"Your Majesty,"
"I am merely an ordinary person. There is no need for the imperial guards to escort me," Zhao Ying immediately declined.
She was nothing more than a medical woman. Although her elder brother was a grand general, she did not hold any significant rank.
"Your brother sent you to the palace to study medicine. If anything were to happen to you on the way, he would certainly resent me," Ying Zheng chuckled, his tone firm with the intent of having the imperial guards accompany her.
"Do not underestimate the strict laws of Great Qin. Bandits are still plentiful, and you are Zhao Feng's sister. If other states learn that you have no protection, their spies will surely take action."
He left no room for discussion.
Seeing this, Zhao Ying could only nod helplessly. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"When do you plan to set out?" Ying Zheng asked.
"Your Majesty,"
"Miss Zhao plans to depart tomorrow," Chen Fuzi answered.
"So soon?" Ying Zheng's expression shifted slightly in surprise.
He had hoped to use this opportunity to strengthen their father-daughter bond and make up for lost time with Zhao Ying.
"Your Majesty,"
"I have been assigned as the chief military physician at the Wu'an military camp. I must arrive early to familiarize myself with the duties," Zhao Ying calmly replied.
She had studied medicine under her mother from a young age and was already highly skilled. After further training in the Imperial Medical Hall, she gained even more knowledge. Becoming a chief military physician was no challenge for her.
More importantly, she was determined to follow the path of a true healer.
"Very well," Ying Zheng sighed helplessly.
At that moment
"Your Majesty,"
"The Grand General's wife is waiting outside," a eunuch announced respectfully.
"Chen Fuzi, you may leave now," Ying Zheng waved his hand.
This was a family gathering, and he did not wish to have outsiders present.
"As you command," Chen Fuzi bowed and prepared to leave.
"One more thing."
"Since Zhao Ying is heading to Yunzhong, send a few skilled physicians to assist her."
"Choose them carefully."
"If there are any female physicians, have them accompany Zhao Ying as well," Ying Zheng instructed.
"As you command," Chen Fuzi responded with a respectful bow before taking his leave.
Before long
Wang Yan entered the Zhangtai Palace with her two children.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," Wang Yan curtsied upon entering the hall.
Her two children, their eyes filled with curiosity, gazed around the hall.
Wang Yan gently patted their little heads.
"Have you forgotten what I just taught you?"
"Show your respect," she whispered.
"Gr-Greetings, Your Majesty,"
The two little ones spoke in their tender voices, bowing somewhat awkwardly.
Their large eyes sparkled with curiosity as they looked at the man seated above.
"Auntie!"
Upon spotting Zhao Ying, Zhao Qi, and Zhao Ling could no longer hold back. They dashed toward her and clung to her legs.
"Ah,"
Zhao Ying responded with a soft exclamation, then nervously glanced at Ying Zheng, afraid of angering him.
She quickly whispered to the two children, "Qi'er, Ling'er, this is not home. You must behave."
As she spoke, she cautiously peeked at Ying Zheng, worried that his temper might flare.
Yet, the anger she feared did not come.
On the contrary, Ying Zheng wore a kind and warm smile as he looked at the two little ones.
"My grandchildren."
"My eldest grandson and eldest granddaughter."
His heart was filled with joy.
Though he was not yet forty, he had many children in the palace, all born to various concubines. However, he never felt particularly close to them.
But these two little ones before him were his grandchildren.
More importantly, they were the descendants of the woman he had loved most.
That made all the difference.
Looking at them, Ying Zheng was reminded of Zhao Feng and Zhao Ying when they were young. It also stirred a deep sense of guilt within him.
If possible, he wanted to make amends through these two grandchildren
To make up for what Zhao Feng and Zhao Ying had lacked.
They had grown up without a father, and their mother had suffered greatly.
That would no longer be the case.
"Rise,"
"There is no need for such formalities in Zhangtai Palace," Ying Zheng said with a gentle smile.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Wang Yan remained formal and respectful.
