Lian Po also sent out a letter, fiercely scolding Zhu Xiang and Ying Zheng, telling them never to go to such dangerous places again.

After Lian Po had firmly established himself in Qin, his two sons also came over.

His younger son, Lian Pi, was now stationed at the northern frontier, itching to earn military merits by his own ability. Lian Po told him not to become the next Zhao Kuo, which made Lian Pi so angry that he didn’t write home for a whole year.

His elder son, Lian Fu, stayed by his father’s side, supporting the old man and helping him handle minor affairs.

When Lian Po was writing the letter, Lian Fu tactfully reminded his father that Ying Zheng was now the Crown Prince, and blunt admonishment was not appropriate.

Lian Fu carefully cited the late King Xiaocheng of Zhao as an example: even a child one had watched grow up must be treated cautiously once he ascended to a high position.

Lian Po gave his son a look and said: “You have this kind of insight—then I won’t have to worry about household matters after I die.”

After affirming his son’s opinion, he continued cursing the Crown Prince Zheng in the letter, even adding that if he stood in front of him, he would spank his backside until he dared not act recklessly again.

Lian Po also wrote to Li Mu—scolding him even more harshly, directly stating on the paper that he wanted to stab a few bloody holes into him with a sword.

Lian Fu could only sigh.

He had thought that after all the setbacks his father had gone through, his temper would have improved somewhat. Turns out, he had overestimated.

The relationship between Lian Po and his sons, Lian Fu and Lian Pi, was poor. Especially after their mother’s death, if either son managed to send him a single letter a year, it was already rare.

It wasn’t that Lian Fu and Lian Pi didn’t want to be filial. It was just that with Lian Po’s temper—even when his sons were nearly forty years old—he would still grab a stick and beat them like children. At home, he was a supreme tyrant.

Both sons had run far away, limiting themselves to writing letters. And whenever Lian Po received one, he would scold them to the point of blood and tears.

The brothers thought that if they reduced contact, maybe their father would miss them. But once, after two years of no contact, they returned with big bags and boxes to visit. Lian Po looked at them and asked: “Who are you?”

When he learned of their identities, not a trace of longing appeared on his face.

After over a decade of such tests, the brothers came to understand—it was best to treat this father as if they had none.

If Lian Po hadn’t defected to Qin and led troops to thrash the Zhao army that came to “mediate” the Chu dispute, leaving them too ashamed to remain in Zhao, they wouldn’t have returned to his side at all.

Lian Fu and Lian Pi had little relationship with Zhu Xiang. They rarely went home, and Zhu Xiang’s status had once been low, without any remarkable ability to impress scholars—so few were willing to befriend him.

Even Lin Xiangru, who doted on Zhu Xiang, had only one rebellious youngest son, Lin Zhi, who became close with Zhu Xiang.

Now, however, the commoner they once looked down on had become Lord Changping, Lord Zhu Xiang. They wanted to make connections but felt awkward about it.

They even tactfully asked their father if he could introduce them. Lian Po just shot them a mocking look and told them to have some shame.

The two brothers wanted to kneel before their mother’s spirit tablet and ask if they had truly been picked up off the streets.

After finishing his scolding letters, Lian Po took out another sheet of paper to praise Zhu Xiang and Ying Zheng’s courage, telling them the preserved meats and pickled vegetables Zhu Xiang had sent were delicious. He asked whether the craftsmen he had given Zhu Xiang were useful and whether he wanted anything else.

When sending the letter, Lian Po rummaged through his storehouse and pulled out two sets of leather armor to be delivered together to Zhu Xiang and Ying Zheng, congratulating them on their military achievements.

Qin generals’ leather armor underwent many refinements—covered with thick lacquer, polished like mirrors, extremely tough, and very costly.

Usually, a general would only give his treasured armor to his son, symbolizing inheritance.

Clearly, Lian Fu and Lian Pi had never received such armor from their father.

As Lian Po sent the armor out, he sighed: “Finally, I’ve given it away. Zhu Xiang and Zheng’er have truly grown up. In the blink of an eye, I’m really old now.”

Lian Fu: “…”

He felt he ought to go find something to occupy himself with, instead of staying around to serve his father. Because his father probably didn’t see him as a son at all.

His real son was Lord Changping, Zhu Xiang. His grandson was Crown Prince Ying Zheng of Qin.

And Lian Fu and Lian Pi? Who were they again? He didn’t know.

When Zhu Xiang was hosting a banquet to celebrate Ying Zheng’s fifteenth birthday, both Qin King Zichu’s decree and Lian Po’s letter arrived.

