Afang

"In the twenty-sixth year of the King's reign, Great Qin has entirely brought the Under Heaven Vassal Lords under its rule, and the common people rejoice in peace!"

"This achievement surpasses the Three Sovereigns; this virtue eclipses the Five Emperors! No King Title is worthy to crown him. From this day forth, let him be called Emperor!"

"Great Qin's First Emperor!"

Li Si stood at the foot of the steps below Verdant Green Maiden and the others. He unfurled the Silk Book and proclaimed its contents to all.

When Qin Palace was built, its architects had already considered how to amplify sound. Combined with Li Si's booming voice, the proclamation rang throughout the palace, reaching the Six Kingdoms' nobles and the Qin Army soldiers inside and out.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live Great Qin!"

Countless Qin Army soldiers shouted at the tops of their lungs.

Clad in black-and-gold Qu Qu Shen Yi, Verdant Green Maiden watched the grand ceremony unfold.

From the high terrace, she looked down at the palace square, where a sea of people knelt. A gust of wind swept through, sending the Qin Army banners along the surrounding palace walls billowing like Black Dragons rising through the clouds!

The Qin Army were wolves and tigers. Surrounded by them, the nobles of the Six Kingdoms had no choice but to kneel and cry, "Long live the Emperor!"

Verdant Green Maiden was watching with keen interest when Li Si loudly proclaimed, "Young Master Fusu is favored by Heaven's Will. We respectfully inform Heaven and Earth, the Ancestral Temple, and the State Altars: with the Imperial Seal bestowed upon him, we establish him as Imperial Crown Prince, to secure the succession for ten thousand years!"

Imperial Crown Prince?

At that, Verdant Green Maiden turned to Fusu and said, "He's calling you. Hurry up and go accept the honor!"

"Master, will you come with me?"

Fusu hesitated. He was somewhat afraid to step forward.

Ever since his maternal grandfather betrayed Qin, Fusu had been rather timid at court. Though Ying Zheng had personally issued the decree appointing him Crown Prince, he still struggled to carry himself with authority.

Seeing him like this, Verdant Green Maiden sighed helplessly.

"Come on. Follow me!"

She waved to Fusu and led him forward. When the nobles of the Six Kingdoms below saw a woman appear—and Fusu following respectfully behind her—they were even more astonished!

Who was this woman?

How could she make Qin's Crown Prince so meek?

Li Si put away the Silk Book, bowed to Verdant Green Maiden, then stepped aside and called down to the people below, "Pay your respects to the Crown Prince!"

The people in the Grand Hall once more bowed to Fusu.

Watching Fusu follow behind Verdant Green Maiden, Ying Zheng sighed softly and nodded. "Sorry for the trouble, Master. Fusu, why haven't you thanked your master?"

Fusu straightened up and cupped his hands to Verdant Green Maiden. "Thank you, Master!"

Beside them, Li Si took out another Silk Book and read aloud, "For Shao Dian Qing Nü, whose achievements are great and whose labors have been hard, we specially confer upon her the title of Imperial Tutor..."

"Wait, what..."

Verdant Green Maiden froze. She hadn't expected Ying Zheng to make her Imperial Tutor in front of so many people. Wouldn't that make her famous? Such a thing was sure to be written into the history books. Did she still want a peaceful life in the future or not?

When the nobles of the Six Kingdoms below heard this, they stared at Verdant Green Maiden in utter disbelief.

In their eyes, Verdant Green Maiden had already become a Great Demon aiding a tyrant!

After the ceremony ended, Verdant Green Maiden hurried toward the Jade Maiden Shrine. Ying Zheng and Afang chased after her, calling out several times, but she ignored them. Seeing this, Ying Zheng shouted again, "Master! How about I kneel and beg your forgiveness?"

At this, Afang hastily said, "No, no, Afang should be the one to kneel..."

As the two argued, Verdant Green Maiden turned around. Arms crossed over her chest, she watched them with an expression that said she was enjoying the show.

"Go on, then. Kneel. Why did you stop?"

At her teasing question, Afang and Ying Zheng exchanged glances, both looking awkward.

Ying Zheng cleared his throat and said to Verdant Green Maiden, "Master! Do you think I was wrong to appoint you Imperial Tutor? I believe you deserve the title!"

