People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 530, Finally Crowned
Yongcheng, Qinian Palace.

The deep sound of bells rang out from all around Qinian Palace, followed by dozens of armored soldiers raising their arms and beating the large drum in front of them. The black Xuan Bird Banner fluttered without wind, and soldiers holding long halberds and short swords stood on both sides of the square, looking straight ahead.

The once empty square is now filled with hundreds of dignified ministers, members of the royal family, and envoys from various countries. Their expressions are solemn, and their gazes toward the palace in front of them are filled with seriousness. That palace is the ancestral temple of the Qin state, where the memorial tablets of the former rulers of Qin are placed.

On ordinary days, officials were not allowed to enter the Imperial Ancestral Temple; only on special occasions could they perform sacrifices. The palace was extremely magnificent and tall, exuding a sense of awe.

Outside the palace gates, Ying Zheng, dressed in black royal robes, sat inside a carriage. His crown was placed to the side, and his jet-black hair was simply tied into two small tufts.

Even though Ying Zheng was already past the age of twenty, today was the day he was officially crowned, so his hair had to be styled like a child's.

"The day has finally come."

Ying Zheng's expression was serious, his gaze sharp, and his imperial majesty was fully displayed.

"Your Majesty, I would like to offer my congratulations in advance."

Standing at the carriage entrance with Gai Nie, Xu Qing smiled and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Ying Zheng.

"It's not too late to congratulate me after the important matters are settled. How is the situation in Yongcheng?" Ying Zheng looked at Xu Qing and asked in a low voice.

Today is the day Ying Zheng is crowned, which should be a joyous and celebratory day. However, Ying Zheng understands that today is destined to be a bloody day, with countless corpses becoming stepping stones for him to ascend to the throne and eventually become the ruler of the world.

Despite Xu Qing's meticulous and thorough plan, Ying Zheng was still somewhat nervous.

"Your Majesty, please proceed with the ceremony. The rest is up to me and Brother Gai Nie. Our men are all in place."

Xu Qing smiled calmly, her tone even, exuding confidence that she had everything under control.

Gai Nie nodded slightly, gripping the sword at his waist. His mission was to protect Ying Zheng and prevent anyone from taking advantage of the chaos to attack and assassinate him.

Looking at the calm Xu Qing and Gai Nie, Ying Zheng's tension gradually disappeared, and he nodded slightly.

"Alright, then I'll leave it to you, sir and teacher."

Just as Ying Zheng finished speaking, a solemn and resounding bell rang throughout the Qinian Palace. Immediately afterward, the palace gates of Qinian Palace opened from the inside, and a group of armored soldiers carrying long spears walked out and lined up on both sides of the palace gates.

"Your Majesty, the auspicious time has arrived, please!"

Xu Qing stepped out of the carriage, lifted the curtain, and spoke to Ying Zheng.

Ying Zheng looked at the ancestral temple not far away, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. After taking a deep breath to calm himself down, he stepped down from the carriage and walked towards the interior of Qinian Palace under the protection of Xu Qing and Gai Nie.

At the same time, the people in Yongcheng also heard the bell and looked solemnly at Qinian Palace.

Their King of Qin, the young and old king of Qin, is about to be crowned and assume personal rule. This new king will lead them to new heights.

As Ying Zheng entered the Qinian Palace, the eight bronze horns sounded with a strong, clear voice.

The assembled officials in the square turned to look at Ying Zheng with respectful and humble expressions. The armored soldiers on both sides also lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at him. Xu Qing and Gai Nie also lowered their heads slightly. Only Ying Zheng stood tall and walked straight toward the ancestral temple without looking to the side.

At this moment, the dozens of Qin royal family elders dressed in black at the forefront bowed and greeted Ying Zheng upon his arrival.

For a moment, the deep drumbeats and bell tolls ceased, and the entire Qinian Palace became somber, appearing solemn and dignified against the backdrop of black walls and tiles.

