ATPnovel Chapter 19 Undergarments
Chapter 19 Undergarments
The woman who opened the door was none other than Zhao Ji.
She was about twenty years old, dressed in simple clothes and plain makeup.
Her bluish-gray linen dress was faded from washing, with small patches sewn on the cuffs. Yet, this simple attire only accentuated her exceptionally fair and radiant skin.
Her eyebrows and eyes were exquisitely beautiful, with willow-leaf eyebrows and peach blossom eyes, the corners of her eyes naturally upturned, as if they were filled with water when she looked at people. Her lips were pale, slightly white from overwork, and now they were slightly open in surprise and doubt, revealing a bit of her pearly teeth, which added to her pitiful appearance.
Though dressed simply and without makeup, her graceful figure and serene demeanor made her an absolute beauty. Like a crabapple tree growing in a dark corner of a humble alley, unattended yet blooming breathtakingly beautifully on its own.
Zhao Heng's heart stirred, but he showed no sign of it on his face. He bowed respectfully and said, "Heng greets Madam. I apologize for the intrusion and disturbance."
After finishing the ceremony, he looked up and his dark, angry eyes met Zhao Ji's gaze calmly, then he revealed a bright smile.
Zhao Ji was clearly taken aback when she saw the young man outside the door.
She was initially wary, but her guard relaxed slightly once she saw who it was.
A young man stood outside the door, a head taller than most boys his age. He wore a narrow-sleeved indigo robe, with a matching cloth belt tied neatly at the waist.
He had a handsome face with distinct eyebrows and eyes, and fair skin, as if he had spent a lot of time indoors and rarely seen sunlight. His eyes were clear, yet very calm, lacking the childishness often found in children, and instead revealing a mature and handsome air beyond his years.
He stood in the morning light, holding a coarse cloth bundle in his arms, his smile clean and refreshing. The sunlight slanted across half of his face, casting fine shadows on his eyelashes.
No one would feel the slightest suspicion upon seeing such a young man.
It wasn't until Zhao Heng bowed again and introduced himself that Zhao Ji finally recognized him.
She hurriedly returned the greeting, somewhat flustered, and said, "It's...it's Young Master Heng...Why did you come alone?"
As they spoke, he couldn't help but glance at Zhao Heng a few more times. His clothes were clean, his smile was bright, and just by looking at him, he was a very likable noble young man.
She felt a strange sense of goodwill towards him, but then felt it was inappropriate to leave the guest standing outside the door. She turned slightly to the side, as if she wanted to invite him in, but hesitated.
Zhao Heng smiled and said, "A few days ago, I heard from Gongzi Dan that Brother Zheng was very worried when he heard that I had fallen into the water. Now that I have recovered, I was afraid that Brother Zheng might worry or have some misunderstanding, so I came to explain in person to avoid us both worrying about each other."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji's eyes flashed with surprise.
The Zhao Heng she remembered had visited a few times, but he was mostly taciturn and sometimes seemed timid, a stark contrast to the well-mannered and articulate young man before her.
Looking again at Zhao Heng's eyes, which were focused and calmly fixed on him, he exuded a composure beyond his years. His gaze was unwavering, clear as water, and revealed a youthful spirit.
She was even more surprised and forgot to reply for a moment.
Zhao Heng was not in a hurry, but patiently bowed again: "I wonder if Brother Zheng is at home? If it is convenient, I would like to pay a visit for a moment. I will only say a few words and then leave, and will not disturb you for too long."
Zhao Ji came to her senses, becoming even more flustered and at a loss.
Refusing them entry would be extremely impolite. But allowing them in... might cause some trouble.
Zheng'er's identity is special. This young master Heng just fell into the water because of his association with Zheng'er. If he is seen coming and going again today, and it gets to the ears of those with ulterior motives, I'm afraid...
As she hesitated, a calm, childlike voice came from inside the house: "Mother, who is it?"
Zhao Ji hurriedly turned to look into the room. Zhao Heng also looked up.
Then a boy who looked about eight or nine years old came out of the house.
He was slightly shorter than Zhao Heng, wearing an old, altered robe, faded from washing but clean and spotless. His face still retained a childlike innocence, but his features were already angular. Most striking were his eyes, dark and deep, which looked straight down at people, devoid of joy or anger, giving him a slightly gloomy appearance.
He stood there quietly, as if there was an invisible barrier around him, blocking out the spring light in the courtyard.
