Ya She

Chapter 26 The Jade Disc of He

"Bi Zhi...Bi Zhi?"

A gentle voice approached from afar, and he saw a face that was both familiar and unfamiliar, filled with concern. "Bizhi, why are you asleep? It's too cold here, why don't you go back and rest?"

He looked down at the wide-sleeved green robe and deep-colored garment he was wearing, and felt an overwhelming sense of nostalgia.

Throughout his long life, his clothes were always black and never changed.

Now, the gentle-looking young man standing opposite him was dressed in a black robe. Although he only wore a jade ornament at his waist, making him appear extremely simple, he knew that this was the most prestigious attire in the Qin Empire, second only to the emperor.

The Qin Dynasty revered black, and only members of the royal family could wear black clothing. The emperor wore a black robe with crimson skirts, and the crown prince before him was not qualified to adorn his black robe with the crimson cloud pattern.

He also knew that this Crown Prince would remain the Crown Prince for the rest of his life, and that he had no right to wear the most noble black and crimson robes while he was alive.

"Bi Zhi, have you been frozen stiff? Winter really came early this year," the handsome young man said with concern, slowly bending down.

He watched as the Crown Prince, who was second only to the Emperor, took out a spiral red copper hand warmer from his robes and placed it in his hands. The warmth spread from his frozen palms to his heart.

He lowered his head, knowing he was dreaming again. For over two thousand years, dreams of the past had been recurring in his mind. He could even recite what Fusu said next and the next after that. Looking at the bamboo slips on the table, they were approvals for various important matters concerning the construction of the Great Wall. It should be the thirty-fifth year of Qin Shi Huang's reign. Their First Emperor was on another eastern tour, leaving Crown Prince Fusu to oversee the country.

This is the warm pavilion of Xianyang Palace, where Qin Shi Huang usually handles state affairs. Fusu has been serving by his side for seven years, learning how to manage state affairs, and as his study companion, he has naturally followed along. Now, whenever the ruler of the empire temporarily leaves, he will delegate almost all power to his most proud crown prince, allowing him to enjoy the wonderful things about owning the country.

Being an emperor is certainly good, but being a regent emperor is not bad either, only one faces mountains of responsibility. Look, the entire warm pavilion is piled high with all sorts of books and scrolls, truly as heavy as a mountain.

He couldn't help but glance around. Even knowing it was a dream, the scene felt incredibly oppressive. He had a feeling that the bamboo slips would collapse at any moment, crushing him to death beneath them.

"You don't look too good. Is it because of the pill you took yesterday?" A pair of warm hands reached out, and fair fingertips pressed against his forehead. The burning sensation made him slightly stunned, unable to react for a moment.

When did this happen? How come he's never dreamed of such a scene before?
Yes, that pill, that elixir of immortality that changed his life, it must have been from that time?
"Father recently... everyone must obey that decree, Bi Zhi, please don't mind." The young man withdrew his hand, his gentle face showing a hint of apology.

He paused, stunned. This memory hadn't appeared in his dreams for a long time, so he didn't know what to say. He thought carefully about the winter of the thirty-fourth year of Qin Shi Huang's reign; the situation in the empire must have become tense. Qin Shi Huang was furious and killed more than four hundred alchemists. Although it didn't affect the court and the public, everyone was now terrified, fearing they would suffer the emperor's wrath at any moment. The wrath of the emperor could cause millions of corpses and rivers of blood. He hugged the warm hand warmer, smiled sincerely, and said, "The medicine my master left behind might really grant immortality." He was telling the truth, but generally no one would believe such a statement.

"Then stay here and continue to help me." The young man's smile deepened, naturally assuming it was a joke. The Crown Prince of the Great Qin Empire rose again, walked back to the table in the center of the warm pavilion, sat down again, and picked up the He Shi Bi jade from the table, examining it closely. His handsome face appeared even more profound in the warm, soft light of the luminous pearl. For a moment, time seemed to stand still.

He squinted, gazing longingly at the nostalgic scene before him. He knew this warm pavilion intimately, for he had spent nearly ten years here. He knew every single brick, where the gold leaf had been worn away by bamboo slips, which unassuming piece of jade had been secretly stolen by a dishonest eunuch, and which luminous pearl had been cracked by the spoiled young prince's deliberate knocking. He could, over the long years, retrieve those bricks, redeem those luminous pearls, replicate those scrolls, and even reclaim the coveted He Shi Bi jade, striving to recreate the pavilion's realism, but he could never see this scene again in reality.

For a moment, he felt exhausted.

Having been alone for over two thousand years, what exactly is it that it is clinging to?
"Bi Zhi, do you think I can possess this Imperial Seal?" After an unknown amount of time, a voice broke the deathly silence, the young voice filled with an indescribable unease.

He paused slightly, recalling that the Crown Prince of that year did indeed harbor an undeniable inferiority complex in private. This was because his father was a truly great emperor, possessing a legendary life that no one could surpass.

How did he answer back then? Yes, he often answered this question back then. He composed himself and slowly said, "Your Highness will become a very good emperor. Although he may not be as great as the First Emperor, he will certainly be a remarkable Second Emperor of Qin. After you, there will be a third, a fourth, and even ten thousand generations..."

Yes, at that time, everyone thought so. Even the First Emperor, who believed he would live forever, was very satisfied with Fusu. The only drawback was that he felt Fusu was somewhat indecisive.

He knew that Fusu was not indecisive, but rather that his political beliefs clashed irreconcilably with those of Qin Shi Huang. The First Emperor adhered to Legalism, while Fusu disagreed with this autocratic approach to governance, preferring Confucianism, a philosophy rooted in the teachings of the Confucian scholar Chunyu Yue, the Minister of Works. In fact, this ideology was perfectly suited for restoring order after a period of great chaos. If Fusu could successfully ascend the throne, the Qin Empire would surely endure for ten thousand generations.

