"Did Qin Shi Huang mistake me for someone else?"
"How could my mother possibly be Qin Shi Huang's childhood sweetheart?"
"There's no way! This doesn't make any sense!"
Zhao Feng stared ahead in utter shock, his expression frozen as if he had never been more stunned in his life.
Beside him, Zhao Ying was just as dumbfounded.
"Brother," she whispered anxiously, "what's going on?"
"Why does it feel like His Majesty is looking at Mother?"
"Could he have mistaken her for someone else?"
Zhao Ying's voice trembled slightly.
Zhao Feng's wives also looked at him in disbelief, but none of them spoke.
Their husband had yet to say a word, so as women, they had no place to speak first.
As Ying Zheng's gaze remained fixed on Xia Dong'er, drawing the attention of the entire court, he spoke again.
"Afang."
"I have waited for this day for nearly thirty years."
"For thirty years, I have been indebted to you. For twenty-eight years, I have been indebted to the children you bore for me."
"But now, your Zheng-ge is strong enough to protect you."
"Come to me."
Ying Zheng smiled gently, extending a hand toward Xia Dong'er.
At that moment, his gaze remained locked on the woman standing right beside Zhao Feng.
It was now undeniable.
"Mother… is it true?" Zhao Feng turned to look at her, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Yes."
Xia Dong'er nodded.
"Feng'er, Ying'er."
"He is your father," she finally admitted.
"How… how is that possible?"
Zhao Feng's shock deepened.
"How am I Qin Shi Huang's son?"
"Not just his son, but his eldest son?"
"The Afang Princess mentioned in historical records is my mother?"
"This must be some kind of joke!"
"This can't be real!"
Zhao Feng stared at his mother, unable to process what he had just heard.
But at that moment
Led by Wang Jian, the ministers who had long known the truth knelt and bowed to Xia Dong'er.
"Your Majesty, please ascend the platform."
The voices of the officials echoed across Mount Tai.
"They knew?"
Seeing Wang Jian, Han Fei, Li Si, and the others, those who had been unaware
Officials like Kui Zhuang were utterly stunned.
As the calls rang out, Xia Dong'er steeled her resolve.
"Zheng-ge said that Feng'er is capable of standing on his own."
"He also said that Great Qin cannot do without Feng'er."
"And Feng'er himself desires power."
"In that case"
"Let him take what rightfully belongs to him!"
Determined, Xia Dong'er took a step forward toward the grand staircase.
The moment she moved
All eyes on Mount Tai turned to her.
"How could it be him?"
"How could the Crown Prince be him?"
"If it's him… does anyone else even stand a chance?"
"He survived the battlefield can I even kill him?"
Hu Hai's eyes turned blood-red as he stared at Zhao Feng, filled with unwillingness.
If it had been anyone else, he might have still harbored some hope.
But seeing that it was Zhao Feng the very man who was his elder brother, the eldest among all the princes
For the first time, Hu Hai felt fear creeping into his heart.
The name is Zhao Feng.
The title of the God of War.
Who among Zhao Feng's enemies did not fear him?
Even as a pampered prince, standing in Zhao Feng's presence made Hu Hai feel an indescribable sense of dread.
Much less the thought of ever challenging him.
Panic welled up inside Hu Hai.
"So that's why."
"That's why Father held Wu'an Jun (Zhao Feng) in such high regard because he was our elder brother. That's why Father wanted his reputation to spread throughout the empire, why he even granted him the royal decree as a ministerial companion."
"It was all because he is Father's son. The eldest son."
"Perhaps from the moment he first revealed his talent from the moment Father discovered his true identity Father had already decided on his successor."
"The reason he let me participate in court affairs, the reason he let the eighteenth prince do the same… it was all to pave the way for Zhao Feng, to keep everyone's attention away from him."
"Father… what a brilliant scheme."
Fusu finally understood everything.
Thinking back on his time as a regent prince, all the seemingly strange decisions and actions suddenly made perfect sense.
Why had Wang Jian turned against him so abruptly? Why had the general abandoned his usual neutrality?
Why had his father showered Zhao Feng with favor, granting him privileges beyond what any courtier should have?
Everything was clear now.
"We're finished."
As Kui Zhuang looked at Zhao Feng's figure, his aged eyes were filled with despair.
Now that Zhao Feng's identity had been revealed, if he were to become the Crown Prince of Qin and the heir to the empire, those who had previously opposed him would not meet a good end.
Not just him.
Chunyu Yue's face had also turned deathly pale, along with many Confucian scholars in the court.
Zhao Feng followed the path of military strategy how could he possibly employ Confucian scholars?
