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

The door clicked shut, shutting out Zhang Ying's languid figure.

In the living room, the candlelight flickered.

Ying Zheng stood before the strange seating arrangement called "Sofa," the effects of the alcohol causing him to sway slightly. Zhang Ying had just sat on this thing; it looked soft and flimsy, and he had no idea what its structure was.

"Your Majesty, it's late. This place is rather simple. Perhaps..." Meng Yi forced his eyelids open, trying to find a flat wooden board to lay down some dry grass.

"No need."

Ying Zheng waved his hand, staring at the sofa. Everything on this island was strange; even the chairs were covered in leather. He reached out and tentatively pressed on it.

They've sunk in.

It felt like my palm was pressing down on a lump of risen dough, then quickly bouncing back to its original shape.

interesting.

Ying Zheng turned around and slowly sat down, mimicking Zhang Ying's posture.

"puff--"

A muffled thud.

Ying Zheng felt a sudden emptiness beneath his buttocks, and he instantly lost his balance. His back was enveloped by a soft yet resilient force, as if he had fallen into a cloud.

"His Majesty!"

Meng Yi was shocked and put his hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to rush forward to save the emperor.

"Don't move!"

Ying Zheng let out a low shout.

He lay on the sofa, his body stiff for a moment, then slowly relaxed.

soft.

It's too soft.

This softness is different from the flimsy softness of silk wrapped in cotton; it's a supportive, perfectly fitting feeling of being enveloped. My back, which is usually stiff as iron when reviewing memorials, is now perfectly supported by this strange thing, and the soreness is slowly dissipating.

The dragon bed carved from rosewood in Xianyang Palace was as hard as a rock.

Compared to this, this isn't where humans sleep, it's where gods lie!

"Comfortable……"

Ying Zheng let out a long breath and slumped into the sofa, not wanting to move a single finger.

Li Si also came over at this moment, still clutching the roll of toilet paper tightly in his arms, staring at the sofa with a wary look on his face.

"Your Majesty, could this object... contain some kind of hidden mechanism?"

"So what if there are traps?" Ying Zheng said lazily, his eyes closed. "If it can give me a good night's sleep, I'll accept it even if it's a dragon's den or a tiger's lair."

He suffers from insomnia for many years.

The affairs of state are heavy, the remnants of the six former states have not yet been pacified, and the Xiongnu are watching with predatory eyes. Every night, lying on my bed, my mind is filled with images of war and the livelihoods of the people.

But at this moment.

On this strange, deserted island, on this oddly soft couch, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of the waves outside the window, the anxiety that had plagued him for years miraculously subsided.

"Meng Yi".

"Your subject is here."

"Write it down." Ying Zheng's voice grew softer and softer, filled with drowsiness. "This item is called... a sofa. Move it. I want to move this thing to the Qilin Palace."

"From now on, I will sit here during the morning court sessions."

Meng Yi's lips twitched.

That was the morning court session, Your Majesty! All the officials were kneeling in worship, and you were sprawled out in this ball of cotton—what kind of decorum was that?

But he dared not say it.

He quickly carved the following on the bamboo slips by candlelight:

[Sofa: A divine object of seating, it absorbed the dragon's body and is extremely comfortable. His Majesty wishes to use it in place of the dragon throne.]

On the other side, Wang Ben had already slid onto the carpet.

The carpet was a thick wool blend. The rough man rolled over, rubbed his cheek against the carpet, muttered "good wine," and then began to snore loudly.

Li Si glanced at the emperor sprawled on the sofa, then at Zhuge Liang sleeping on the carpet.

He sighed and squatted down in a corner.

The tissues in his arms gave him a great sense of security.

This is the spark of Qin culture, the hope of a teacher for all ages. Even if Li Si doesn't sleep tonight, he will protect this "auspicious omen".

The night was dark.

Amidst the sound of waves, the four most powerful men in the Qin Dynasty fell asleep in various poses in this modern living room.

In my dream.

Ying Zheng dreamed that the Qin granaries were overflowing and that the Xiongnu Chanyu was kneeling on the ground eating potatoes.