However, he knew that during a banquet after the First Emperor returned to Xianyang Palace that winter, Chunyu Yue disagreed with the First Emperor's proposed prefecture-county system and suggested implementing a feudal system based on the Zhou rites. This proposal was refuted by Li Si and displeased the First Emperor, directly leading to Chunyu Yue's dismissal. Fusu, because of his strong opposition to this matter, submitted a memorial and was thus sent by the First Emperor to Shangjun to oversee the establishment of Meng Tian's army.

Later, it was believed that this was the turning point in Fusu's life. If he hadn't left the political center too early, Huhai wouldn't have been able to ascend the throne solely with the support of Li Si and Zhao Gao.

“Bi Zhi… Actually, sometimes I really envy Hai’er.” The handsome young man played with the He Shi Bi jade in his hand, but his thoughts had already flown a thousand miles away.

He held the warm brazier, a slight smile playing on his lips, and said faintly, "Your Majesty took him on this tour because you were afraid he would cause you trouble." Don't think that the First Emperor simply doted on his youngest son. Hu Hai was such a restless person; if he had stayed in Xianyang, he would have definitely turned the city upside down.

The young man did not speak, but a bitter smile appeared on his lips, his gaze still lingering on the He Shi Bi jade in his hand.

He stopped trying to persuade him; in truth, everyone understood these things. The heir to an empire and a doting youngest son would naturally be treated differently. He thought of the First Emperor on the dragon throne, and after a long, long time, he couldn't help but sigh, "The emperor stands at the pinnacle of all beings; no one can accompany him, hence the loneliness..."

The young man was taken aback by the question, and his expression turned bitter. He then changed the subject, saying, "Bi Zhi, do you know the origin of this Imperial Seal?"

He composed himself. Even knowing this had happened over two thousand years ago, he cherished it immensely and dared not treat it with any perfunctory attitude. Yes, that's how he should have answered back then. "The *Han Feizi* records that Bian He obtained jade from Jing Mountain and presented it to King Li, who falsely accused him of deception and had his left foot cut off. Later, he presented it to King Wu, who cut off his right foot. When King Wen of Chu ascended the throne, Bian He wept in the marketplace, clutching the jade, his tears flowing with blood. When someone asked why, he replied: 'It's not because of my physical mutilation, but because the jade is ashamed.' King Wen heard of this and ordered someone to carve it open, revealing a beautiful, lustrous jade. It was named the He Shi Bi (He's Jade Disc). Bian He was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Lingyang, but he declined the offer."

He effortlessly recited a long passage of classical Chinese text. He was slightly surprised, then felt a pang of regret. This was indeed his dream of memories, something that had happened more than two thousand years ago.

It cannot be changed, nor is it something we are powerless to change.

A thoughtful expression appeared on the handsome young man's face. After a long while, he said, "Bi Zhi, why is Bian He so stubborn? Why would he rather be crippled than not give the King of Chu this jade first?"

He had forgotten exactly how he answered at the time, but he heard his own voice say without hesitation: "Master Han used the story of Bian He presenting the jade to imply that his political views could not be adopted by the ruler and that he would suffer ostracism instead. Of course, the deeper meaning is that jade craftsmen should be able to recognize and distinguish jade, and rulers should be able to recognize and make good use of people. And those who present treasures with new theories should be prepared to make sacrifices for them. This story played a great role in making Master Han look favorably upon the emperor back then."

The handsome young man turned his head and smiled slightly at him, saying, "Bi Zhi doesn't seem to like this He Shi Bi very much. I've never seen you touch it even once. I remember once I asked you to hand it over casually, and you weren't very willing. Hai'er, on the other hand, is absolutely enamored with this He Shi Bi!"

A mocking smile curved his lips as he chuckled, "The foundation of a nation lies in benevolent governance, and the will of the people is the key to stability. Does acquiring a precious jade make one an emperor? This He Shi Bi jade originally belonged to the State of Chu, then ended up in the State of Zhao, but now it's here." In his view, the magnificent jade was merely icing on the cake for his grand ambitions. He looked up as he spoke, suddenly noticing a strange look in the young man's eyes, and was slightly taken aback.

Did he notice this fleeting strangeness back then?

“Bi Zhi’s words make sense.” The handsome young man regained his gentle expression, dipped the He Shi Bi in ink, and reverently stamped the seal on it under the soon-to-be-issued decree. Then he smiled with satisfaction and said, “Bi Zhi, there is actually another insight in Master Han’s story.”

"Oh?" Although he spoke with a questioning tone, he already knew what Fusu was about to say. This sentence had haunted him for over two thousand years.

"That is, for the beliefs I hold dear, I will never back down, no matter the cost." The young man raised his head, his handsome face revealed in the soft blue light of the luminous pearl, his gaze fixed firmly on him. "Bi Zhi, you will always stand behind me, won't you?"

"Yes, I will always be here."

two

"Bi Zhi...?"

A similar, yet not entirely the same, voice seemed to have pierced through countless layers of fog, finally settling in his ear.

The shopkeeper was slightly startled, realizing that he was still in the familiar warm pavilion of Xianyang Palace. However, the pavilion was no longer filled with piles of bamboo slips, nor was it accompanied by the handsome young man. Instead, there was only an empty room and a few guests who shouldn't be there.

"Bi Zhi, you don't seem very happy to see me like this."

Inside the doctor's body, Fusu's soul awakens. Even though he had fantasized a thousand times about seeing Fusu again, the boss had never imagined he would face such a scene.

