Daqin arrests alchemists, what does it matter to me as a qi refiner?

"However, just when Ying Zheng thought the turmoil was about to subside, a sudden commotion arose outside the prison. Immediately afterwards, a soldier stumbled in, his face filled with panic."

"Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened!" A soldier knelt on the ground, panting as he reported, "Someone...someone has broken into the prison and kidnapped Prince Huhai!"

Upon hearing the news, Ying Zheng was furious. He abruptly stood up, his gaze piercing the soldiers like sharp blades: "What did you say? Hu Hai has been kidnapped? Who is so bold as to dare to kidnap someone from my imperial prison?"

The soldier replied in a trembling voice, "It was...it was a group of assassins in black. Their martial arts were superb, and we were really unable to resist them. They stormed into the prison to rescue Prince Huhai, and then disappeared without a trace."

Ying Zheng's face suddenly darkened, his fists clenched, and his eyes blazed with fury. Hu Hai had been kidnapped right under his nose! This was an outright provocation against imperial authority!

"Investigate! Investigate this matter thoroughly for me!" Ying Zheng roared angrily. "I will find the mastermind behind this and have him torn to pieces!"

The soldiers answered in unison and swiftly began their operation. Ying Zheng stood still, his cold gaze fixed ahead. He understood that this turmoil was far from over, and the situation might become even more complicated.

The gray monkey seemed to sense Ying Zheng's anger and determination. It leaped onto Ying Zheng's shoulder, its small eyes darting around as if deep in thought. Ying Zheng gently stroked its head: "Divine ape, I will have to rely on you again this time."

The gray monkey seemed to understand human speech, puffed out its chest, and its eyes gleamed with unwavering determination. No matter how treacherous the road ahead, it would accompany Ying Zheng to face it together.

Meanwhile, in a secluded location far from the imperial prison, Hu Hai was surrounded by a group of men in black. He scrutinized these mysterious figures, his eyes filled with a mixture of madness and resentment: "Who are you? Why did you rescue me?"

A man in black stepped forward from the crowd and coldly replied, "Young Master Huhai, our identities are not important. What is important is that we share a common enemy—Ying Zheng. We rescued you so that you would help us accomplish a great task."

Hu Hai was tempted by this. Although he harbored deep resentment towards Ying Zheng, he knew he couldn't possibly defeat him on his own. Now that someone was willing to join forces against Ying Zheng, it was indeed a golden opportunity.

"What do you want me to do?" Hu Hai asked in a deep voice.

The man in black gave a sinister smile: "All you need to do is help us find one thing—the Imperial Seal of the State."

Upon hearing the words "Imperial Seal of the State," Hu Hai's heart trembled violently. This was the symbol of the Qin state, the token of imperial power, and something he had longed for. However, he knew all too well that this item was secretly hidden by Ying Zheng, and finding it would be no easy task.

"Why don't you go and find it yourselves?" Hu Hai asked warily.

The man in black sneered, "We have our own connections, but with your help, things will go much smoother. As a prince, you know the palace inside and out. Plus, you have your own ways of doing things, which can help us find the whereabouts of the Imperial Seal even faster."

Hu Hai remained silent for a moment, rapidly weighing his options. He understood that this might be his only chance to turn the tide. If he could use the power of these men in black to find the Imperial Seal, he might be able to overthrow Ying Zheng and ascend the throne. But he also knew that these men in black were no benevolent people, and cooperating with them would be tantamount to seeking help from a tiger.

"I can help you find the Imperial Seal," Hu Hai finally said, "but you must agree to one condition."

"What are the conditions?" the man in black pressed. "After finding the Imperial Seal, you must help me ascend the throne," Hu Hai said firmly.

The men in black exchanged knowing smiles, as if they had anticipated this. One of them stepped forward and patted Hu Hai on the shoulder: "Young Master Hu Hai, rest assured, as long as the Imperial Seal is found, the throne will naturally be yours. We merely wish to use you to get rid of Ying Zheng."

