I started on a deserted island and encountered Ying Zheng, who insisted I was an immortal.

a long time.

Ying Zheng slowly spoke: "This item belongs to you, sir."

"How to handle this is up to you, sir."

"Only one condition," Ying Zheng's tone became more serious, "You must ensure the survival of their lineage and prevent its extinction."

Li Si's face instantly turned ashen.

"Thanks." Zhang Ying raised her chin at Ying Zheng, then turned around and shouted to the group of cooks.

"Come and help, everyone!"

"How many cucumbers are left on the boat? Bring them all out!"

Soon, baskets of cucumbers and cherry tomatoes were carried out of the cabin.

Tens of thousands of kilograms of cucumbers and tomatoes were piled on the deck like two small mountains.

"Slice all the fruit," Zhang Ying ordered.

"Three pieces for each person."

"Put the cucumber seeds in a jar, and the tomato pulp separately. I'll deal with it myself later."

"There's not enough honey, so let's leave it plain."

The cooks were dumbfounded.

They watched as the Marquis of Hanzhong, with his sleeves rolled up, personally directed the chopping of vegetables, and felt their worldview was shaken.

This is a marquis, after all.

He openly defied the prime minister for the sake of the convicts and laborers in the ship's hold.

Now, he's busy here again, just like an ordinary cook.

Wang Ruoshu, carrying a glass of water, quietly walked to Zhang Ying's side.

"Sir, what you just said... has displeased His Majesty." The girl's voice was barely audible.

Zhang Ying took the water glass, drank it all in one gulp, and casually wiped her mouth.

"I know."

"Then why do you still..." Wang Ruoshu asked, puzzled, "Is it worth it for those lowly people?"

In her view, these divine fruits were Zhang Ying's offering to His Majesty in exchange for wealth and honor.

Now they're going to distribute it to prisoners who aren't even considered human.

"Do you think I entered Xianyang because of these fruits and melons?" Zhang Ying retorted.

Wang Ruoshu nodded.

Zhang Ying shook her head, her expression turning serious.

"Let me tell you, the foundation of the Great Qin is not these so-called auspicious omens, nor is it the princes and nobles in Xianyang."

His hand pointed downwards into the cabin.

"They were the laborers, sweating profusely, rowing desperately in the sweltering ship's cabins; they were the convicts, carrying supplies under the scorching sun."

"There are millions upon millions of people like them, working silently and unsung, supporting this empire with their blood and sweat."

Zhang Ying's voice was not loud, but every word was clear.

"Without the support of the people, the Great Qin is just a castle in the air. No matter how magnificent it looks, it will collapse with a gust of wind."

"I don't want to see the Qin Dynasty perish after only two generations."

"I want to help Lao Ying plant the banner of Qin in every corner of the world."

Wang Ruoshu froze completely.

She stared blankly at Zhang Ying, her mind reeling.

To plant the banner of the Great Qin... in every corner of the world?

What an arrogant and magnificent idea this is!

From a young age, she was taught to be loyal to the emperor, to serve the country, and to defend the territory of Qin.

But the man before me was thinking of conquering the world.

Just then.

"Ahem, ahem." An awkward dry cough came from the cabin door next to them.

Ying Zheng changed into casual clothes and stood there, his expression somewhat unnatural.

The cooks who were cutting cucumbers dropped their knives onto the cutting board with a clatter, and knelt down one after another, heads bowed low, not daring to make a sound.

Zhang Ying merely raised her chin as a greeting.

"His Majesty."

His hands were still covered in tomato juice, but he didn't bother to wipe them off.

Meng Yi and Wang Ben followed behind Ying Zheng, their hearts pounding in their chests.

If it were anyone else, such disrespect before His Majesty would have resulted in them being dragged away and beheaded long ago.

Even a minor offense would be considered a crime of disrespecting one's sovereign.

More seriously, it involves spreading rumors and misleading the public, with the intention of undermining the foundation of the nation.

Ying Zheng stepped forward, ignoring the cooks kneeling on the ground.

His steps were slow, making a dull thud as he walked on the wooden deck.

"Sir, it seems you are somewhat dissatisfied with my arrangements?"

Zhang Ying picked up a slice of cucumber, put it in her mouth, and chewed it with a crunchy sound.

"I wouldn't call it dissatisfaction," he said bluntly, swallowing a piece of cucumber. "I just feel that this could have been done better."

