HCT – Chapter 44 Meat Congee and Braised Pork Slices

The new residence had no chairs or stools. Zhu Xiang sat crookedly on a floor cushion, still in a daze, when Xue couldn’t hold back any longer and jumped up to greet, “Zheng’er!”

Little Ying Zheng immediately shook off his father’s hand and charged forward like a little meatball toward his aunt. “Auntie!”

As usual, Ying Zheng slowed down just before crashing into Xue, but his body still tilted forward from the momentum. Xue bent down and caught him in her arms right on time.

“Zheng’er, have you been eating and sleeping well?” The moment she held him, Xue finally relaxed.

During Zhu Xiang’s difficult absence, it was Ying Zheng who gave Xue the strength to carry on. Last night, with both Zhu Xiang and Ying Zheng away, she had tossed and turned with anxiety.

Now, seeing Ying Zheng safe and sound, Xue temporarily forgot even her fear of the King of Qin. After embracing the boy, she turned and properly saluted the King of Qin, Bai Qi, and a noble she didn’t recognize.

Fan Ju watched with interest as this common woman, who had been disrespectful toward the King of Qin just moments ago, now regained her composure and offered the correct and dignified courtesies expected of the Lady of Lord Changping. He was deeply intrigued.

He’d heard she had been so frightened when entering Xianyang that she dared not even step out of her carriage—how had she changed so drastically?

The King of Qin was not offended by Xue’s earlier breach of etiquette. Instead, his estimation of her rose slightly.

To him, Xue’s value lay in two things: one, raising Zheng’er; and two, as leverage against Zhu Xiang when necessary. Now that Xue’s affection for Zheng’er outweighed her fear of the king—and she could muster the courage to calmly apologize and offer proper greetings—he saw her in a better light.

“Auntie, I haven’t been eating or sleeping well. Look, I’ve lost weight!” Ying Zheng tugged at Xue’s sleeve and pointed at his own face while the King of Qin sternly told her to rise. “Look, I’m all skinny now!”

Xue looked at his chubby cheeks and said with heartfelt concern, “Let Auntie get you a bowl of congee first to settle your stomach.”

“Xue, don’t listen to his nonsense. He’s only been away for one night—how could he have lost weight?” Zhu Xiang exposed his little nephew’s lie first, then saluted the King of Qin alongside Cai Ze with proper decorum.

Once the formalities were done, the old King of Qin chuckled and said, “This is an informal visit. No need for excessive ceremony. Just treat me as you would Teacher and Lord Wu’an.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Zhu Xiang thought bitterly, If there’s no need for ceremony, why wait until we finished before saying so?

From the King’s words, Zhu Xiang gleaned both bad news and good news.

The bad news: these surprise visits from the King might become routine.

The good news: his knees were spared… for now.

Besides the King, Fan Ju, and Bai Qi, Zichu was also present—but Crown Prince Zhu was notably absent.

After Zichu gave Zhu Xiang a subtle “don’t worry” look, Zhu Xiang sighed and grumbled, “Your Majesty, it’s not that I’m unwilling to cook for you, but there’s not even millet in the house, let alone beef, lamb, or fish. I was just about to head out and buy some.”

“Don’t worry about that, I brought my own,” the King of Qin patted Zhu Xiang’s shoulder and began leading him toward a side courtyard. “I heard you’re good at helping people recover their health?”

Zhu Xiang quickly clarified, “I don’t know medicine. I just cook tasty food. When it tastes good, even elders with no appetite will eat a little more. As long as one can eat, the body’s condition will surely be better than if they couldn’t.”

“True enough,” the King of Qin sighed. “Teacher and Lord Wu’an’s health has seriously declined. I’ve arranged for them to stay with you for a while.”

Zhu Xiang was stunned.

In this era, most medical practitioners were still essentially shamans. There was a philosophical movement known as the “Medical School” that tried to separate medicine from spiritualism. For example, they argued that “thoughts” originated from the brain, not the heart.

But as the various schools declined, the “Medical School” was eventually lumped in with the likes of the Mohists and Agrarian School—reduced to mere technical skills, stripped of theory. Since the heart was centrally located in the body, aligning with yin-yang and metaphysical theories, the “Heart Doctrine” dominated Chinese medicine throughout the feudal era.

