Faced with this sudden question, Zhao Feng was momentarily stunned.
But as soon as he came to his senses, he quickly waved his hands.
"Your Majesty."
"This is something for Your Majesty to decide. I wouldn't dare to speak out of turn."
"Besides, I remember Your Majesty asked this question last time as well," Zhao Feng said helplessly.
The last time he returned and drank with Ying Zheng in Zhangtai Palace, Ying Zheng had asked a similar question though more subtly about which of his many sons was the most capable.
But this time, he was asking outright who should be the Crown Prince.
Zhao Feng wanted to answer honestly.
None of your sons are capable of bearing such a great responsibility not even Fusu.
However…
Some things were better left unsaid. No matter how much favor the Qin King showed him, if he truly touched upon his deepest concerns, there was no telling how he might react.
"What's the matter?"
"Do you mean to say that none of my sons are worth considering?" Ying Zheng was still smiling.
"Well…"
Zhao Feng hesitated. This, too, was a subtle way of answering.
Seeing his expression, Ying Zheng didn't get angry.
"Indeed. If only my sons were half as competent as you, I wouldn't have to worry so much," he sighed.
"Your Majesty."
"Each generation has its fate."
"Right now, Your Majesty is in your prime; there's no need to fret over such things."
"For now, Your Majesty should focus on the world at large."
"The Three Jins have already been conquered. Only Qi, Chu, and Yan remain."
"Once these last three kingdoms are vanquished, Your Majesty will be the greatest ruler in history," Zhao Feng said with a smile.
Ying Zheng lifted his cup, took a sip, then said, half in jest but with a hint of sincerity, "If only you were my son, how wonderful that would be."
Hearing this, Zhao Feng was so startled that he shuddered and immediately waved his hands.
"Your Majesty, you mustn't say such things."
"If the censors hear this, they'll surely make a fuss."
Seeing Zhao Feng's strong reaction, Ying Zheng was slightly taken aback, then asked in surprise, "What? Do you find the idea of being my son so unappealing?"
"Your Majesty, don't joke like that."
"I don't have royal blood," Zhao Feng laughed it off.
If I were truly Qin Shi Huang's son, that would be like winning the ultimate lottery the future Qin Empire would be mine.
However…
Zhao Feng was certain he was not.
He was born in Shaqiu, with no ties whatsoever to the Qin royal family.
Moreover, history had never recorded Qin Shi Huang as having any lost heirs.
Seeing Zhao Feng's reaction, Ying Zheng simply smiled and said nothing more.
Perhaps, in saying this, he was planting a seed in Zhao Feng's mind so that when the truth was revealed after the unification of the empire, it wouldn't come as such a shock.
"I've heard…"
"That Li You has been spending quite a bit of time with your younger sister?"
After taking another sip of wine, Ying Zheng suddenly brought up another topic.
There was even a hint of jealousy in his tone.
Hearing this, Zhao Feng's heart skipped a beat.
"Could it be that Qin Shi Huang is interested in my sister? That won't do! He's way too old I can't let that happen!"
Thinking this, Zhao Feng quickly said, "My sister has very high standards. Li You may have shown his affection, but she hasn't reciprocated much interest."
Back when his sister, Zhao Ying, went to Yunzhong, Li You would visit her every chance he got, which she found rather annoying.
Of course…
Zhao Feng had never interfered with Li You's pursuit of his sister.
After all, she wasn't getting any younger.
By this era's standards, Zhao Ying should have already been a mother several times over.
However…
It was ultimately up to her to decide.
If she didn't want to marry someone, no one could force her. Her older brother, Zhao Feng could guarantee that.
What Zhao Feng didn't know was that Ying Zheng was very concerned about this matter because Zhao Ying was his daughter.
Among the military physicians accompanying the army were covert agents from the Black Ice Platform.
Their duty was to protect Zhao Ying and report everything about her directly to Ying Zheng.
Naturally, Li You's pursuit of Zhao Ying was no secret to him.
