Chinese animation: Starting with Bad Guys

Li Si, Wei Liao, and the others exchanged bewildered glances. The usual rewards did seem too lenient, but going any higher... seemed to be unprecedented.

Obviously not, and it's not part of the Qin system.

The hall fell into deep thought for a moment.

Just then, a palace attendant rushed in and presented a military report from the East.

Ying Zheng unfolded it and took a look, raising an eyebrow slightly.

It turned out that he had sent a detachment to take over the state of Wei, which was already defunct and only had Puyang left, after he saw that the state of Zhao was doomed.

The military report was concise: The ruler of Wei has surrendered, and all of Wei's territory has been captured. Furthermore, Gongsun Li, the granddaughter of General Gongsun Yu of Wei, has been captured. Her beauty is unparalleled, and the commander-in-chief dared not act on his own initiative, so he has presented her to Your Majesty.

"Gongsun Li?"

Ying Zheng had no recollection of the name, but his gaze swept over the four characters "peerless beauty" and a thought struck him.

He thought of Princess Honglian of Korea, Xue Nu of Zhao, Yan Ling Ji of Baiyue, and even Yan Fei of the Yin Yang School, all of whom seemed to be around Chuan Di.

His younger brother seems to have a penchant for "collecting" stunning beauties? At least that's how it appears to outsiders.

Ying Zheng smiled slightly. In his view, this was a reward that "catered to his tastes".

With a wave of his hand, he directly wrote on the military report: "This woman shall be bestowed upon Prince Ying Chuan."

He couldn't even be bothered to glance at the portrait the artist might have attached.

To him, a noblewoman from a fallen kingdom was merely a gift to add to his already splendid life, a perfect reward for his most trusted younger brother.

The young master's residence, inner chamber.

As dawn broke, Qin Chuan sat before her dressing table, holding eyebrow pencil and intently drawing distant mountain-shaped eyebrows on Chi Lian.

Chi Lian closed her eyes, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows in the light, a lazy and satisfied smile on her lips.

This tranquil time in the women's quarters was a rare respite for Qin Chuan after the bloody conquests.

Suddenly, the steward's voice rang out respectfully from outside the door:

"My lord, the king has sent a palace attendant to deliver a reward."

Qin Chuan didn't stop what he was doing, only giving a curt reply: "Understood, put it in the warehouse."

"This..." The steward's voice held a hint of hesitation, "Among the rewards... there is one person. She is Gongsun Li, the granddaughter of General Gongsun Yu of Wei. The King has specially decreed that she be given to the young master."

The eyebrow pencil in Qin Chuan's hand fell to the ground with a thud, rolled a few times on the dressing table, and left an abrupt, crooked ink mark that slanted across the eyebrow that Chi Lian was about to finish drawing.

Chi Lian suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze filled with astonishment. She first looked at the comical crooked line on her eyebrow, then looked up at Qin Chuan.

She had never seen him so out of control!

Even when facing Li Mu's massive army, he remained calm and composed.

Chi Lian called out in confusion, reaching out to gently stroke his arm, which had suddenly become somewhat stiff.

Qin Chuan took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart.

Gongsun Li! Jing Ke's childhood sweetheart! The future Consort Li!

How did she end up here?

Ultimately, it was the butterfly's wings that caused this crucial moment!

He quickly came to terms with his thoughts: he had destroyed Zhao too quickly, disrupting the original historical rhythm.

Ying Zheng casually wiped out Wei, captured Gongsun Li, and then... probably misunderstood his own "preferences," and simply handed her over!

Seeing the probing gaze and a hint of barely perceptible amusement in Chi Lian's eyes, Qin Chuan forced a smile, his voice somewhat hoarse:

"It's nothing, it's just... this Gongsun Li is a little different."

"Oh? 'Different'?"

Chi Lian raised an eyebrow, stood up, looked at her crooked eyebrows in the mirror, and instead of being annoyed, she burst out laughing.

She picked up a silk handkerchief and slowly wiped away the ink stains from her eyebrows, her tone laced with mockery:

"To make my husband, who is usually unfazed even if Mount Tai collapses before him, lose his composure like this, it seems that this Miss Li is indeed 'very different'."

She turned around, her delicate fingers lightly touching Qin Chuan's chest, her eyes sparkling:

"There are already enough beauties in the manor. Sister Xue Nu is aloof, Sister Yan Ling Ji is passionate, and Sister Yan Fei is even more unfathomable. Now there is another 'different' daughter of the Duke of Wei... Tsk tsk, it seems that I will have to solve my husband's 'trouble' myself."

She smiled like a cunning fox, "I'm going to find Sister Yanfei to play chess, and by the way, I'll tell you about my husband's 'feat' of drawing eyebrows today."

After Chi Lian finished speaking, she left gracefully with a light laugh, accompanied by a fragrant breeze, leaving Qin Chuan alone, rubbing his temples in frustration at the dressing table.

Troublesome? This is more than just troublesome!

