Starting with ten elixirs of immortality, I led the First Emperor to rebel against the Qin Dynasty.

Ying Zheng remained outwardly calm, but his mind was racing with calculations.

This yard is strange in every way. The golden, grainy crops drying in the sun are unlike anything I've ever seen before. The round tubers piled in the corner must be the potatoes the old farmer was talking about. And the water pump next to the well—with a gentle press, clear water flows out—it's a masterpiece of engineering.

This boy, who claims to be his own son, is shrouded in too many mysteries.

Before he figured everything out, he didn't mind playing the role of "Zhao Zheng" for the time being.

Seeing Zhao Huan still wiping away tears with such "sincere emotion," Ying Zheng decided to follow his lead in order to gather more information.

"As a father... I am often forced to do business abroad."

Seeing that his "father" had responded, Zhao Huan acted even more enthusiastically: "I know, I don't blame you. It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!"

As he spoke, he secretly glanced at Meng Tian behind Ying Zheng. This burly man had been staring at him ever since he entered, exuding an aura that warned others to stay away, and the sword at his waist was clearly no ordinary weapon.

"Father, who is this?" Zhao Huan asked curiously.

Ying Zheng glanced at Meng Tian and casually said, "Oh, this is Old Meng, my father's guard commander. As you know, when you're out doing business, the world isn't peaceful, and you'll always encounter some vicious villains. Old Meng has been with me for over ten years, loyal and devoted, and has even saved my life several times."

Commander of the Guards?

Zhao Huan thought to himself, "This guy's airs are even more impressive than a county magistrate's. It seems my cheap old man's business is quite something."

Meng Tian, ​​listening from the side, was terrified but dared not show it in the slightest. He could only nod stiffly at Zhao Huan under Ying Zheng's warning gaze.

"Um."

"Hello, Old Meng!" Zhao Huan greeted him warmly, then stood up after glancing at the sky. "Father, Old Meng, you and Old Meng have traveled for so long, you must be hungry. Wait here, I'll cook you a good meal right away!"

As he spoke, he headed toward the kitchen.

Ying Zheng blurted out instinctively, "A wise man keeps away from the kitchen."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized something was amiss. A businessman like Zhao Zheng shouldn't have such a scholar-official tone.

Zhao Huan stopped, turned around, and frowned.

"Father, you're wrong about that."

He walked up to Ying Zheng with a serious expression.

"That Confucianism is all just talk; it's used to fool those below you. Don't believe it when you're living your own lives behind closed doors! All that talk about 'a gentleman keeps away from the kitchen' is nonsense! Self-sufficiency is the real truth. Besides, I guarantee you've never eaten anything like it in your life!"

These unorthodox words, however, sounded like heavenly music to Ying Zheng!

That rebellious son Fusu was full of benevolence and righteousness, constantly spouting the ways of the former kings. But this "son" before him dismissed Confucianism as "nonsense" and considered it "deception."

If Fusu had even half his wisdom, why would I be so troubled?

"Good! Good! Good!" Emperor Ying Zheng was overjoyed, saying "good" three times in a row. "Then today, your father will look forward to tasting my son's cooking!"

Zhao Huan grinned and turned to walk into the kitchen.

Watching Zhao Huan's departing figure, Ying Zheng's smile vanished completely.

He sat upright on the stone bench, tapping his index finger lightly on the stone table.

In the shadow of the courtyard wall, a figure appeared silently and knelt on one knee.

"Zhang Han, have the Black Ice Guard investigate everything here."

"only!"

The shadow flashed and vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed.

Ying Zheng then turned his attention back to the courtyard and pointed to the potatoes piled up in the corner.

"Meng Tian, ​​look at this."

Meng Tian looked in the direction he was pointing and lowered his voice: "Your Majesty, the old farmers in the village say that this crop yields an astonishing amount per mu. If it can be planted throughout Qin, our border troops will no longer have to worry about food supplies!"

Ying Zheng nodded slightly, remaining silent, but a fierce fire had already ignited in his deep eyes.

Soon, the irresistible aroma of meat wafted out of the kitchen, whetting everyone's appetite.

Zhao Huan came out carrying a large tray.

"Here it is! Let's eat!"

He placed two dishes and a soup on the stone table.

One plate contains glistening red, trembling chunks of meat, coated in a rich sauce that coats every inch.

The other plate contained evenly shredded food, which looked neat and tidy.

In the middle is a large bowl of milky white soup, steaming hot.

Ying Zheng and Meng Tian were both stunned.

They had never even seen these two dishes before, let alone eaten them.

Zhao Huan proudly introduced, "Father, this dish is called braised pork, and this dish is called hot and sour shredded potatoes."

"Meat?" Ying Zheng pointed to the plate of braised pork, somewhat hesitantly. "Is this pig meat?"

In the Qin Dynasty, pig meat had a strong, unpleasant smell and was considered a food eaten only by the lower classes, while the upper classes disdained it.

Zhao Huan sensed Ying Zheng's doubts.

"Father, you don't understand. This pig is not that pig. The one we eat has been slapped since it was a baby."

"You slapped him?" Ying Zheng asked, puzzled.

"It means castration," Zhao Huan explained in simple terms. "Without that thing, it won't have a fishy or gamey smell, it will grow faster, and its meat will be more succulent. Others don't understand this, so the pigs they raise are naturally hard to swallow."

After the explanation, both Ying Zheng and Meng Tian were stunned.

Since ancient times, pig meat has been considered food for the lower classes; I never imagined there was such a secret behind it.

Zhao Huan picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of glistening braised pork, and put it in his mouth, saying indistinctly, "Father, Old Meng, you two try it. If it's not good, I'll admit defeat!"

Seeing that Zhao Huan had eaten first, Ying Zheng's doubts dissipated, and he picked up a piece of braised pork.

The moment the meat entered his mouth, its rich yet not greasy texture, its melt-in-your-mouth consistency, and the intensely flavorful savory-sweet sauce—a taste he had never experienced before—instantly captivated his taste buds.

This...this is really pig meat?

Ying Zheng had lived for over forty years and never knew that pork could be so delicious! He then took a bite of shredded potatoes, which were sour, spicy, and crunchy, and extremely appetizing.

Meng Tian's eyes lit up as he ate, and he quickened his pace.

Zhao Huan chuckled as he served soup to the two of them. As he turned around, a pinch of colorless and odorless powder dissolved into Ying Zheng's bowl.

In addition to seeds such as potatoes, corn, and cotton, the system also left behind ten longevity pills.

Giving one to your cheap old man isn't too much to ask, is it?

"Father, have a bowl of soup. This corn and pork rib soup has been simmering all afternoon." Zhao Huan handed the bowl of soup to Ying Zheng.

Ying Zheng had no suspicions and picked up the bowl to drink it all in one gulp.

The broth was delicious, and the warmth slid down my throat into my stomach. Suddenly, an indescribable heat exploded from my lower abdomen and swept through my whole body.

"Well!"

Ying Zheng's expression changed drastically. He felt a sweet taste in his throat and suddenly bent over, coughing violently.

"Cough! Cough cough cough!"

"puff!"

A mouthful of foul-smelling black blood spurted out, splashing onto the ground with a soft "sizzling" sound, mixed with some small, metallic-looking lumps.

"Father!" Zhao Huan exclaimed in surprise.

"My lord!" Meng Tian was terrified. He grabbed the swaying Ying Zheng and saw the black blood on the ground. His eyes widened in horror.

poisonous!

"Clang!"

With his longsword drawn, Meng Tian roared and slashed at Zhao Huan's neck!

"You audacious thief, prepare to die!"

This sword strike was as fast as lightning!