Not until the late Ming dynasty—under figures like Li Shizhen—and with the arrival of modern Western medicine, did this “Heart Doctrine” finally begin to lose ground.

This shows how primitive medicine was at this point in history. The legendary doctors we know today were probably no better than a modern-day TCM clinic expert—aside from mythical folklore.

Scientific progress raises understanding. Even if some skills are lost, overall trends move upward. Without civilizational collapse, the past is never inherently better than the present. In this era, getting sick basically meant relying on one’s own endurance.

As the elderly’s immune systems weaken, even minor illnesses could be fatal. If Fan Ju or Bai Qi caught a chill while staying at Zhu Xiang’s house, they might never recover. Taking responsibility for them was like setting a trap for himself.

People like Lin Xiangru and Lian Po were elders to Zhu Xiang. If anything happened to them, no one would accuse him of harm. But could the same be said for Lord Yinghou and Lord Wu’an?

But since it was an order from the King of Qin, Zhu Xiang had no room to refuse. All he could do was accept this difficult and dangerous task with a heavy heart.

Perhaps even the King of Qin felt slightly guilty. Fan Ju and Bai Qi were deteriorating rapidly, and the palace physicians had all declared themselves helpless—reduced to dancing shamanic rituals, praying to heaven and ancestors. The king had no replacements for these two pillars of state. All he could do now was pin his hopes on Zhu Xiang’s “magic.”

“As long as I can eat, that’s enough. My appetite’s been poor lately,” Fan Ju said gently. “Lord Changping, don’t worry. General Bai and I both know our conditions, and so do our families.”

Zhu Xiang could only clasp his hands and force a bitter smile, promising to make tasty food for Yinghou and Lord Wu’an to the best of his ability.

The King of Qin added, “Zichu is your disciple now. He’ll assist you in taking care of Teacher and Lord Wu’an.”

Zichu respectfully clasped his hands. “Teacher.”

Zhu Xiang’s skin crawled.

It was like in a dorm room where you and your roommate joke around every day, playing father-son roles, and then one day your idiot roommate suddenly calls you “Dad” with total seriousness. You’d be instantly creeped out, suspicious of a massive scheme.

Even if there wasn’t a grand scheme, it was still unsettling.

He hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, Xia Tong—er, I mean, Prince Zichu is a friend of mine. Whatever he wants to know, I’ll certainly share. But there’s no need to call me ‘Teacher.’”

“His courtesy name is Xia Tong. I gave it to him,” the King of Qin said with a chuckle. “Yesterday I told him to call you teacher, and you didn’t seem to object?”

Zhu Xiang coughed awkwardly. “Yesterday… it did feel rather satisfying.”

The King of Qin laughed and patted his shoulder. “How you two get along in private, I won’t interfere. That’s up to you.”

Zhu Xiang was touched.

Even though he knew the King of Qin was putting on an act—and that both he and Zichu were under constant surveillance by the king’s spies—those words still felt good. It was like hearing a modern, open-minded elder speak.

Zichu continued respectfully, “Teacher, if you need me to do anything, just say the word.”

Zhu Xiang laughed to himself. This sickly guy came to my place just to add another mouth to feed, didn’t he?

Having been forced to take in three elderly, infirm people, Zhu Xiang was now dragged by the Old King of Qin to help choose rooms for his two loyal ministers and a conveniently attached grandson.

Fortunately, this was originally the residence of Crown Prince Zhu, and it was spacious enough. Since Zhu Xiang had no plans to take concubines, the estate remained rather empty.

As he looked at the vacant courtyards, vivid illusions danced before Zhu Xiang’s eyes: Elder Lin and Elder Lian bickering, Xunzi watching with his sleeves tucked up, Li Mu and Lin Zhi gesturing wildly in discussion.

In his vision, he was stepping in to break up the quarrel, while Zheng’er ran wildly through the courtyard and Xue loudly called out for him to slow down. The servants of the household peeped around corners from time to time, smiling and whispering to each other.