Wang Ben dreamed that he was swimming in a pool of wine and meat, the pool filled with that kind of transparent, strong liquor.

Li Si dreamt that every student in the land had a roll of toilet paper in their hand and was loudly reciting the laws of the Qin Dynasty.

Only Meng Yi was not sound asleep.

He gripped his pen, watching the tightly closed bedroom door warily.

They were terrified that the "immortal" named Zhang Ying would suddenly rush out in the middle of the night and throw them, the "extras," into the sea to feed the fish.

……

The next morning.

Sunlight streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, showering Ying Zheng's face with its full force.

"Well……"

Ying Zheng frowned and subconsciously raised his hand to block the light.

I slept so soundly.

No nightmares, no waking up in fright.

He sat up abruptly and realized he had spent the entire night curled up on that "sofa." His backache was gone, his back pain was gone, and he felt more energetic than ever before.

"woke up?"

A voice came from the side.

Zhang Ying, wearing baggy shorts and flip-flops, with a toothbrush in her mouth and a plastic cup in her hand, was staring at them with white foam all over her mouth.

"puff--!!!"

Wang Ben, who was about to get up, was so frightened by this scene that he drew his sword on the spot.

"Protect the Emperor! It's poisonous!"

Wang Ben roared, his sword pointing directly at Zhang Ying.

"This fiend is foaming at the mouth! He must have practiced some evil technique and gone mad! Your Majesty, retreat immediately!"

Ying Zheng and Li Si were also startled.

All that could be seen around Zhang Ying's mouth was white foam, which continued to overflow with her breathing, looking exactly like the signs of severe poisoning or demonic possession.

Are you crazy?

Zhang Ying mumbled a curse and rolled her eyes.

"It's just brushing your teeth, what's the big deal?"

He turned and went into the bathroom next door, spat out a mouthful of water with a "splash," and then filled a cup to rinse his mouth.

brush teeth?

Ying Zheng was stunned.

The people of Qin cleaned their teeth by rinsing with salt water or rubbing them with their fingers dipped in salt. Those who were more particular would bite open the head of a willow twig and brush their teeth.

What kind of nonsense is this... spewing white foam from his mouth?

"Come in."

Zhang Ying called out from the bathroom, "What time is it? Hurry up and wash your face, eat, and get back to work."

Ying Zheng hesitated for a moment, but still walked over.

The bathroom was brightly lit.

The walls are covered with white tiles that are so shiny they reflect light like a mirror.

But what shocked Ying Zheng the most was the huge rectangular object above the sink.

He had just approached.

Then a person appeared inside.

His hair was disheveled, his eyes were slightly dark, his beard was messy, and there were still mud spots on his dragon robe from yesterday.

That is... me?

Ying Zheng took a step back abruptly, his heart pounding.

The bronze mirror was blurry, reflecting only a rough outline. The ripples on the water made it even harder to see the true reflection.

He had never seen his own face so clearly in his entire life.

Even the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and the gray hairs at his temples are clearly visible.

"this……"

Ying Zheng reached out his trembling hand and touched the mirror.

It's cold.

smooth.

The "朕" (the imperial "I") inside also reached out and touched him.

"This is a Soul-Capturing Mirror?!" Li Si shrieked, hiding behind Ying Zheng, too afraid to show his face. "Your Majesty! Don't look! If you do, your soul will be sucked away!"

Zhang Ying was wiping her face with a towel when she heard this and almost burst out laughing.

"What soul-capturing? That's a mirror. It's made of silver-plated glass."

He threw several brand-new toothbrushes and a tube of toothpaste on the sink.

"These are yours. The blue one is Old Win's, and the pink one is... well, give it to that skinny old man."

Zhang Ying pointed at Li Si.

"This toothpaste is mint flavored. Squeeze a little onto the bristles and put it in your mouth to brush. Don't swallow it; it's a cleaning agent, not something to eat."

Ying Zheng looked at the small brush with fine, soft bristles in his hand.

Then I looked at the tube labeled "toothpaste".