The shopkeeper gripped his glasses tightly, offering a wry smile: "Your Highness, it's been a long time."

Fusu blinked, only then realizing that he didn't have the bloody hole in his chest from the guard's stab, but was instead wearing strange clothes. He sat up, looked around, and found himself in the familiar warm pavilion of Xianyang Palace, his gaze finally settling on Huhai, who was standing there dumbfounded.

Ever since hearing the word "Bi Zhi," Hu Hai stood there stiffly, as if someone had struck an acupoint. Only when he met the unmistakable, complex gaze in those eyes did he tremble slightly and manage to utter two words with difficulty: "Your Majesty..." As soon as he opened his mouth, Hu Hai realized that his voice was terribly hoarse.

Fusu ignored him. Although he was curious about why Huhai's hair and eye color had changed, he didn't think the other man was a good person to ask. He turned his gaze back to Bi Zhi, who was kneeling beside him, and asked in a low voice, "Bi Zhi, what happened?" He could naturally tell that although this place tried hard to imitate the warm pavilion of Xianyang Palace, it wasn't the same. Not to mention, there was a thin callus on the pad of his right index finger, as if it had been caused by holding some kind of tool for many years.

This is not his body at all.

The boss composed himself, but unsure how to respond, he instinctively released the Book of the Dead from his other hand. Meanwhile, the Pharaoh, without any hesitation, launched into a long, rambling monologue.

Because the doctor was still wearing his other gilded earring, Fusu understood the Pharaoh's ancient Egyptian perfectly. Fusu touched his short hair, still somewhat incredulous. He was dead? And then alive again? More than two thousand years had passed?
Regardless of whether the strangely dressed foreign man was telling the truth, Fusu turned to the side and saw that Bi Zhi, who had not looked directly at him since he opened his eyes, subconsciously sensing the other's rejection and struggle.

What's going on? If all of this is true, then why did Bi Zhi have this expression when he saw him wake up? Every brick and tile here was rebuilt according to the style of the warm pavilion in Xianyang Palace. Even just a quick glance is enough to feel the effort the other party put into rebuilding this place.

Fusu narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

“Brother…” Hu Hai tried to take two steps forward, but inexplicably stopped. Now his brother had woken up as he had wished, but what could he say? The Qin Empire had already been utterly ruined in his hands, and his brother was unaware of the history of that time. If he did know, he would surely dislike him even more.

Moreover, although Zhao Gao overstepped his bounds and issued the execution order back then, everyone in the world believed that he was the one who carried it out. Even when the emperor closed his eyes for the last time, he must have resented him.

It's good that he's awake. All he owes his elder brother is his life. As for the throne of the Great Qin Empire, he earned it through his own abilities. Now the two of them are even.

Unwilling to admit he was speechless, young master Hu Hai kept a straight face and offered no further explanation. He walked straight past Fu Su, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground, and headed for the door. Lu Zigang, who had been staring blankly at the longevity lock in Fu Su's hand since waking up, couldn't help but follow him.

For a moment, in the huge room, apart from the illusory young pharaoh floating in the air, there were only the boss and the doctor, or rather, Bi Zhi and Fu Su.

The boss kept his head down, staring at the blue brick patterns on the ground, like a puppet whose soul had been ripped away, unsure how to react.

He knew what Fusu was saying to the Pharaoh, but he couldn't concentrate on listening. His heart felt like it was being torn in two, one side filled with the joy of reunion after more than two thousand years, and the other side with the condemnation of his conscience and morality.

Why did he hesitate when he was holding the Book of the Dead? Why did he hesitate?
So, what do you think is the right choice? Crush the Book of the Dead? Let Fusu's soul vanish into nothingness? Or wait for Fusu to possess the doctor's body?

Why can't he compromise? Why does he have to face such a difficult choice?
It's either him living or him dying...

"Bi Zhi, is the body I'm in now someone very important to you?" A gentle voice sounded in his ear. The boss raised his head in a daze and looked at the face that seemed somewhat unfamiliar because of the change in his gentle eyes.

"Is he a very important person?" The boss thought about it seriously and realized he couldn't deny it. He hesitated for a moment, then nodded solemnly. He didn't speak, because the soul within the person in front of him was also a very, very important person to him.

His fair, slender fingers pressed against his forehead, as intimately as in that previous dream, only this time the fingertips were slightly cool.

“Bi Zhi, you’re still the same as before. When faced with a dilemma, you always find it hard to choose.” Fu Su carefully wiped the fine sweat from his forehead, a indulgent smile playing on his lips.

"It's alright, as always, I'll help you choose."

“I just asked that Pharaoh, and that person’s soul should be residing in the azure jade around my neck, so it’s fine for now. On the night of the full moon three days from now, when the spiritual energy is at its peak, I will return this body to him.”

The boss stared at him blankly, slowly loosening his grip on his glasses, unsure how to respond.

Even though more than two thousand years have passed, he is still the same as before, enjoying making decisions for others and not allowing others to question him.

"Now, we still have three days. Won't you tell me where this place is?"

He Shi Bi

three

The owner, carrying a tea set, pushed open the door. The shop, called "Silent Shop," had a basement where he lived. The basement contained only a bedroom and a separate bathroom. His room was simple, containing only an antique Ming Dynasty nanmu canopy bed and a bookshelf full of books. Many of these were old books, but he hadn't collected them intentionally; he just casually browsed them.

Naturally, it contains various historical texts.

He knew Fusu's decision. If the body was returned to the doctor in three days, Fusu's soul would absolutely not be able to withstand being possessed again. Therefore, there was no need to prepare a spare body. The boss planned to have Fusu's soul possess the He Shi Bi or the Shui Cang Yu. Good jade can not only nourish the human body, but is also more suitable for the cultivation of the soul.