The voices of the Old King of Qin, Fan Ju, and Bai Qi discussing how to decorate the rooms, how many servants to bring, and whether to summon some sons and grandsons to serve them shattered the illusion.

Xue nervously grasped Zhu Xiang’s hand, and little Ying Zheng hugged his leg tightly.

“This will be our home from now on,” Zhu Xiang smiled as he came back to his senses. “Xue, Zheng’er, think about what kind of courtyard you’d like. I’ll find someone to build it for you. This home will be lively too.”

“Mm.” Xue nodded softly. Her palm was damp with sweat. She hadn’t been unafraid when greeting the King of Qin earlier—she had just forced herself to endure it.

Thankfully, she had seen the King of Qin many times during their journey and had grown less fearful, allowing her to finally apply the etiquette she had practiced so hard.

“Zheng’er wants a seesaw, a swing, a rocking wooden horse…” Ying Zheng began rattling off demands without hesitation. “A sandpit for building forts, and a target for practicing swordsmanship too!”

Zichu frowned. “Zhu Xiang, you’re spoiling him too much.”

Seizing the moment—while the three elders ahead were chatting enthusiastically and couldn’t see them—Zhu Xiang rolled his eyes. “This counts as spoiling? Jealous, are you? Don’t worry, you and Cai Ze will get some too.”

Zichu: “…” I’m this close to cursing you out.

Cai Ze had been observing Zichu. When Zichu finally voiced his disagreement with Zhu Xiang, Cai Ze gave a faint nod of approval inwardly, affirming Zhu Xiang’s judgment.

Although Xia Tong had now returned to his identity as a Qin noble and had been separated from Zhu Xiang for three years, Zichu’s attitude toward Zhu Xiang was still that of a friend.

“Prince Zichu, when it comes to Zheng’er, arguing with Zhu Xiang is useless,” Cai Ze spoke up. “Zhu Xiang and Lady Xue protect Zheng’er like their own eyes. Elder Lin, Elder Lian, and Xunzi are the same. Even they indulge Zhu Xiang’s pampering of Zheng’er, and His Majesty himself approves of it.”

Zichu hadn’t been jealous before, but now a wave of sourness surged in his heart.

Ying Zheng clung to his uncle’s leg and looked up at his biological father with an adorable smile. His twin dimples swayed like little boats, brimming with mockery for his father.

Zichu’s expression turned strange. Is this child gloating or mocking me?

He had always known that Zheng’er was clever, but the boy hadn’t even reached the age when Qin princes began their formal education. Wasn’t this level of cleverness a bit too much?

Or… was it just his imagination? Was Zheng’er simply giving a sweet, affectionate smile to his birth father?

Just as Zichu was beginning to doubt himself, Ying Zheng stretched out a finger, tugged at the corner of his eye in a face-pulling gesture, then quickly buried his face in his uncle’s leg.

Zichu: “!” My hand’s itching to smack someone.

Cai Ze had seen the whole thing and whispered, “If you say Zheng’er made a face at you now, Zhu Xiang and His Majesty will accuse you of bullying a child. Zheng’er would never do such a thing.”

Zichu asked curiously, “You’ve experienced this before?”

Cai Ze replied, “Lin Li often plays around with Zheng’er.”

Zichu believed him. Yes, being petty with a child is exactly something Lin Zhi would do.

“You are Zhu Xiang’s friend and also mine. Please address me by my courtesy name.” Zichu cupped his hands respectfully. “I’ve been separated from Zheng’er for too long. I’d like to learn about his past. Please tell me more.”

“What? You want to know? Ask me!” Zhu Xiang, who hadn’t heard their earlier exchange, perked up at the mention of Zheng’er.

“Not asking you—you’re too biased toward him, your words are unreliable,” Zichu replied. “I’ll ask Lady Xue and Brother Cai. Brother Cai, do you have a courtesy name?”

Cai Ze smiled. “Like Zhu Xiang, I came from humble origins and had no courtesy name. Even after gaining status, I didn’t see the need for one.”

“What are you all talking about?” The Old King of Qin curiously came over.

Ying Zheng looked up and tattled, “Father wants to know about Zheng’er. But he said Uncle spoils Zheng’er too much, so his words are untrustworthy. He only wants to hear from Aunt and Uncle Cai.”

