Hearing that Zhu Xiang had returned to Xianyang, many people wanted to visit him.
When people heard that King Zhu of Qin had driven to Zhu Xiang's manor, those who wanted to visit Zhu Xiang immediately gave up.
They kept expressing their feelings privately that even though Duke Xiang of Qin had been away from Xianyang for so long, the King of Qin still treated him with the same trust and love as always.
When King Qin Zhu came to Zhu Xiang's manor, Zhu Xiang was being scolded by Xunzi.
Qin Wangzhu, despite his sick body and the help of a crutch, came to see Zhu Xiang being scolded. He smiled the whole time and even looked much better.
Zhu Xiang looked at Qin Wangzhu with a very resentful look.
He heard from Cai Ze that the emperor had become more and more like the "King of Qin" and his personality was very different from before, so he asked Zhu Xiang to treat him with caution.
Why did it seem to him that the Lord still enjoyed watching him have fun as before
After Xunzi finished scolding people, Qin Wangzhu said with a smile: "I heard that you fainted when you came back, and frightened Zheng'er. Zheng'er peeled the pear fruit and only gave you the skin to eat?"
Zhu Xiang said seriously: "Yes! Zheng'er is too unfilial! Your Majesty must punish Zheng'er severely!"
Ying Xiaozheng gave Zhu Xiang an indifferent look, which was extremely arrogant.
Qin Wangzhu took out a handful of golden beans from his sleeve and stuffed them into Ying Xiaozheng's hands: "Well done!"
Ying Xiaozheng held the golden bean: "Thank you, father."
Then, Ying Xiaozheng gave Zhu Xiang another arrogant look.
Zhu Xiang said aggrievedly: "Your Majesty, not only did you not reprimand Zheng'er for his behavior, but you also supported him. He will be even more unfilial to me in the future."
Qin Wangzhu smiled and said, "Then don't let him worry about you in the future."
Ying Xiaozheng said: "That's right, uncle, please reflect on yourself."
The corner of Cai Ze's mouth twitched slightly.
"You should reflect on yourself" was what Zhu Xiang often said when he was "arguing" with Zichu and Lin Zhi. Zheng'er learned bad things from him.
Zhu Xiang also discovered that Ying Xiaozheng had learned most of his catchphrases, and said bitterly, "Zheng'er, don't use your uncle's words to argue with him."
Qin Wangzhu asked curiously: "What is a bar?"
Zhu Xiang gestured, "It's like arguing. Your Majesty, think about it, two people are carrying something, you push down and I lift up, isn't it a very vivid image?"
Qin Wangzhu smiled and said, "I understand. Zheng'er, your grandfather supports you. Continue to argue with your uncle!"
Ying Xiaozheng said respectfully: "Yes."
He glanced at Zhu Xiang.
Uncle, did you hear me? If you argue against the emperor’s order, you’re done!
Zhu Xiang held his forehead. Wasn't he sick from overwork? How long would Zheng'er be angry? Was Zheng'er really the reincarnation of a pufferfish? Why was he so stingy
He began to wonder if there was something wrong with his education as to how he could have raised a kid with such a bad temper.
Xunzi looked at Qin Wangzhu who came to add fuel to the fire and watch the fun, and sighed in his heart.
If Zhu Xiang had stayed in Xianyang, perhaps the King of Qin would not have aged so quickly.
However, Zhu Xiang's ability could only be truly demonstrated in the uncivilized areas outside Xianyang. He was not a sycophant who entertained the king, but a talent who could assist the king. No wise king would keep such a talent who could assist the king as a sycophant by his side.
After Qin Wangzhu teased Zhu Xiang for a long time, he felt tired and moved in next door to Zhu Xiang, and the two of them recuperated together.
When Zichu came over with a large amount of luggage, the two patients squeezed onto a bed to play cards, with Cai Ze accompanying them.
Zichu reported the luggage handling situation to King Qin Zhu, but King Qin Zhu was annoyed that Zichu disturbed him while playing cards and told Zichu to handle it himself.
