When people were in Qin, they captured Zhao and questioned Qin.

Chapter 26 Brother

The table was moved to the ground under a tree.

Together with Yan Dan's servants, Zhao Ji placed the simple vegetables and newly purchased meat she had prepared on the table. The aroma of the food filled the courtyard, making everyone's mouths water.

However, during the meal, Ying Zheng kept his head down most of the time, fiddling with his chopsticks in his bowl, remaining silent. Yan Dan also seemed somewhat absent-minded, his eyes occasionally glazing over, as if he were thinking about something.

Zhao Ji sat beside her son, diligently serving him food. Seeing the two of them like this, she couldn't help but feel uneasy, worried that the dishes she had prepared might not suit their tastes, or that she might have failed in her hospitality. But in front of her son and the guests, she felt too embarrassed to ask further.

Fortunately, Zhao Heng remained calm and composed, constantly praising the refreshing vegetables and showing great appetite, even ordering half a bowl of millet rice and eating a lot.

Zhao Ji was grateful for Zhao Heng's thoughtfulness, and her eyes kept drifting to him. Seeing that he was eating heartily, her tense nerves relaxed a little. However, she immediately remembered the few undergarments that were still hidden in Zhao Heng's arms, and her ears couldn't help but feel a little hot.

Halfway through the meal, Zhao Heng put down his chopsticks.

"Madam's cooking is excellent. I used a little too much. I wonder if I could borrow some more from you..." He smiled at Zhao Ji and Yan Dan, "Excuse me."

As he spoke, his eyes made extremely brief contact with Zhao Ji.

Her eyes darted around, but Zhao Ji understood.

She immediately understood, her cheeks flushing slightly. She knew that Zhao Heng was looking for an opportunity to return those troublesome clothes, so she quickly nodded and said, "Please make yourself at home, young master, don't be shy."

As she spoke, Zhao Ji was also planning in her heart that she would find an excuse to clean up the dishes and go in later. It would be best to take them back after Zhao Heng returned them, when her son was not paying attention, so that neither of them would feel awkward.

But just as she was thinking this, and saw Zhao Heng get up and prepare to walk towards the inner courtyard, a sudden change occurred.

Ying Zheng, who had been eating in silence, suddenly put down his chopsticks as well.

He stood up and said to Zhao Heng, "I will lead Prince Heng away."

Zhao Heng's heart skipped a beat, but he immediately smiled and said, "Brother Zheng, there's no need to trouble yourself. I know the place."

Ying Zheng stepped aside, gesturing for Zhao Heng to go first, and said, "I was just about to go too, let's go together."

Zhao Ji panicked instantly.

Her face flushed red. She wanted to speak up and dissuade him, but she couldn't find any valid reason to do so.

Should we say, "The outhouse is filthy, Zheng'er, don't go there"? Or should we say, "Let Young Master Zhao go by himself"?

Either one seems abrupt and strange.

In a flash, Zhao Heng realized that refusing again would only make him seem suspicious.

He was also a little annoyed. Should he have hidden his undergarments out of guilt? If he had been more open then, he wouldn't be in this mess now.

But since things had come to this, there was no point in thinking about it further. He simply gave Ying Zheng a perfectly natural smile and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Zheng."

At the same time, he glanced at Zhao Ji again very subtly, then turned around and walked into the inner courtyard with Ying Zheng.

Watching the two figures disappear behind the house, Zhao Ji could only force herself to remain calm and sit down again. Holding her chopsticks, she could no longer eat anything, feeling secretly ashamed and annoyed.

Now, Zhao Heng has no chance to quietly put the item back in its place.

Those few pieces of clothing... Just thinking about how Zhao Heng had kept them close to his body, and imagining the light brown linen being warmed by the boy's body heat, made Zhao Ji's ears burn. She was so embarrassed that she could hardly sit still.

Although Yan Dan found Ying Zheng's actions somewhat abrupt, his mind was still mostly on the thrilling conversation they had just had. He assumed that Ying Zheng had something private to say to Zhao Heng and didn't delve into it. He continued to frown and stare blankly at the food in front of him.

The inner courtyard is small, and the sunlight is mostly blocked by the high walls, making it much darker than the front yard.

The two bamboo poles in the corner stood empty, swaying gently in the breeze.

Upon reaching the corner of the outhouse, Ying Zheng naturally saw the empty clothesline, but preoccupied with his own thoughts, he paid no attention to it. He hesitated for a moment, then suddenly called out to Zhao Heng, who had already reached the door of the outhouse.

Zhao Heng turned around.

"What you just said... there are also people in Qin who do not wish to return power to the state."

Ying Zheng spoke each word slowly, as if he were considering his options or mustering his courage.

"Among these people..." his voice trailed off, "is it possible that my father is included?"

