HCT – Chapter 40 Cornelian Cherry Potato Noodles

The old King of Qin’s expression shifted quickly. If not for Zhu Xiang’s many years as a commoner during the Warring States period, well-practiced in reading faces, he might have missed that fleeting trace of darkness beneath the seemingly kind smile.

The King chuckled and said, “I didn’t expect you to be so devoted. Daughters across the realm must envy your wife.”

Zhu Xiang shook his head and replied, “What Xue and I have for each other can’t be captured with a mere word like ‘devotion’. Maybe women would envy Xue now, but if it were before today…”

Zhu Xiang paused briefly to choose his words, then continued, “I was eccentric since childhood. No one believed the strange things I said—except Xue.”

“When my parents both died and I was bedridden with illness, my elder sister took all the family belongings and abandoned me. It was Xue who knelt at the doorstep of wandering physicians to beg for medicine, who went door to door on her knees asking for grains to nurse me back to health.”

“After I became Master Lin’s disciple, I stopped the nobles from buying up land at unfair prices, then went to Changping to persuade the Zhao army. Upon returning to Handan, I was thrown into prison… Through all this, she lived in constant fear and worry, yet rarely complained. Even when she did, she’d follow up with ‘It’s okay,’ afraid to burden me further.”

His tone carried a heartfelt plea: “After my serious illness left me infertile, she still chose to marry me without resentment. Tell me, what woman would envy her back then? If I didn’t treat her well, I’d be worse than a beast.”

“When my mother abandoned me, my aunt detested her for her heartlessness—but still treated me like her own son.” Ying Zheng rose and knelt inside the carriage. “After Uncle left home, Aunt’s health declined and she couldn’t carry heavy things, but still held me every day. She took me to General Lian’s estate to flee, then brought me back to Handan, and even went to the prison to rescue Uncle…”

He lifted his head. “Qin princes are often influenced by their maternal families. My uncle and aunt aren’t nobles and come from simple backgrounds. They have no children of their own—I’m their only blood kin. They’re both virtuous and upstanding, and would never stir up trouble. There’s no need to fear their political influence.”

Ying Zheng’s sudden interjection nearly made Zhu Xiang pick him up and hide him behind his back to beg the King not to get angry.

But seeing the old King’s mouth twitch downward, Zhu Xiang held back.

That he didn’t maintain his fake smile after being directly contradicted by Ying Zheng meant he wasn’t angry.

What Ying Zheng was doing now might be risky, but it was also perhaps his best chance at truly earning the King’s favor. Since he had made up his mind, Zhu Xiang couldn’t hold him back.

“I’m not in good health and have no interest in women. If Your Majesty fills my courtyard with beauties, all I could do is open embroidery and weaving workshops for them, teach them to be self-sufficient and support themselves.” Zhu Xiang sighed. “Actually, now that I think about it, that doesn’t sound too bad either.”

Ying Zheng glanced at his uncle, who had suddenly started cracking jokes again. It seemed Uncle had an innate gift for finding humor in any situation.

“I thought you’d sell them off,” the King of Qin replied with a strange expression. Zhu Xiang’s joke had almost made him forget his earlier attempt to intimidate Ying Zheng.

Zhu Xiang responded, “Wouldn’t that be an insult to Your Majesty?”

The old King: “……” And forcing them to be seamstresses and weavers isn’t?

Ignoring Zhu Xiang’s playful antics, he turned to Ying Zheng with a stern face. “You’re just a child—talking about maternal clans already? Do you already see yourself as the King of Qin?”

This line was aimed to pierce the heart, but Ying Zheng showed no fear.

He considered the old King as his future self, and reverse-engineered what words and actions would satisfy him based on that mentality.

“My grandfather was the Crown Prince of Qin. My father was recognized as his legitimate heir and will also be a Crown Prince.”

