Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 192 191. Taiwei Tianshi
Although the glass was beautiful, Ji Heng's heart was not with it at all.

He had already put the short sword back, and then picked up the Qin long sword to examine it closely.

The more I looked at it, the more relaxed my brow became.

This Qin Dynasty longsword has a blade length of nearly 1 meter.

The sword is shaped like a willow leaf, slender and pointed, with an exceptionally sharp edge.

It has three blood grooves on each of its two sides, which makes it invincible whether it is used for stabbing, slashing, or charging on the battlefield.

Given Ji Heng's height, a divine weapon of this length was made just for him.

He could no longer care about maintaining his composure:
"Somebody come!"

The general immediately stepped forward: "Your subject is here!"

Ji Heng laughed loudly, holding a sword in his right hand. He was tall and imposing with a long reach, and the sharp and heavy sword seemed perfectly suited to his hand as he held it with one hand.

Now, with just a slight downward slant, a chilling tremor resounded in the air.

The general raised his head slightly, gazing almost obsessively at the divine weapon, already understanding Ji Heng's meaning.

His hand also rested on the hilt of the sword, and he slowly drew it out: "Your Majesty, I have offended you."

He was exceptionally tall to be chosen by Ji Heng as a general.

In particular, the Qin longsword he held had a longer hilt than the commonly seen ones, clearly indicating that it was not a sword held with one hand, but with both hands.

But the heavy force exerted by those hands was exactly what Ji Heng needed to test the sword.

The palace servants quickly scattered and retreated, while Qin Shi stared at the two people in front of him, almost mesmerized.

After all, although she could sense that Ji Heng was exceptionally powerful, this was the first time she had ever witnessed him demonstrate martial arts.

Which girl doesn't dream of being a warrior or a knight-errant?
Ji Heng didn't even take off his robes.

Seeing that the general was ready, he took the initiative to reach out and thrust forward.

The opponent, wielding swords with both hands, instantly parried!
The clanging of metal echoed like a buzzing sound in the hall, and as the two sheathed their swords, they both checked the marks on the blades.

The general frowned slightly, then became pleased again:
"Your Majesty, my sword is already chipped!"

The longsword in Ji Heng's hand, however, was exceptionally sharp and flawless.

"Come again!"

At this moment, the two were no longer simply testing each other with their swords.

Both men were tall and strong, yet their movements were powerful. With each swing of his longsword, Ji Heng's actions were both swift and surging.

It's like a tireless fighting machine.

Amidst the dazzling array of swords, Qin Shi could not even make out the sword shadows; he could only see the two figures moving swiftly, powerfully, and forcefully.

Listen again to that sound that lagged behind, ringing out continuously.

It was as if the two had already clashed with each other more than ten times.

Only after the general stepped back, carefully examined his longsword, did he turn the hilt upside down and bow deeply.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty, on obtaining this divine weapon."

Ji Heng was overjoyed: "You have rendered meritorious service in testing the sword with me! This sword is now yours!"

After he finished speaking, he also reversed the sword hilt and raised his arm.

The attendant beside him immediately picked up the long box and handed it over.

The brand-new longsword landed back on the silk cloth. Ji Heng used to be extremely excited, but now he only glanced at it before generously waving his hand.

"I have broken your personal sword. I will use this one as a temporary substitute. Are you satisfied?"

The Lieutenant General was overjoyed!
Not to mention the sword's formidable sharpness, he was naturally overjoyed.

The handle is held with one hand, but that doesn't matter to him, as he is perfectly suited to holding it with one or two hands.

Moreover, with such a divine weapon, the king bestowed it upon him first...

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

He happily took the long box and retreated, while Ji Heng looked at the short sword again:

"This dagger is exquisite, Your Majesty..."

Before he finished speaking, Qin Shi hurriedly descended the jade steps, his eyes seemingly filled with starlight, gazing at Ji Heng for a moment, unwilling to look away.

"Your Majesty!"

The joy and adoration in her voice were obvious to everyone. She then quickly went to Ji Heng's side, no longer caring about the others in the hall, and swiftly wrapped her arms around his forearm, exclaiming in amazement once more:
"Your Majesty! Your martial arts are superb! You are so brave!"

