Chapter 2, Birth

Finally full, Cheng Feng spat out the milk, opened his curious little eyes, and pouted his small mouth, constantly surveying his surroundings. His lively and adorable appearance immediately evoked a deep maternal love from the wet nurse, who couldn't help but shower him with affection, momentarily forgetting the pain of being away from her own child. Meanwhile, Cheng Feng, being so closely 'harassed' by the beautiful woman, was momentarily overwhelmed by immense happiness, feeling a bit dizzy. It seems that, regardless of the era, beautiful women possess a strong allure.

After calming down slightly, Cheng Feng opened his small eyes and began to survey this unfamiliar world with curiosity. The ancient and magnificent decorations, the grand and imposing architecture, all indicated the extraordinary nature of the place where Cheng Feng found himself. With a modest understanding of ancient Chinese architecture, Cheng Feng quickly discerned the approximate era he was in: based on the style of the buildings, the colors of the decorations, and the shapes of the vessels, it seemed he was in the Qin and Han dynasties of ancient China. However, which dynasty and which emperor it was, Cheng Feng could not yet ascertain.

At that moment, a loud cry of a baby suddenly echoed in the chamber, "Wah wah..." Immediately following was the ecstatic cheer of the midwife: "All right! All right! It’s born! It’s born! Congratulations, madam, congratulations! It’s a little prince!"

In an instant, the entire land of Sanqin was filled with joyous sounds, with every household adorned in celebration. The people of Qin raised their cups in exuberant drinking and sang loudly! For the culturally underdeveloped and legally strict Qin people, drinking was almost their only form of entertainment, so all the Qin people fully enjoyed this hard-won moment of celebration, releasing their long-suppressed exuberant emotions! (This is not a fabrication; judging by the slightly protruding bellies of the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, it can be said that Qin was the most fond of alcohol among the seven warring states!)

When Cheng Feng finally realized the shocking fact that he had turned into a child, his mind short-circuited. He could only think, "Damn, how did I end up in ancient times after fighting with the Japanese devils, and on top of that, I became a child? My luck is truly incredible!" Then he fainted without hesitation (fell asleep! Haha!)

Although King Qin Ying Zheng can be described as exceptionally talented and accomplished in both civil and military affairs, he, like all new fathers, appears rather foolish. By the time the clumsy Ying Zheng finally held Cheng Feng in his arms, he was already drenched in a cold sweat.

Hearing that he had been named 'Fusu', Cheng Feng was momentarily stunned: since he was Fusu, the identity of the Qin King before him and the figure in the books became clear—he was none other than the first emperor of all time, Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng! Cheng Feng, who had always believed that only iron and blood could save China, found himself speechless in the presence of the historical figure he had idolized so fervently, his eyes filled with stars of admiration!

When Cheng Feng finally awoke from his slumber, it was already early the next morning. The sky was bright, and the scorching summer sunlight streamed through the gaps of the pavilions and towers into the room, yet the interior was not overly hot. This was because many of the chambers in the Qin Palace had interlayers; once summer arrived, the palace attendants would place ice blocks in these interlayers, and with a good ventilation system, the indoor temperature would be much cooler than that outside. This was a primitive air conditioning system invented by the ancient Chinese using their boundless wisdom. Because many of the chambers in the Qin Palace had interlayers, once summer arrived, the palace attendants would place ice blocks in these interlayers, and with a good ventilation system, the indoor temperature would be much cooler than that outside. This was a primitive air conditioning system invented by the ancient Chinese using their boundless wisdom

As Zheng Fei playfully teased the delicate little nose of the baby, she couldn't help but think with a hint of regret: "It is truly a pity that the king is not in the palace; if he were here, he would surely be overjoyed to see the birth of our son"

In stark contrast to the tense atmosphere outside, the ambiance within the palace was even heavier and more anxious: Lady Zheng, the princess, had been lying on the couch for over an hour. Although she was in excruciating pain, the mischievous little prince seemed to be sulking against the world and refused to come out. The midwife assisting in the delivery was so anxious that cold sweat poured down her forehead like rain.