Having grown up in the Wang family, she had been deeply influenced by Wang Jian and held a natural reverence for imperial authority.
Seeing the two children hiding behind Zhao Ying, Ying Zheng gestured with his hand.
Understanding his intent, Zhao Gao quickly gave orders.
Shortly after, a small table was brought into the hall, filled with a variety of treats, fruits, and sweets popular among children.
As expected
The two little ones' eyes widened in excitement.
Had their aunt not been holding onto their collars, they would have rushed over immediately.
After all, they were only a little over three years old. What did they know of etiquette?
"You may all withdraw."
"Deliver the meal when it is ready," Ying Zheng instructed the palace attendants.
"We obey,"
Zhao Gao and the servants bowed before quietly leaving, closing the hall doors behind them.
"Qi'er, Ling'er,"
"Come here,"
Ying Zheng beckoned to the two little ones with a warm smile.
The children hesitated, glancing at their aunt and mother, their small faces filled with uncertainty.
They seemed to want to go over no, they wanted to get closer to the food
But they were afraid of being scolded by their mother and aunt.
"These treats are specially prepared for you by your grandfather. Don't you want to eat?" Ying Zheng said playfully.
Hearing him refer to himself as "grandfather" instead of "Your Majesty"
Both Wang Yan and Zhao Ying exchanged surprised glances.
They had not expected the king to be so affectionate.
Nor did he display any of his usual authoritative demeanor.
"It must be because of my husband (brother). That's why His Majesty treats our family so well,"
Both Wang Yan and Zhao Ying quickly reached the same conclusion.
Under Ying Zheng's tempting words, the two little ones could no longer resist.
They rushed forward at once.
With a single command from Ying Zheng, the palace immediately became busy preparing a feast for them.
They showed no restraint as they grabbed the food and started eating.
"Haha."
"Eat slowly."
"There's plenty for you." Ying Zheng laughed heartily, feeling an indescribable joy as he watched his two grandchildren before him.
The deep bond between grandparents and grandchildren passed down through generations, was on full display in Ying Zheng at this moment.
"You both arrived but haven't addressed me yet."
"Call me 'Ah Weng' (Grandfather)."
Seeing his two grandchildren enjoying their food, Ying Zheng smiled and urged them.
"What is 'Ah Weng'?"
While eating a peach, Zhao Qi curiously asked.
"It means 'Grandfather'," Ying Zheng explained with a smile, looking at his two grandchildren with anticipation.
Although he had already reunited with Ah Fang, his other children had yet to acknowledge him, and the same went for his grandchildren.
Now that his grandchildren were right in front of him, Ying Zheng was eager to shower them with love and ensure that they called him 'Ah Weng.'
"But we only have a grandmother, not a grandfather," Zhao Qi tilted his head, looking at Ying Zheng with doubt.
Despite being young, he was not easily deceived.
Ying Zheng's heart clenched slightly, but he quickly smiled and said, "Now you do."
"I am of the same generation as your grandmother, and your father is from the younger generation. Calling me 'Ah Weng' is completely appropriate."
"If you call me 'Ah Weng,' I will prepare delicious food for you every day."
Hearing that there would be tasty food every day, the two clever little ones exchanged glances and instantly reached an agreement.
They immediately called out sweetly, "Ah Weng, Ah Weng…"
They repeated it several times in a row.
Ying Zheng's face lit up with a beaming smile.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Ying Zheng responded happily, his eyes full of warmth as he looked at his two grandchildren.
"The king seems to really like children."
Both Wang Yan and Zhao Ying thought to themselves.
This was the first time they had seen Ying Zheng act this way.
In their minds, Ying Zheng was a man of supreme authority and dignity, never displaying such tenderness.
However, what they didn't know was that Ying Zheng was not fond of children in general he was only fond of his own grandchildren.
"Come, let Ah Weng hold you both."