Zichu’s face twisted. This child!

The Old King laughed, picked up Ying Zheng, and scolded Zichu, “Zheng’er was fluent in speech by the time he was a year old. Xunzi taught him the Book of Documents, Spring and Autumn Annals, and Book of Changes. Lord Lin taught him poetry, foreign languages, and legal codes. General Lian taught him military strategy. A child so diligent—so what if he’s pampered a little?”

Whenever the Old King spoke, Fan Ju never hesitated to chime in. “Your Majesty, since the young lord was previously taught by famed scholars, he may not be able to begin his formal education alongside the other Qin princes.”

“Young Lord” was the formal title referring to Ying Zheng’s status. The use of “Zheng Gongzi” was more affectionate and used among close nobles. By choosing the latter, Fan Ju showed special regard for Ying Zheng, though not as intimate as “Zheng’er.”

At Fan Ju’s words, the Old King winced. “Lord Wu’an is certainly stronger than General Lian and can teach Zheng’er. Teacher, could you also instruct him?”

Fan Ju replied, “I can teach Lord Zheng in strategy, but I am busy with state affairs and may not be able to commit fully.”

Immediately, Ying Zheng cupped his hands in his great-grandfather’s arms. “Please, Lord Ying, teach me. You only need to assign the work—Zheng’er will complete it. If there’s anything I don’t understand, I’ll ask Uncle Cai and Uncle.”

Fan Ju glanced at Cai Ze, then turned back to Ying Zheng with a smile. “Minister Cai can surely teach you. Is your uncle skilled in strategy as well?”

Ying Zheng puffed up with pride. “Uncle knows everything! He just doesn’t like to do it. Uncle says he’s a master of ‘armchair strategy.’”

Zhu Xiang rubbed his nose, embarrassed. “Zheng’er’s overestimating me. Your Majesty, Lord Ying, I’ve just heard so much over time that I understand a bit. But I’m not good at actual execution.”

“I know you’re softhearted and can’t bear to do certain things,” the Old King said with a smile. “Have you decided what you want to do now that you’ve come to Qin?”

Zhu Xiang said, “When I was in Zhao, Xunzi taught me Qin’s legal system. But since Qin law changes yearly, I’ll need to study it further. I dare not take a high post for now. I ask that Your Majesty allow me to farm near Xianyang, to cultivate improved crops and guide farmers. When I’ve achieved something, then I’ll go help improve agriculture in other regions.”

He smiled sheepishly, then added, “I know my own abilities. I’m not good at political maneuvering. My greatest skill is farming. Your Majesty brought me back to Qin and has treated me so generously—if I don’t contribute something in return, I won’t be able to face the ministers of Qin.”

The Old King sighed. “Zhu Xiang, though Qin law is strict, you are now Lord Changping of Qin and the brother-in-law of a Qin prince. You are no longer a commoner. Don’t see yourself through a commoner’s eyes. With your merits at Changping and your reputation in Zhao, even kings of the Seven States would treat you as a distinguished guest.”

Zhu Xiang bowed deeply. “Your Majesty treats me as a statesman; I shall serve Qin as one. Qin does not lack the military power to unite the six states—what it lacks is a way to ensure peace and win the hearts of the people afterward.”

“Confucians advocate moral teaching, Legalists advocate law and order, but I believe: ‘When the granaries are full, people know propriety; when clothing and food are sufficient, people know honor and shame.’”

“If faced with the threat of starvation or freezing to death, the result is still just the word ‘death.’ Neither morality nor law can stop the common people from rebelling just to survive.”

Still bowed, Zhu Xiang looked up. “I ask Your Majesty to first let me ensure that the people have food in their bellies and clothes on their backs. Then Your Majesty will have the time to consider how to govern the world once it is unified.”

Fan Ju and Bai Qi both frowned as they looked at Zhu Xiang; Zichu and Cai Ze, however, both smiled slightly. And little Ying Zheng proudly lifted his head.

The Old King of Qin set his great-grandson on the ground and reached out to lift Zhu Xiang up, his voice thick with emotion.

