Lu Buwei informed the envoys of various countries about Ying Zheng's decision to choose his concubine.
But Lu Buwei didn't say that absolutely, he just said that after they all passed the performance, Princess Nansu of Chu and Princess Hu Yu of Zhao would become princesses at the same time and marry Ying Zheng.
Princesses from other countries still have the opportunity to become the princess of Qin, but they need to stay in Qin for a longer period of time.
Ying Zheng went to Mrs. Huayang to find an auspicious day for the trip.
The time is set to be three days later, and we will leave for Yongcheng. Nine days later, on February 15th, the ceremony of worshiping ancestors and worshiping heaven will be performed when the moon is full. Then go to Qishan to hold spring hunting activities.
After thinking about it, Ying Zheng prepared to take the two princesses Nansu and Hu Yu with him, while the princesses from other countries stayed at their original residences.
Ying Zheng prepared a lot of items. There were many for sacrifices and hunting, and many of them were brought to Zhao Ji.
As for the accompanying escort, of course it cannot be used by others. Meng Ao has handed over the army to Ying Zheng and can be deployed at any time.
Ying Zhengte went to Meng's house for this matter.
Meng Ao's condition remained the same, not getting better, but not getting worse.
Due to Meng Ao's illness, Meng Wu could not travel with Wang Chai. But the Mongolian military general took out the military talisman and gave it to Ying Zheng, and personally ordered 20,000 elite soldiers to accompany Ying Zheng on the trip.
Meng Tian and Meng Yi were brothers and asked Meng Wu to travel with Ying Zheng.
Meng Wu thought about it and left Meng Yi in his mansion to help him take care of Meng Ao and let Meng Tian travel with Ying Zheng, one to protect him and the other to gain more experience.
Meng Yi was still dissatisfied with this arrangement. Ying Zheng immediately comforted him with a few words and said that he would be rewarded with the prey he hunted. Only then did Meng Yi give up.
Major events in the State of Qin continued, and various discussions were heard. Especially Wen Lei Ju with a large number of people.
"Have you heard that King Qin is going to take two princesses on a trip this time, and when he comes back, he will marry the two princesses together." A man dressed in the Chu Kingdom said to the person next to him, "No matter what, we must separate them. First and second.”
"If we want to divide, we must win over Princess Hu Yu of Zhao State first." A person wearing Zhao State's clothes joked next to her, "You princesses of Chu State have to go to the back."
"This is not necessarily true. The queens of recent generations of Qin kings are all princesses of Chu. It is Zhao who should step aside." The bachelor of Chu retorted.
"What do you know?" A man in local Qin costumes said beside them, "It is said that the King of Qin will marry all the princesses who are participating in the election this time. Otherwise, why not let the princesses from those countries return to the country?"
"No way." The Chu scholar said in surprise, "King Qin wants to marry all the princesses?"
"Yes, it's too exaggerated. There has never been such a precedent." The Zhao guy had a similar reaction.
"This is not an exaggeration." The Qin people said, "What is exaggerated is that I heard that during the ancestor worship, the celebrity next to the Queen Mother, that is, the eunuch Lao Ai, will be knighted. It seems to be some kind of long letter. Hou."
"Huh? Marquis?"
This time, not only the people from Chu and Zhao, but everyone present who heard his words opened their mouths wide.
"Don't say this nonsense." Someone said.
"Yeah, isn't that a eunuch?" someone else said.
"If this is true, then Qin will make all other countries wiser." The Chu man's tone was a little frivolous.
The man from Qin said: "It shouldn't be wrong. I am a guest in Lu Xiangbang's house, and most of the guests in the house know this. At first, Lu Xiangbang was annoyed for a while because Lao Ai's title was equal to his. Later, he saw that the Queen Mother was very insistent. , and since we have divided Lao Ai out, we won’t care about it anymore.”
"It seems that this matter should be true." The man from Zhao said to the person next to him.
"I haven't heard of this Lao Ai's contribution to the Qin Dynasty. How come he was granted the title of Marquis all of a sudden and was given territory." Another bachelor of the Qin State said, "You know, even the outstanding old general Meng Ao Never knighted."
"Yes, that Lao Ai and General Meng are totally different." Someone agreed.
"She is a popular person around the Queen Mother. In this regard, General Meng cannot compare." The man who claimed to be a retainer in Lu Buwei's mansion said, "But, having said that, I heard that General Meng was ill and has handed over the general power. Well, this time the king is traveling, he will be escorted by the Meng family army, and the Meng family only sent Young Master Meng Tian to accompany the king."
"The people in Prime Minister Lu's Mansion are well-informed. Brother, can you please be accommodating? I also want to be a retainer in Prime Minister Lu's Mansion." One person said jokingly.
"No problem, this matter will be taken care of by brothers." Bachelor of Qin boasted.
Everyone was talking and chatting. But no one noticed that not far from a few people, two people smiled strangely, turned around and walked out of Wenleiju.
Now that the news has spread, it won't take long for it to spread throughout the city and even the country. It is unknown whether Lu Buwei deliberately spread some of the news, but the topics people discussed will definitely reach Ying Zheng's ears.
Ying Zheng may not care about other things, but comparing Lao Ai with General Meng Ao makes Ying Zheng somewhat annoyed, and indeed feels a little guilty towards Meng Ao.
Helplessly, the promise to Zhao Ji had to be fulfilled. But Ying Zheng had to pay attention to public opinion.
Since Lu Buwei has a prejudice against Lao Ai, he will use this to write some articles in the future.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Lu Buwei stayed in Xianyang and maintained the government. But Ying Zheng knew that one of the reasons was that he didn't want to see Lao Ai become a marquis with his own eyes.
