Chapter 19: I Have a Home in the Great Qin

Having given Hu Hai a sound thrashing, the anger in Ying Zheng’s heart finally subsided significantly, and he felt refreshed.

Indeed, when one is unhappy, transferring that unhappiness onto someone else is a quick way to feel better.

Glancing at Hu Hai, who was sprawled across a low table with a face full of grievance, Ying Zheng commanded, "Escort him back to his palace and summon the imperial physicians!"

With that, he turned and walked away.

As for whether he might have wrongly punished Hu Hai, Ying Zheng did not care. If he was wrong, he was wrong; even if history in the future suggested Hu Hai had never committed those acts, could a father not discipline his son?

Moreover, if the boy were truly capable of committing those deeds, a beating was a light price to pay.

After Ying Zheng left, Hu Hai was helped up by two court maids. His small face remained full of grievance as he wept and said to them, "It is because I did not do well that I received Father’s punishment. It is all my fault!"

In reality, Hu Hai was thinking: *Father has always doted on me; he would never punish me without cause. Someone must have slandered me before him, causing me to suffer this punishment! Who could this person be?*

*I heard a mysterious person has been staying in the palace recently. Could it be him?*

*But I have no grudge against him; why would he frame me before Father? Regardless of who you are, I have noted this grudge, and in the future, I will repay you a hundredfold!*

*No! I must be patient for now. If this person can slander me before Father, he must have gained Father’s deep trust. I must not make an enemy of him yet; on the contrary, I must befriend him!*

If Li Nian knew Hu Hai’s thoughts, he would surely lament that children of this era were indeed precocious, possessing such devious minds at such a young age.

At this moment, Li Nian was at the Liuying Palace, bestowed upon him by the First Emperor.

After disclosing his origins to the First Emperor, his security detail had been upgraded. The guards now protecting him were among the most elite in the Great Qin—a level of protection most princes did not even possess.

Li Nian stood outside the Liuying Palace while a group of eunuchs and court maids knelt before him. Guo Dian was holding an imperial edict, reading the final portion: "...Treat him with the courtesy due to a prince. Do not be negligent. Violators shall be executed at the waist in the public marketplace, and their three clans shall be exterminated!"

This edict had been delivered by Ying Zheng’s men after Li Nian arrived at the Liuying Palace. He had not known what was written in it, and upon hearing Guo Dian’s words, his first reaction was shock. Ying Zheng had said he would not give him an official post, yet he had turned around and granted him the status of a "Prince."

In this era, "Prince" was not merely a term for a young man that anyone could use; only the sons of nobles or royalty were entitled to be called such.

Now that Ying Zheng had ordered others to treat him with the courtesy of a "Prince," it was clear how much he valued Li Nian.

Li Nian’s second reaction was that Ying Zheng was taking advantage of him. This princely status originated from Ying Zheng, and since a prince could only be a son of a noble, wasn't Ying Zheng taking advantage of him?

However, that was the First Emperor—his patron and "father figure" in this era—so if he wanted to take advantage, let him!

Li Nian was broad-minded. He understood the intention behind Ying Zheng giving him the title: to reside in the Xianyang Palace for the long term, this status was indeed necessary.

Otherwise, how could an outsider live in the royal palace for long?

After accepting the edict, Li Nian looked at Guo Dian and smiled. "I will have to rely on your care in the future, Superintendent."

Guo Dian, along with the eunuchs and maids who had served Li Nian for over half a month, had been packed up and sent to the Liuying Palace by Ying Zheng.

Guo Dian smiled obsequiously. "Serving you, Prince, is my duty; I dare not accept such words from you."

He was grateful that he had not offended this man over the past half-month. Otherwise, given the King's high regard for him, a single word could have cost him his head.

Serving this man was also pleasant; compared to most of the nobles in the palace, he was more mild-tempered and easy to get along with. Most importantly, he did not look down on him for having been castrated.

Over the past half-month, Guo Dian had gradually figured out Li Nian’s temperament and felt little resistance to being assigned to serve him permanently. Although serving by Ying Zheng’s side brought more power, "attending the King is like attending a tiger"—one slip, and you might be devoured by the beast without even your bones left behind.

Watching Guo Dian speak to him with such caution, Li Nian shook his head. For the first time, he felt both the beauty and the horror of power: a single thought could determine life or death, forcing others to smile even against their will, and even if they were slapped on the left cheek, they would have to offer the right.

But Li Nian knew clearly that his power came from Ying Zheng and did not truly belong to him. These people did not fear him; they feared the authority of the Great Qin Empire that Ying Zheng represented.

*Feudal dynasties are indeed man-eating societies. I am only safe now because I have the First Emperor’s backing and am useful to him. I must never assume I am important or invincible, or that the Great Qin cannot function without me. I must not be arrogant, overbearing, or lose myself in vanity!*

Li Nian warned himself. In such a man-eating era, one must possess enough awe and caution to survive. He could not assume that because he came from the future, he was heaven-sent. He, too, had only one head and one heart; his life was no more valuable than anyone else’s.

*I’m now a homeowner in the Great Qin, and this house is quite large!*

Looking at the floor plan of the Liuying Palace presented by Guo Dian, Li Nian felt that "Boss Zheng" was indeed treating him well.

The Liuying Palace granted to Li Nian occupied a significant area, including several surrounding chambers. It was intended both to give Li Nian ample space to work and to better ensure his safety.

Since the Liuying Palace was now his territory, he naturally needed to understand it thoroughly.

Li Nian said, "Superintendent Guo, I have a task for you."

Guo Dian hurried to say respectfully, "Please, Prince, just give your orders. How could you call it a 'task'?"

Li Nian said, "First, take an inventory of every part of the Liuying Palace—what is in each place, such as what flowers are planted or what trees are growing—and record it all for me. Second, keep a record of all the guards, eunuchs, and maids in the palace, noting their ages, specialties..."

Considering the circumstances of this era, Li Nian added, "Of course, if there is anything sensitive or prohibited that should not be recorded, do not record it. Do not put yourself in a difficult position, and do not put me in one either."

*Prince Li is truly a remarkable person!*

Guo Dian thought to himself and replied, "Rest assured, Prince, I will handle this for you!"

Being able to serve by Ying Zheng’s side, Guo Dian’s competence was naturally high. This was one of the reasons Ying Zheng had sent him—to ensure Li Nian had capable hands to assist him.

After Guo Dian left, Li Nian flopped onto a low table in the hall.

His action caused the newly arrived eunuchs and maids to glance at him—this Prince was so... improper!

However, the guards, eunuchs, and maids who had served him for over half a month looked on as if nothing were amiss. The Prince had been like this for over half a month.

Li Nian knew that some of his behaviors would be seen as improper by people of this era, but he came from the future; he was bound to be different in many ways. Showing these differences would only make Ying Zheng believe more firmly that he was from the future. It would be more suspicious if he acted exactly like a native of this era.

Of course, one should not overdo it. He had to grasp the scale—minor issues were harmless, but if he were truly reckless, he would die without even knowing why.