The Great Qin Dynasty: The egg of the Black Bird was revered as a national guardian beast.

late at night.

A figure stood silently atop the pavilion.

Holding his sword, with his back to the people looking up from downstairs, he shut out all prying eyes and gazes.

He raised his hand, and a thunderous response came from behind him.

The people downstairs vanished in an instant, disappearing into the darkness and into the palace.

There was no sound.

The night fell silent once more.

Looking around at the long night, his face expressionless, he let out a long sigh.

"Let me see what kind of demonic face it is."

As he descended from the high pavilion, the servants on both sides rushed forward and draped a cloak over his shoulders.

"Your Majesty, it's cold at night, you should return to the palace as soon as possible."

An official whispered to himself.

The First Emperor smiled faintly and said, "Very well, let's go back."

As they were heading back to the palace, they saw two figures carrying bronze lanterns, wandering around.

It was Ying Jianglu.

And then there's Ying Ziying!

One was his son, and the other was the son of his younger brother, Lord Chang'an, Chengjiao.

They were all dressed in black robes.

Upon seeing the royal carriage, he respectfully approached the First Emperor.

"Father."

"His Majesty."

The First Emperor nodded. "It's late. Why aren't you resting? Why are you still out here?"

"Unable to sleep on my side, I brought the baby here."

Prince Jianglu stood with his head bowed before the First Emperor, looking rather uneasy.

He reached out and patted Ying Jianglu on the shoulder.

"It's cold at night. My son and Ying should go back as soon as possible to avoid catching a cold, which would be bad."

Ying Jianglu nodded quickly: "I will obey my father."

"Hmm." The First Emperor nodded, waved his hand, and his face behind the bead pendant had a somewhat unreadable expression.

"Let's go back."

"Yes."

Ying Jianglu took a half step back. "Father, it is a cold night. Your son shall take his leave now."

He nodded and then waved his hand.

He bowed and took a few steps back, then left the place with Lü and Gongzi Ying, their steps quick.

Then, the First Emperor withdrew his gaze and prepared to return.

With his hands behind his back, the beads on his head were scattered, and his black and gold robes fluttered with his steps.

But in the end, the steps seemed to pause for a moment.

He turned his head to look at the eunuch behind him, and without any prompting, the eunuch quietly withdrew.

Not long after, the First Emperor returned to the palace.

About an incense stick's time later, the eunuch appeared in the palace, came to the outside of the beaded curtain, and knelt down.

The First Emperor closed his eyes and asked, "How is it?"

"Your Majesty," the man replied, bowing his head.

"The young men heard about the mountain spirit from the palace maids, and then gathered together to chat."

"Later, he argued with the young master of the Lü family."

"He firmly believed in the story of the mountain spirit; it wasn't something the palace servants made up, but something that actually happened."

"But because his sons did not believe it,"

"In a fit of anger, the young master carrying the infant stormed off the table, saying he would find the mountain spirit as proof."

"Heh." The First Emperor's expression froze for a moment, then he chuckled and shook his head helplessly.

"Very well, you may leave."

The flickering candlelight in the hall cast a somber glow on the First Emperor's inscrutable face.

Looking out the window at the darkness that seemed to devour people with lustful desires.

At some point, his face, besides being gloomy, was filled with only loneliness.

........

"Um?"

The First Emperor held the bamboo slips, looked at the black feather that had fallen onto the table, and frowned slightly.

feather?

Thinking this, the First Emperor looked up.

In the courtyard, a strange-looking bird was perched on a sycamore tree, preening its feathers.

The feather must have fallen from above.

He put the bamboo slip down, making a soft thud against the wooden table, and the First Emperor smiled and shook his head.

Xuan Ye, perched on the sycamore tree, also looked toward the source of the sound.

Then, he looked away.

After being stripped of his feathers by Hu Hai, Xuan Ye was placed in a secret palace by the First Emperor.

They selected a group of people from the Black Dragon Guards to form the Black Bird Guards, specifically responsible for protecting him.

He issued an order forbidding anyone from leaking the information, under penalty of execution of their entire clan.

In his spare time, the First Emperor would come here.

When the First Emperor was not around, he would practice vocal techniques on his own, hoping to learn to speak human language.

Because of birds,

It can also make sounds similar to human speech.

However, the way they make sounds is vastly different from that of humans, making it undeniably difficult.

However, after his long practice,

Finally, he was able to speak, though it sounded rather strange.

"Knock knock knock".

At this moment, the First Emperor tapped the table with his finger.

Then he said, "Heavenly Bird, please come down for a chat. I have something to tell you."

Xuan Ye tilted his head and then flew down.

With flapping its wings, it gently descended from the tree and landed in front of the First Emperor, just a table away.

His head was tilted to the side, and the First Emperor was reflected in his eyes.

The First Emperor also looked at the Heavenly Bird of Destiny in front of him through the bead pendant, but did not notice that it seemed to have grown a little.

After a long silence, he finally spoke with a smile.

"Recently, some people have been spreading rumors that there is something unusual about destiny."

Xuan Ye didn't move, but just tilted his head, as if to show that he was listening attentively.

"I wish to offer sacrifices to Heaven."

"I hope you will come then."

The First Emperor paused for a moment, then asked, "Do you know why I perform the Heaven-worshiping ceremony?"

Xuan Ye looked at him, but only looked at him.

The First Emperor laughed, as if laughing at himself, wondering when he had developed the habit of talking to himself.

Come to think of it, it must have started after the appearance of the Heavenly Fate Mystic Bird.

As an emperor, there were many things he couldn't say, and no one dared to listen to him.

Ah, I, the ruler.

Thinking of this, the First Emperor laughed as if he had heard a joke, and couldn't stop laughing.

"I am the First Emperor, commanding the mighty armies of the realm!"

"With a wave of his hand, he could wipe out six kingdoms; with a word, he could send hundreds of thousands of people on a journey between the north and south."

"So many people fawn and flatter, all for the sake of gaining my favor..."

As he laughed, his laughter gradually stopped until he could no longer laugh.

He let out a violent cough.

The smile on his face gradually faded, and before he knew it, only a desolate look remained.

Xuan Ye just stared, blankly.

He learned for the first time that the First Emperor had such a side to him, that the most honored person in the world had such a private side.

At that moment, he understood.

No matter how powerful or how wise and powerful the First Emperor was, he was still a human being, not a god!

He really has gotten old.

He was not yet fifty, but his hair was already turning white, and the tassels of his crown could not hide the few silver strands at his temples.

Looking at the emperor who is the greatest in history before me.

Xuan Ye didn't know whether he should feel sorry for him or sympathize with him.

But what he didn't know was that for the proud First Emperor, the last thing he needed was sympathy!

The same applies to the mind as to the body.

He was the emperor, a god worshipped by all, possessing a luminous jade disc, rhinoceros and elephant artifacts, and the daughters of Zheng and Wei...

Even virtuous and talented people, all sorts of things in the world,

Whatever is needed, a single command will bring thousands upon thousands of people to provide it.

The First Emperor did not need anyone's sympathy!

The First Emperor's ambition grew stronger day by day.