Everyone in Zhangtai Palace lowered their heads, pretending to be like the golden lamps and bronze pillars at the corners of the palace, and dared not make a sound.

But Ji Heng's words, which he hadn't yet uttered, were suddenly stuck in his throat.

On his forearm, where the veins were slightly bulging from the strenuous exercise, the Queen's soft fingertips were gently entwined with his, showing particular affection. Looking at his jade-like face, the admiration in her eyes was so intense it seemed to overflow.

Therefore, after a moment of silence, he changed the subject:
"This short sword is far too plain and does not suit the Queen—Iron Official! Given a month, could you possibly forge another divine weapon?"

"I want a scabbard made of gold thread, and a sword hilt inlaid with a white jade dragon and tiger holding a pearl from the South Sea."

"By order of name—"

He paused, then glanced at Qin Shi again: "I possess the divine weapon Tai'a, which was once the national treasure of Chu, and is now also the sword of my royal authority."

"In ancient times, there was also the Fish Intestine Short Sword, which was used to assassinate King Liao of Wu. It was a sword of unparalleled bravery."

"And there is Longquan, the sword of justice."

"There is also Zhanlu, the sword of benevolence. Legend has it that this sword will choose its own master and seek out those who practice benevolence throughout the world."

"The Queen is kind and benevolent, and wholeheartedly cares for her people. If this divine weapon were used as a sword of benevolence, I wonder if the Queen would be pleased?"

These considerations are exceptionally meticulous.

The palace was silent, but everyone could sense the king's deep affection for the queen.

Everyone mustered their attention and dared not be careless in the slightest.

Qin Shi couldn't help but squeeze Ji Heng's hand again.

Warm, calloused palms, broad, reassuring bones...

She smiled, her eyes filled with a gentle and joyful light, like water and the moon.

"Your Majesty, I have a divine weapon, and Your Majesty naturally has one too."

"I wonder what Your Majesty would name the new longsword if it were forged?"

Ji Heng pondered for a moment: "Heaven and earth are connected, and the stars are in opposition."

"There are three enclosures in the sky: Taiwei, Ziwei, and Tianshi."

"Among them, the Ziwei Enclosure was the residence of the emperor."

"The Taiwei Enclosure is the place where the emperor exercises his authority and political affairs—if he obtains divine weapons, he will be called..."

"Too small."

He looked at Qin Shi, a slight guess forming in his mind.

Qin Shi smiled gently and said, "Whether it is the Sword of Benevolence or the Sword of Unparalleled Courage, these legendary divine weapons should naturally belong to the King's treasury."

"As for me, I only wish to stay by Your Majesty's side, to do my utmost to assist Your Majesty, and to create an everlasting legacy for our Great Qin."

"Therefore, Your Majesty, please bestow a name upon the Queen of Qin's divine weapon—"

"Tian Shi" (Heavenly Market).

The Heavenly Market Enclosure possesses the power of the imperial throne, symbolizes the feudal lords paying homage to the king, and is in charge of human law and commerce administration.

It can also predict good and bad fortune in the human world, and whether there will be a year of plenty or a year of famine.

It is precisely an essential and important component in the exercise of imperial power, in order to achieve a prosperous and peaceful era.

Ji Heng looked at her intently, and then solemnly agreed in the quiet Zhangtai Palace:

"In that case, the Queen's Divine Soldiers shall be called—"

"【Heavenly Market Sword】".

　In ancient times, including the First Emperor, people paid great attention to celestial phenomena! The tomb chambers are filled with diagrams corresponding to the stars.

　　For specific symbolic meanings, you can refer to some of Professor Feng Shi's public lectures on ancient astronomy and calendar systems.

　　Tai'a, also known as Tai'a.

　　Besides being a symbol of earthly royal power, it also carries astrological connotations.

　　The Zhanlu sword technique was lost during the Warring States period.

　　Hey! I took leave, but I still managed to write it, though it's very slow... There's just too much material! I can't keep up with all the research, and I forget everything as soon as I finish writing! I feel like I've wasted my time writing this, and I haven't retained any knowledge!
　　(End of this chapter)