Ying Zheng opened his arms, inviting the two little ones over.
Just like earlier, when he had asked them to call him 'Ah Weng,' he was once again filled with anticipation.
Perhaps sensing Ying Zheng's kindness and gentle tone, the two children showed no fear. Each holding a peach, they walked toward him without hesitation.
"This…"
Wang Yan and Zhao Ying felt a little nervous.
But Ying Zheng had no reservations at all. He spread his arms wide and quickly embraced both of his grandchildren.
"Haha."
"Qi'er, Ling'er."
"Do you like the food Ah Weng prepared for you?" Ying Zheng asked with a smile.
"I like it," the two children answered in unison, nodding.
"Then, can you come to the palace every day to keep Ah Weng company?" Ying Zheng asked again.
Hearing this, Wang Yan didn't know whether to be happy or concerned.
It seemed like a good thing that the children were so favored by the king, but if they truly visited often, what if they accidentally angered him? That would not be good at all.
At the end of the day, Wang Yan was cautious due to the influence of Wang Jian's careful nature. She had a deep-seated reverence and apprehension toward imperial power.
"What does 'coming to the palace' mean?"
"And every day?" Zhao Qi furrowed his brow in thought.
"It means coming to this palace hall every day to accompany Ah Weng," Ying Zheng patiently explained.
"But staying here all the time would be boring," Zhao Qi glanced around the hall and shook his head with a tone of rejection.
"If you come, Ah Weng will prepare delicious food for you every day."
"You can have anything you want," Ying Zheng coaxed with a smile.
"Brother."
Zhao Ling tugged at Zhao Qi's sleeve, signaling for him to agree.
"Well, we're too young. Mother still has a baby in her belly, and we don't want to make her too tired," Zhao Qi said with the look of a thoughtful and considerate son.
Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng turned to look at Wang Yan. His face softened, and he spoke with a warm smile, "Wang Yan."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Wang Yan immediately responded.
"You are now several months pregnant. In a while, I will have the imperial medical department prepare some nourishing and pregnancy-safe medicine for you."
"Also, I will grant you a token that allows you to freely enter the palace," Ying Zheng said kindly.
Naturally, he cherished the daughter-in-law who had given birth to his two grandchildren.
Moreover, she was now carrying another child yet another continuation of his bloodline.
How could Ying Zheng not be fond of her?
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Wang Yan said, slightly emotional.
A token for unrestricted access to the royal palace…
That was an extremely rare privilege.
Perhaps, aside from Fusu, who had established his residence outside, and Hu Hai, no one else had such an honor.
As for the other princes…
If they were not favored, they would still need to send someone to announce their visit before they could enter the palace.
This showed just how precious such a token was.
"There's no need for such formality."
Ying Zheng smiled slightly, his gaze soft as he looked at the two little ones beside him.
"I truly like these two children. Let them come to the palace more often. They can keep me company and help pass the time."
"Yes," Wang Yan nodded but then hesitated before cautiously saying, "Your Majesty, these two children are still young. If they ever offend you, please forgive them."
Hearing this, Ying Zheng immediately laughed and patted the two little ones on their heads.
"I am not so petty as to be offended by young children."
Wang Yan glanced at Ying Zheng cautiously, unsure of what else to say.
…
Yunzhong City!
"Master."
"A decree has just arrived from Xianyang."
Zhang Ming rushed into the hall, holding a royal edict in his hands.
"Bring it up."
Zhao Feng waved his hand.
Zhang Ming immediately presented the royal decree.
Zhao Feng opened it.
There was only one sentence written inside:
Permission was granted for Zhao Feng to marry the Princess of Yan.
"A marriage alliance with no losses why would the King of Qin refuse?"
After reading the decree, Zhao Feng closed it with a smile.
"Master, does this mean we can go to Yan to receive the princess now?" Zhang Ming asked with a grin.
"First, send someone to inform Yan. Once they send the princess to the border, we will proceed with the wedding reception," Zhao Feng replied with a smile.