Although Ying Zheng had prepared excuses in advance, under his aunt’s cold and oppressive gaze, he obediently refrained from eating any osmanthus-flavored pastries or desserts for three whole months.

Three months straight!

Ying Zheng muttered: “I really didn’t go to the battlefield.”

Xue Ji gave a little “mm” in response and said: “That’s why your aunt only forbade you from eating osmanthus cakes for three months, not for life.”

Ying Zheng was so angry that after a long time, he went to butt his head against his uncle again: “Uncle! Tell me, is this fair? Aunt is totally unreasonable!”

Zhu Xiang pressed against the head of the little calf Zheng’er: “In our family, your aunt is the reason. Understand? Accept your punishment quietly.”

Ying Zheng shouted in frustration: “It’s not fair! Why isn’t Uncle punished?”

Zhu Xiang chuckled: “Because I didn’t make any vows. Who told you to make promises? If you promise, you must keep it. Understand?”

Ying Zheng suddenly understood. So the key to not being bound by a promise… was not to make one in the first place? Got it, got it!

Off to the side, Li Mu, who was reading, gave a little shiver, casting the uncle and nephew a complicated look.

Zhu Xiang, oh Zhu Xiang, you still ask who’s leading Zheng’er astray?

Do you really have the face to ask?

When Ying Zheng’s birthday came, he finally got to eat osmanthus cakes.

Zhu Xiang prepared plain osmanthus cake, as well as steamed osmanthus sponge cake, fried osmanthus cake, osmanthus-glazed candied sweet potatoes, osmanthus steamed pudding, and osmanthus-glazed glutinous rice cakes—letting the newly ungrounded Ying Zheng eat to his heart’s content.

Just then, letters from Qin King Zichu and Lian Po arrived one after another. Seeing the three imperial decrees from Qin King Zichu stacked together, Zhu Xiang scolded: “What nonsense, sending three decrees at once. It’s freezing cold, aren’t you afraid Zheng’er will get sick on the road? Ignore him, we’ll set out after the first month.”

Zhu Xiang tossed aside the Qin King’s decrees as if they were trash and respectfully opened Lian Po’s letter.

Zhu Xiang laughed: “Got scolded! Zheng’er, Lord Lian says he’s going to spank you.”

Ying Zheng puffed out his cheeks: “Grandpa Lian can’t catch me.”

Zhu Xiang laughed to Li Mu: “Lord Lian says he’s going to stab two bloody holes in you!”

The corner of Li Mu’s mouth twitched. He had expected he’d be scolded. But if Lord Lian were here and saw such a chance, he’d definitely drag Zheng’er onto the battlefield too.

Though Zheng’er’s status was already secure, having military merits was always something different.

“Why didn’t Cai Ze and Lin Li send separate letters?” Zhu Xiang complained. “They’re being too stingy.”

Xue Ji said: “Perhaps their letters are still on the road.”

Zhu Xiang frowned: “But the Qin King’s decrees arrived with this batch. And what about Xia Tong, why only decrees and no letter?”

Ying Zheng swallowed his cake: “He’s writing, he’s writing—he’s just started putting brush to paper.”

Zhu Xiang tapped Ying Zheng’s nose with a smile: “When you get back, you’d better ask them properly. Forget decrees, but not even writing letters—what kind of friends are they?”

Ying Zheng said: “By the time I leave, Father and Uncle’s letters will surely have arrived.”

Xue Ji asked: “Are you really letting Zheng’er go back?”

Zhu Xiang said: “It’s better for Zheng’er to return once a year, show his face in the Qin court.”

He sighed: “Actually, I should be going back with him, but South Qin is in chaos, and Guangling City still has everything waiting to be rebuilt. I can’t leave.”

Xue Ji thought for a moment and said: “I’ll accompany Zheng’er back. I also miss Empress Dowager Huayang and Chengjiao.”

She recalled Empress Dowager Huayang’s letter—‘Xue Ji! I protected Zheng’er!’—and a faint smile curved her lips.

Despite the age difference and difference in status, Empress Dowager Huayang was her very first friend.

Zhu Xiang, though reluctant, knew that after Xue Ji had gone through Zheng’er’s self-harm, his break with Chunhua, and the desperate pursuit of the Chu army all the way to the Huai River, her sense of security had become fragile. She wanted to watch over Zheng’er every moment. He sighed: “Alright then. With you watching him, he won’t get up to trouble again.”