Three full days after Cheng Feng was born, King Ying Zheng of Qin, who had gone to the Shu region to inspect the salt and iron (or perhaps to temporarily avoid the chaos of war), finally returned. Accompanying King Ying Zheng back to Xianyang was the news of a great victory for the Qin army: Prime Minister Lü Buwei of Qin had achieved an unprecedented triumph by decisively defeating the coalition of five states in the Zui region! The last large-scale joint counteroffensive by the six states of the East against Qin had thus vanished into thin air!

Gradually, the darkening clouds became thicker and lower, as if they could fall from the sky at any moment, imparting a heavy sense of oppression and leaving one feeling particularly gloomy

With a loud "crack," the ancient pine tree shattered into several pieces, and in an instant, a towering inferno erupted, with flames roaring and curling up and down, sending heat radiating over ten zhang away. The Qin Imperial Guards stationed near the Jianzhang Palace were momentarily taken aback, rushing forward with all their might to extinguish the fire. (It is important to note that ancient Chinese palaces were primarily made of wood, and any open flame could potentially lead to a catastrophic disaster)

Hearing this, Consort Zheng was greatly pleased and said: "Your Majesty's choice of name is truly unexpected, yet it aligns perfectly with my wishes. I, as a humble servant, express my gratitude to Your Majesty on behalf of Fusu"

However, although Fusu was aware of this segment of history, the infant Fusu had no ability to prevent the emergence of Sun Yu, and could only watch in frustration as history continued to progress steadily along its predetermined path

Just as Cheng Feng was lost in deep thought, a beautiful, gentle, and unpretentious woman emerged, cradling him from the swaddling. She then gently unfastened her clothing, revealing her graceful and upright breasts. Due to engorgement, the petite nipples were continuously oozing a milky white fluid, indicating that she was a woman who had recently given birth. Cheng Feng realized that this must be his wet nurse! It is important to note that in ancient China, noblewomen rarely breastfed their children themselves after giving birth, especially in royal families.

Fortunately, Fusu has always firmly believed that Qin Shi Huang is the greatest emperor in Chinese history, so he mostly laughs off the criticisms of Qin Shi Huang found in historical texts and never takes them to heart. For Cheng Feng in his previous life, the contributions of Qin Shi Huang to China are indeed immense; his achievements are so significant that even those narrow-minded Confucians, no matter how much they attempt to tarnish his reputation, cannot obscure the brilliance of this 'Emperor of All Time'

Just as Cheng Feng began to observe his current father, Zheng Fei gently said: "Your Majesty, the young master has just been born for three days, chubby and healthy, everything is well! However, he has not yet been given a name, and I hope Your Majesty can personally bestow a name!" At this moment, Ying Zheng was in a very good mood, nodding and saying: "Alright, I will definitely give our son a good name!"

Although Cheng Feng was somewhat taken aback, when the nipple was brought to his mouth, the instinctive hunger that surged from his brain quickly extinguished his contemplation of 'beauty', and he began to voraciously suckle the sweet milk. Regardless of anything else, it was best to fill his stomach first

Amidst the torrential wind and rain, the slender, melodious voice of the duty eunuch swiftly pierced through the heavy curtain of rain, spreading the joyful news throughout the entire palace: "The prince has been born! The prince has been born!"

These somewhat cold facts made Fusu feel a sense of emotion: "People say that emperors have no true feelings!" This statement is indeed true! Especially for the "Iron-Blooded" Qin Wang Ying Zheng, who is known as the "Emperor of All Time": women are merely tools for his entertainment and release of desires, and sons are nothing more than his successors in the transmission of power; only the endless road of power can hold sufficient allure for him

Ying Zheng looked at his silly little Fusu, and a deep sense of paternal love surged within him. He gently stroked Fusu's little nose with his right index finger and said with a smile, "Make sure to see clearly, Fusu, don't mistake your father for a picture book in the future!"