They were doomed as well.
"How could Zhao Feng be the First Prince?"
"How is this possible?"
Chunyu Yue's eyes widened in disbelief.
Amidst the complex and shocked gazes of nearly everyone present, Xia Dong'er had already reached the bottom of the sacrificial platform steps.
"Afang."
"Come up."
Seeing Xia Dong'er approaching, Ying Zheng called out to her gently.
At that moment, everyone was stunned by the Supreme First Emperor's attitude toward the woman before him.
Never before had he shown such gentleness, such tenderness.
In the past, he had always been imposing, high above all others, untouchable.
But today, he seemed to have returned to his younger self, to a time when he was accompanied by his beloved.
Years of affection, longing, and guilt all of it was now revealed in Ying Zheng's eyes.
Under his gaze, and before the countless civil and military officials present at Mount Tai's summit, Xia Dong'er took one step after another toward the platform.
Before the eyes of all, the Empress of Qin ascended.
It was as if, with each step, she was claiming her rightful place as the Empress of the Qin Dynasty, the mother of the empire.
Finally!
Step by step, Xia Dong'er reached the top of the sacrificial platform.
Ying Zheng stepped forward and tightly grasped her hand.
"Afang."
"I have finally done it."
"Heaven has blessed me I have not lost you."
Before everyone, Ying Zheng gazed at Xia Dong'er with deep emotion.
Even though she was no longer the young girl who had once followed him back to Qin, even though she was now over thirty, her beauty slightly faded with time, and even though she was not among the world's rare beauties, in Ying Zheng's eyes, his Afang was the most beautiful, the best.
She was the wife he cherished the most.
The next moment.
Ying Zheng pulled Xia Dong'er into a tight embrace.
He could not bear to lose her again.
Looking at the two figures embracing on the sacrificial platform, Zhao Feng's expression was complicated.
"No matter how much I tried to speculate…"
"I turned out to be the son of Qin Shi Huang, a member of the Qin royal family."
"Heavens, what kind of grand joke are you playing on me?" Zhao Feng thought helplessly.
Yet, looking at the platform, at his mother and Qin Shi Huang embracing so sincerely, the depth of their feelings was evident.
At that moment.
Zhao Feng finally understood why his mother had always been so reluctant to return to Xianyang because she had once fled from there.
If she had never escaped, neither he nor Zhao Ying would have been born.
Without those years of raising them.
Zhao Feng and his sister could never have grown up.
"Brother."
"How is it possible that our father is the First Emperor?"
"This can't be real," Zhao Ying still found it hard to believe.
Suddenly.
She and her brother had become members of the royal family.
Their mother was Qin Shi Huang's childhood sweetheart his wife.
"I never would have thought."
"How could I?" Zhao Feng smiled bitterly.
Of course.
Aside from the two siblings.
Wang Yan and Zhao Feng's many concubines were all wide-eyed in disbelief.
"Mother is the Emperor's wife? The Empress of Qin?"
"Then doesn't that make my husband the legitimate First Prince of Qin?"
"The First Prince, and with my husband's military achievements, wouldn't that make him the inevitable choice for Crown Prince?"
"I… I have become the wife of the First Prince?" Wang Yan was utterly dumbfounded.
Only now.
She finally understood those cryptic words her father had spoken to her before, saying that her best days were still ahead.
And beside her, all of Zhao Feng's concubines were also overwhelmed by the shocking news.
They had become the wives of the First Prince of Qin, soon-to-be consorts of the Crown Prince.
The change in status was simply too drastic.
Even though their husband had already been the foremost military figure of Qin, wielding immense power and prestige, he had ultimately been a subject of the empire.
But now, with this shift in identity, their husband had transitioned from a subject to a ruler.
"Father."
"This has to be a joke, right?"
"The Lord has become the First Prince? Then wouldn't that mean Ying'er is…?" Li You stared blankly, turning to look at his father.
"So, you see, my son, you have been very fortunate."
"Luckily, you insisted. Otherwise, you would never have had the chance to marry a princess."
"And not just any princess but the legitimate princess."
"With Princess Ying as your wife, our Li family will undoubtedly become one of the most prestigious families in Qin." Li Si stroked his beard and laughed.
"Father, you knew all along?" Li You asked in shock.
"The day I took you into the palace to seek permission for your marriage from the Emperor on that day, His Majesty told me."
"Otherwise."
"Why do you think the Empress suddenly agreed to let you enter the palace to propose? Because Princess Ying is His Majesty's daughter. Her marriage had to be personally approved by the Emperor."
