The Qin Dynasty entered the game with love.

Yuan Tiangang naturally took the unconscious Ying Ji back to the palace.

Just then, they encountered Liang Cejun returning to the palace, and he handed the person over to Zhang Liang and left.

The situation of Ying Ji was reported to King Ying Zheng of Qin.

Zhang Liang held the woman, whose body was burning hot, buried his face in her neck and took a deep breath: "Hurry up and remember."

When Ying Zheng learned that Ying Ji had been attacked again, he was furious: "Xianyang belongs to the six states, how can they assassinate the Qin princess at will?"

"The Bad People must quickly investigate the spies from the six kingdoms. I, the King, intend to annihilate them all this time, leaving no one alive."

Yuan Tiangang knelt down and agreed, then disappeared.

Gai Nie stepped out from behind: "Your Majesty, don't you think the timing is too coincidental? Coming out of the military camp, encountering a mother and child with smallpox, and then a trip to the Imperial Academy, all within half a day."

Ying Zheng's eyes were full of disdain: "A bunch of cowardly rats who only know how to scheme and plot. It seems that the princess's gentleness has given these people ideas they shouldn't have."

Gai Nie nodded. In his heart, he thought the same thing. King Ying Zheng of Qin was domineering and tyrannical. He was restless and worked day and night for the sake of Qin. His grand ambition for hegemony was always on his mind.

The entire Qin state revolved around his ideas. The pressure from the six external states united the Qin people, while the common people, who should have been living in a state of stagnation and hardship just to get food, were left to suffer.

However, thanks to Princess Yingji's appeasement policy, the entire country became lively, enthusiastic, and full of vitality and hope, serving as a buffer.

Without the princess, the King of Qin and his courtiers would be a high-speed machine, dragging the people of the country into a state of toil and hardship.

But it was because of her appearance that the people of Qin were united and kept up with the King of Qin, even taking the King of Qin's goals as their own.

The King of Qin valued martial prowess, and the people considered it an honor to join the army.

The King of Qin sought out talented individuals, and all scholars were admitted to the Imperial Academy.

The King of Qin valued virtue, and was praised by both his superiors and inferiors.

When the King of Qin wanted a name, the character "政" (Zheng) was chosen, a name that could be considered a reincarnation of Cangjie (a legendary inventor of Chinese mythology).

Gai Nie looked at this man who bore the weight of the world on his shoulders and agreed with his ideals. Sooner or later, the world would see the future he envisioned.

Ying Zheng stood in the Xianyang Palace, his eyes fixed on the map in his hand.

Zhao Gao quickly received the news and rushed over to report the situation: "Your Majesty, Zheng is standing in the Xianyang Palace, his eyes fixed on the map in his hand."

Zhao Gao quickly received the news and rushed over to report the situation: "Your Majesty, the Bad People have sent word that the princess has contracted smallpox. While she is lucid, she requests that you not go to Yongning Palace or leave Xianyang Hall. She should wait until she has dealt with the smallpox matter before making any further moves."

Ying Zheng gripped the Qin King's sword. He knew that smallpox was dangerous, and as an emperor, he had to avoid such risks. Even without those words, he would not have gone.

Ying Ji's words were solely intended to silence the gossip.

A flicker of emotion crossed the man's usually cold face, and a fleeting look of worry flashed in his eyes, but it was only for a moment.

His expression remained unchanged as he sat at his desk, reviewing the latest military intelligence reports as usual.

However, one lazy little fox was missing.

Ying Zheng often opened his arms, wanting to bury his palms in the smooth, soft hair, but when he realized it, he only felt it was a vain dream.

Zifang Palace

When Ying Ji was brought in, she was already unconscious. After an examination, the imperial physician confirmed that she had contracted smallpox and had to be confined to the palace, along with Zhang Liang, who had just returned to the palace.

Zhang Liang, wearing a mask, diligently treated his illness. When Ying Ji opened her eyes, she felt a sore and swollen throat.

He opened his mouth but couldn't utter a single word; fortunately, Zhang Liang was there to look after him.

They quickly handed over a glass of warm water.

Ying Ji drank a glass of water, and then felt a burning sensation in her throat, as well as a fever and dizziness throughout her body.

Zhang Liang sat on the edge of the bed, helped Ying Ji sit up against him, gently patted her back, and said in a warm voice, "Your Highness, is there anything else that's bothering you? The imperial physician will be here soon."

Ying Ji handed the water glass back and noticed something unusual on the back of her hand; a dense rash of red rashes had appeared on her fair arm.

With a look of grief in his eyes, Zhang Liang lowered his gaze and became gentle and polite again: "It's alright, it's just smallpox. The Imperial Academy is already experimenting with the cowpox vaccine. In a couple of days, we'll have definite news."

Ying Ji said nervously, "A Zheng can come and see me. Tell him not to leave Xianyang Palace. There must be spies trying to spread smallpox throughout the city."

Zhang Liang put his arm around Ying Ji's lower back, his tone still gentle: "It's nothing. After discovering it was smallpox, I've already sent word."

