In addition to the meat for hunting, the Forbidden Garden also grows many fruits and vegetables. But it is winter now, and there is nothing to eat in the Forbidden Garden, only some dried goods such as mushrooms and bamboo shoots.
Zhu Xiang stewed a pot of chicken in mushroom soup, fried some dried bamboo shoots and bacon, and took out the pickled mustard greens and chili peppers he brought from home. He made steamed suckling pork with pickled mustard greens and stir-fried rabbit with young ginger and chili peppers. Qin Wangzhu was so greedy that he looked at Zhu Xiang with a resentful look.
Although Zhu Xiang also made him fried dried bamboo shoots with dried tofu, dry-pot wild vegetable potato slices, tofu and sauerkraut soup, and steamed pumpkin with osmanthus sauce, which tasted delicious, he was not satisfied as he only ate vegetarian food when he smelled the meat on the table of his juniors.
Qin Wangzhu joked, "Go south quickly. When you leave, no one will tempt me with meat."
Zhu Xiang smiled and said, "Okay, I will come back to visit my relatives when the king is done with mourning, and cook a meal for him before returning to the south."
Qin Wangzhu said: "It's a deal."
He swallowed and silently ate the dry pot of wild vegetable potato chips.
This dish has a strong meaty flavor and tastes the best.
After the main meal, Zhu Xiang took out Ying Xiaozheng's favorite osmanthus cake that had just been steamed, and the plum jam cake made in a frying pan as dessert.
Ying Xiaozheng held a piece of cake in each hand, taking a bite on the left and the right, and never got tired of eating it.
After eating, Zhu Xiang took Ying Xiaozheng for a walk, and took the opportunity to say hello to the important officials of Qin State who participated in the hunt, thanking them for taking care of the young Zheng'er.
He also specially found the fathers of the princes who had been sent back to Xianyang, and gave each Qin prince a small box of tea. He expressed his regret to them that it was really difficult to discipline children. Such a big mess had almost caused the cancellation of the first large-scale "celebration" after the King of Qin ascended the throne. It was not easy to be a father.
The Qin princes listened to Zhu Xiang's sincere sigh and could only sigh along with him and apologize repeatedly.
Zhu Xiang hurriedly said, "It's the child's fault. It has nothing to do with you. Don't take it too seriously. Just take care of it." Then he waved and left.
Qin Wangzhu said to Zichu, "What do you think Zhu Xiang is doing?"
Zichu said: "I wanted to say that Zhu Xiang was warning them, but from what I know about Zhu Xiang, he might just want to disgust them and make them angry."
Qin Wangzhu sighed: "Is Zhu Xiang dissatisfied with my handling of the matter?"
Zichu said, "Why don't you ask Zhu Xiang directly? With Zhu Xiang's character, he won't hide anything."
Qin Wangzhu hesitated.
Zichu said, "When the late king was angry, Zhu Xiang not only yelled at him, but also took away the late king's sheep before leaving. Your Majesty is so kind to Zhu Xiang, he will definitely speak to your Majesty if he has something on his mind."
Qin Wangzhu recalled that every time Zhu Xiang came to the palace, he would lead a sheep or a suckling pig, or at least a chicken or a duck. He didn't know whether to laugh or remain silent: "Indeed."
Zhu Xiang and Ying Xiaozheng finished their walk. Ying Xiaozheng's face was flushed, and the sleepiness after dinner was swept away. It seems that walking is really refreshing.
Zichu took Ying Xiaozheng to wash up first, and Zhu Xiang accompanied Qin Wangzhu for a walk.
Qin Wangzhu asked Zhu Xiang with some trepidation: "Zhu Xiang, I am putting this matter on hold now only because hunting cannot be stopped. When I return to Xianyang, I will give Zheng'er an explanation."
Zhu Xiang sighed, "I have explained enough to Zheng'er. I am just worried that if they resort to trickery again, you will feel very uncomfortable."
Qin Wangzhu was puzzled: "Uncomfortable?"
