Longevity by Picking up Attributes in the Battlefield Chapter 706 Chapter 288: Li Si Understands! Ying Zheng: The Future Crown Prince Is Feng'er! (Part 2)

At this point,

A smile crept across Li Si's face too.

For Li Si,

the deepest guilt in his heart remained toward his own daughter. Though he craved power, he harbored genuine fatherly affection for his sons and daughters. He had allowed his daughter to wed Fusu only because the imperial edict was impossible to resist.

However, Li You had pursued Zhao Ying for four years and finally won her hand.

Zhao Ying held the status of a princess.

Her brother was the Eldest Imperial Son, destined to become the Crown Prince.

Lacking the position of Eldest Imperial Son, Fusu no longer served as heir apparent, freeing him from the old nobility's schemes. In time, he would have no cause to threaten his daughter.

'Your Majesty and Mr. Fusu are already at odds. Marrying Ying'er now harms Mr. Fusu's interests. Why would he treat his sister kindly?' Li You appeared concerned.

'You'll see in due time.' Li Si had no patience for further explanation.

Right then, Ying Zheng's words resounded in his thoughts.

'After unifying the realm, I shall reinstate Feng'er's status as Eldest Imperial Son and restore his mother's position as Queen.'

That promise reverberated through Li Si's mind, drawing him deep into contemplation.

Moments stretched on.

Li Si whispered inwardly: 'Once unification occurs, with Lord Feng's mother elevated to Queen, Lord Feng becomes not merely the Eldest Imperial Son but the rightful eldest prince.'

'As the true firstborn, none can challenge his claim; his renown, contributions to Qin, and command over the troops surpass all rivals.'

'Court intrigues and conspiracies alike fail to undermine Lord Feng.'

'Thankfully, I avoided crossing Lord Feng earlier, or else You'er could never have approached, let alone gained entry to the Wu'an Military Camp.'

'Wang Wan.'

'That cunning old fox crossed the wrong man; from the instant he schemed against Lord Feng, the Great King had sealed his doom—it was merely a question of when.'

'Yet the Great King likely never foresaw Lord Feng striking so fast, unearthing Wang Wan's hidden crimes.'

'Huai Zhuang.'

'Given Lord Feng's stance toward them, should these ancient nobles persist in opposition, their fate will be grim.'

'The grudge runs too deep by now.'

'This Lord Feng rose from the ranks, commands immense respect in the military, slays without hesitation—he's fated to rule as a mighty sovereign.'

'The question of Great Qin's successor stands resolved,' Li Si pondered silently.

His palace visit that day

had revealed intelligence of such magnitude.

Li You, sharing the carriage, refrained from interrupting his father's reverie, his thoughts buzzing with joy over wedding his beloved.

Zhao Mansion!

Li Si and his son returned once more.

'Lord Wu'an.'

'Fresh from the palace, Li You has secured the Great King's approval.'

'The Great King further commanded that, post-unification, Fengchang shall select the wedding date.'

Li Si conveyed his delight to Zhao Feng, his tone unwittingly humble, carrying the air of a subordinate official.

Hearing this,

Zhao Feng grinned, betraying no astonishment.

After all, why would the Great King concern himself with personal matters?

Besides, Zhao Feng had declared before that his sister would wed only for love, with no force allowed.

'Ying'er, did you catch that?' Zhao Feng smiled at Zhao Ying.

'Yes.' Zhao Ying gave a gentle nod, her lovely gaze settling on Li You.

'Then, Lord Wu'an.'

'I'll head home to make preparations. Marrying Lord Wu'an's sister is my honor; I must do it properly.' Li Si added.

'Very well.'

Zhao Feng nodded smilingly too.

Soon after,

Li Si and his son departed the Zhao Mansion anew.

'Wedding set after world unification.'

'Looks like the Great King prepares to strike Qi.' Wang Jian chuckled.

'Father-in-law.'

'I've received the confidential edict.'

'In days, I'll march to Yunzhong and crush Qi.'

With Wang Jian, Zhao Feng held nothing back.

Even if word spread, it mattered little—Qi's fall was certain, unstoppable by any.

For Qi now,

surrender or annihilation were the sole paths.

Before the lone King of Qi, should fear grip him, the choice was clear.

'You leading personally, backed by your legendary fame, will terrify Qi's king.'

'In mere months, Qi may fold into our Qin.'

'The realm united.'

'Who dreamed our era would forge this legacy.' Wang Jian sighed emotionally.

'Shenzhou spans not the entire world.'

'The journey stretches far ahead.'

Zhao Feng reflected inwardly.

Qi conquered successfully,

Zhao Feng must plan tomorrow.

That future's roots would first grow in his minor world, destined to bloom across the Divine Continent someday.

Everything there fell under Zhao Feng's dominion, utterly secure from leaks.

Zhao Feng remained self-serving; he'd never yield his gains to others.

Transforming Shenzhou later demanded loyalty to him alone.

His boons would flow from him.

…

Yunzhong City!

Refugees still funneled through the canyon.

Days flowed by, refugee influx unrelenting. Winter's onset had swelled their ranks manifold in months.

Gathering the uprooted accelerated.

Naturally,

not solely Yunzhong's canyon.

Numerous Yanting outposts dotted elsewhere.

Zhao Feng mounted the Black Dragon, scooping them up sequentially.

Time elapsed,

minor world's populace neared 800,000.

War's toll persisted; even after Qin seized Three Jins, Yan, and Chu, precise census data lagged. Across the vast Divine Continent, these vanished refugees left no trace.

Of course,

such numbers would eventually alert Qin's King.

Yet upon learning, he'd scarcely link it to Zhao Feng.

Who could vanish multitudes so cleanly?

Inside the minor world,

folk clustered at the core, fanning outward to fill every nook.

Housing sprawled dozens of miles.

A nation's seed had sprouted.

Yanting's rule oversaw it:

Labor earned coin, coin procured sustenance and goods.

All allocations centralized.

Certainly,

population surge invited riffraff; Yanting executed such threats mercilessly as warning.

Beyond demographics,

Zhao Feng's directives birthed

lakes and streams in the minor world—no towering peaks, just modest hills.

Fish, shrimp, and water life teemed in the waters.

Land hosted beasts aplenty: predators, docile hares, and more.

'Ecosystem's foundations laid.'

'Now await their breeding within the minor world.'

Zhao Feng beamed at the minor world's progress.

Next came patient nurturing.

Suddenly!

'My Lord.'

'Troops assembled.'

'Supplies delivered.'

'Each rider bears ten days' rations.' Zhang Han strode into the hall, reporting deferentially.

'Swift push from Yan lands into Qi: three days suffice.'

'Seven days' worth ensures caution.'

'Order Cai Ci to stockpile more provisions, station Logistics Army at Qi's frontier.' Zhao Feng commanded gravely.

'My Lord.'

'Our 100,000-strong force overwhelms Qi effortlessly, likely sans major battles.' Zhang Han noted.

'Always plan for contingencies.'

'Should Qi's king stand firm, we'll oblige; surrender suits us finer.' Zhao Feng smirked faintly.

'I'll relay the command. When do we march?' Zhang Han inquired politely.

'Grant troops a day's rest, depart tomorrow.' Zhao Feng replied.

…