"I just don't want the hassle! Now that you've issued that decree, who knows how many people will dig into the identity of the First Emperor's Imperial Tutor? If they find out it's me, that'll be a real pain!"

Verdant Green Maiden sighed and waved her hand. "Forget it, forget it. I'm not angry with you. I'm a little sleepy. I'm going to rest."

Seeing that Verdant Green Maiden wasn't angry, Ying Zheng looked delighted. But when he heard her say she was sleepy, he grew nervous again.

"Master, you..."

Verdant Green Maiden reassured Ying Zheng. "Don't worry. I'm just sleepy. The ceremony went on so long—when have you ever seen me follow so many rules?"

That was true. Snake Girl had never been one to let rules tie her down.

Still, Ying Zheng remained worried about Verdant Green Maiden's health. After ascending to the throne as Emperor, he began searching far and wide for Daoist alchemists. Even the Yin Yang Family Members whom King Xiaowen had once driven away could be brought back if they were useful.

The number of alchemists in Qin Palace gradually grew.

After Verdant Green Maiden gave Ying Zheng a scolding, he ordered Afang to oversee the construction of palaces and walls north of Mount Li.

He put the alchemists, the nobles of the Six Kingdoms, and everyone else to work on the project. The world knew nothing of Verdant Green Maiden's presence there, and simply called it Afang Palace, after Afang, who oversaw its construction!

Verdant Green Maiden was going through memorials from all directions when her eyelid began twitching wildly. She snatched up a bamboo slip and flung it at Ying Zheng.

"You brat! You're showing no regard for the people's labor. Is this what I taught you?"

Ying Zheng dodged the bamboo slip and argued, "Master, please calm down! The Prime Minister has already established a Household Registration. I requisition Civilian Labor according to those records, and I know the limits of what the people can bear. We also have laws to ensure they can live. Nothing will happen."

The Qin system, established under Lord Shang, allowed Qin's ruler to know exactly how much Civilian Labor and how many resources the state could draw upon. That was one reason Great Qin could win so many wars against other states.

The King of Qin knew exactly where his country's limits lay!

"What if the people below you pay lip service and disobey in practice?"

Verdant Green Maiden countered. Ying Zheng's expression immediately turned cold. "Then kill them!"

The murderous intent in that instant made even Verdant Green Maiden look at him askance. She fell silent for a moment, rubbed her brow, then sighed and waved her hand. "Ah... Who can blame you? You're the Emperor. Remember, too much of a good thing becomes harmful. The realm has only just been pacified. Qin's system needs to change!"

Seeing that Verdant Green Maiden seemed a little tired, Ying Zheng nodded. "I've already sent Li Si to discuss it."

After she returned to the Jade Maiden Shrine, Ying Zheng summoned Xu Fu.

"Xu Fu! How is the task I gave you coming along?"

Xu Fu knelt on the ground and nodded hastily. "Your Majesty, I've found traces of the Immortal Mountain. Your Majesty need only prepare a fleet, boys and girls, and gold and silver! I'm willing to lead the fleet to visit the Immortal Mountain and seek Immortal Medicine for Your Majesty!"

Ying Zheng fixed his eyes on him. "You know the consequences of deceiving me."

"Of course I do!"

Xu Fu kowtowed and said in a low voice, "Every word I've spoken is true!"

Whether it was true or not wasn't for Xu Fu to decide.

Ying Zheng knew perfectly well that most of what he said was probably false. But even a one-in-ten-thousand chance was worth trying.

Great Qin had swallowed up the realm, but it was desperately short of officials. The stability of the former Six States of Shandong depended largely on the awe inspired by Ying Zheng himself, which kept the people there from daring to rebel.

Just then, unrest broke out in the lands of the Six States of Shandong. With Fusu stationed in Xianyang, Ying Zheng directly ordered an Eastern Tour!

Verdant Green Maiden went along too.

On the shore of the East Sea, Ying Zheng stayed for many days. At last, guided by Xu Fu, he saw the Immortal Mountain, faint and fleeting above the sea.

"It's nothing but a mirage..."

Verdant Green Maiden murmured. Xu Fu's expression shifted.

Ying Zheng turned to look at her and asked, "Master, what did you just say?"

Verdant Green Maiden glanced at Ying Zheng. "You believe it's real?"