Zhu Xiang said, "Although Xia Tong is my best friend and Zheng'er is the only child I love, I also know that they are not kind people. They don't have much room in their hearts. Not to mention cousins, even brothers have a superficial friendship. But it's different for Your Majesty. They are your children and grandchildren, your bloodline and younger generations. If there is a quarrel between brothers, Your Majesty will definitely be the one who is most hurt."
Qin Wangzhu blinked, feeling a little warm and a little sour in his heart.
Zhu Xiang did not wait for King Qin Zhu to answer and continued, "With Xia Tong and Zheng'er's abilities, if someone really competes with them for the throne, they will not lose. Your Majesty will not let them lose, because they are indeed the most suitable people to become the King of Qin. Your Majesty is a man of great talent and strategy, and is determined to continue the hegemony of the first lord. The Qin State is more important than anything else."
"It is precisely because Your Majesty puts Qin first in everything. If there is a civil strife, Your Majesty will definitely not show mercy. If Your Majesty is really forced to personally take action against his descendants, Your Majesty will be heartbroken." Zhu Xiang shook his head and frowned, "After hearing about this, I was very worried about Your Majesty."
Qin Wangzhu forced a smile: "Aren't you most worried about Zheng'er?"
Zhu Xiang said: "Of course I am worried, but I am also worried about Your Majesty. Zheng'er is very brave. Since he killed the assassin himself, he should not be affected much in this matter."
Qin Wangzhu said: "Zheng'er is indeed very brave, he didn't show any fear at all. Alas, I didn't expect you to come so soon."
Zhu Xiang said: "Although Mount Li is not too far from my villa, I received the apology gift that day, which was too fast. I think they didn't really want to break up with me and Xia Tong this time. They just didn't expect that Zheng'er would..."
Zhu Xiang paused, and suddenly realized a question: "Where did Zheng'er get the crossbow? Did the Lord give it to him?"
Hand crossbows are not as powerful as bows. Not only do they take longer to string, but the small hand crossbows are almost considered melee weapons, and their range is extremely limited. Their only advantage is that they are easy to operate, have high accuracy within the range, and can be used immediately by untrained people. Therefore, small crossbows were quickly eliminated in ancient Chinese wars, and were mostly used for self-defense and assassination.
Zhu Xiang scratched his head: "I don't... Maybe it was a gift from Lord Lian, Lord Bai or Li Mu to Zheng'er? They always give Zheng'er some self-defense items."
Qin Wangzhu reached out and knocked on Zhu Xiang's head: "You, you let Zheng'er keep these dangerous things by himself? Aren't you afraid that Zheng'er will get into danger? Go back and ask him!"
Zhu Xiang said awkwardly, "Zheng'er learned martial arts from Lord Lian, Lord Bai, and Li Mu, so I handed all these matters over to Zheng'er's teacher. Lord Bai just left not long ago, and I haven't thought about this matter yet. I'll ask as soon as I get back!"
Qin Wangzhu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Zheng'er was really raised by many people. No wonder Zichu always forgot that he was Zheng'er's father.
Alas, Zichu also deserves a good reprimand. How can he be such a father
"Well, Your Majesty, in short, you should have a good talk with the princes about this matter and let them calm down. It will not be good for them if Qin is in chaos." Zhu Xiang said, "Although Your Majesty is tolerant, he is still as domineering as the King of Qin. It is unwise to challenge your bottom line."
Qin Wangzhu didn't expect Zhu Xiang to be so good at praising people. But when he thought about it carefully, Zhu Xiang probably didn't mean to praise him, but just told the truth.
Well, even happier.
"Of course I will give them a good beating. After this incident, they will be much quieter." Qin Wangzhu said, "I am just worried that Zheng'er will encounter a real assassination in the future."
Zhu Xiang said: "It's possible. I will go south as soon as possible."
Qin Wangzhu said: "You have to be careful too. Whether it is the six countries or those who want to replace Zichu and Zheng'er, you must be their main target."