“My father entered Qin with Lu Buwei’s support. My mother was a gift from Lu Buwei—she’s the link between my father and Lu’s interests. My uncle is an extraordinary sage. Of course my father will try to win him over. And both my grandfather and father seek to fulfill the ambition of our great-grandfather to conquer the Six States, so they’ll be sure to avoid letting noblewomen from those states interfere in politics. Therefore, my father will definitely make me Crown Prince.”

Ying Zheng declared confidently: “I’m not the King of Qin yet, but one day I will be—not only of Qin, but of the entire world!”

Zhu Xiang was drenched in cold sweat.

This kid may be the future Qin Shi Huang, but he’d never seen him this domineering before! What was going on? Could it be that “dragon aura” nonsense was real? The old dragon’s aura pressing down stirred up the young dragon’s aura too, forcing it to rise up in defiance?!

“Zhu Xiang, those words from your nephew—did you teach him that?” the old King of Qin asked instead of responding directly.

Zhu Xiang shook his head vigorously: “It wasn’t me!”

The old King of Qin looked at the sweat beading on Zhu Xiang’s forehead. “Indeed, it wasn’t you. Zheng’er, who taught you those words?”

Ying Zheng replied, “No one taught me. I figured them out myself. But the situation in Qin was analyzed for me by Grandpa Lin.”

The old King immediately asked, “Lin Xiangru? You’re still so young, and he’s already teaching you how to become the King of Qin? What’s his intention? Doesn’t he fear he’ll raise a powerful King of Qin who will destroy his Zhao state?”

Ying Zheng answered, “I’m still a child. Maybe Grandpa Lin didn’t think that far ahead when he taught me? But as Uncle once said, this world originally belonged to the Zhou. With the Zhou royal house in decline, a new king must rise to unify the realm. Though Grandpa Lin is loyal to King Huiwen of Zhao, he also cares deeply for the common people and hopes for unity under Heaven.”

The old King slapped his thigh in excitement: “So he acknowledges that Qin could unify the world?!”

Ying Zheng replied, “The King of Zhao is incompetent. Since Zhao has no hope of unifying the realm, when Grandpa Lin evaluates which of the six states might accomplish it, naturally he does so based on the actual situation.”

Zhu Xiang: “……”

Of course Grandpa Lin wouldn’t say outright that he believes Qin will unify the world, but Zheng’er never claimed he did! What a masterful use of language! My nephew really is a natural genius!

The old King of Qin, overjoyed, immediately stood up—only to sit back down as soon as he’d risen. “If Lin Xiangru loves my Qin so much, why hasn’t he joined us?”

Ying Zheng’s chubby little face nearly twitched. I only said Grandpa Lin recognized Qin’s strength. Isn’t that a bit far from saying he loves Qin?

Zhu Xiang glanced at the old king’s head, secretly disappointed. He’d been hoping the king would stand up and hit his head on the carriage ceiling with a “bonk.”

What a shame.

“Grandpa Lin said he’s too old,” Ying Zheng murmured, lowering his head. Thinking of their farewell, his eyes grew misty.

“I see… He is old,” the King of Qin sighed with emotion.

The Lin Xiangru he remembered was still the fearless figure from the Mianchi conference.

Had so many years already passed?

The old king looked down at his own wrinkled hands, unease filling his heart.

He was old now too.

At that moment, the old King of Qin suddenly missed those he’d outlived—especially King Wuling of Zhao and King Huiwen of Zhao.

“That’s enough. Zheng’er, you may rise,” the king said, a little dispirited now. “Zhu Xiang, I was originally planning to have the crown prince select a clever daughter to marry you, and send a few beauties to liven up your household. But with Zheng’er here, if you don’t want it, so be it.”

Zhu Xiang understood the implication. If Zheng’er were to die prematurely, then he’d have to marry into the Qin royal family again, or the King of Qin would never trust him.

No prominent Qin minister had a household without ties by marriage to the royal clan.

Even though, after such marriages, suspicion still lingered, and ministers still had their own agendas, it was no different than not marrying in.

“Thank you, Your Majesty! When we rest later, I’ll make something delicious for you myself!” Zhu Xiang scooted forward on his knees, knelt before the king, then pulled Ying Zheng into his arms and began rubbing his knees.