This is... a tooth-cleaning substance used by immortals?

He imitated Zhang Ying's earlier actions, squeezing out a dollop of white paste and stuffing it into his mouth.

An extremely refreshing taste exploded in my mouth instantly.

hot!

cold!

It felt like a block of ice that had been frozen for millennia, rushing straight to the head.

"hiss--"

Ying Zheng gasped, feeling instantly sober.

He brushed clumsily, producing more and more foam that carried away the unpleasant taste in his mouth and the bitterness of last night's hangover.

Spit out the foam and rinse your mouth.

Ying Zheng grinned at his reflection in the mirror.

Teeth are white.

Fresh breath.

That refreshing feeling made him feel ten years younger.

"Good stuff!"

Ying Zheng looked at the toothbrush in his hand, his eyes gleaming.

"If this product can be widely adopted in the army, the soldiers will no longer suffer from toothache, and their combat effectiveness will surely increase!"

Zhang Ying leaned against the door frame, speechless as she watched these ancient people who could elevate even brushing their teeth to the level of national strategy.

"Alright, stop reminiscing."

"Hurry up and finish washing up and come out."

Zhang Ying pointed to the golden fields outside the window.

"Today's task is heavy."

"Those few acres of potatoes must be dug up today."

Chapter 79 Your Majesty, are you kowtowing to a potato?

Breakfast was simple.

Plain congee, salted duck eggs, and fried dough sticks made by Zhang Ying herself.

For the Qin emperor and his ministers, who were used to eating millet rice and roasted meat, this breakfast was like opening the door to a new world.

The crispiness of fried dough sticks, the soft and glutinous texture of white porridge, the oily yolk of salted duck eggs...

Wang Ben drank five bowls of porridge and ate eight fried dough sticks in one go, but was finally forced to stop by Li Si's gaze.

"Are you full?"

Zhang Ying put down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth.

"Eat your fill and then get to work. Don't think I run a charity; here, those who don't work get nothing."

He threw over a few hoes and shovels.

"Let's go to the ground."

……

The sun hangs high in the sky.

The sea breeze swept across the fields, carrying the fragrance of the earth.

The leaves in those few acres of potato fields had already turned yellow and withered; it was the perfect time for harvest.

Ying Zheng stood at the edge of the field, holding an iron shovel in his hand.

This shovel, made of some unknown material, is entirely silver-white, lightweight, and sharp, even more handy than the finest weapons of the Qin Dynasty.

但他不敢动.

What we're standing on is an auspicious sign of a yield of 10,000 catties per mu!

Every inch of soil may hold the lives of countless ordinary people who could have been saved.

"What? Are you waiting for the potato to jump out on its own?"

Zhang Ying had already rolled up her trousers and, with a single stroke of her hoe, unearthed a large bunch of golden-yellow potatoes.

"Look carefully, keep away from the roots, don't damage them when you dig."

Ying Zheng took a deep breath.

He threw the shovel aside.

"Your Majesty?" Meng Yi was taken aback.

Ying Zheng lifted the hem of his dragon robe and knelt directly on the ground.

He reached out his hands and carefully peeled away the top layer of dry soil. His movements were as gentle as if he were caressing a newborn prince.

My fingertips touched a hard object.

Ying Zheng was startled.

He held his breath and carefully removed the surrounding soil bit by bit.

A potato the size of a fist was revealed.

Then came the second, the third...

There were as many as seven or eight on one plant!

They hung heavily on the roots, like strings of golden eggs.

"May God bless the Great Qin..."

Ying Zheng held the string of potatoes, his eyes slightly red.

He bent down again, his cheeks almost touching the soil, his hands trembling as he dug up the next plant.

His posture was as devout as if he were worshipping his ancestors in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Seeing this, Li Si and Meng Yi dared not stand still.

They all threw down their tools, knelt beside Ying Zheng, and dug the soil with their hands.

Even the burly Wang Ben lay on the ground, his buttocks sticking out, picking at the ground with his fingers.

In no time, the field was full of upturned buttocks.

