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

"Court adjourned!"

After the black and gold phoenix-patterned robes were embroidered, the person holding the sword left with the Heavenly Fate Phoenix.

The courtiers in Zhangtai Palace exchanged glances, and then, like a receding tide, silently withdrew from the palace.

What happened at today's morning assembly,

It can be said that it completely overturned their understanding.

They never imagined that in their lifetime they would actually see the legendary divine bird, the Black Bird.

……

Xianyang Palace.

The First Emperor stood to one side, his sword at his side, while Xuan Ye remained perched on his shoulder, its tail feathers drooping.

"Zhao Gao."

"Your subject is here," Zhao Gao replied, bowing deeply with both hands clasped in salute.

Zhao Gao was the head of the Imperial Carriage Office, but because he was trusted by the First Emperor, he was given the additional authority of issuing imperial seals.

Therefore, he was able to stay by the emperor's side for a long time.

"Tell me, what does the Celestial Bird eat?"

When the First Emperor spoke, his tone was calm, yet it carried an air of authority that left no room for doubt.

"What did you eat?"

Zhao Gao lowered his head in thought, then raised his head.

"Your Majesty," Zhao Gao said, his arms clasped in front of him.

"In my opinion, the Heavenly Mandate Black Bird is a divine bird, and ordinary human creatures would likely defile its divine form."

There was no sound, only the flickering candlelight in the hall.

Zhao Gao's forehead was covered in sweat. He gritted his teeth, kowtowed to the ground, and answered respectfully.

Zhuangzi said, “There is a bird in the south called the Yuanchu. It will not perch except on the parasol tree, it will not eat except the fruit of the lotus, and it will not drink except from the sweet spring.”

"The Yuanchu and the Heavenly Mandate Black Bird are both divine birds."

"In my humble opinion, it is correct to use the food of the phoenix as the food of the Heavenly Mandate Black Bird."

"only……"

Zhao Gao paused, unsure whether he should speak.

"Just what?" The tone remained calm, but the chill in the hall intensified.

Zhao Gao raised his head, though nervous.

But the voice spoke calmly and unhurriedly: "The fruit of the bamboo plant is called bamboo seed. It blooms for sixty years, and dies after it finishes blooming!"

"Practice is a rare sight, extremely difficult to find."

"As for the sweet spring, sweet rain falls in due season, and all things prosper. It is called the sweet spring and is usually found in the mountains and fields."

"If you want to obtain it, you must order people from various places to search for it."

The First Emperor closed his eyes slightly. "I entrust this matter to you, regardless of the process."

"I'll give you three days."

"I wish to see what you have described. Is anything missing?"

The First Emperor did not say the rest, but Zhao Gao clearly understood the meaning behind the emperor's words.

Ignoring Zhao Gao,

He waved his hand and said, "Alright, you may leave now."

"Your Majesty, I must take my leave now." Zhao Gao lowered his head, not daring to disobey the First Emperor's order, and bowed as he withdrew.

After Zhao Gao withdrew, Xuan Ye flapped his wings and jumped down from the First Emperor, standing on the table.

He tilted his head back and looked at the First Emperor.

The First Emperor held his sword.

A gust of wind blew in, causing the candlelight inside the hall to flicker.

The wind blew through his robes, and the gold thread embroidery on his dark robes, featuring a black bird pattern, flowed with brilliance.

The pearl pendants hanging from the emperor's crown rustled and intertwined.

In a calm tone: "Heavenly Bird of Destiny, please be patient for a while; your food will be delivered soon."

Xuan Ye tilted his head and finally nodded.

This simple nod stirred a ripple in the usually composed heart of the First Emperor.

"As expected of a divine bird, it is intelligent and can understand human speech."

After glancing at the fruits and melons laid out on the table, the First Emperor squatted down and said, "If possible, Your Majesty, please have some of these fruits and melons to satisfy your hunger first."

However, the First Emperor had not yet finished speaking.

Xuan Ye had already leaped forward, using his slender beak to catch a plum, and then slowly pecked at it.

The First Emperor watched silently from the side.

After an unknown amount of time, Xuan Ye had completely ruined the fruits on the table, even taking a couple of bites of some before discarding them.

The First Emperor was even more tireless in his efforts.

After ordering someone to tidy up, he had all sorts of fruits and melons placed back on the table.

After eating his fill, Xuan Ye lay down on the imperial desk where the First Emperor often processed memorials and fell into a deep sleep.

The First Emperor had no choice.

They had no choice but to have someone send over a new table.

Then, under the flickering candlelight, he bent over his desk, focusing intently on handling state affairs.

.......

These two days.

Xuan Ye always eats as soon as he wakes up and goes to sleep immediately after eating.

Perhaps it was because he had just hatched, or perhaps it was because he felt too safe by the First Emperor's side.

But who cares!

In this Xianyang Palace, he was not worried at all that anyone would dare to harm him or be disrespectful to him.

Because he knew that although he was a black bird, to the First Emperor, his symbolic meaning was greater than his practical meaning.

Although he did nothing,

But for the First Emperor, his significance alone was already immense.

That's perfect, he didn't have any particularly big ambitions anyway.

Just eat and sleep every day, and be content to be your own mascot.

Xuan Ye glanced at the fruits laid out on the table and the empty hall, already used to it.

Is the First Emperor not here? He must have gone to court again.

But today, looking at the fruits and vegetables around him, Xuan Ye suddenly felt bored and tasteless.

