Qin Renhuang just became an immortal, and you told me this is the prehistoric time

"I see."

His voice was deep and powerful, each word seeming to be squeezed out from the depths of his chest.

"It turns out that sweeping across the land was not the end, but a brand new beginning."

As he spoke, he suddenly reached out his hand. Although those hands were still thin, they had regained their stability and strength.

His index finger slowly drew a circle on the map, starting from the territory of the Qin Dynasty and expanding in all directions, getting bigger and bigger until it almost encompassed the entire map.

His voice was like two pieces of metal colliding, with a quality that made your heart race.

"Wherever I extend my control, that is the Qin territory!"

These six words were spoken with resounding force, echoing endlessly in the empty palace. In that instant, his imperial aura erupted without reservation, like a lion that had been sleeping for a long time finally opening its eyes and revealing its sharp fangs.

"Wherever the sun and moon shine, wherever rivers flow, the black dragon flag of the Great Qin shall be planted!"

He withdrew his hand, turned around, and looked at Ying Xuan with piercing eyes.

"I am very satisfied with this gift."

His tone was full of approval, and the excitement in his eyes had not completely faded.

Ying Xuan humbly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Your subject dares not take credit. Those Indian prisoners were the ones who truly provided the information; your subject merely had the information compiled and drawn into diagrams."

His tone was calm, without a trace of pride, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

The First Emperor waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to be modest. He glanced down at the world map again, the greed and ambition in his eyes slowly subsiding, and he returned to being the deep and majestic emperor he once was.

Seeing that his father's emotions had calmed down, Ying Xuan spoke up at the opportune moment.

"Your Majesty has just recovered from a serious illness and still needs more rest. I will take my leave now."

As he spoke, he bowed again and prepared to leave.

The First Emperor nodded, acknowledging his agreement. But just as Ying Xuan turned to walk towards the palace gate, the First Emperor's voice suddenly came from behind him.

"and many more."

Ying Xuan stopped and turned around.

The First Emperor stood beside the long table, the flickering light of the eternal lamp casting an exceptionally deep glow on his face, making his squinting eyes appear even more profound.

A faint smile played at the corners of his lips, a smile that carried a hint of testing, a hint of probing, and a hint of something else that was hard to define.

"There is one more thing I would like to ask for your opinion on."

He paused, slowed his voice, and spoke as if weighing each word.

"Hu Hai was also involved in plotting the rebellion with Zhao Gao this time."

When the name Hu Hai was mentioned, a hint of coldness crept into the First Emperor's tone. That coldness was faint, yet it pierced the heart like a needle.

"I intend to execute him."

This statement was like a stone thrown into a calm lake.

After saying this, the First Emperor's gaze was fixed on Ying Xuan's face. His eyes were slightly narrowed, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were as deep as if they had been carved by a knife.

He didn't miss any subtle changes in Ying Xuan's expression, even the slightest twitch of the corner of his mouth or the instantaneous contraction of his pupils; he wanted to see them clearly.

This is not a simple question, but a test.

Ying Xuan knew this better than anyone else.

Hu Hai was a prince, the emperor's own son. Although the emperor was ruthless, even a tiger wouldn't eat its own cub; what father would willingly kill his own son? The reason the emperor said those words in front of him was to see his reaction.

I wanted to see if he would agree readily, and whether he was the kind of person who would stop at nothing to eliminate dissidents.

If he agrees now, it will play right into his father's hands, showing that he cannot tolerate the existence of his other brothers and that he will turn against them once he ascends the throne. In that case, all previous goodwill will vanish in an instant.

Ying Xuan's gaze sharpened slightly.

Without any hesitation, he spoke up.

"Father, I think this is inappropriate."

His voice was calm yet firm.

"Although Hu Hai's crimes are unforgivable, he is, after all, the Emperor's own flesh and blood. Even tigers do not eat their cubs, let alone the Emperor, who is the ruler of Qin and the role model for all people."

If he were executed for his involvement in a rebellion, people would inevitably gossip behind his back about his father killing his own son, which would be detrimental to his reputation.

He slightly raised his head, his gaze meeting the First Emperor's with an open and honest look.