"We respectfully open the temple gates to welcome the King!"

The Grand Master of the Imperial Clan, standing at the very front of the royal family, looked up at the assembled officials and shouted loudly.

"Welcome, Your Majesty!"

As the sound rang out, horns sounded again from all around, followed by the sound of weapons being neatly sheathed. Two rows of elite soldiers in black armor stood on either side, their eyes solemnly fixed on Ying Zheng below, and they roared.

At that moment, the sound resounded throughout the world.

As Ying Zheng slowly stepped forward, everyone behind him followed him into the ancestral temple that enshrined the Qin kings of past dynasties.

At the same time, all the instruments in the honor guard sounded, and the huge chime bells played a melodious and solemn tune, which was extremely solemn.

Ying Zheng pushed open the gates of the ancestral temple, and what came into view was the memorial tablets placed high in the center of the hall. These were the memorial tablets of the former rulers of the Qin state, starting from the highest-ranking Qin Feizi and continuing to the former king, King Zhuangxiang of Qin.

"Paying homage to the late king."

As the orderly voices of the honor guard rang out, everyone knelt down to pay homage to the late king.

In a secluded room, Zhao Ji, dressed in a black and red palace gown, silently watched Ying Zheng and his ministers. Her long, narrow, and alluring eyes were filled with complex emotions, and her right hand, hidden beneath her sleeve, tightly gripped the Qin King's seal.

"Is everything going to end today?"

Zhao Ji's expression became even more complicated. She knew that Lao Ai was going to rebel and besiege Qinian Palace today. She also knew that Ying Zheng and Xu Qing would not surrender obediently. However, Lao Ai had thousands of men under his control, and the Xianyang Imperial Guards and the Lishan Camp were also under his control.

In contrast, although Ying Zheng controlled the military, his loyal generals and troops had been transferred away, making it impossible for them to come to the aid of Yongcheng. Today's outcome seemed predetermined, and Zhao Ji felt a pang of guilt and heartache. Her gaze shifted away from Ying Zheng, unable to bear looking at him any longer.

Ying Zheng was her son, and that was unchangeable. The blood ties made her feel guilty towards Ying Zheng, but she had no other choice but to let Lao Ai take this final step.

"We hereby report to Heaven above, to Earth below, and to our ancestral ruler, that we, the descendants of the Ying clan, now proclaim our devotion."

As the ceremony concluded, the chief priest took out the eulogy and began to read it aloud, facing the memorial tablet.

The Grand Master was reciting the sacrificial text, and Ying Zheng and his ministers listened attentively. The text was simple, consisting entirely of Ying Zheng's affairs and his actions since ascending the throne.

As the eulogy was read aloud, Ying Zheng took it from the Grand Master of Ceremonies, knelt before the memorial tablets, and then threw it into the small cauldron in front of the table. Instantly, the eulogy was engulfed by flames, turning into a wisp of green smoke that swirled around the many memorial tablets.

"Wang Shufa, respectfully welcome the Empress Dowager!"

After the sacrificial text had completely burned, the Grand Master looked towards the side room and shouted loudly.

The capping ceremony begins with the binding of the hair, which is usually done by the father or an elder in the family. However, King Zhuangxiang of Qin died early, so the most suitable person to bind Ying Zheng's hair and put on the cap is Zhao Ji. The next ceremony will be handed over from the Grand Master of Ceremonies to the Grand Master of Ceremonies.

Upon hearing the Grand Master of Ceremonies' voice, Zhao Ji's expression shifted slightly, but she quickly composed herself. She placed the Qin King's seal in her sleeve, clasped her hands in front of her lower abdomen, and walked outside, surrounded by her maids.

Meanwhile, inside the Yongwang Palace.

Lao Ai, wearing a mask and armor, with a long sword at his waist, stood below the high steps. The courtyard below was filled with his retainers, servants, and assassins from the Luo Wang organization.