In addition to the important ministers of the court who went to worship heaven, almost all members of the Ying clan were dispatched.
This sacrifice to heaven is different from the ordinary ancestor worship. It is a necessary ceremony for the new king to ascend the throne. Ying Zheng held one when he was thirteen years old, but at that time he was just a spectator.
However, ancestor worship can be carried out during major festivals, or at any time according to the king's will. Just like the first day of the first lunar month more than a month ago, at the beginning of the new year, the ancestor worship ceremony had just been completed, but it could not replace this heaven worship ceremony.
Two thousand imperial guards escorted the princes and ministers out of Xianyang City, met with the Meng family troops waiting outside the city, made slight adjustments, and then set off for Yongcheng.
As a vanguard, Meng Tian led the 5,000 Meng family troops at the forefront. There were also 5,000 Meng troops supporting them on both sides, and 5,000 Meng troops walking at the rear. In the middle, there were two thousand guardsmen guarding Ying Zheng.
Every time he passed a city or pass, Ying Zheng would carefully ask local officials or guards about the local situation, especially regarding grain output and mineral resources.
Li Si also recorded what they said.
At dusk on the third day, Yongcheng was already in sight.
Yongcheng is the ancient capital of the Qin State. More than a dozen kings of the Qin State have governed the Qin State here for nearly three hundred years. Although it is no longer as prosperous as it was in the past, its heritage is still there and its population is densely populated.
Ying Zheng ordered everyone to station outside the city and not disturb the people. Then he took Zhao Gao and other entourage and hurried to the palace.
Although he hadn't seen her for more than ten days, Ying Zheng missed Zhao Ji very much.
I have been dependent on my mother since I was a child, and that sense of dependence does not disappear easily.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Ji still had that cold attitude.
After only speaking a few words to Ying Zheng, Zhao Ji said that she needed to go back to rest and asked Ying Zheng to prepare for the ceremony. She was ill and could not attend.
Zhao Ji gave a few more instructions about Lao Ai's ennoblement, then got up and returned to the palace.
After leaving the palace gate, Ying Zheng turned to Zhao Gao and said, "Have you kept the Queen Mother's decree and seal properly?"
"Back to the king, I will carry it with you closely and don't dare to neglect it at all." Zhao Gao said.
Ying Zheng nodded and said: "I will promulgate a decree immediately tomorrow to consecrate Lao Ai as the Marquis of Changxin, grant him a residence in Shanyang County, and grant him land in Taiyuan County."
Zhao Gao looked surprised and asked: "Your Majesty, the original decree did not grant him a fief?"
Ying Zheng looked at Zhao Gao and said, "These two counties are quite far away from Yongcheng. I want to see how my mother will react if he is not by her side."
This seems to be a prudent approach.
Zhao Gao handed over his hand and didn't ask any more questions.
That night, Ying Zheng did not stay in the palace, but in a military camp outside the city.
On the second day, Ying Zheng led all the courtiers and relatives of the Ying family to the meeting hall of the Li Palace.
Zhao Ji was already waiting at her seat, and beside her stood the energetic Lao Ai.
Lao Ai changed from her usual palace attendant attire and put on court clothes. She had a strong sense of ceremony and an extraordinary demeanor.
After Ying Zheng paid his respects to Zhao Ji, he looked at Lao Ai and said nothing.
Zhao Ji glanced at the ministers below, raised her voice, and said loudly: "This heavenly sacrifice is the national sacrifice of our great Qin. Only by worshiping the heaven with the rites of a new king and the earth with the ceremonial crown can we protect me. The Qin Dynasty lasts for thousands of generations, and its country is forever solid."
The ministers lowered their heads and listened respectfully and carefully.
"In order to make thorough preparations, I specially set off for Yongcheng in advance. Unexpectedly, I got sick occasionally on the way, and with the bumpy work and hard work, I couldn't afford to fall ill." Zhao Ji said, "Fortunately, Manager Lao is by my side. With careful care, I can recover. Otherwise, my life may not be guaranteed."
Some ministers raised their heads to look at Zhao Ji, and then lowered their heads.
"Saving my life means being kind to me, and being kind to me means being kind to the royal family." Zhao Ji continued, "My great Qin royal family always rewards merit and repays kindness. Your Majesty. I am also extremely grateful to him, and I would like to express my gratitude to Lao Ai."
Ying Zheng looked at Zhao Ji with wide eyes.
This story was made up. If Ying Zheng didn't know the whole story, he himself would have believed that what Zhao Ji just said was the truth.
"Your Majesty, haven't you made a decree?" Zhao Ji looked at Ying Zheng and said, "I am ready to announce the decree."
Ying Zheng smiled bitterly in his heart and said to Zhao Gao: "Zhao Gao, declare the decree."
"Respect the king's order." Zhao Gao said.
Zhao Gao took out the order from Zhao Ji to Ying Zheng and read it out.
When it was finally said that Shanyang County and Taiyuan County were bestowed upon Lao Ai, Lao Ai's eyes moved and turned to reveal joy.
This was an unexpected surprise, even Zhao Ji didn't expect it.
Lao Ai smiled and immediately knelt down to receive the order and thank him.
All the ministers congratulated him in unison, but they didn't want to be troublesome, and there was no doubt at all.
After reading out the edict, Zhao Ji left, leaving Lao Ai to be crowned and knighted in the palace. After all, this official title was reluctantly conferred on Lao Ai, and it would be inappropriate for Zhao Ji to interfere too much.
After giving Lao Ai a noble honor, Ying Zheng discussed the matter of offering sacrifices to heaven with his ministers, and then left the palace.
Zhao Ji's goal has been achieved, but Lao Ai is happy, but Ying Zheng is in trouble.
Everything is done out of necessity.