The sudden joyful news instantly plunged everyone inside and outside the palace into surprise. The Tiger Ben Army, while striving to extinguish the fire, laughed and said, "Our Great Qin has an heir now. Hey, the commotion when this little prince was born was truly remarkable!" Everyone burst into laughter

Today's weather is exceptionally sultry, as if the sky is ablaze, causing one to sweat profusely at the slightest movement! In the evening, the originally clear sky suddenly changed color, a fierce wind rose from the ground, and countless dark clouds appeared abruptly, obscuring the entire sky, plunging the world into sudden darkness!

On an autumn day this year, King Qin Yingzheng encountered his childhood sweetheart Gongsun Yu while hunting in the Shanglin Garden with his brother, Lord Chang'an Chengjiao. Gongsun Yu would later become the only empress in King Qin Yingzheng's life and also the mother of Emperor Hu Hai, the Second Emperor.

In the year 241 BC, the sixth year of King Zheng of Qin, it was a year of intense warfare for the Qin state: the five states of Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, and Wei were organizing hundreds of thousands of allied troops under the command of Zhao general Pang Juan, bypassing strategic locations such as Hangu and Tongguan, launching fierce attacks towards places like Pufan, north of Xianyang in the Qin state. The Prime Minister of Qin, Lü Buwei, was leading the national army northward to confront them, engaging in a standoff with the allied forces of the five states at Zui.

Thinking of Yang Nan, Ling Ge, Zhao Tie, and Fang Hong, who had shared life and death with him, Cheng Feng began to feel anxious. In an era when communication technology was extremely underdeveloped, searching for Fang Hong and the other three, whose current fates, identities, and even appearances might be unknown, was an utterly impossible task. Cheng Feng couldn't help but let out a long sigh (in his heart), completely placing his hopes for reunion on the unreliable heavens he hardly believed in

At this moment, in the majestic palace of Xianyang, countless eunuchs and palace maids were bustling in and out in front of the sleeping quarters of the Qin King's beloved concubine, Concubine Zheng, in the "Jianzhang Palace." Everyone's face was filled with joy and anxiety: Concubine Zheng was about to give birth

However, not long after, once the novelty of having a son wore off, Ying Zheng's affection for Fusu diminished significantly. He spent his days immersed in state affairs, only occasionally visiting Zheng Fei to check on her and their child or sending eunuchs with some fine supplements. Nevertheless, this was enough to make Zheng Fei feel immensely happy, and it was more than enough to incite jealousy among the other concubines. In the context of the ancient tradition of 'a mother’s status is elevated by her child,' with the birth of Fusu, Zheng Fei's future days would be considerably better.

As for the parents, younger brother, and even girlfriend Su Wan, whom he deeply loved in his previous life, Cheng Feng knew that there was no hope of seeing them again in this lifetime

When Cheng Feng groggily awakened from his slumber, he immediately saw the charming face of Zheng Fei right in front of him. Cheng Feng gasped in surprise, instinctively recoiling, and exclaimed, "Oh my mother!" However, the sound that emerged from his throat was not his familiar deep male voice, but a loud infant's cry. Upon seeing the baby crying in distress, Zheng Fei was startled and quickly began to gently pat the baby's back, hurriedly whispering soothing words, "Oh, oh! Don't cry, my child, mother is here!"

Fortunately, as the eldest son of King Qin, Fusu did not lack affection. Not only was he deeply loved by his mother, Consort Zheng, but his uncle, Lord Chang'an Chengjiao, also cared for him greatly. What was most surprising was that, in the eyes of outsiders, Fusu almost never cried, was friendly with everyone, and smiled often, which led the bored concubines in the palace to frequently visit Consort Zheng to hug and play with little Fusu. Fusu, in turn, willingly enjoyed the genuine 'close contact' with the beautiful women.

Upon entering the imperial palace, Ying Zheng, in high spirits, disregarded the weariness from travel and immediately made his way to the sleeping quarters of Consort Zheng

As a crowd of people anxiously rushed about, the dark and gloomy sky suddenly began to rage. A massive bolt of lightning abruptly cleaved through the heavens, striking down like a colossal axe, crashing onto a century-old pine tree in front of the palace.