Zhao Ji stepped aside so that Ying Zheng could see outside the door: "It's Prince Heng..."
Zhao Heng looked at Ying Zheng across her, smiled and nodded: "Brother Zheng."
Ying Zheng looked at Zhao Heng in silence, offering no response, waiting for Zhao Ji to explain.
Zhao Ji panicked even more for some reason, and stammered, "Prince Heng said, said that a few days ago he heard from Prince Dan of Yan that you were worried because he fell into the water, so he came here, came here..."
Zhao Heng then spoke up, repeating what he had just said to Zhao Ji, and concluded, "Now that I have met you and know that Brother Zheng is well, I will not disturb you any longer. This is just a small token of my appreciation—"
As he spoke, he gently placed the cloth bag in his arms inside the threshold: "These are just ordinary items, which my brother Zheng plays with in his spare time."
Ying Zheng looked at the package, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "Young Master Heng, please take this back. There's no need for such formalities between us."
Zhao Ji could naturally hear the subtle tone in her son's words, which implied a desire to protect his self-esteem. She pursed her lips, unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt with her hand, and remained silent.
She knew Zheng'er's temperament and understood his pride. The more distressed he was, the less willing he was to accept favors, especially gifts that might be given out of pity.
Hearing the coldness in Ying Zheng's tone, Zhao Heng was not annoyed. Instead, he smiled and said, "Brother Zheng, you misunderstand. This is not a gift; I found it by chance on the road."
He squatted down, untied a corner of the cloth bag, revealing ceramic figurines, ceramic horses, and other items inside: "Today, while passing through the market, I heard the vendors boasting that these were local specialties of Xianyang. I thought that my brother Zheng might want to see things from our homeland, so I bought them."
He looked up at Zhao Ji, his smile bright but tinged with embarrassment: "But that merchant's words were unreliable, and I don't know if they were true or false. I thought that perhaps Madam could discern the truth. If they are false, I will go to confront him tomorrow and not let anyone take advantage of my youth."
Looking at the items in the package and hearing the words "Xianyang" and "never seen before," Zhao Ji felt a sudden pang of sadness.
...It's not just Zheng'er who hasn't seen the sights and sights of Xianyang.
Before marrying Ying Zichu, she was merely the daughter of a merchant in Handan, and had never even been to Xianyang. When Lü Buwei introduced Ying Zichu to her, he only said that this man was a grandson of the King of Qin and might have a bright future. She married him in a daze, thinking that she could go to Xianyang with him and see that legendary, magnificent city.
But who would have thought that Ying Zichu would abandon them, mother and son, and leave without a trace for five or six years, leaving them to be despised in Handan.
As Zhao Ji thought this, she saw the young man before her... his clean smile and obedient words were exactly the kind of qualities that made a woman like her most fond of him.
Then I thought of my son in Handan, who had almost no friends except Yan Dan. He usually sat alone reading books and was very quiet.
Today, Zhao Heng came to visit me after his own misfortune, which made me feel a little relieved and my guard was lowered.
Zhao Ji bit her lower lip, leaving a faint tooth mark. Then she sighed softly and looked at Ying Zheng, saying, "Zheng'er, since Prince Heng has shown such good intentions and brought all the gifts, let's take a look."
As she spoke, she turned to Zhao Heng and stepped aside to open the courtyard gate: "Please come in, young master. It's inappropriate for you to stand at the door. My humble abode is simple and unadorned; please don't find it offensive."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Heng first looked at Ying Zheng with a questioning expression.
Zhao Ji noticed his subconscious act of respect for Ying Zheng, and her goodwill towards him increased even more.
Ying Zheng and Zhao Heng stared at each other for a moment.
His dark, deep eyes revealed no emotion. After a moment, he finally stepped aside.
"please."
Zhao Heng then calmly entered the hospital.
Zhao Ji led the way beside him, slightly apologetic: "We should have received guests in the main hall, but... only this room is decent enough."
"I'm sorry to bother you."
The courtyard was small but clean. In the corner stood a well, its rim mottled with moss, the hemp rope on the well pulley worn and frayed. Several clotheslines hung to dry in the courtyard, swaying gently in the breeze. The main house consisted of three rooms; the doors and windows were old and damaged, but the silk paper used to cover the windows was still relatively intact.
The interior furnishings were extremely simple.
