After listening, Huhai silently repeated the words in his mind several times. Though still somewhat uneasy, he was stirred by the word “opportunity” in Zhao Gao’s speech. Clenching his fist, he headed toward his father’s study.
The study was brightly lit by candles. Ying Zheng stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the deep night outside the window. Huhai entered quietly and said, “Your son pays respects to Father Emperor.”
Ying Zheng turned and, seeing it was him, relaxed slightly though weariness remained on his face. “What is it?”
Huhai steadied himself and spoke according to Zhao Gao’s instructions: “After returning to my room, I kept thinking about what happened at the palace banquet earlier. I feel unsettled.”
“Although Elder Brother spoke bluntly in his remonstrance today, I know that Father Emperor’s construction of the Great Wall and campaigns against the Xiongnu are all for the stability of Great Qin’s vast territory, ensuring future generations won’t suffer the horrors of war. No one understands this deeper than you.”
Pausing briefly, Huhai stole a glance at his father’s expression. Noticing his brows had relaxed somewhat, he continued: “Perhaps Elder Brother didn’t consider carefully enough—how difficult it was for Father Emperor to unify the empire. Matters of military and state cannot be judged solely by temporary appeasement.”
“Although I am dull-witted, I understand Father Emperor’s profound intentions. I only wish to remain by your side more often, learning to share your burdens, unlike Elder Brother who causes you distress.”
Hearing this, Ying Zheng’s gaze settled on Huhai. He had always considered this youngest son frivolous, but today he spoke such considerate words. The gloom in the emperor’s heart dissipated significantly. “That you can understand my thoughts shows my teachings haven’t been wasted.”
Huhai’s heart leaped with joy. Just as he wanted to say more, he saw Zhao Gao quietly enter from outside, holding a cup of hot tea. Zhao Gao interjected at the perfect moment: “Your Majesty has been working tirelessly for days and was angered by the young master’s affairs. Please drink some hot tea to warm yourself.”
“The young master’s filial devotion is evident. Your Majesty should rest now.”
Ying Zheng took the teacup and drank a sip, his gaze toward Huhai growing warmer. “You should return and rest too. From now on, focus more on your studies instead of indulging in idle play as before.”
Huhai acknowledged the command and withdrew from the study. Exchanging a glance with Zhao Gao as he left, he felt completely reassured by the approval in the latter’s eyes.
Inside the study, Zhao Gao stood in attendance, watching Qin Shi Huang pick up the bamboo scrolls again. The smile at the corner of his mouth grew increasingly profound.
This game of chess had only just begun.
…
The next day arrived in the blink of an eye.
At the first light of dawn, Ying Qingyue had already finished dressing. Her plain ordinary clothes muted the opulence of palace attire, yet couldn’t conceal the sharp intelligence hidden between her brows.
Before her wooden desk lay numerous sheets of rice paper covered with her handwritten drawings, marked with various strange symbols and annotations.
Her gaze was focused and intense. These agricultural manuscripts were the first foundation stones she had prepared for eventually controlling the lifeblood of this empire.
She understood deeply: no matter how dynasties changed,
Whoever controls the food supply controls both the people’s hearts and the world.
“Princess, word from Attendant Zhang—everything is well, and the palace gates have been arranged,” Qinghe reported softly.
Without looking up, Ying Qingyue simply acknowledged with a hum, her fingertips tracing over a sketch depicting an interconnected waterwheel irrigation system.
Outside the palace gates, a team of elite imperial guards stood in solemn formation, their armor gleaming, their presence imposing.
At their head was Guard Captain Li Han, his expression resolute and eyes sharp. Seeing Ying Qingyue emerge from the palace, he stepped forward and bowed with clasped fists, his attitude respectful: “Princess, the carriage and retinue are prepared. I am fully responsible for the safety of this journey. Please board the carriage.”
His voice was steady, all business, but beneath his lowered eyelids, he exchanged an extremely brief glance with Ying Qingyue.
That look, calm and unruffled, conveyed an unspoken understanding and loyalty.
