On the way home, Li Si seemed to suddenly remember something, hesitated, then wanted to ask Li Xi a question, “Sister, what you said to me before… you weren’t serious, right?”
“Huh?” His words were so vague that at first Li Xi didn’t understand what he meant, and with a little confusion asked, “What did I say?”
“It’s just that…” The youth’s expression became even more tangled, and finally he muttered four words unclearly, “Admire Wang Shang.”
Hearing these words, Li Xi couldn’t help but fall silent for a moment.
Then she looked at her struggling older brother, thought for a moment, and cautiously replied, “Brother, what kind of answer do you want to hear?”
Hearing his sister’s counter-question, Li Si immediately inhaled sharply, feeling doomed inside.
His sister… had really taken a liking to Ying Zheng. Otherwise, how could she have given such an ambiguous answer?
If one does not like, then one simply does not like. Only when one likes someone would they give a roundabout response, and yet deliberately avoid the real answer, keeping it unspoken.
So Li Si could not help but advise, “Axi, Wang Shang is indeed unparalleled in handsomeness, a rare beauty in the world, but… accompanying the king is like accompanying a tiger. Wang Shang’s temperament is by no means as gentle and easygoing as you see today…”
Recalling how, back then, he bribed palace attendants to meet the Qin King and recommend himself, seeing the young king exude a chilling, ferocious aura, Li Si didn’t want his sister to romantically idealize Ying Zheng or marry into the royal family as a queen…
On the surface, it might sound good, but Wang Shang’s wife could only come from the noble families of the Six States. Their lowly status meant at most she could only be a concubine.
Even if he were a sovereign, letting his sister—whom he had never allowed to suffer hardships since childhood—become a concubine… how could he bear it?
A concubine? She would be a plaything, a resource that could be casually handed over to someone else.
Thinking of this, Li Si, feeling deeply that his sister should not take a narrow path, considered and said, “Axi, do you remember, when I studied at Jixia Academy, there was a senior brother who came to see me?”
“Prince of Han?”
“Yes,” Li Si replied, “My senior brother is the Prince of Han, acquainted with many outstanding and talented people of exceptional presence and accomplishments.”
Li Si thought that the best way to make his sister give up her current girlish feelings was to have her like someone else, so naturally she would no longer think of Ying Zheng.
As for the worry he just had… if it were another high-ranking prince or noble of the Six States, would that not exist? Not quite.
He was confident that with his talent and knowledge, he could climb to a high position in Qin. By then, apart from the kings of the Seven States, his sister could be the lawful wife of anyone in the world, rather than compromising as a concubine.
So… for his sister, he should work even harder and more cautiously in the future.
Li Si thought this in his heart.
Li Xi, however, had no idea that her brother’s thoughts had already soared beyond the sky, her imagination entering black holes one after another.
She didn’t even notice the last thing Li Si had said because all her attention was focused on one thing.
Li Xi asked, “Brother, do you have a good relationship with Prince of Han?”
Li Si answered, “Very close. My older brother has always taken care of me in many ways.”
Hearing this, Li Xi seemed thoughtful and softly murmured, “I see…”
Xianyang Palace.
A middle-aged man in luxurious clothing strolled leisurely through the palace grounds and finally arrived at the residence of the Queen Dowager, the rear hall of Ganquan Palace.
Upon seeing the mother and son sitting there, the man immediately bowed deeply, “Minister Lü Buwei, pays respects to my king, Queen Dowager.”
“Wenxin Hou has come? No need for such formalities, there are no outsiders here.”
Compared to Zhao Ji, whose mood was clearly pleased, Ying Zheng responded with a relatively cold, clear voice, “Uncle.”
Lü Buwei didn’t mind Ying Zheng’s coldness; the youth had been like this for a long time, it was simply his temperament.
The man then slowly stood, taking out a piece of silk from his sleeve, “This is important news that my Qin spies reported, occurring over ten days in Zhao.”
As he finished speaking, a palace attendant walked over, took it from his hand, and presented it to Zhao Ji and Ying Zheng.
Zhao Ji first unfolded the silk, her beautiful eyes scanning the densely packed Qin characters, then immediately handed it to the young man beside her, “Zheng’er, read to your mother what’s written.”
Ying Zheng, completely familiar with this, took it from Zhao Ji and recited for his mother, “King of Zhao intends to recall Lian Po, sending envoys to check whether he still has the strength to serve Zhao. When Lian Po met Zhao Shi, a meal and a peck of rice, ten jin of meat, wearing armor and mounting his horse, he indicated to the envoy that he was still able to be used. However, after the meeting, Zhao Shi returned to the country and, bribed by Guo Kai, who had been publicly scolded by Lian Po, formed resentment…”
When his eyes reached the next two lines, Ying Zheng’s voice paused for an imperceptible moment, then continued as if nothing had happened, finishing the remaining content of the silk, “…King of Zhao abandons recalling Lian Po.”
