It is said that Qin Shihuang was controlled by a daughter

Chapter 530: Military Advisors Alliance
Why did Hehua go to Fufeng?

"The Empress Dowager's coma is not unusual. If it was the work of the Chu sorcerer back then... Father Emperor once made the Red Stone Alliance between me and Chu, and now Father Emperor is again building the Chastity Shrine, wanting to find the elixir of immortality in Penglai. This matter is not accidental, it seems that someone did it on purpose."

Zheng Li was puzzled. "Your father had already issued an order before the new year for Xu Fu's journey to the East Sea."

“East China Sea. Japan…” She paused, feeling an itch on the old arrow wound on her shoulder, which reminded her of her grandfather and Mo Qi in the Republic of China era.

However, at this critical juncture, Mo Qi actually went far away to live in seclusion.

She wanted him to know that his departure would not diminish her resolve; she wanted him to know that she could not only change Qin, but also change the later events that brought him the deepest despair.

She didn't answer immediately, but smiled and said, "Mother, do you know? I've seen this place mentioned in ancient books. It might have other uses besides seeking medicine."

"What's the use?"

She tried to find traces of her past in her daughter's face, but her daughter's expression was indifferent, hiding a certain ruthlessness.

Until she raised her eyes, which resembled those of Ying Zheng, she said, “Mother, you once said that I could ask you for a favor. Zhang Han lost his official position because of the theft of items from the Imperial Household Department. Now that you have awakened, he has been exonerated and it is impossible for him to be reinstated. Therefore, I think that since he once served under Wang Jian, he might be able to go east with Xu Fu.”

The daughter's eyes burned like fire, a hope that the flames of war would be diverted.

This expectation is no different from Ying Zheng's desire to lead his army to Shangjun.

The husband wanted to expand northward, while the daughter wanted to make a name for herself in the East China Sea.

War is merely a means to an end in their eyes.

Zheng Li knew very well that she didn't like this feeling.

Because all the twists and turns and tragedies that happened to her were the result of war.

A year ago, Zheng Li met someone in front of the Zheng King's Mausoleum in Yingchuan.

Dressed in blue, he held a scroll and kowtowed before the tomb.

Zheng Li recognized the scroll—together with the half-scroll that the State of Zheng presented to Ziying, they formed a map—which would lead to the Hetu Luoshu, a divine artifact revered by the Shang king as a prophetic artifact.

Legend has it that King Ji Fa of Zhou obtained divine secrets through this artifact during his campaign against King Zhou of Shang, and divine weapons descended to earth, ultimately leading to the destruction of the Shang dynasty. After eight hundred years of the Warring States period, the scroll was lost when the state of Zheng was conquered by Han, and the whereabouts of the Hetu and Luoshu remain unknown.

If we take this layer into account, separated by the hatred of national subjugation, we also consider the relationship between Zheng and Han.

His daughter was misled by the Han people. Ying Zheng deeply resented this.

Even after she came of age, every time Zheng Li visited her daughter at Zhilan Palace, her daughter would smile and present her with strange and unusual objects or pastries, or pester her to ask about her past with Ying Zheng in Handan.

until--

He Hua was seriously injured and suppressed his youthful exuberance.

Zheng Li vividly remembers the changes that occurred after her daughter returned to Qin from Bolangsha.

Now, Zhang Liang has appeared here carrying the deepest secret in the world...

"Zheng Guo presented the scrolls from the Zheng dynasty to save his life. Now that you have left Qin and are far from Xianyang, why do you do this?"

"I will return this to you, Madam." The item in his hand was clearly extraordinary. The scroll was made of silver thread, and the scroll itself was white as jade, emitting a shimmering white light.

Zheng Li didn't even glance at the scroll, her eyes fixed on Zhang Liang. Even though he was kneeling, he remained clear-headed and composed. If he weren't the son of Zhang Ping, the Prime Minister of Han... Zheng Li couldn't help but sigh, but her voice was cold and clear, "The Zhang family has protected the King of Han for generations, and I knew this when I left Han for Zhao. Now, you offer this, sir, what are your intentions?... Or is it too late?"

The last sentence was utterly devastating.

Beneath the vast expanse, the pines and cypresses exude a lingering fragrance, yet unbeknownst to many, the small tomb of King Zheng contains the remains of eleven members of the royal family. And on the nearby hills, the Liang Palace, where King Han was imprisoned, was also built.

In other words, Zheng Li is also from Yingchuan. Looking at their homeland, their circumstances are completely different, but their feelings are quite similar.

In 375 BC, taking advantage of the internal strife in Zheng, Marquis Ai of Han launched an attack and captured Xinzheng, officially destroying the state of Zheng. The rule of the Zheng royal family came to an end, and its land and population were annexed by Han.

