Qin Emperor Ying Zheng

Just as the countdown finally hit zero, Su Qi, back in his hometown, saw the scene before his eyes blur and change in an instant.

At the same time, the damned numbers on the black screen in the eyes of billions of netizens finally faded away, replaced by a scene.

Birdsong and fragrant flowers filled the air, lush trees grew everywhere, and a majestic mountain appeared before them.

A thin mist hung over the mountain, damp and refusing to disperse.

In the distance at the foot of the mountain, a procession of carriages slowly approached.

Looking at the majestic Mount Tai and the approaching convoy, billions of netizens began excitedly discussing it.

"Ha ha, it's finally starting!"

"Is that Qin Shi Huang's convoy? Are they going to Mount Tai for the Feng Shan Ceremony?"

"Curious..."

Countless netizens watched the convoy with anticipation. As they stared at the most lavish carriage among them, their curiosity grew.

There was no need to think about it. The person seated inside that most luxurious carriage had to be Qin Shi Huang.

Before long, they saw the convoy stop at the foot of Mount Tai, apparently to rest and reorganize.

The view zoomed in, allowing the audience to clearly see each carriage.

Soon, people stepped down from the carriages. Some high-ranking officials groaned as they climbed down, looking rather bedraggled.

This surprised the netizens somewhat.

Some felt it was perfectly normal and casually explained, "That's normal. Traveling by boat and carriage is exhausting. We modern people have smooth concrete roads and cars, yet we still get uncomfortable after sitting too long. Let alone them."

The other netizens nodded, feeling that he had a point.

However, they did not dwell on it, instead focusing their attention on the most lavish carriage.

Sure enough, before long, the curtain of that carriage was lifted, and the face of the person who raised it entered everyone's view.

He had sharp, blade-like brows, a high nose bridge, and long eyes. He could not be called exceptionally handsome, but he was certainly not ugly either—a far cry from the description in the Records of the Grand Historian.

As he stepped down from the carriage, his figure came into view as well. He was exceptionally broad and tall, with a fierce, forceful bearing like that of a wolf or tiger.

Overall, he was a man clad in black ceremonial robes, imposing and extraordinary in demeanor.

"Holy shit, Qin Shi Huang looked like this?"

The netizens exploded into heated discussion, all expressing their shock.

Compared to the ugly appearance recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian, his real appearance was unbelievably good-looking, and he looked overwhelmingly domineering.

After the shock passed, a flood of thirsty comments appeared.

"Ahhh, I'm done for! I want to have his babies!"

"Get lost, he's my husband!"

"You horny chicks upstairs, I've already got the coop ready. Get in here!"

"Brother Zheng, get into bed already! Don't hold back with me!"

"Fuck off! You people up there can die! Stay away from my Brother Zheng!"

One frenzied and shameless comment after another appeared, fully displaying the immense popularity of Qin Emperor Ying Zheng.

Professor Chen at the Prehistoric Ruins, along with other highly learned elders, watched those comments helplessly and speechlessly.

They even spotted comments from foreigners among them.

"Oh God, he's mine. This emperor looks exactly like how I imagined an Eastern emperor would."

"Foreigners, get lost! You want to steal Brother Zheng too? Go away, we'll keep him for ourselves!"

"Exactly, exactly..."

After the netizens finished fooling around and calmed down somewhat, they saw Qin Shi Huang begin summoning his civil and military ministers, apparently to discuss something.

Only when they listened carefully did they realize that he was discussing the specific arrangements for the Feng Shan Ceremony.

Of course, they soon saw the result: the civil and military ministers looked at one another.

Since the Feng Shan Ceremony had not been held for a long time, they did not know much about its specific rules and procedures.

"Chancellor Li?"

A gray-haired old man softly asked Li Si, the chancellor standing at the front.

Li Si shook his head slightly, indicating that he did not know either.

In the end, after receiving no useful advice, Brother Zheng could only solemnly send officials to invite the Confucian scholars of the Qi-Lu region, hoping to ask for their opinions.

Soon, a group of neatly dressed Confucian scholars with beards appeared onscreen.

Their expressions varied as they followed the leading official toward their destination at an unhurried pace.

"Huh, is it just me, or do the expressions on these people's faces seem a little disdainful?"

One netizen looked at the Confucian scholars' expressions in confusion.

Someone knowledgeable quickly replied, "You're probably not seeing things. As for the reason, I think I know."

"The State of Qin was located in the Guanzhong region of the northwest, far from the Central Plains and even farther from the Qi-Lu region, where many scholars gathered. Qin had always been relatively weak culturally, so it naturally suffered the scorn of the various states. These Confucian scholars were no exception."

"Maybe it also had something to do with the Qin Dynasty favoring Legalism and suppressing Confucianism?"

"Probably. They likely also looked down on the Qin Dynasty for unifying the realm through force. In their eyes, only someone with achievements that shook the world could conduct the Feng Shan Ceremony on Mount Tai. How could a tyrant like Brother Zheng possibly be qualified?"

Following that netizen's comment, a huge wave of complaints instantly erupted.

"Holy shit, they're looking down on people!"

"Same, same! A bunch of pedantic Confucian scholars—what do they have to be proud of?"

The netizens spoke disdainfully.

Soon, the group of over seventy people arrived before Qin Shi Huang.

Faced with the imposing Ying Zheng, they could not help but restrain their arrogant attitudes.

"Regarding the Feng Shan Ceremony, what are your views?" Qin Shi Huang asked in a loud, commanding voice.

At Qin Emperor Ying Zheng's question, the Confucian scholars from the Qi-Lu region exchanged glances, then began discussing it among themselves, each with his own opinion.

Whether intentionally or not, after deliberating for a long time, they failed to produce a unified answer.

Some even proposed that, in order to protect Mount Tai's vegetation, they should ascend the mountain in reed carts. The site of the Feng Shan Ceremony should be covered with dead grass, and the ground swept clean before offering sacrifices. In other words, the Son of Heaven would not conduct the ritual of worshipping Heaven atop an altar, but would instead sweep the ground beneath it and offer sacrifices there, keeping the entire process as simple as possible.

Not only did Li Si frown, but the other officials frowned as well.

This did not meet their expectations for a grand sacrificial ceremony.

They're making things difficult for His Majesty? Li Si thought with a frown.

Faced with the suggestions put forth by these dozens of Confucian scholars from the Qi-Lu region, Ying Zheng remained expressionless. No emotion could be seen on his face, but his black eyes grew increasingly deep.

He naturally knew that this group believed he was unqualified to conduct the Feng Shan Ceremony, which was why they had proposed such meaningless nonsense.

Qin Shi Huang casually found an excuse. "It would be difficult to carry out."

Then he waved his hand, signaling for them to withdraw, and ordered them not to take any further part in the matter.

After the dozens of expelled Confucian scholars could no longer see anyone around them, disdain appeared on all their faces.

Once the crowd dispersed, several people who were on good terms gathered together and began voicing their opinions.

"Pah! A ruler without virtue like him—a tyrant—actually wants to conduct the Feng Shan Ceremony and gain Heaven's recognition? What a dream!"

A middle-aged Confucian scholar named Wang Zong said disdainfully.

"Exactly. How could Heaven possibly recognize that tyrant?" someone beside him quietly agreed.

The netizens heard these people whispering among themselves and instantly exploded.