Continuing from the previous episode, the story turns to Lü Buwei’s behind-the-scenes strategizing.
3.1 The Art of the Deal
My grandfather, Load An Guo, was the crown prince who would inherit the throne of Qin. His favorite concubine was Lady Huayang, but Lady Huayang was never able to bear his child.
Before meeting Lady Huayang, Lü Buwei invested heavily to win over her brother. He cautioned him that if Lady Huayang fell out of favor, he would not only lose his current position but could also be liquidated. Lü suggested that adopting a son and naming him the heir would be the wisest course of action.
Immediately after that, he brought valuable gifts to visit Lady Huayang’s sister, proposing that if Lady Huayang lost her favor, everyone’s wealth and comfortable life would go down the drain, but if he adopted my father as a political dependant, he would be able to keep peace forever.
Later, with their endorsement, Lü Buwei formally visited Lady Huayang. After presenting her with rare treasures and exquisite jade, he spoke earnestly: “You are currently deeply favored by Lord Anguo, but as time passes and your beauty fades, will he still love you? Even if he doesn’t, when he needs to establish an heir, and since you and Lord Anguo have no children, he will likely appoint another concubine as the queen. At that point, all the honors and wealth you and your family enjoy will vanish, and you might even face life-threatening dangers due to palace intrigues.
Mrs. Hua Yang broke out in a cold sweat after hearing this, and immediately asked Lü Bu Wei anxiously what he had to say.
Seeing that the time had come, Lü Bu Wei continued: Your husband, Lord An Guo, has a son named Yi ren, who is now a hostage in Zhao because of his mother’s low status. However, he is a man of great honor and ambition, and he is very prestigious and famous in the state of Zhao. At the same time, he is very respectful and filial to you, Madam Hua Yang, and wants to recognize you as his mother. If you accept him as your child, Load An Guo will surely be willing to make him the Crown Prince, so you will be the Empress now, and you will be the Empress Dowager when the Yiren succeeds to the throne.
Moreover, if you accept him as your son, you will be grateful to him for the rest of your life, and you will never say anything.
Although Mrs. Hua Yang was frowning, she was obviously moved.
Lü Bu wei said: Yiren is now in Zhao, the relationship between the two countries, his situation is very dangerous, may be killed at any time. If madam does not plan early, I am afraid that this rare opportunity will be lost.
Under the persuasion of her brother and sister, Mrs. Huayang was moved and agreed that Lü Buwei should carry out this plan as soon as possible.
When I was three years old (257 B.C.), Qin once again attacked Handan, the capital of Zhao, and the people of Zhao were so furious that they planned to kill my father to vent their anger. In this time of danger, Lü Buwei bribed the city officials to help my father quietly escape from Zhao and return to Qin after a long and arduous journey. My mother, Zhao Ji (赵姬) and I were hidden in the home of a prominent official in Zhao.
When my father returned to Qin, he immediately recognized Lady Huayang as his mother. Since Lady Huayang was originally from the state of Chu, my father changed his name from Yiren to Zichu, meaning a child of Chu, to please Lady Huayang.
Under Lady Huayang’s pillow talk, the Lord An Guo also made my father the heir apparent.
There is a saying that describes the old rules: men control the world, and women control the world by controlling men.
My father and Lü Buwei continued to operate in Qin, making friends and waiting for the opportunity to come.
3.2 A Change of Fate
Another 6 years passed, and when I was 9 years old, my great-grandfather passed away, and my grandfather, Lord An Guo, successfully took over, but probably due to the fact that my great-grandfather’s reign of 56 years was too long, and my grandfather was getting old, he was only emperor for 3 days, yes only 3 days, and passed away as well. My father officially assumed the throne the following year and became King Zhuangxiang of Qin.
My father kept his word. Lü Buwei became Qin’s Chancellor — second only to him — and he didn’t forget to thank him with land, titles, and a mountain of gold. Lü Buwei’s investment was a success.
Along with that, the state of Zhao sent me and my current family back to Qin from Zhao in order to ease the relationship with Qin.
When I was 13, my father died, and I became King of Qin. But I was just a kid — think Home Alone, only with backstabbing ministers instead of burglars. With me still a child, Lü Buwei ruled in my name as Chancellor — the real power behind the throne. But I wasn’t going to be a puppet forever.
Spoiler alert:
Later, I cast Lü Buwei aside, survived multiple assassination attempts, and conquered all of China — ending the Warring States period once and for all.