King Qin pondered for a moment, and suddenly a smile appeared on his face, clearly pleased with his own thoughts. Ying Zheng smiled and said, "My beloved, do you not quite like the folk song from your hometown, 'The Mountain Has Fusu'? Then, how about we name our son Fusu?" (Note: Fusu's mother, Lady Zheng, was from the State of Zheng and enjoyed singing the local popular love song 'The Mountain Has Fusu'. Thus, the First Emperor named their son 'Fusu'. 'Fusu' is an ancient term describing the lushness of tree branches and leaves, and by naming his son this, Qin Shi Huang evidently placed boundless expectations on him)

Looking at the adorable infant before him, Ying Zheng was momentarily stunned: this little, chubby creature resembling a small mouse was his own son! How truly marvelous the heavens are! Ying Zheng tenderly kissed Fusu's little face, and the stubble he had not shaved for days immediately pricked at Cheng Feng, causing him to grimace and nearly cry out in pain

Awakened by this remark, Fusu carefully observed Ying Zheng: he was extremely tall, likely over 1.9 meters; his square face, paired with sharp eyes, slanted eyebrows, and an eagle-hooked nose, exuded a vigorous and imposing presence, embodying the aura of a ruler. Upon seeing this, Fusu couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and anger: many ancient texts claimed that King Qin Ying Zheng had a hawk-like gaze, a wolfish demeanor, and a protruding chest with a hunched back, which were all false. It was likely that the Confucians who edited the historical records were dissatisfied with the First Emperor's persecution of scholars, leading them to disparage this great emperor of the ages. It seems that the unjust treatment faced by the First Emperor in historical texts bears some resemblance to that of Yongzheng during the Qing Dynasty.

The pale-faced Consort Zheng quietly held the newly born little prince, feeling the immense joy of becoming a mother for the first time. Completely immersed in her great happiness, Consort Zheng truly felt that "you are all I see," with love evident in her eyes, on her smiling face, and at the tips of her crescent-shaped brows. She was solely focused on gently caressing the little prince's tender face, completely oblivious to the continuous respectful voices of the palace attendants.

The heavy palace gate was suddenly flung open, and along with a wave of heat, King Ying Zheng of Qin rushed to the side of Concubine Zheng in just a few steps. Startled awake from her slumber, Concubine Zheng was taken aback to see the King standing before her, feeling both surprised and delighted. She quickly struggled to rise and pay her respects. Ying Zheng hurriedly bent down, gently pressing his hand on Concubine Zheng's fragrant shoulder, and in a rare gentle tone, softly said: "My beloved, do not move, just lie down obediently! Let me take a look at our son!"

At a time when the front lines were still engulfed in the flames of war, the State of Qin welcomed a significant moment: the first son of King Ying Zheng of Qin was about to be born

At this moment, immersed in the joy of having a son, Ying Zheng immediately ordered a nationwide celebration, both to rejoice in the continuation of the Qin dynasty and to celebrate the great victory of the "Battle of Huai" and the return of Prime Minister Lü Buwei to the capital.

According to the strict laws of the Qin dynasty, if the Princess of Zheng were to suffer any mishap during childbirth, the lives of the midwife's entire family would be forfeit. Thus, the anxious midwife, her eyes bloodshot with worry, exhausted every conceivable method, nearly resorting to kneeling and pleading for the young prince to be born quickly

When Cheng Feng finally came to his senses, he had already been carried by the wet nurse to the bed of Consort Zheng. Cheng Feng opened his small eyes and began to carefully observe this mother of the present world: dignified and beautiful, gentle and kind, she resembled a typical ancient Chinese noblewoman! Cheng Feng thought to himself with a hint of joy: "Not bad, with such a good mother to take care of me, it seems my childhood won't be very lonely!"

As the sound of infants crying came in waves, the long-suffering heavens finally erupted in a fit of temper, unleashing a torrential downpour. The remaining embers of the pine trees were quickly extinguished, and the relieved Imperial Guard and palace attendants also breathed a sigh of relief, hastily retreating to the corridors to seek shelter from the rain