In the center stood an old wooden table, its surface worn smooth and its edges cracked. Beside it were two straw mats, their edges strayed with straw. In the corner lay a pile of bamboo slips, bound neatly with hemp rope, but the slips varied in color, clearly indicating a mixed origin.
Against the wall was a wooden couch, covered with a coarse cloth mattress and a thin quilt. The entire room contained almost nothing except a ceramic lamp, an earthenware pot, and two ceramic bowls.
A scroll of bamboo slips lay open on the table, its surface worn smooth, indicating that it had been frequently read.
Ying Zheng was clearly reading a book just now.
Zhao Ji, somewhat embarrassed, quickly tidied up the only mat she had to serve guests, and then frantically tried to find something else to offer.
but……
Tea? No. Snacks? Absolutely none. They couldn't even offer a decent piece of fruit.
Only then did she suddenly remember that when Yan Dan came a few days ago, he said that the person had not accepted the things Zhao Heng had sent and had returned them all.
Although she was heartbroken over the loss of the millet and cloth, she refused Yan Dan's suggestion to bring them back, out of consideration for her son's dignity. Now…
After searching for a while, they found that there was only half a pot of water left in the earthenware jar that could be used to entertain guests.
So Zhao Ji stood awkwardly by the table, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Zhao Heng calmly walked to the mat beside the table and sat down. He then looked at Zhao Ji, who was pretending to be busy, and smiled, "Madam, there's no need for that trouble. I've come all this way and am just a little thirsty. Do you have any cool water?"
Zhao Ji breathed a sigh of relief and quickly took the pot of water, carefully pouring half a cup for Zhao Heng. There was a small chip on the rim of the pottery cup, which she deliberately avoided when pouring the water.
Zhao Heng took the cup, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. He then wiped his mouth with his sleeve, satisfied, and set down the earthenware cup, smiling, "Perfect. Brother Zheng, take a look at these things, do they look familiar?"
He spread the cloth bag out completely on the table.
Pottery horse figurines, small pottery dolls, half-ounce coins, raw jade stones, Qin-style accessories... were scattered around.
On the simple wooden table, these crude little objects surprisingly revealed a rare brilliance.
Ying Zheng, who had been standing silently to the side, was indeed drawn to the attention.
He walked over silently and sat down on the mat opposite him.
Seeing Ying Zheng sit down, Zhao Heng smiled and invited Zhao Ji, "Madam, would you like to come and see for yourself? I really can't tell the difference between the real and the fake. If I'm fooled, please don't laugh at me."
Seeing that Ying Zheng had become interested, Zhao Ji was pleased and knelt down at the table between Ying Zheng and Zhao Heng.
However, her position was actually slightly impolite.
The host and guests sit facing each other, and she, as the hostess, should have a separate seat or stand to the side.
But perhaps she hadn't formally entertained guests in a long time, or perhaps she thought Zhao Heng was just a child and her son's friend, so she didn't think much of it and simply sat down naturally.
So her skirt spread out, and the distance between it and Zhao Heng's hem was only an inch or so.
Zhao Heng didn't seem to care and pushed the terracotta horse figurine closer to Zhao Ji: "Please look, Madam. This horse figurine is said to have been made by craftsmen from Xianyang. The glaze..."
Zhao Ji reached out and took it.
Her hands were very white, with slender fingers, but her palms had thin calluses, clearly the marks left by years of hard work. She held the pottery horse and examined it carefully.
In fact, she couldn't distinguish between what was real and what was fake.
She had only seen what pottery from Xianyang looked like in the few items that Lü Buwei had given to Ying Zichu, but at the time she hadn't paid much attention to pottery and hadn't examined it closely.
But when asked, she recounted the story in detail based on her vague recollection.
Ying Zheng listened attentively, then picked up the half-ounce coin and examined it closely in the light from the window. The coin's edges were somewhat worn, but the characters "half-ounce" were clearly visible. He turned it over and over several times, a focused expression on his face, his fingers gently stroking the inscription.
Zhao Heng listened to Zhao Ji's comments with great interest, occasionally asking a question or two.
Although Zhao Ji could not be completely certain of the truth, she could still make some connections based on the bits and pieces of information she had heard at Lü Buwei's residence and later.
She said that the Qin region valued black, and that objects were mostly black or gray; she said that the palaces in Xianyang were magnificent and the streets were bustling; she said that the Qin people were brave and fierce, and valued law over etiquette... Her tone was sometimes sentimental and sometimes ethereal, as if she were talking about a distant and vague dream.