Zichu was speechless. Before today, the King of Qin had always been personally involved in everything, worried that he would make mistakes. Now he doesn't care about anything
Qin Wangzhu said: "If you feel tired, let Zheng'er help you. Zheng'er, go help your father and get familiar with how to be a prince."
Ying Xiaozheng lowered his head, grabbed Qin Wangzhu's sleeve and said nothing.
Qin Wangzhu smiled and said, "Go quickly."
"Yes." Ying Xiaozheng said in a muffled voice, "Grandfather, Zheng'er will be back soon."
"Okay." Qin Wangzhu threw out four cards, "Explode!"
Zhu Xiang immediately followed: "Follow and explode!"
Cai Ze had a blank expression on his face: "The Queen is going to explode."
"Jun Hou" means "double king" card. After Cai Ze hooked out the bombs of Zhu Xiang and Qin Wangzhu, he slowly threw away the last small pair and won the game.
Cai Ze cupped his hands and said, "Give me money."
Qin Wangzhu sighed and took out the silver beans. Zhu Xiang shouted, "Write it down first," and then the three of them started another game.
When Zichu took Ying Xiaozheng away, he looked back and his expression softened.
"Why did Zhu Xiang become ill from overwork?" Zichu asked Ying Xiaozheng when they went to move the documents. "He pays great attention to his health and often talks about combining work and rest. He was busy with a lot of things in the past, but he never became ill from overwork."
Ying Xiaozheng thought for a moment and said, "I'm afraid it's a desire to atone for one's sins."
Zichu paused and turned to look at Ying Xiaozheng: "Atonement?"
Ying Xiaozheng repeated to Zichu the conversation between his uncle and aunt that day.
Zichu sighed and cursed: "I told him to leave it alone! Even if he didn't make a plan, it's just the State of Chu, can't the Qin army take it?!"
Ying Xiaozheng said, "If Chu is not in chaos, Qin will probably have to mobilize all its troops to fight against Chu. Although it will definitely win, the casualties will be tragic. My uncle said this is a problem with the carriage. The carriage lost control and there was only one time left to pull the reins to adjust the direction. It would hit someone anyway. There were ten people on one side and one person on the other side, and he chose to hit one person."
Zichu said: "If both parties don't know each other, everyone will choose the side with fewer people."
Ying Xiaozheng said: "But should the innocent person who was hit die? My uncle believes that hitting someone is a sin, even if it is to save someone."
Zichu scolded: "If he thinks like that, he shouldn't be the one holding the reins!"
This time, Ying Xiaozheng agreed with his father's opinion: "That's right. So why didn't you stop me?"
Zichu looked at Ying Xiaozheng.
Ying Xiaozheng glared back.
Zichu raised his hand and knocked his arrogant son, then sighed: "Why didn't I stop him?"
Ying Xiaozheng snorted coldly: "This strategy is very useful."
Zichu said, "No, even if Zhu Xiang is not the one pulling the reins, he has figured out a way to minimize the damage caused by the out-of-control carriage. If we don't let him do it, he will still be sad. Moreover, Zhu Xiang is a great talent. He wants to make a career. How can his friends stop him just because he will be sad? Moreover, when he made up his mind, he was already prepared."
Ying Xiaozheng muttered: "To stop someone who has made up his mind is to insult his mind, right?"
Zichu said: "Besides, with Zhu Xiang's talent, if he wanted to do something, would it be useful for others to stop him? If it was useful, he would not have gone to Changping."
Ying Xiaozheng held his head in his hands: "Ah, this is so annoying, can't my uncle be more honest and serve his favorite little Miao Miao in the fields, and not get involved in things he is not good at?"
Zichu said, "He is actually very good at interfering."
Ying Xiaozheng said: "If I say he is not good at it, then he is not good at it!"
Zichu said helplessly: "When you become the King of Qin, you will also compromise for Zhu Xiang's determination and consciousness."
