my grandfather was qin shi huang

After a year, I met Zhang Cang again.

The wind and frost of Hexi seemed to be particularly fond of this fat man and did not leave any obvious marks on him. He still looked as plump and wealthy as before.

Zhao Ying couldn't help but marvel in his heart. No wonder this guy was able to escape death by relying on his white flesh. He was really gifted.

"Your Majesty, I, Zhang Cang, pay my respects to you—"

Zhang Cang bowed deeply to Zhao Ying in a proper manner.

Zhao Ying smiled and nodded.

"Mr. Zhang, there is no need to be so polite. From now on, you will be my chariot commander and help me handle daily affairs. This is your first time here, so you may want to get used to it first. If there is anything you don't understand, you can go to the Inspection Department and ask Director Zhang for advice..."

Zhang Cang was a man with a photographic memory and had a deep understanding of calendar and mathematics.

Zhao Ying was very friendly to such a person. He even thought about taking the set of advanced mathematics and letting this guy study it when he had time. Who knows, it might bring him some surprises.

"promise!"

Zhang Cang's attitude was very respectful, and he even looked a little reserved, but Zhao Ying soon discovered that unlike Zhang Liang who was fearful from the bottom of his bones, this fellow was very lively, and would secretly glance at him from time to time, with his curious little eyes almost jumping out of his eye sockets.

Zhao Ying:......

I guess you are here to broaden your horizons today, right?

Later, I discovered that this guy's thinking was also quite unique. Although he was not as meticulous and detailed as Zhang Liang in considering problems, nor as experienced and steady as Zhang Liang in handling problems, his ideas were unconventional and wild, and he often had brilliant ideas.

I couldn't help but look forward to this product a little more.

It seems that Zhang Cang at this stage is not yet the big man who can later serve as the right prime minister of the Han Dynasty and share equal power with Chen Ping in the court. Well, this suddenly gave Zhao Ying a sense of pleasure in cultivation.

However, today is Zhang Cang's first day on duty. He is relatively honest and behaves in a proper manner. Obviously, before coming here, he had a general understanding of what he, as the Minister of Chariots, should do.

Just when Zhao Ying thought that this was probably all for this morning.

After all, this is also a period of adjustment.

As a result, in the middle of the day, this guy took advantage of Zhao Ying's break and came over cautiously.

"His Majesty……"

Zhao Ying glanced at him and nodded slightly.

Zhang Cang was obviously a little nervous. He secretly swallowed his saliva and then bent his body and accompanied carefully.

"Your Majesty, I have a favor to ask..."

Zhao Ying couldn't help but raise his eyebrows slightly, with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

On the first day on duty, he asked me to do something - as the Minister of the Chariot Office, I am quite courageous.

"Tell me—"

Zhao Ying's voice was very calm, and one could not tell whether he was happy or angry. Zhang Cang was obviously very nervous, and he knew that it was a bit unreasonable for him to ask for help from His Majesty on his first day on duty, but he refused to move an inch.

"I have a good friend named Ji Bochang..."

Having said that, he couldn't help but swallow his saliva again, secretly observed Zhao Ying's reaction, then he made up his mind and mustered up the courage to speak.

"This man is quite talented. When he was in Hexi, he worked together in Dunhuang. He worked diligently and did nothing wrong. Chen Yushi Zhongcheng once praised him and thought he was a qualified official..."

Zhao Ying didn't say anything, just looked at him quietly.

He had an impression of Ji Bochang. After all, it was hard not to notice such a name. When he set up a trap to catch people, this guy was one of them. Moreover, what surprised him was that Ji Bochang resigned from his position in Dunhuang and ran to Xianyang in order to hang out with his best friend Zhang Cang.

"Your Majesty, I dare to ask you to assign a duty officer for him..."

Having said this, Zhang Cang bowed deeply and did not dare to look at Zhao Ying's expression again.

He really had no choice. In the entire Xianyang city, except for the current emperor, whom he had met once, he didn't have a single acquaintance in such a huge capital.

Although he knew that Ji Bochang's words "If you become rich and powerful, don't forget me" were just a joke between brothers, he couldn't really take it as a joke. When he was in Jicheng, if it weren't for Ji Bochang's help, he wouldn't have been here later. When he was in Hexi, it was this brother who supported him unreservedly. When he knew he was going to be transferred to another place, it was this brother who resigned from his official position in Dunhuang without hesitation and followed him to Xianyang.