Zhang Ying, carrying a hoe, stood on the edge of the field, watching this bizarre scene.

I said…

Zhang Ying's lips twitched.

"Are you guys clearing mines?"

"At this rate, you won't finish digging even next year!"

He simply couldn't stand it anymore.

Walk over, find the right spot, and swing the hoe hard.

"Snap!"

The soil was turned over, and four or five potatoes rolled out.

One of them had its skin slightly scratched by the hoe blade, revealing pale yellow flesh underneath.

"stop!!!"

A mournful roar.

Ying Zheng sprang up from the ground, shoved Zhang Ying aside, and lunged at the bruised potato.

He held the bruised clod of earth in his hands, trembling with heartache.

"You...you..."

Ying Zheng pointed at Zhang Ying, his finger trembling.

"What a waste! This is killing!"

"This is a divine object! How can it be treated so roughly!"

"If the seed's vitality is damaged and it fails to sprout, can you bear the responsibility?!"

The wrath of an emperor carries immense power and authority.

Anyone else would have been terrified and begging for mercy by now.

But Zhang Ying just rolled her eyes.

Are you crazy?

"It's just a potato, so what if the skin is a little broken? I can peel less when I stir-fry potato shreds tonight."

He pointed to the fields that covered the hillsides.

"It weighs several thousand kilograms. Are you planning to use it as an offering for burning incense?"

"Hurry up and dig it up! This thing will turn green if it's exposed to light for too long, and that's when it's poisonous."

Zhang Ying ignored the crazed Ying Zheng and continued to swing her hoe.

The movements were wide and sweeping, with dirt flying everywhere.

With each stroke of the hoe, the potatoes are precisely avoided from the main body, turning them up into the ground.

Very efficient.

Ying Zheng held the injured potato, standing still, watching Zhang Ying act like a ruthless harvesting machine, leaving potatoes scattered everywhere she went.

Heartache.

But we have to admit it.

The visual impact of this golden expanse was a hundred times more stunning than what he had dug out while kneeling on the ground.

"His Majesty……"

Meng Yi leaned closer and whispered.

"Sir, your movements may be rough, but the output... is truly astonishing."

Behind Zhang Ying, a small mountain of potatoes had already been piled up.

Ying Zheng took a deep breath and tucked the bruised potato into his robes.

"Learn from this."

He gritted his teeth and picked up the shovel again.

"Stop picking at it with your fingers."

"dig!"

"Dig it up hard for me!"

"Even if it means breaking my hands, I will bring every single one of these auspicious omens back to Qin!"

……

Sunset West Mountain.

Four mud monkeys slumped on the edge of the field.

In front of me was a mountain of potatoes.

It weighs at least three or four thousand jin.

Ying Zheng was so tired from watching this scene that he couldn't even lift his fingers, but the smile on his face was even brighter than when he received the Imperial Seal.

"gentlemen."

Ying Zheng turned his head and looked at Zhang Ying, who was sitting to the side drinking water.

The setting sun cast a golden glow on the young man's profile.

"What's wrong?" Zhang Ying handed over a bottle of water.

Ying Zheng took it but didn't drink it.

He looked at Zhang Ying with a complicated expression.

There was admiration, there was greed, and above all, there was an unwavering determination to win.

"On this island, there are only potatoes and rice."

"Besides the mirror that reflects people's hearts and the soft couch that allows them to sleep peacefully."

"What else?"

Zhang Ying thought for a moment and pointed to the denser forest in the distance.

"Over there..."

"There's a cotton field over there, and the cotton bolls are just about to start to open."

"There are still a few rubber trees; I'm planning to tap the rubber and make a tire for fun."

"Oh, by the way, there are still several hundred kilograms of sweet potatoes stored in the cellar, which are even sweeter than potatoes."

Every word was like a heavy hammer blow to Ying Zheng's heart.

Cotton? Rubber? Sweet potato?

Although I don't know what it is.

But his intuition told him otherwise.

If something comes out of your mouth, it's not worthless.

"it is good."