Zhao Heng did not expect that the first question Ying Zheng asked privately, aside from Zhao Ji and Yan Dan, would be this one.

He froze for a moment.

The inner courtyard was dimly lit, and Ying Zheng stood in the shadows against the wall, making his figure appear even thinner. The old robe he wore, which had been altered, was faded from washing, and the cuffs were stitched with fine stitches, likely the marks of Zhao Ji mending it under the lamplight late at night.

Regardless of what the future holds, and regardless of how history records this man named Ying Zheng, standing before him at this moment was merely a nine-year-old child. A child who worried whether his father still wanted him.

Zhao Heng sighed softly to himself.

"Brother Zheng, please don't worry too much! What I just said was mostly speculation and association based on what I already knew about the situation, and there is no evidence to support it. Duke Qin is your biological father, and you are related by blood. He went through many hardships to return to Qin and establish himself. What was his purpose? He must be hoping that one day he could reunite you and your wife and enjoy family life together."

Without a doubt, your father is the one who most wants you to return home safely!

Zhao Heng spoke these words sincerely, his eyes open and honest, without the slightest hesitation.

He truly believed that, at least at this moment, Ying Zichu was longing for his son to return. The man who abandoned his wife and children and fled back to Qin may have had many unavoidable circumstances, but the bond of blood could never be severed.

Ying Zheng stared intently at him, not missing a single subtle change in his expression.

Surprisingly, he didn't relax despite Zhao Heng's comforting words; instead, he continued to press for answers:

"If those Qin people who don't want me to return are powerful, and my father... due to circumstances, or after weighing the pros and cons, chooses to acquiesce, or even... agree, then, young master, do you think they would allow my mother to return to my father's side alone?"

Zhao Heng was taken aback again, and then fell silent.

He discovered that he couldn't give a definite answer to this question.

In normal history, Zhao Ji would have returned to Qin with Ying Zheng, that's for sure. But in this timeline, his awakening is already a variable. Will his presence create a butterfly effect on the course of this timeline?

Furthermore, if there were indeed forces obstructing Ying Zheng, would they also target Zhao Ji? Would they use Zhao Ji to restrain him, or would they regard her as a "stain" that needed to be eliminated as well?

He couldn't guarantee it for the time being.

Silence itself is the clearest answer.

Ying Zheng looked at Zhao Heng's silence, and his small body seemed to stiffen almost imperceptibly, as if he had been suddenly doused with a bucket of cold water in the dead of winter, chilling him from head to toe.

He got it.

If he couldn't return to Xianyang safely, how could Zhao Ji possibly return? Mother and son, in this foreign land, had always been one, sharing honor and disgrace, life and death.

If his father had truly abandoned him due to circumstances, why would he have brought his mother back? And how could those who did not want him to return allow his mother to return to his father's side?

A brief silence fell over the inner courtyard, broken only by the faint sounds of daily life coming from the distant alleyway and the soft rustling of the wind through the thatched roof.

Then, Ying Zheng suddenly took a step back.

Then, he slowly raised his hands, folded them in front of him, and then raised them to forehead level, bowing deeply to Zhao Heng.

He maintained his bowed posture, and his voice came from below:

"Young Master Heng just asked me if I believed you."

"In Handan, I have no father to rely on, no teacher to teach me, and only my mother for company. The world regards me as a Qin dog, spitting and abandoning me. Brother Yan Dan treats me with sincerity, and I am grateful. But today, the only one who can speak frankly to me about these advantages and disadvantages and these principles is you, my lord."

"If that's the case, how could Zheng... dare not trust you?"

Zhao Heng looked at the deeply bowing young man before him, and was also shocked, remaining silent for a long time.

He silently stepped forward and took Ying Zheng's arm, not pulling hard, but gently supporting it, and whispered:

"Get up first."

Ying Zheng straightened up.

His eyes were a little red, but there were no tears. A kind of almost scorching light burned in his dark eyes, like a spark about to start a wildfire in the wilderness, stubbornly shining and refusing to go out.

Zhao Heng looked at him for a long time. Then, he asked softly:

"How dare you trust me, Prince Zheng? I'm only a year older than you."

He paused, his tone softening further.

"Aren't you afraid that someone is behind me doing this? Aren't you afraid that what I've said and done today is, in the end, for my own selfish interests?"

Ying Zheng's body seemed to tremble slightly, but he did not avoid Zhao Heng's gaze. Instead, he met it, the light in his dark eyes shining even brighter. He remained silent for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts, or perhaps suppressing a sob in his throat.

After a long while, he looked into Zhao Heng's eyes and said, word by word:

"Please, brother—"

"Help me and my mother return to Xianyang. I will repay you with my life."

……

In the courtyard, Zhao Ji was restless.