Hu Hai nodded, though he harbored doubts, he knew there was no turning back. He had to find the Imperial Seal as soon as possible and use the man in black to overthrow Ying Zheng. Only in this way could he escape his predicament and realize his ambitions.

Thus, Huhai formed an alliance with the man in black and began plotting their next move. Meanwhile, Ying Zheng, deep within the palace, remained completely unaware, still enraged by Huhai's abduction and vowing to get to the bottom of it. A contest concerning the fate of the Qin state thus quietly unfolded.

Ying Zheng stood alone in the empty prison, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, piercing through layers of gloom. Hu Hai's betrayal and the appearance of the man in black had both caught him off guard. But as a seasoned emperor, he knew he could not afford to panic at this moment.

He turned to look at the gray monkey on his shoulder; its small eyes also shone with unwavering determination, as if to say, "No matter what happens, I will stay by your side." Ying Zheng felt a warmth in his heart; in this world full of betrayal, at least he still had this loyal companion by his side.

“Divine Ape,” Ying Zheng said softly, “I will need your help again this time. Help me find out the origins of these men in black and their plot to kidnap Hu Hai.”

The gray monkey seemed to understand human speech, nodding in acknowledgment before leaping off Ying Zheng's shoulder and running towards the depths of the Heavenly Prison. Ying Zheng understood that this was the divine ape beginning its actions, and it was certain that it would find him an important clue.

Meanwhile, Hu Hai and the man in black were also intensifying their planning. They knew that finding the Imperial Seal would be no easy task and that a meticulous plan was essential. Based on his knowledge of the palace, Hu Hai drew up a detailed map for the man in black, marking all possible locations where the treasure could be hidden.

However, they hadn't anticipated that their actions had already been secretly detected by the gray monkey. The gray monkey moved freely through the palace gardens, its small eyes seemingly able to see through any conspiracy. It quietly followed the men in black, recording all their actions and plans.

When Ying Zheng learned from the gray monkey about the conspiracy between the man in black and Hu Hai, he couldn't help but sneer: "Hmph, how dare they covet the Imperial Seal? What a fool's dream!" He immediately summoned a group of loyal and reliable officials and advisors to discuss how to deal with the crisis.

In the secret chamber, Ying Zheng sat facing his advisors, the air thick with tension. His piercing gaze swept over everyone present: "Hu Hai and those men in black are plotting to seize the Imperial Seal, clearly intending to shake the foundations of our Great Qin. We must seize the initiative and not let them succeed."

An old minister stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with wisdom: "Your Majesty, the Imperial Seal is not only a national treasure of our Great Qin, but also a symbol of the Mandate of Heaven and imperial power. We can use this to set a trap and lure these traitors into walking into our net."

Ying Zheng nodded in approval: "This plan is excellent. We can spread rumors about the whereabouts of the Imperial Seal, both true and false, to disperse their forces, and then we can defeat them one by one."

A young advisor suggested, "Your Majesty, we can also set up numerous traps within the palace. Even if they find the Imperial Seal, it will be difficult for them to obtain it easily. At the same time, we can take this opportunity to purge those in the palace who harbor disloyal intentions."

Ying Zheng's lips curled slightly, and a look of approval flashed in his eyes: "This is exactly what I wanted to say. Begin the arrangements immediately, and be sure to lure them into our trap step by step."

Meanwhile, the grey monkey swiftly moved through the shadows of the palace gardens, its sharp eyes keenly observing the surrounding movements. It was not only Ying Zheng's eyes and ears, but also his loyal companion; at this crucial juncture, its role became increasingly vital.

Hu Hai and the man in black continued their meticulous planning, outlining each step. Hu Hai knew this operation not only concerned his personal fate but also his ability to overthrow Ying Zheng and reclaim the power he believed rightfully belonged to him. (End of Chapter)