Ying Zheng unscrewed the bottle cap and took a sip of water.

"Excellent!"

He stood up and patted the dirt off his clothes.

Although he was in a sorry state, that domineering aura that seemed to encompass the world returned to him at this moment.

"Meng Yi".

"Your subject is here."

"Let's go to the beach."

Ying Zheng gazed towards the sea, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

"Let's calculate the time."

"My 100,000-strong army should be arriving soon."

Chapter 80 Your Majesty, it really was just a chicken.

The sea breeze howled.

Meng Yi went to the beach, but the news he brought back was not optimistic.

"Your Majesty, the sea is completely empty; there isn't even a seagull in sight."

Meng Yi was somewhat frustrated.

Logically speaking, even though Wang Ben's troop deployment order was stuffed into a pig feed bucket, the Qin patrol fleet should have already searched the vicinity.

Ying Zheng frowned slightly, but quickly relaxed.

"It's alright."

"This is a good opportunity to find out all the good things on this island."

He turned to look at Zhang Ying.

"Sir, now that the farm work is finished, what would you like to have for dinner?"

After a long day of work, the First Emperor was starving.

That feeling of hunger wasn't the slight hunger from being a little late for the imperial meal in the palace, but a real emptiness after heavy physical labor.

"Eat chicken."

Zhang Ying pointed to a speckled hen in the yard.

The chicken was very plump, pecking at rotten vegetable leaves on the ground, its feathers glossy and smooth.

I want to eat braised chicken with potatoes.

Zhang Ying licked her lips.

The potatoes were readily available, and so was the chicken.

Knead some more dough to make belt noodles, the taste... tsk tsk.

"A large plate of...chicken?"

Wang Ben's eyes lit up.

He gets excited as long as there's meat.

"I'll go catch it!"

Wang Ben volunteered.

He is the Marquis of Tongwu, a man who kills countless people on the battlefield. Catching a chicken is a piece of cake for him.

"Go ahead," Zhang Ying waved her hand. "Be careful, that chicken is pretty fierce."

"fierce?"

Wang Ben scoffed.

"I followed Your Majesty in conquering the six kingdoms; what kind of ferocious beasts haven't I seen? A mere domestic fowl..."

He strode into the courtyard.

The speckled hen raised its head, its large eyes fixed on Wang Ben, and tilted its head.

Come here!

Wang Ben lunged forward suddenly.

Their movements were swift and fierce, carrying the killing intent of a military formation.

however.

The chicken only jumped lightly.

With a "flutter," it flew up onto the two-meter-high fence.

Wang Ben missed his target and ended up with a mouthful of mud.

"Hey!"

Wang Ben was furious.

This chicken is humiliating him!

He drew his sword from his waist, and the blade flashed.

"Watch me chop you down, you beast!"

"Stop!" Zhang Ying was washing potatoes when she turned around and was startled.

"That's a hen that lays eggs! Don't kill it! I want to capture it alive!"

Wang Ben abruptly stopped his sword strike.

The chicken seemed to have sensed Wang Ben's concerns.

It suddenly spread its wings and swooped down from the fence.

Target—Wang Ben's face!

"Cluck cluck!"

A gust of wind.

Wang Ben felt a blur before his eyes, followed by a burning pain on his face.

The chicken claw scratched a bloody mark on his face, then used the force to leap onto the roof.

Looking down from a high vantage point.

Dominating all others.

Wang Ben was stunned.

Ying Zheng was stunned.

Li Si was also dumbfounded.

This...this is a chicken?

The chickens of the Qin Dynasty run away at the sight of people; how could they dare to attack people on their own initiative?

Moreover, this speed and movement are even more agile than a scout!

"This..." Wang Ben covered his face, looking utterly incredulous. "This chicken has become a spirit?"

Zhang Ying sighed.

"I already told you this chicken is fierce."

"These are domesticated wild pheasants, and they are usually fed with spiritual spring water... cough, that is, the mountain spring water over there."

"With their daily high-protein feed, their fighting power is indeed quite strong."

Actually, it's because of the system's feed additives.