What harm is there in him staying with her for thousands of years this time?

As soon as the shopkeeper opened the door, he saw Fusu awkwardly flipping through the book in his hands. In the Qin Dynasty, paper hadn't yet appeared, and early ancient books followed the writing style of bamboo slips, printed vertically from right to left and top to bottom. But in Fusu's hands was a copy of the Twenty-Four Histories, published only in recent years. Fusu had never seen simplified characters before, and was even less accustomed to the horizontal layout from left to right.

The boss wasn't surprised. Just by looking at the old copies of the *Records of the Grand Historian* beside Fusu, which showed signs of being read, he knew that Fusu had already finished reading them in a very short time. History, though long, can be summed up in a single sentence.

The affairs of the world, after a long period of unity, tend to divide; after a long period of division, tend to unite.

His Highness the Crown Prince of Qin is exceptionally wise and would not get bogged down in such trivial matters.

Moreover, it's impossible to know how much of the historical facts written on it are true and how much are false.

The boss's gaze fell on the glasses on the rosewood desk. It was certain that Fusu was not used to wearing glasses, because the doctor's eyes were not actually nearsighted. According to him, he had undergone laser eye surgery and was not used to the bare bridge of his nose, so he put on a pair of non-prescription glasses.

"Bi Zhi, is everything written in this book true?" Fusu brushed his overly long bangs, which were obstructing his eyes, back to reveal his smooth forehead. He was in a bad mood. He had searched through all the historical records about the Qin Dynasty in the room, but he still couldn't believe that the Qin Empire, which his father had built, had collapsed so quickly, just four years after his death. Only four years! Even Fusu, who was not easily angered, couldn't help but feel annoyed, and he understood why Huhai had looked so uneasy when he saw him today.

He's simply the most wasteful spendthrift in history!
The boss knew that Fusu would find this unbelievable; in fact, even he, who had personally experienced it all, found it incredible. But this is the law of history: the collapse of an empire is always much easier than the construction of one.

"Have some tea first." The shopkeeper didn't answer directly, but handed over the blue and white porcelain covered bowl in his hand. Fusu, who had never seen such exquisite and delicate porcelain before, was indeed distracted.

A few mournful bird calls came from overhead. Fusu paused, holding the teacup, and looked at the shopkeeper with a puzzled expression, smelling the aroma of the tea.

The shopkeeper chuckled calmly, "Just caught a stray, feathered little beast." The room was practically covered in bird feathers; Sanqing and Minghong, the two birds, had apparently been fighting somewhere, and the shopkeeper had seen them both sprawled on the floor while he was making tea. Naturally, he wasn't going to let Minghong go back easily, so he immediately put it back in its cage. Sanqing, on the other hand, received the best treatment, though the fellow seemed distressed about its fallen feathers; judging from its posture, it was probably waiting outside the cage for a chance to get revenge.

Fusu didn't ask any more questions. He took a few sips of the fragrant tea and stopped asking about the historical records. Instead, he loosened his tie and suit and asked with a smile, "Bizhi, do you have any clothes to change into? I really can't get used to wearing these clothes."

He Shi Bi

The heavy crown and robes were not suitable for everyday activities. After a long silence, Fusu bent down and helped up his boss, who was still prostrate on the ground. After removing all the cumbersome ornaments and crown, Fusu, dressed only in black robes and crimson skirts, looked handsome and dashing.

The two sat down and drank tea. The innkeeper knew that Fusu definitely wanted to know what had happened, but he couldn't possibly recount his experiences over the past two thousand years in detail, nor would the other party be interested. So he simply explained why he could live forever and how he followed Fusu after discovering that each of Fusu's reincarnations resulted in an early death.

Fusu listened quietly, his slender fingers tracing the rim of the blue-and-white porcelain bowl, as if he couldn't bear to part with the smooth, translucent porcelain. It wasn't until the shopkeeper mentioned something that he suddenly spoke, asking, "According to you, my current body is actually my reincarnation?"

The boss froze, a strange unease creeping into his heart. "Yes," he could only manage to utter those two words, unable to say a single more. What could he say? If he were to say that the doctor, though the reincarnation of Fusu, was a different soul, wouldn't that imply doubt that Fusu would return the body?
Fusu said nothing, but elegantly covered his mouth and yawned, saying with a slightly tired expression, "It's late, I want to rest."

The owner then realized it was already very late. Since he rarely needed sleep, the canopy bed in his bedroom was basically just for decoration. After changing the bedding, the owner left the bedroom with Fu Su and returned to his room upstairs. After Hu Hai's visit, the place was in a mess. Besides applying medicine to San Qing, many disturbed antiques needed to be rearranged.

Nothing happened that night. After cleaning the courtyard, the shopkeeper realized it was already dawn. Recalling everything that had happened the day before, he still felt a sense of unreality. He stood there in the cold wind for a long time, dazed, before remembering that Fusu was different from him; he was now in the doctor's body, and breakfast was necessary. He quickly put down the broom, intending to go out to buy breakfast. But when he turned around, he saw the doctor, dressed casually, smiling and gesturing to him with a breakfast box in his hand.

The boss was stunned for a moment, thinking that everything that happened yesterday was just a dream. The doctor was still the same doctor, nothing had happened, and he still dragged him to eat with him as usual, regardless of his wishes.

"Here you go, some steamed buns from the street corner, fresh out of the oven."

Pulled into the warm room, and with his usual ivory chopsticks placed in his hands, the shopkeeper looked up and met the other's face, which wasn't wearing glasses, and couldn't help but shudder. That gentle smile would never appear on a doctor's face.