Ying Xiaozheng put down his hands that were holding his head and snorted coldly: "I will never do that!"
Zichu patted Ying Xiaozheng's head gently and said, "No, you will. You can't bear to let him fail to do what he wants to do. Okay, let's not talk about this anymore, let's talk about the comfort of refugees. What big things have happened in Nanqin since I left?"
Ying Xiaozheng said: "It's not a big deal."
For Zhu Xiang and Xue Ji, resettling a large number of Chu refugees was a big deal. But in the eyes of Ying Xiaozheng, a high-ranking official, it was not a big deal.
Southern Qin is still very stable. More refugees just mean more labor to reclaim the wasteland. How can it be a big deal
After listening to this, Zichu also felt that nothing major had happened in Southern Qin after he left.
"I wonder when the rebellion in Chu will break out." Zichu said, "Lin Li should be back by now, right?"
Ying Xiaozheng said: "Uncle Lin's role as a white-headed old man this time is also very dangerous. When Uncle Lin comes back, I will have a good talk with him."
Zichu nodded: "That's right. I'll leave it to you, Zheng'er!"
Ying Xiaozheng was thinking about how to reprimand Uncle Lin who liked to get involved in dangerous situations.
Zichu looked at Ying Xiaozheng, who was worried about how to "scold" his elders, and the corners of his mouth curled up.
The chubby little child nestled in Zhu Xiang's arms has now grown into a handsome young man. Time flies so fast.
Now that Zheng'er is wearing the prince's clothes, he must look more like the prince of Qin than he does.
With such an heir, he will never have any worries in the future.
While Ying Xiaozheng was thinking, he quickened his pace and walked in front of Zichu.
Zichu looked at Ying Xiaozheng's back as he walked towards the sunshine, his expression dazed for a moment.
He suddenly remembered what his father had said to him: "jealousy".
Will I be jealous of Zheng'er in the future
Zichu shook his head, put aside the unreasonable sadness, stepped forward and grabbed Ying Xiaozheng by the back of the collar, pulling back Ying Xiaozheng who was so absorbed in thinking about the problem that he almost bumped his head against a tree.
Ying Xiaozheng glanced at the tree, then raised his leg and kicked the tree that dared to block his way, and continued to ponder.
Zichu burst out laughing.
Zheng'er looks grown up, but he still has a childish temper. I really don't know how Zhu Xiang taught him, he made Ying Xiaozheng both precocious and childish, which is really contradictory.
Zichu and Ying Xiaozheng, father and son, divided the government affairs among themselves. Even though they had not cooperated for a long time, they quickly regained their tacit understanding and handled documents more efficiently than when Zichu and Qin Wangzhu were working at full capacity.
Zichu couldn't help but sigh that this son was truly extraordinary. He was indeed the child prodigy who had helped Zhu Xiang manage the household when he was still wearing a bellyband.
But Zhu Xiang is too good at ordering children around.
"If you are tired, go and rest." Zichu advised.
Ying Xiaozheng said, "I should talk to my father about this. If he gets sick from overwork, I will have to take care of three bedridden elders. That would be really tiring."
"You have such a bad mouth." Zichu said helplessly, "When you become the crown prince, you should change your ways. Not everyone has the same good temper as Zhu Xiang."
Ying Xiaozheng said: "I am only like this to my father and uncle. I am different to my aunt."
Zichu: “…” Shouldn’t he be happy that he can be ranked alongside Zhu Xiang
I really can't be happy.
"It's up to you. Be careful in front of outsiders." Zichu reminded, "Even if your position as crown prince is very stable, you must manage your image well."
"Got it." Ying Xiaozheng said, "I have a good image outside, so don't worry, father."
The father and son chatted for a while and then buried their heads in paperwork.
The King of Qin has too much to do.
Now that Qin Wangzhu had distributed the things that he had been holding tightly in his hands, the burden on Zichu's shoulders increased again. Although Ying Xiaozheng had experience in handling government affairs and had the "guidance" of another self in his dream, the two of them worked hard for several days before they could barely sort things out.
