Butterfly Wings

"How dare he betray Qin!"

In the grand hall of the Qin Palace, Ying Zheng's voice was filled with rage.

At the head of the hall below, Mi Hua and Fusu knelt on the ground. With Mi Qi's betrayal of Qin, the mother and son were the most affected.

Ying Zheng had not established an empress, and his eldest son Fusu had been taught by Verdant Green Maiden, making him almost a sure bet to be the next King of Qin!

But now, after Mi Qi's betrayal of Qin, Fusu, who possessed the Chu bloodline, found his position in the Great Qin court suddenly awkward. The court officials' purge of Chu faction forces quickly escalated into an attack on all external officials.

Under these circumstances, they naturally could not allow a new king with Chu blood to ascend the throne.

Even the other princes had become active.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. My father..."

Mi Hua stammered for a long time, unable to utter the next sentence.

Ying Zheng said coldly, "He deserves to die!"

Now, unless Mi Qi became the King of Chu and surrendered the entire Chu State directly to Qin, nothing else mattered!

"What are you all making such a fuss about? What does the old fool Mi Qi's actions have to do with his wife and son?"

Verdant Green Maiden reprimanded from the side.

Ying Zheng was becoming more and more like an unfeeling king.

Perhaps everyone who sat in this position eventually became like this. But Ying Zheng's respect for Verdant Green Maiden remained unchanged. He listened to Verdant Green Maiden's low reprimand, fell silent for a moment, and then, while contemplating, began to explain the situation to her.

"Master, you don't understand the current situation in the court. Because of Mi Qi's betrayal of Qin, my plan is almost ruined!"

Ying Zheng placed one hand on the table, his voice low. "I trusted him so much..."

Verdant Green Maiden scoffed and retorted, "What were you thinking? Sending the King of Chu's son to the Chu capital to appease the people? I'd be surprised if they didn't rebel! If he rebels, he can become the King of Chu and be recorded in history. If it were me, I'd try it too!"

"Would Master also betray me?"

Ying Zheng was stunned and turned to look at Verdant Green Maiden.

Verdant Green Maiden rolled her eyes at him and said, "Are you out of your mind?"

Ying Zheng realized he had spoken out of turn, his eyes flickered slightly. He apologized to Verdant Green Maiden, then waved his hand at Fusu and Mi Hua.

"You may go."

Mi Hua's eyes were teary. She nodded gently, "Yes, Your Majesty."

After she and Fusu left, Verdant Green Maiden sat down by the throne, tapped the table, and asked, "Ying Zheng, tell me honestly, are you thinking of deposing Fusu?"

"Of course not!"

Ying Zheng immediately shook his head and said, "Fusu was raised by Master. He is the next king of Great Qin!"

"Then set it early, lest someone harbor improper thoughts," Verdant Green Maiden reminded him.

With that, she waved to Ying Zheng and left the great hall.

Outside the great hall, Mi Hua stood with Fusu below the steps. Seeing Verdant Green Maiden emerge, Mi Hua gently nudged Fusu, her expression a little embarrassed and uneasy. She whispered to Fusu, "Quick, go to Master."

Fusu took a step forward, bowed to Verdant Green Maiden, and called out, "Master!"

"Why such a grand gesture?"

Verdant Green Maiden jogged a few steps and helped Fusu up.

She glared at Mi Hua again and chided her, "You too, why the panic? This is your father's mistake, not yours! Don't you understand Ying Zheng? He won't blame you."

Mi Hua pursed her lips and hesitated, "I understand the former Your Majesty, but the current Your Majesty... I dare not speak."

Seeing her so timid, Verdant Green Maiden sighed and turned to Afang, who was standing to the side. "Afang, take good care of them, mother and son."

"Yes, Master."

Afang nodded and signaled to those beside her.

Mi Hua saw the people beside Afang approaching them and hurriedly asked, "Master, how will Your Majesty deal with us?"

"Don't worry."

Verdant Green Maiden comforted them and said, "I won't abandon my student."

Since Verdant Green Maiden had said so, Mi Hua didn't say anything more. She bowed to Verdant Green Maiden and then left with Afang's people.

After they left, Verdant Green Maiden stretched.

Beside her, a eunuch approached, respectfully holding a tray. He said, "My lady, Your Majesty ordered this servant to bring this to you. Your Majesty said you would understand..."

Verdant Green Maiden turned her head and saw a small object lying quietly on the tray. It was a straw doll Ying Zheng had made for her when he was a child. She had thought it ugly then, so she had only carried it for a few years before leaving it at the Jade Maiden Shrine.

She hadn't looked for it when she returned. It turned out Ying Zheng had kept it all along.

"What does this mean?"

Verdant Green Maiden asked.

The eunuch looked embarrassed. "This... how could this servant know? My lady, please don't make things difficult for this servant."

Verdant Green Maiden understood Ying Zheng's meaning perfectly. He wanted to tell her that he hadn't changed at all, that he was still the boy who called her Master every day. But Verdant Green Maiden never thought there was anything wrong with Ying Zheng's changes. At most, she would advise him not to go too far.

Being a king, that's how it is.

Verdant Green Maiden put away the scarecrow on the tray and glanced at the eunuch, asking, "What's your name?"

"This servant's name is Zhao Gao."

Zhao Gao bowed as he replied to Verdant Green Maiden.

To be asked his name by a distinguished figure like Verdant Green Maiden was an unimaginable blessing! Therefore, Zhao Gao was extremely excited, yet afraid of offending Verdant Green Maiden, so he kept his head bowed very low, not daring to look up at her.

"You are Zhao Gao?"

Upon hearing Zhao Gao's name, a flicker of surprise flashed in Verdant Green Maiden's eyes.

Zhao Gao was taken aback and asked blankly, "My lady, you know Zhao Gao?"

Verdant Green Maiden suddenly let out a laugh and didn't say much more to him. She waved her hand, saying, "I've accepted the items. Go back and tell Ying Zheng I know what he means. Then, come to the Jade Maiden Shrine to see me. I have something to discuss with you."

Zhao Gao was even more bewildered upon hearing this.

He didn't know why Verdant Green Maiden wanted to see him, but he dared not disobey her in any way, so he could only nod in agreement.

When Zhao Gao arrived at the Jade Maiden Shrine, Verdant Green Maiden was sitting at the entrance, sharpening her sword.

"My lady, Zhao Gao is here!"

Zhao Gao stopped and bowed to Verdant Green Maiden.

Verdant Green Maiden hummed and said, "Wait a moment. The sword isn't sharpened yet. Stand there for now."

Zhao Gao watched Verdant Green Maiden diligently sharpening her sword and found it strange. He cautiously approached and asked, "My lady, what are you sharpening your sword for? If there's anything this servant can help with, please just command me!"

"Standing still is helping me," Verdant Green Maiden replied.

Soon, she finished sharpening her sword and turned, thrusting it directly into Zhao Gao's chest!

Zhao Gao's expression turned shocked and bewildered. He looked at Verdant Green Maiden, opened his mouth, but his lungs were pierced, preventing him from speaking. He could only cough up bloody foam.

His body weakly collapsed onto the ground, twitched a few times, and then fell silent.

Watching Zhao Gao die, Verdant Green Maiden, who had flapped her butterfly wings, didn't know what the future held, but she didn't feel she had done anything wrong. She dropped her sword and called into the Jade Maiden Shrine, "Bird Sister, go find someone to collect the body!"

"Collect the body? For whom-- "

Hong Luan heard the voice and flew out from inside. Upon seeing Zhao Gao lying in a pool of blood, the latter half of her sentence got stuck in her throat.