As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, but she forced them back down.
The atmosphere gradually eased.
Zhao Heng secretly observed Ying Zheng. He saw that when Ying Zheng listened to his mother's explanation, his eyes were focused, and he would occasionally look up and ask, "Really?" Although his expression was still serious, it revealed a child's curiosity about unfamiliar things.
Clearly, the deep thoughts of nine-year-old Ying Zheng were ultimately due to the pressures of his environment; deep down, he was still a child.
Zhao Heng felt somewhat relieved.
His gaze inadvertently drifted towards Zhao Ji.
Zhao Ji was turning to Ying Zheng, explaining the possible origins of the jade stone. She leaned forward slightly, her hair swaying gently with her movements, a few strands falling beside her neck, almost transparent in the light.
She knelt beside Zhao Heng, no more than three feet away. From this angle, Zhao Heng could clearly see her profile.
Up close, her beauty is even more evident.
Her skin was fair and delicate, with almost no visible pores, like the finest mutton fat jade. Her features were soft and beautiful, with a straight nose bridge and a slightly upturned tip. Her lips were well-shaped, and when she spoke, they opened and closed, revealing the gleam of her pearly teeth.
She leaned slightly forward as she spoke, and the hollow of her collarbone was faintly visible through her collar, exquisitely carved like jade. She had a very faint, elegant scent, like a blend of soapberry and her own natural fragrance, mixed with the smell of clothes dried in the spring sun, wafting over in a barely perceptible manner.
When her eyes are gentle, they sparkle, and her peach blossom eyes seem to ripple with spring water, truly captivating.
Although Zhao Heng was a young man, his inner soul was that of an adult, and he possessed an innate aesthetic sense. Seeing such a stunning beauty so close at hand, he couldn't help but be attracted. It was like seeing a crabapple tree blooming in a humble alley; knowing he shouldn't look at it for too long, he still couldn't help but glance at it a few more times.
As Zhao Ji was speaking, she suddenly felt a gaze on her side.
She turned her head and bumped into Zhao Heng looking at her.
Eyes facing each other.
Zhao Heng neither flinched nor dodged, but smiled and nodded, his gaze clear and open.
Zhao Ji was taken aback, and then her ears felt slightly hot.
But seeing the boy's clear eyes, she realized she had been overthinking things. She lowered her gaze and said softly, "I'm sorry to have troubled you, young master. I don't really know much about these things..."
Zhao Heng followed up, saying, "I admire your insight, Madam. In all my years in Handan, I have rarely heard anyone describe the customs and scenery of Qin in such detail."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji gave him a grateful look. Her gaze was soft, filled with the warmth of being understood. She felt an immediate surge of goodwill towards him, realizing that this young man was not only polite and sensible, but also, more importantly, kind and considerate.
Seeing the mother and son immersed in this rare moment of tenderness, Zhao Heng, as an outsider, felt somewhat out of place.
He then casually patted his stomach and said apologetically, "I drank some cold water just now and suddenly felt a sudden urge to relieve myself. I wonder if my family..."
Zhao Ji hurriedly said, "There's one behind the courtyard. It's in a corner of the inner courtyard. I'll lead you there, young master."
He said he was about to get up.
Zhao Heng stood up first: "No need to trouble you, Madam. Just point out the direction. Madam and Zheng-di, please continue your conversation. I'll be right back."
Zhao Ji also stood up and pointed towards the inner courtyard: "Go from here, pass through the inner courtyard, and it's just around the corner. However... it's quite simple, please don't mind, young master."
He then carefully instructed, "The ground is a bit slippery, young master, please be careful."
Zhao Heng bowed and thanked Ying Zheng, then nodded to him and turned to walk along the back of the house.
The alleyway was only wide enough for one person to pass through and was somewhat dim. Fortunately, after walking about ten steps, the view suddenly opened up to a smaller backyard, which could be considered the inner courtyard.
In one corner of the courtyard, there was a pile of chopped firewood, not much, but neatly stacked. In another corner was a simple thatched hut.
Two thin bamboo poles stood in the corner, forming a simple clothes rack. Several clean clothes were hung on the poles, swaying gently in the breeze. Looking through the light, the fabric appeared thin and soft.
Zhao Heng's gaze swept over the area casually, but he suddenly paused, startled.