The King of Qin chuckled and scolded, “You think I lack food? If it doesn’t taste good, I’ll have your nephew copy books as punishment. You and Zheng’er truly are children raised by Lin Xiangru.”

(Ding! Favorability with King Zhaoxiang of Qin unlocked.)

Zhu Xiang looked at the pixelated old king icon with half a heart above his head, feeling a swirl of emotions.

After several years of trial and error, Zhu Xiang had just barely figured out how the system’s favorability rankings worked.

The descriptions didn’t directly correspond to the exact number of “hearts.” For example, Xu Ming and Xiang had both expressed willingness to die to save him, yet their favorability had never reached the four-heart “sworn brotherhood” level.

This was because Xu Ming and Xiang He’s willingness to sacrifice themselves wasn’t truly for Zhu Xiang the person, but rather for Lord Zhu Xiang, the great and virtuous figure. Even if they didn’t personally know “Zhu Xiang,” they would still have given their lives for “Lord Zhu Xiang.”

Because of this, even when the King of Qin used over 200,000 Zhao soldiers, noble titles, and even the city of Handan to exchange for Zhu Xiang, his favorability rating toward Zhu Xiang didn’t even reach one heart—”mild appreciation.” That was because he held no personal interest in Zhu Xiang himself, and perhaps didn’t even see him as someone worthy of genuine respect.

Similarly, it was only when Zhu Xiang left the state of Zhao that Lord Pingyuan and Lord Pingyang’s favorability ratings unlocked. Only then did they begin to see Zhu Xiang not merely as a “talent who could bring benefit to Zhao,” but as a real, flesh-and-blood human being.

Ironically, it was Lord Xinling who gave Zhu Xiang a heart the moment they met, and then added another one right after they parted—leaving Zhu Xiang deeply moved.

Favorability may begin with Zhu Xiang’s talent, but it does not end there. The system’s strict evaluation focuses more on the personal feelings of the pixelated characters toward Zhu Xiang himself.

When he left Zhao, Lian Po and Li Mu’s favorability both rose to three hearts. Xiang He and Xu Ming’s favorability was slightly lower than Zheng’er’s father’s, while Cai Ze’s just edged past it. As for Lin Xiangru, his favorability was only a breath away from reaching four hearts.

Now, at last, the old King of Qin had begun to see him as a person. Was it because the old king had developed familial affection for Zheng’er and was extending that love to those around him?

“Zhu Xiang, tell me more about Lord Lin,” the old King said wistfully. “He was neglected by the Zhao King—did he suffer a lot?”

Ying Zheng looked up while Zhu Xiang looked down, the uncle and nephew locking eyes from opposite directions.

Ying Zheng: I’m sorry. I overestimated myself.

Zhu Xiang never would have guessed that while he couldn’t use Elder Lin’s influence back in Zhao, it was precisely Elder Lin who helped him gain half a heart of favorability from the King of Qin!

“He did suffer quite a bit…” Zhu Xiang replied softly.

In terms of material hardships, Grandpa Lin hadn’t suffered much. But in terms of emotional and spiritual pain—he had suffered far too much.

Before the next rest stop, Zhu Xiang and the old King of Qin spoke only of Lin Xiangru.

Perhaps because the old king had come to recognize Zhu Xiang, he no longer maintained his pride and allowed his curiosity and fondness for Lin Xiangru to show. He didn’t hide his attention and admiration for Lin Xiangru, which made Zhu Xiang feel a twinge of sourness in his chest.

He thought, If only Elder Lin had come to Qin.

But if Elder Lin had never experienced the events of returning the jade to Zhao or the meeting at Mianchi, he wouldn’t have earned the King of Qin’s respect. And if he had gone through those events, then it was impossible for him to ever enter Qin.

Ying Zheng, exhausted, soon curled up in Zhu Xiang’s arms and fell asleep.