When Qin Wangzhu's health improved a little, he would come to visit the two of them on crutches and check on the government affairs they were handling.
When King Qin Zhu saw the results of their work, he nodded kindly and continued to play cards with Zhu Xiang.
Zichu felt very complicated when he saw King Qin Zhu's behavior.
The late king abdicated when he was so ill that his mind was almost confused. Even when he was clear-headed, the emperor and father still had to kneel before the late king's bed to report on government affairs and let the late king make the decision.
When that day comes, will I be able to be as free and easy as my king and father
Definitely not. Zichu knew himself very well.
"Father, come back to your senses. The ink on your pen is about to drip." Ying Xiaozheng hurried to rescue the document that was almost destroyed by Zichu.
Zichu threw the brush away in a panic, and it hit Ying Xiaozheng in the face, leaving a horizontal stroke on his face.
Painted face Ying Xiaozheng: "..."
Zichu held onto the table and laughed, "Where is Zhu Xiang? Let him come and see."
Ying Xiaozheng said angrily: "What are you looking at? Water, fetch some water!"
He wiped his face, but ended up smearing more ink.
Zichu laughed so hard that he couldn't breathe. He threw the document aside and took Ying Xiaozheng to see Zhu Xiang.
Ying Xiaozheng held onto the doorpost tightly and refused to leave.
Zhu Xiang, who was almost recovered and able to stroll in the courtyard, heard the voices of Zichu and Ying Xiaozheng, walked over with his hands behind his back, and then saw his nephew, a big tabby cat.
"Hahahaha, what's wrong with Zheng'er's face?" Zhu Xiang laughed loudly, "Cai Ze, come and see!"
Cai Ze came over with Qin Wangzhu, and then said helplessly: "Did you accidentally get ink on your face? Why are you still like a child? Quickly fetch some water."
Ying Xiaozheng complained: "It wasn't me! It was my father who threw the pen at my face!"
Qin Wangzhu laughed: "Zichu, what are you doing?"
Zichu laughed and said, "My hand slipped."
Zhu Xiang exclaimed: "Xia Tong, you are really artistic. Look at this splash-ink painting. It will be remembered forever."
Ying Xiaozheng rushed forward and was about to hit his uncle with a headbutt.
Zhu Xiang twisted his body and I dodged!
"Uncle, stop!" Ying Xiaozheng said angrily.
Zhu Xiang hid behind Qin Wangzhu and said, "Your father splashed ink on your face to paint. Why are you angry with me? Go and hit your father."
"Stop!" Ying Xiaozheng chased after Zhu Xiang.
So Zhu Xiang and Ying Xiaozheng circled around the Qin King's Pillar.
Cai Ze held his forehead with one hand.
Qin Wangzhu said to Zichu cheerfully, "I remember that you and Zhu Xiang were chasing each other around the pillar in front of the king and father."
Zichu said, "Father, we are not going to go around you."
Qin Wangzhu laughed and said, "Am I not also a Zhu? Alas, Zhu Xiang has been caught!"
Zhu Xiang turned around and carried Ying Xiaozheng up.
Ying Xiaozheng yelled, "Let me go!"
Zhu Xiang said: "No."
He carried Ying Xiaozheng, who had grown into a young boy, around a few times and put the dizzy Ying Xiaozheng on the ground.
The servant finally brought the water over. Cai Ze handed the task of supporting the Qin King's pillar to Zichu, kicked Zhu Xiang away, and picked up the cloth to wash Ying Xiaozheng's face.
"Don't bully Zheng'er." Cai Ze said unhappily, "How old are you? Still bullying your nephew? Are you feeling better? If you feel better, go and help Zheng'er with his work. If you are bored, you can also go and take care of the fields in the farm."
Zhu Xiang smiled and said, "He took advantage of my illness to be so arrogant for so long. It's time for me to get back at him, right, Lord?"
Qin Wangzhu smiled and said, "Yes."