He pointed towards the cabin with his hands, which were still wet with juice.

"To do better for the Qin Dynasty."

Zhang Ying spoke calmly, as if she were talking about something perfectly ordinary.

He suddenly leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"Old Ying, haven't you noticed that this ship is at least 30% faster than before?"

Without waiting for Ying Zheng's reply, he turned and walked towards the staircase leading to the bottom of the cabin.

"Come on, I'll show you something good."

His silhouette exuded an undeniable confidence.

Ying Zheng did not hesitate and followed.

Li Si, Meng Yi, and Wang Ben also hurriedly followed.

The further down you go, the hotter and more humid the air becomes. A mixture of sweat, mildew, and the salty smell of the sea hits you, making it hard to breathe.

The lowest level cabin.

The light here was dim, with only a few small oil lamps flickering.

"Splash—splash—"

Huge oars, in the hands of hundreds of burly men with bare torsos, rose and fell in unison, churning the seawater and producing a powerful sound.

Their muscles were bulging and glistening with oil in the dim light. Sweat streamed down their foreheads, backs, and chests, pooling at their feet.

On the other side of the cabin, the same number of burly men were resting.

They didn't make a fuss; they simply and quietly, bit by bit, carefully put the two slices of tomato and one slice of cucumber they were given into their mouths.

Zhang Ying made a shushing gesture and led the group to hide in the shadows at the stairwell.

A burly man with a full beard carefully finished the last bite of cucumber and let out a long sigh of relief.

"It's fucking sweet, I've never eaten such good fruit in my life."

A man with a scar on his face next to him wiped his mouth with his sleeve and lowered his voice.

"Be content. If it weren't for the Marquis of Hanzhong, we wouldn't even have the right to smell this aroma. I heard that the Marquis, in order to let us also taste this divine fruit, even contradicted the Prime Minister in front of His Majesty!"

Another, younger convict had an almost worshipful expression on his face.

"That's a disciple of a celestial being; the Prime Minister is nothing compared to him. The Marquis is truly kind-hearted, treating us prisoners like human beings!"

The burly man with a thick beard slammed his fist into his thigh, making a dull thud.

"That's right! After living for thirty years, only today do I feel like I'm living like a human being! You all better remember this, and when you're rowing later, put in some effort, don't you dare embarrass the Marquis!"

"Once the Marquis's auspicious omens have filled Hanzhong and reached our hometown, my wives and children will never have to go hungry again!"

"It's more than just an auspicious omen!" the scarred man added. "I've also heard that the Marquis has a plow that can turn the land over by itself, and a seed drill that can plant a row of seeds at once! This is all divine intervention; it's Heaven's blessing upon our Great Qin!"

Inside the cabin, all the resting prisoners were silent, but their chests were heaving violently.

Zhang Ying gently pulled the wooden panel of the cabin door shut, blocking out the sounds from inside.

He turned around to face Ying Zheng.

"Your Majesty, do you see it now?"

"The true auspicious omen of the Qin Dynasty was neither sweet potato nor potato."

His hand pointed to the hatch behind him.

"It's them."

Zhang Ying's voice echoed in the narrow passage, clear and powerful.

"Give them a bite to eat and a little basic respect, and they'll be willing to risk their lives for you."

"Those tomatoes and cucumbers would just rot in this weather. Giving them to them will not only stimulate their appetite and replenish their water, but also prevent them from getting scurvy, the kind of disease that causes flesh to rot after a long time at sea."

"They've eaten their fill and have plenty of energy, so the boats naturally run faster. No matter how you look at it, they're in a good position."

The passageway was deathly silent.

Ying Zheng stood there, motionless, his face obscured by the beaded curtain of his crown, making it impossible to see his expression.

Li Si followed at the very back, his expression shifting rapidly, extremely complex.

for a long time.

Ying Zheng did something that left everyone speechless.

He straightened his robes as he faced Zhang Ying.

Then, he bent down deeply.

That was an extremely solemn gesture, a grand ceremony that only students would perform for their teachers.

"Your words are truly enlightening."

Ying Zheng's voice carried an unprecedented solemnity.

"I have learned a lot."

Meng Yi and Wang Ben were instantly petrified on the spot.

Li Si's body swayed suddenly, and he instinctively reached out to grab the slippery cabin wall beside him to avoid falling.

His face turned deathly pale in an instant.

He lost.