It is said that Qin Shihuang was controlled by a daughter

She stirred up a little episode.

Then, the debate ended with Chunyu Yue's defeat.

The fruitless outcome of the Confucian debate was much milder than the original history.

Ying Zheng did not order the burning of poetry and books, but sent these more than a hundred Confucian scholars back to Qi.

Li Si's memorial did not contain any content about violent book burning.

Xu Zhi finally felt relieved, but she felt the danger, the danger that fell on her...

The fire was so bright that the shadows cast on the ground became even darker.

When Xu Zhi was leaving the table, he accidentally met Ying Zheng's gaze.

Very deeply, at that moment, penetrating her soul.

This glance was like a mixture of sharp frost and ice.

"Do you have anything else to say?" Ying Zheng's voice came from the upper stairs.

She had never been met with such a gaze from Ying Zheng before. She subconsciously lowered her head and even knelt on the ground reflexively.

Li Xian had told her that during the ten years since the founding of the empire, His Majesty the Emperor had sought immortality and had called himself a True Man. He never showed his displeasure and became increasingly mysterious.

Xu Zhi didn't deny being timid, and bowed somewhat mechanically, "No."

"Yong'an, you talked too much tonight."

She didn't dare to look up, and only answered, "...Yes."

Ying Zheng's deep eyes fell on her, and his voice was more majestic than ever before.

"You must remember your identity."

Xu Zhi paused, "Father..."

Ying Zheng held Zheng Li tightly in the dark and did not let her come forward.

“Seeing too much in Mount Zhongnan will make you forget who you are.”

His voice echoed in the spacious hall. Not until later did she truly understand that Ying Zheng had clearly reminded her at that moment.

"Do you remember when I returned to the palace from the East Sea and asked you to meet the State Commandant?"

Wei Liao told her that if she forcibly created weapons that she could not control when the existing productivity was so poor, it would cause chaos in the world.

"My daughter remembers." She bowed her head. "The lieutenant's words are absolutely correct, and I am convinced. I was so reckless and ignored the national situation. I hope your Majesty will forgive my daughter's inconsiderateness."

Ying Zheng was silent for a moment, "From now on, you are not allowed to go to Zhongnan Mountain again."

Xu Zhi placed his hand on his forehead, "...Yes."

Ying Zheng saw the hair ornaments swaying gently in her hair and discovered her fear.

"I don't want to hear any more reports about your erratic behavior."

"…Yes."

Over time, when imperial power reached its peak, Ying Zheng would take others' fear of him for granted. It seemed that if his people no longer feared him, the emperor's majesty would disappear completely.

Similarly, after sixteen years of subtle influence, Xu Zhi has internalized this subconsciously.

When Xu Zhi heard the palace maid say it was time to get up, he didn't get up either.

"Farewell, Father, Emperor, and Mother."

Her voice seemed ethereal in the lonely hall.

"Your Highness. Lord Meng said someone wants to see you." A servant brought the message.

The palace maids came out from behind the hall, and the candlelight on the bronze lamps gradually dimmed from bright to dim.

Xu Zhi was tired of this kind of fear. Ten years ago, she would never have thought that the pressure from feudal imperial power was far more terrifying than she had imagined, and would quietly alienate her feelings for Ying Zheng.

The Emperor and Empress caught up
Zheng Li finally couldn't help but speak, "Your Majesty, you are too harsh on He Hua. You would never speak to her like this before."

"I can't just indulge her."

"But lately I've been dreaming of her crying in front of me."

There was a faint sound of wheels, and Ying Zheng paused for a moment, thinking of Xu Fu's firm words and the divination handed over by the immortal master many days ago.

"Why is she crying?"

"Hehua is afraid that her father no longer loves her."

Ying Zheng was silent, wanting to say something, but he didn't speak. He held his wife's hand tightly and said, "I love my daughter."

-

She felt dizzy when she stood up. The steps were too long and there were no handrails, so she almost couldn't walk steadily.

Xu Zhi suddenly felt a weight on her arm, and she saw a pair of childish eyes. It was a little palace maid carrying a box and holding a lantern.

The young palace maid used the light to see the man's hair full of pearls and jade and his gorgeous and brightly colored robes, and only then did she realize his identity. However, it was too late to take back her words.

"You, you have to be careful with the steps."

"it is good."

Unexpectedly, Ying Hehua responded to her. It was known that Ying Hehua liked fancy clothes, and the little palace maid rashly wanted to smooth out the sleeves of Ying Hehua's robe that had been accidentally wrinkled when she helped her.

"...Your Highness, this servant did not mean to do that."

This voice is so nice, it's quite similar to how Zhao Rong and the others speak, and it vaguely sounds like it's from Chu.

"Aren't you afraid of me at all?"

Xu Zhi turned around and took a deep breath. She didn't know if it was because she was too nervous in the hall, or because the little palace girl was too beautiful, which caused her to be so distracted.

The girl was no more than ten years old. The moonlight gently shone down, her eyebrows were delicately drawn, and her eyes sparkled like stars. Even though she had seen many beautiful women, she captivated her. There were many beautiful people in Chu, but few were as beautiful as her.

