Changing history comes with a price.
Qingnu realized this upon waking. She just didn't know if the price would cost her her life. If it were only like this time—killing a Zhao Gao in exchange for half a year of deep sleep—she could accept it.
But regardless, that half-year slumber had truly frightened Ying Zheng. He stubbornly refused to let Qingnu involve herself in anything anymore.
Whomever he wanted to kill or whomever he wanted to see, he would handle it himself.
Qingnu was happy to enjoy the leisure.
"Ah, so this is what it feels like to raise a son for one's old age!"
In the imperial garden, Qingnu lay on a self-made reclining chair, swaying her body as she basked in the sun. It was a pity that fruit varieties were so scarce in this era; otherwise, she could have eaten some grapes. What a delight that would be!
"Hmph, still enjoying yourself?"
Hongluan let out a snort, looking down on Qingnu with disdain.
She landed on Qingnu's thigh, looked up at her, and said, "Do you know that many fangshi have entered the palace recently?"
"Fangshi?"
Qingnu's brow furrowed.
That brat didn't seem like the type to seek immortals or obsess over eternal life. Why was he keeping so many fangshi?
Qingnu voiced her confusion.
Hongluan looked at her as if she were a fool and said, "Why else? Naturally, it's for you..."
Halfway through, Hongluan suddenly paused and raised a wing to cover her beak.
Qingnu narrowed her eyes, grabbed Hongluan, and asked, "For me to do what? Speak! If you don't, I'll pluck every single one of your feathers! You won't even get a piece of fruit after that!"
This terrified Hongluan. This snake girl might actually do it!
"He... he prepared them for you! He wants them to refine medicine to cure your illness."
"Refine medicine for me..."
Qingnu was stunned. she quickly stood up and ran toward the garden exit.
Hongluan, startled, flapped her wings to chase after her, shouting, "Wait for me! Ying Zheng told me not to tell you about this, don't go..."
"If he told you not to tell, then why did you say it, you stupid bird!" Qingnu cursed without looking back.
She jogged all the way to Ying Zheng's side.
Ying Zheng was currently speaking with a fangshi. Seeing Qingnu arrive, his brow furrowed slightly, and he immediately waved his hand for the fangshi to leave quickly.
But Qingnu stopped the fangshi then and there, asking, "What is your name?"
The fangshi froze and instinctively looked toward Ying Zheng.
"Don't look at him, look at me!"
Qingnu's brow tightened, her voice growing heavier. Seeing this, Ying Zheng let out a light sigh and said, "Since the teacher is asking you, answer her!"
The fangshi hurriedly bowed his head and cupped his hands to Qingnu. "This humble subject, Xu Fu, greets the Great Teacher!"
It was actually Xu Fu!
Qingnu watched Xu Fu's retreating figure and asked, "Where did he come from?"
Ying Zheng remained silent until Qingnu glared at him. Then he replied, "Rumor has it that the State of Qi has many fangshi. Therefore, after I destroyed the State of Qi, I sent people to find them. A few days ago, they found him in Langya. He claims to have seen the immortal mountains and knows how to refine elixir!"
"He's a fake."
Qingnu said without hesitation.
Ying Zheng looked at Qingnu and said, "But isn't Teacher an immortal?"
An immortal, naturally, could only be treated with immortal medicine.
Qingnu waved her hand in frustration and said, "Send the fangshi away. If so many fangshi are in the Qin palace seeking the Dao, people throughout the world will talk behind your back! I don't want anyone secretly cursing a snake."
"Teacher, rest assured! Throughout the world, people only know that Gua Ren seeks the immortals and craves eternal life. No one will know of Teacher."
Ying Zheng looked at Qingnu with burning eyes and said, "Gua Ren will bear all the infamy."
"Brat, do you think I need you to bear it?"
Qingnu scolded. Ying Zheng stood up and walked toward her, saying, "Teacher, let's not speak of this! Gua Ren has a more important matter to discuss with you."
Qingnu looked at Ying Zheng suspiciously, stepping back slightly. "What is it?"
"Teacher once said to wait for Gua Ren's imperial coronation."
Ying Zheng gazed at Qingnu. He still remembered this promise from twenty-six years ago.
His eyes were turbulent with emotion as he said, "Gua Ren has now unified the world. My merit surpasses the Three Sovereigns and my virtue exceeds the Five Emperors! This was Teacher's expectation. By taking the titles of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors and merging them into one, it becomes Huangdi! Teacher, what do you think of this title?"
Qingnu was dazed for a moment as she looked at the Ying Zheng before her, feeling a sense of gratification.
She had finally lived to see the birth of the emperor!
Qingnu took a deep breath and nodded. "It suits you well."
Ying Zheng laughed. "Gua Ren has already ordered Li Si to prepare. Teacher will soon see Gua Ren's imperial coronation!"
"Mm, I'll be waiting."
Ying Zheng used the coronation ceremony to gloss over the matter of the fangshi.
When Qingnu returned to the Jade Maiden Shrine, her heart was still pounding with excitement. She grabbed Hongluan and said excitedly, "Hongluan! An emperor! Ordained by Heaven, Long Life and Eternal Prosperity! I am going to witness the birth of the first emperor in this world!"
Hongluan watched her excitement and rolled her eyes, muttering, "You really are easy to coax."
Qingnu didn't care about anything else. The emperor was real, and the imperial providence was real!
The providence rising over Xianyang was so bright that even Qingnu found it a bit blinding when she looked up. It was something never seen in the Xia, Shang, or Zhou dynasties!
As the ceremony drew near, Ying Zheng had Afang send over a set of clothes.
"...Again?"
Qingnu flinched, her eyelids twitching as unpleasant memories resurfaced.
By now, Afang had already become the head of the female officials in the Qin palace.
She wore the attire of a high-ranking female official, looking elegant and poised. In the current Qin palace, aside from Qingnu, Afang held the highest status among women.
Seeing Qingnu's frown, she hurriedly explained, "Teacher, please rest assured. The King will not do that again!"
"Truly?"
Qingnu stared at Afang.
Afang nodded with a wry smile. "Of course it's true. We wouldn't dare deceive Teacher again."
Qingnu decided to trust them one more time.
A good snake shouldn't be fooled twice by the same people, right?
Within the city of Xianyang Palace, the black-armored Qin army stood ready, their banners fluttering in the wind.
The surrendered ministers and royals of the six states entered in single file, surrounded by the Qin army. The towering, magnificent Qin palace weighed heavily on their hearts, and grief was etched on every face.
Once, they too had been noble lords of their own nations, traveling in carriages and feasting on delicacies.
Dong—!!
Dong—!!
Above the high platform in the Qin palace, the Music Bureau played the grand bells and chimes. The sound was vast and powerful, shaking the souls of the people from the six states and leaving them pale-faced.
The officials of Great Qin surged in from both sides. The civil officials were led by Li Si, while the military generals included Wang Jian, Meng Tian, and others.
The ceremony designed by Li Si was filled with the solemnity and gravity of the Legalist school.
Ying Zheng wore black robes embroidered with gold dragon patterns. The twelve-tasseled imperial mian swayed slightly as he moved, slowly ascending the steps to the sound of bells and drums.
On both sides, the Qin army sounded their horns, the noise reaching between heaven and earth!
As the teacher, Qingnu led Fusu and stood below the topmost tier of the steps, watching as Ying Zheng approached.
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