As soon as the words fell, the Seventh Prince realized his verbal slip. Indeed, he saw the Qin King’s brows slowly furrow. These words were ostensibly directed at Qing Xia, but actually contained subtle criticism of him. Seeing the Second Prince’s eyebrows twitch as he prepared to speak in cover-up, Qing Xia couldn’t give them this chance to correct their mistake. She hurriedly stood up and declared loudly: “Since the Seventh Prince puts it this way, this commoner woman will make a fool of herself.”

After speaking, she smiled and nodded to Qin Zhiyan, walked to the center, bowed to the Qin King and Empress Chunyu, saying: “Everything worth performing has already been performed by everyone. If this commoner woman repeated them, first I doubt I could compare to the various princesses, and second it would lack novelty. How about this – this commoner woman will perform a small trick. If it can make Your Majesty and Her Majesty laugh, it would be this commoner woman’s good fortune.”

Empress Chunyu smiled: “You child are quite interesting, and your appearance is dignified and generous – truly worthy of being a daughter raised by Master Zhuang.”

Qing Xia smiled in thanks, then clapped twice. Prince Xuan’s mansion servants could be seen carrying a table into the great hall, placing it in the center. Everyone looked on puzzled, none knowing what medicine she was selling in her gourd. Unlike the Seventh and Ninth Princes’ optimistic contempt, Qin Zhiyi looked at Qing Xia’s smiling face and suddenly felt an ominous premonition. His brows furrowed slightly as he thought inwardly that this woman could always do what others couldn’t, unexpectedly turning defeat into victory. He must not let all this busy work end up making wedding clothes for others.

On the sandalwood table was spread a piece of black brocade that hung long to the ground. Qing Xia brought up a cage from below. Everyone looked and saw inside was actually a snow-white small beast with jade-green eyes and white fur, palm-sized, looking around alertly and appearing very cute.

The Qin King had never seen such a spirit beast and asked strangely: “What is this creature? How have I never seen it before?”

Qing Xia fabricated: “This is a spirit beast living beneath the northern snowfields. Local people say this beast can transform in myriad ways, and after a thousand years of cultivation can ascend to heaven as a god. Therefore the people in Penglai Valley regard this beast as an ancient divine creature, worship it as their tribal totem, and dare not capture it. For some unknown reason, this little beast followed our Qin army’s footsteps all the way, rushing ten thousand li from Penglai Valley to arrive within Xianyang City. It must be the spirit beast bringing good news, knowing our Great Qin is about to experience revival, so it came early to bestow auspicious signs.”

Upon hearing this, the Seventh and Ninth Princes immediately rolled their eyes greatly, thinking inwardly that this woman’s flattering words simply emerged endlessly – she was even more deeply versed in this way than these fellows who spent their days flattering. She lied without blushing or breathing hard – simply shameless to the extreme.

But outsiders were one thing – regardless of belief, the Qin King hearing this was naturally infinitely delighted, smiling: “Zhuang family girl, what are you going to perform for me? Stop being mysterious.”

Qing Xia smiled brilliantly, picked up a red cloth to cover the cage, went through the motions of closing her eyes, muttering a few phrases under her breath, then opened her eyes and smiled: “Done.”

The Ninth Prince stared wide-eyed and called out incredulously: “That’s it? What kind of performance is this?”

Qing Xia remained noncommittal, not even glancing at him, and said to the Qin King: “This is a magic trick that still needs one final step. I hope Your Majesty can help me.”

The Qin King found it very interesting. Qing Xia struck while the iron was hot: “Your Majesty is the true dragon son of heaven, destined by heaven’s mandate. Your Majesty’s breath is the bright imperial dragon qi, capable of warding off all poisons and possessing the power to communicate with spirits and penetrate ghosts. I hope Your Majesty can blow a breath into my hands, then this commoner woman will have a moment’s immortal power.”

Though knowing she was talking nonsense, the Qin King was still very happy and readily agreed. Qing Xia walked up the high platform from the side, knelt beside him, respectfully extending both hands. The Qin King blew onto her hands with his wine-scented breath. She immediately treasured it like a precious gem, closing her hands and covering them tightly, then retreated, smiling at everyone: “Everyone watch carefully – the moment of transforming decay into magic has arrived!” After speaking, she opened her hands and blew toward the cage as if blowing the Qin King’s breath into it. Then she stood up and with a swoosh pulled away the curtain covering the cage. Exclamations immediately arose from everyone, even Qin Zhiyan slightly raised his eyebrows.

In the cage that had originally held the small beast, it was now empty of beasts – only a jade plate remained, properly holding a fragrant, thoroughly cooked giant bird.

“Congratulations Your Majesty, felicitations Your Majesty! The spirit beast presents gifts, wishing our king boundless fortune equal to heaven, and Great Qin’s inheritance lasting thousands of generations without end.”

People of this era had never seen such magic tricks. Though extremely simple, it was enough to leave them dumbfounded. Though Qing Xia didn’t know how modern magicians did it, with Da Huang’s help who understood human nature, it was naturally extremely simple.

Crown Prince Qin ordered an attendant in a deep voice: “Test for poison.”