After Zhu Xiang had poked Zheng’er’s chubby little cheek dimples several times, the old King also reached out and gave the cheeks a couple of pokes. He nodded in agreement—Zheng’er’s face was indeed delightful to poke. Zhu Xiang’s “child-raising diary” hadn’t lied.

When it came time to get off the carriage, the old King personally pinched Zheng’er’s cheeks to wake him up and then held the yawning, eye-rubbing child’s hand as they descended.

At that moment, the old King of Qin and Ying Zheng looked just like a normal great-grandfather and great-grandson. The atmosphere between them was wonderfully warm and peaceful.

Sima Jin and Wang He were dumbstruck. Bai Qi nearly slipped and fell into a bush.

Cai Ze looked toward Zhu Xiang. Zhu Xiang winked at him. Cai Ze fell into deep thought.

What’s he trying to tell me with that look? Never mind. I’ll ask him later when the time’s right.

Since Zhu Xiang didn’t seem anxious, Cai Ze casually pushed the matter aside for the moment.

A few meters away stood Xue, hesitant to approach Zheng’er but clearly wanting to.

Ying Zheng waved hard at her: “Auntie! Auntie! My clothes are soaked with sweat!”

The old King glanced at Xue and instructed coldly, “Change Zheng’er’s clothes.”

“Yes!” Xue rushed forward, picked up Ying Zheng, and ran to the carriage that held his clothing.

“Watch your step!” Zhu Xiang called out, then added, “I’ll start making a big meal—porridge, noodles, rice, and more. Xue, what do you want to eat?”

“Zheng’er wants potato noodles!”

“Make what Zheng’er wants,”

The two answered one after the other.

The King of Qin, who had been looking at Xue with a cold, critical gaze, finally showed a hint of warmth.

Children inevitably become attached to the one who raised them—just as he, despite having the power to erase his mother’s influence, still hesitated for many years.

A woman of low status, who could never have more children and who treated Zheng’er with wholehearted devotion, was indeed the easiest to control. The King had been convinced by Zheng’er’s argument.

“Zhu Xiang, Zheng’er is only four or five years old, yet he speaks so much of profit and strategy. Doesn’t that chill your heart?” the King asked, standing beside Zhu Xiang, who was squatting to start the fire for cooking.

Zhu Xiang didn’t even lift his head, utterly unafraid. “I’m proud—very proud. Just a little heartache, that’s all. It’s my fault for not protecting Zheng’er well enough. That’s why he had to understand so many things at such a young age.”

The old King saw that Zhu Xiang’s words were genuine—his face filled with both pride and pain—and for some reason, felt a lump in his chest.

“Zheng’er actually rebutted me. Aren’t you afraid he’ll offend me?” the King continued.

As Zhu Xiang poured cornus oil into the pot, he replied, “Elder Lin once said: a Qin prince may be ambitious and shrewd, but he must never be mediocre or dull.”

The King was taken aback, then sighed deeply. “Lord Lin truly understands me. Even if he’s grown old, I still wish he could come to Qin. I’d be willing to care for him in his old age.”

Zhu Xiang silently dropped meat bones—scavenged from the King’s supply—into the pot to make broth.

What one cannot obtain is always the most cherished. If Elder Lin truly had entered Qin, would the King’s attitude still be this sincere?

“Your Majesty, speaking of Elder Lin—I have a request,” Zhu Xiang said.

The old King chuckled, “This is your third request of me, isn’t it? Speak.”

Zhu Xiang said, “I know Your Majesty is well-informed about the affairs of Zhao. If Elder Lin or Lord Lian fall gravely ill and return home in old age, please allow me to secretly go visit them.”

“Returning home in old age” was a euphemism. What it really meant was accompanying their coffins home.

The King’s smile faded, his brow tightening.

After a long pause, he sighed. “Go. Take Zheng’er with you when the time comes—let him bow before Lord Lin. But Xue will remain in Xianyang.”

Zhu Xiang wasn’t surprised by this condition, but he couldn’t help feeling a bit self-mocking.

He would probably never again meet elders like Elder Lin and Elder Lian in his lifetime.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”