To Ying Zheng, Zhao Ying was as precious as Zhao Feng.
Now, hearing that Li You was wooing his daughter, he felt just like a modern-day father watching a flashy young suitor trying to steal his beloved, innocent daughter away.
How could he not be frustrated?
But he couldn't show it making it even more infuriating.
"You're not opposed to it?" Ying Zheng asked, somewhat surprised.
"If Li You truly manages to win Ying'er's heart, then that's his ability."
"As long as Ying'er is willing, I won't stand in the way."
"Of course…"
"If Ying'er doesn't want it, I will fully support her, and no one can force her," Zhao Feng said firmly.
His words made it clear how much he valued his sister's happiness.
This era was not kind to women.
Among commoners, selling daughters was commonplace, while noble families frequently used them as pawns in political marriages.
For a woman to choose her husband was almost unheard of.
But Zhao Feng was willing to give his sister that freedom.
Ever since he became a commanding officer, numerous noble families had sought an alliance through marriage, but he had refused them all.
Moreover, he had made his stance clear to the public.
Letting his sister choose her ideal husband without interference this was the principle Zhao Feng had set for his family.
Seeing Zhao Feng's stance, the slight jealousy in Ying Zheng's expression eased as he nodded. "You're right. As long as Zhao Ying is happy, that's all that matters."
"I never expected His Majesty to be so open-minded." Zhao Feng chuckled.
"I've always been this way," Ying Zheng said with a smile, lifting his wine cup.
"My king," Zhao Feng said, raising his cup, "let's put other matters aside for now. I offer you a toast."
"What are you toasting me for?" Ying Zheng asked with a smile, lifting his cup as well.
"To Your Majesty's trust."
"If it were an ordinary ruler, seeing that my father-in-law and I both hold military power, they would surely seek to suppress us. But Your Majesty is different."
"For that alone, I must drink to you."
"Of course," Zhao Feng added with a grin, "I will not let Your Majesty down."
Ying Zheng took a sip of his wine and suddenly asked, "Have you thought about the future?"
"The future?" Zhao Feng was curious. "Which future is Your Majesty referring to?"
"The future after the unification of the world." Ying Zheng smiled.
Hearing this, Zhao Feng pondered for a moment before replying, "Your Majesty is wise and generous, and both my father-in-law and I are deeply grateful. But I am not the kind of person who does not know his limits. Once the world is unified, I would request to be stationed in the land of Baiyue, governing it for Great Qin."
Ying Zheng frowned slightly, showing a trace of displeasure. "Do you think I am a ruler who cannot tolerate capable people?"
To him, Zhao Feng was overthinking things, and worrying too much.
Baiyue was a wild and uncivilized land. Stationing someone there was practically an exile.
"Your Majesty's vision and wisdom are unparalleled," Zhao Feng replied immediately.
Yet, in his heart, he had another thought:
But what about after Your Majesty?
For Zhao Feng, regardless of whether the successor was Fusu or Huhai, the future would not bode well for him.
Especially Fusu though virtuous and kind, he was too easily influenced by his ministers. He would inevitably be controlled by them, unable to break free.
It was not that Zhao Feng doubted Fusu's abilities; rather, he knew that Fusu simply lacked what was needed.
An emperor must command his ministers, but Fusu was constantly being controlled by them.
Given Zhao Feng's current position and his relationship with Wang Wan and others, once the wars ceased, those ministers would not hesitate to suppress both him and the Wang family.
Politics was all about power struggles.
And as for Huhai?
There was no need to say much.
If one were to rank the most incompetent emperors in history, Huhai would surely be among the top five.
No matter how one looked at it, requesting to govern Baiyue was the best option. Far from the imperial court, Zhao Feng could consolidate his strength.
Even Zhao Tuo had managed to establish his domain there how much more so for Zhao Feng?
By then, his Wuan Battalion could serve as an unshakable force. With his elite troops, he could sweep across the land. That was the confidence Zhao Feng had in his soldiers.
