I am not a seventh-generation descendant of Lord Wu'an from the Qin Dynasty.

The next day at dawn.

"Young master, during the three days you were in seclusion, the manor received many visiting cards."

The energetic Steward Yue and the exhausted Chef Mei worked together to transform Bai Qi, who had just gotten out of bed, into a handsome young man in an instant.

"The maidservant who usually exchanges gifts has purchased a standard gift and sent it back, but this invitation from Shanglin Garden is not something I would dare to do on my own."

Bai Qi waved his hand, dismissing the elegant white robe handed to him by the charming cook, then took it off and pointed to a dark black outer robe paired with a white jade belt.

The charming cook pouted and turned around to hang it up again.

"Shanglin Garden?"

"Oh right, he came to Xianyang to participate in the selection of the Hundred Generals of Shanglin Garden. What a brain!"

With the Empress Dowager and the Prince of Wu'an's trials these past few days, he almost forgot why he came to Xianyang in the first place.

Bai Qi took the invitation from Steward Yue, opened it, and a familiar name came into view.

Li Si, the Assistant Director of Shanglin Garden!

So, is Shanglinyuan all ready now?

It seems that he was paving the way for King Zheng of Qin to rule personally while he was vying for power with the three empress dowagers in Xianyang Palace.

This Li Yuancheng hasn't been idle either!

Is this a gesture of goodwill towards the military's new elites, or a declaration of sovereignty?!

Bai Qi assumed it was the latter, glanced at the time and realized it was today, so what else was there to say?

"Prepare the horses, Shanglin Garden!"

Manager Yue, her face flushed, pulled him along.

"Young master, please have breakfast first!"

Bai Qi pursed his lips when he saw that she was still full of energy after working all night.

"Alright! Remember to go find Soul Extinction to teach you swordsmanship during the day, use up your energy!"

Half an hour later.

Bai Qi rode his snow-white steed, followed by the guards Luan Shen and Wang Liang, and rode swiftly into Shanglin Garden.

……

"Bai Qizi, you've done a great job protecting the king!"

"After Bai Qizi defeated three enemies in one day, how magnificent!"

"Has Bai Qizi's arrow wound healed considerably after three days of seclusion and recuperation?"

Bai Qi's cheeks froze from smiling.

"After being chased three times in one day, he understood. Could he really protect the king? Arrow wounds inside his body? What the hell is this?!"

"He only went into seclusion for three days, but it feels like everyone in the world has changed."

Not only did everyone greet them with smiles, but they also said things that were completely incomprehensible.

However, as time passed, Bai Qi, with his keen hearing, finally understood the general course of events from the whispers of the crowd.

King Zheng of Qin was assassinated.

The Grand Master of Ceremonies was ordered to cleanse the palace of evil influences.

Bai Qizi was an innocent bystander, struck by fifty crossbow bolts fired by Han Jin, and took three days to recover from his serious injuries.

"If you don't believe me, look how pale her little face is."

Bai Qi's lips twitched. "Who the hell changed my carefully crafted script? His foreshadowing!"

"Bai Qizi, are you still wondering?"

A scholar with a three-pronged mustache, in his early thirties, with a spirited expression and thick eyebrows slightly raised.

Bai Qi turned around upon hearing the sound and saw him.

"Tian County, Bai Qi!"

"Li Si, the Assistant Administrator of the Shanglin Garden and the Commander of the Prime Minister's Residence!"

Are you just gloating over your official position?

Li Si, completely unaware of Bai Qi's inner thoughts, bowed respectfully and led him aside.

"Bai Qizi should know just how much effort the King has put in to protect the young master's integrity."

Bai Qi's lips curled into a stiff smile, a bitter grin in his eyes. "The King changed it? Why?!"

"Of course, Li Si also contributed a little."

"Good grief, are you trying to curry favor and gain credit? You're practically blatantly provoking us!"

Bai Qi said with a forced smile, "Bai Qi really has to thank Li Yuancheng!"

"Oh! Bai Qizi, you don't need to be so polite."

Li Si waved his hand and said matter-of-factly, "Since we are both close advisors to the King in his personal rule, we should naturally look out for and help each other."

"Bai Qizi trampled the Empress Dowager in the harem, the King pretended to be assassinated and closed the palace gates, Li Si can only play the side drum and harass Prime Minister Lü."

"In future history books, it will surely be recorded that Bai Qizi entered Huayang Palace every day and spoke of attacking Han. When Empress Dowager Han Xiaji heard the news, she sent fifty Han crossbowmen to eliminate him."

"The matter was exposed, and the king was terrified. He locked the palace gates, and the Grand Master of Ceremonies rushed into the palace overnight to sweep away the evil spirits."

"The seven princes were injured, the three empress dowagers and the prince's brother left the palace, the Qin king's position was secure, and he assumed personal rule within ten months."

Bai Qi thought to himself, "Good heavens, it takes politicians as cunning as devils as you to make up lies!"

"With the date for assuming personal rule already set, how much truth can be found in history books?!"

Li Si, unaware of his thoughts, raised an eyebrow at him knowingly and turned to ask as if casually.

"I heard that Bai Qizi went into seclusion three days ago to study the legacy of Lord Wu'an. I wonder if the Battle of Yique is over yet?"

Bai Qi's eyes narrowed dangerously. 'Is this old man investigating me behind my back?'

