Chapter Thirty-Six: Wu Guang, the Deadweight

As Qin Shi Huang watched Wang Jian hurry away, he couldn't help but feel as though he had overlooked something. He cast a subconscious glance at the paper on his desk, yet for a moment, he could not fathom what it was that he had missed.

Suddenly, it dawned on him.

He looked at the bamboo slips he had just inscribed regarding patent protection and authorization, his pupils dilating in shock.

Fusu!

This paper was invented by Fusu! And this patent, too, belonged to Fusu...

The emotions that had just settled within the First Emperor surged once more. It was a long while before he could calm his shock.

Fusu, oh Fusu! I truly wonder how many more things you possess that can draw my attention time and again!

Yet, Qin Shi Huang could not foresee how truly subversive the real purpose of this paper would be to his understanding of the world. Nor did he anticipate that today's patent protection would not only trigger an explosive development in all walks of life across the Great Qin for the next decade but would also establish the Wang family as the wealthiest merchant clan in the entire empire.

...

At the Wucheng Marquis Estate.

Huayang had been married into the Wang family for over ten years. She was now only twenty-five or twenty-six years old. Throughout these years, she had managed everything in the Wang household with diligence and unwavering duty, never once uttering a word of complaint to anyone.

Yet, whenever she awoke in the depths of the night, she would always recall that day—the day the Emperor, her father, came to her chambers and spoke those words to her.

Huayang had wanted to refuse at the time. But upon seeing the resolve and madness in her father’s eyes, she found she could not. Thus, she lied, claiming she had asked to marry Wang Jian of her own volition, and never once betrayed a hint of resistance or reluctance.

Because Huayang knew: she was the eldest legitimate daughter of Qin Shi Huang, and her mother...

At this thought, tears welled up in Huayang’s eyes, eventually spilling over. At first, she had hated Qin Shi Huang, but later, she found she could no longer hold onto that hatred. The Great Qin needed Wang Jian, and she was the final shackle used to bind him. For the sake of the Great Qin, there was no right or wrong...

As time passed, Huayang had come to terms with it, and the various emotions in her heart gradually faded—until she saw Fusu again a few days ago. The tenderness in Huayang’s heart was stirred once more, leaving her filled with nothing but a longing for family affection.

Ironically, ever since she married into the Wang family, Qin Shi Huang seemed to have forgotten he even had such a daughter. He had never mentioned her again, nor had he even sent anyone to inquire after her. At first, Huayang thought the Emperor was trying to avoid arousing Wang Jian’s suspicion, but she knew better... Qin Shi Huang had truly forgotten her.

A mocking smile touched the corner of Huayang’s mouth as she wiped the tears from her face. In the next second, she reverted to being the quiet, wise, and rational Marchioness of Wucheng.

If he has forgotten, then so be it!

Thinking this, Huayang straightened her makeup in the mirror. Just then, a maidservant rushed in. "Your Highness, Your Highness! The Master says he would like you to come over!"

"Hm?" Huayang paused. "Isn't the Master at my younger brother's estate? He's back so soon?"

The maid shook her head. "I do not know! The Master seemed quite urgent!"

Huayang hurried out of her bedroom and headed toward the main hall. Upon arriving, she saw Wang Jian finishing instructions for the estate steward, sending him off on an errand.

"Come, come!" Wang Jian immediately pulled Huayang to a seat and proceeded to explain the matter of the patent protection and the authorized agents.

Huayang was stunned. After a long while, she finally reacted: "Husband, you mean... my younger brother wants me to be his authorized agent?"

Wang Jian nodded immediately. "Exactly! If all goes as planned, based on the equity, you should be the Chairwoman, and Ruonan the General Manager. You two are the true authorized agents! However, I will pave the way for you in the early stages; the daily management will be left to the two of you. Furthermore, I will have Wang Ben select a few clever and capable guards to assist you. What do you think?"

Huayang nodded subconsciously, then seemed to realize something. "Did Father agree to this as well?"

"Yes, yes!" Wang Jian said excitedly. "This is called Imperial Authorization! Your younger brother is truly a talent!"

Huayang stood frozen. Father... Father still remembers that he has a daughter like me...

For a moment, Huayang was overwhelmed with a torrent of emotions. Finally, she seemed to understand: her younger brother... Fusu was likely worried that if his own name were on it, Father might not allow it, so he had roped her in.

*Hmph,* that little rascal—when did he become so calculating?

Huayang thought this, yet she did not know that by including her, Fusu was destined to make her the wealthiest woman in the entire world, without exception. This, too, was Fusu’s way of making amends to his sister.

...

In the night, dew rolled back and forth on the leaves in the mountain forest. Suddenly, two figures charged from afar, knocking the dew from the leaves onto the ground.

Wu Guang, looking nervous and grim-faced, scolded, "Didn't I tell you not to resist arrest? You just wouldn't listen! Now look at us—we've truly become fugitives!"

Chen Sheng glanced at Wu Guang, crouching in a thicket of bushes, listening vigilantly to the sounds around them.

Wu Guang continued to mutter, "We've walked the straight and narrow; we've never committed petty theft, nor have we committed murder or arson! What is there for us to fear?"

Chen Sheng felt like hitting him. He truly did not want to drag this dead weight along anymore. He wouldn't stop yapping the whole way; he couldn't even find peace while running for his life! He must have had eight lifetimes of bad luck to run into such a strange fellow. Not only was he devoid of ambition, but he was also incessantly talkative.

In desperation, Chen Sheng hissed, "Shut up! The laws of Great Qin are harsh; who knows what crimes they would pin on us if we were taken to the capital? Now that we have a chance to escape, are you waiting to be slaughtered?"

Wu Guang tried to argue further, but Chen Sheng pointed into the distance. "We have been fleeing for days now; there shouldn't be any pursuers left. You can go now!"

After saying this, Chen Sheng leaned down to drink some dew from a clean leaf. His cracked lips regained a hint of color.

Upon hearing this, Wu Guang immediately fell silent. Then, he didn't leave; he just crouched there quietly.

It was unknown how much time had passed when the sound of footsteps echoed. Both men's faces changed drastically. Who could be here in the deep, remote mountains at such an early hour? Could it be the soldiers?

Chen Sheng instinctively gripped a wooden stick nearby, and Wu Guang reached for a stone.

"Everyone, keep your voices down, and move quickly!"

"Right!"

"If we're late, Master Xiang will scold us again!"

...

Chen Sheng listened to the voices and looked over. He saw over a dozen retainers escorting a line of carriages, moving slowly along the mountain path.

Seeing this, Wu Guang dropped the stone. He stood up and began walking toward them, saying, "Chen Sheng, until we meet again!"

"Come back!" Chen Sheng’s face turned pale. He was terrified that this fool Wu Guang would be so reckless as to expose him as well.