This ti, his curiosity was truly piqued.
Ying Zheng mused aloud, "What great talent would be worth My journey of thousands of miles?" He then added with a domineering laugh, "Not even Guiguzi!"
"Could it be that the Great King has left sothing behind in Handan?" Zhao Feng asked, unable to think of anything else.
Ying Zheng did not respond imdiately. Instead, he picked up the wine jug, poured a drink, and took a sip. After a mont of silence, a reminiscent look filled his eyes with longing as he said slowly, "I am looking for my wife."
Hearing this, Zhao Feng was shocked. "The Great King’s wife?" he stamred. "No way."
"If she is the Great King’s wife, why would she have remained in Handan? Did she not accompany the Great King back to Qin?"
"Why did she not beco the Queen of Qin?"
With the revelation of such a secret, Zhao Feng’s interest was completely aroused.
Historically, Emperor Qin Shi Huang never appointed a queen in his lifeti. There are two historical records regarding this. One is that Emperor Qin Shi Huang experienced his mother, Concubine Zhao, seizing control of the governnt, along with Lao Ai’s attempt to subvert the throne. He therefore did not want to appoint another queen who might challenge his own son; without a Queen, there could be no Tai Hou.
The second reason is that there was no one in the harem whom Emperor Qin Shi Huang truly loved. The person he truly loved was Efang. After Qin unified the world, the magnificent Epang Palace was built by Emperor Qin Shi Huang in mory of her. Now, hearing what the King of Qin says, it seems that Efang truly existed in history—the woman he genuinely considered his wife!
At that mont, mories raced through Zhao Feng’s mind as he cross-referenced all the history he knew. He felt as if he had just uncovered Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s greatest secret.
In all the world, am I the only one who knows this?
"She returned with ," Ying Zheng sighed, his tone laden with endless guilt. "But I failed to protect her."
Zhao Feng nodded but did not reply.
When the King of Qin first returned to Qin, the situation at court was not as under control as it is now. Even for many years after the King of Qin ascended the throne, the governnt was still controlled by Concubine Zhao and Lv Buwei. Before the King of Qin assud personal rule, he had almost no real power. Zhao Feng understood instantly.
"That is not your fault, Great King," he said, trying to offer so comfort. "Although I did not experience what the Great King went through, I have heard about the events following your return to Qin. Though you ascended the throne quickly, you had not yet taken personal rule, so many matters were beyond your control."
"At that ti, there was the powerful Chancellor Lv Buwei, the forr Tai Hou, the Zong Shi, and the Hundred Officials. The court was ever-changing, and everything was outside your control," Zhao Feng said slowly.
"If a man cannot even protect his own woman, it is a failure for him."
"I failed back then."
Ying Zheng took another drink, the guilt in his eyes never fading.
Clearly, this was the knot in his heart. If he could not find his beloved, this knot would never be untied, not even in death.
So the King of Qin is a man of deep feeling. He appears majestic and cold, seemingly unapproachable, yet he still has the side of an ordinary man. But is he completely without defenses against ? Why would he tell such a secret? Does he think of as a junior? Does he think I can keep my mouth shut?
Listening to these secrets of the future Emperor Qin Shi Huang, Zhao Feng’s feelings were, unsurprisingly, very complex.
If I were to speak carelessly after hearing such a thing, I would simply be courting disaster!
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