Zhu Xiang smiled and said, "I believe in my luck. Your Majesty should also be careful. But the one you should be most careful of is Xia Tong. If he is in good health, who would dare to look down on him? Now many people who hope Zheng'er dies young are beginning to hope that Xia Tong dies young."
Qin Wangzhu didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "He is in good health now. I will take good care of him and won't let him die young."
Zhu Xiang said: "He has indeed become much more honest. At least he is no longer afraid of taking medicine."
Qin Wangzhu burst into laughter: "He is actually afraid of taking medicine? Hahahaha."
Qin Wangzhu originally had no feelings for Zichu.
Zhu Xiang said that he would feel sorry for his sons, but in fact he had many sons, and he did not have deep feelings for any of them, let alone his grandson.
But Zhu Xiang was not wrong, there were always a few sons and grandsons that he loved and valued. Before Zichu and Ying Xiaozheng came back, and even before Zichu was born, it was impossible for Qin Wangzhu to have no feelings for any of his sons and grandsons.
But watching Zichu, Zhu Xiang and Lin Zhi fighting and playing, King Qin Zhu was having so much fun that his feelings for Zichu deepened.
Based on feelings alone, Zichu has surpassed his more than 20 brothers. Therefore, King Zhu of Qin will not be soft-hearted in punishing those who offend Zichu, not to mention that he also took his beloved grandson Zhenger with him.
But after hearing Zhu Xiang's words, King Qin Zhu also sighed in his heart.
Although he can make the choice without hesitation, does his heart really not hurt when he makes the choice
Although Zhu Xiang was not his descendant, he was sincerely worried that the old man could not bear the blow of his descendants killing each other. Why couldn't his descendants think more about it
Just as the king and father said, only Zhu Xiang, a "foolish man", would treat the King of Qin as an ordinary old man and believe that the King of Qin also has "human" feelings.
"Zhu Xiang, I am really worried that my descendants will kill each other." When returning to the tent, Qin Wangzhu stopped and choked up, "I am really worried."
Zhu Xiang quietly accompanied the King of Qin, listening to the weakness expressed by the King of Qin who had been on the throne for less than a year.
Although his original intention was to make the King of Qin emotionally disappointed with the princes of Qin who wanted to target Xia Tong and Zheng'er, at this moment, he was sincerely sad for the King of Qin.
"Zhu Xiang, I will quickly put an end to this matter and will never give them a chance to cause trouble." Qin Wangzhu took the handkerchief handed to him by Zhu Xiang and wiped his tears, then gnashed his teeth and said, "Whoever dares to let my descendants kill each other, I will wipe out their entire clan!"
Zhu Xiang said, "Your Majesty, we should destroy their country. Xia Tong and Zheng'er's positions are very stable. Those who are intervening in the fight for the throne at this moment obviously hope that Qin will be in chaos or even split. It is very likely that the strategy of the monarchs of the six countries is to hope that Qin will be in chaos and have sufficient talents and financial resources. Just check who among these Qin princes has come to lobby them. After the mourning period, Your Majesty can let the Qin army knock on their country's gates, and they will probably be quiet."
Qin Wangzhu's eyes widened in shock, and the fog in his mind was suddenly cleared.
Yes, I have been suppressing them. Be it talent, financial resources or power, they should not have been able to make any waves.
The fight for the throne requires people to give advice and money to win people's hearts. Where do they get the people and money
"Zhu Xiang, why don't you not go south? Cai Ze will definitely be willing to give you the position of prime minister." Qin Wangzhu looked strange, "Zi Chu said that you have the talent to assist the king, and it's absolutely true."
Zhu Xiang said seriously: "He also said that I don't have the wisdom to assist the king. And I don't like a busy life. I like to sleep until noon."
Qin Wangzhu waved his hand and said, "Go, go, and head south quickly!" If Zhu Xiang continued, he would want to imitate Xunzi and put a ruler in his sleeve!
(End of this chapter)