Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 251, Section 250: Harem Personalities
Compared to Lady Chu's resentment, Lady Zheng raised her chin slightly, quite pleased with herself: "Your Majesty, I pray for you every day, I have never forgotten you for a moment."

The content of the prayers is sometimes quite strange—

For example, sometimes the Queen would send someone to ask her to pray for the success of the Dao Palace, or for the success of the Seven Danzi and the Seven Feiqingzi, and sometimes for the success of the Taipusi...

Finally, the son came again to pray for the ink to be used properly...

But no matter what, as long as Madam Chu is still busy, Madam Zheng will put extra effort into offering incense, and she will offer all her blessings!

I've been wishing you well for so many days!
The only downside is that this kind of work has no quantifiable results, but that's okay!
She looked up at the Queen with a smug smile: the fact that Lady Chu cannot use perfume is the greatest reward for her!

Her emotions were written all over her face, and Qin Shi only needed to glance at her to understand her general thoughts. At this moment, he remained silent.

Because in the palace, besides Lady Chu who loved to use perfumes and powders, Lady Zheng walked with her head held high and loved to practice martial arts, so she was also a big user of perfumes and powders.

That’s all!

She simply advised them to use it less in specific public settings where they were present, and to use it casually on ordinary days.

Therefore, she smiled approvingly, full of encouragement: "Madam Zheng did an excellent job—"

Although I don't know if Madam Zheng is a lucky charm, it's always good to share this post: "Among the New Year's gifts, there is a glass ornament of a serpent and a hundred birds with clustered flowers, which I personally selected. Has Madam Zheng used it?"

It sounds fancy, but it's actually just various irregularly shaped, rhomboid-cut glass crystals, arranged in all sorts of patterns. The center is hollow, and a lamp can be placed underneath.

When lit, it emits a dazzling array of colors like a laser beam, adding a touch of dreaminess and romance to the otherwise monotonous night.

In short, Mrs. Zheng liked it very much!

The Queen favors me!
She glanced at Madam Chu again, her face beaming with joy: "I used it! It's absolutely beautiful!"

As for the fact that Madam Chu had the Glazed Vase with its hundred flowers and birds dancing in a flock of flowers, she wasn't going to think about it!

Both Lady Chu and Lady Zheng had their own things to do, and even their year-end rewards seemed particularly generous. It was said that Chief Secretary Chi Nu was leading two teams of palace maids to carry the loads, and the task seemed endless.

And myself...

Qi Ba Zi was slightly disappointed: because the princess she gave birth to was intelligent but weak-willed, often complained of illness, and did not say anything particularly good about herself to the Queen, she was not assigned any official duties.

I thought the Queen intended to use this to find fault with them, but now that she has given so many rewards, she hasn't found any fault at all.

Even if Lady Chu's arrangement was not good, it was simply sent back for redoing; there was no reprimand from the King.

She sat there, her fingers tightening slightly, a pang of sadness rising within her: I did all this for the princess… but what can I do? She was born a princess, unfortunate enough to be frail…

There was really nothing more to say at that moment, so he could only thank the Queen for her gift and then said, "Xinming is now twelve years old. She is frail, and I think it would be better to consider her marriage sooner rather than later. Having a child sooner will ensure the continuation of the bloodline..."

Her eyes reddened, revealing her deep love for her son.

This is one of the reasons why Qin Shi didn't make any arrangements for her.

Even Madam Chu frowned, and Madam Zheng glared at her: "Wen'er is fifteen, and we're not worried yet. Xinming, why are you in such a hurry if you don't take care of your health!"

"Exactly!" Madam Chu also looked down on Qi Ba Zi: Everyone has a weak child, but isn't the most important thing to him to live a long and healthy life?
Even in their Chu state, no noblewoman born at the age of eleven or twelve with a weak constitution would rush into marriage.

He added, "If you really feel that she has no one to keep her company, you can bring in a few more palace maids and beauties to play with her in two years."

What's this about early, what's this about bloodline...?

Pshaw! Is King Heng of Qin some kind of extraordinary bloodline?

Her riding the tiger is clearly as intelligent as I am! If the king is truly so great, why doesn't he ensure that her riding the tiger is healthy?

What's so great about Qi Ba Zi herself? She cries and sobs all the time, so weak and pitiful... I heard that during her pregnancy she was melancholy about spring and snow, drinking cold wine under the moon and thinking of her homeland, which is why the princess was born with weak lungs.