“That… that is great news!” Zhao Ji immediately rejoiced.
Being from Zhao, she naturally knew what Lian Po meant to the state. Lian Po was a famous general, brave and skilled in battle, terrorizing neighboring states. Before the new King of Zhao succeeded, he had been a stabilizing stone for the state.
Without this famous general, Zhao’s military strength truly weakened.
So she said to Ying Zheng, “Such good news, shouldn’t Zheng’er and I celebrate properly?”
At that time, Ying Zheng had been a hostage in Zhao, shortly after the Battle of Changping. Their life in Zhao had been extremely difficult.
Zhao Ji, having been hardened by those difficult days, felt no sentiment for her old country. Hearing of Zhao’s troubles, she could not help but rejoice, wishing all to celebrate with her.
But at this time, Ying Zheng had no such thoughts. His mind was focused on the three sentences Li Xi had told him.
Or more accurately…
—Three prophecies.
At first, he had been confused by Li Xi’s first sentence, not understanding why she mentioned whether the fugitive Zhao general Lian Po could eat while addressing him, the King of Qin.
But coupled with today’s secret report…
—His Qin really did have an extraordinary personality.
And since Li Xi’s words were prophecies, with the first one fulfilled, the next should be…
The young man in black glanced at Lü Buwei, “I have recently obtained news from Zhao. Wenxin Hou, remember to send people to observe Li Mu stationed in the northern border of Zhao.”
Hearing this, Lü Buwei was stunned.
He wanted to ask how Ying Zheng obtained this information, but ultimately restrained himself. Though Ying Zheng still called him Uncle, he was still the King of Qin. When the king speaks, a minister cannot refuse. He respectfully said, “I will obey the king’s command.”
Time flew by. Over a month had passed since Li Xi had entered the palace to present the “treasure” to Ying Zheng and Zhao Ji.
During this time, Li Xi had taken no new action, as she had said—just wait.
Apart from daily exercise at home, she didn’t even leave the house, staying in a very laid-back manner. During this time, she also took up a health hobby: fishing in the small pond at home.
However, she was very bad at this new hobby. Fishing for a month, not a single fish had been bitten. The system, unable to bear it, cautiously suggested she try a new game several times, but Li Xi smiled and refused each time.
That day, an unexpected visitor arrived at Li Xi’s home.
Seeing the handsome young man in black brought by the household staff, Li Xi widened her eyes in surprise, asking, “Wang Shang, why have you come personally?”
Ying Zheng’s phoenix eyes swept over, noticing the fishing rod in her hand and her surroundings, then lightly laughed, retorting, “Miss, aren’t you here specifically waiting for me?”
Li Xi blinked, tilting her head sweetly, “Jiang Taigong fishes, willing participants take the hook.”
“Today, Li Xi compares herself to Taigong, but I wonder if Wang Shang is willing to be my Wen Wang?”
Ying Zheng asked in reply, “Why not?”
At the same time, as the young king’s words fell, the fishing rod in Li Xi’s hand sank slightly. Clearly, something in the river was tugging at it.
The system immediately screamed in Li Xi’s mind, [Ahhh, you really caught a fish with a straight hook! Host, you’re amazing!]
Li Xi didn’t respond but retracted the rod, lifted the big fish, had the servant take it away, then turned to Ying Zheng, raising her hand, “Wang Shang, please.”
The young man also extended his hand, eyes on Li Xi’s peach blossom eyes, saying, “Sir, please.”
Hearing Ying Zheng naturally switch to this form of address, Li Xi smiled, walking ahead—it was her house, so she had to lead.
Both were decisive people. Once seated in the main hall, they immediately got to the point.
Li Xi began sharply, “Xiao Gong recruited talents, reformed the state for strength. Huiwen Wang expanded east, conquered Ba and Shu, extending territory. Wu Wang captured Yiyang, connected the three rivers, and watched the Zhou. Zhaoxiang Wang allied far and attacked near, devouring other states. Xiaowen Wang pardoned criminals, honored previous ministers, rewarded relatives, and rode in the park. Zhuangxiang Wang conquered Eastern Zhou. The Qin rulers for six generations, persistent and determined, worked tirelessly, resulting in today’s strong Qin. Among the six rulers, some were heroic, some preserved what existed. Wang Shang, may I ask, do you intend to be a heroic ruler or a preserver?”
