Whether Ji Sheng was happy or not, Zhao Yuanxi didn’t know.
She only knew that since their return, Ziying had become even more attached to her.
“Da Mu, the noodles you made are so delicious! I want another bowl!” Ziying hugged a bowl larger than his face, cooing softly with brown sauce still smeared on his cheeks.
Today, Zhao Yuanxi had personally made zhajiangmian.
In less than a month, Zhao Yuanxi felt Ziying had gained considerable weight. The child she could once easily lift now felt noticeably heavier in her arms.
Zhao Yuanxi reminded him, “You’ve already eaten enough today. If you keep eating, you’ll turn into a little piglet.”
Perhaps all grandmotherly figures possessed the skill of raising children like piglets. Though Zhao Yuanxi had no children of her own, this passive trait seemed to have activated in this world. Watching Ziying’s increasingly round face, she couldn’t help but worry.
While chubbiness might be cute in a child, maintaining it into adulthood wouldn’t just affect appearance—it would be detrimental to health.
“Just a little bit more!” Ziying gestured with his small hands. Zhao Yuanxi reluctantly added another small portion to his bowl.
Gao Sheng approached to remind her, “Your Majesty, Imperial Guard Zhang and the others request an audience.”
“Let them in!” Zhao Yuanxi set down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth.
Zhang Han entered followed by three men. Zhao Yuanxi recognized them as the previously injured guards—one entered leaning on a crutch due to his leg injury, while the other two appeared to have recovered well at first glance.
Upon closer inspection, however, one man’s hand was missing half its length.
A single accident had left one without an arm, another with a broken leg, and the third nearly dead.
Zhao Yuanxi felt a pang of sorrow. If not for protecting her, they wouldn’t have suffered such fates.
“What brings you here?” Zhao Yuanxi asked.
Zhang Han bowed respectfully. “I’ve brought Du and Shan to bid farewell to Your Majesty.”
The three men bowed to Zhao Yuanxi in unison.
“Farewell? Where are you going?” Zhao Yuanxi grasped the key point, frowning slightly.
Du and Shan exchanged glances, smiling wryly. “Since we can no longer protect Your Majesty, we should return home.”
Fortunately, they both held minor titles and owned land. While it wouldn’t make them wealthy, it would at least prevent starvation. Moreover, the Empress Dowager had been exceptionally generous—the compensation they’d received these past days exceeded what they’d saved in entire previous years.
Zhao Yuanxi understood. It wasn’t that they wanted to leave, but Qin’s bureaucratic system didn’t support idle personnel. Those unable to continue their duties had to resign.
But how well could a man missing a hand and another with a broken leg truly live after returning home?
“I happen to need more people here. Would you be willing to work for me?” Zhao Yuanxi had been planning to develop some small business ventures.
She’d been discussing preparations with Gao Sheng these past days, though they hadn’t revealed anything to others. Now that preparations were nearly complete, she needed to recruit more people to expand production.
“We would naturally prefer to remain by Your Majesty’s side. But can someone like us truly be of service?” Du asked cautiously.
Failing to protect the Empress Dowager was a grave offense. That she was willing to pardon them was already immense grace—they couldn’t overstay their welcome and appear ungrateful.
“Of course. I don’t make losing investments.”
“Da Mu often makes losing deals!” Ziying chirped cheerfully after finishing his noodles. Zhao Yuanxi shot him a glare, rapped his head lightly, and added more noodles to his bowl. “Eat your food. Who said you could speak?”
Ziying pouted in protest, though his eyes crinkled into smiling crescents as he obediently continued eating.
Zhao Yuanxi cleared her throat with a light fist. “Anyway, after you leave Liyang Palace, go find Gao Sheng. He’ll arrange work for you.”
Gao Sheng nodded toward them.
Both Du and Shan were overjoyed. “Thank you, Your Majesty!”
“What about you?” Zhao Yuanxi then asked A Ji, who was standing to the side. His injuries had nearly healed, and among the three, he was the only one completely recovered, so logically he shouldn’t need to leave.
A Ji thudded to his knees, kowtowing three times to Zhao Yuanxi.
“Didn’t I say we don’t do that here?” Zhao Yuanxi sighed helplessly, but paused when she saw the tear stains on A Ji’s face.
“Your Majesty’s life-saving grace is something A Ji will never forget. I’ve failed you. Today, I came to bid you farewell!” A Ji hung his head in shame, not daring to look up at Zhao Yuanxi.
“So, where are you planning to go?”
“General Wang Ben has taken a liking to me and is willing to recruit me as a Black Armor Soldier.”
That Wang Ben—boldly snatching her people! Zhao Yuanxi mentally added another mark against him in her little black book.
Turning back to A Ji, her eyes filled with concern. “Do you know that Wang Ben’s Black Armor Soldiers follow him into battle? Didn’t you say you dislike war?”
“Your Majesty said that for the nation to enjoy peace and stability, the six rival states must cease to exist. Only then can the people live and work in contentment. I believe you’re right!”
I didn’t, I never! Zhao Yuanxi’s eyes widened. Was that what she meant?
Well… perhaps there was some truth to it, but she wasn’t referring to Qin!
Zhao Yuanxi hesitated, then took a deep breath. “On the battlefield, blades and arrows are blind. You could die.”
“Without Your Majesty, I’d already be dead. However long I survive on the battlefield will be my repayment to you!” A Ji bowed deeply.
A pang of sorrow struck Zhao Yuanxi’s heart. She hurriedly helped A Ji up, gazing at his youthful face as she forced a smile. “If you wish to go, I won’t stop you. But I’d like to change your name from A Ji. Let’s call you Qu Ji, alright?”
A Ji didn’t understand why, but he accepted gladly.
“Be careful in all things. When danger comes, run when you must.” Zhao Yuanxi paused. “But don’t desert—run toward Wang Ben instead. Staying near him is safer.”
Qin’s penalties for desertion were severe—capture meant execution—so sticking close to Wang Ben was wiser. After all, he’d surely survive to the end, and following him might even secure some rewards.
Zhao Yuanxi truly had the makings of a mischievous child’s guardian, teaching not how to achieve glory but how to flee properly.
A Ji—now Qu Ji—felt both amused and touched, warmth flooding his heart as he looked at Zhao Yuanxi with deep affection.
“Gao Sheng, prepare a good horse for Qu Ji, along with silver, clothes, and supplies,” Zhao Yuanxi instructed. Still uneasy, she added to Qu Ji, “If you lack anything in the army, send word, and I’ll have it delivered to you.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Qu Ji was now weeping uncontrollably.
Zhang Han had initially worried that Qu Ji would suffer greatly going alone to the Black Armor Army, but now his heart was filled only with sour envy. To receive such treatment from the Empress Dowager—even if it meant facing thousands of enemy troops single-handedly—would be worth it.
Though envy lingered, he also felt genuine happiness for Qu Ji. The Empress Dowager had done everything possible for him; how far he could go would now depend entirely on his own destiny.