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

Xuan Ye walked alone into the inner chambers of the palace.

Since the First Emperor fell into a deep sleep, he lived in the palace, and would return home whenever he finished dealing with state affairs.

Although his official position was Langzhongling.

But now, however, he holds the power of the emperor and has not visited the office of the Imperial Physician for a long time.

His gaze fell on the road beneath his feet. He reached out and straightened his robes, which had become wrinkled from sitting for so long, and walked forward.

Ironically, he had always preferred a leisurely life.

Now, in order to preserve the First Emperor's Qin Dynasty, he sits in the palace every day, holding a candle and reviewing affairs, not daring to relax.

He fears.

He feared that when the First Emperor woke up, he would ask him, "Where is the Qin Dynasty?" and he wouldn't be able to answer.

Therefore, he dared not relax, dared not rest, and dared not let the Qin Dynasty perish in his hands.

He let out a breath and raised his head.

The palace walls blocked out the view outside, creating a quiet and secluded atmosphere, like a birdcage that trapped him inside.

But at this moment,

Suddenly, a burst of laughter came from afar.

It was a sound that seemed to be very happy, an irrepressible urge that dispelled the somber atmosphere in the palace.

Listening to that sound,

Xuan Ye unconsciously slowed his pace.

After a moment of silence, he turned his head and walked in the direction from which the sound came.

As they walked, the laughter grew closer.

Xuan Ye stopped behind a high wall. The laughter came from behind the wall; it was a side hall in a palace.

He didn't go in; he just leaned against the wall.

On the other side of the wall were a group of palace maids and one other person.

The man's voice was somewhat amusing, and he spoke humorous and witty remarks that made the group of palace maids laugh.

Until the palace maids gradually left.

Xuan Ye then left without saying a word.

................

Every day after that,

Whenever Xuan Ye passed by this place on his way back from the palace, he would stop at a corner of the palace wall or sit there.

There aren't people inside the walls every day.

But most of the time, the person inside would say funny things to amuse the people in the palace.

It's drizzling today.

As he walked, Xuan Ye quickened his pace.

Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to a spot where a small figure was hiding under the eaves.

A gust of wind blew by, and the drizzle was carried under the eaves.

At this moment, the small figure raised its head, then quickly covered its head again.

"How come there's a child in the palace?"

A voice came, and then the child seemed to hear slow footsteps walking towards him.

He tilted his head back and looked around.

It was when I saw someone stop beside me.

The child's gaze fell on the person, who was dressed in a black robe and had a black jade pendant hanging at his waist.

He smiled when he felt the child's gaze.

"Little boy, whose child are you?"

The child paused for a moment, then looked up at Xuan Ye with some anger and said...

"What kid? I'm older than you."

Upon hearing the voice, Xuan Ye was taken aback, then lowered his head to carefully examine the person.

He was only a little over five feet tall, with short legs and short arms.

Especially his exaggerated mustache, which made him look even more comical.

What kind of child is this?

He is clearly a congenital dwarf!

A light rain was falling. The two people stood under the eaves, Xuan Ye and Xuan Ye staring at each other in silence for a long time.

Finally, he smiled.

He waved his hand and said, "Sorry, I mistook you for a child. Don't take offense."

The dwarf raised his head and looked at Xuan Ye.

After thinking for a while, as if she had thought of something, she looked at Xuan Ye and said, "My name is You Zhan, and I am a court entertainer."

Xuan Ye nodded, indicating that he understood.

The moment he opened his mouth, Xuan Ye knew who he was—the one who had been teasing the palace maid.

I never expected it to be a dwarf.

Moreover, he also knew the name Youzhan.

Seeing Xuan Ye's expression, You Zhan made a face at him and said with a smile, "What, is it strange?"

"That's true." He nodded. "Of course it would be strange."

"Because for someone like me to survive in the Qin Kingdom is nothing short of a miracle, wouldn't you say?"

Xuan Ye has been reading Qin Lu recently and understands his meaning.

Qin law strictly prohibited commoners from killing their own children. Anyone who violated this rule would be branded and sentenced to hard labor in the city.

However, it was also stipulated that if a child was born with foreign objects on their body or with incomplete limbs, killing them would not be punished...

Because of these harsh living conditions, ordinary families cannot allow anyone to live off others.

Therefore, after arriving in Qin, Xuan Ye rarely saw any people with congenital disabilities, and dwarfs were almost non-existent.

It wasn't that the people of Qin were of superior race, but rather that these people were almost killed at birth!

That's why Xuan Ye mistook him for a child.

Yuzhan was an exception because his parents were kind people and his family was relatively well-off.

Even after birth.

His parents didn't kill him; instead, they let him live.

But when he grew up, Youzhan was only five feet tall, so he couldn't farm, he couldn't do business, and he couldn't join the army.

Thus, he had no choice but to find another way, so he went to Xianyang and apprenticed under entertainers from Qi and Chu, learning how to be funny and entertaining.

Actors and entertainers are common in all countries.

Their primary duty was to entertain monarchs and kings with witty and humorous remarks at banquets.

Yuzhan has excellent speaking skills, and coupled with her natural dwarfism,

After spending many years in Xianyang, he became the First Emperor's favorite entertainer and was appointed as a court entertainer.

Xuan Ye lowered his eyes and exhaled.

Looking at him, he didn't know what to say for a moment. He knew the name Youzhan and had a good impression of him.

Although the duty is to entertain people and make jokes

But historically, unlike ordinary, vulgar prostitutes, he had read some books and knew good from evil, loyalty from treachery.

Once, when the First Emperor held a banquet, it rained heavily throughout the land.

Lang Wei stood below the steps, holding a spear, soaked by the rain. His clothes were wet, and his body was cold, yet he could not move.

Upon entering the palace, Youzhan witnessed this scene and felt sorrow in her heart. She then asked the guards below the steps, "Do you wish to take shelter from the rain?"

Lang Wei was soaked to the bone, so they all nodded in agreement.

After receiving an affirmative reply, Youzhan entered the hall, toasted the First Emperor, and shouted "May he live ten thousand years!"

Then, Youzhan leaned against the railing, drinking wine and shouting loudly towards the outside of the hall.

"All guards!"

The guards responded, and Youzhan laughed, "What use are you, though you are tall and strong, standing pitifully in the rain?"

"Although I am short, I am fortunate to have taken shelter from the rain in the palace."

This statement made the First Emperor realize the truth, so he allowed the guards to stand under the palace to take shelter from the rain and take turns guarding the palace.

On another occasion, the First Emperor suddenly expressed his feelings.

He ordered his ministers to come and discuss expanding the area for raising birds and beasts in the Shanglin Garden.

Youzhan then said, "That's excellent! Let's raise more deer there. When enemies come, the deer can simply touch them to defend themselves!"

The First Emperor saw through the satire and dismissed the proposal.

Therefore, although Yuchan was short in stature, he was compassionate and often used jokes to convey his advice.

Despite his humble status, he acted as a remonstrating official.

This kind of people,

They are more respectable than those with all four limbs intact.

By this time, the rain had gradually stopped. Youzhan stepped out from under the eaves and then turned to look at Xuanye.

He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Who are you? Do you know that unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter this palace? You..."

"The Imperial Physician?"

But then, a voice came from afar.