"Startled, weren't you?" Fu Su's smile deepened, clearly pleased to see the shock on his boss's face. He pointed to his head and chuckled, "Last night, I saw his entire life. Perhaps it's because I'm currently using his body. But he also saw my entire life; it's fair."

The shopkeeper then realized that what Fusu had said at the end was referring to this time last year, when the doctor's longevity lock broke, and the doctor's incomplete soul returned, witnessing Fusu's life journey. Now that Fusu had seen the doctor's memories, he naturally knew how to wear modern clothes and how delicious the steamed buns on the street corner were.

The boss ate without tasting his food, and listening to Fusu skillfully calling the hospital to ask for leave only intensified his sense of unease. Although he knew that what Fusu was doing was normal, the doctor, after reviewing Fusu's memories, had never shown him any words or actions related to Fusu. Yet, everything Fusu was doing now gave the boss the feeling that the doctor was being completely replaced.

The boss remembered mentioning the incident to the doctor, asking how he felt after witnessing Fusu's life. The doctor frankly replied that he felt nothing; the series of scenes was like watching a legendary holographic movie. How could anyone nowadays possibly think they were a character in a movie? Even if someone likes Jia Baoyu's life, they wouldn't necessarily think they are Jia Baoyu, right? He's Fusu's reincarnation? These are completely different things! It's like having multiple avatars in a game; what happens on one avatar has nothing to do with the others?
It was because of that conversation that the boss was able to completely distinguish between the doctor and Fusu. They were two completely different souls with no essential relationship whatsoever.

But now, right before his eyes, a scene he never imagined was unfolding.

"What are you thinking about?" Fu Su closed his phone and raised an eyebrow at him. He was an incredibly perceptive person, and he understood the crux of the matter at a glance. He then smiled and said, "Don't worry, it's just a necessary measure. If he doesn't take leave, he'll find that he's lost his job once he returns to his body. Fortunately, he hasn't taken his annual leave this year."

The shopkeeper, realizing he'd been overthinking things, smiled sheepishly. "You should keep this. I feel pressured carrying around this naked man." Fusu sighed, took off the azure jade pendant from his neck, and handed it over.

The shopkeeper took the light blue Jesus Christ pendant. He knew it was just an excuse from Fusu. If Fusu didn't want to return the doctor's body, he could simply destroy the pendant, and the doctor's soul, without a vessel to cling to, would naturally dissipate.

The shopkeeper lowered his head, feeling guilty for doubting Fusu. However, after a long silence, he finally tied the pendant, which still carried his body heat, around his neck.

Upon seeing this, Fusu, who had been smiling faintly across from him, had a sharp glint in his deep eyes.

He Shi Bi

The two ate breakfast with their own thoughts, and as usual, the owner took out a fine Longquan celadon pot and brewed a pot of Biluochun tea to aid digestion. Looking at the familiar face opposite him in the rising steam, he felt a little awkward.

He tried to find something to say, but the time difference between him and Fusu was more than two thousand years. When they were together before, they always had endless political affairs and strategic discussions. Now that the Qin Empire was history, these topics were clearly outdated.
At that time, Fusu now possessed the doctor's memories, making it somewhat redundant to explain the changes of the past two thousand years to him. For a moment, the shopkeeper could only stare blankly at the aroma of the tea, unsure of what to say.

Fortunately, after a short while, Fusu asked to take a look around the Silent House. The owner breathed a sigh of relief and happily led him into the inner room of the Silent House.

The shop was filled with antiques, and the owner knew that even if Fusu possessed the doctor's memories, with the doctor's pitiful historical knowledge, he probably wouldn't be able to discern anything about these artifacts. Therefore, he paid close attention to Fusu's appearance.

Seeing Fusu's interest in a particular antique, Su began to explain it in detail. The day passed quickly, and the owner took Fusu to the Sichuan restaurant he and the doctor often ate at for dinner. Su thought to himself that he probably spoke more that day than he had ever spoken before.

He has said a lot over the years.

That day, the aquamarine pendant around the boss's neck remained silent. He remembered that the mystery novelist whose soul had been sealed within this pendant had woken up the following day. He was somewhat worried that something might have happened to the doctor's soul.

There was a problem, but then I thought about how the doctor was destined to die last year, and his spiritual power was much weaker than that of ordinary people. It was normal that he hadn't woken up yet.

That night, the innkeeper spent the night selecting antiques in the Silent Inn, preparing them in advance for Fusu to appraise the next day. He was busy until dawn. He went out to buy breakfast first, and when he returned, he searched the entire inn, but in the end...
Fusu was found in the room where the little red bird was kept.

The little red bird, which had been starving for a day and two nights, lay listlessly in its cage. Its wounds had healed, but many of its feathers were bald, and its crimson feathers were still stained with blood, making it look incredibly pitiful.

Fusu took the breakfast the shopkeeper handed him, but instead of eating it himself, he broke off a piece of steamed bun from his hand and used chopsticks to put it into the birdcage. "Minghong, come on, have something to eat."

The boss didn't stop them; he wouldn't take his anger out on a little bird for not feeding it, but simply because Sanqing was still angry. Besides, this little bird that could transform into a divine sword probably wouldn't...

It would die after just two days of hunger. Besides, he didn't think that even if he fed it, this proud little bird would eat.

Sure enough, the chopsticks that Fusu reached out were completely unattractive. The little red bird only glanced at them before resolutely turning its head to the other side.

The boss was silent for a moment, then put down the beef jerky he was holding. Based on experience, this thing should be meat-eating.

