Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 73, Section 72: The Life of the Red-Robed Girl
Qin Shi was filled with anxiety about her period at night.

But after turning over and tossing and turning, she looked at the thin silk fabric under the moonlight, which resembled flowing water or the Milky Way. She also felt the cool yet not cold air outside the thin brocade quilt.

She suddenly burst out laughing.

Indeed, their desires are insatiable, and they are never satisfied.

Being able to turn death into life is already an incredible stroke of luck and good fortune for her.

The first thing they encountered upon crossing time and space was not refugees, war, or famine, but the orderly and solemn army of the King of Qin, which was extremely fortunate.

But now, after less than a week of good days, she has developed a new worry – can she really not get by without sanitary napkins?

She sat up in the dead of night, lifting the gauze curtains with a very slight movement, but a small lamp immediately lit up in the outer room. The woman asked softly, "What is it that keeps Qin Jun from sleeping?"

Qin Shi smiled silently in the still night, then replied, "Chi Nu, are you four tired from keeping watch every night with your servants?"

The red woman's voice came through the doors and windows, neither too loud nor too soft:
"I am already the oldest and longest-lived in the family, having grown to the age of sixteen."

Qin Shi paused for a moment, then asked, "And what about you? I don't think I've ever asked about your life. After you leave the palace, will you consider getting married?"

The Red Woman's voice was calm:

"If possible, I hope to serve Lord Qin for a hundred years. If I am fortunate enough to live to old age, I am willing to be buried with him."

Qin Shi was stunned.

"My father was a slave who was promoted to commoner status for his meritorious service in the army. Later, he went to war and did not return. My two older brothers were conscripted when they were about six feet five inches tall. The neighbor's sister married my eldest brother at the age of fourteen on the eve of the war and became my eldest sister-in-law."

"After her eldest brother died, she married her second brother."

"Six months later, she became a widow."

“There was no able-bodied man in my family, only my mother and two sisters. The fields were left uncultivated, and we were on the verge of starvation. As a result, my widowed sister-in-law remarried.”

“I was selected to enter the Xianyang Palace because of my quick wit. My family received a bushel of beans, and with the money accumulated in the palace, my mother and sisters were able to barely make ends meet.”

Her voice in the dead of night was as cold and eerie as an ice chest in a corner, yet as calm as moonlight, carrying a sense of numbness and habit.

Qin Shi remained silent for a moment.

These words encapsulate the short and arduous lives of many people. Changshu's ethics and human rights were utterly useless in a cannibalistic era.

Chi Nu didn't say whether she had worked hard or not, but Qin Shi already understood.

Her final question was simply, "And how is your widowed sister-in-law who remarried...?"

The woman in red spoke calmly: "She has remarried four times and, like most of her sisters, is still a widow. But fortunately, she still has a son by her side, and the two of them rely on each other, which helps them get through many years."

What if we survive for many years?
When the son reaches six feet five inches, even though there is no war now, there are still countless labor services.

Qin Shi suddenly let out a long breath.

She did not bear the burden of the suffering of the innocent woman on her own shoulders, nor did she reflect on her own enjoyment because of it.

But she always manages to do something.

……

He slept half-asleep through the night, and when the first light of dawn broke and the Red Maiden came in to serve him, Qin Shi was still full of energy.

She was not on duty during the day, so before leaving, she repeated all the things she needed to do, as was customary in the Qin Dynasty:
"After breakfast and changing clothes, I went to the ironworks."

“Wu Zi, dressed in colorful robes, was by his side, and the carriages, horses, and soldiers were all ready to depart.”

"The food at the Iron Official Workshop is simple, so we have prepared sugar cakes, tofu pudding, steamed buns, and roasted meat, which is a pity for Lord Qin."

Because the Ironworks is quite far away, today's itinerary is very simple.

The Red Maiden asked one last time, "After returning from the Ironworks, will Qin Jun still need to see the King?" Qin Shi nodded, "No, I will see the King first before setting off. I need to ask about the merchant's affairs."

Chi Nu responded and then instructed, "Then this servant will send a eunuch to report that the fresh water chestnuts sent by the King this morning are sweet and crisp. Have Wu Zi take them to the carriage later, so that the King's journey will not be boring."

Qin Shi nodded, feeling that today was another day packed with activities.

At this moment, Chi Nu hesitated: "I also get rest at night, so I don't need to take a day off. But I'm a little worried about Qin Jun traveling such a long distance."

When serving the Lord, there is no rest.

At night, when the master sleeps, the servants take a nap, sleeping intermittently for several days, but still have to serve during the day.

The Zhou family magistrate of Zhangtai Palace wished he could stay by the king's side every step of the way, fearing that if he had too much free time, someone else would steal the monarch's favor.

Now that Chi Nu and the others know that Qin Shi is kind and benevolent, the arrangement of resting for a day after each night shift is really too generous.

Qin Shi shook his head: "I'm not so diligent that I can't do without other people's help."

She seems to have a lot to do every day, but she doesn't have to go through the trouble or worry herself; she only needs to give an order.

And most of them just focus on eating and drinking for their own enjoyment, without actually doing much serious work.

But the maids and servants who followed were different.

At Qin Shi's command, they had to send people to make arrangements and prepare everything for the trip, from cushions to ice chests, from food to tea, and also take good care of the passengers along the way.

Even someone as considerate as Chi Nu would inquire about basic information beforehand, in case Qin Jun occasionally asked questions.

Even if the other party has become accustomed to never being able to relax, it is really unnecessary for Qin Shi to keep such a tight rein on things.

Although she only had four head maids, she also had more than a dozen ordinary maids under her, some well-known and some not. Why did she have to use everyone so ruthlessly?
It's not an irreplaceable matter of national importance.

Therefore, he said, "Only by balancing work and rest can you work for me for a long time. You can rest assured and take a break."

The Red Maiden recalled her grand ambition from the previous night to accompany Qin Jun for a hundred years, and now she smiled and agreed.

Changing clothes, washing up, eating, and drinking tea.

After all the procedures were completed, Wu Zi said, "I have informed the Zhou court official. Does Lord Qin wish to see the King now?"

Qin Shi nodded: "Let's go."

Go early and come back early; we still have six hours of tough work to fight today.

The carriage moved shimmeringly, and the morning breeze swept across the vast surface of Lanchi Lake, bringing a touch of coolness.

As the scorching heat of July fades and Mars, the second largest planet in the I Ching, begins its westward journey, the weather gradually turning cooler. By September, it will be time to add layers to keep warm.

Although he had only been in Qin for a few days, it felt like half a year had passed in Qin Shi’s mind.

On both sides of the orchid pond are endless green lotus leaves, and in the middle stand elegant red and white lotus flowers.

Qin Shi suddenly spoke up: "Stop the car."

She helped Wu Zi out of the carriage and pointed to a pink and white lotus on the lakeside: "Bring me scissors. This flower is so beautiful. Let me pick a few branches to present to the king."

I hope that Your Majesty will agree to and support her request later, considering that she is useful, considerate, and sensible!

I feel hopeless at this pace.

Does anyone remember how many days the female lead has been here?
When will I finally learn how to write fast-paced, emotionally charged, and satisfying novels?

[The principle of tension and relaxation: From the *Book of Rites*, "If tension is never relaxed, even the most capable rulers cannot achieve it; if relaxation is never achieved, even the most capable rulers will not act. The balance of tension and relaxation is the way of both civil and military affairs."]

[This sentence was actually compiled during the Western Han Dynasty; the female protagonist misremembered it.]