"Chao pays his respects to the prince." A boy in a long robe, his hair neatly arranged, bowed slightly to Zheng.
"You are not my retainer, so why stand on such ceremony?" Zheng smiled faintly and patted Ji Chao's shoulder. "You are not my subject, and I am not your lord. Let us leave such formalities for later."
"Your Highness must not speak so carelessly. Walls have ears." Ji Chao looked slightly helpless.
His name was Ji Chao, though he could also be called Xiang Chao. He had just turned eight this year.
When Chu sent hostages, he had accompanied them to Qin in the southwest as the eldest son of Chu's great general, Xiang Yan. A few days ago, by sheer coincidence, he had started spending time with Qin's new Prince Zheng.
And Zheng was none other than Qin Shi Huang.
His clan name was Ying, and his given name was Zheng.
"It is fine. I merely came to see you. What have you been tinkering with this time?" Prince Zheng's face showed interest.
Ji Chao sighed and took a small object from behind him, handing it to Prince Zheng.
A gleam flashed through Prince Zheng's eyes as he accepted the little object from Ji Chao.
It was a small bird, assembled from exquisitely crafted wooden parts.
The bird could walk across Prince Zheng's palm and even chirped, "Chirp, chirp."
"...Truly exquisite." Prince Zheng sat on a stool and happily began teasing the little bird.
Ji Chao stood quietly to one side. Watching Prince Zheng play with the bird, he could not help feeling somewhat at a loss.
"Your Highness truly recognizes Chao's talent," he blurted out unconsciously.
"Why do you say that?" Prince Zheng's gaze remained fixed on the mechanical bird as he asked casually.
"...Chao's father never