A green-clothed attendant stepped forward. The silver needle went deep but suddenly hit something hard. He frowned slightly and used a knife to pry it open, discovering there was actually a sandalwood box inside the bird’s belly. He presented it up respectfully to the Qin King in amazement. The Qin King opened it puzzled and saw inside the box was indeed a scroll of white silk. He ordered attendants on both sides to open it, revealing the scroll was over three zhang long, containing complete mountains, rivers, and seas – marked as a complete map of the entire Chinese continent.

Absolutely shocking, complete silence all around.

Qing Xia hurriedly knelt on the ground and declared loudly: “They say a prime minister’s belly can hold a boat, but Your Majesty as ruler of a nation naturally contains this magnificent prosperous realm’s ten-thousand-li territory in your chest and abdomen. This map was drawn by the Third Prince exhausting many years of effort. This commoner woman borrows flowers to offer to Buddha, presenting it to Your Majesty in this manner, hoping that when Your Majesty competes for the realm in the future, it can serve as a guiding light to encompass all four directions and six unions under our Great Qin’s iron cavalry, establishing unprecedented eternal achievements!”

After brief silence, the Qin King laughed heartily and said happily: “Truly worthy of being our Great Qin’s war god, my son Qin Zicheng’s child. Zhiyan, this great gift makes me happier than your capturing dozens of cities.”

Qin Zhiyan calmly walked to the center, knelt and said: “Sharing Father’s burdens is this son’s duty!”

“It’s admirable that you found such a seven-aperture exquisite-hearted woman. Today, I bestow upon Zhuang Qingxia the title of our Great Qin’s Princess Minrui. After my grand birthday celebration, I will personally officiate your wedding.”

Qin Zhiyan and Qing Xia were stunned speechless. After a long while they reacted, kowtowing on the ground and loudly expressing gratitude.

All the court princes competed to congratulate Qin Zhiyan as the banquet atmosphere reached its climax. Amid the flattering praise, Qing Xia finally had another identity and successfully resolved the imminent crisis of her background, able to continue living legitimately in Prince Xuan’s mansion. But for some unknown reason, after that faint joy, a layer of heaviness slowly covered over. The surrounding prosperous scenery gradually became vague and uncertain. She stood beside Qin Zhiyan holding his hand, but her heart seemed to float thousands of li away to that night three years ago – the dazzling phoenix crown and magnificent robes that had once been about to rest on this body’s shoulders. The man’s silhouette at the lakeside pavilion was lonely and desolate, yet possessed the power to hold up heaven and earth.

Everything would be covered by dust. She was finally going to cast aside all past and welcome a new life. She just wondered whether this tide of destiny would go as she wished – from now on, peace across the four seas with no more storms.

As her black robes trailed long on the ground, a snow-white small beast bit the inner hem of her skirt and fell fast asleep with huffing sounds. The Qin King was aged after all, and the banquet was nearing its end at this point. After the Qin King withdrew, everyone gradually filed out. Just after climbing into the carriage, Qin Zhiyan immediately embraced Qing Xia’s waist, happy with smiling eyes and brows like a small child, even the depths of his eye sockets unable to hide his joy.

He hadn’t expected it would be so easy to make the Qin imperial family accept Qing Xia, much less thought that tonight would kill two birds with one stone, even resolving the crisis of Southern Chu’s Princess Jiayun’s marriage alliance. Though he had already thought of many countermeasures, none were as effortless and easily accomplished as Qing Xia’s methods.

Qing Xia naturally knew what he was thinking. She happily hooked his neck and said with a flower-like smile: “I’m amazing, right? Your Father Emperor really likes me.”

Qin Zhiyan smiled happily: “Yima’er is the cleverest woman in the whole world.”

“So good!” Qing Xia kissed his face and smiled: “Since you also say I’m clever, from now on you must discuss everything with me and can’t keep things bottled up inside. Just let me help you, alright?”

Qin Zhiyan was slightly stunned, then said solemnly: “Yima’er, I like you not because I want you to scheme for me or compete for anything for me. I just want…”

“Don’t say it.” Qing Xia suddenly reached out to cover his mouth, saying softly: “Husband and wife are one body – loss hurts both, honor benefits both. You’re about to become my husband. Do I need any reason to help my own husband?”

This address of “husband” made Qin Zhiyan’s heart soft, almost as if rolled over by warm water. He slowly tightened his arms, holding Qing Xia tightly in his embrace, infinite affection in the depths of his eyes as he called softly: “Yima’er, my Yima’er.”

Qing Xia felt warm all over, held in his embrace, smelling his pleasant fragrance, no longer wanting to say anything. The tension from the court earlier seemed to drift further and further away from her.

Qin Zhiyan, how could you know that as long as I’m with you, all scheming ceases to be scheming, all competition ceases to be competition – it’s just managing our home and protecting our love.

The carriage moved slowly forward. Qing Xia gradually closed her eyes and fell asleep.

After a busy half-evening, when they returned to the prince’s mansion, Qin Zhiyan’s complexion was slightly pale. Qing Xia early arranged hot water and food for him. After taking medicine, he went to sleep first.

Qing Xia went to the study and summoned Uncle Xiang’s son, Lian Zhou, and other personal guards from the Yan character camp. These people were all Prince Xuan mansion’s utterly loyal subordinates who had followed Qin Zhiyan in campaigns for many years – their loyalty was unquestionable. Seeing Qing Xia’s calm expression, Li Zhentao knew she had something to say and asked softly: “Miss, do you have any instructions?”