After eating fruits and melons for two days,

Now, looking at it, I've lost my appetite.

It spread its wings and flapped them a few times, extinguishing the flame burning in the bronze lamp as it swayed.

The curtains inside the hall were lifted, letting sunlight stream in.

Looking down at his own body, Xuan Ye was stunned for a moment, then became dumbfounded.

The jet-black feathers on his body shimmered with a unique iridescence under the sunlight.

It looks extremely dazzling and wondrous, shining brightly.

It appears to be just pure black.

Upon closer inspection, it reveals a flowing luster, with subtle blue-purple hues, flowing dark green, and faint golden-red hues.

It's as if all the colors have been blended into the night.

"Wow, what are these feathers? They're so beautiful!"

"Father, you have so many good things here. This feather is much prettier than the peacock feather you gave me before."

Just then, footsteps sounded, followed by a boy's soft voice.

Immediately afterward, Xuan Ye felt a tail feather behind him being grabbed and pulled out.

"Huh, why can't I pull it out?"

Xuan Ye let out a long cry and angrily flapped its wings.

Unexpectedly, a figure was immediately thrown out by this fan and crashed hard into the palace wall.

Xuan Ye did not stop there.

Then it flapped its wings and pounced on him with its sharp claws.

With a stomp of its claws into his chest, it left three claw marks on his flesh.

Still not satisfied, it flapped its wings again.

The latter was suddenly thrown out and fell from top to bottom onto the table, scattering fruits all over the floor.

"Hu Hai?"

An uncertain voice rang out from afar.

Immediately afterward, hurried footsteps came from afar, and Zhao Gao walked over with a grim expression.

"How did you anger the Celestial Bird?"

Seeing what was happening before their eyes,

He couldn't believe it, or rather, he dared not believe it.

Besides feeling resentment towards Hu Hai for his incompetence, a chilling coldness crept up his spine and spread throughout his body.

No one knew better than him.

How much did the First Emperor care about the Heavenly Mandate Black Bird?

He was instructed to find a parasol tree for him to perch on, to find the fruit of the lotus for him to eat, and to fetch the sweet spring water for him to drink.

All of these require a tremendous amount of manpower.

The mere act of moving a single paulownia tree to Xianyang required the efforts of thousands, who dared not abandon the task.

Little did he know, he had just returned, preparing to wait for the First Emperor to finish his court session and report back, when he witnessed this scene.

Despite cursing Hu Hai a thousand times in his heart.

But as a subject and a teacher, he absolutely could not stand by and watch Huhai die before his eyes!

So he quickly walked up to the Heavenly Fate Mystic Bird.

He stood in front of Hu Hai, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, and bowed slightly to plead for Hu Hai's life.

"Heavenly Bird, please calm your anger!"

"This man is His Majesty's youngest son; we beg you to spare his life."

"what!"

But before he could finish speaking, Xuan Ye flapped its wings, and Zhao Gao and Hu Hai were thrown up together and slammed into a pillar.

A hint of coldness flashed in his dark, jade-like eyes.

If the teacher is not strict, it is the teacher's fault. How much more so should you, Zhao Gao, a son of a fallen state, be worthy of pleading for mercy!

Hu Hai let out a miserable scream and lay on the ground crying out.

Ignoring his pain, Zhao Gao could only prostrate himself on the ground and loudly beg for mercy, "Spare me! Heavenly Bird, spare me!"

"I wonder why Hu Hai has angered you!"

"But we hope that, for His Majesty's sake, you will spare Huhai's life!"

But Hu Hai still hasn't realized it.

"Teacher, what are you saying?"

Hu Hai's lips trembled as he looked at his teacher, tears streaming down his face like a river.

"Teacher, someone dares to attack me here!"

"Teacher, quickly order someone to arrest him! I'm going to report this to my father, the Emperor! He should be cut in half at the waist! He should be torn apart by chariots!"

"No, no, I want to exterminate their entire clan!"

Even now, Hu Hai has not realized the seriousness of the matter and is still acting out his old temper.

Not only that, but she also had a wronged expression on her face.

"Huhai!" Zhao Gao shouted angrily, "Do you know what you have done? Even if you are His Majesty's most beloved youngest son..."

"But you have angered the Celestial Bird."

"Even if His Majesty favors you greatly, he cannot tolerate you!"

Seeing Zhao Gao's serious and embarrassed expression, Hu Hai knew he had caused a great disaster, and his eyes immediately filled with tears.

"Teacher, this has nothing to do with me!"

"I don't know anything, and my whole body aches."

"Teacher, quickly find the imperial physician! I'm dying! If I die, my father will surely punish you!"

Hu Hai hugged himself and said loudly.

"Aren't you going yet?"

"Fine, teacher, you're not going? I'll go by myself. When Father comes to see me, I'm going to complain about you."

After saying that,

Hu Hai then planned to escape while his father was away.

Zhao Gao watched this scene without saying anything, only shaking his head with a complicated expression.

"Hu Hai, you can't escape."

Given the importance that the First Emperor placed on the Heavenly Mandate Bird, he probably already knew that Hu Hai had angered the Heavenly Mandate Bird.

We should be on our way to Xianyang Palace now.

As the teacher of Prince Huhai, he will likely be held accountable for his crimes this time as well.

As expected, Hu Hai had not yet left the main hall.

The sound of beads clashing rang out outside the palace, followed by a bone-chilling cold that swept through the entire palace!

Against the sunlight,

A tall figure, leaning on his sword, slowly appeared.