"You must remember this, You'er. Treat the princess well. You made a promise to His Majesty, and if you ever break it, our entire family will be doomed." Li Si advised seriously.
Marrying a princess could certainly elevate their family's status, but at the same time, having a princess in the family was a double-edged sword.
If their family ever mistreated her, the consequences would be disastrous.
"Father."
"You don't have to worry."
"Ying'er is gentle by nature. How could I ever mistreat her?" Li You replied, exasperated.
After a while, on the sacrificial altar,
Ying Zheng slowly released Xia Dong'er.
Then, holding Xia Dong'er's hand, he stepped to the front of the altar, his voice filled with excitement and authority as vast as the heavens as he loudly proclaimed:
"Heaven bears witness, the people of the Great Qin bear witness!"
"Today!"
"I, the Emperor, hereby decree that my wife, Xia Dong'er, be conferred the title of Empress of Great Qin, to preside over the inner palace and serve as the mother of the nation."
This declaration became the very first imperial edict issued by Ying Zheng after his grand Fengshan ceremony on Mount Tai officially granting Xia Dong'er the title of Empress of Qin.
"We pay our respects to the Empress!"
Led by Wang Jian, along with Han Fei and the other officials, they immediately bowed and loudly chanted in unison.
Even those ministers in the court who were resentful or unwilling had no choice but to bow their heads in submission and respectfully offer their greetings.
Ying Zheng turned to Xia Dong'er and said with deep affection, "Afang, do you see?"
"The Great Qin is now fully under my control. It will not be like it was thirty years ago. Now, I can protect you. I can protect our children and grandchildren."
Xia Dong'er nodded gently. "Mm."
"Come, let's go down."
"Let's see what kind of expression Feng'er has right now."
With great satisfaction, Ying Zheng held Xia Dong'er's hand and walked down from the altar.
In the eyes of all present, Ying Zheng descended step by step, hand in hand with Xia Dong'er.
For Ying Zheng, today was a moment of immense fulfillment.
Finally, in front of the world, he openly acknowledged his wife and resolved a burden that had weighed on his heart for many years.
Once he stepped down, his gaze immediately landed on Zhao Feng and Zhao Ying, who both wore strange expressions.
"What's wrong?"
"Is this how Great Qin's mighty General Wu'an reacts?"
Ying Zheng teased Zhao Feng with a playful tone.
Zhao Feng looked at him with an odd expression, at a complete loss for words.
Seeing Zhao Feng's reaction, Ying Zheng felt an immense sense of satisfaction.
The reason he had kept this secret ever since the fall of Qi was for this very moment.
For as long as he could remember, Zhao Feng had always remained composed before him, never revealing his inner thoughts.
But now, seeing Zhao Feng's astonished and conflicted expression this was exactly what Ying Zheng had been waiting for!
"I am standing right in front of you, and yet you still won't call me Father?"
Ying Zheng smiled as he continued to tease him.
Zhao Feng's expression became even more awkward.
Although everything now pointed to his mother being the historical "Afang Girl" and himself truly being the son of Qin Shi Huang, it was still incredibly difficult for Zhao Feng to bring himself to call this man "Father" at this moment.
Right now, he felt utterly embarrassed, as if his scalp was tingling.
"Your Majesty!"
"I have prepared the water for a blood test."
"Please, Your Majesty, verify the truth!"
"The bloodline of the Qin royal family must remain pure!"
Just then, a voice rang out.
It was Ying Xi, striding forward with a bowl of water in his hands.
Upon seeing Ying Xi, Ying Zheng's brows furrowed deeply.
It was clear that he harbored immense disdain for him.
"Lord of the Ancestral Temple."
"Even now, you still refuse to give up?"
"However."
"I shall offer you a word of caution."
"If I find that you have tampered with this water in any way, I will not spare you."
Ying Zheng's cold gaze fell upon Ying Xi.
Hearing this, Ying Xi felt a moment of panic in his heart, but he quickly steeled himself and replied, "I would not dare."
"Everything I do is for the sake of the Great Qin royal family."
Ying Zheng sneered, "What a noble excuse 'for the Great Qin royal family.' "
"Very well, to humor you, I shall grant you this opportunity."
"However, you are not the only one who will have a say in this matter."
With a flick of his sleeve, Ying Zheng's expression turned cold.
He gestured, and Ren Xiao stepped forward, taking the bowl from Ying Xi's hands.
Then, in a commanding voice, Ying Zheng proclaimed:
"Ministers, there is mist and dew atop Mount Tai."
"I ask you all to fetch several more bowls of water for me!"
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