Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 161, Section 160: Matters of Shanglin Garden
Shanglin Garden?
The Red Maiden explained, "Shanglin Garden is the royal garden of the Qin Kingdom. Your Majesty expanded it in the thirteenth year of Qin's reign. Now it covers a large area and is used for summer retreats, hunting, and military training."

After her detailed explanation, Qin Shi understood.

At this time, Shanglin Garden was located east of Fengshui River, west of Yichun Garden, north of Weishui River, and south of Haojing.

Converted to later periods, the area has been continuously expanding, and is approximately 340-2500 square kilometers.

It includes 36 gardens within gardens and twelve palace complexes.

It has ponds and lakes, rivers that connect to the Zheng Guo Canal, and palace roads that connect to the imperial road. It is the largest royal garden in history.

It includes not only rare and exotic animals, but also thousands of rare and exotic flowers collected from all over the country.

Just by thinking about it, one can imagine what a magnificent place it must be.

Unfortunately, according to the known history of the Qin Dynasty, Shanglin Garden was burned to the ground by Xiang Yu at the end of the Qin Dynasty, and after being expanded by the Western Han Dynasty, it was destroyed again at the end of the Qin Dynasty.

From this point on, the Shanglin Garden will never exist again.

Qin Shi sighed and asked again, "Has the expansion of Shanglin Garden been completed yet?"

The Red Maiden shook her head: "I heard that the King intends to build another palace in Shanglin Garden, where court assemblies, political discussions, and military training will all take place."

"Therefore, it is feared that even after the national treasury is full, further expansion will still be necessary."

—It's the legendary Epang Palace.

The Qin Dynasty was a time of sighs.

The Epang Palace covers a total area of ​​15 square kilometers, with the foundation of the front hall alone occupying 54 square meters.

Unfortunately, the foundation had only just been laid, and the walls were not yet complete when Qin Er Shi ascended the throne, and the Qin state...

Putting aside these heavy historical issues, she asked curiously, "Your Majesty is busy with state affairs every day, why did you suddenly go to Shanglin Garden today?"

If one were to go, it would be more appropriate to go during the sweltering heat of midsummer to escape the heat.

This was beyond the answers of the Red Maiden and the eunuch who came to deliver the message.

However, Qin Shi didn't necessarily need an answer; she just...

It feels a bit weird.

From the moment she arrived, Ji Heng's presence was ever-present.

Although he was now in Xianyang Palace, he already knew that he was not there, and he couldn't help but feel a little strange.

However, she quickly cheered up again: "Since it's a day off, quickly call the costumed lady to make me some clothes. In three days, the king will issue an edict. Although there will be no grand ceremony, I want to dress more formally."

Even Chi Nu's heart wavered when she thought of this: "This servant will go right away."

She was puzzled, and seeing that no one was around, she asked in a low voice, "His Majesty clearly ordered the Minister of the Imperial Household to carve a dragon-tiger seal for the Prince of Qin, and then bestowed his own private seal upon him. The Queen's matter is already a matter of course..."

"Why does Lord Qin still need to go and beg in person?"

Although they hadn't angered the king, it had left them all truly terrified, tossing and turning all night, unable to sleep.

If we are not careful, the King of Qin may be punished!
Looking back on the previous night, Qin Shi felt quite brave.

Perhaps it was because the moonlight was both beautiful and lonely that her desires were amplified to an extreme degree, which led her to utter those words that were particularly shocking at that moment.

But at this moment, she only smiled and asked, "Your Majesty is so outstanding, it's understandable that I want to hurry up, isn't it?"

The woman's expression immediately turned strange.

No one in the entire Qin state would deny the king's excellence.

But compared to excellence, it is the king's character that is truly remarkable...

All I can say is, he truly lives up to his reputation as the King of Qin!

……

The entire Nangong Palace was filled with immense excitement about the upcoming appointment of the empress.

Fu Cai looked radiant, despite having stayed up all night due to the shock, her eyes showing dark circles, but her expression was exceptionally excited. She had already measured Qin Shi's measurements before, but insisted on measuring him again.

Then, upon returning to the inner palace, he ordered the servants to bring out all the fabrics and silks bestowed by the king and examine them one by one. At the same time, he also compared each of the pearl hairpins and ornaments bestowed by the king in the treasury with the fabrics...

She was full of passion, as if she couldn't express her joy otherwise, so Qin Shi let her be.

However, there is still a problem that urgently needs her to solve—

"Lord Qin, what should we do with the ten jade beauties that the Imperial Household Department sent earlier?"

Qin Shi suddenly felt a headache coming on.

It's absolutely impossible to use even a fraction of it. If we return it, the fate of these beautiful women will be uncertain. She had previously planned to form a basketball team to try it out, but now all the glue produced from Eucommia ulmoides is being prioritized for the Iron Official Workshop to make bellows sealing rings.

How could she bear to let something as trivial as a basketball interfere with her work?

Now, after much thought, I've considered stage plays, musicals, and all sorts of things from ancient and modern times, both Chinese and foreign... but they're either taboo, the core background is incomprehensible given the current state of our country, or Ji Heng probably wouldn't like them.

Bitter!

But in the end, Qin Shi decided—

Since there's nowhere else to use them now, we can't let them eat and drink for free in the palace.

Go study!
She waved to the scribes: "I want to revise the Nine-Nine Song, starting with the principle of 'one by one'. You all write it down and make many copies, then distribute them to my Nangong people."

In any case, being able to do math is never a bad thing.

However, the Nine-Nine Song in Xunzi and Strategies of the Warring States is missing one number from [Nine times nine is eighty-one] to [Two times two is four]. It is not known whether it was perfected in the Qin or Han dynasties, but mathematical talents are always needed, so let's memorize it for now.

The scribe nodded in agreement and quickly wrote down the multiplication table. He then took his leave to copy it, just as a message came from outside the palace gates:
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Prince Qian, Prince Chenghu, and Princess Wen have come."

Qin Shi: ...If I had known this would happen, I would have told the king to take me to Shanglin Garden as well.

She simply replied, "No."

She has the confidence to be made queen.

Previously, as a mere honored guest of Xianyang Palace without any official rank, she would never have been able to refuse a prince or princess.

But now...

Having authority, of course one should use it immediately.

The attendant was taken aback.

He then bowed and withdrew without hesitation, saying, "Yes, sir."

Outside the palace gates, three people who had heard early in the morning that the king intended to establish a queen alighted from their carriages, each with a subtle expression.

Among them, Prince Qian and Princess Wen's attitude towards Qin Shi went from resistance and wariness to acceptance in just a few days.

Regardless of her emotions, no one ever imagined she would become queen.

How is this possible?
How did they manage to do that?!

How could my father possibly appoint a queen?
And it was all done in such a rush.

Prince Chenghu stood in the sun, looking like a fragile snowball that would melt if exposed to the sun for even a little while.

Beneath his pale skin, bluish veins were faintly visible. He had just recovered from a high fever two days ago, and now he spoke weakly.

"Brother, Sister just accompanied Qin Jun to Pinyang and returned last night. How come she's about to be made queen without any news, and you two are completely unaware?"

Princess Wen's face showed annoyance.

Prince Qian, however, said nonchalantly, "Isn't it normal that I don't know? If my father doesn't want me to know about his affairs, how would I find out?"

"Besides, King Qin is a much better queen than Lady Chu!"

(End of this chapter)