The beef jerky indeed attracted the little red bird's special attention; it pounced on it almost without struggling. Fusu was in a good mood. Seeing the little red bird leaning against the cage eating the beef jerky, he stuck his finger inside to comb its hair.
Arrange the pitiful feathers.

“Bizhi, let’s release it in a little while,” Fusu said softly.

The shopkeeper hesitated. He didn't intend to harm the little bird, but he figured Hu Hai would come all this way for it, giving them a chance to meet and talk. This whole affair stemmed from Hu Hai.

He needs to give an explanation.

"The former territory of Qin is shaped like a bird. Ancient texts describe Qin as a great bird, standing on its back across the seas, facing east, its left arm guarding the southwest of Zhao, its right arm supporting Chu and Yan, its chest striking Han and Wei, its head bowed towards the center of China. Its location was advantageous, its strategic position favorable."
The saying goes, "A crane spreads its wings and soars, covering three thousand miles." Fusu's voice was always so unhurried and pleasant to listen to.

The boss was somewhat surprised, wondering why Fusu would suddenly tell him these things.

"Bi Zhi, do you know the origin of my Ying family?" Fu Su withdrew his hand, wiped the bloodstains on Ming Hong's body clean with a silk handkerchief, picked up a piece of beef jerky, carefully tore it into pieces, and fed it to the little red bird.

The boss nodded, found a chair in the room and sat down, saying calmly, "According to the 'Annals of Qin,' the ancestor of the Ying family was Da Fei. Da Fei assisted Yu the Great in controlling the floods, and Emperor Shun bestowed upon him a 'black robe.'"
It was a flag with black ribbons hanging from it. That large flag, which was also…” The shopkeeper paused slightly, steadying himself before continuing, “was also the fabric of the crimson dragon robe I'm wearing.”

"Yes, it's said that the soap-making technique was used to make two sets of clothes, which even had the effect of preserving the body from decay. It's truly amazing." Fusu smiled slightly. "Leaving that aside, after our ancestor Dafei controlled the floods, he assisted Emperor Shun in taming birds."

The beast was bestowed the surname 'Ying'. And the Minghong is the guardian bird of the Ying family.

The shopkeeper's gaze fell on the little red bird that was eating voraciously in its cage, completely oblivious to its guardian bird abilities. "But how come I've never seen it before?"

"During the Shang Dynasty, the Ying family was a powerful and wealthy noble clan. However, during the Zhou Dynasty, they were exiled westward for three hundred years, struggling to survive in poverty. The treasures of the Ying family from the Shang Dynasty are hidden in one place, guarded by a hawk."

"Only our clan leader knows the exact location." Fusu clapped the crumbs off his hands, narrowed his eyes, and said, "It seems Huhai has obtained that treasure."

The boss had noticed that Fusu was no longer calling Huhai by his nickname, but by his full name.

"You're blaming him." The boss's statement wasn't a question, but a statement of fact.

Fusu chuckled softly, rubbing his forehead: "What's the use of blaming him? People can't change the past."

The shopkeeper, disheartened, stopped trying to persuade him and instead got up and opened the birdcage door. Then he went to the side and opened the window.

A biting wind swept into the warm room, startling the little red bird that had been engrossed in its meal. It shivered, looked up blankly at the open cage and window, and then excitedly spread its wings and flew away. Of course, before leaving, it didn't forget to snatch the bird with it.
The bag of beef jerky next to the cage. The owner, who was always a clean freak, couldn't stand the little red bird eating it and leaving crumbs all over the place, so he went out to get a broom and clean it up.

“After all, although people cannot change the past, they may be able to change the future.” Fu Su’s murmured voice came as he was about to leave.

The boss paused briefly, then continued walking away.

When he returned to the house, it was empty except for the slightly ajar birdcage door, which creaked and groaned as the cold wind blew in through the window.

four

The boss sat alone in the courtyard, maintaining the same posture in the cold night wind, for who knows how long.

On the stone table before him lay an empty box, which should have contained the priceless He Shi Bi jade. But this imperial seal had vanished yesterday along with Fusu.

Even if the boss wanted to think of the best-case scenario, he couldn't give himself a satisfactory explanation.

The moon in the sky was already as round as a jade plate. Tonight was supposed to be the night Fusu returned the doctor's body, but the innkeeper had to prepare for the worst. So when he saw a familiar figure appear in the courtyard, he looked over indifferently and said wearily, "Your Highness, you've come tonight not to keep your promise, have you?"

Fusu stood tall and elegant, dressed in a black trench coat. He wore no glasses on his straight nose, and his long bangs were combed back, revealing a smooth forehead, making his handsome face appear even more noble. He stopped at the entrance to the courtyard, his hands in his trench coat pockets, and smiled gently as always, saying, "Actually, I shouldn't have come, but I was afraid that if I hadn't shown up, you would have sat here all night."

The boss pressed his hand against his forehead, which was already chilled by the night wind, and said with a faint self-deprecating laugh, "So what if I sit all night? I won't get typhoid fever."

The two fell into an awkward silence because of his words. The shopkeeper's gaze fell on the empty jade box, and he asked blankly, "When did Your Highness decide to break the agreement? It's obvious that Your Highness was sincere when you agreed."

Fusu sighed deeply, his exhaled resignation turning into a puff of white vapor in the cold air, which was instantly blown away by the cold wind. "I am already dead, so naturally I cannot cause another innocent person to die needlessly. But you tell me that this body is my reincarnation."

"Even so, he is not your possession." The boss unconsciously reached for the aquamarine pendant hanging around his neck. It had been three nights, and the doctor's soul still showed no signs of waking up.

