Destined by Heaven, Eternal Longevity and Prosperity

Changing history came at a price.

After Verdant Green Maiden awoke, she realized this. She just didn't know whether the price might cost her life. If it was only like this time, where killing Zhao Gao bought her half a year of sleep, she could accept that.

But either way, her half-year of sleep had truly frightened Ying Zheng. He flatly refused to let her handle anything anymore.

If she wanted someone killed or wanted to see someone, she only had to tell him. He would take care of it.

Verdant Green Maiden was happy to enjoy the peace and quiet.

"Ah, so this is what it feels like to raise a son who'll look after you in your old age!"

In the Imperial Garden, Verdant Green Maiden lay on a homemade deck chair, rocking gently as she basked in the sun and spoke. It was a pity that there were so few kinds of fruit in this era. Otherwise, she could have had some grapes. What a wonderful life that would be!

"Hmph, enjoying yourself, are you?"

Hong Luan snorted, looking at Verdant Green Maiden with disdain.

She landed on Verdant Green Maiden's thigh and looked up at her. "There have been a lot of fangshi in the palace lately. Did you know?"

"Fangshi?"

Verdant Green Maiden furrowed her brow.

That brat didn't seem like the sort to Seek Immortality, let alone dream of eternal life! Why was he keeping so many fangshi?

Verdant Green Maiden voiced her confusion.

Hong Luan looked at her like she was an idiot. "Why else? Of course it's for you—"

She stopped halfway, suddenly freezing, then raised a wing to cover her beak.

Verdant Green Maiden narrowed her eyes, grabbed Hong Luan, and asked, "What are they doing for me? Spit it out! If you don't, I'll pluck every last feather off you! You won't even get fruit anymore!"

Hong Luan was thoroughly frightened. The snake girl might actually do it!

"He... He got them for you! They're going to make medicine to treat your illness."

"Make medicine for me..."

Verdant Green Maiden froze at the words. She leaped up and ran out of the Imperial Garden.

Hong Luan was startled. She flapped after her, calling as she chased, "Wait for me! Ying Zheng told me not to tell you about this. Don't go..."

"If he told you not to say anything, why did you say it, you stupid bird?" Verdant Green Maiden scolded without looking back.

She ran all the way to Ying Zheng.

Ying Zheng was speaking with a fangshi. When he saw Verdant Green Maiden, his brow furrowed, and he immediately waved for the fangshi to leave.

But Verdant Green Maiden stopped the man and asked, "What's your name?"

The fangshi froze and instinctively looked toward Ying Zheng.

"Don't look at him. Look at me!"

Verdant Green Maiden furrowed her brow, her voice rising. Ying Zheng sighed softly and said, "Since the Master has asked you, answer her!"

Only then did the fangshi hurriedly bow and cup his hands to Verdant Green Maiden. "Your humble servant Xu Fu pays his respects to the Master!"

It was Xu Fu!

Verdant Green Maiden watched Xu Fu leave and asked, "Where did he come from?"

Ying Zheng fell silent. Only after Verdant Green Maiden glared at him did he answer. "It's said that Qi State has many fangshi, so after I conquered it, I sent people to search for them. A few days ago, they found him in Langya. He said he had seen an Immortal Mountain and knew how to make Immortal Medicine!"

"Fake."

Verdant Green Maiden said it without hesitation.

Ying Zheng looked at her. "But aren't you an Immortal?"

Immortals, naturally, could only be treated with Immortal Medicine.

Verdant Green Maiden gave him a helpless wave. "Send the fangshi away. With all these people in Qin Palace seeking immortality, the whole world will point fingers at you! I don't want people secretly cursing the snake."

"Master, rest assured! Under Heaven, people will know only that I seek immortality and yearn for eternal life. No one will know about you."

Ying Zheng gazed at Verdant Green Maiden, his eyes burning. "I'll bear all the infamy."

"Brat, did I ask you to bear it?"

Verdant Green Maiden scolded him. Ying Zheng rose and walked toward her, saying as he came, "Master, enough about that! I have something more important to tell you."

Verdant Green Maiden looked at Ying Zheng suspiciously and took a small step back. "What is it?"

"You once said, when I held my Coronation Ceremony..."

Ying Zheng looked at Verdant Green Maiden. He still remembered the promise she had made twenty-six years ago.

His eyes brimmed with emotion. "Now I have unified Under Heaven. My achievements surpass the Three Sovereigns, and my virtue eclipses the Five Emperors! This was your hope for me. If I combine the titles of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors into one, I shall be called Emperor! What do you think of this title, Master?"

Verdant Green Maiden was momentarily dazed. Looking at Ying Zheng before her, she felt a quiet joy.

At last, she had lived to see the birth of an emperor!

Verdant Green Maiden drew a deep breath and nodded. "It suits you."

Ying Zheng smiled. "I've already ordered Li Si to make the preparations. You'll soon be able to witness my Coronation Ceremony!"

"Mm. I'll be waiting."

Ying Zheng used the Coronation Ceremony to brush aside the matter of the fangshi.

When Verdant Green Maiden returned to the Jade Maiden Shrine, she was still excited. She grabbed Hong Luan and cried, "Hong Luan! An emperor! Destined by Heaven, Eternal Longevity and Prosperity! I'm going to witness the birth of the first emperor in the world!"

Hong Luan watched her excitement and rolled her eyes. "You really are easy to appease."

Verdant Green Maiden didn't care about any of that. The emperor was real, and so was the fortune of the dynasty!

Auspicious Fortune churned above Xianyang. Even Verdant Green Maiden found it dazzling when she looked up. The Xia Shang Zhou dynasties had never seen anything like it!

As the ceremony drew near, Ying Zheng had Afang bring over another outfit.

"...Again?"

Verdant Green Maiden jolted. Her eyelids twitched, and unpleasant memories rose in her mind.

By then, Afang had already become the foremost female official in Qin Palace.

She wore the robes of a female official, dignified and resplendent. In Qin Palace, aside from Verdant Green Maiden, Afang held the highest status among the women.

Seeing Verdant Green Maiden frown, Afang hurriedly explained, "Please rest assured, Master. The Great King won't do that again!"

"Really?"

Verdant Green Maiden stared at Afang.

Afang nodded with a bitter smile. "Of course. We wouldn't dare deceive you again."

Verdant Green Maiden decided to trust them one more time.

Good Snake couldn't be fooled twice, could she?

Within Xianyang Palace, the Black Armored Qin Army stood in battle-ready formation, banners snapping in the wind.

The Six Nations Surrendered Officials and the royal houses entered in a steady stream, surrounded by Qin troops. The towering, magnificent Qin Palace weighed upon their hearts, grief written across every face.

Once, they too had been nobles, lords of their own states. They had traveled by carriage and feasted on delicacies.

Boom—!!

Boom—!!

On the high terrace within Qin Palace, the Music Bureau struck the Yellow Bell and Great Bell. Their sound surged like a mighty river, shaking the people of the Six Kingdoms to their core and draining the color from their faces.

The officials of Great Qin streamed in from both sides. The civil officials were led by Li Si, while the military commanders included Wang Jian, Meng Tian, and others.

The ceremony, established by Li Si, was imbued with the solemn grandeur of the Legalist School.

Ying Zheng wore black robes embroidered with gold Dragon Patterns. The Emperor's Twelve-Beaded Curtain swayed gently with his movements as he ascended the steps at a measured pace to the tolling of bells and drums.

The Qin Army's horns sounded on either side, their notes ringing through Heaven and Earth!

As the Master, Verdant Green Maiden stood with Fusu beneath the highest tier of steps, watching Ying Zheng approach.