[Various] The Deposed Crown Prince's Survival Story

Xiao He was a talented man. Although he was not as knowledgeable as Fusu or as insightful as Chen Ping, he was adept at handling the troublesome affairs of these two men. Fusu was so pleased that he immediately took Xiao He as a retainer, despite Xiao He's own wishes.

Hmph! Once you've entered my door, you're mine. Don't even think about escaping.

With Xiao He as his chief steward, Fusu found handling official business much easier. Apart from keeping money and military power firmly in his own hands, he no longer needed to deal with other minor matters personally, making his life much easier.

Meanwhile, in the vanguard, Wang Jian's army continued to adopt the policy of advancing step by step as a group army. The Qin army overwhelmed the Chu army with its numbers, pushing them all the way to the outskirts of Shouchun City, surrounding them without attacking, and quietly watching the Chu people put on a show.

With hundreds of thousands of troops stationed outside, the daily consumption of food and supplies is not only enormous, but also the overall management and calculation of these supplies is a very complex matter.

If Fusu were to do it, although he would certainly be able to do it well, he would definitely find it extremely difficult.

At this time, it was Xiao He who stepped forward again, meticulously handling the logistics of the army every day. As for Fusu... because of his super-fast calculation ability, he became Xiao He's human brain calculator.

Thus, Shouchun City was besieged by Wang Jian for several months. Just when everyone thought the situation would continue to be deadlocked, Fusu heard some news—Ying Zheng had brought Mi Ji to Yingdu.

"Huh? Why is Father here at the front lines?" Fusu was slightly shocked.

Ying Zheng, while exceptionally talented in politics, was not particularly skilled in military affairs. As a result, he never personally went to the front lines during the campaigns to conquer the former four states, except when the state of Zhao went to Handan afterward to kill their enemy.

"Does he have enemies in Chu whom he wants to kill? But isn't this a bit too early? We should at least wait until Shouchun is captured before making a move."

Despite his doubts, Fusu packed his bags and prepared to return to Yingcheng to pay his respects to Ying Zheng.

After some thought, Xiao He, the chief steward, was left behind by Fusu, while Chen... not his brother-in-law Ping, was taken to Yingcheng by Fusu.

Ying Zheng was a big fan of good looks. In addition to valuing talent, he was also very tolerant of good-looking people. There were no ugly people around him, even Zhao Gao was very handsome.

Although Chen Ping wasn't as handsome as himself, Fusu thought he could at least be considered a good-looking man. He was also smart and had a sweet tongue, so he figured Ying Zheng wouldn't dislike him if he took him back.

Upon returning to Yingdu, Fusu paid a visit to Ying Zheng and strongly recommended the talented individuals Chen Ping and Xiao He.

"Chen Ping? Is that the man you wanted to marry He Hua to?" Ying Zheng asked.

"Father, it is indeed this man," Fusu replied. "Xiao He has not returned from the front lines, but Chen Ping is in Yingdu. Would you like to see him, Father?"

"Why see him? Let him come see me when he's strong enough." Ying Zheng raised his head slightly. Anyway, his lovely daughter was only thirteen years old and could stay at home for a few more years. Why was he in such a hurry?

As for whether Chen Ping would suddenly get married, Ying Zheng wasn't worried about that at all, with Fusu around.

"Father, what is the purpose of your visit to Yingdu?" Fusu asked hesitantly.

"I miss you..." Ying Zheng's words made Fusu, who had been calm and composed, blush, and his heart soared with pride.

As expected, Father still loves me the most.

"That's impossible." Ying Zheng glanced at his mischievous child and said irritably.

That brat has no shame! He thinks I'll miss him so much I won't be able to eat. With Baozhu and Huhai keeping me company while I eat, I enjoy my meal immensely.

"I have something to tell you to do." Ying Zheng beckoned to Fusu with his finger, signaling him to come closer.

A few days later, in the Yingdu Palace, Ying Zheng was drinking tea under a maple tree, looking at the red leaves covering the tree, and said to Mi Ji, who was standing beside him admiring the scenery, "Before the maple leaves all fall, my beloved, you can go home."

Ying Zheng's words startled Mi Ji. Her hometown was Shouchun, which was currently surrounded by Wang Jian's 600,000-strong army. People inside the city could not get out, and people outside the city could not get in.

But now Ying Zheng says he's going home, doesn't that mean...?

"Your Majesty!" Mi Ji knelt on the ground with a thud, two lines of clear tears streaming down her beautiful eyes. She reached out and grabbed Ying Zheng's hem, saying in a tearful voice, "I beg Your Majesty to have mercy."

"Pity? Pity what?" Ying Zheng put down his teacup, stood up, shook off Mi Ji's hand, and looked down at her as he asked.

"I dare not ask Your Majesty to spare the State of Chu. I only hope that Your Majesty can preserve the ancestral temples and altars of the Chu people, so that they may have a place to commemorate their ancestors." Mi Ji said with tears streaming down her face, looking pitiful. "I beg Your Majesty, please grant my request, considering that I have served Your Majesty for so many years."

Ying Zheng looked at Mi Ji, remained silent for a while, then shook his head and said, "Impossible."

"Your Majesty!" Mi Ji called out again, trying to grab Ying Zheng's sleeve, but he dodged her.

“I am telling you, you are no longer a princess of Chu, you are a lady of Qin. Think of Hehua, think of Fusu! Think of…” Before Ying Zheng could finish speaking, a commotion broke out outside.

