When the young Minister focused on something, he rarely cared about his surroundings, not even noticing when his father left. Only when servants brought food did he pick up the damp cloth from the tray to wipe his face.

Rushing from Shangjun to Xianyang overnight, his body had reached its limit. His complexion was truly terrible—anyone seeing him would think he was the one in the Gan residence who should have mourning banners hung. To deceive his father, he had servants buy rouge, applying some to his face when needed. Fortunately so, otherwise that meticulous girl Caiwei would certainly have noticed something.

The wounds in his palms had begun to rot. To cover the strange smell, he burned large amounts of incense in his room.

He truly didn’t have much time left…

With his master’s hint, the young Minister wasn’t so insistent on returning to Gaoquan Palace. For covert actions, the low-key Gan residence was more suitable.

Burning another segment of incense for the Suanni stone carving, he learned about conditions everywhere from Chaofeng and Yaoying. After confirming no abnormalities, the young Minister decided to strike first.

“A’luo, don’t do anything foolish.” Chaofeng had long discerned something wrong with the young Minister’s body from various clues, anxious as if on fire, wishing it could take his place.

But it was merely a ridge beast crouching on roof eaves. Aside from surveying all under heaven, it could do nothing. Even moving a fraction was impossible.

“This realm should have long belonged to His Highness.” The young Minister examined the intelligence he’d gathered these days, his expression grave.

“A’luo, the First Emperor is an emperor for the ages, gathering heaven and earth’s fortune into one body. If you forcibly alter heavenly mandate, who knows what heavenly punishment the Dao will bring down.” Yaoying advised worriedly.

“The First Emperor had people excavate Mount Fang, letting the Huai River flood Jinling to drain dragon energy, and renamed Jinling as Moling.” The young Minister said in a flat tone. “What he did—wasn’t that forcibly altering heavenly mandate? Why can’t I?”

“How can the First Emperor and you be the same?” Chaofeng spoke rashly in its anger.

The young Minister’s gaze darkened, but he still said calmly: “The First Emperor is no longer the First Emperor of yesteryear.”

“Why say this?” Yaoying pressed. They looked down daily at all worldly affairs, but the First Emperor’s surroundings seemed enveloped in white mist. Even they couldn’t see through it, just as with several places in the palace. But the First Emperor had gathered treasures from six states in Xianyang—having some treasure concealing his tracks wasn’t surprising.

“The First Emperor’s condition should be the same as mine now.” The young Minister opened his palm, letting the rotting wound display in candlelight. He knew both ridge beasts could see him.

Chaofeng and Yaoying both fell silent. Though accustomed to witnessing life and death, they’d never seen a person clearly still alive, still able to speak and communicate coherently, yet whose body had already begun to rot.

“The First Emperor must also have taken pills to develop my current condition.” The young Minister analyzed calmly. “Heavy incense always surrounds the First Emperor—perhaps personal preference, but possibly to mask the smell of decay.

“After unifying the six states, the First Emperor’s temperament changed drastically. Perhaps ascending to high position made him a solitary man, or perhaps anger at failing to achieve immortality yet falling into predicament.

“Years ago, I once glimpsed the imperial star flickering uncertainly. But though the First Emperor was assassinated then, he wasn’t truly in danger. Perhaps my astronomical observation was mistaken, or perhaps the imperial star’s fate was already difficult to predict.”

“These are all your guesses, insufficient as proof.” Yaoying disagreed, feeling the young Minister’s excessive stress was causing confused thinking.

The young Minister continued calmly: “After Hu Hai, the First Emperor hasn’t had a single child born in over twenty years, yet before Hu Hai he had over fifty children. Of course, perhaps he lost all interest in romantic affairs, or perhaps his spirit was willing but flesh weak.”

This time Chaofeng and Yaoying had no response. They naturally could spy on the First Emperor’s harem, but such privacy held no interest for them.

“Perhaps… the First Emperor cultivates and nurtures health…” Chaofeng weakly rebutted.

“The First Emperor won’t let His Highness marry, nor allows other sons to marry. Perhaps he doesn’t value heirs, or perhaps wanting immortality, he’s unwilling to yield the emperor’s position. Even to his own sons.” The young Minister’s voice held no warmth, as cold as his body.

Both ridge beasts fell completely silent. That the First Emperor wouldn’t let his sons marry and have children, even his most beloved young prince Hu Hai remaining unwed—many had suspected this doubt. This explanation indeed made sense.

“Whether guess or truth, let us investigate.” A smile curved the young Minister’s lips. “Assuming the Qian character room accelerated the pills’ medicinal properties I ingested—one night there equaled three years, then three more years after emerging. Yet the First Emperor’s body is much better than mine, showing something supports his body.