Ying Xiaozheng: "..." Grandfather, you didn't say that before! Grandfather, what are your principles as the King of Qin
Qin Wangzhu said that he was the King of Qin, and what he did was the principles of the King of Qin.
When Lin Zhi came back, he could already hear the sound of impending storm in Xianyang City before he even arrived there.
He was very puzzled.
Zichu's position as the crown prince was so secure that even if the King of Qin passed away, there shouldn't have been such a commotion in Xianyang City.
After arriving in Xianyang City, he learned that the King of Qin and the Crown Prince had both moved into Zhu Xiang's manor, and only then did he get a taste of the atmosphere.
These two people probably wanted to imitate the scene when the previous king died. When the throne was passed on, they deliberately lured out a group of people to clear out the bad voices in the court.
The bait they are putting out now is spring flowers.
Lin Zhi frowned in disgust.
If he was in Xianyang, he would definitely not agree with the King of Qin and Zichu doing this, because Chunhua was a scar in the hearts of Zhu Xiang and Zheng'er.
Although Zhu Xiang and Zheng'er have no feelings for Chunhua, Chunhua is related to them by blood, so her existence itself is a harm to Zhu Xiang and Zheng'er.
Using the stupid Chunhua to catch those who have bad intentions in the court is a good way to recycle waste, which is very cost-effective. But compared with Zhu Xiang and Zheng'er's feelings, Lin Zhi does not think it is a good deal.
But now that these things have been started, Chunhua has been crowded with people. It is useless for him to feel uncomfortable.
Lin Zhi went home to say hello and moved directly into Zhu Xiang's manor, where he complained about Zichu and Cai Ze.
"You think I didn't object?" Cai Ze said unhappily, "This matter was decided directly by the Lord."
Zichu raised his hands: "I also passively accepted this. I didn't intend to use her. Zhu Xiang is so smart, if I used Chunhua, would he still be nice to me?"
Lin Zhi finally calmed down and said, "That's right."
Zichu said, "Instead of being angry with us, you should be angry with Zhu Xiang. Did you know that he is ill?"
Lin Zhi raised his eyebrows: "Hmm?"
Zichu said, "He was overworked and fainted on the boat on the way back, frightening Zheng'er to tears."
Lin Zhi took a deep breath: "Now he seems to be in good health."
Cai Ze said: "After a period of recuperation, he finally got better. When he came back, he was still lying on the sickbed."
Lin Zhi turned and left.
Zichu and Cai Ze exchanged glances.
Zichu: Do you think Lin Li will beat Zhu Xiang
Cai Ze: Zhu Xiang deserves to be beaten.
Lin Zhi didn't want to beat Zhu Xiang, so he just scolded him.
Zhu Xiang was stunned.
Lin Zhi has always been a unruly person, and this is the first time he has seen Lin Zhi scolding someone with a stern face.
When he came back from Changping, Lin Zhi didn't scold him! Isn't it just a disease? Is it that serious
Hearing that Zhu Xiang still dared to complain, Lin Zhi was so angry that he laughed: "You had to go to Changping that day. You had no choice, why should I scold you? Now you asked for it!"
Zhu Xiang defended himself, "I know I will be back to Xianyang soon. If I don't settle the refugees first, what will I do if they become uneasy?"
Lin Zhi said: "Do you think Zhang Ruo, Meng Wu and Li Mu are useless? Do you think Qin officials are useless? Qin was able to absorb refugees from the Three Jins, so it can also absorb refugees from Southern Qin. Moreover, they have been preparing for a long time, just waiting for the refugees to come."
Zhu Xiang still wanted to defend himself, but in front of Lin Zhi, who was very familiar with Southern Qin and had pushed for the reform of the land laws in Southern Qin, his defense was weak and completely a sophistry.
Seeing Zhu Xiang speechless, Lin Zhi sighed and said earnestly: "I know you can't bear it, and you have to do something to feel at ease. But if something happens to you, what will you do to Xue Ji? What will you do to Zheng Er? What will you do to us friends? Cai Ze, Li Mu and I came to Qin because of you."