His grandson was Marquis Zhao of Han, and Zhang Kai served as his prime minister.

Zhang Liang's unyielding spine bowed down at this moment, appearing so illusory in the gray and black mountains.

“Liang’s grandfather helped Han destroy Zheng, which was in accordance with the will of Heaven. The princess helped Qin destroy Han, just like in those days.”

"Back when King Zhaoxiang of Qin was on the throne, he wanted to find the Hetu and Luoshu. At that time, Qin wanted to move the Nine Tripods to force Zhou to surrender, but the Nine Tripods sank into the Si River. A thousand people were sent to search for them, but they could not find them. The late king fell into the water and searched for them but could not find them, and he suffered from a lifelong cold ailment. Three years later, the late king passed away." Zheng Li looked at Zhang Liang again, "Sir, you have always been a rare genius in this world. Now that Hehua has returned from Chu, you should understand that she will never have the chance to leave Xianyang Palace again."

In Zheng Li's time, women's status had declined, and no woman could become a political individual after marriage. Even as the Queen Dowager of Qin, she was, in another sense, still the king's wife.

What Zhang Liang holds is another metaphor for politics.

“Liang’s sins are grave, and she could not escape death even a hundred times. All of this is due to cause and effect. Prince Jia of Zhao’s words of advice to the world are indeed as the lady said.”

"I hope you will remember that since you have suffered a great calamity, it may be a good thing for you and Hehua to forget the past."

“I am but a lonely soul, and I dare not look at the sun and moon.” He stroked the scroll in his hand carefully and said, “Before I went into seclusion, I recommended a man to my wife. This man is decisive and eloquent, and his strategies are no less than mine.”

The wind picked up and started rattling against her window.

Zheng Li's thoughts returned to the present moment. Her daughter was already lying on her lap, her soft black hair covering her crimson robe. A golden hairpin lay quietly beside her ear, murmuring words that she only wished for her mother's safety and health. She closed her eyes peacefully, as if she had returned to her serene and peaceful state.

Xu Zhi felt her mother's gaze was a bit heavy, so she simply stopped trying to say anything and decided to take a quiet nap.

Aside from her mother's place, she felt no safety anywhere else. However, Zheng Li's awakening was something Zhao Gao certainly didn't want to see.

The wheels of history keep turning, the situation is unpredictable, and Zhao Gao is lurking in the shadows. He no longer hides his hostility and even tries to turn Li Xian against her.

Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin, the assassination at Bolangsha, Fusu supervising the army in Shangjun, Xu Fu's eastward voyage...

She felt sleepy, but the closer she got to her mother, the clearer her mind became, even though her vision was blurry.

She began to think carefully about how Zhao Gao had died... After forcing Huhai to commit suicide, Zhao Gao installed Ziying as King of Qin, and Ziying used a scheme to eliminate Zhao Gao...

She saw the jade badge that her mother always wore on her chest. Her mother said it was a dowry given to her by her father when she was a princess of Zheng.

The more Xu Zhi thought about it, the dizzier she felt.

Suddenly a gust of wind blew by.

In the instant she looked up, she saw someone inside the hall.

The moment the light behind him closed in, the wind rushed in through the window. Snowflakes were still fluttering in his sleeves, quickly settling on the dark fabric, leaving a few deep black marks.

My mother is no longer here.

This hall was several meters high, with candlelight flickering and spirit banners filling the hall.

Who are you?
The man ignored what she was saying, walked closer, took off his official hat, and knelt down in front of her.

She finally saw it more clearly: that affected expression, the reddened corners of her eyes, the upturned corners of her eyes like a vixen's...

For some reason, Li Xian suddenly looked ten years older. He had tired wrinkles around his eyes, stubble on his chin, and was wearing a robe that looked very similar to his father's.

What is he doing? Is he reaching out to cup her face?!

She pushed him, but couldn't move him.

Footsteps came from behind the palace; it was an unfamiliar eunuch.

—Since when could eunuchs get to her mother's place without being informed?!
"Sir, you are a man who cherishes old feelings, but this palace has been abandoned for more than three years. Why cling to the past and refuse to let go?"

——?
The eunuch cleared his throat. "His Majesty the Emperor cherishes your memory of your deceased wife, but you cannot remain ungrateful forever. Ahem, Prime Minister Zhao requests that you come to the palace to discuss the continuation of the Epang Palace project. I hope you will do so as soon as possible."

In his previous life, Li Xian was also very curious as to why, this time, when he gazed at her memorial tablet, his eyes fell on the gardenia beside it, as if she were looking at him as well.

His tears of joy only served to confirm his foolishness and greed.

