Chapter 34: Princess Anxi, Bring Out the Instruments of Torture

The grand banquet officially commenced, with men and women seated at separate tables.

Ying Zheng sat in the seat of honor, while Yang Zimo occupied the position to his immediate lower left, sitting across from Ying Zheng’s uncle, Ying Xi. As the music began to play, dancers twirled gracefully in the center of the hall, while attendants stood by with wine vessels, ready to pour for the guests.

"This banquet is held not only to thank the members of the Ying clan for their meritorious service in this campaign for our Great Qin, but also to express my hope that you will keep pace with the Empire, forge ahead with determination, and expand the borders of our Great Qin. I shall be generous with my rewards."

"Long live Great Qin! Long live His Majesty!" Everyone raised their cups in unison.

"Secondly, I wish to thank the Grand Preceptor for his immense contributions. Without him, we would still be troubled by the nobles of the six fallen states, and Great Qin would not be as prosperous as it is today, having even annihilated the Xiongnu."

"A toast to the Grand Preceptor!" The crowd raised their cups once more.

"His Majesty is too kind; it is all due to His Majesty's sagacious decisions," Yang Zimo replied hurriedly.

"Grand Preceptor, do not be modest. Meeting you is like King Wen meeting Jiang Ziya!" Ying Zheng, in high spirits, drank a few extra cups and began to exchange pleasantries with Yang Zimo.

Elsewhere, Lin Wannian sat quietly with her daughter, not daring to speak. Many noblewomen and ladies approached to strike up conversations, leaving Wannian at a loss for how to respond.

Li Qiu, from the main table, noticed Wannian’s predicament and immediately walked over to assist her. For Li Qiu, the Qin Empire had never had an Empress until the Grand Preceptor spoke to the Emperor; shortly thereafter, she was crowned. The Grand Preceptor had not only solved many problems for her husband but had also helped her attain the position of Empress; she felt it her duty to care for his kin.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," the crowd bowed.

"You may all disperse," Li Qiu waved her hand.

"Greetings, Your Majesty! (Auntie Empress)," Lin Wannian and her daughter bowed together.

"Rise," Li Qiu said, taking a seat beside Wannian.

"Auntie Empress, sit here, that place is dirty!" Xuanji said in a sweet, childish voice, while Xuanyin peeked out from behind her.

"What a good girl! Why do you call me Auntie Empress?" Li Qiu asked with curiosity.

"Because Daddy said that people who are as old as Mother and look beautiful should be called Auntie. Since Auntie Empress is so young and beautiful, of course, I must call you Auntie," Xuanji thought carefully before answering earnestly.

"Hehe! You two have such sweet tongues! I am much older than your mother; you should call me Grandmother from now on, understand?" Li Qiu not only took an immediate liking to the two girls, but she also knew that this would bring the Grand Preceptor even closer to the Ying clan.

"Come, these are my favorite jade pendants; take one each." Li Qiu took off the pendants she had worn for decades and gifted them to the two girls.

"Thank you, Auntie Empress!"

"You must call me Grandmother, do you remember?" Li Qiu patted their heads.

"Thank you, Grandmother Empress!" Xuanji and Xuanyin said happily.

"Such good girls! Wannian, you must bring Xuanji and Xuanyin to the palace to play often. I haven't been this happy in a long time," Li Qiu said to Wannian, watching the two little ones playing with their pendants.

"This humble woman thanks Your Majesty!" Wannian replied hurriedly.

"Do not be so formal. Tell me how you and the Grand Preceptor met!" Li Qiu took Wannian’s hand and asked affectionately.

Since returning to Xianyang, the Grand Preceptor’s mansion had been crowded with an endless stream of visitors. However, compared to listening to sycophantic flattery, Yang Zimo preferred to do meaningful things, such as taking care of his children, strolling through the city, or practicing cultivation. Unfortunately, despite his long practice, he was still a novice at the entry level of Qi refinement. It only granted him some longevity and physical fitness—enough to handle a few elite soldiers, but facing a hundred or more would be risky.

Five years ago, Yang Zimo had sent people across the world in search of high-yield crops, fruits, and vegetables. Regrettably, he had found nothing beyond the multi-harvest rice of the Baiyue region; potatoes, corn, and sweet potatoes remained on other continents, and obtaining them would not be simple.

Great Qin’s next step was to pacify Baiyue and occupy the lands where rice could be harvested two or three times a year. Though currently covered in primeval forests, they could be transformed into the Empire's granaries.

Hearing that many captives from various steppe tribes had been taken during the great war, including some with blonde hair and blue eyes, Yang Zimo became intrigued. Perhaps he could glean useful information from them to aid the future of Great Qin.

At the Imperial Prison in Xianyang, the common soldiers from the war had been sent to various mines, while high-ranking leaders were held in custody, awaiting the court’s decision. The prison was heavily guarded, with patrols every five paces, maintaining tight surveillance.

"Grand Preceptor, we have arrived," the commander of the elite guard responsible for Yang Zimo’s safety said to the carriage.

"Greetings, Grand Preceptor!" The prison warden hurried forward to bow as he saw them arrive.

"Where are the foreigners being held? Take me to them," Yang Zimo commanded.

"Reporting to the Grand Preceptor, I have separated the barbarians by tribe. Here is the roster," the warden replied, handing over a scroll.

"Hmm! A princess of the Parthian Empire! Where is she? Take me to her." Parthia was tens of thousands of miles away, separated by the Yuezhi, Dayuan, and the various Western Regions. Yang Zimo was deeply puzzled as to how she had ended up in Qin.

The prison was dark and pungent, enough to make one want to leave immediately. Suddenly, a woman’s loud shouting echoed from one of the cells.

"What is that?" The guards looked at each other, utterly bewildered, unable to understand her language.

"Find someone who speaks their tongue," Yang Zimo ordered. Before long, an attendant brought over a foreigner.

"Do you speak the Parthian language?" Yang Zimo asked.

"Noble Grand Preceptor, I am Parthian. I was sold to Qin years ago and know many languages!" the frail man replied.

"Go and ask what that woman is saying." The man walked to the cell and began to question her.

"Reporting, my lord, she says she is a princess of the Parthian Empire and demands that you release her and her soldiers," the man reported.

"Stay by my side and translate."

"Yes, my lord!"

"What is your name?" Yang Zimo asked. Seeing the noble attire of the man before her, Vivian grew excited.

"My name is Vivian, from the great Parthian Empire!" Vivian smoothed her hair and answered.

"What are you doing in Great Qin? How did you get here? How many of you came?" Yang Zimo fired three questions in succession.

"My lord, you truly lack compassion. Treating a lady this way is not the act of a knight. Shouldn't you have let me wash and dress before asking questions?" Vivian, assuming that knightly etiquette was universal, spoke with confidence.

"Guards! Apply torture!" Yang Zimo could not care less about her ridiculous knightly etiquette and gave the command immediately.

"Ah! Ah!..."