"So, what you're saying is that my successor will be incapable of tolerating you?" Ying Zheng looked at Zhao Feng meaningfully.
"I never said that," Zhao Feng grinned.
"That's what Your Majesty said."
This moment felt strangely familiar to Zhao Feng it was just like their first meeting.
The same setting.
The same conversation.
"The future is unpredictable," Ying Zheng said, his gaze deep with meaning as he looked at Zhao Feng.
"Indeed, no one can predict the future," Zhao Feng nodded.
Even though he had already become extremely powerful capable of single-handedly cutting down thousands of enemies Zhao Feng still felt as if a mysterious veil shrouded the world.
The world possessed spiritual energy, yet he had not discovered a single cultivator.
Logically, that should have been impossible.
But despite his high position, he had never encountered anyone cultivating. That was simply too strange.
"Do you still remember the elixir you mentioned before you left Xianyang?" Ying Zheng suddenly changed the subject, looking at Zhao Feng.
"Of course, I remember."
Zhao Feng nodded, then glanced at Ying Zheng's desk, where the elixir box had once been placed it was now empty.
"So, Your Majesty has realized the elixir is poisonous." Zhao Feng smiled.
"Yes, it is indeed highly toxic."
"In the short term, it may not show any obvious effects, but prolonged consumption will inevitably result in deep poisoning, eventually leading to sudden death."
"You have saved my life," Ying Zheng said with a smile.
"I warned Your Majesty long ago that the elixir was poisonous."
"But now that you've stopped taking it, Your Majesty will surely live a long life." Zhao Feng smiled.
At that moment, he couldn't help but wonder:
Did I just change history?
Historically, Qin Shi Huang died from mercury poisoning due to excessive consumption of alchemical elixirs.
But now, he was still in his prime and had stopped taking them.
If nothing else, he might very well live another ten or twenty years.
Realizing this, Zhao Feng felt that he had indeed altered history.
What kind of changes would this bring to the future?
But
Did he regret it?
Of course not.
After all, Qin Shi Huang had been incredibly kind to him and his family.
If the emperor could live longer, it would only be a good thing.
"Living a long life."
"That does sound nice."
Ying Zheng chuckled lightly, but his eyes gleamed with something deeper.
He wasn't satisfied with merely living a long life.
Throughout history, what ruler didn't desire immortality?
What emperor didn't dream of eternal dominion over the world?
"How did Your Majesty handle those so-called alchemists?" Zhao Feng asked curiously.
In the past, these alchemists had been highly esteemed, receiving substantial salaries and living in luxury, served by numerous attendants.
Now that they had been exposed, they had surely fallen from grace.
Zhao Feng was even more curious about Xu Fu.
The former chief alchemist of the Qin royal court what had become of him?
"If they dared to poison me, did they think they could live?"
"They were executed by Lingchi a year ago," Ying Zheng said coldly.
Though he was affable in Zhao Feng's presence, he was still the true king the future First Emperor of Qin.
The authority of a ruler who would dare to challenge it?
"Well done."
"These so-called alchemists deserved to die," Zhao Feng nodded immediately but then changed the topic: "However, I heard that the former chief alchemist of the alchemy hall, Xu Fu, was among them. Did he die as well?"
"He has yet to return."
"When he does, I won't let him die so easily," Ying Zheng said coldly.
"He isn't in the palace?" Zhao Feng was taken aback.
"I once placed great trust in Xu Fu. He claimed he could refine an elixir of immortality for me, but he needed to venture overseas to search for the legendary Penglai Island."
"By my calculations, he has been gone for over a year now."
"He left just as you returned victorious from your first campaign," Ying Zheng said in a deep voice.
It was evident that Ying Zheng was seething with anger.
Someone he had once held in such high regard turned out to be the mastermind behind poisoning him with the so-called alchemical elixir. Ying Zheng felt utterly betrayed.
The alchemy hall had always been under Xu Fu's control, making him the root of everything.
"Searching for Penglai Island?"
"Refining an elixir of immortality?"