Zhu Xiang lowered his head and said, "I know."
Lin Zhi said, "I don't like to talk to you about this, because I'm afraid that you're under too much pressure. But I see that you don't have any pressure and don't take your life seriously. No matter how uneasy you are, you have to live well for me. Your life is not your own. You have to think about Xue Ji, Zheng Er, me, Cai Ze, and Li Mu."
"Xia Tong is going to be the King of Qin now. Although he is on good terms with me and Cai Ze, you should know that we are only half of his friends. His feelings towards you are different. The closer you are to someone before the king ascends the throne, the more dangerous your situation will be after he ascends the throne. You are the only one who can protect us and make Prince Chu of Qin briefly remember Xia Tong's identity."
"Cai Ze and I hold the position of prime minister, and Li Mu holds the position of general. Our power is too great. If you were not there to ease the situation for us, do you think the King of Qin would be afraid of us?"
"Generals and ministers have always been incompatible, not incompatible. Why must the king who has harmonious generals and ministers be a wise ruler? Because only a wise ruler will not be afraid of harmonious generals and ministers."
Zhu Xiang clenched his fists: "I understand."
Lin Zhi said: "Remember my words well in your heart."
Zhu Xiang took a deep breath: "Okay."
Lin Zhi patted Zhu Xiang on the shoulder and said, "I went to Zhao this time and persuaded the King of Zhao to let Xinling Jun guard the border. You can rest assured about the affairs of Zhao's northern border."
Zhu Xiang finally smiled: "Is Wei Wuji okay?"
Lin Zhi said: "When he was fighting for the border, he gave up drinking and picked up martial arts again. He is still the Xinling Jun who gave Qin a headache on the battlefield."
Zhu Xiang breathed a sigh of relief: "Then he should be able to get used to it quickly if he goes to the north."
Lin Zhi said, "We have Li Mu's letter. If he still cannot take control of the three northern counties of Zhao, then he should not be the Lord of Xinling."
Zhu Xiang laughed: "He can definitely do it."
Zhu Xiang hesitated for a while and asked, "What is the situation in Zhao State?"
Lin Zhi said: "You want to ask about the situation of King Zhao, right? After King Zhao repented, although he is not a wise ruler, he is a ruler who maintains the status quo. If he had done this earlier, I am afraid..."
Lin Zhi paused, and said with a strange expression: "If he had done this earlier, you would have waited until Zheng'er was older before entering Qin."
Zhu Xiang couldn't help laughing: "Indeed."
Lin Zhi sighed, his tone extremely helpless: "Xia Tong... Zichu's move is really... Oh, he really has you in his grasp."
Zhu Xiang said: "So he owes me."
Lin Zhi said, "Yes, yes, he owes you. When he becomes the King of Qin, you must get it back. Lord Pingyang is a little confused now, but he is generally in good health."
Zhu Xiang looked sad: "Birth, aging, illness and death are common to all human beings."
When he came back, Xunzi had aged a lot. Although Xunzi looked healthy, he knew that an old man of his age would be unable to get up if he caught a cold.
Lin Zhi said: "Be good friends with your Majesty and Xunzi."
Zhu Xiang: “Yeah.”
Lin Zhi patted Zhu Xiang's shoulder again: "You are their comfort."
Zhu Xiang: “Yeah.”
He knew that he had created many "playthings" just to make the Lord happy in the last moments of his life.
Qin Wangzhu told Zhu Xiang that he was very happy now, as if he had returned to the time when his brother was still alive.
At that time, Qin Wangzhu was still only the Lord of Anguo, and the present and future of Qin had nothing to do with him. He drank wine, hugged the beauty, and his mind was full of how to have fun today and how to have fun tomorrow.
"It's nice to be able to go back to the time I miss the most at the last moment of my life." Qin Wangzhu is very free and easy.
(End of this chapter)