Longevity by Picking up Attributes in the Battlefield

Chapter 366: Chapter 164: Ying Zheng: She Looks Like Dong’er! This Can’t Be Just a Coincidence! (Part 3)

This is too much of a coincidence. Could there really be someone so similar in this world?

"Your sister doesn’t much resemble you, does she?" Ying Zheng withdrew his gaze, looking at Zhao Feng with a teasing tone.

"I take after my father, and my sister takes after our mother," Zhao Feng replied with a smile.

"Zhao Ying, right?" Ying Zheng spoke slowly.

"I am," Zhao Ying responded politely.

"Is this your first time in Xianyang?" Ying Zheng asked gently.

"Yes," Zhao Ying nodded.

"I’ve heard that your family consists of just you, your brother, and your mother, all relying on each other."

"Now that you’re here in Xianyang, doesn’t that leave your mother all alone in the countryside?" Ying Zheng said with a slight smile.

"We tried to persuade our mother to come with us, but she refused. She said she’s not used to the hustle and bustle of the capital and prefers the tranquility of the countryside," Zhao Ying explained truthfully.

"What a pity," Ying Zheng said with a hint of disappointment. "I had hoped to see the woman who could raise a twenty-year-old Shangjiangjun for Qin."

Zhao Feng laughed. "Please do not worry, Your Majesty. If you visit Shaqiu, I will certainly bring my mother for an audience."

"You said it," Ying Zheng laughed heartily. "When I go there one day, you better not hide her from me."

"How could Your Majesty say such a thing?" Zhao Feng retorted, somewhat exasperated.

"You’ve just returned today, so I won’t hold you up any longer," Ying Zheng said, waving his hand at Zhao Feng. "You may return to your residence for now. We will discuss the establishment of the great camp after the court session tomorrow."

"As Your Majesty commands," Zhao Feng agreed with a nod, not hesitating.

Afterward, Zhao Feng left with Wang Yan and the others.

Ying Zheng, however, remained, his gaze fixed thoughtfully on Zhao Ying’s departing figure.

So similar, far too similar. Her silhouette, her face... they share a sixty-percent resemblance. Could this really be a mere coincidence? At this moment, Ying Zheng’s expression grew solemn, his features etched with deep thought.

Even the most difficult petitions had never affected Ying Zheng so.

"Dunruo," Ying Zheng called out loudly.

In a moment, Dunruo promptly emerged from the inner hall to stand before Ying Zheng.

"At your command, Your Majesty," Dunruo said respectfully.

"Bring me Zhao Feng’s household register again," Ying Zheng commanded in a grave tone.

"As you command." Without asking why, Dunruo turned and entered the rear hall, returning shortly with a register in his hands.

It was the same one Ying Zheng had examined before.

Ignoring Dunruo, Ying Zheng immediately opened the register and began to scrutinize it.

After a good while, he still had not found anything out of the ordinary.

"Did you personally verify this register?" Ying Zheng looked up and asked Dunruo.

"I personally investigated every detail," Dunruo immediately replied. "From the Government Office’s household records to sending men to secretly investigate his village, I can confirm the register is completely accurate."

"Zhao Feng’s father died in battle at Handan City."

"Zhao Feng’s mother is registered in Qiulin Village."

"The mother is well-versed in medicine, and Zhao Feng has also dabbled in it."

"What do you think? Could it be such a coincidence?"

"Is it possible," Ying Zheng asked, his gaze burning with anticipation, "that the person I had you search for is Zhao Feng’s mother?"

"Your Majesty," Dunruo began, "I have met Dong’er before and even sketched a portrait of her. Zhao Feng’s mother is not her."

"The housekeeper Your Majesty sent to the Zhao Mansion is a Heibingtai Anshi, and he is familiar with Dong’er’s portrait. No, all Heibingtai Anshi are familiar with her portrait. If Zhao Feng’s mother were the one, it would have been reported long ago," Dunruo explained further.

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng’s expression fell in disappointment.