"Understood!" Zhang Ming acknowledged the order and left.
"Yan King..."
"This time, you've tried to play a trick but ended up losing instead."
"You've given away a princess for nothing."
"You even dared to scheme against me."
Zhao Feng sneered.
Although this was a minor scheme, if it had been a more arrogant general, they might have fallen into the Yan King's trap.
If someone rashly agreed to the marriage outright, the Yan King would surely use it as an excuse, and the ministers in Qin's court would seize the opportunity to impeach them.
After Zhang Ming left, Zhang Han quickly entered the hall.
"Greetings, Supreme General."
Zhang Han bowed respectfully.
"What is it?" Zhao Feng looked up at him.
"News just arrived."
"The troops stationed in Zhao territory from the Lantian camp have begun withdrawing gradually."
"From now on, our Wu'an camp will be responsible for guarding Zhao territory." Zhang Han reported respectfully.
"Now that Zhao is stable, it's indeed time for the Lantian troops to withdraw," Zhao Feng nodded.
Zhang Han glanced around before lowering his voice, "Master, since Lantian is withdrawing, should we divide our main forces to take over the defense?"
"Shall I go to defend Dai?" he asked.
"Dai is now under the protection of the Northern Frontier camp, so our troops won't be needed there," Zhao Feng responded.
"Then should we deploy forces to other areas of Zhao?" Zhang Han inquired again.
"Not for now," Zhao Feng shook his head.
"Master, does this mean...?" Zhang Han looked at him with a hint of speculation.
"If my guess is correct..."
"The King already has the intention of launching an attack on Wei."
"And in this war against Wei, our army must strive to participate."
Zhao Feng's voice was deep and resolute.
"If His Majesty allows our Wu'an camp to lead the attack on Wei, it will be an opportunity to establish our reputation," Zhang Han said excitedly.
"This campaign will solidify your position as Supreme General and silence the critics in court."
"Moreover, it will allow you to achieve new military merits."
"If my judgment is right..."
"The Northern Frontier must remain on guard against foreign tribes."
"Lantian has undergone two major wars of conquest and needs time to recover. Only our Wu'an camp and Hangu camp are fit to compete for this opportunity."
Zhao Feng's tone was firm.
"If that's the case, this war against Wei will be the perfect chance for our Wu'an camp to rise in prominence," Zhang Han agreed.
"How is the cavalry training progressing?" Zhao Feng asked.
"The Zhao state's method of cavalry archery training is indeed excellent."
"Moreover, most of these cavalrymen were originally border troops, so they require minimal training."
"Our cavalry is already battle-ready," Zhang Han answered confidently.
"Good."
Zhao Feng nodded. "In the future, I'll let you command a true cavalry force not just the kind we have now."
Hearing this, Zhang Han's eyes filled with anticipation. "Master, what do you mean by 'true cavalry'?"
"You'll know when the time comes."
"I can tell you this once my vision for cavalry is realized, its combat effectiveness will be at least five times stronger than the peak of the current cavalry archery system."
Zhao Feng said with a smile.
"Five times stronger than the peak of cavalry archery?"
Zhang Han's expression turned serious. It was difficult to imagine.
"Master,"
"I just heard that His Majesty has granted you permission to marry the Princess of Yan."
"It seems we will soon be attending your wedding banquet again," Zhang Han joked.
Zhao Feng responded with a faint smile, showing little excitement about the marriage.
"Is there any other military matter?" Zhao Feng asked.
"Nothing major, just something about General Li You..." Zhang Han hesitated.
"What about him?" Zhao Feng raised an eyebrow.
"It's nothing serious."
"It's just that many officers in the army do not respect him," Zhang Han casually remarked.
"That's expected."
Zhao Feng nodded. "He has no military achievements to his name. If I were under his command, I wouldn't respect him either."
"If he wants to change that, he must earn it through military merit."
"There is no other way."
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