Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 201.200. The Glazed Treasure Tree
Wang Xueyuan felt that her journey had been arduous, and this was by no means self-pity or boasting.

The task assigned by the King is indeed difficult to complete!

He, a high-ranking official, was directly demoted to a powerless censor.

The immediate priority on my bike ride to Dongjun was not to find the culprit, but to appease the people.

How can we appease the public?
Following the Queen's brilliant plan, since the inscription on the meteorite said, "The King of Qin will die and the kingdom will be divided," he should contact village elders, village heads, and officials to spread the word about another meaning behind this statement.

Once the King of Qin dies, the world will fall apart and war will break out again.

The seven kingdoms had been fighting for so many years that they had become numb to it all, and everyone feared war like a tiger.

Nowadays, families are sparsely populated, so why are widows so beloved? It's simply because there's a shortage of people!
Not only is the country lacking, but families are also severely lacking.

Even widows who have lost their husbands and children need people to care for them.

Otherwise, who will cultivate the land? Who will cut the firewood? Who will perform the labor?
After he painstakingly conveyed these words in a way that resonated with the people, he should be able to catch those with ill intentions off guard and at least stabilize the local situation.

At the same time, relying solely on verbal preaching is far too weak.

He also needed to resort to another method suggested by the Queen—

That is, a stone tablet of destiny naturally emerged from the earth, inscribed with the words "Having received the mandate of heaven, may your life be long and prosperous".

These eight characters are so powerful and carry royal authority!
No wonder the king immediately decided to have these words engraved on the Imperial Seal upon hearing them.

Wang Xueyuan couldn't help but admire the Queen's ability to say it so readily.

But at that time, he was filled with nothing but pain.

If we were to paraphrase a later saying, it would be: "The boss just opens his mouth, and the subordinate runs himself ragged."

I'm so busy I could barely keep my legs up!
Although a bean sprouting requires immense strength, it's not something that can be accomplished simply by moving one's mouth to push an entire stone slab out of the ground.

He began to experiment along the way.

Upon arriving in Dongjun, he secretly instructed his servants to try it many times.

Finally, with utmost care, they selected a patch of loose loess soil, first loosening the surface, then placing a prepared wooden trough underneath, followed by the laying of soybeans, watering it daily, and calculating the exact time...

Finally, the craftsmen were instructed to hollow out the stone slab, making it appear heavy on the outside but light and thin on the inside...

He was constantly chasing after the progress, as if he were being bitten by a dog, until the tenth day after arriving in Dongjun, when everything was finally ready.

According to the Queen's custom, at this time, the Grand Historian should lead the prefect and the people to offer sacrifices to Heaven, and then a stone tablet should be erected.

However, coincidentally, in Xianyang, the king was bestowing the title of queen, so the Grand Historian naturally had no time to come to Dongjun.

Therefore, he had to contact the prefect and find a respected local person to restart the sacrificial ceremony.

However, the inside story cannot be revealed to others, so it must be handled by all parties to ensure that there are no mistakes.

The governor of Dongjun was concerned for his own life and his promising future!
Thus, just as the sacrificial ceremony had ended under the scorching sun, a corner of the stone slab was gently and cleverly arched out, and then the people who had been arranged to do so shouted loudly!
At that moment, Wang Xueyuan almost burst into tears.

Many people have witnessed firsthand how the soil has cracked open, revealing the stone slabs.

The trusted confidants immediately pulled him out of the ground.

After brushing away the dust, you can see the eight neatly arranged seal characters.

Fortunately, most of the people were illiterate and could not see the newly carved marks on the walls.

Even if someone noticed, they dared not say anything.

In short, the idea that the king is the chosen one has taken deep root in the hearts of the people of Dongjun.

Moreover, even with such terrible rumors, the king still personally pardoned the local people. How could everyone not be filled with fear and trepidation and utmost respect?

This constant stress caused Wang Xueyuan's hair to turn half white.

But just as things were settling down, he unexpectedly discovered the origins of the Wei soldiers!

Now that he has achieved both merit and hard work, he naturally felt full of pride and high spirits when he came to pay homage to the king.

But unexpectedly, before he could even subtly recount his hardships, the king praised the impetuous young man, Yan!
Wang Xueyuan almost burst into tears from heartache.

Ji Heng also had his own methods for employing people.

Although he was grateful for General Yan's help, he now felt a sense of gratitude for Yan Xiaolang's usefulness.

However, the various difficulties Wang Xueyuan faced on this trip were all explained in the memorials submitted along the way.

If this were to continue, it might discourage the meritorious officials, so he simply raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Such an important task, I have indeed not entrusted to anyone in vain."

The Zhangtai Palace was vast and expansive, and his voice echoed faintly, yet it made Wang Xueyuan concentrate intently, daring not to make the slightest mistake.