She held a coarse cloth in her hand, absentmindedly wiping the already clean tabletop, while her beautiful eyes frequently glanced towards the entrance to the inner courtyard.

She was worried that her son had been inside for so long and might have had some argument with Zhao Heng, but she was even more anxious about those crucial pieces of underwear, wondering when she would be able to retrieve them. What if Zheng'er noticed? What if Yan Dan saw them…

Time passed slowly, and each breath seemed exceptionally long.

She only breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Zhao Heng and Ying Zheng walk out one after the other, their expressions calm.

Neither of them showed any unusual expression. Ying Zheng even seemed to have lost some of the gloomy air between his brows since he entered, appearing unusually composed. As Zhao Heng walked past her, he paused slightly, then his eyes met hers, and he gently shook his head with a hint of apology.

Zhao Ji's heart sank, followed by a wave of helpless embarrassment. She understood that she couldn't get her clothes back for the time being. Her cheeks flushed, but she had no other choice but to force herself to remain calm, lower her eyes, and ask Zhao Heng if he wanted some food.

Zhao Heng smiled and said, "Madam's cooking is excellent. I have already eaten my fill today. Thank you for your hospitality."

As he spoke, he turned to Yan Dan and Ying Zheng, saying, "However, I have been out for quite some time now, and my mother at home may be worried. I will take my leave now and visit you another day."

Although Zhao Ji was concerned about the clothes, she knew she could not keep them any longer. She could only follow the conversation and see them off with great courtesy, thanking Zhao Heng for his visit and the gifts he had given her, and carefully instructing him to be careful on his journey.

Yan Dan, who had been deep in thought, also came to her senses and stood up, saying, "I also have some important matters to attend to and need to go back to consult my teacher. I will take my leave with Gongzi Heng."

Ying Zheng knew perfectly well what was going on, but didn't ask any further questions. He simply accompanied Zhao Ji to the courtyard gate.

Ji Cheng and Luan Ding had been waiting in the shade of a nearby alley corner. When they saw Zhao Heng come out, they immediately went forward to protect him.

Upon reaching a slightly wider section of the alley, Yan Dan's carriage was already waiting. Yan Dan then invited Zhao Heng, "It's still early. If you don't mind, Aheng, would you like to take me back to the manor?"

Zhao Heng politely declined with a smile.

He pointed to the western sky, where the spring sun still hung obliquely on the rooftops, shining brightly.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Brother Dan. However, the hostage residence is in the east of the city, while my residence is in the west of the city within the royal city. They are in opposite directions, so I dare not trouble you to take a long detour. Today is a fine spring day, so I will walk back and enjoy the scenery of the city and capture some of the spring colors. Brother Dan, you may return first if you have other matters to attend to."

Yan Dan didn't press the matter, cupped his hands in farewell, and turned to board his carriage.

The carriage curtains fell, obscuring his figure. The carriage slowly started moving and soon drove out of the narrow alley.

Inside the carriage, Yan Dan's smile vanished instantly. He leaned against the carriage wall, closed his eyes, and gently tapped his knee with his index finger.

A moment later, he suddenly opened his eyes and slightly lifted a corner of the car curtain.

"Find a way to investigate who exactly is the teacher of Young Master Heng of Chunping's mansion. Find out his name, past experiences, lineage... the more details the better. Keep it a secret and don't alert anyone else."

The servant driving the carriage didn't turn around, but simply replied in a low voice, "Yes, sir."

The carriage rumbled away into the distance.

Zhao Heng stood at the alley entrance, watching Yan Dan's carriage disappear around the street corner, then led Ji Cheng and Luan Ding back, walking through the streets and alleys of Handan.

The afternoon sun slanted downwards, casting long, thin shadows. The market's hustle and bustle had mostly subsided; vendors began packing up their goods, and wine flags swayed lazily in the breeze. An old man sat on the doorstep, dozing, his head nodding slightly; a woman returned from the well carrying a bucket of water, splashing water onto the hem of her skirt.

Zhao Heng did not walk fast.

His earlier polite refusal of Yan Dan's offer was not an excuse. He genuinely wanted to use this spring weather to calm the storm raging in his mind and sort out the events of the day.

Today's trip, due to Yan Dan's unexpected visit, brought unexpected joy. Not only did I inexplicably forge a so-called alliance with Ying Zheng and Yan Dan, but my relationship with Ying Zheng also greatly improved.

Regardless of whether his guesses were accurate, and regardless of whether Qin would actually have a succession struggle like Zhao, with Ying Zheng's active cooperation, he had more initiative in the current situation.

Everything is proceeding according to plan.

Apart from……

The bundle of clothes in my arms was still warm.

The mature woman's warm and mellow fragrance grew stronger, lingering in wisps. It was the fresh scent of soapberry, mixed with the warmth of sunshine, and a touch... a unique richness that belonged only to Zhao Ji.