This time, he was truly sincere—because Zhu Xiang saw the favorability meter rise just a tiny bit. Even less than Zichu’s had risen the day before.

“Zhu Xiang,” the Old King of Qin sighed, “many people have told me that the Qin state can unify the Six Kingdoms. But in my view, no one has said it with the sincerity you have.”

“Qin was once powerful, and it has also declined. Even the all-powerful Jin state has perished. Why are you so certain Qin will unify the world?”

Zhu Xiang said, “A country’s strength is directly tied to the system it enforces. The current system in Qin has transformed it into a war chariot—commoners have only two paths: to farm or to fight. As long as the wars waged by Qin bring benefits to enough people, this chariot will be unstoppable.”

The Old King asked, “But you believe the chariot will eventually stop. Is the land in this world not finite?”

Zhu Xiang replied, “The land is finite, yes—but for the current Qin, it feels infinite. Still, while the territory may seem boundless, the land Qin can actually control is limited. When the territory expands beyond what the king can govern, the state is not far from collapse. The fates of Jin and Chu are examples.”

The Old King pulled Zhu Xiang to sit with him beside a ji (a low table). Fan Ju immediately followed, taking a seat on Zhu Xiang’s other side.

Bai Qi thought for a moment, then pulled Zichu and young Zheng over to sit on the King’s other side, placing himself next to them.

Cai Ze sat beside Bai Qi and signaled to Xue. Xue promptly stepped outside to direct the servants who had come with the King to continue arranging the furniture. She also told the cook to start preparing the meal, while she personally poured honeyed water for the King and the others.

The Old King asked, “Wasn’t it incompetent rulers that led to the decline of Jin and Chu?”

Zhu Xiang said, “Every nation suffers from unwise rulers sooner or later. But both of those kingdoms fell due to the same four words: ‘prosperity leads to decline.’”

The Old King inhaled deeply. “Why does prosperity lead to decline?”

Fan Ju frowned. “Is it Heaven’s will? That after climbing the mountain, one must descend? That after the prime of life comes old age?”

Zhu Xiang shook his head. “No—it’s simply a pattern. More specifically, every stage of national development faces different challenges. It’s like traveling: whether you pass over plains, sand, mountains, or rivers, you need the right tools to move forward. A prosperous age is the limit of the previous vehicle’s endurance—before reaching that limit, the ruler should already be making repairs.”

Xue came in with the honeyed water, and the Old King personally handed a cup to Zhu Xiang with both hands. “Please continue.”

Zhu Xiang took a sip and said, “Let’s talk more about Jin and Chu. Their downfall was, in fact, just like the Zhou dynasty’s. Your Majesty must have already sensed this: the farther a region is from Xianyang, the harder it is to govern. Even with the same commandery-county system, distant counties can only report back every few months. That means Your Majesty is always months behind in managing them.”

Jin’s vastness is self-explanatory. Chu conquered the most states during the Spring and Autumn period, and at its peak, held half the realm.

The Old King asked anxiously, “That’s true—but is there a way to solve it?”

Zhu Xiang shook his head. “If the King’s army can reach a place in a day, he can control it like moving his own hand. If it takes a month, he can prod it like using a stick. If it takes a year—then all he can do is accept its tribute.”

The Old King sighed. “That is truly hard to solve.”

Fan Ju interjected, “So, the limit of Qin’s territory is where the army takes a year to reach? But Jin and Chu didn’t have territories that vast.”

Zhu Xiang said, “When the king needs a stick to prod a place a month’s march away, then the system is the stick. They didn’t use sticks—they handed those distant lands to their servants.”

Fan Ju frowned even deeper, then slowly relaxed. “The more expansive the realm, the weaker the king and the stronger the servants.”

Zhu Xiang nodded. “Qin has implemented the commandery-county system. No minister is more powerful than the king, so His Majesty can control more territory than any other monarch. In terms of system, only Qin can rule the Central Plains as it stands today—therefore, only Qin can unify the Central Plains. As for even farther lands, Qin may conquer them but can’t convert them into national strength—it’ll cost more than it’s worth.”