He couldn't really let this brother who jokingly said he wanted to be his housekeeper, actually be his housekeeper. Zhao Ying looked at him calmly until his forehead was covered with sweat and his inner clothes were soaked with sweat, then he nodded slightly.

"But, go back and inform the Left Prime Minister and let him make the arrangements..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cang was overjoyed and bowed twice to Zhao Ying with a sincere look.

"Thank you very much, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Ying waved his hand calmly, signaling this guy to leave.

Zhang Cang was a sensible man. He did not dare to bother Zhao Ying any more and went back to work obediently.

Looking at this guy working hard toss around there, Zhao Ying couldn't help but raise the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a hint of amusement. This guy is quite interesting.

Zhao Ying rested leisurely for a while, and then handled government affairs for a while. When it was almost noon, he couldn't help but frowning and looked towards the door of the hall again.

In the past, at this time, the First Emperor should have appeared at the door of his palace, come to chat with him, and then have dinner together.

However, there was no sign of him today.

"Your Majesty, please arrange lunch..."

The eunuch in charge of lunch came over respectfully to ask for instructions.

Zhao Ying waved it casually.

"No need for the time being..."

After saying that, he stood up and walked towards the side hall. Zhang Cang in the main hall looked at Zhao Ying who walked out in confusion, wondering why His Majesty went to the side hall for no reason.

He glanced calmly at the eunuchs and palace maids around him, and found that everyone looked normal.

Obviously, your Majesty's behavior is very common.

He immediately suppressed his curiosity and continued to organize the memorials in his hand. He wanted to learn to provide advice to His Majesty and add his own opinions. This could be said to be a brand new experience for him, and he did not dare to be careless in the slightest.

As for lunch, officials like him have unified arrangements, so they don't have to worry about going hungry in the palace.

……

"The Emperor is not here again?"

Looking at the empty hall, Zhao Ying couldn't help but frown and looked at the eunuch beside him.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor Emeritus still has not come here today..."

The eunuch looked very respectful. Zhao Ying nodded slightly, said no more, stood up immediately, and went straight to the emperor's bedroom.

At this time, the Emperor Qin Shi Huang's bedroom.

The First Emperor looked at the last fruit in his hand with a look of struggle on his face.

"How could it be ineffective? How could it be ineffective—"

He paced back and forth anxiously, and from time to time he would walk to the bronze mirror beside him to look at his face. Not far away, Hei looked at the increasingly ferocious expression of the First Emperor, standing with his hands hanging down, and a trace of deep worry flashed across his eyes.

This situation has been going on for several days.

Ever since His Majesty swallowed the second fruit three days ago and didn't feel any effect, His Majesty's mood has become noticeably anxious, making him feel vaguely uneasy.

"Father, it's no wonder you didn't want to come to my place. It turns out you feel so cool and refreshed here..."

It was not until Zhao Ying's brisk voice came from outside that he couldn't help but feel relieved and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"See Your Majesty——"

Hei saluted respectfully. Although he was still the chief steward of Heibingtai at this time, he had rarely been involved in the affairs of Heibingtai since Zhao Ying ascended the throne.

Nowadays, almost all the affairs of Heibingtai have been transferred to Jingshou, who once worked in Heibingtai for many years and is still the captain of Heibingtai.

Both the First Emperor and Zhao Ying tacitly approved of Hei's choice.

After all, the Black Ice Platform has special properties.

Even if Zhao Ying and the First Emperor had no suspicion in their hearts, this power had to be completely controlled in their own hands, otherwise many problems would not be so convenient to deal with.

"No need to be so polite, Mr. Hei..."

Zhao Ying nodded gently, then looked at the First Emperor again.

"Father, are you ready to enjoy this fruit?"

Zhao Ying looked natural as he walked to the side of the First Emperor and looked at the fruit in his hand.

I already had some vague guesses in my mind.

Upon hearing this, the First Emperor looked at the fruit in his hand, then looked at it again with an indifferent expression. From beginning to end, he did not show the slightest interest in the fruits in his grandson's hand.

