unlike the previous journey back to Xianyang, there was no need for a long drive, so with the addition of a high bed and soft pillows, he could sleep quite comfortably.

Her daily routine has become exceptionally healthy.

At this moment, the carriage entered Xianyang Palace. The Red Maiden gently pressed a handkerchief soaked in ice water onto her eyes, then softly asked:

"It is already late at night. Does the King of Qin still need to report back to the King?"

I definitely have to go.

Business trips these days are not like those in later generations, where once the business is done, you can go home safely.

She glanced at her watch: it was already 11:00.

But for someone as energetic as Ji Heng, it's perfectly normal to not be asleep by 11 p.m.

I just don't know if he's in Fang Palace or Zhangtai Palace now.
As for the harem, there's no need to worry. Given his high standards for himself, even though General Yan has only been buried for seven days, he will definitely not have time to think about matters of the heart.

However, she didn't need to send anyone to inquire. She saw Zhou Ju waiting at the gate of Xianyang Palace with all his attendants, clearly indicating that the king had given the order.

The woman in the carriage, Crimson and Black Seed, immediately became anxious—

As the carriage sped along, they would seize every opportunity to help the king wash, change clothes, and re-style his hair, ensuring that he wouldn't appear before the king covered in dust.

Even when the carriage stopped midway, Prince Qian and Princess Wen returned to their respective palaces, Wu Zi took the opportunity to take out a pair of brand-new gold-embroidered shoes from her bag and put them on Qin Shi.

Qin Shi quietly acted like a doll, letting them dress her up. Fortunately, before getting off the carriage, the Red Maiden brought out a bronze mirror to look at herself.

A pearl hairpin adorns her head, and bright moon earrings grace her ears.

She was dressed in silk and linen clothes and wore shoes with gold accents.

She wore no makeup, only a touch of rouge on her lips.

Clearly, it was understated yet polite, absolutely perfect.

However, for Ji Heng, beauty was less important than usefulness.

She dressed like this simply to show the king that she wasn't as plain as she seemed; otherwise, if he were to bestow anything upon her later, Qin Shi would be too embarrassed to ask for anything in return.

She had been silently rehearsing her thoughts, but now a thousand words were swirling in her mind, and she didn't know where to begin.

Ji Heng was currently in the central courtyard of Zhangtai Palace.

The crescent moon hung high and lonely. Beneath the winding corridors of the pavilion, his tall figure stood there, his shadow so dim in the faint moonlight that it was almost invisible.

The attendants behind him all turned into inconspicuous stones and weeds. Qin Shi had just turned the corner of the corridor when all he could see was his own figure.

"Your Majesty."

She hurried forward and said, "I have already escorted General Yan to his burial."

Ji Heng turned to look at her. His usually cold and stern face showed no sadness at the moment. He asked her, "Master Yan requested a simple burial. Is there anything that has been done in a way that is not in accordance with the proper procedures?"

Qin Shi shook his head: "Your Majesty, the general knew long ago that he could be buried at Mount Li, and he personally inspected all the burial items."

"General, you dedicated your life to the Great Qin. Though your funeral may be simple, your deeds will be recorded in history."

Zhou Ju, who was following behind, sighed inwardly again!
Fortunately, the King of Qin will become Queen. If he were a man, he would have no place by the King's side right now!
Ji Heng stared at her for a moment, then smiled and sighed, "Indeed, though the funeral was simple, its history is rich."

"Your efforts on this journey have not disappointed me."

He finally made up his mind, convinced of Qin Qing's good intentions for the Great Qin—he would perform the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai next spring.

Then we will proclaim to the world that such a woman is worthy to be the Queen of Qin!

But at this moment, there is still a reward to be bestowed:
"You've had a long and arduous journey, is there anything you wish to obtain?"

His voice was unusually gentle. The moonlight and lamplight reflected off him, and his cold, handsome face turned back to her. It wasn't exactly handsome, nor was it particularly refined. But his long eyes looked down slightly, and his tall figure loomed over her, as if he were the embodiment of the mighty Qin Dynasty.

He is Ji Heng.

One day, he would become an emperor for all ages. At this moment, Qin Shi's heart pounded wildly, and his whole body felt hot.

All the myriad thoughts that had been swirling in her mind vanished at that moment, and all the words she had prepared fell silent.

At this moment, she could only stare back at him blankly, as if a spirit was floating up and looking down at her from high above.

She was about to say those irreversible words.

It would disrupt all her orderly and logical rhythm, and could also bring negative feedback to Ji Heng.

The value of this adventure is so small that it can only buy her six months at most, and it seems pointless.

But in the next six months, will anyone survive because of this?
Qin Shi didn't know.

She couldn't think about all that at that moment.

Ji Heng continued to stare at her, his gaze filled with a slight bewilderment at not having received an answer.

However, Qin Shi's gaze gradually became focused and intense.

He was meticulous and had exceptionally keen senses; he could already see that the other person's body was trembling slightly and a thin blush was rising on their cheeks.

It was as if a million thoughts were about to be expressed, yet one restrained oneself with extraordinary self-control.

In that instant, Ji Heng's hand, hidden in his sleeve, involuntarily rested on the hilt of the short sword, and he couldn't help but rub it a couple of times.

Then, he heard Qin Shi's unusually firm reply:
"Your Majesty, I want to be the Queen of Qin."

Silence fell instantly.

Zhou Ju held his breath.

He didn't even dare to sneak a glance at Qin Qing's maidservant further back, to see if she had anticipated this but hadn't reported it!

I can't even fathom why someone would say something like that!

If he was like this, the other servants breathed even more softly and slowly, making even the chirping of insects in the night seem exceptionally loud.

For a fleeting moment, Ji Heng was also caught off guard.

The next moment, a thousand thoughts raced through my mind.

There was the power that was about to be divided, the immense importance of the Queen of Qin, her own plans for the Fengshan ceremony, and Qin Qing's undisguised and exclusive love...

He remained silent for a long time.

But by the time of Qin, there was no turning back.

She took a deep breath and took another step forward:
"I wish to stand beside Your Majesty and possess the authority bestowed upon me by Your Majesty. Together with Your Majesty, I will build a great Qin Dynasty where the world is forever unified and the people live in peace and happiness."

"In the annals of history, for thousands of years, when the people look up to the underground palace of Mount Li, I will be right beside the king."

She met Ji Heng's gaze steadily, unwavering and resolute, like a pine tree on a cliff.

Ji Heng's hand had already gripped the short sword hidden in his sleeve tightly.

His long forearms were taut with muscles, and if you lifted his wide sleeves, you could see the bulging veins.

My back felt as if something was gently stroking it, and at that moment, it felt like a fully drawn bow.

But his expression remained as cold and stern as ever, as if Qin Shi had said, it was a casual remark that did not bring him any surprise or shock at all.

After a long while, he suddenly let out a soft sigh.

His cold expression melted away like ice and snow after that sigh, and his body relaxed, giving rise to a faint breath of spring.

He seemed somewhat helpless: "Since you have made a request, I will certainly grant it."

　Surprising, isn't it? He was a straightforward guy back then!

　　I'd been preparing this plot in my mind for a year, and tonight it just popped into my head! Oh my god! It's fate!
　　(End of this chapter)