“How to calculate the value of a land—Your Majesty and Lord Ying should be more skilled than I.” Zhu Xiang offered sincere praise. “When Qin campaigns, Your Majesty always stops and negotiates after a time. Some places are annexed as Qin territory, others simply submit as vassals and provide grain, weapons, and horses.”

The Old King and Fan Ju exchanged glances, then both chuckled.

The Old King gave a wry smile. “Though I understand that going too far is as bad as falling short, it’s only after hearing all this that I understand why—and how far is too far.”

Fan Ju laughed, “Your Majesty, I’m old. Zhu Xiang could replace me as Chancellor.”

Zhu Xiang waved his hands frantically and gave a bitter smile. “I can’t. I only know how to talk. If I were Chancellor, even if I knew unification would benefit the commoners, I’d still struggle to wage war—especially against Zhao.”

“Fine, if you’re unwilling, you’re unwilling,” the Old King continued, “Since Qin holds the stick and the others don’t, I agree that Qin will surely unify the world. And after unification—we must switch vehicles, yes? Are you proposing reform?”

Zhu Xiang waved both hands and head together. “Your Majesty, please don’t scare me. Those who enact reforms never meet good ends! I want to live long enough to see Zheng’er have grandchildren!”

Little Ying Zheng squirmed in the arms of the emaciated Zichu. Hearing his uncle call him, he craned his neck: “Zheng-er is here!”

Zichu pressed the squirming Ying Zheng back into place.

The Old King turned and glanced over, then abruptly pulled Ying Zheng from Zichu’s arms and stuffed him into Zhu Xiang’s: “If we don’t reform, how can we change the vehicle?”

Zhu Xiang shifted his posture, settling Ying Zheng comfortably in his lap like a chair. “Qin’s war chariot is already very sturdy. Just swapping a few parts—how can that be called reform?”

He blinked and said vaguely, “The world isn’t unified yet, so I can’t say for sure. But perhaps—although the commandery-county system is good, having too many counties means every little matter has to go before the king. Won’t the king end up staying up all night reading bamboo slips? Perhaps we need to add another level above the counties.”

“When military merit declines, titles of nobility can’t just be left unawarded. Without merit-based promotion, and no chance to gain fame abroad, how will His Majesty select talent? Should it be through recommendations—or an examination system?”

“When many soldiers return to farming, and with no more wars, the population will soar yearly while land remains finite. With nobles no longer able to gain wealth through conquest, they’ll surely start grabbing farmland from the commoners.”

“After unification, within two or three reigns, the commoners may face a land crisis. Starvation will spread, and even if you confiscate their weapons, they’ll resist with stones and tree branches. If any noble raises a sword and calls them to arms…”

Zhu Xiang stopped abruptly—Old King Qin’s face had gone dark and green.

Ying Zheng silently raised his arms to hug his head.

Please stop, Uncle, please stop—Zheng-er’s head already hurts!

Who needs two or three reigns? These problems will pop up as soon as unification is done!

“Uncle, do you have a solution?” Ying Zheng pouted. “All of this will probably land on Zheng-er’s shoulders.”

The Old King froze, then slapped his thigh and laughed. “That’s right! I’m already old!”

The King of Qin had always feared aging—and feared more that someone would steal his throne. But now, he cheerfully shouted, “I’m already old!” and hugged the would-be King Zheng in his arms, bouncing him up and down: “Hahaha! Zheng-er, you and your uncle can deal with the headaches later. I and the Chancellor won’t worry!”

Fan Ju stroked his beard and chuckled. “Your Majesty, some matters can be handled now. You can’t leave everything to future generations. And even if you do, there’s still Crown Prince Zhu and Prince Zichu.”

The Old King shot a glance at Zichu: “Zichu, study well.”

Zichu: “…Yes.” He was a little annoyed. Am I actually worse than a child?!

The Old King of Qin stretched his sore legs and said, “Zhu Xiang, perhaps you cannot serve as Chancellor of Qin now, but when Zichu or Zheng’er ascends the throne, you will be able to. For now, go and farm. I, the gentleman, and Lord Wu’an will shoulder the burden for a few more years.”

Zhu Xiang immediately responded, “Thank you, Your Majesty! But may I first go to the kitchen? If I don’t cook, the chefs may not suit your tastes.”