Ying Ji breathed a sigh of relief and patted the man's hand: "You did very well, it wasn't overstepping your bounds."

Zhang Liang gently rubbed the woman's cheek: "Hmm, is there any discomfort now? Are you hungry? I'll go get some food."

Ying Ji then realized that her stomach was empty and nodded.

Zhang Liang brought the tea to the bedside, refilled the tea, and thoughtfully placed it within easy reach before leaving.

Soon the royal physician arrived and examined her, saying, "The princess is in good health and should be fine for a few more days, but the red rash all over her body may leave scars."

Ying Ji frowned: "Bring me the bronze mirror."

The physician dared not disobey and raised his hands high so that Ying Ji could see him.

Ying Ji found herself terrifying; her face was covered in red rashes, making her look like a monster. However, compared to her life, her appearance was a minor matter.

When the royal physician saw that the princess was no longer speaking, he assumed she was angry. He became trembling with fear, and even his reflection in the bronze mirror was shaking.

Ying Ji touched her forehead; it was still burning hot. "Why is it the imperial physician who came? Where are the people from the Imperial Academy?"

Seeing that the princess was not angry, the royal physician thought she could live a little longer: "The disciples of the Imperial Academy, Bian Le, heard that you had smallpox and insisted on coming to treat you. They were knocked unconscious by the scoundrels and left at the clinic. The palace is now sealed off, and no one is allowed to enter or leave."

Ying Ji nodded: "It's alright. The physician will distribute some of the medicine to the palace servants and eunuchs as well, and they should avoid contact with each other."

The imperial physician bowed and said, "Yes, ever since your diagnosis, the Consort Liang has been by your side despite his illness. I have already arranged for these minor details to be taken care of."

Ying Ji nodded and dismissed the others.

When Zhang Liang returned, he saw that the woman had fallen into a deep sleep again. He put the food aside and took out a towel to wipe her carefully.

His eyes were filled with a thick, almost unsettling love.

When Ying Ji woke up again, it was already midnight, but she still saw the teacup that Zhang Liang had brought.

Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, Ying Ji knew he hadn't rested properly: "Go to sleep if you're tired. I know my own body; it's not that bad."

Zhang Liang smiled bitterly: "I don't want to close my eyes, it feels like you're about to leave me at any moment."

Ying Ji, with a soft heart, moved aside to make room for him: "Since you're not afraid of death, sleep with me. I'll be right next to you, so you can rest well."

Zhang Liang's eyes lit up, and before he could finish speaking, the man had already taken off his outer garment and lay down beside him.

He hugged the woman, wanting to press his face against hers.

After Ying Ji turned her head to avoid him, he obediently kept a little distance.

Looking at Zhang Liang, Ying Ji's cold and hard heart finally melted. Perhaps it was because she was in too much pain that she felt the man's deep love for her in the face of life and death.

She looks so terrible now, yet men still scramble to get close to her.

While she was still lucid, Ying Ji pondered how to deal with the current situation of the flower blooming.

The army is almost there and will be back in a day.

We should wait outside for no more than three days. If that takes too long, the morale of the army will be unstable. If we are too eager to go home, smallpox will likely spread directly to the army.

Even if the cowpox vaccination method could cure smallpox, it still required cows and smallpox pods. It seems that a representative needs to step forward and get everyone in Xianyang vaccinated as soon as possible.

Looking at her rash, Yingji knew this couldn't be delayed, so she pulled the call button by her bedside.

The Yuezhi guards at the gate arrived, and Ying Ji, not wanting to wake Zhang Liang who had just fallen asleep, gave a quiet order.

"Go and inform the King of Qin that I am leaving the palace and summoning Li Si and Bian Yue to the city center. I wish to be vaccinated against smallpox on the spot."

Suddenly, Ying Ji sensed something was wrong and saw Zhang Liang holding her and crying.

Somewhat helplessly, she pulled the person into her arms: "Don't be afraid, smallpox can be cured, and the cowpox vaccination method is 100% foolproof. Now we are missing a representative, and I am the most suitable."

Feeling the long-lost tenderness of a woman, Zhang Liang regretted his entire plan for a moment, but only for a fleeting instant.

A deep, muffled voice came out: "Unlike others, as a concubine, I should stand with the princess through thick and thin. We've been together for so long, I'm sure I've been infected too. It's most appropriate for us to get vaccinated together."

The man held his hands tightly, as if he wouldn't let go until he agreed.

For a moment, Ying Ji's eyes cleared, and a warm current rose in her heart, but this strange feeling of excitement quickly disappeared, leaving only an empty and lonely heart.

The Yuezhi quickly spread the word, and Ying Zheng responded even faster, with all the influential court officials among the common people appearing in the city center.

The woman who had blocked the road earlier was also standing to the side holding a young child.

Ying Ji fell into a deep sleep again. There was nothing she could do; her body temperature was too high and wouldn't come down for a long time. She hoped that her occasional moments of lucidity would be put to good use.