"Who's making a scene outside?" Ying Zheng shouted.

He had a bad temper, and even Zhao Gao, who served him for many years, was often kicked and scolded by him. When he heard the arguing outside, Ying Zheng's first reaction was to draw his long sword.

With a loud bang, the courtyard gate was suddenly pushed open, and a group of soldiers filed into the courtyard. The leader was none other than Lord Changping.

Lord Changping, clad in armor and wielding a long sword, pointed at Ying Zheng and declared, "Zhao Zheng! Today is your death day!"

"Xiong Qi, what are you doing?" Mi Ji shrieked, stepping between Ying Zheng and Lord Changping, pointing at Lord Changping and saying, "Are you trying to rebel?"

“I am a Chu person, and he is a Qin person. What talk of treason! Princess, please step aside and don’t block my way.” Lord Changping did not address Mi Ji as “Madam” as he usually did, but instead called her “Princess,” clearly acknowledging only her Chu identity.

"No! I won't move aside!" Mi Ji shook her head, spread her arms, and stood in front of Ying Zheng, saying firmly, "I will not let you hurt the king."

“Foolish woman! Get out of my way! Let me kill him, and the Qin people will withdraw their troops; kill him, and Su’er can ascend the throne. Su’er is too old to rule, and you can become queen. Qin and Chu will be on good terms, wouldn’t that be wonderful?” Lord Changping pointed his sword at Mi Ji and began to persuade her.

It must be said that Changping Jun's words sounded very tempting, making Mi Ji very interested.

Although Ying Zheng had many sons, the eldest, Fusu, was only sixteen years old. The other children were all teenagers, and they had neither handled state affairs nor trained in the army. As long as the ministers were not foolish, they would not abandon the eldest son, who was already grown up, intelligent and capable in both literature and martial arts, and had the full support of the State of Chu, and choose other sons instead.

As for the matter of Lord Changping's rebellion, since the mountains are high and the ministers are far away, as long as we and others shift the responsibility to the remnants of the four states, who would dare to doubt the future King of Qin?

Mi Ji lowered her head, remained silent for a while, then looked up at Lord Changping and said, "No! I won't agree."

"You...you mustn't be so stubborn," Lord Changping said angrily, pointing at Mi Ji.

“Su’er respects her father the most. If he knew that the throne was like this, he would definitely not accept it. And I am her mother…” Mi Ji’s words instantly made Ying Zheng, who was standing behind her, feel extremely embarrassed.

When Mi Ji initially firmly stated that she would not associate with Lord Changping and vowed to protect the king with her life, Ying Zheng was actually a little moved. But in the end... she did it all for her son.

Ying Zheng was heartbroken, Ying Zheng was sad, Ying Zheng was suffering in his heart.

He shoved Mi Ji aside, who was blocking his way, took two steps forward, and looked at Lord Changping with a cold smile, saying, "Want to kill me? Then try it!"

Out of his long-standing fear of Ying Zheng, Lord Changping's hand holding the sword trembled, and he instinctively took a step back. But he immediately regained his senses, pointed at Ying Zheng, and shouted, "All soldiers, listen to my command! Kill this traitor for me!"

"Yes!" the crowd roared in unison, brandishing their swords and rushing towards Ying Zheng.

Ying Zheng pulled Mi Ji back a step, and they saw the maple tree begin to sway. Fiery red maple leaves began to fall as the tree swayed. Large swaths of maple leaves fell one after another, like butterflies dancing in the air. The fiery color burned everyone's eyes.

Normally, such a scene would only elicit praise and linger in one's memory, but at this moment, the maple leaves obscured everyone's view, preventing them from seeing the cold light hidden among the maple trees.

The arrow pierced the air, easily slicing several maple leaves in two, and struck Changping-jun's right wrist, which was holding a sword, with great force.

"Who? Who's there!" Changping Jun shouted, enduring the pain, pointing in the direction from which the arrow had been shot.

A red figure leaped down from the tree. It was a seventeen-year-old boy, dressed in flowing red robes, radiant with spirit, a smile playing on his lips, holding a bow and arrow, appearing both brave and dazzlingly flamboyant.

"Su'er!" Mi Ji looked at Fu Su, who had suddenly appeared, and the others who jumped down from the tree with Fu Su, then turned to look at Ying Zheng.

By this point, Mi Ji could clearly understand Ying Zheng's plan. He had obviously known about Changping Jun's rebellion all along, but he wanted to test her loyalty, so he deliberately kept quiet.

Fortunately... fortunately I didn't say anything inappropriate.

Unaware of what had happened, Mi Ji, who had hurt Ying Zheng's fragile heart, thought to herself with relief.

The ensuing battle can only be described as one-sided. Even if Ying Zheng hadn't made any arrangements outside the courtyard, Fusu's fighting prowess would have been more than enough to wipe out Lord Changping and his men.

With ease, Lord Changping was captured alive by Fusu, and Ying Zheng won a great victory. The entire rebellion was over before anyone else could even react.

The only minor point is that, in addition to sending people to assassinate Ying Zheng in the palace, Lord Changping also sent people to the temporary residence of the eldest son to kidnap Fusu.

Then, the army that kidnapped Fusu was defeated and returned home because it encountered a security force hastily assembled by the eldest son's retainers and guards.

This retainer named Chen Ping thus made a great contribution.