Upon hearing this, Fusu took a step forward and walked up to the boss. Looking down at him as he sat on the stone bench, he slowly said, word by word, "But he is very important to you, isn't it because he is my reincarnation?"

The boss was struck dumb, his whole body stiffened, and even his blood seemed to freeze.

Is that so? He treats the doctor differently, is it just because he is the reincarnation of Fusu?
No, absolutely not. His pursuit of Fusu's reincarnation in every lifetime wasn't for any ulterior motive, but to help Fusu's reincarnation escape the curse of early death. From initially protecting him closely to later ignoring him, his mindset changed accordingly. But the doctor is different.

The boss recalled that around this time last year, the doctor was willing to die alongside him in the Qinling Mausoleum. In all these years, he was one of the few people who would stand in his way without hesitation. All the others were dead; he didn't want to lose this last one.

The shopkeeper released the azure jade pendant from his hand, looked up and stared directly at Fusu, who had the face of a doctor, and said in a deep voice, "He and you are not the same person."

Fusu's eyes deepened for a moment, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he changed the subject: "Bizhi, do you still remember why Father Emperor made so many eastern tours back then?"

The boss didn't understand why he suddenly brought this up, but the questioning tone quickly reminded him of the scene when the two of them debated strategies back then. After a slight pause, he replied, "At that time, a sorcerer said, 'There is an aura of an emperor in the southeast.' The First Emperor then personally went there, toured the counties, to show his strength, and subdued the four seas, which disgusted him."

Fusu smiled wistfully, "Bizhi, what do you think of Father's actions?"

The boss didn't answer. This memory slowly surfaced from the depths of his heart. The two of them had discussed this matter several times back then. Although they believed that the First Emperor's actions could demonstrate his imperial power and deter various forces, a wise man avoids dangerous situations. The First Emperor's frequent travels created excellent opportunities for assassins and made it difficult to guarantee his control over the central government. The final result was as expected: the First Emperor died on his eastern tour. If this incident hadn't happened, Zhao Gao and Li Si wouldn't have so easily supported Huhai's ascension to the throne.

“To suppress is to ward off.” Fusu smiled slightly and said, “Bi Zhi, guess what Father Emperor used to suppress the imperial aura in the southeast?”

The shopkeeper was taken aback, then blurted out, "Jieshi!"

“That’s right. Father made several eastern tours and erected a total of seven Jieshi stones. Unfortunately, the entire Qiankun Grand Formation requires twelve Jieshi stones to be completed, and Father did not persevere to the end. If the entire formation is completed, the Central Plains will be under Father’s control, and the Great Qin Empire will surely stand for ten thousand generations.” Fusu’s voice was still unhurried, but the arrogance contained within it was enough to raise the temperature of the air around him.

The boss fell silent. Although this matter sounded like a fantasy, when considered in light of the various strange occurrences he had noticed years ago, it suddenly made sense. He pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "The Jieshi alone cannot suppress the aura of the emperor. Underneath those Jieshi stones, there must be the Twelve Bronze Men buried, right?"

This time it was Fusu's turn to be taken aback, then he chuckled and said, "As expected, it was Bi Zhi. You guessed it right away."

The shopkeeper showed no joy at guessing the answer correctly. For over two thousand years, his primary activity had been collecting antiques. Yet, he had never seen the whereabouts of Qin Shi Huang's twelve bronze statues. The *Records of the Grand Historian* states that Qin Shi Huang, to prevent unrest throughout the land, collected all weapons in the empire, gathered them in Xianyang, destroyed them all, and then cast them into twelve enormous bronze statues, each weighing a thousand shi (a unit of weight), placed in the palace. These were the twelve bronze statues on the surface, but the shopkeeper knew that these twelve enormous bronze statues were merely hollow figures made to intimidate the world; they were later melted down by Dong Zhuo at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty to be used to make coins. The twelve life-sized bronze statues, forged from truly precious bronze, were Qin Shi Huang's true loves, and their whereabouts remain unknown to this day.

It turns out it was used for setting up an array.

The more the boss pondered, the more chilled he felt. What did Fusu mean by bringing this up now? Did he intend to continue setting up the First Emperor's battle formation? And how did he know all this? Did he follow the released swan bird to meet Huhai yesterday? Just how deep must one's cunning be to reconcile with the person who once killed them?
Looking at Fusu's still smiling face, the boss suddenly felt that after more than two thousand years, he no longer recognized the person in front of him.

“Bi Zhi, your idea is correct. I intend to continue to complete the Qiankun Grand Formation.” Fu Su’s smile remained gentle, but his words were imposing. “At that time, everyone in the Central Plains will serve me as their master and restore the glory of the Great Qin Empire.”

The boss didn't think Fusu was exaggerating. Since it was a formation that even Qin Shi Huang believed in and was willing to risk everything to complete, it must have its own unique uses. Moreover, if he remembered correctly, this Qiankun Formation was drawn by his master. Considering that he had lived for so long because of the elixir of immortality left by his master, this Qiankun Formation might truly be able to control people's hearts.

The boss has lived for so long, and apart from interfering in the Chu-Han Contention under the alias Han Xin to seek revenge, he has never felt entitled to be superior to others, or to change or participate in anything. The wheel of history never stops because of one person's existence. Perhaps if Fusu had woken up a few hundred years earlier, he might have had a chance to fight back, but now, he is indulging in an unrealistic dream.

The shopkeeper lowered his head, looking at the empty jade box. At this moment, snowflakes began to fall from the night sky. It was rare for this city to have snow in winter, which left the shopkeeper, who had not seen snowflakes for a long time, stunned for a long time before he said in a deep voice, "Then the He Shi Bi that you took is the key to activating the formation, right?"