Ying Qingyue gave a slight nod, her face still wearing that delicate, somewhat timid expression tinged with anticipation: “Thank you, Chamberlain Zhang.”
Boarding the carriage that appeared plain but was specially reinforced inside, as the heavy palace gates slowly closed behind her, cutting off that gilded cage, Ying Qingyue leaned against the carriage wall and softly let out a breath.
The air outside the palace, carrying the smoke and dust of the marketplace, filled her lungs, yet made her feel unprecedentedly clear-headed and empowered.
When they reached the busiest area of Xianyang, Li Han rode his horse close to the carriage window, speaking in a tone neither too loud nor too soft, just enough to be heard inside.
“Princess, the crowd ahead is dense, making it difficult for carriages to pass. Shall we pause for a moment? It would also allow Your Highness to experience the street life up close.”
“That would be wonderful,” Ying Qingyue replied with delight in her voice. “I was just thinking of getting out to walk around.”
Once the carriage stopped, Li Han swiftly dismounted and personally placed the stepping stool for the princess. At the same time, with a glance, he signaled his guards to casually yet precisely disperse, forming a flexible protective perimeter.
After strolling for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Ying Qingyue expressed a desire to see the clever works of common craftsmen.
Hearing this, Li Han understood immediately and led the way to Mo Alley in the East Market.
Deep in the alley, a blacksmith’s shop blazed with furnace fire.
This time, when Ying Qingyue entered, besides the sturdy young blacksmith, there was also an old farmer who appeared to be ordering farm tools and a man selecting daggers.
Li Han remained guarding the entrance, while his other men seemingly unintentionally blocked the alleyway.
Upon seeing Ying Qingyue, all three men’s expressions turned solemn.
The young blacksmith halted his work, and the old farmer and the other man bowed slightly.
“No need for formalities,” Ying Qingyue said calmly, without a trace of timidity. “Time is short, let’s be brief.”
Just then, the heavy cloth curtain at the back of the workshop was pushed aside, and a middle-aged man dressed in coarse short attire, his face smudged with soot, entered carrying a wooden box, both excited and cautious.
His name was Mo Xin, a descendant of a collateral branch of the Mohist school that Ying Qingyue had recruited, skilled in craftsmanship and also the owner of this shop.
“Princess! Look!” Mo Xin’s voice trembled with barely contained excitement as he gently placed the wooden box on the table and opened it.
Inside, padded with soft linen, lay several objects: a thumb-sized, slightly cloudy but indeed translucent pale green crystal, and a shallow, small bowl that was misshapen with uneven walls but had taken form.
These were the rudiments of glass!
Ying Qingyue’s eyes instantly lit up. She carefully picked up the pale green crystal and held it up to the torchlight.
The light penetrated the impure material, casting blurred, multicolored shadows on her fingertips.
“It’s successful… still very crude, but the direction is right!” After speaking, Ying Qingyue set down the crystal and picked up the small bowl, examining its shape and bubbles carefully.
“The impurities need further filtering, and the furnace temperature control must be more precise. Achieving flatness in the plate is the main challenge; we could try using weights for pressing or finding a smoother heat-resistant base plate…”
Ying Qingyue had casually pointed out the key bottleneck in the current manufacturing process.
Mo Xin, standing nearby, nodded repeatedly with admiration in his eyes: “Master sees clearly! We were too foolish, having experimented many times to produce this crude prototype, yet you identified the crucial point at a glance. We will definitely improve it as soon as possible!”
After speaking, Ying Qingyue placed the small glass bowl back into the box and swept her gaze over the core Mohist craftsmen present. “This is an instrument of national importance. Once it becomes as clear as crystal, it can be used to make telescopes, helping our army gain foresight on the battlefield.”
“It can be made into lenses to focus sunlight and generate fire, or aid those with eye diseases to see.”
“It can also be crafted into vessels, surpassing pottery and bronze in lightness and convenience, benefiting the people’s livelihood.”
Ying Qingyue’s generous praise and far-sighted vision for the uses of glass made Mo Xin and the others flush with excitement, and they bowed deeply: “We are willing to die in service of the Princess!”