Hanging on the bamboo pole were several light brown women's undergarments, made of linen, with a simple design, but still women's intimate clothing. They swayed slightly in the spring sunlight, their delicate texture faintly visible, and one could even imagine the soft feel of wearing them.
Zhao Heng was now in a truly awkward situation, unable to advance or retreat.
However, he immediately shook his head with a laugh.
He was only eleven years old, what was there to be afraid of? Would he be mistaken for a lecher? He felt relieved and, with a righteous air, walked quickly toward the outhouse in the corner without looking to the side.
The outhouse was made of wooden planks, simple but fairly clean. After relieving himself, Zhao Heng straightened his clothes and came out.
However, as soon as he came out, he saw Zhao Ji hurriedly walking into the inner courtyard from the outer room, looking slightly anxious. She had obviously just remembered that her undergarments were still hanging outside.
The two bumped into each other on the narrow path in the inner courtyard. In fact, Zhao Ji had just walked to the clothesline, reached out to take down a piece of undergarment, and hadn't even had time to put it away yet.
When Zhao Ji saw Zhao Heng coming from the outhouse, her face flushed red.
Her actions of rushing in to collect the clothes were an obvious admission that she had come in a hurry because she was afraid of being seen by Zhao Heng.
Therefore, she was at a loss for what to do and, in her panic, forgot to speak. She just stood there, still clutching the light brown close-fitting short jacket in her hand.
Zhao Heng also felt embarrassed, but quickly regained his composure.
He turned his head away, avoiding his gaze from the clothes in her hands, and bowed deeply: "I saw it by accident just now. It was my rudeness. Please forgive me, Madam."
His words were spoken in a very serious manner, which, combined with his eleven-year-old body and face, created a strange sense of contrast.
Seeing his earnest apology, Zhao Ji was amused and smiled slightly, her embarrassment dissipating somewhat. She then covered her mouth and chuckled softly, "You little lad, what do you know about being impolite... Don't be so polite."
"It's good that Madam doesn't mind." Zhao Heng saw Zhao Ji smile and also showed a bright smile. Just as he was about to take his leave and return to the front room, Zhao Ji called him back.
Zhao Heng stopped and turned around: "Does Madam have any further instructions?"
Zhao Ji took two steps closer, still clutching the undergarment in her hand, but no longer so hesitant. She lowered her voice further, as if afraid of being overheard by Ying Zheng in the front room:
"This humble servant... wishes to thank you, young master."
Zhao Heng awaits the next installment.
Zhao Ji's expression was complicated as she whispered, "I thank you for your kindness to Zheng'er. In Handan, he has no friends other than Prince Yan Dan. He is also introverted and doesn't like to talk. It's rare that you don't mind and are willing to associate with him, and you are so thoughtful to think of sending these gifts... I am very grateful."
Zhao Heng said solemnly, "Brother Zheng is intelligent and calm; he will surely amount to something great in the future. It is my good fortune to be able to befriend him."
After a moment's thought, he said, "My teacher once said that the enmity between Qin and Zhao is a result of the prevailing circumstances, not the fault of any individual. Brother Zheng, being caught in this situation, you are bound to feel lonely. I think that when you return to Xianyang one day, when your circumstances improve and you are surrounded by more people, your personality will naturally become more cheerful."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji's eyes reddened slightly. After hesitating for a moment, she finally sighed, "But... the young master's close relationship with Zheng'er might cause him trouble. Last time he fell into the water..."
"Don't worry, Madam. I've thought things through regarding the drowning."
Zhao Heng thought for a moment, then smiled, a smile as clear as the spring sunshine: "If the friendship of our childhood can withstand this test, it will surely be a beautiful memory when we look back on it as adults. Madam, you need not worry."
Zhao Ji stared blankly at the young man before her.
In the sunlight, his features were clear, and his smile was bright. His words and demeanor hardly seemed those of an eleven-year-old child.
She nodded absently, murmuring, "Young Master... is truly a good person. It's Zheng'er's good fortune to have you as a friend."
Zhao Heng smiled slightly, didn't respond, and turned to leave. Zhao Ji subconsciously followed, preparing to bring in the clothes that were drying; they couldn't be left hanging outside forever.
Just then, a hearty laugh suddenly came from outside the courtyard gate.
"How strange! Why is someone at the alley entrance being so generous today, giving rice and cloth to everyone they see? Zheng! Open the door quickly, see what I brought... Wait, why isn't the door closed properly?"
It is Yan Dan.