"In my opinion, there is no need to take his life. Confining him to his residence, forbidding him from stepping out of the gate, and prohibiting him from having any contact with the outside world, and making sure he is never involved in politics again, is already a severe punishment."

In this way, the emperor could be spared the infamy of killing his son, and the court and the public could see his benevolence.

After he finished speaking, he stood there calmly, without the slightest tension or unease.

The First Emperor stared intently at his face, his sharp eyes like two knives, seemingly trying to pierce through him.

His gaze swept back and forth across Ying Xuan's face, from his forehead to his eyebrows, from his eyes to his nose, from his lips to his chin, leaving no inch unexamined.

The air in the palace seemed to freeze.

The flame of the eternal lamp flickered gently in the silence, emitting a very faint crackling sound. The distant sound of palace guards patrolling could be heard, their footsteps rhythmic and distinct, each beat striking a chord in one's heart.

a long time.

The faint smile on the First Emperor's lips finally spread, transforming into a genuine smile. That smile contained no murderous intent, no probing, only a heartfelt sense of satisfaction and contentment.

The sharpness in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a warm expression.

"I understand what you mean."

There was a hint of barely perceptible emotion in his voice.

He took two steps forward and gently patted Ying Xuan's shoulder. The pat was light, yet it conveyed an indescribable intimacy and trust.

"Go back and prepare well."

The First Emperor's tone became solemn, "It's time to perform your coming-of-age ceremony."

The coming-of-age ceremony. When these two words came from the mouth of the First Emperor, they carried a heavy weight. The coming-of-age ceremony was the mark of a man's coming of age, and for princes, undergoing the ceremony meant that they officially gained the qualification to participate in court affairs and lead troops into battle.

More importantly, the fact that the First Emperor brought up the coming-of-age ceremony at this critical juncture made his intentions all too clear.

The First Emperor's next words confirmed Ying Xuan's judgment.

"Once the coming-of-age ceremony is over, I will announce to the world that you have been made Crown Prince."

These words struck like a thunderclap in the palace.

Ying Xuan's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained unchanged. He took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions, and then bowed respectfully with his hands clasped. His manners were impeccable, and every movement exuded composure and calmness.

"Your subject obeys the decree."

The four words were spoken with neither arrogance nor servility, without excessive joy or deliberate modesty, perfectly expressing the attitude a crown prince should have.

Looking at his calm and composed demeanor, his eyes filled with even greater satisfaction. In his life, he had seen far too many people lose their composure in the face of sudden favor—some were overjoyed, some were moved to tears, and some were incoherent.

But Ying Xuan did not. His son's reaction was just right, showing both gratitude for his father's favor and maintaining the demeanor expected of a future crown prince.

This is the successor he wanted.

The First Emperor withdrew his hand, a bright smile on his face.

Ying Xuan bowed again, then turned and walked towards the palace gate. His steps were steady and powerful, the hem of his robe making a soft rustling sound as it dragged on the ground.

When he reached the palace gate, the eunuchs waiting outside hurriedly pushed open the heavy palace doors, revealing the already darkening sky outside.

He stepped across the threshold and his figure disappeared into the night outside the palace gates.

Even after Ying Xuan's figure had completely disappeared from sight, the smile on the First Emperor's face had not yet faded.

He turned around, stood with his hands behind his back in the hall, and his gaze fell once again on the world map on the long table.

The vast expanses of unfamiliar land on the map shimmered softly in the candlelight, and the mountains, rivers, border cities, and cities seemed to flow slowly in the firelight, as if they had come alive.

But his mind was no longer on those lands.

He was completely relieved.

The question he just asked about Huhai was his final test for Ying Xuan. If Ying Xuan nodded in agreement, he would certainly make him crown prince, but his appreciation for him would be greatly diminished. How could someone who couldn't tolerate his brothers possibly tolerate the entire court? How could a narrow-minded emperor govern this vast empire?
But Yingxuan's answer left him with no regrets.

The magnanimity and breadth of mind displayed by this son far exceeded his expectations. Ying Xuan not only possessed the military prowess to sweep across the world and the wisdom to see the situation clearly, but also a kind and benevolent heart that treated others with kindness.

These qualities combined constitute what a true emperor should possess.