"The Imperial Censor is ambitious, courageous, and able to consider the overall situation. Therefore, let his merits outweigh his demerits."

Wang Xueyuan was stunned for a moment. Even though he had guessed it in his heart, he never expected Ji Heng to be so decisive!
Without even a word of protest, he was directly reinstated to his original position.

At this moment, he hurriedly bowed again: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace."

Ji Heng shook his head: "You have indeed rendered meritorious service this time; the position of Imperial Censor is undoubtedly yours. Furthermore, your discovery of the Wei elite troops at Yangling demonstrates your meticulousness and boldness—"

"Now that you have accomplished this, what do you desire in return?"

Want more rewards?
While Wang Xueyuan was shocked, she also keenly noticed that the king seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood.

He didn't know where this change came from, but it was clearly slightly different from the King of Qin Heng that he had previously known.

As a close advisor to the emperor, this change caused him some subtle but unsettling unease.

At that moment, he subconsciously said, "I have been away from Xianyang for a long time. I wonder what treasures Your Majesty has acquired? I dare to ask for one of these treasures."

He is now ranked among the top three officials.

Above that, there is only the Prime Minister.

But Prime Minister Wang Fu was diligent and conscientious. Although he didn't seem particularly remarkable, he hadn't made a single mistake over the years.

Only those who serve as subjects know how terrifying this ability is.

Wang Xueyuan asked herself if she had ambition, but she didn't have the ability.

But if the king is going to reward him, and he delays for too long, people might suspect that he has bigger ambitions.

So I simply chose the safest one.

Ji Heng raised his head and sighed softly:

"After this demotion, you have become much more cautious—so be it! You have endured much hardship and look much older now; I know how difficult it was for you."

"In that case, Zhou Ju will take you into the treasure vault later, where you can choose the rare and precious items yourself."

The King of Qin was always generous, so this kind of reward was extremely rare!

What gift you choose is not important; what matters is the honor.

This honor was enough to quickly reverse his reputation among the officials after he was demoted.

Wang Xueyuan happily cupped his hands in greeting, and then, without refusing, after reporting back, joyfully followed Zhou Ju to the treasure vault.

The officials were not going to the King of Qin's private treasury.

However, the national treasury is also divided into different grades, and the place he is going to now is naturally the one with more rare and precious items.

Upon opening the treasure vault door, the first thing placed in the center is a magnificent and dazzling glass tree under the lights.

Wang Xueyuan was instantly captivated. "Such a rare and precious item—the Zhou Mansion Decree, is this truly the treasure trove that His Majesty instructed you to show me?"

Zhou Ju nodded, and following his gaze, he saw the glass tree.

After a moment's hesitation, he still spoke up to remind her:
"This item is not particularly rare, and in terms of value, it will certainly be far superior to other gold and jade in the future."

So much so that even the Queen lost interest. After watching for a while, she didn't hesitate to offer it up, saying it was to fill the Qin Kingdom's treasury.

The king, upon hearing this, clearly knew that he did not like it.

Furthermore, the Ironworks could produce even better glass, so he agreed.

Who would have thought that it had only been in the treasure vault for a few days, but it seemed that Wang Xueyuan had taken a liking to it.

This……

If the other party moves back, and after some time they discover that Ganquan Palace has windows inlaid with glazed tiles...

Even someone as shrewd and worldly as Zhou Ju couldn't help but hesitate at this moment.

But his hesitation led Wang Xueyuan to misunderstand.

He waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "I'm just asking. As a subject, how can I take away what the king desires? Just pick one."

Since he had already said it like that, Zhou Ju could not stop him, so he could only laugh and say, "The Imperial Censor must not be so self-deprecating."

"Your Majesty's word is law. Any treasures in the treasury that Your Majesty takes a fancy to may be brought back to your residence."

"The glass tree is no exception."

He had barely finished speaking, and was about to lead someone to look at the other gold and jade jewelry nearby, when he saw Wang Xueyuan's expression become resolute:
“Very well! Then it would be impolite of me to refuse. I will choose this crystal tree.”

So dazzling, so magnificent, so shimmering!
If I were to carry it all the way home from Xianyang Palace, wouldn't that be a blatant display that would be known to all the officials in Xianyang?
Damn!

Even someone as noble as the Prime Minister probably doesn't have such rare treasures in his residence.

And his wife, although the two had had their own conflicts before, she must feel guilty since they had been apart for so long.

He would hand the crystal tree back as a stepping stone, and let bygones be bygones!

With that thought, he wished he could fly away on clouds and return home, and he couldn't care less about Zhou Ju's strange expression.
Meanwhile, in Zhangtai Palace, Ji Heng's expression turned strange for a moment after hearing his report.

He genuinely wanted to reward this devoted minister, but he never expected...
Enough. The value of gold, jade, and precious artifacts in this world is merely bestowed by those in power.

