Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 267 266. Greenhouse Flowers
The queen exuded confidence and could be described as spirited, but Ji Heng couldn't help but chuckle.

It was said to have been half a day of practice, but it was actually only a little over an hour.

However, the horse chosen by the Imperial Son-in-Law was truly excellent. This horse, named Feishuang, was gentle and hardworking, and showed no signs of impatience. The Queen rode on it, and although she was somewhat short, she rode with remarkable stability.

Looking at the expectant look in his eyes and his unusually bright expression, it was quite different from his usual composed demeanor in the palace.

Ji Heng's heart softened suddenly—so be it!
When I was young, I would sometimes sneak off on horseback when the Yan army was away.

He ordered, "Put protective gear on the Queen, and then bring my horse over."

His horse was a fine steed from the Hequ region, tall and majestic, a prized steed that was priceless. Now, led in by his attendant, the large horse shook its head, its mane flying, and then secretly glanced at the small pony beside it.

"Whoops."

The proud horse snorted, clearly looking down on the other horse.

Qin Shi was being dressed in protective gear by his attendants—a simple, lightweight rattan armor that protected his chest and back, as well as leather armor for his knees and elbows.

Although her defense is reduced, she can't equip it because it's too heavy, and it would actually hinder her movements on horseback, so this is a better option.

Seeing Ji Heng's tall, handsome horse with its glossy black coat, she felt no envy. Instead, she stroked Fei Shuang, who was affectionately nuzzling her.
"Though Your Majesty's horses are unparalleled in the world, the one I trust and love most now is still my own horse—is that right, Feishuang?"

"Although you are not as fast as others, your composure is very impressive. We each have our own advantages."

She combed the horse's mane, and Ji Heng smiled with satisfaction: "Warhorses are companions in the army, and one should naturally have the same magnanimity as the Queen when treating comrades."

Otherwise, there are countless fine horses in this world, and no one can guarantee that they will always have the best. If one is always comparing and never satisfied, one will naturally not be able to connect with one's comrades.

Qin Shi stretched out his hand: "Your Majesty, will you come with me?"

Ji Heng mounted his horse and gestured towards the open space ahead: "Your Majesty, please."

……

A novice horseman would naturally not allow his horse to roam freely in the mountains and forests.

Ahead lay a vast training ground, its rammed earth surface flat and smooth, minimizing the bumps and jolting.

Feishuang strode forward on its powerful hooves, its short, flat back heaving with each leap. Qin Shi, meanwhile, sat steadily on his horse, gently holding the reins, feeling the breath of freedom carried on the wind.

Ji Heng did not give chase; he simply sat on his horse and urged the fine steed of Hequ to walk slowly.

Firstly, although Fei Shuang is small in size, she is inevitably competitive. If she intends to show off in front of her new master and speeds up, then the queen will suffer.

Secondly, his Hequ steed is almost twice the height of Feishuang at the shoulder. If it runs, it will catch up in no time... so it's best to just watch quietly from behind.

Qin Shi didn't pay attention to whether anyone was protecting her. She felt the cold wind chilling her cheeks, but couldn't help thinking:

From running to galloping, and then to flying.

Humanity, the journey forward never ends.

……

After circling the training ground, Qin Shi and Fei Shuang's teamwork became increasingly seamless. By pulling the reins in different directions, their opponents could react instantly.

She was in high spirits and originally planned to run two more laps, but Ji Heng stopped her: "Your Majesty is a beginner and needs to be moderate, otherwise you will not be able to handle it at night."

Working with a horse is the ultimate test of one's waist, abdomen, hips, and legs. His queen has always been frail, and if he doesn't take this opportunity to have a maid take her back to soak in a medicinal bath to relax her muscles, she might not be able to get out of bed tomorrow.

Qin Shi abruptly stopped moving, realizing that he had probably overexerted himself today and was suffering from lactic acid buildup. He could only gently stroke the horse with regret and reluctance, saying, "I'll come back to keep you company tomorrow."

Looking at Ji Heng, he had been sitting on his horse for some time and was now full of energy. He was about to take the officials to other places in the garden for a good hunt!
……

When Qin Shi returned to Jianzhang Palace, the maids all came to greet him. Without a word, Yi Ming simply shook the Queen's shoulder and smiled, "Your Majesty has ridden for many hours; it wouldn't be suitable for you to immediately soak in hot water." "How about we have Wu Zi take the Queen to the nearby warm room for a stroll?"

According to her health philosophy, after high-intensity exercise, she needs to take a walk for about half an hour to better regulate her body.

Qin Shi is quite receptive to advice in this regard. Although she is not tired now, it does not mean that today's exercise is without burden on her body.

Taking a walk to gradually transition between states is a theory that has been agreed upon by people both in ancient and modern times, and across cultures.

She was even a little curious: "Shanglin Garden has greenhouses too?"

"Yes."

Wu Zi fetched her a light cloak: "The King wishes to search the Shanglin Garden for all the rare treasures in the world, including rare birds and beasts, and flowers and plants of all kinds, both hot and cold."

However, the Epang Palace was never built, and the expansion of the Shanglin Garden was never completed, so the number of these palaces is not very large now.

Qin Shi wondered: "Looking back now, no one has thought of using glass to cover greenhouses. How are greenhouses for flowers built now?"

This greenhouse is not far from Jianzhang Palace, and when viewed up close, it is surrounded by dense trees.

Venturing into the tall trees reveals a hidden world, like a paradise.

only……

When Qin Shi looked up, he realized that this place was clearly open to the elements, so how could it be a heated room?

If it's not called a warm room, why does it feel so warm when you enter this cave?
She didn't rush to ask questions, but simply walked quietly along the flower corridor for a couple of steps. The wind blowing on her face still carried a chilly feel, but she could clearly feel the warmth under her feet.

She was momentarily speechless.

Ji Heng was not the kind of person who indulged in extravagance.

But the enjoyment of a monarch is often beyond her imagination.

"Is someone keeping a fire burning down below this greenhouse?"

"Exactly."

Wu Zi said earnestly, "This place is covered with withered grass at night, and beneath these layers of soil, there are also small holes for people to make fires to raise the ground temperature."

Qin Shi couldn't help but ask, "Then how much manpower and resources will this greenhouse require?"

Wu Zi smiled and shook her head: "Your Majesty is too frugal! The biggest expense here is not maintenance, but the harsh winter. These beautiful flowers brought from the south are often damaged, so they must be brought back every now and then..."

Maintenance along the route is the most labor-intensive and resource-intensive task.

The purpose of Shanglin Garden is to ensure that the king can see the most beautiful scenery whenever he comes, so the intervals between visits cannot be too long.

Qin Shi couldn't understand: "Then why not plant them in flowerpots? Even if it takes more manpower to carry them out to bask in the sun every day, it would be better than this..."

Wu Zi was somewhat puzzled: "Placing it in a pot as a landscape loses its natural charm and doesn't fit with the Shanglin Garden."

"Moreover, the saplings are quite large, and it is difficult to move the stone basin back and forth."

Qin Shi was speechless.

Beside her, a single, vibrant red flower, unique to the South, swayed and drooped, but what withered in this harsh winter was hardly a flower.

　The extravagance of ancient nobles was beyond our imagination; there was nothing they dared not try.

　　(End of this chapter)