I will make Qin Shi Huang immortal in the Great Qin Dynasty.

The camp was bustling with activity the next morning.

Orders were given one after another, and the soldiers packed up tents, loaded supplies, and prepared horses and carts. Everything was proceeding in an orderly manner.

Ying Zheng ordered the eastern tour to end and the emperor to return to Xianyang immediately.

The accompanying officials were not surprised by this decision.

The eastern tour was for two purposes: to inspect the people's conditions and to search for immortals.

We've already observed the people's sentiments quite well. As for the immortal, isn't he currently sitting in his tent?

As for the third matter—suppressing the "evil god" Xu Fu spoke of in the East Sea and shooting down the giant fish—that was merely incidental. Now that the immortals had appeared, those ethereal and illusory things naturally took a backseat.

Ying Zheng's feelings were completely different.

Over the past two decades, he has toured the east, west, south, and north, traversing every inch of the empire's territory.

He inscribed eulogies on stone, offered sacrifices to heaven and earth, claiming it was to tour the world and consolidate imperial power. But in reality, he knew in his heart what he was looking for with each tour.

He was searching for the sacred mountain, for the immortals, and for the legendary elixir of immortality.

Now, the immortal has been found.

Moreover, this immortal told him personally: I came to find you because I want to live forever.

How could Ying Zheng possibly have the heart to continue his eastern tour? He didn't sleep a wink all night.

His body had never felt so comfortable.

From the moment Qin Tian placed his palm on his back yesterday, he felt the life force that had been dormant in this body for many years be reawakened.

My breathing became smoother, my chest felt lighter, and a long-lost strength filled my limbs and bones; even my finger joints were no longer stiff.

He got out of bed and walked around a few times, his steps steady and vigorous, as if he had returned to his thirties.

Instead of sending someone so eager for immortality on a journey around the world, it would be better for him to return home, listen to the national teacher recount the legendary future, and seek the secret to eternal life.

So, we went back to Xianyang.

The convoy regrouped, with the lead caravan becoming the rear caravan and the rear caravan becoming the lead caravan, then turned around and headed west.

Before getting into the carriage, Ying Zheng did something: he ordered someone to invite Qin Tian to ride in the same carriage with him.

This is no ordinary arrangement.

The chariot of Qin Shi Huang was the core of the empire. On ordinary days, only his closest ministers could accompany him, and even then, they could only ride alongside him on horseback. There was absolutely no possibility of them riding together with him.

To allow someone who only appeared yesterday to ride in the same carriage with him is an immense favor and a very significant gesture.

Meng Yi remained silent upon hearing the order.

Li Si lowered his eyes, his expression remaining unchanged.

Zhao Gao stood to the side, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his face as calm as a still pond.

The convoy set off, banners fluttering, wheels rolling.

The interior of the car is very spacious.

This carriage was designed specifically for long-distance travel. The carriage has thick walls and is lined with brocade to keep it warm and cool.

The carriage was covered with soft felt carpets, and in the center was a fixed low table with a jade pot, lacquer cups and several bamboo scrolls on it.

Qin Tian sat cross-legged on one side, leaning against the car wall, in a casual posture.

Ying Zheng sat opposite him, his back straight and his gaze focused.

The carriage traveled for a while, the official road was flat and wide, and the carriage drove smoothly, sometimes without even feeling any bumps.

Qin Tian placed his hands on his knees, looked at the emperor opposite him with a ruddy complexion, and spoke first.

"Brother Zheng, I made Zhao Gao dance at the banquet yesterday. You must have been thinking about it all night, wondering why I made things so difficult for him in front of everyone."

Ying Zheng raised his eyebrows slightly, without denying it.

He was an emperor, and he didn't easily reveal his thoughts, but at this moment, there seemed to be no need for him to hide anything from Qin Tian.

"What heinous crime did Zhao Gao commit that would make someone who has returned from two thousand years in the future dislike him so much upon first meeting him?" Ying Zheng's voice was deep and steady.

Qin Tian did not rush to answer.

He reached out and picked up the jade pot from the low table, poured some wine into two lacquer cups, handed one to Ying Zheng, and took a small sip to moisten his throat.

Then he put the cup back on the table, looked at the slightly rosier face opposite him, and slowly said:

"Brother Zheng, I told you yesterday that the Qin Dynasty would only last for two generations."

Ying Zheng's expression darkened slightly.

"You said yesterday that the Qin Dynasty only lasted two generations. Was it because Fusu was too benevolent?"

That was indeed what Ying Zheng thought.

Fusu was corrupted by Confucianism, spouting benevolence and morality all the time. If he were to ascend the throne, abolish the Qin laws, and treat the former nobles of the six states leniently, the empire would likely not be secure for long.

Therefore, he was already planning in his heart to let Hu Hai take over the position.

Qin Tian's next words were like a bucket of ice water poured over someone's head.

"Fusu's excessive benevolence has some bearing on the matter, but that's a minor detail, not the root cause. The root cause lies with Zhao Gao, who is right beside you. The Qin Dynasty's demise after only two generations is most directly related to him. If we're talking about the culprit, Zhao Gao is second to none."

As soon as he finished speaking, the relaxed atmosphere in the carriage suddenly froze.

Ying Zheng's pupils contracted slightly, and his gaze suddenly turned sharp.

"Zhao Gao? He was merely the Chief of the Imperial Carriage Office, in charge of chariots, horses, and seals. What ability did he have to cause the Qin Dynasty to collapse after only two generations?"

Ying Zheng had already believed most of it in his heart; Qin Tian had no reason to lie to him.

With Qin Tian's abilities, if he wanted to harm him, he could have done so yesterday in the tent; why go through all this trouble?

He sought immortality, and Qin Tian granted him immortality; this was obvious from day one.

It's even more impossible that Qin Tian and Zhao Gao have any personal grudges. Qin Tian only arrived yesterday and doesn't know Zhao Gao at all.

For a recluse to feel such disgust, Zhao Gao must have done something utterly heinous.

Therefore, Ying Zheng's question was more like the calm before the storm; he was waiting for an answer.

Qin Tian slowly picked up the lacquer cup and took another sip of wine.

"Brother Zheng, please let me tell you the story from the beginning."

"Your eastern tour convoy will reach a place called Shaqiu. When you get there, your health will deteriorate again, and this time, even the gods will not be able to save you. Leave a will in the Shaqiu Palace, and have Zhao Gao write an edict to give to Prince Fusu, who is supervising the army in Shangjun, instructing him to return to Xianyang immediately to preside over the funeral and inherit the throne."

Ying Zheng's expression darkened, and he remained silent.

Qin Tian came from two thousand years in the future, so he naturally knew about these things that had already happened.

He said that it would “go on,” “would worsen again,” and “would leave a will,” but to Ying Zheng, it sounded like he was talking about the fate he would face in a world without Qin Tian.

"The edict was written, sealed, and placed with Zhao Gao, but you passed away before it could be sent out."

"And then?" Ying Zheng asked.

"And then things got interesting."

"Zhao Gao possessed the imperial edict, but he did not send it out. He instead found your young son, Huhai, who had accompanied you on your tour."

Ying Zheng's eyelids twitched slightly.

Hu Hai, his most beloved youngest son.

During this eastern tour, Hu Hai requested to accompany him, and Hu Hai agreed.

He thought it was just a private matter between father and son. He was busy with many affairs of state and rarely had time to be close to his youngest son.

He never imagined that behind this "request to accompany him" was the work of Zhao Gao.