Verdant Green Maiden swaggered home with her whole party!
When Zhao found out, the King of Zhao sent another large group of men to seize Zhao Ji and little Ying Zheng. But with Verdant Green Maiden there, they never succeeded.
In the end, even the King of Zhao learned that Verdant Green Maiden was someone they couldn't afford to provoke, and he didn't dare send anyone after them again.
At last, little Ying Zheng and Afang had something close to a peaceful childhood.
By the time they heard from Ying Yiren again, he had changed his name to Ying Zichu. Word was that Lady Huayang had taken him as her son, and King Anguo, Ying Zhu, had appointed him heir. It was just as Lu Buwei had said: a rare commodity worth hoarding.
Zhao Ji looked troubled. She found Verdant Green Maiden and asked, "Teacher, has my husband already forgotten Zheng and me?"
"Don't worry. He still remembers you."
Verdant Green Maiden reassured Zhao Ji.
But perhaps the songstress's way of thinking simply didn't match hers. Zhao Ji was convinced that Ying Yiren was living the life of an upper-class noble in the Qin court and had long since cast her and little Ying Zheng aside, no longer sparing them a thought.
The little griper sighed all day long. Her love and yearning for Ying Yiren had turned into hidden resentment and a touch of bitterness.
Verdant Green Maiden watched her mood change and tried to talk some sense into her, but the little griper just wouldn't listen!
What a pain. Let her do whatever she wanted!
Verdant Green Maiden stopped bothering with Zhao Ji and devoted herself to training Ying Zheng.
At eight or nine years old, Ying Zheng had grown tall—he was nearly as tall as Verdant Green Maiden!
Under her guidance, he practiced swordsmanship and improved by leaps and bounds.
"Teacher!"
Ying Zheng stood before Verdant Green Maiden, smiling at her, his eyes shining. "No one in Handan can beat me! I'm ready to graduate, aren't I?"
"Wipe off your sweat first."
Verdant Green Maiden handed him a cloth.
Ying Zheng wiped his face carelessly and let out a breath. He was just about to say more when Zhao's Prime Minister, Lord Pingyuan Zhao Sheng, arrived with his entourage.
Seeing them, Ying Zheng immediately raised his sword and stepped in front of Verdant Green Maiden, saying solemnly, "Teacher, be careful!"
"Can you protect me?"
Verdant Green Maiden looked at Ying Zheng's actions, feeling a little helpless.
If it came to a real fight, who knew which of them would end up protecting the other! She patted Ying Zheng on the shoulder and said, "Move aside. Let me handle this."
"Teacher..."
Hearing that, Ying Zheng fell silent and obediently moved to one side, gripping his sword tightly.
Verdant Green Maiden turned her gaze to Zhao Sheng and asked, "Lord Pingyuan, what brings you here? Has Qin gone to war with Zhao, and are you planning to use a widow and her child as a shield again? Honestly, how can you be so useless..."
Watching Verdant Green Maiden ramble on, Zhao Sheng looked thoroughly embarrassed.
He cleared his throat and placated her. "Teacher Shao Dian, you misunderstand. I've come to escort Lady Zhao and young lord Ying Zheng back to Qin!"
"Back to Qin?"
Verdant Green Maiden paused in surprise, then quickly understood.
"Got it! Ying Ji died?"
After Ying Ji's death, Ying Zhu, King Anguo, had become King of Qin, and Ying Yiren—no, Ying Zichu—had naturally become Crown Prince. The Crown Prince's son couldn't possibly remain a hostage, so it was only natural for Zhao to send Ying Zheng home and make peace with Qin.
Zhao Sheng smiled and nodded, confirming Verdant Green Maiden's guess.
Verdant Green Maiden asked in turn, "But now that the old King of Qin is dead, why aren't you taking advantage of it and kicking them while they're down?"
"Oh, because we can't beat Qin!"
Her question-and-answer left Zhao Sheng even more embarrassed. He said helplessly, "Teacher Shao Dian, please stop making fun of Great Zhao! Please tell Lady Zhao to get ready. We'll send people to escort them in a few days."
