Starting with ten elixirs of immortality, I led the First Emperor to rebel against the Qin Dynasty.

Ying Zheng was both amused and exasperated by this sudden tug. He, the First Emperor, possessed the entire world; when had he ever needed to check the weather to travel?

Still so old? He's taken the elixir of immortality; he could live for another ten thousand years without any problem.

"Huan'er, I have important matters to attend to and must return to deal with them," Ying Zheng explained patiently.

"What could be more important than your health?" Zhao Huan retorted, increasing the pressure on his hand. "Our rebellion is a long-term undertaking; there are still over nine years until the First Emperor's death. If you, as the leader, ruin your health first, what's the point of even starting?"

"Listen to me, we'll rest here tonight. Even the most important things can wait until tomorrow morning."

Zhao Huan's tone left no room for argument, like disciplining a dutiful son who didn't know any better.

Ying Zheng: "..."

He wanted to get angry, but looking at Zhao Huan's earnest expression that said "I'm doing this for your own good," he couldn't bring himself to vent his anger.

Instead, a warm feeling welled up inside me.

For so many years, it seems that ever since my mother disciplined me like that when I was a child, no one has dared to speak to him in that tone.

No one else dared to care about his health so purely anymore.

Which of those officials and eunuchs didn't tremble with fear and remain silent in his presence?

Li Si and Meng Tian, ​​who were standing nearby, were too frightened to utter a sound.

My goodness, Young Master Huan is actually giving orders to His Majesty.

If it were someone else, they would have been dragged out and chopped into eight pieces by now.

The two secretly glanced at Ying Zheng's face and found that not only was His Majesty not angry, but there was even a hint of... enjoyment in his eyes?

I instantly understood; His Majesty was enjoying family time.

They immediately lowered their eyes and noses, pretending to be two wooden stakes.

Fusu, standing to the side, saw this scene and felt somewhat envious.

I can't remember the last time I've seen my father like this. Every time he sees me, he either scolds me for being old-fashioned or sighs with disappointment.

"Ahem." Ying Zheng cleared his throat, concealing his emotions, and said, "Alright, I'll do as you say. We'll stay here tonight."

They compromised.

On the one hand, it was because he genuinely didn't want to disappoint Zhao Huan's good intentions.

On the other hand, he also wanted to stay one more night to hear Huan'er talk about those unheard-of things about the future.

As for the government...

Ying Zheng's gaze swept across the shadows of the courtyard wall, and he made an extremely subtle gesture.

A shadow that almost blended into the darkness vanished without a sound.

The Black Ice Guard's secret agent was in turmoil.

Your Majesty... actually postponed the morning court session for the sake of a mere boy?

This is something that has never happened before since the founding of the Qin Dynasty!

He dared not think too much and ran as fast as he could in his life toward Xianyang.

"That's more like it!"

Seeing that his "father" was listening to his advice, Zhao Huan happily let go of Ying Zheng's hand, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Come on, come on, I have plenty of rooms, and I've already tidied them up for you. My brother will share a room with me, and we brothers can have a good chat. Father, you and Old Meng and Steward Li can divide the rooms yourselves."

As he spoke, he pulled Fusu into the house.

Ying Zheng watched his retreating figure, shook his head, but a smile remained unseen on his face.

Having such a "son" seems... not so bad.

Turning to look at Li Si and Meng Tian, ​​whose expressions were equally complex, he said calmly, "Go and rest."

"Here you are."

The two bowed in response and each found an empty room to stay in.

As for Bai Qi, being an elderly man, he had long since gone to rest.

When the news reached Xianyang, the entire court was shocked.

"What? The morning court session has been postponed to the afternoon?"

The ministers who received the news were all thinking that since His Majesty assumed power more than 20 years ago, let alone postponement, even if there was wind, rain or hail, the morning court session had never been canceled or delayed for a moment.

What's wrong with me today?

of course there are exceptions.

South of the city, Chunyu Yue's residence.

A group of Confucian scholars are gathering here, reciting poems and discussing the past and present.

When the news of the postponement of the morning court session reached their ears.

"What? The morning court session is postponed?"

"Absurd! Utterly absurd!"

Chunyu Yue was so angry that his beard stood on end. He slammed his fist on the table and roared, "The king's unjust suspension of court is an ominous sign that the country is about to fall into chaos! Where are the laws of our ancestors? Where are the rites and rituals?"

Shusun Tong was also heartbroken: "Since Your Majesty assumed personal rule, you have always been diligent. Why would you do such an absurd thing now? Could it be... could it be that you have been misled by treacherous and wicked men?"

"That must be so!" A young Confucian scholar stood up excitedly. "As Your Majesty's subjects, we are paid by the Emperor and should be loyal to him! Tomorrow—no, at the first light of dawn today—we should jointly submit a memorial, remonstrating with Your Majesty to the death, urging you to purge those corrupt officials from your court and distance yourself from petty men!"

"Yes! We must remonstrate to the death!"

"Your Majesty, please abide by the laws of our ancestors and refrain from such a foolish act!"

The Confucian scholars were filled with righteous indignation.

A smug glint flashed in Chunyu Yue's eyes.

Just when they were wondering how to find a reason to highlight the importance of Confucianism, this opportunity came to them. Clapping his hands, he exclaimed:

"Tomorrow, I will personally draft this memorial! We must make His Majesty understand that this world is ultimately a world governed by rites and laws, not a world ruled by one person!"

The residence of Zhao Gao, the Chief of the Imperial Carriage Office.

When his confidant told him that the morning court session had been postponed, Zhao Gao suddenly sat up abruptly from his couch.

A storm raged in his heart. He had followed Ying Zheng for over twenty years, witnessing firsthand how Ying Zheng grew from a young King of Qin into the First Emperor who unified the six kingdoms.

They knew how self-disciplined, diligent, and valued the imperial order he had built.

For the previous Qin Shi Huang, postponing the morning court session would have been impossible.

This means that someone or something has completely changed His Majesty.

This change terrified Zhao Gao.

From the moment His Majesty gained immortality to the moment he himself was flogged, Zhao Gao lived in constant fear.

I feel like I'm being marginalized by His Majesty little by little.

His Majesty frequently travels incognito, but never takes me with him.

Li Si, Meng Tian, ​​Wang Jian... these important court officials all became the emperor's confidants, but he alone, the one who was once the most trusted, was excluded.

"Lantian... Lantian again... What exactly did His Majesty encounter in Lantian County?"

He wanted to send someone to investigate, but he didn't dare.

Ying Zheng's methods were all too clear to him. The Black Ice Guard's eyes were everywhere.

If they are discovered spying on you, the consequences will be...

Zhao Gao paced anxiously in the room.

A servant cautiously entered, knelt down, and reported: "Your Excellency, the Protector of the Yin-Yang School, Lord Xu Mofu, requests an audience."

Xu Mofu?

Zhao Gao paused, a plan forming in his mind.

In the Qin Dynasty, apart from the remnants of the six states who still harbored treacherous intentions, the people who least wished for His Majesty's eternal reign were probably the philosophers of the Hundred Schools of Thought.

Although Xu Mofu's Yin-Yang School outwardly supports the Qin Dynasty, he knows that Zou Yan of the Yin-Yang School is one of the people in the world who least wants His Majesty to live forever.

Although we don't know what the Yin-Yang School is trying to do, using them to investigate the true situation of Lantian is undoubtedly the best option.

Xu Mofu, as a protector of the Yin-Yang School, is proficient in Bagua divination and Yin-Yang secret arts! He is extremely powerful!

Even if things are exposed in the end, it won't implicate you.