The animals on this island are all incredibly shrewd, as if they've been injected with hormones.

"I'll do it."

Zhang Ying wiped her hands and casually grabbed a handful of grains.

"Coo coo coo—"

He scattered grain while calling out to the chickens.

The pheasant that had been so arrogant just moments before immediately folded its wings when it saw Zhang Ying.

It obediently flew down from the roof and lowered its head to peck at the food.

Taking advantage of its unpreparedness, Zhang Ying grabbed the chicken by the neck.

fast.

quasi.

ruthless.

The movements were fluid and graceful, without the slightest hesitation.

"Alright, boil water and pluck the feathers."

Zhang Ying tossed the chicken to Wang Ben, who was still in a daze.

Wang Ben, holding the still-flailing chicken, felt his martial arts dignity had been trampled upon.

He was the dignified Marquis of Tongwu.

They're not even as good as a farmer?

As Ying Zheng watched Zhang Ying's retreating figure, his apprehension deepened.

This person...

He not only understands agriculture and sericulture, but also all kinds of crafts.

This skill, seemingly casual, reveals a calm and unhurried control.

The chicken's speed just now caught even Wang Ben off guard.

But in this person's hands, it was like a plaything.

"gentlemen."

Ying Zheng stepped forward and looked at Zhang Ying, who was peeling potatoes.

"There is something I do not understand."

"explain."

"With such great talent, why would you willingly choose to live in seclusion on this deserted island?"

"If you are willing to return to Great Qin with me..."

Ying Zheng's voice was deep and carried a strong allure.

"I hereby grant you the position of Prime Minister."

"Second only to the emperor, above all others."

"The wealth of this world is yours to use."

The knife, which was peeling the skin, paused for a moment.

Zhang Ying raised her head and looked at Ying Zheng.

In the setting sun, a burning desire for talent flared in the eyes of this emperor who was considered one of the greatest emperors in Chinese history.

Prime Minister?

Zhang Ying smiled.

"Old Winner."

He shook his head and threw the peeled potatoes into the bowl.

"You don't understand."

"What I want is neither the position of prime minister nor wealth."

"What I want..."

Zhang Ying pointed to the island, to the kitchen with smoke rising from it, and to the sunset in the distance.

"It's Wi-Fi."

"It's an air conditioner."

"It's iced cola."

"It's about lying flat."

Ying Zheng was stunned.

Wai... Huai?

air conditioner?

What kind of magical artifact is this?

Is it more valuable than the position of prime minister?

"Alright, stop thinking about it."

Zhang Ying stood up and picked up the basin of potatoes.

"Let's eat this big plate of chicken first."

"Only when you're full do you have the energy to think about all sorts of things."

Soon, the aroma of stir-frying wafted from the kitchen.

The aroma of chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, and garlic cloves, released in hot oil, forcefully penetrates everyone's nostrils.

That was a taste that the Qin Dynasty had never had before.

Spicy.

stimulate.

It makes your mouth water.

Ying Zheng sat on a simple stool, smelling the aroma, when his stomach growled loudly.

He watched the figure busy at the stove.

The thought in my mind grew stronger and stronger.

Regardless of what this person wants, whether it's a quirky idea or air conditioning.

I.

We must bring him back to Xianyang!

Even if we have to blow up this island, we'll still make him the prime minister of the Qin Dynasty!

Just then.

"BOOM—!!!"

A loud bang came from the sea.

The earth trembled slightly.

Zhang Ying nearly dropped the spatula in her hand.

"Holy crap? An earthquake?"

Ying Zheng suddenly stood up, his eyes flashing with a terrifying light.

He could tell.

That wasn't an earthquake.

That was the sound of the Qin warships' massive rams striking the reefs as they docked!

"They're here!"

Ying Zheng strode out of the kitchen.

All that could be seen was the distant horizon.

Dozens of massive, black warships, as large as mountains, broke through the fog and were pressing towards the small island.

The black dragon flag fluttered in the sea breeze.

That was the Qin Dynasty's elite navy!

A truly massive army is pressing in!