The young palace maid smiled brightly, "Your Highness's promotion of agricultural tools in Chu has been of great help to my father. I have always wanted to meet Your Highness."

She said that her hometown was Chu. After Qin conquered Chu, the Chu nobles migrated to Xianyang. She was born during this period and was later assigned to the Xianyang Palace.

"I thought I would never have the chance to meet His Highness, but I didn't expect that I would be so lucky today."

The Qin Palace is majestic, hidden in the night, making it appear tall, but in fact, too many dangers are lurking there.

Xu Zhi saw her carrying a bunch of things and asked casually, "Where are you going?"

She pursed her lips and timidly tightened the box in her hand, but when she looked up again, her expression was resolute, "The eunuch said that Prince Hu Hai's palace was short of someone, and they chose me."

……

Xu Zhi remembered that Chu Nu also gave her a box in Liquan Palace, and she knew very well what was in the box.

Du Mu was right when he said that there were countless beauties from various countries in the Qin Palace.

She tried not to think about it, but she knew.

Before her younger brothers even came of age, countless women taught them how to carry on the family line.

The daughters of those ministers married royal princes. If they were not Wang Jian's daughter, it would have been difficult for Ying Zheng to arrange the marriage for them to become the principal wife.

What can these palace maids do… If they are favored, it’s better, maybe they can get a status, but if they are not, they can’t even be concubines…

Xu Zhi was already in trouble, and she didn't want to meddle in other people's business, but when she heard Hu Hai... she couldn't pretend not to hear it.

She turned around and said, "My younger brother already has enough people in his palace. Would you like to come to Zhilan Palace?"

The little maid was stunned, a little bit unbelieving, "Your Highness?"

"You don't have to go tonight. Come with me."

"...Your Highness, really?"

Xu Zhi smiled. She was just that kind of person. Even after living for sixteen years, she couldn't bear to see feudal society silently destroying innocent girls.

She couldn't obey and could never convince herself to compromise with these bad things.

Xu Zhi has always been decisive in her work. Within a quarter of an hour, she had called the eunuchs to state her requirements, and stated that she must report to the queen before selecting people to go to Hu Hai's palace.

The eunuch hesitated, "... Your Highness, this, this is such a trivial matter..."

But Ying Hehua's expression was extremely serious. "I don't think this is a trivial matter."

The eunuch hesitated.

Xu Zhi said, "For many years, I haven't asked you for a palace eunuch. You should know that this princess turned a blind eye and saved you a lot of trouble."

The eunuch was stunned.

Yes, if it weren't for the last resort and the needs of the nobles, who would want to enter the palace and become disabled just to fight for a meal and seek wealth?

...In the past sixteen years, the Xianyang Palace hasn't dispatched a single eunuch to the Zhilan Palace. This is true. But that was a favor owed to Princess Yong'an when Zhao Gao was in power...

It was also thanks to Ying Zheng that he went to Li Si to learn some financial knowledge. She said lightly, "Over the years, we have saved a lot of money, right?"

The eunuch was shocked. "...Princess, please forgive me. I will definitely inform the Empress."

Azhi looked at her and saw that she had brought such a beautiful palace maid. When she heard what had just happened, she was also stunned.

"Princess……"

"Azhi, who doesn't like beautiful women? I think she will be one in the future." Xu Zhi said.

Shen Zhi thought about how many years ago, her princess had never been wary of relationships between men and women.

Who would have thought that I would run into Zhang Liang just after leaving the Novice Village.

Shen Zhi wanted to hide it from Ying Zheng, while at the same time reminding Ying Hehua not to get too involved.

But the result was still unsatisfactory. Could it be that she was stimulated like this by the man?

“…Your Highness, you…”

Xu Zhi was stunned by her expression and quickly raised his hand, "No, no, I'm not, don't get the wrong idea."

……

The young palace maid beside her had never seen her master and her attendant interact in this way.

Shen Zhi helped her get into the carriage. The little palace maid was indeed very beautiful, with a waist as thin as a silk belt and watery eyes, full of tenderness and affection, yet also a little distant, like a person from Chu...

"Where do you live, girl? What's your name?" Shen Zhi asked.

The young palace maid had been in the Qin Palace for six years and was not yet accustomed to being called "girl".

"I am from Yanji, Shuyang. My father used to be..." The little palace maid glanced at Ying Hehua and finally told the truth, "He used to be a musician in Prince Fuchu's palace."

The first sentence made Xu Zhi, who was sitting in the car, a little stunned.

There is only one person recorded in history books who was born in Yanji Town, Shuyang County.

A peerless beauty.

During the late Qin Dynasty and the Chu-Han War, Han Xin ordered Li Zuoche to feign surrender to Xiang Yu, tricking him into advancing. He then ambushed Xiang Yu from all sides at Jiuli Mountain, trapping him at Gaixia. Then, the Overlord committed suicide at the Wujiang River, a dirge for that unending love.

She was seen sitting on the carriage, facing Shen Zhi, with a strand of hair blowing on her face.

"Madam maid, you can call me Xing'er or A'Yu." Yu Ji said.

The frost and snow fell quietly.

Han Fei had been waiting for Ying Hehua for quite some time in a secluded pavilion outside the palace. (End of Chapter)