A trace of struggle flashed across his face. After a long time, he smiled bitterly, put the fruit back into the jade box, and stuffed it into Zhao Ying.

"Last time, you didn't even taste the fruit I gave you, and you sent it to Yu'er and the others. This time, I'm watching you, so just eat it here..."

Zhao Ying looked at the fruit in his hand, then looked at the First Emperor in front of him who had a gloomy expression, and couldn't help but laugh.

"Father, what's wrong? I'm young and in good health. Isn't it a waste to eat this..."

The First Emperor knew that he could not hide the secret from his eldest grandson, so he smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"As the second emperor of the Qin Dynasty, you must have a taste of this rare treasure. You can't just give it all to an old man like me..."

Speaking of this, even the First Emperor felt very emotional.

When Gongzi Gao presented these fruits, he had already abdicated the throne. His eldest grandson was the legitimate ruler of the empire. Logically, if these fruits were presented to him, even if his eldest grandson withheld them, he, as his father, would be helpless.

But his eldest grandson gave him everything without reservation, and from beginning to end, he never had the intention of competing with him.

Seeing that Zhao Ying was still looking at him calmly, the First Emperor sighed.

"This fruit has no effect on me anymore..."

As he spoke, the First Emperor subconsciously turned his head again and looked at the bronze mirror beside him. The old man in the mirror had gray hair on his temples. Except for the fact that some of his gray hair had turned black and gray in the past two days, there had been no other special changes in the past few days.

When he saw his white hair turn black for the first time, he was so excited that he couldn't express it in words. He didn't sleep well that night. He once thought that he could regain his youth by relying on these fruits.

But it turned out that he thought too much.

My health did improve, and some of my grey hair did turn dark grey, but that was it, and again, there was no effect.

The huge gap made him mentally unbalanced for a while.

Zhao Ying looked at the First Emperor calmly and said seriously.

"Father, a few days ago, did you ever think that this day would come?"

Having said that, Zhao Ying gently placed the jade box in his hand on the table beside him.

"At that time, your body was getting weaker and weaker, and you even had the strength to walk, sit or lie down. Now, you are strong and healthy. Not to mention the elderly who are nearly 50 years old, even young men in their prime may not be able to compare with you. Compared with the people in the world, you have been blessed by nature and received special care from God. What else do you have to be dissatisfied with..."

The First Emperor sighed with a complicated expression.

"I have lived for most of my life, but I am not as clear-headed as a child like you. I have received the blessings of the gods and ghosts, but I still pray for more. I am greedy and insatiable. This is my fault..."

Zhao Ying smiled when he heard this.

"Father, who can resist the temptation of immortality? It's not your fault, it's just human nature..."

Having said that, he looked at the last fruit with a relaxed expression.

"For rare things like this place, if I get them, I'm lucky, if I lose them, I'm dead. There's nothing to worry about. I can eat them if I want to, and it doesn't matter if I don't. In my opinion, they are just rare fruits. Today, Fourth Uncle was able to find one on Tianci Island. Who knows, he might find something better somewhere else in the future. What's there to worry about..."

……

After lunch, Zhao Ying obtained the consent of the First Emperor and had the last remaining fruit cut into two. He ate half himself and gave the other half to Queen Dowager Zheng.

The fruit tastes good, but that's about it.

After eating one fruit, Zhao Ying did not feel any changes in his body. It was just as he said, it was just a rare fruit.

Queen Mother Zheng didn't expect that she could get half of it.

When he heard that it was his eldest grandson who gave it to him, he couldn't help but burst into tears and choked with sobs.

"Your Majesty is truly a filial and good child..."

However, the fruit, which had no effect on Zhao Ying, had a very good effect on Queen Mother Zheng. After eating half a fruit, the old lady felt as if she had drunk fine wine and felt dizzy.

After the effect wore off, the whole person looked several years younger. A person in her forties now looked like a young woman in her thirties, with a bit more moving charm.

As Queen Dowager Zheng and Zhao Ying shared the last fruit, the First Emperor's worries were completely put to rest and he regained his calm.

What is gratifying is that after Tian Ji's careful care, the rare plant transplanted in the Afang Academy finally showed signs of recovery, and new buds even grew on the top.

This made everyone secretly breathe a sigh of relief. (End of this chapter)