Zhao Heng couldn't help but sigh.

In fact, he had already figured it out in the inner court. He was just a child, and even if Zhao Ji knocked him down and Ying Zheng actually witnessed the embarrassing scene, it would be a trivial matter. No matter how perceptive Ying Zheng was, with the mind of a nine-year-old child, he wouldn't think much of it.

At the time, it was simply his adult mindset at play. His first reaction was, "This thing is ambiguous and easily leads to misunderstandings." But how could Ying Zheng, a nine-year-old child, understand such things?

Zhao Ji, being an adult, was even more reluctant to discuss such matters. Since Zhao Heng had preconceived notions about hiding the clothes, she naturally felt it was reasonable and even grateful for his thoughtfulness.

However, Zhao Heng did not regret it.

This was an accident, and a wonderful one at that. Zhao Ji's predicament, his embarrassment, and Ying Zheng's ignorance wove an invisible net, subtly connecting the three of them.

In fact, it was because of this incident that the subsequent events occurred.

He didn't know what this net would bring.

Perhaps it's just an awkward interlude in my youth, something I'll only laugh about years later. Perhaps... it will foreshadow something else entirely.

he does not know.

All he knew was that the sun was shining brightly, the wind was gentle, and he was walking on the streets of Handan two thousand years ago. He had a beautiful woman's personal clothing hidden in his arms, and two loyal retainers followed behind him. Ahead of him was a road that he was not afraid of, but rather inexplicably looking forward to.

He suddenly laughed.

But Ji Cheng, who was walking behind, saw it, paused for a moment, and then grinned. Although he didn't know what Shao Jun was laughing at, he saw that Shao Jun smiled, his eyebrows relaxed, and his expression was relaxed.

It's always a good thing that the young lord smiled.

……

After seeing the guests off, the courtyard gate was closed completely again.

The courtyard suddenly fell silent.

Zhao Ji walked back into the courtyard and looked at the cups, plates, and bowls that were not yet cleared away on the old wooden table. The unease and embarrassment she felt because the clothes had not been put away slowly resurfaced in her heart. She picked up the coarse cloth from before and began to tidy up, but her movements were slow, and her mind was clearly not on her hands.

She glanced up several times at Ying Zheng, who was quietly clearing away her plates.

The son lowered his head and used his chopsticks to scoop the remaining edible food into a bowl, preparing to save it for dinner. His profile, though slightly silent and gloomy in the sunlight, was not much different from usual.

However, recalling Ying Zheng's laughter in the room earlier, Zhao Ji hesitated for a moment, then finally couldn't help herself. While wiping an oil stain on the table, she asked in a seemingly casual voice, "Zheng'er... what did you think of that Prince Heng today?"

Ying Zheng was stacking one pottery bowl on top of another when he heard this and paused slightly.

Zhao Ji felt a pang of caution and regret. She knew her son was sensitive and prone to overthinking, so she shouldn't have asked that question. If Zheng'er felt she was probing his friends or trying to change his judgment, it would be disastrous.

Unexpectedly, when she saw Ying Zheng raise his head, he thought about it very seriously and then commented, "Very good."

Zhao Ji was stunned.

This was the first time in all his years in Handan that Ying Zheng had given another person such the highest and most confident evaluation.

It's not "acceptable," not "okay," and not any of those ambiguous terms; it's simply "very good," clean, concise, and unquestionable.

Looking at her son's unusually serious and determined expression, the unease and embarrassment she felt suddenly faded considerably.

Even Zheng'er approves of it... that young man really is... an excellent person, isn't he?

only……

Those few pieces of underwear...

The thought made her cheeks flush slightly again. She quickly lowered her head and began wiping the table vigorously, not daring to think about it any further.

The spring breeze still gently caresses the courtyard, causing the empty hemp rope on the clothesline to sway softly.

------

[…When Zhao Ji saw Emperor Taizu, she was greatly surprised and dared not look him in the eye for a long time. After the banquet ended and the guests had left, she secretly said to Emperor Taizu, “I was originally a merchant’s daughter from Handan. In my youth, I also learned to dance and had the opportunity to see many famous scholars and heroes. However, I have never seen anyone with such bearing as you, young master, who is not even a child. You are no ordinary person and will surely become extraordinary in the future. I am an orphan here with no brothers to rely on. I dare to ask you to treat me as a younger brother, and I should also treat you as an elder brother. My humble family has no valuable gifts to offer, but this heart is all I can show you.” After speaking, she was about to bow.]

Emperor Taizu immediately stopped her, and solemnly replied, "How could I not do my utmost for what the lady has entrusted to me? From this day forward, the affairs of my younger brother Zheng will also concern Heng." Ji wept and bowed in gratitude. — *Old Book of Zhao*, Volume 1, Annals of Emperor Taizu Gao