"Never mind," he sighed. "Perhaps I am overthinking things." Then he asked, "The Heibingtai Anshi haven’t left Doctor Xia’s side, have they?"

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty," Dunruo replied at once. "Wherever Doctor Xia goes, there will always be Dark Guards protecting him."

"That’s good," Ying Zheng nodded.

"If there is nothing else, your subject will take his leave," Dunruo said with a bow, preparing to depart.

As Dunruo’s figure departed, a sliver of hope lingered in Ying Zheng’s heart. "Wait."

Dunruo immediately halted, bowing his body as he waited for the King’s command.

"Have the Dark Guard at the Zhao Residence in Shaqiu paint a portrait of Zhao Feng’s mother. Once it is finished, present it to me immediately," Ying Zheng ordered solemnly.

"As you command." Dunruo bowed in acceptance and then withdrew.

Dong’er... Hope may be slim, but as long as there is any possibility, I will not let it slip by. Besides... Father-in-law’s trip to Shaqiu was rather abrupt. I must investigate this thoroughly. Ying Zheng murmured to himself.

「Zhao Mansion!」

After leaving the Royal Palace and returning home.

"Brother," Zhao Ying said to Zhao Feng, feeling aggrieved, "the King is so imposing! I was afraid to even speak in his presence, worried he might get angry and have me executed."

"The King is indeed imposing, but he is not a capricious man, so you can rest easy," Zhao Feng said with a smile.

"Husband, how do you plan to arrange things for Ying’er? Surely you don’t actually intend to let her suffer hardships in the army?" Wang Yan asked, unable to bear the thought.

"Sister-in-law," Zhao Ying replied with a smile, "even in the army, I would just be performing a physician’s duties. It’s not what I’d call suffering. Besides, being in the army might improve my medical skills."

"You still want to go straight into the army?" Zhao Feng asked, a faint smile on his lips.

"Is that not possible?" Zhao Ying’s expression changed as she gave her brother a puzzled look.

"To become a Military Doctor, you must first study at the Great Medical Hall for half a year before you can be assigned to the army. Furthermore, your brother’s camp hasn’t even been formed yet, and the Military Medical Camp needs to be filled with many military doctors. You will need to stay in Xianyang for some time," Zhao Feng said cheerfully.

"With my skills, I still have to study?" Zhao Ying said with a touch of arrogance.

"The medicine you learned at home is one thing, but military medicine is different. You’ll understand once you enter the Great Medical Hall," Zhao Feng said with a smile and a shake of his head, not bothering to explain further.

After all, back in Shaqiu, Zhao Ying’s work was treating illnesses, but in a military camp, the focus is on healing injuries. There is a significant difference between the two.

"Yan’er," Zhao Feng instructed, "arrange a room for Ying’er."

"Alright. Ying’er, come with me," Wang Yan said gently, taking Zhao Ying’s hand. "From now on, this is your home in Xianyang."

After they left, Zhao Feng went straight to his side hall.

I’ve already refined dozens of batches of the Fasting Pill. Next, I’ll refine some pills to restore Inner Strength and enhance my Cultivation. I still need to keep collecting medicinal herbs.

Zhao Feng summoned his Alchemy Furnace and began the familiar process of alchemy.

「Inside Zhangtai Palace!」

"Subject Li Si requests an audience."

Outside the hall, Li Si, dressed in his official robes, called out respectfully. As one of the Nine Ministers, he could enter the palace for an audience directly, though he still needed to be announced outside Zhangtai Palace.

Seeing Li Si, Zhao Gao first nodded, then said respectfully, "Tingwei, please wait."

After a moment, Zhao Gao came out and announced respectfully, "By the King’s decree, the Tingwei may enter the hall for an audience."

"My thanks," Li Si replied.

He was a smart man. Unlike the members of the great clans, he did not look down on the eunuch Zhao Gao.

After entering the grand hall, he saw Ying Zheng was still reviewing petitions. As a diligent monarch, his daily task was to handle various affairs of state.