He could even imagine that, after his death, Ying Xuan would ascend the throne, and his brothers and sisters would kneel below the steps, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" Ying Xuan would certainly not make things difficult for them; he would leave them a way to live out their remaining years in peace.

This magnanimity was something he had never seen in any of the princes.

The matter of choosing a crown prince was settled just like that, without any suspense or hesitation.

The Emperor's smile grew even brighter, and the deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothed out. He had made countless decisions in his life, some of which he regretted, some of which he was proud of, but he felt he would never regret the decision he made today.

A great weight was lifted from his heart, and the First Emperor suddenly felt a sense of fulfillment.

It was a sense of relief after all worries had been dispelled. In recent days, he had been worried about the lack of a successor, about the collapse of the Qin Dynasty after his death, and about the remnants of the six states making a comeback.

But now all those worries have disappeared, because he has found the most suitable successor.

But then his thoughts shifted, and his brows furrowed slightly again.

Now that the selection of the Crown Prince has been finalized, it's time to put the matter of the Crown Princess on the agenda.

This is no small matter.

The Crown Princess will become Empress, a model for all women, and a mother to the nation. More importantly, the children she bears will be the future heirs of the Qin Dynasty, the foundation for the empire's perpetuation for generations to come.

This matter concerns the fate of the Qin Dynasty and cannot be taken lightly.

The First Emperor paced slowly through his bedchamber, his hands behind his back, the hem of his robe trailing on the bluestone bricks with a soft rustling sound.

He thought of the Lesser Fate Master who had been bestowed upon Ying Xuan before.

Shao Siming's beauty was undeniable; even among the three thousand beauties of the imperial harem, she would be considered one of the most stunning. Her background was also quite distinguished; she was one of the five elders of the Yin-Yang School, a renowned figure in the martial arts world.

Such a woman is more than qualified to be Ying Xuan's concubine.

But if she were to be the principal wife or the crown princess, she would be out of the running.

Thinking of this, the First Emperor frowned even more deeply.

He had seen this woman, Shao Siming, before. When the rewards were distributed that time, she followed behind Ying Xuan, her face expressionless from beginning to end. Her clear, cold eyes were like two bottomless ancient wells, revealing no emotional fluctuations.

Such a cold and indifferent temperament is fine as a lone master in the martial arts world, but it would be very problematic as a crown princess in the imperial palace.

What is the Crown Princess? The Crown Princess is the future Empress, and she is in charge of the entire harem. The harem has three thousand beauties, concubines in various palaces and courtyards, and countless palace maids and eunuchs, all of whom must obey the Empress's orders.

A person who is too indifferent cannot manage these things at all.

More importantly, the Empress is a role model for all women in the land, and is expected to be a model of virtue for the nation. What does it mean to be a model of virtue for the nation? It means to have a compassionate heart towards all subjects, just as the earth bears all things.

With Shao Siming's otherworldly demeanor, it's likely that the court officials and common people would object to her becoming the empress.

The First Emperor stopped and raised his hand to rub his temples.

This matter needs to be carefully considered.

The Crown Princess must first and foremost be from a prestigious family. There are many noble families in the Great Qin, including both civil and military officials. The eldest daughters of these families are all well-educated, sensible, and extremely well-mannered; none of them would be lacking in qualities.

Secondly, she must be a woman of gentle and generous nature, capable of managing the affairs of the inner palace. This is very important, as the empress is not merely a symbol of status; she has real responsibilities to fulfill.

She had to review the accounts of the harem, handle the affairs of each palace, mediate conflicts among the concubines, and preside over various sacrificial ceremonies every year. Shao Siming couldn't do any of these things.

Finally, and most importantly, the Crown Princess must win Ying Xuan's heart.

That makes things difficult.

The First Emperor knew his son Ying Xuan's temperament very well. On the surface, Ying Xuan appeared gentle and refined, but deep down he was more arrogant than anyone else. What he set his sights on, no one could take away from him. What he didn't want, he wouldn't touch even if offered to him.

When Shao Siming bestowed the reward, he didn't refuse, which suggested he liked it somewhat. Whether that liking extended to the selection of the Crown Princess was another matter entirely.

If they were to pick a woman he didn't like, given his temperament, he might not accept her unconditionally. (End of Chapter)