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

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

"The Qin Dynasty is prosperous, and Your Majesty is destined by Heaven."

"Therefore, I ordered the heavens to send down a black bird, to signify that my Great Qin will enjoy eternal peace and prosperity!"

Just as all the court officials were in astonishment, Zhao Gaoshan, the Chief of the Imperial Carriage Office standing beside the emperor, called out.

He then knelt down in the direction of the First Emperor.

The courtiers immediately realized what was happening and knelt down in worship toward the figure on the high platform.

"Your Majesty, we offer our congratulations! You have received the Heavenly Mandate of the Black Bird, an omen of eternal prosperity!"

Listening to the congratulations from His Highness and his court officials,

The First Emperor's face remained expressionless, but a ripple of emotion stirred within his calm heart.

He hosted a banquet a while ago.

Just as Zhou Qingchen was praising his achievements.

Dr. Chunyu Yue, along with other Confucian scholars, openly criticized the prefecture-county system implemented by the Qin Dynasty at a banquet.

He knelt outside the palace for a long time, pressuring him to enfeoff his sons according to the ancient system of the Zhou dynasty!

In a fit of anger, the First Emperor issued an edict throughout the country.

All historical records of the various states except those of Qin were burned.

Any collection of poems, books, or writings of various schools of thought that does not belong to the Imperial Palace shall be burned!

Anyone who dares to discuss poetry and literature in private will be executed in the marketplace; anyone who uses the past to criticize the present will have their entire family executed; if an official sees such a person but fails to report him, he will be punished the same as the person who committed the crime!

Those who fail to burn the goods within thirty days of the order's issuance will be branded and sentenced to hard labor on the city walls!

If anyone wishes to learn the laws, he should take the officials as his teachers.

The First Emperor ordered the burning of books in order to negate the political discourse of Confucian scholars and to use the past to criticize the present.

The law states: "Knights-errant use martial arts to break the law, and scholars use literature to disrupt the law; these are the two great sources of calamity!"

These Confucian scholars who discussed politics with their pens and governed the country with their words,

The First Emperor, accustomed to ruling the world by law, harbored some displeasure, even disgust.

However, the act of burning books aroused strong opposition from Confucian scholars both in and out of the court.

The burning of books was tantamount to undermining the foundation of Confucianism, which would lead to a gradual decline in the status and influence of Confucian scholars.

However, in the end, they still couldn't persuade the First Emperor to retract his decree!

A meteorite fell from the sky not long ago.

It was only because it was inscribed with the words, "When the First Emperor dies, the land will be divided."

It is unclear whether this was done by Confucianism relying on its remaining influence, or by someone with ulterior motives.

Throughout the world, rumors continued to circulate that the First Emperor had been abandoned by Heaven, a sign of calamity, and that he was a tyrant and despot!

Only then did the First Emperor realize that unification was not difficult.

Unification is difficult after it is completed. This vast empire is like a turbulent sea. How can it be calmed down?

Now, the heavens have sent down the Heavenly Mandate Black Bird.

Once this news is made public, the claim that the First Emperor died and the land was divided will surely be refuted on its own!

The black bird will stabilize the hearts and minds of the people and gather their will!

As for the so-called abandonment by Heaven and calamities?

He, the First Emperor, never took it to heart.

In fact, he initially thought that this auspicious omen was just another one of the usual auspicious omens.

Such auspicious omens occur every year; they are nothing unusual.

But now, the true symbol of the Mandate of Heaven, the Black Bird, was right before his eyes, and the First Emperor was extremely excited.

A black bird descended from the heavens.

Could it be that my raising of troops to quell the rebellion and establishing this new system to govern the world was all worthwhile?

At this moment, the First Emperor had no more doubts.

Just then, the black divine bird perched on the bronze stand let out a clear cry.

Its clear, long cry echoed continuously within the Zhangtai Palace.

It flapped its wings wide.

His eyes were like deep jade, discerning subtle signs. He raised his head and looked around the Zhangtai Palace.

Finally, his gaze swept over the high platform, and he froze.