“Perhaps the First Emperor carries that treasure with him, but there’s also some chance it’s in Xianyang Palace, given the dragon energy here.” The young Minister lacked much confidence, but he had little time left. While the First Emperor wasn’t in Xianyang, he could still make small moves—otherwise he wouldn’t dare act rashly at all.

Both ridge beasts didn’t respond for a time. After a long while, Chaofeng hesitantly said: “Actually… even if the First Emperor remains on the throne forever, it doesn’t matter.” They sat on roof eaves, watching the great chaos after Western Zhou—Spring and Autumn plus Warring States lasting fully five hundred years. The Central Plains aflame with war, people unable to make a living. Even brief peaceful periods would quickly be torn open by iron hooves and sharp blades, revealing false tranquility.

Perhaps these five hundred years were merely an eye-blink for Chiwen who loved sleeping, but for many commoners it meant lives of endless suffering. Common people’s average lifespan barely reached thirty—meaning many died at the young Minister’s age or younger.

They’d witnessed all human joys and sorrows. Though unrelated to themselves, they still didn’t wish civilization on this land destroyed and burned repeatedly by war.

Just as they could never understand human emotions and desires, couldn’t comprehend human craving and pursuit of power, they likewise couldn’t understand why humans enjoyed killing each other.

But Chaofeng thought perhaps for the first time it understood what reluctance meant.

It wanted A’luo to live longer, not waste limited life seeking power’s bubble for others.

“Let the First Emperor continue as emperor. A’luo, there’s nothing wrong with that.” Chaofeng’s voice grew louder, more self-righteous.

“The First Emperor has this qualification and can continue. Others submit to him. Fu Su… perhaps he simply lacks this luck and fortune.”

The emperor’s throne was one, but the realm had countless millions. Fu Su was already one step from that throne, yet crossing this step was difficult as ascending to heaven.

“Yes, A’luo, think carefully how to survive—that’s most important.” Yaoying also earnestly advised. “The First Emperor appeared out of nowhere, unified the six states in ten years, ruling the realm as emperor for merely eleven years yet already governing splendidly. He truly deserves the title First Emperor.”

The young Minister also felt somewhat headachy. The two ridge beasts had helped him greatly since childhood, but their judgments mostly diverged. After all, ridge beasts weren’t human—he couldn’t explain human society’s laws to them. In youth he’d still been interested in debating with them. Growing up, he discovered their mutual problem was like summer insects unable to comprehend ice—communication was impossible.

He couldn’t understand ridge beasts’ loneliness surveying all from on high. Ridge beasts couldn’t understand why humans tirelessly schemed and plotted.

Normally, he’d change topics and move on. But this time was different—he needed to convince these ridge beasts, or he wouldn’t learn from them which place in Xianyang Palace had problems.

The young Minister pinched his nose bridge, explaining in terms ridge beasts could understand: “The First Emperor advocates ruling by Legalism. Legalism can unify the realm, but after unification comes governance. Governing the state must use Confucianism—people need peaceful lives, not harsh legal restrictions.”

“Speak human language…” Chaofeng straightforwardly admitted some confusion.

“Fine. The nation needs rest and recuperation. Earlier years indeed required authoritarian rule for stability, but these eleven years, the First Emperor successively built the Great Wall, highways, Lingqu Canal, and Epang Palace plus numerous palaces, and the Mount Li mausoleum. These massive projects aren’t bad per se, but should be built gradually over at least fifty years… Like a person facing a table of delicious food who can only eat a small portion, yet forces himself to finish everything. What happens to this person?” The young Minister tried using examples Chaofeng could understand.

“Oh, he’ll vomit it out.” Chaofeng pondered, its tone rarely becoming somewhat profound.

“Like building houses—without firm foundations, building upward grows increasingly precarious.” The young Minister sighed. This was also why he and Fu Su had grown increasingly restless these years.

“The First Emperor wanted to govern Qin well, but eager for quick success, instead stirred popular resentment. The First Emperor showed mercy, letting six states’ nobility keep dignity, even granting them retirement in various places. But these nobles refuse to give up, secretly stirring restlessly.”

“I can understand the First Emperor.”

“Wanting to depict all the valleys in his heart on the Central Plains during his lifetime.”

“Time is running short…”

“The deeper the understanding, the more I comprehend his mentality.”

Because his current situation was similar.

The young Minister slowly murmured, the last sentence dissolving at his lips. He stared blankly at stacks of character-filled silk letters on and around the table, his handsome face written full of unwillingness.

“Or perhaps, though I took pills after the First Emperor, the Qian character room lengthened my time. Comparing my body’s condition, perhaps the First Emperor will soon ascend to heaven.” The young Minister analyzed, more convincing himself than the ridge beasts.