He hadn't forgotten that if Li Tian and Li Si hadn't been exchanging messages privately, he wouldn't have needed to come to Xianyang so early.

It's not bad now, though.

"Bai Qizi, please don't misunderstand."

Li Si waved his hands repeatedly: "Li Si was merely curious because he saw Bai Qizi reviewing the records of the Battle of Yique on the desk in Prime Minister Lü's residence."

"Lü Buwei?"

Bai Qi feigned lingering fear: "The Sword Spirit showed mercy, and I was lucky to pass!"

Li Si's expression flickered with joy, but quickly faded. "I have something I'd like to say to Bai Zi privately."

Seeing the seriousness in his voice, Bai Qi couldn't help but follow him to a quieter spot.

Li Si looked solemn, paced back and forth a few steps, and said in a melancholy voice.

"The king is about to assume personal rule and intends to establish the Shanglin Garden to seize power. At that time, Li Si will reside in the literary quarters and Bai Qizi will lead the army."

"Li Si is not talented, but I dare to recommend myself."

"As long as Your Majesty assumes personal rule, and Bai Qizi leads the army to conquer the six states, Li Si is willing to provide provisions for the Prime Minister of Qin, following the example of Ying Hou and Wu An Jun."

"If you join forces with me, even a mere rare commodity like Lü Buwei can be captured with a flick of the finger!"

Bai Qi could no longer hold back his smile. He put his hand to his forehead and said with a bitter laugh, "Li Yuancheng also wants to kill me?"

Li Si was stunned, his expression genuinely surprised: "Why do you say that, Bai Qizi?"

"Does Li Yuancheng truly not know that the death of Lord Wu'an was largely due to the slanderous words of Lord Yinghou Fan Ju that misled the emperor?"

"This..." Li Si's expression froze. "Isn't Yinghou Zhang Lu? What does this have to do with Fan Ju?"

Seeing that his expression didn't seem like he was going to act, Bai Qi couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Lord Yinghou Fan Ju is Zhang Lu, and Lord Yinghou Zhang Lu is Fan Ju! They are the same person."

Bai Qi remembered that Li Si had only recently entered the Qin state and was obviously not very well-versed in his studies.

The official records of the Seven Kingdoms state mention Yinghou Zhang Lu, while the Qin people cursed Yinghou Fan Ju. He confused the two, thinking they were two people with similar accents.

Bai Qi shook his head and got up to leave.

Li Si quickly grabbed him, tears streaming down his face, and said, "Bai Qizi, don't be angry, don't be angry. Li Si truly didn't know that Qin Chancellor Zhang Lu was Fan Ju, and Fan Ju was Zhang Lu."

"Does Li Yuancheng really not know?"

"Li Si truly doesn't know."

"Did Li Yuancheng convey this message to the King?"

Li Si's expression suddenly changed.

Bai Qi sighed, "It seems Li Yuancheng spoke to the King. What was the King's reaction?"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty."

Li Si was speechless for a long time before hesitatingly saying, "The King's expression shows neither joy nor anger."

"oh!"

Bai Qi nodded knowingly, then turned and waved.

"Let's go, Li Yuancheng, we don't know anyone here, could you help us introduce ourselves?"

Li Si's expression was complicated. He felt that this was a game of cooperation among three people, but the other two clearly had an unspeakable little secret.

He was the one who arrived first!

"Bai Qizi, wait for me!"

Li Si quickly caught up, beckoned to one of them, and casually introduced him to Bai Qi.

"This is Neishi Bai, the grandson of Lord Neishi Teng, a 2500-man official, skilled in using crossbows."

Bai Qi raised an eyebrow, cupped his hands in greeting, and was quickly recalling what was happening in his mind.

"Nei Shi Teng, it seems, led troops to attack the state of Han, served as a prefect, and his highest official position was Nei Shi, in charge of Xianyang affairs, roughly equivalent to the mayor of Kyoto."

"The big boss's grandson needs to be taught well!"

Coincidentally, the beardless young man in brocade robes in front of them thought the same thing, and they chatted happily for a while.

"This is Meng Tian, ​​the grandson of Meng Ao, whom Prime Minister Lü now relies on as the number one military leader. At the age of sixteen, he is already Qin's foremost commander of a thousand men."

Bai Qi's eyes widened instantly, completely ignoring Li Si's subtle reminder in his ear, "This is someone Prime Minister Lü relies on; he's not one of us."

"Tian County, Bai Qi!"

"General of a thousand men, Meng Tian!"

"I've heard that Brother Meng Tian once quelled bandits in the Taihang Mountains?"

"I cannot compare to Bai Qizi, whose three strategies secured the Taihang Mountains! Meng Tian is ashamed!"

"Oh? Brother Meng Tian has also heard of Bai Qi?"

Seeing Bai Qi's great enthusiasm, Meng Tian's slight displeasure at being forced into Xianyang instantly dissipated.

"One strategy stabilized the Taihang Mountains, and three enemy troops were pursued in a single day."

Thinking of his tragic background, Meng Tian's eyes softened, and he complimented, "Bai Qizi's reputation is known to everyone in Xianyang."

Bai Qi's eyes narrowed with laughter. "Oh, you flatter me, Brother Meng Tian, ​​you flatter me!"

"If you're so capable, say a few more words of praise!"

"..."