“That’s right. This Imperial Seal was carved by my father himself with a chisel. Whoever possesses the Imperial Seal will rule the world. This is something all rulers of later generations know, but no one knows the true use of the He Shi Bi jade.” Fusu placed his hands on the stone table, leaned over him, and said earnestly, “Bizhi, you promised me that you would always be behind me. Do you still stand by that promise?”

The shopkeeper didn't answer directly. Instead, he lowered his eyes, watching the falling snowflakes melt on the stone table, turning into dark water droplets. "Give his body back to him. I promise I'll find you a suitable body in the future." After a long silence, the shopkeeper finally spoke. "He's just an ordinary doctor. If Your Highness has great ambitions, you should naturally find a more suitable identity."

Fusu slowly straightened up, his smile gradually turning cold. "Bizhi, are you trying to fool me? That alien pharaoh was in spirit form, wasn't he? But he hasn't come out since he returned to the scepter to rest that day. You promised me? How many years? How many decades? Or how many centuries? Can you guarantee that when I wake up next time, Father's formation will still be there?"

The boss remained silent; he truly couldn't guarantee it.

Fusu's soul is different from Xiao Ji's. Xiao Ji was newly forgotten, while Fusu's soul has been wandering for more than two thousand years.

"So now you're helpless. If I hadn't willingly given up my body, that doctor wouldn't have been able to take it back." Fusu smiled confidently. "After all, I've been testing you these past few days, waiting for you to change your mind, but you've disappointed me time and time again. Is the boy who promised to always stand behind me no longer here?"

The boss raised his head and looked directly at the man who stood proudly in the snow-covered night sky.

Fusu always spoke slowly and deliberately, and this time was no exception.

"In the end, it's still the same as before. Being caught in a dilemma is always a difficult choice."

"It's alright, as always, I'll help you choose."

"After all, you will choose me, just like before."

That person said with a smile, just as he had more than two thousand years ago.

He had longed to see that smile again, but now that he finally saw it, he felt a chill run through him.

"No, I will stop you." The boss exhaled deeply, a few snowflakes falling on his face, melting into water droplets that slowly slid down his cheeks like glistening teardrops.

The boss knew that his friendship with Fusu had been buried in the dust of history by the passage of time. The person standing in front of him was no longer the Fusu he knew.

Or perhaps he never knew the real Fusu.

"In truth, I haven't changed."

"It is you who has changed..."

A complex sigh echoed through the night sky. When the boss came to his senses, there was no one in front of him. The only companions were the snowflakes falling from the night sky and the empty jade box on the table.

Yes, for him, recovery was merely a blink of an eye, yet he had already lived through over two thousand years alone, his heart weathered by countless vicissitudes. So, it was he who had changed…

After sitting there blankly for an unknown amount of time, a familiar voice suddenly rang out. "Um, boss, could you explain to me what exactly is going on?"

The boss smiled for the first time in the past few days.

"Huh? Boss, didn't you say Fusu was planning to overthrow the world? Why is he working at the hospital?"

The boss stood in the hospital corridor and saw Fusu and Chun Ge chatting and laughing in the distance. If Fusu hadn't been wearing glasses, he would almost have thought that the person standing there was the doctor himself.

Even the doctor himself had this illusion. He angrily shouted, "That bastard not only took over my body, but also my job and friends! The Longines Saint-Imier mechanical watch he's wearing is the one I saved up to buy last year! I usually keep it as a treasure and can't bear to wear it!"

Actually, the last sentence is the key point, isn't it? The boss was already used to the doctor's eccentric personality and said calmly, "He needs your identity to carry out his plan quietly, and with your memories, performing the surgery will be a piece of cake. That's good, at least you won't lose your job."

"Hmm, not bad, it's nice to have someone work for me, but I'm afraid this young master will spend all the money in my bank account..." The doctor lamented. With his memories, wouldn't he know his bank card password perfectly well?
The boss pressed his slightly aching temple and felt that the doctor's concern was completely wrong. Since Fusu and Huhai had joined forces, why would they need the doctor's measly little bit of money in his bank account?

"By the way, boss, have you figured out how to sabotage their plan?" The doctor was only now beginning to feel a sense of crisis. If he couldn't control his own body, then everything else would be meaningless!

“To get the body back, Fusu must willingly exchange bodies.” The boss paused for a moment. In fact, he could have made Fusu’s soul disappear and thus get the doctor’s body back, but he subconsciously avoided that method. “So all we need to do is make Fusu realize that the Qiankun Formation cannot be activated.”

"Oh? How do we interfere with them?" The doctor felt like he was in a shonen manga, where the villainous BOSS had an evil plan, and a hero was needed to save the world!
"The Qiankun Grand Formation suppresses the aura of the emperor. Therefore, we only need to select twelve ancient artifacts that possess the aura of the emperor and use them to dispel the malevolent energy of the twelve bronze statues," the shopkeeper explained casually. However, it was easier said than done. The Ya She house contained countless artifacts used by the emperor, but selecting twelve top-tier ancient artifacts was a very difficult choice.

He glanced one last time at Fusu on the other side of the corridor, who happened to look up at him, a gentle smile appearing on his handsome face, before turning away without a backward glance.

The boss stared blankly at his retreating figure. He had promised to always follow him. But this time, he didn't keep up; instead, he turned and left.

More than two thousand years ago, he said that he would not back down a single step for the beliefs he held dear, no matter the cost. But more than two thousand years later, he knew that even the most steadfast beliefs can crumble one day.

This time, he went left, he went right, and the two of them walked further and further apart in a straight line.

Goodbye means enemy.

Because the beliefs they hold are now completely different...

(End of this chapter)