Lady Chu herself likes to put on an act, but that doesn't necessarily mean she truly appreciates people with that kind of personality.

Looking at the simple-minded Madam Zheng and thinking of her two perfectly healthy children, Madam Chu felt a pang of sadness in her heart.

Thinking of her homeland again and again, her heart ached more and more. But her homeland and Qi were not on good terms either. She glanced at Qi Ba Zi lightly, unable to understand why such a person would be sent to Qin.

Even Qin Shi couldn't understand it.

According to later understanding, the Qi region should be divided into Hebei and Shandong.

Judging from Qi Bazi's way of thinking... it can only be said that she did not receive a good education. But that's just her personality, weak and incompetent, and she is also incompatible with the fierce and open-minded people of Qin.

That being the case——

"Xinming's most urgent task is to follow the medical order to recuperate. As for marriage, let's not mention it again. My Qin princess is of noble status, not only because of her bloodline, but also because of the responsibilities and duties she will have."

"Can these two things be passed down through having children?"

"Issue the order that, effective immediately, Xinming shall also enter Zhangtai Palace to inquire about state affairs."

Qi Ba Zi was shocked: "The princess is weak..."

Qin Shi still smiled: "There are always three to five days out of ten that are alright, right? If she doesn't have the energy to ask questions, listening to her more is also a good option."

After she was crowned queen, she assigned a physician to each prince and princess, and used various methods to regulate their bodies, such as Vajra Kung Fu and dietary adjustments. Xinming only had a cough, but he had actually gained some weight.

It's not necessarily as frail as it appeared at first glance, as if it would collapse at the slightest breeze.

"In addition, the great scholar Xunzi's disciple, Mr. Wenxun, has entered Ganquan Palace. If there is an academy next year, all the princes and princesses who are 10 years old must follow Mr. Wenxun as his disciples and serve him."

Lady Chu was instantly disappointed: Cheng Hu is only eight years old!
She glanced at Madam Zheng with a pang of sadness.

But Madam Zheng also felt sorry for her son: Mr. Wen Xun is so famous, if he were to study under him, wouldn't Qian'er have to memorize an article every day?

too bitter!
Raising children must have been incredibly difficult for the Queen!
Compared to Qi Ba Zi, Qin Ba Zi also had a daughter, Princess Chan, but they were not without servants and did not need to spend all their time taking care of their child.

Therefore, although Qin Ba Zi assisted the Queen in managing palace affairs, all reports had already been sealed and submitted before the end of the year, and he also received many extra rewards...

Now she simply bowed her head gracefully, offered some light and joyful blessings, and indicated that she would obey the Queen's orders in everything before gracefully withdrawing.

How cunning!

Madam Chu stared at her, never expecting that Qin Ba Zi, who had previously been invisible and even demoted, would now be so good at flattery!

hateful!

Yue Liangren, who had given birth to Princess Peng, was also eager to try.

She was skilled in sword dancing, but the king had not summoned her for two or three years. Now that the princess was five years old, and seeing the Qin princes and the entire palace filled with joy, she had some thoughts on her own and her daughter's future.

After all, her daughter was still young. Although she was a princess, there was a difference between a favored princess and an unfavored princess.

The king never lingered in the harem, and even if he wanted his daughter to get close to her, it was impossible.

Now, if I were to be more capable and take over the job from the Queen, and do it well, then in the future, whether it's asking for a fief, a reward, or choosing a husband, it would be better than turning a deaf ear to everything now.

Thinking of this, she glanced cautiously at the young queen and began to ponder.

Next up are the Yan Qi Zi twin sisters, who are as silent as invisible people.

Not only were they silent before the King of Qin, but even within Qin Shi, they were not as impressive as Qi Ba Zi. If it weren't for the New Year, the two sisters could have stayed in the palace without ever stepping out.

It's pitiful that in this vast Xianyang Palace harem, not counting her as the Queen, and including Dan and Feiqing whom she hasn't yet paid her respects to, there are only nine people in total.

For a monarch, this is truly a pitiful and desolate situation.

However, Qin Shi could only sigh: out of the nine people, only five were truly usable, including Lady Zheng, a lucky charm whose future was uncertain.

There are four more, including the two sisters, Yan Qi and Yan Qi, whose son died young. They should all strive to be better!
　Hey! Here we go again!

　　(End of this chapter)