Hearing the continuous tolling of bells coming from Qinian Palace, Lao Ai, who had been keeping his eyes closed, suddenly opened them, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, and abruptly drew his sword from his waist.

"The Empress Dowager has decreed that the current King of Qin is tyrannical, and I am ordered to depose him and establish a new ruler. We shall start the uprising today! Kill!" Lao Ai shouted angrily.

"Start an uprising!!!"

As Lao Ai shouted, the retainers below put on white masks and suddenly stood up and shouted back.

As soon as he finished speaking, Lao Ai raised his long sword and charged towards Qinian Palace, his eyes flashing with excitement and greed.

Now is the time when Qinian Palace is empty, and everyone's attention is drawn to Ying Zheng's coming-of-age ceremony. If he can lead his retainers into Qinian Palace and kill Ying Zheng, Xu Qing, and a group of royal family members and ministers, then the Qin state will fall into his hands.

At that time, he would no longer be just a minor Marquis of Changxin, but the new king of Qin.

Thinking of this, Lao Ai's face under the mask was full of excitement, and his steps quickened involuntarily, as if he could easily kill Ying Zheng as long as he rushed into Qinian Palace.

In the ancestral temple on the other side, Zhao Ji was tying up Ying Zheng's hair.

The two looked at each other, one taller and one shorter. Zhao Ji's gaze was complicated, and a trace of sadness appeared in her eyes. She dared not look directly at Ying Zheng.

Ying Zheng looked at Zhao Ji, whose gaze was darting away. His calm gaze flickered slightly, and his pursed lips moved gently as he spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear.
"Mother, if you stop now, it's not too late."

Zhao Ji was taken aback upon hearing this, her hand holding her hair stopped, and a look of surprise flashed in her eyes before she regained her composure and said in a low voice.

"Zheng'er, what are you saying? Your mother is tying your hair up, how can you stop?"

"you"

Ying Zheng felt a pang of disappointment as he looked at Zhao Ji. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, he said nothing, and his gaze turned cold.

Zhao Ji was his mother, his biological mother who had gone through thick and thin with him. Even though things had come to this, he still wanted to give Zhao Ji a chance. If Zhao Ji could change her mind, he could pretend that nothing had happened.

Zhao Ji remained the illustrious Queen Dowager of Qin, the mother he remembered as someone who had raised him with great hardship and protected him through countless humiliations.

But Zhao Ji's answer completely chilled Ying Zheng's heart. He regarded Zhao Ji as his mother, but she did not treat him as her son. Now that things had come to this, she still sided with Lao Ai, plotting with a male favorite to murder him and seize the empire built by six generations of Qin's success.

Even if not for himself, but for the sake of the former rulers of Qin, he had to sever ties with Zhao Ji today.

Noticing the change in Ying Zheng's gaze, Zhao Ji lowered her head, a look of pain flashing across her face. Her heart was filled with conflict and hesitation, but she continued to tie up Ying Zheng's hair.

"Wang Shufa! Wang Shufa!"

Xu Qing and the assembled officials focused their attention on Zhao Ji and Ying Zheng, and shouted loudly.

Xu Qing couldn't miss the changes in Zhao Ji and Ying Zheng's expressions. He could only sigh at the sight of the mother and son.

Empress Dowager Zhao Ji clearly had a winning hand, but she played it terribly because of her foolishness. There's nothing more to say now.

"Judging by the time, Lao Ai should be making his move soon."

While Xu Qing was thinking about Lao Ai, Taijian, who was in charge of the ceremony, saw that Ying Zheng had finished tying his hair up, so he stepped forward and shouted.
"The King of Qin is crowned, let it begin!"

Zhao Ji glanced deeply at Ying Zheng, whose expression was indifferent, and silently walked to the side. An elderly member of the Ying clan walked up to Ying Zheng with a cloth crown in his hands.

(End of this chapter)