The young man’s clear voice, like spring water over stone, elegantly replied, “My national policy, only two words.”
He paused, then with sharpness hidden like a sword, “—Unification!”
Hearing this, Li Xi’s peach blossom eyes curved like a crescent moon, smiling, “You will succeed. This era of turmoil will be ended by Wang Shang’s own hand.”
Ying Zheng asked, “When will it end?”
“This question, Li Xi cannot answer.”
She looked at Ying Zheng, eyes blazing, “Since Wang Shang has obtained me, already knows the outcome in advance, surely it will not be completed only at the time Li Xi sees?”
Ying Zheng smiled, “Sir, you speak so well.”
Li Xi blinked, “I am not flattering to please Wang Shang.”
Ying Zheng asked, “Then, what does the sir want?”
He then seemed to recall something, “Regarding the reward for finding cotton, I have already given it to Li Si as you said.”
“I know,” she replied.
Li Xi looked at Ying Zheng, her beautiful peach blossom eyes fixed on his narrow phoenix eyes, like a naive child, asking, “I want a county. Will Wang Shang grant it?”
The young king immediately smiled lowly, “For just one county to gain such talent to assist Qin, the price is indeed low.”
He continued, “From now on, Liyang shall be your fief. Whatever you wish to do, you may do freely in Liyang.”
Hearing the name, Li Xi froze, asking uncertainly, “Wang Shang… will you really grant Liyang to me?”
Seeing the young girl’s puzzled expression, Ying Zheng couldn’t help laughing. His laughter was clear, less kingly coldness, more youthful cheer, retorting, “You just compared yourself to Taigong, now just one county, afraid?”
“How could I?” Li Xi asked in reply, glancing sideways at his beautiful phoenix eyes.
Then she raised her hand, fingers together, in front of Ying Zheng, “Then it’s settled, Liyang. No jest.”
Clap.
Hands met. Ying Zheng and Li Xi high-fived to seal the agreement.
The young man’s voice was deep, “No jest.”
After Ying Zheng left, the system finally could no longer contain itself, chirping wildly in Li Xi’s mind.
Actually, Ying Zheng couldn’t hear it. When he was present, it didn’t affect her speaking to him. But Li Xi wouldn’t allow it.
—If asked, the system would disturb her mind, hindering her from hearing the male god’s voice.
[Host, why did you seem so surprised when Qin Wang said he would give you Liyang?]
Li Xi didn’t answer directly, instead asking, “Do you know where Liyang is?”
[Yes, isn’t it the old capital of Qin before moving to Xianyang?] It sounded a bit smug.
Li Xi asked, “And?”
[Also…] The system hesitated, [Liyang is where Shang Yang carried out the first round of reforms?]
Hearing what she wanted, Li Xi nodded lightly, “Correct. Liyang is where Shang Yang’s first reforms were implemented. Zheng-ge is signaling… high expectations for me.”
[Eh, really ovo]
Seeing the system start to act cute again, Li Xi didn’t continue, instead switching topics, “Weren’t you always urging me to set up the game background, make the game CG? Not now?”
System: !!!
Finally, the part it had been most excited for?
Sensing the system’s excitement, Li Xi suddenly asked, “By the way, I never asked. With your current ability, how many players can you summon at most?”
[About… less than fifty?]
Li Xi: ?
Just this few, and you dare tell me to fight Qin soldiers directly?
What kind of reckless… no, what kind of trap for the host’s spirit is this?
If she weren’t careful, the system could have easily tricked her. Otherwise, she’d be six feet under by now.
Sensing Li Xi’s silence, the system timidly asked, [I, did I mess up again?]
Li Xi glanced sideways, “You tell me.”
[QAQ]
The next day.
Early in the morning, Li Xi received an edict from Ying Zheng.
“I, having ascended three years, blessed by heaven, visited by the goddess, knowing past and present, omniscient and omnipotent, consider this a great fortune for the state. Now I grant the goddess Liyang. From now on, all matters in Liyang, big and small, shall be decided by the goddess.”
Li Si was dumbfounded upon seeing the edict.
No matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t understand what had happened.
Hadn’t he just used connections to bring his sister to present a “treasure”? How did she instantly become a goddess?
He admitted the cotton was beneficial and impactful, but… a single cotton item alone could not possibly elevate his sister to such a position, right?
Thinking carefully, he concluded the only suspicious thing was…
The young man’s face was serious, heavy, “Axi, what did you secretly say to Wang Shang that day?”