So what if the glass was used to decorate the queen's windows?
He said it was precious and would remain so in the future.

Then he instructed: "Now that I have borrowed the Queen's precious tree to bestow upon my subjects, whatever the Queen needs, you should do your best to arrange it."

He then asked him, “I have rewarded him with five private armies. The Queen has no permanent property and may be difficult to control in the future. Zhou Ju, go to my private treasury and take a thousand gold coins, then send them to Lanchi Palace.”

Meanwhile, Qin Shi, who was sitting in Lanchi and had inexplicably gained yet another fortune, thought: ...

Thanks to the gift of fate, she met a great king like Ji Heng!

Rest assured, God, she will do her utmost to assist the Great Qin!

……

That being said, Qin Shi did not relax his guard before receiving the gold ingots.

Yan Cong came to report back, and she was very happy.

Although all land under heaven belongs to the king, and all people within the realm are his subjects, Yan Cong insisted on seeing him first on such a trivial matter—

Qin Shi knew that he had no factionalism and that everything was just a matter of beginning and end.

But she was still extremely satisfied with such an upright gentleman.

So after exchanging pleasantries, he couldn't wait to ask, "Did that brave man break his promise and act impulsively?"

With his father gone and himself traveling far away to handle affairs, Yan Cong's youthful air had faded considerably, and he was now completely serious.

"Your Majesty, the other party keeps his word. Although he is still a criminal, he is willing to listen to advice."

"After venting his anger at home under some pretext, he only smashed two pieces of a ceramic bowl before reporting it to the authorities."

"He's also implicated by the Wei soldiers next door. His brother-in-law's family is now suspected of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country."

Clearly, imprisonment is an unavoidable fate.

Furthermore, when he knelt before the official residence and recounted the methods used to murder his wife, the village head and elders of Yangling were already filled with indignation!
Murdering one's wife is a heinous crime, not to mention treason!

If they are not careful, the official could implicate dozens of families. Wouldn't this be tantamount to taking their lives?

Therefore, needless to say, the truth was obtained from the old woman, and the brother-in-law confessed his guilt in court, so he was sentenced without hesitation.

However, because of their involvement with the Wei Wu Zu, they were not sentenced to death immediately.

However, according to the information obtained on the way, the whole family had been exiled to a dangerous and bitterly cold place to perform criminal labor, and there was no possibility of pardon.

Perhaps they would mine asbestos, or perhaps they would dig deep into coal mines, or perhaps they would build the Great Wall or the Lingqu Canal.

In short, although he was not immediately executed, he could not escape punishment.

Yan Cong cupped his hands and then said earnestly, "Congratulations, Your Majesty, on the arrival of such a brave warrior. He is now completely convinced of your worth. Your Majesty, you may command him at will."

Qin Shi naturally remembered Zhuang, a special forces successor, but she didn't want to make work arrangements for him right now.

Therefore, she smiled and asked him in return:

"And what about you? Young Master Yan, although you are not yet an adult, if I give you an order, will you do it or not?"

Yan Cong replied without hesitation: "Although I am of humble status and limited power, I am still a citizen of Qin. If the Queen commands, then please give the order."

Qin Shi looked at him, intending to immediately hand over the matters at hand.

But thinking about how much people value filial piety these days, I suddenly sighed:

"That's enough. Your mourning period is not over yet, and you've already spent so much time running around for my trivial matters. I've already been inconsiderate."

So young! If you lived in a later era, you'd be a junior or senior high school student today.

She thought for a moment, originally intending to reward him first and then send him back to Pinyang to observe mourning, but seeing Yan Cong's calm expression and composed demeanor:

"My father gave instructions when he was alive that from now on I will serve the Queen. If the Queen does not mind, please give me any instructions."

"As for observing filial piety for one's father, when I left Pinyang, my mother gave me instructions: 'There is no greater filial piety than loyalty to the country.'"

"The Queen is the Queen of my Great Qin. Everything she says and does is for the benefit of the people of my Great Qin."

"Yan Cong is unworthy, but is willing to serve you."

He solemnly bowed and said, "Please give your orders, Your Majesty."

Qin Shi was stunned for a moment, then replied without hesitation: "As expected of General Yan's son! In the future, you and your son will be remembered in history, which is also the glorious destiny of our Great Qin."

"Yan Cong, I hereby request the King to appoint you as the Grand Minister of Agriculture, under the direct command of the Grand Minister of Agriculture, and you shall only obey my orders."

"If His Majesty grants your permission, I will immediately order you to take a contingent of my private troops and a thousand gold coins to Bohai County."

"The important task of producing snowflake-like refined salt in my Qin state is now entrusted to you."

　I didn't sleep all night, got up at dawn to dig up the garden, and I can still write tonight... I'm amazing!

　　(End of this chapter)