Above that, there was a figure wearing a crown adorned with pearls and jewels, dressed in a black and gold robe with embroidered birds, and holding a sword in his hand.

"That figure..."

"Is this the legendary First Emperor?"

Xuan Ye was both excited and flustered.

In this grand hall, there was only this figure, whose entire body exuded an aura that made Xuan Ye feel close to him.

Then Xuan Ye spread his wings and flew towards the person.

Its movement was like the wind, and it landed on the First Emperor's shoulder, its slender tail feathers hanging naturally down his shoulder.

The tips of the feathers almost reached the waist.

Like a string of loose, dark tassels, with a thousand auspicious strands.

The First Emperor was already majestic, and now with the divine bird by his side, he inexplicably gained a touch of sacredness.

The assembled officials were so frightened that they immediately bowed their heads and knelt on the ground.

Despite his surprise, the First Emperor remained calm and composed, saying, "My lords."

"What do you think the Heavenly Mandate Black Bird means by this?"

The officials dared not raise their heads to look at the emperor.

They dared not be arrogant or presumptuous, and dared not use words to slander the divine bird.

Not to mention, they didn't know why the black bird perched on the First Emperor's shoulder.

Don't tell them they don't know.

Even if they knew, they wouldn't dare to say anything.

Don’t seek merit, but seek no faults.

"Is it possible that none of my ministers knew this?" The First Emperor asked calmly, his gaze sharp and menacing.

The whole person felt as if they were standing on a steep mountain peak.

Looking down, all I could see were heads bowed faces.

Just then, Zhao Gao, who was kneeling beside the First Emperor, excitedly raised his head and exclaimed, "Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

The First Emperor looked at Zhao Gao, his tone calm.

"What's the source of this joy?"

Zhao Gao kowtowed to the ground again, "Reporting to Your Majesty..."

"The Heavenly Mandate Black Bird is close to Your Majesty because it was sent down by Heaven for Your Majesty."

"I have heard that the ancestors of Qin originated from a broken egg."

"The Heavenly Mandate Black Bird is a divine bird that observes all things under heaven. Perhaps it has sensed that Your Majesty possesses the bloodline of the divine bird and thus associates with it."

As Zhao Gao, the Chief of the Imperial Carriage Office, finished speaking...

"Ha, that's an irrelevant answer."

But with a soft chuckle, he added, "That's a good answer."

At the same time, Xuan Ye, who was standing on the First Emperor's shoulder, also looked at Zhao Gao, who was lying on the ground.

"Is this Zhao Gao? The Zhao Gao who pointed at a deer and called it a horse?"

"It's no wonder that the First Emperor trusted him so much; he had one flattering phrase after another."

"Her little mouth is as sweet as honey."

"From this perspective, none of those who have made their mark on history are simple; they all possess extraordinary abilities."

As for the court officials, they were now lost in their own thoughts.

A black bird descended from the heavens. Could it be that His Majesty the First Emperor truly possesses the blood of a divine bird and is a descendant of it?

But at that moment, Xuan Ye spread its wings from the First Emperor's shoulder and flew away, eventually circling around Zhangtai Palace.

The long, thin tail feathers behind it.

The beauty of the feathers is beyond words; when they sway, they are like feathers in the wind, light and graceful.

Finally, it spread its wings, looked up to the sky, and let out a long cry.

The court officials were startled by the long cry, and their eyes immediately showed horror.

Some were so frightened that they trembled and lost all decorum before the emperor, running to hide behind the supporting pillar.

"Useless!" the First Emperor coldly rebuked.

The ministers were startled again and then kowtowed to the ground.

Those who had behaved improperly knew they were in deep trouble and hurriedly ran back to the ranks to apologize to the First Emperor!

But the First Emperor ignored him and simply looked up.

Then, the Heavenly Fate Mystic Bird let out a long cry and landed on the bronze stand in the hall before finally leaping to the ground.

With a long, thin beak,

It pecks at the eggshell that is broken into several pieces on the ground.

"Is the Celestial Black Bird starving?"