"Mm-hm, got it. Go on back."
Verdant Green Maiden waved him away. After Zhao Sheng left, Ying Zheng, standing behind her, said, "I'm sorry, Teacher..."
"Huh? What are you apologizing for?" Verdant Green Maiden paused, looking at Ying Zheng in confusion.
Ying Zheng looked at Verdant Green Maiden, emotions surging in his eyes. "If I were stronger, I wouldn't have to let you stand in front of me! Mother said I'm the son of the future King of Qin, a man who can hold up the sky and stand firm on the earth! Teacher, believe me. One day, I'll protect you!"
That was...
A little strange.
Verdant Green Maiden leaned back in a defensive maneuver and stared at Ying Zheng for a long while before nodding. "Mm, ambitious! I like it!"
At her praise, Ying Zheng broke into a delighted smile.
Zhao sent a large contingent to escort Ying Zheng and the others home, but they were stopped outside Xianyang City.
By then, Qin's mourning period had passed. Although Ying Zhu had not formally ascended the throne, he had already begun ruling Qin as King. Lady Huayang knew about Ying Zheng and Zhao Ji, and had specifically ordered people to stop them outside Xianyang City.
No matter how loudly Zhao's envoys shouted, no one answered them.
"Honestly, let me..."
Seeing this, Verdant Green Maiden rolled up her sleeves, ready to get physical.
But Ying Zheng suddenly grabbed her hand. Verdant Green Maiden froze and turned to look at him. Her hand was ice-cold, with the slick, chilly feel of a snake. Feeling it, Ying Zheng couldn't help squeezing it once more.
Verdant Green Maiden tilted her head. "Are you crazy?"
"Teacher, don't worry. Leave this to me, all right?"
Ying Zheng cleared his throat and looked at Verdant Green Maiden. Seeing how serious he was, she gave a little sniff and nodded. "Fine, go ahead, Pika Zheng!"
Ying Zheng was already used to the strange things Verdant Green Maiden sometimes blurted out that he couldn't understand.
He stepped out of the carriage and looked up at the guard on the walls of Xianyang City. In a deep voice, he said, "I am Ying Zheng, great-grandson of King Huiwen, great-great-grandson of King Zhaoxiang, grandson of King Zhu of Qin, and son of Crown Prince Ying Zichu! I've come from Handan to reclaim my place among the Qin royal family. General, why do you stop me?"
Only the guard knew Ying Zheng's identity. The others knew nothing about it, so they exchanged bewildered looks when they suddenly heard him speak.
"General... is he a royal grandson?"
The guard furrowed his brows and snapped angrily, "What royal grandson? Anyone can make claims with their mouth. Who knows whether it's true?"
As soon as he said this, Ying Zheng's gaze turned cold. He stepped straight out of the carriage and walked toward the city gate.
The soldiers at the gate hurriedly backed away.
They didn't know whether Ying Zheng's identity was real, but they didn't dare gamble on it!
The guard hurried down the stairs and ran over to stop Ying Zheng. Before he could even reach him, a pebble flicked from Verdant Green Maiden's direction struck him and sent him sprawling.
Ying Zheng looked back at Verdant Green Maiden. Leaning against the carriage, she said leisurely, "Kid, remember! Only overwhelming strength can make people submit. If you can't beat them into submission, they'll never believe a word you say."
Ying Zheng took a deep breath and saluted Verdant Green Maiden.
"Ying Zheng understands!"
Verdant Green Maiden hopped down from the carriage and went to the city gate. Seeing that it had been opened only a crack—nowhere near wide enough for the carriage to pass through—she pushed the soldiers aside and kicked it.
With a tremendous crash, the massive gate shattered!
"Sorry. I put a little too much strength into it."
Verdant Green Maiden turned around and spread her hands.
Seeing Verdant Green Maiden kick the gate open, the guard finally rolled his eyes back and fainted.
After he passed out, Verdant Green Maiden nudged him with her foot. He didn't wake up.
"Looks like he agrees to let us in. Come on, little Ying Zheng, let's go!"
Before you continue