Therefore, after his rebirth, he preferred to believe that this time she was a soul from another world, a completely new person. The one he loved and felt guilty towards was Ying Hehua, not Xu Zhi. Little did he know that as he continued to deceive himself, he even began to believe it.

Xu Zhi felt like she was dreaming. It was normal for Li Xian to act crazy, but she didn't expect him to be so stupid. He was so stupid that when Hu Hai was emperor, instead of trying to please the new emperor and save his own life, he went against Zhao Gao and even petitioned to use the funds meant for repairing the Epang Palace to replace the repair of a tomb in the Lishan Mausoleum.

Soon, the idiom "calling a deer a horse" was used against him.

Xu Zhi didn't know that it wasn't a dream.

After a while.

When Chen Ping brought A Yu, Zhao Jia's letter, and Zhang Han's handwritten letter into the palace, it was snowing heavily outside.

The wind rattled the windowpanes, causing the candlelight in the hall to flicker. Through the screen, her beautiful face was reflected in the bronze mirror.

At this time, she not only lost her chance at Fuqiu Palace, but Li Si also became dissatisfied with her. Yao Jia lost power, and Chen Ping was someone she had helped in the previous dynasty, so she could not easily move him.

"I am trapped in the palace and cannot leave, the Censorate..."

"I will never forget the princess's kindness in recognizing my talent and saving my life. Now, it seems that war is about to break out and the imperial carriage is covered in dust. I am willing to serve her like a dog or a horse, and I would not hesitate to die for her."

Chen Ping didn't mince words, saying, "The princess is now in danger of three things: doubt, belief, and slander."

"Firstly, we should dispel His Majesty's doubts. The Xiang clan of Chu has told me that the Zhao clan has been active and has been creating strange phenomena. This may help to explain the princess's predicament in Kuaiji Prefecture and the burning of her books, as well as the strange phenomena in the southeast and the princess's departure to govern a town."

"How could the Xiang family go to Chu to help me?"

He smiled and said, “Princess, you’ve forgotten that the value of a thousand pieces of gold is both temporary and long-term. If the Xiang family hadn’t stood by your side, how could their young son, the general burdened with the prophecy, have survived?” He continued, “Back then, Xiang Yu was still an infant, but now he is a six-year-old child. Princess, you are good at befriending virtuous ministers, and with General Xiao stationed in Lingnan, this promise will help you quell the slander of the Chu witches in the south.”

"Secondly, the princess should gain the trust of the prime minister. I know that the princess's relationship with Prime Minister Li has been sometimes close and sometimes distant over the years. During this time, Yao Jia is idle at home, while Prime Minister Li holds the reins of the government. If the princess wants to gain power from this situation, she should not be too rigid with him." He paused, "If the princess has many secret conversations with Inspector Li... perhaps she and Prime Minister Li can be treated separately."

"If I knew that Li Si was an unpredictable person and that Li Xian's intentions were unclear, what should I do?"

When Chen Ping is seriously thinking about a problem, especially at crucial moments, he doesn't hesitate at all. He's the kind of person who's naturally designed to solve problems.

"I believe that Your Highness should act swiftly. If Your Highness wishes to do something that ordinary people cannot, there can be no delay, not even for a day or two. Your Highness should understand that you currently reside in Xianyang, not in a distant prefecture. Minister Meng holds the position of Minister of Justice in the court, and General Meng and the eldest son are both in Shangjun. The eldest princess's affection for Your Highness is far deeper than that for the third princess. The Meng family will be of greater benefit to Your Highness. I dare to suggest that Your Highness, for the sake of the matter, should choose the Meng family and abandon the Li family."

Chen Ping bowed again to the person behind the screen and said, “Thirdly, this is the princess’s private matter, but the princess needs to set an example. The princess should visit General Wang Ben’s residence more often and not waste the friendship that has lasted for many years.”

"But Zhao Gao has been quite hostile towards me lately, how can I remain unscathed in this situation?"

“Your Highness. Zhao Gao is merely a minor official. Even if he is close to His Majesty the Emperor, if he obtains more than most of the ministers in the court, or even more than Prime Minister Li, and others believe that Prime Minister Li has already submitted to Zhao Gao, then at this moment, no court official would want him to be as safe in the prefecture as he was in Shu.”

Outside the curtain, Chen Ping's voice was calm and soft. In the end, this scheme did not involve exclusion or exploitation; the trap was clearly laid out there because it was a bonus from Zhang Liang.

Chen Ping presented Zhao Jia's letter, saying, "If the princess publishes the so-called book of prophecy to the public, everyone will know about it, and the prophecy will become a rumor. If the princess is hesitant to act, Lord Zhao said that he will be returning to Xianyang soon to report on his duties and will lend the princess a hand."