Ying Zheng had originally thought he would make the journey alone this time, since his uncle was surely too busy.

This would be his first time traveling long distance on his own!

He had already been planning what he would do without adults supervising him. For instance, sneaking off midway to visit the not-yet-old General Wang Jian. Maybe he could even pick up some safe military merit again.

After returning from the Huai River, Ying Zheng had sworn never to take risks again—that much military merit was enough. But after being well-behaved for a while, the young man’s yearning for the battlefield and for honor began to stir once more.

Hearing that his aunt would accompany him, Ying Zheng’s face immediately fell: “I’m already grown up, I can go back alone.”

Zhu Xiang immediately pinched his sulking face: “Xue Ji, just look at Zheng’er’s expression—if he goes alone, he’ll definitely sneak off on the road, maybe even to Wang Jian.”

Ying Zheng’s slanted phoenix eyes rounded in shock: “Don’t talk nonsense! I wouldn’t!”

Could Uncle read minds?!

Xue Ji calmly said: “My lord, rest assured. Entrust Zheng’er to me, I will take good care of him.”

Ying Zheng slapped his uncle’s hand away and banged his head onto his uncle’s shoulder blade: “Ah, no!”

Li Mu couldn’t help laughing.

Ying Zheng was growing fast. In front of outsiders, he was already learning to hide his emotions, showing some of the calm demeanor of a monarch. But in front of Zhu Xiang and Xue Ji, everything in his heart showed plainly on his face, as if he were a blank sheet of paper.

Although Zheng’er was already fifteen—old enough to be capped as an adult in some states—right now, in Li Mu’s eyes, he still looked like a boy of five or six, no more. The thought made him smile again.

On the first day of the new year, Zhu Xiang sent a letter back to Xianyang, informing them that Ying Zheng’s return would be delayed, along with a whole boatload of New Year’s goods. He especially instructed that Xunzi’s and Lord Lian’s gifts were special, and that Xia Tong and Lin Li were not allowed to open them—only Cai Ze could be trusted.

In Hanzhong, the Qin King had long since built a palace. Qin King Zichu had ordered renovations and expanded the gardens, using it as a place to escape the cold and hunt in autumn and winter.

The Han River connected to the Yangtze. When Zhu Xiang’s boat of New Year’s goods arrived, Qin King Zichu and Lin Zhi were already waiting at the port.

As for Cai Ze, as Chancellor, of course he had to stay in Xianyang.

Lin Zhi complained: “What’s the meaning of this? Saying we’re not allowed to open it? My lord, quickly issue a decree, let’s open it! I refuse to believe the mere Lord of Changping dares defy the Qin King’s command!

Qin King Zichu said: “Well said. I’ll issue the decree, you can open it personally!”

The two looked at each other, then pretended the conversation never happened, and continued reading the letter.

Lin Zhi grumbled: “Is Zheng’er really that fragile? Can’t even travel in winter? He has to wait until spring?”

Qin King Zichu said: “Zheng’er is strong, but Xue Ji is frail. She might not withstand the cold winds on the river.”

Lin Zhi sighed: “That’s true. My sister has suffered too much. Now that life is easier, she still keeps exhausting herself.”

Qin King Zichu nodded in agreement, and the two proceeded to criticize Zhu Xiang and Zheng’er for letting Xue Ji bear so much.

The attendants behind Qin King Zichu almost froze.

Your Majesty… do you still remember the Crown Prince is your own son?

After venting about Zhu Xiang and Zheng’er, Qin King Zichu and Lin Zhi then laughed together over Zhu Xiang’s complaints about them not writing letters, even threatening to cut off ties.

They had deliberately not written—just to make Zhu Xiang fret.

It was Lin Zhi’s idea. Zhu Xiang was definitely waiting for their response, so he could keep arguing. They purposely ignored him, letting him stew in anxiety.

Cai Ze had tried to sneak a letter, but the two stopped him.

When Cai Ze’s messenger was intercepted by the King’s guards, his face went white with fear. Rumors spread in Xianyang that Cai Ze was plotting rebellion, that the Qin King and his Chancellor had fallen out.

“We’ll write to Zhu Xiang after we see Zheng’er,” Qin King Zichu said with a smile. “Let’s scare him once, see if he dares guard the city again.”

Lin Zhi said: “I hear Li Mu doesn’t even go to Nanyue anymore, always guarding Zhu Xiang. Looks like even he’s been scared by him.”

The two burst into laughter again, leaving those around them filled with envy.

How could such a bond between ruler and minister not be admired?