“Hurry then,” the old king waved him off. “I’m already hungry. Bring something to eat first.”

“Alright.” Zhu Xiang rose to leave.

Ying Zheng also stood up: “Great-grandfather, I’ll help!”

“Stay here. You’d only help by sneaking food, wouldn’t you?” Zhu Xiang pressed the mischievous boy’s head.

After Zhu Xiang left, the Old King of Qin sipped some sweet soup and chuckled for a while before saying, “Zichu, your friend has quite a few hidden talents.”

Zichu cautiously replied, “Zhu Xiang may not be hiding them—he genuinely might not believe he’s that talented. Even though his name is known across the Seven States, he still doesn’t see his own gifts clearly.”

“Cai Qing, you know Zhu Xiang well. Why is he like this?” the old king asked. “Was the King of Zhao really that oppressive toward him?”

Zichu glanced at Cai Ze.

Cai Ze said, “Zhu Xiang does have talent, but he’s always believed it’s useless in practice—just empty talk. And empty talk can ruin a country. So he’s only willing to take on tasks he’s sure he can accomplish. Like Zhao Kuo—he knew the Art of War by heart but couldn’t fight. Zhu Xiang believes that in any field besides farming, he’s another Zhao Kuo.”

White-robbed Bai Qi, who had remained silent, couldn’t help but speak, “How could Zhu Xiang insult himself by comparing to Zhao Kuo?!”

Cai Ze responded, “Zhu Xiang believes that self-awareness puts him far above Zhao Kuo.”

Fan Ju said, “To be Chancellor of Qin, one doesn’t need to do everything themselves. He only needs to set a direction, select the right officials, and let them execute.”

Cai Ze sighed. “He believes he’s incapable of selecting officials for His Majesty. Because in reality, appointments aren’t based solely on merit. There are ties to the royal clan, hereditary nobles—entanglements he doesn’t understand. Your Majesty, I too believe Zhu Xiang is not suited to be Chancellor.”

The old King of Qin asked gravely, “Why? He is your friend. Shouldn’t you recommend him?”

Cai Ze replied, “Xunzi once said Zhu Xiang is excessively kind, to the point of being weak. Confucius said to repay wrongs with uprightness, and virtue with virtue. Zhu Xiang, when insulted, simply frowns and walks away. When his sister abandoned him in betrayal, he simply cut off contact…”

“When a friend mixes benefit with affection but causes him no real harm, he even consoles them instead,” Zichu interrupted. “Zhu Xiang never seeks excessive revenge when wronged, and never gives undue favors for kindness. If such a man were entrusted with appointing officials, those who hate him would not fear him, and those who owe him would resent him. He’d end up isolated, with no path left but death.”

Zichu knelt and backed away a few steps, bowing to the floor. “Great-grandfather, Zhu Xiang lacks the wisdom of a King’s right-hand.”

The old King of Qin stared deeply at Zichu for a long time. When the steam from his cup finally dissipated, he sighed softly, “Very well. I said let him farm, so let him go farm.”

“Thank you, Great-grandfather.” Zichu straightened up, relieved.

He truly feared that the old king would push Zhu Xiang into the Chancellor’s seat. If the court opposed him fiercely, the old king would never protect Zhu Xiang.

In that moment when Zichu stepped forward to shield Zhu Xiang, a flash of killing intent stirred in the old king’s heart.

A subject who influences two generations of monarchs so deeply—this could not be a good thing.

But he quickly calmed himself.

Others influencing the king may be dangerous. But perhaps not Zhu Xiang. Zhu Xiang was a foolish man who valued others more than himself, had no children, and Zheng’er was his only continuation of bloodline.

With his deeply emotional nature, even if he tries to avoid it now, for the sake of Zichu and Zheng’er, if the time comes with no one else to rely on, he will grit his teeth and do things he dislikes and is bad at.

Rather than say Zhu Xiang influences two generations of monarchs emotionally, it’s better to say the two monarchs of Qin will emotionally manipulate Zhu Xiang.

“To have such a friend is your fortune. No matter how hard the times, you will have someone to trust.” Now understanding everything, the old king smiled—his tone, for the first time, touched with familial affection. “I met the gentleman only after fifty years of life. Treasure it well.”