Information about Gongsun Li flashed through Qin Chuan's mind:

Jing Ke's childhood sweetheart, in the original timeline, had already consummated her marriage with Jing Ke before entering the Qin palace, and even entered the palace pregnant with Jing Ke's child, becoming Consort Li. This ultimately led to the tragedy of Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin, and also became a hidden thorn in Ying Zheng's heart.

Now, this enormous trouble has been personally delivered to Ying Zheng's residence!

Ying Zheng was "liberated"; he didn't have to be the one left holding the bag, nor did he have to experience that unforgettable betrayal and assassination.

But how did this hot potato end up in my hands?

Qin Chuan composed himself.

The most urgent task is to confirm the current situation.

He immediately issued an order to summon Gongsun Li, who had been "gifted" to him.

Sunlight streamed through the delicate window frames in the reception hall.

When Gongsun Li entered, led by a maid, Qin Chuan's gaze couldn't help but sharpen.

As the military newspaper stated, her appearance was unparalleled.

She was tall and slender, dressed in simple Wei clothing. Despite the hardships of war and travel, her elegant and refined temperament was still evident.

Her skin was as white as snow, her eyebrows and eyes as beautiful as paintings, especially her pair of clear, bright eyes, which carried a stubbornness and a hint of undisguised fear and sorrow.

Her beauty is different from Chi Lian's bright and fiery appearance, Yan Fei's mysterious depth, Xue Nu's ethereal beauty, and Yan Ling Ji's alluring charm. Instead, it is a kind of beauty that is unique to the nobles of Wei, as elegant and resilient as orchids in a secluded valley.

This kind of charisma is indeed enough to make any monarch's heart flutter.

However, Qin Chuan remained calm.

He was not Ying Zheng; he did not possess the intense desire for beautiful things that he had suppressed for many years in the State of Zhao, nor did he have the penchant for taking what others loved.

His scrutinizing gaze was sharp and direct, instantly capturing the key point: Gongsun Li's waist was still slender, and there was no sign of pregnancy in her gait.

History has changed!

Because Qin attacked Zhao too quickly, the Qin army captured Gongsun Li much earlier than expected, and she didn't even have time to meet Jing Ke...

This discovery relieved Qin Chuan somewhat, at least he didn't face the ethical dilemma of "unwittingly becoming a father."

But the core of the problem remains unchanged.

The woman before me already has someone she loves.

Her heart and her affections were all with that chivalrous knight-errant named Jing Ke.

Keeping her by your side is tantamount to imprisoning a bird that longs for freedom, and it is like planting a huge bomb next to you that could explode at any time, implicating Jing Ke and even the Mohist school!

"Miss Gongsun."

Qin Chuan spoke, his voice calm and unwavering, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Gongsun Li raised her head and bravely met the gaze of the mighty Qin general who now controlled her destiny.

She had heard of his past as a "foolish young master," and even more so of his fearsome reputation for destroying Zhao and capturing Li Mu.

The man before him was excessively young, with a handsome face yet exuding the authority of someone who had long held a high position and a coldness honed by iron and blood. His eyes were so deep that they seemed to see right through people's hearts.

She was filled with fear and despair, not knowing what fate awaited her.

"Since we're here, let's make the best of it."

Qin Chuan didn't waste any pleasantries and went straight to the point:

"There are rules in the manor, so just stay here in peace. If you are not summoned, you do not need to come to see me. If you need anything, just tell the steward."

His words were flat, even carrying a deliberate sense of detachment.

There was no greed for beauty, nor the victor's boasting of spoils; only a businesslike, almost indifferent arrangement.

Gongsun Li was stunned.

This was completely unexpected. She had imagined countless possibilities: being treated as a plaything and humiliated at will, being imprisoned in a secluded courtyard, never to see the light of day...

The only thing I never expected was this almost “ignored” arrangement.

All the grief, despair, and even self-destructive rhetoric she had prepared stuck in her throat.

"Take Miss Gongsun to 'Lanzhi Courtyard' for accommodation."

Qin Chuan stopped looking at her and gave instructions to the steward.

The steward bowed and accepted the order, then gestured for Gongsun Li, who was still somewhat dazed, to "please".

Gongsun Li gave Qin Chuan a deep look, her eyes filled with a complex and unfathomable expression, a mixture of confusion, bewilderment, and a sense of bewilderment at having survived such a calamity.

She bowed silently and followed the steward out of the flower hall.

The footsteps faded away, leaving Qin Chuan alone in the flower hall.

He walked to the window, gazing at the blooming chrysanthemums in the courtyard, his brow furrowed.

They have been resettled, but this is not a long-term solution.

Gongsun Li was like a ticking time bomb in the mansion.

Jing Ke will find out her whereabouts sooner or later. Given that swordsman's character, he might very well go through fire and water or even assassinate the king for the sake of his beloved!

Will the sword that was originally meant to pierce Ying Zheng turn back on him because he accepted Gongsun Li?

Or, could it trigger other unforeseen chain reactions?

More importantly, while Qin Chuan's actions were not bound by worldly customs and etiquette, he still had his own bottom line.

Forcibly taking a woman who already has someone else in her heart and who only feels fear and resistance towards him is neither his wish nor the act of a hero.

"trouble……"