“A’luo, what’s your plan?” Yaoying couldn’t help being moved. After all, in ridge beast concepts, who became emperor didn’t matter. Moreover, compared to the First Emperor who was like a stranger, A’luo was their friend.

The young Minister had long known this would be the result, showing no surprise, instead answering more seriously: “Setting aside whether the First Emperor can truly achieve immortality. The best outcome would actually be the First Emperor abdicating to become Grand Emperor.”

“Grand Emperor? The title the First Emperor bestowed on his father King Zhuangxiang of Qin? But King Zhuangxiang already died!” Chaofeng asked, puzzled.

“Well, accurately speaking, similar to King Wuling of Zhao abdicating to his son King Huiwen, then calling himself ‘Lord Father.’ But he still controlled military affairs while domestic political and economic matters were entirely King Huiwen’s responsibility. This let King Wuling focus on external wars without worries.” The young Minister explained.

“But King Wuling was ultimately besieged by his son, starving to death in Shaqiu Palace.” Yaoying merely stated facts, but its tone was somewhat ominous. “I witnessed the entire process back then. Believe me, that scene was absolutely unpleasant.”

“Oh! I remember!” How could Chaofeng forget such grand gossip, immediately exclaiming excitedly: “I remember King Wuling had two sons, the elder ten years older than the younger. He first designated the elder as crown prince, then because he favored the younger, abolished the elder’s position. After later abdicating to the younger, campaigning with the elder, he felt the elder suited him better… Such torment—finally the younger directly imprisoned him in Shaqiu Palace to starve. Three months later they opened the palace gate, that scene… tsk… Though I can’t see, Yaoying’s description lets me imagine…”

King Wuling of Zhao could be called an extremely legendary monarch during Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. He initiated Hu clothing and cavalry archery, drove away Linhu, absorbed Loufan, dominated the northern grasslands. Even more impressive, he interfered in other states’ internal affairs—both King Zhao of Qin and King Zhao of Yan were personally installed by him, showing his dominance.

He was extremely wise in state affairs but relatively confused in family matters.

But a monarch’s family affairs were a state’s political affairs. King Wuling’s lifetime mistakes regarding succession directly caused his tragic end, dying young with ambitions unfulfilled.

Perhaps if he hadn’t abdicated midway to his younger son, the realm’s name would have changed to Zhao decades ago.

The young Minister knew this comparison wasn’t appropriate, but having mentioned Zhao, he suddenly remembered a key point he’d always forgotten.

Assuming the First Emperor’s body had long had problems, those around him couldn’t fail to notice.

The one who used the Qian character room to coerce him into testing medicine was precisely Zhao Gao. A Zhao person who knew sorcery and could wield magical treasures—if he hadn’t guessed wrong, Zhao Gao should be his master’s scorned eldest disciple, his senior martial brother.

Then what did Zhao Gao seek? Following the First Emperor, surely not simply for wealth and glory…

The young Minister had no leisure to ponder past matters, directly grasping the Suanni stone carving to press: “Yaoying, please help me see if His Highness is normal?”

When separating from Wang Li upon returning to Xianyang, he’d instructed him to add ridge beasts atop Shangjun’s highest government building after returning. This way at least while away from Shangjun, he could have Yaoying observe Fu Su’s situation anytime.

“All normal. They’re deliberating. Recently Xiongnu’s internal situation is somewhat unstable—they’re considering whether to deploy troops for pressure.” Yaoying quickly answered. Shangjun was a place it hadn’t seen before, even the scenery quite different, so it often lingered there.

“Good that nothing’s wrong.” The young Minister relaxed.

“Well, reportedly Prince Modun returned to the royal court and clashed with his father Chanyu Touman’s favored younger son. The succession problem grows increasingly contentious.” Yaoying sighed deeply. “Seems wherever, having many sons is problematic.”

The young Minister temporarily set his mind at ease, writing worries on silk letters. He’d discovered that since emerging from the Qian character room, even his memory had declined considerably.

This delay, the incense wood burned out completely. The Suanni stone carving, satiated with incense offerings, left the room peaceful again. Another period remained until the next communication, and his body couldn’t possibly support running to Xianyang Palace roof eaves.

The young Minister suddenly felt inexplicable heart palpitations. Covering his chest and frowning, enduring for a long while, uneasy emotions spread like weeds.

What happened again?

Or was his heart about to rot too?

The young Minister’s hands trembled as he unfolded new silk cloth, lifting his brush to record everything requiring action item by item.

His time was truly running out.

Over following days, the Gan residence’s back and side doors inconspicuously admitted many merchants. According to neighbors, the King of Yiyang’s illness had improved—the Gan residence was preparing to renovate the estate.