Zichu responded with emotion, “Yes, Grandfather.”

“Zheng’er, you must also respect your uncle. A senior who considers only your benefit with all his heart is rare in this world.” The old king patted the chubby boy’s head. “Didn’t you want to sneak food? Go ahead.”

“Okay!” Ying Zheng leapt from the old king’s lap. “Where’s the kitchen? Take me!”

Cai Ze reflexively picked him up, just as Zichu was about to. The two men looked at each other awkwardly.

“You two go then,” said the old king. “I want to talk a bit with the gentleman and Lord Wu’an.”

Cai Ze and Zichu respectfully withdrew.

The old King of Qin dismissed the servants, stretched his legs, and pounded them a couple times. “Wonder when that Qin-style chair will be finished. My legs… Agh. Gentlemen, you too, stretch a bit.”

Fan Ju flexed slightly. Bai Qi dared not move.

Fan Ju chuckled, “I’ve long heard that Young Lord Zheng is clever. Seeing him today, he lives up to his reputation.”

The old king smiled and nodded. “Zheng’er is also of the gentleman’s lineage. He may call him Zheng’er. The boy hasn’t even shown all his cleverness yet. Sigh, I truly don’t know how to raise him. Where could I find another Lord Lin and Xunzi?”

Fan Ju felt a bit uneasy but still smiled, “Does Your Majesty intend to establish an academy?”

The old king thought for a moment and shook his head, regretful. “A war chariot must move in one direction. Only when it stops can everyone gather and discuss the next course. Building an academy… may have to be left to Zichu and Zheng’er.”

The old pillar was worn. The king thought of his son’s wrinkled face and body ruined by indulgence, and bitterly regretted not having beaten him more when he was younger.

But who could have foreseen the Qin army’s crushing defeat at Yanyu despite overwhelming strength, followed by another loss to Lian Po, then harassment from Korea and Wei? They had to send the crown prince to opportunistically take advantage of troubled Wei, only for him to fall ill and die in just two years?

The old king had only two sons. With the Chu queen’s son dead, the Chu faction became restless and sought to support the old king’s brother as king. At this moment, Fan Ju persuaded the king to depose Queen Xuan and expel her clan, and the king complied immediately.

Queen Xuan never restricted the old king’s power during her reign; most major decisions were made jointly. Otherwise, the old king wouldn’t have overturned her faction so abruptly. But with the crown prince gone, the king had to pave the way for Lord Anguo.

Yet doing so alienated many capable ministers who were part of the Chu faction. Now they no longer contributed. Once Fan Ju and Bai Qi are gone, who will support Prince Zhu? And Prince Zhu’s wife from the Chu nobility had no children!

The exiled Prince Yiren’s return via Lady Huayang’s support brought great relief to the old king.

Good—now the Chu faction had hope again. They wouldn’t abandon their duties.

Of course, the old king knew he couldn’t always rely on the Chu faction. When Qin destroys Chu, they may rebel. But what could he do? Qin had too few talents.

“Zichu chose his clan well,” the old king praised. “Not only talented and unambitious, but even brought Cai Qing to assist.”

Fan Ju, knowing Zhu Xiang posed no threat to his position, still felt a little bitter.

Zichu saying Zhu Xiang “doesn’t favor the undeserving” sounded like a jab at him.

Bai Qi noticed the change in Fan Ju’s expression and sighed internally. He’d have to find a chance to remind Lord Zichu and Zhu Xiang.

When Zichu and Cai Ze arrived at the kitchen, they saw Xue feeding a piece of braised meat to Zhu Xiang, who was kneading dough.

Zhu Xiang, meat between his teeth, looked up and saw Ying Zheng perched on Zichu’s shoulder—and was so startled the meat dropped from his mouth.

“Zheng’er, get down! You’re too fat, and Xia Tong is so frail—you’ll crush your father!”

Ying Zheng hugged Zichu’s head and glared, “I’m not fat!”

Zichu gritted his teeth. “I’m not weak.”

Cai Ze, the one who had brought about this scene, covered his mouth and laughed.