Upon hearing this voice, Zhao Ji felt a sudden, inexplicable panic.
If Yan Dan were to arrive at this moment and find her alone with Zhao Heng in the inner courtyard... it wouldn't be entirely impossible, but it would still feel inappropriate.
Perhaps it was because she had just spoken with Zhao Heng in the backyard and was afraid of being seen and causing a misunderstanding. Perhaps it was because she hadn't put away the undergarment in her hand and was afraid of being seen by outsiders. Or perhaps…
The sudden panic made her instinctively want to hurry back to the front room, so she stepped a little faster.
But she was just stepping onto the first stone step leading from the inner courtyard to the main house. The edge of the step was covered with a thin layer of moss due to the spring rain of the past few days, making it slippery and difficult to see. So Zhao Ji accidentally stepped directly onto the slippery edge.
She gasped, her foot slipped, she lost her balance, and stumbled forward, falling to the ground.
Zhao Heng turned around upon hearing the sound.
Zhao Ji cried out in alarm and rushed towards him, still clutching the few pieces of undergarment she had hastily torn from the bamboo pole. Her momentum was so great that she couldn't stop herself.
Zhao Heng was momentarily stunned and instinctively reached out to help.
But Zhao Ji pounced too hastily, and the two were too close.
"Bang!"
The two collided immediately.
Zhao Heng was firmly pinned down by Zhao Ji, landing on his back with a muffled groan. The few pieces of undergarment that Zhao Ji had thrown out of her hand scattered in mid-air like light brown butterflies, landing squarely on Zhao Heng's face, half-covering his mouth and nose.
Suddenly, everything went dark.
A faint, fresh scent of soapberry suddenly wafted to my nose, mingled with the rich, mature fragrance unique to a woman. The scent was unfamiliar, soft, and warm with her body heat, surging into my breath without warning.
The body pressing against him was unusually soft and warm. Through two layers of clothing, he could clearly feel the undulating curves, the amazing elasticity, and the slight trembling due to panic.
Zhao Heng winced in pain, but his body stiffened.
Zhao Ji was also stunned by the fall.
She immediately realized what had happened, and when she saw what was covering Zhao Heng's face, she realized it was her own underwear. Her cheeks instantly turned bright red, and her ears and neck were tinged with crimson.
She hurriedly tried to sit up.
In the midst of his haste, his palm landed on Zhao Heng's chest, and he lost his balance, falling back slightly.
In the front room, Ying Zheng heard screams and thuds coming from the backyard, and his expression changed.
He immediately got up and strode towards the inner courtyard.
Footsteps echoed in the narrow passage, then quickly drew closer.
"Mother? What happened?"
The footsteps were right next to me!
Zhao Ji's face turned pale.
In a flash, Zhao Heng's mind cleared.
Almost instinctively, taking advantage of the moment when Zhao Ji hurriedly propped herself up and the pressure on her hands eased slightly, he ripped off the clothing covering her face. Without even looking, he swiftly crumpled it into a ball and stuffed it inside the front of his robe, hiding it tightly against his chest.
Zhao Ji felt a blur before her eyes, a gust of wind brushed her face, and her undergarments had vanished without a trace.
She propped herself up, half-sitting on the ground, staring wide-eyed at Zhao Heng, her eyes filled with bewilderment and shock.
He...he hid his...?
Zhao Heng had also sat up, his chest slightly bulging, but it was hidden by his outer garment and could not be seen clearly.
Their faces were only a foot apart. Zhao Heng could see the lingering fear, extreme embarrassment, and bewilderment at his sudden action in her eyes.
Her breathing quickened slightly, and her warm breath brushed against his forehead.
Eyes wide open.
------
"Zhao Ji, the mother of King Zheng of Qin, was a woman from a wealthy family in Handan. She was exceptionally beautiful and gentle in nature. When Zichu was a hostage in Zhao, she was taken in and gave birth to Zheng. After Zichu returned to Qin, Ji and Zheng were left alone in Handan, where they were imprisoned for a long time in Weifeng Lane."
When Emperor Taizu was still young, he once visited Qin to inquire about the government. He presented her with pictures of the scenery and customs of Qin and spoke warmly of her. Ji, observing this, sighed and said, “I am originally from Zhao, but I went to Qin only to be abandoned there; now, thanks to your inquiry, I know that my homeland still has warmth.” — *Old Book of Zhao*, Volume 31, Biography of King Ying Zheng of Qin