Zhao Feng furrowed his brows.
Deep inside, he was analyzing the situation: "I didn't expect Xu Fu to start preparing his escape even before Qin had unified the land."
"But…"
"This Xu Fu seems far from ordinary."
"It feels as if he already knew what he was doing, almost as if he was acting under someone else's orders."
Hearing Xu Fu's name, Zhao Feng couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
"What is it?"
"Do you know something about Xu Fu?"
Seeing Zhao Feng's contemplative look, Ying Zheng questioned him.
"Does Your Majesty truly believe Penglai Island exists?" Zhao Feng snapped out of his thoughts.
"In the ancient records, Penglai Island is indeed mentioned."
"But whether those records are true or not is uncertain," Ying Zheng replied calmly.
"Perhaps Your Majesty still harbors hope of finding Penglai Island?" Zhao Feng chuckled.
"If Penglai Island exists, then the elixir of immortality exists as well."
"Who wouldn't want to live forever?"
In front of Zhao Feng, Ying Zheng did not attempt to conceal his thoughts.
"That is true."
"Throughout history…"
"Countless rulers have sought immortality, but they all failed. Your Majesty should not place too much hope in it," Zhao Feng advised.
"No."
Ying Zheng shook his head. "There was someone who succeeded."
Zhao Feng's expression changed. He looked at Ying Zheng in shock. "Who?"
"King Mu of Zhou," Ying Zheng answered with certainty.
"Are you serious?"
"Isn't that just a myth?"
"King Mu of Zhou supposedly met the Queen Mother of the West in Kunlun," Zhao Feng said, clearly skeptical.
Hearing this, Ying Zheng looked at Zhao Feng with surprise. "A myth?"
"To my knowledge, no such myth exists among the common people."
"The records of King Mu of Zhou meeting the Queen Mother of the West are found in the archives of the former Zhou dynasty. When Qin conquered Zhou, its ancient texts came under our control, and the meeting was documented there."
"How do you know about it?" Ying Zheng asked in surprise.
"Well… if I said I heard it from folk stories, would Your Majesty believe me?" Zhao Feng replied with a helpless smile.
It was technically true it was just that those folk stories came from the future.
What else could he say? Tell Ying Zheng that he learned about it from later historical accounts.
"It's not impossible to hear such things from the common folk."
"After all, when Zhou fell, many who had access to its archives managed to escape," Ying Zheng said, not overly suspicious.
"According to Your Majesty…"
"Are you saying that King Mu of Zhou truly achieved immortality?" Zhao Feng's curiosity was piqued, and his eyes filled with anticipation.
"The records state that after meeting the Queen Mother of the West, he gained a celestial blessing."
"Upon returning from Kunlun, he soon abdicated the throne."
"After that, his whereabouts became unknown," Ying Zheng said solemnly.
"You're basing the claim of his immortality on that?"
"Isn't that a bit too far-fetched?"
Zhao Feng remained doubtful.
Historical records about King Mu of Zhou were indeed numerous. He was the only ruler of the Zhou dynasty said to have met the Queen Mother of the West, and some legends even claimed he obtained an elixir of immortality.
But the truth? That was buried in history.
"It may be an assumption, but it is also a hope."
"The land of Kunlun…"
"Once I unify the world, I will personally go and see for myself."
"When the time comes…"
"You will accompany me."
"We will find out whether the Western Kunlun truly exists and whether the Queen Mother of the West is real," Ying Zheng declared with a commanding presence.
His voice was filled with the determination to seek immortality and uncover the mysteries of the fabled Western Kunlun.
Hearing Ying Zheng's invitation, Zhao Feng didn't hesitate to nod. "If Your Majesty commands it, how could I refuse?"
"This mystery of immortality Your Majesty and I shall uncover it together."
Seeing Zhao Feng's agreement, Ying Zheng laughed. "Good! We shall unveil the secret of immortality together, as ruler and minister!"
The two continued drinking.
Just then
A voice rang out from outside the hall, filled with urgency.
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