Chapter 17: A Head Pat? You Are Stroking a Tiger's Tail!

“Meng Yi.”
“At your service,” Meng Yi replied respectfully.
“Go inquire whether there is someone here named Xu Fu or Lu Sheng.”
“Yes, sir!”
Meng Yi took his leave promptly.
Ying Zheng’s gaze grew deep as he looked toward the East Sea.
A flicker of murderous intent surfaced in his eyes.
Immortality had always been his desire, but if someone were to deceive him with false hope and let him down…
The price for that would be great!

…

[ Ding! Congratulations on arousing the suspicion of the First Emperor. The fate of the Qin dynasty has increased. Reward aura: “Beloved by All.” ]

Ying Ziji, who was studying the hot pot base ingredients, was slightly startled by the notification sound.
“What is this ‘Beloved by All’? Does it increase how adorable I appear to aunties, uncles, grandfathers, or beautiful sisters?”
His mouth twitched.
*Pop* —
He opened a bottle of ice-cold cola and took two large gulps.
“Ah… cola is really delicious. We need to popularize iron smelting quickly. Qin’s current ironworking technology is too poor. Most soldiers are still using bronze weapons. If they could be equipped with iron, their combat power would increase by several folds…”
“But I can’t even find a pot to enjoy a little hot pot.”

*Clatter clatter* —
“Young Master, the potatoes in the fields have started to bear fruit!”
Wang Ben ran in excitedly from the doorway.
He had personally led the soldiers guarding the potato fields these past days.
The old master’s orders were clear: even if his head fell, not a single potato was to be lost.
“Cough, General Wang, don’t be so eager. Slow down and tell me properly.”
“Potatoes, Young Master.”
Realizing he had overstepped, Wang Ben quickly took two steps back and cupped his dirt-covered hands.
He had just seen it with his own eyes.
Under a single potato stalk, there were at least seven or eight potatoes.
If they grew as large as those already planted, they would be bigger than an adult’s fist...
At this rate, a yield of eight thousand jin per mu would be no problem at all!
He had been so overjoyed that he forgot his manners.

“Wow, then it won’t be long before we can have potato slices to eat.”
Ying Ziji jumped down from his desk.
Outside, he saw the elite troops of Qin, all bent over the fields inspecting the growth.
Over a thousand, all among the top one percent of the Qin army’s Iron Eagle Sharpshooters, now acting as farmers.
Previously, Wang Ben had personally stood guard, patrolling the fields.
He didn’t trust others to take over!

“Father, is that the Seventeenth Prince?”
A clear, jade-like voice asked.
Following Wang Jian was a young girl of about eighteen, her cheeks rosy and fair.
She looked at Ying Ziji with almond-shaped eyes filled with curiosity.
“Young Master, this is my daughter Wang Wan. She insisted on coming along to help; I simply couldn’t refuse her.”

Wang Ben smiled wryly.
In this era, things were relatively open; there was no notion like in later times that women must never step outside the home.
Moreover, his daughter had always preferred weapons to cosmetics, enjoying swordplay and marksmanship, her personality both strong and gentle.
Yesterday, he told her he was going out on an important mission, and that the Young Master’s residence was not a place for casual visits.
Yet today, Wang Wan secretly followed in the carriage.

Wang Ben turned his face sternly and said:
“Wan’er, this is Young Master, Master Ziji. Quickly, pay your respects.”
“I am Wan’er, greetings, Brother Ziji.”
Wang Wan smiled and greeted.

Wang Ben’s heart leapt in alarm.
This girl was usually unruly, and Young Master had a very strange temper; he didn’t know if he would get angry…
“Brother Ziji, you’re quite adorable, nothing like the rumors outside.”
Before Wang Ben’s heart could settle, Wang Wan, unaware of her father’s changing expression, reached out and patted Ying Ziji’s head.

For some reason, though it was their first meeting, she felt that this small figure touched the softest part of her heart.
She couldn’t help but want to stroke his head.

Ying Ziji: “…”
Damn it, being patted on the head by a girl three heads taller than him—how could he tolerate it?
Well, he could.
Ying Yinman loved doing this.
This probably had something to do with the system’s “Beloved by All” reward.
Damn it!
He was a regent supervising a nation; what use was this reward to him?

“Wan’er, how dare you! Apologize to the Young Master at once.”
Wang Ben’s palms were sweating.
Her boldness was shocking.
Once they got home, he would have to seriously discipline this girl.
Patting the Young Master’s head? That was like poking a tiger’s rear!

Unexpectedly,
Intimidated by Wang Ben’s glare, Wang Wan stuck out her tongue and withdrew her hand.
Ying Ziji sighed resignedly,
“Well, it’s not Wan’er’s fault. Let’s first check the potato growth.”
“Yes, yes, potatoes are important.”

Compared to the potatoes, all these disturbances were nothing.
This batch of potatoes harvested was far more than they had imagined.
After tallying, Wang Ben took a deep breath and reported:
“Young Master, each potato stalk has at least six tubers. This is a tremendous omen!”

The variety rewarded by the system was indeed extraordinary.
One mu of land had produced so many!
Planting another batch like this would easily solve the grain shortage in the northern frontier.

Ying Ziji stroked his rounded chin, unsurprised, and said, “Hmm, next, I’ll trouble General Wang to be more attentive.”
“Yes! I will assign special guards to watch day and night without rest!”
Wang Ben cupped his hands.

Then he took a letter from his bosom and said, “Young Master, I have an imperial edict here. Would you like to read it now?”
“The Emperor consents to keep Zhang Liang by your side to assist.”
“And also permits you to release Prince Hu Hai. As for the noble scions, you may deal with them as you see fit; they can be detained longer, just do not harm their lives.”
Wang Ben handed the letter to Ying Ziji.

After a moment’s hesitation, Wang Ben added,
“Young Master, I suggest you release those noble scions as well. The three great clans are closely connected and hold nearly half the seats in the court.”

These three great families were ancient, predating even the Wang family.
Since Duke Xiao of Qin, they had been involved in governance, and at their peak, could influence the rise and fall of monarchs.
Their power was deeply rooted; apart from the political elder, they basically ruled Qin unchecked.
If the prisoners were not released, there would be chaos in the court tomorrow.

“Noble scions can be released, but Hu Hai must remain detained.”
Ying Ziji remained unmoved.
Perhaps he could still gain rewards from Hu Hai; he could not release him.
Not to mention detention, if not for political considerations, he would have dealt Hu Hai a fatal blow already.
Or… maybe try poisoning him?

Wang Ben wanted to speak but stopped, sighing deeply.
Goodness, defying the Emperor directly.
The Young Master’s childish stubbornness was back again.

“By the way, General Wang, I have another favor to ask.”
“What is it? Young Master, please command. I will do my utmost.”
“Are there any skilled craftsmen in the city? For example, from the Mohist school?”
“Craftsmen?”
Wang Ben was momentarily stunned, then pondered.
Among the hundred schools of thought, only the Mohists and the Gongshu family had outstanding craftsmen.
But why would the Young Master suddenly seek craftsmen?

“The Mohists’ mechanical skills are exquisite, but I’m afraid they won’t come.”
Wang Ben smiled bitterly.
The Mohists advocated universal love and opposed aggression and tyranny.
They were irreconcilable enemies of Qin, now a major anti-Qin force.
Asking them to aid the Young Master was a pipe dream.

“Mohists won’t come?”
Hearing this, Ying Ziji’s face showed slight disappointment.
His foundations were shallow, and his circle limited.
After Wang Ben’s words, he realized he had been overthinking.
Asking an anti-Qin force to help Qin was indeed unlikely.