After stepping outside, the First Emperor, his mind still throbbing faintly with pain, recalled his questions from that night and could not help but feel a chill at the audacity of those words.
He had learned of ancient secrets and discovered that the supreme Haotian Shangdi was actually a disciple of an even greater power—Dao Ancestor Hongjun. Since Haotian Shangdi could secretly manipulate the Shang dynasty for the Fengshen Bang, who was to say the Qin dynasty might not…
And then there was King Zhou of Shang. The Divine Maiden had spoken of him with such reverence, and even Heaven and Earth recognized him as the last Human Emperor—such an extraordinary honor…
The First Emperor’s eyes darkened. "Chief of the Palace Guard…"
The Chief of the Palace Guard served as the First Emperor’s chief attendant and head of the inner court’s security, responsible for his personal safety. At the emperor’s summons, he emerged from the shadows. "Your servant is here."
"Investigate thoroughly whether any descendants of King Zhou of Shang still exist. If so, eliminate them."
There could only be one Human Emperor—him. A dynasty from seven hundred years ago should have long since turned to dust.
"As you command." The Chief of the Palace Guard accepted the order and withdrew.
While the Chief showed no sign of doubt, the guards he dispatched to carry out the investigation could not help but murmur among themselves. "Why is His Majesty suddenly investigating the descendants of King Zhou of Shang? I heard he was a tyrant from over seven hundred years ago. Could there still be descendants? Could this be related to immortality…"
The Chief of the Palace Guard cut them off sternly. "Do you know why I am the Chief of the Palace Guard, and you are merely guards?"
The guards shook their heads in unison.
The Chief sneered. "Because I never question the meaning behind His Majesty’s orders, and I never speak out of turn."
When Qing Ni woke up, she found herself slumped over a low table, unsure how long she had been asleep.
What was going on? Had she opened her eyes the wrong way today? After drinking, had Qin Shi Huang just left her here like this?
"Tap, tap, tap—"
A sound like a woodpecker tapping on wood reached Qing Ni’s ears. She looked up to see the snow weasel, its face stern, clutching a pair of chopsticks it had procured from who knows where, tapping them rhythmically against the table.
"Awake?" The System tossed the chopsticks aside and squeezed all four paws onto the cap of the Erguotou bottle. Perched high, it tried to glare at her with its round, moist eyes. "So you finally decided to wake up!"
Qing Ni scooped the snow weasel into her arms, gently stroking its fur. "What’s wrong, what’s wrong? Why are you so explosive first thing in the morning? Did I say something I shouldn’t have while drunk?"
…If she had, it probably wasn’t anything too serious. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be lying here but thrown into a dungeon instead. Qing Ni lowered her eyelids halfway, and after a moment of thought, she felt not the slightest bit worried. She scratched the snow weasel under its chin. "Come on, tell me, what did I do? Maybe there’s still a way to fix it?"
The snow weasel narrowed its round eyes, purring contentedly from the scratching. After a couple of purrs, it realized something was off and tilted its head, putting on a show of bravado. "Be serious! I’m talking about important matters here. Don’t try to win me over with these little tricks!"
Qing Ni looked down at the snow weasel’s chin, which she could easily reach with just a slight nudge, and understood: So this is what they call playing hard to get! Truly befitting the Favored Concubine System—it could even demonstrate firsthand!
"Alright, tell me. I’m listening."
"Do you remember what you said after you got drunk?"
"No, I don’t. I didn’t give anything away, did I?"
"No, not only were you not exposed, you actually gilded your own reputation, solidifying Xuan Nu of the Nine Heavens as Hongjun Dao Ancestor's personal disciple and the next Dao Ancestor."
Qing Ni was stunned. "I was that amazing? Even drunk, I could still spout nonsense."
The System wholeheartedly agreed. "I was also shocked. You could still boast so much even when drunk. But what's the use of boasting? You should have slept with Qin Shi Huang! He personally propositioned you, and you refused?!"
Qing Ni coughed.
Sleeping was out of the question. She could only muddle through as the State Preceptor.
So she changed the subject. "I probably said more than that, right? Otherwise, your reaction wouldn't have been so strong." As she spoke, she reached out her finger to scratch its chin.
The System was corrupted by the sugar-coated attack, rolling over decadently. "My belly too! Hmm… you also accepted a piece of jade from Qin Shi Huang as tuition, promising to teach him about Cultivation."
Qing Ni blurted out, "Isn't that fraud?!" Where would she know anything about Cultivation? Immortality she could barely manage—the System Shop had life-extending pills.
"Anyway, you already conned your way into being State Preceptor."
"True. Steal a hook and you're executed; steal a kingdom and you're made a lord. I've already stolen a position equal to the First Emperor of Qin, so what's one more piece of jade?" Qing Ni instantly felt reassured. "What else? Anything more?"
The System then told her about how, before passing out, she remembered to activate the Palace Intrigue Self-Protection System. Qing Ni's tail nearly wagged off. "See? I'm just that cautious. Even drunk, I didn't forget to protect myself."
"Yeah, Yiyi is so cautious, so cautious that even the nonsense you spouted while talking to the First Emperor could be logically justified."
"What did I justify?"
Qing Ni asked happily, having completely let her guard down. The System chuckled sinisterly—it hadn't endured all this for nothing, saving the most explosive news for last.
The snow weasel rolled over, presenting its back to Qing Ni. "You advised the First Emperor to castrate himself—ow—"
The girl's hand trembled, pulling out a large clump of white fur.
After hearing the whole story from the System, Qing Ni's mind was filled with "To master this art, one must first castrate oneself!"
Holy shit! Your Majesty, I wanted to change you and change Qin, but not in this direction!!
Put down the knife, ahhhhhh!
Qing Ni immediately opened the door and walked out. Through the System search, she knew there were hidden guards in this courtyard. They wouldn't dare to spy on her daily life, just dutifully acting as guards. If any petty thieves broke in, there would be no need for the Divine Maiden to lower herself to deal with them.
So, Qing Ni glanced at the friendly green dots on the map and turned her face in a certain direction. "Please take me to see His Majesty."
The hidden guard's expression instantly turned grim. A moment later, it shifted to a bitter smile.
Of course, how could the Divine Maiden not see through their hiding places? She simply hadn't bothered to expose them before.
The hidden guard obediently stepped out, bowing his head with lowered eyes. "State Preceptor, please follow me."
The temporary residence was a palace built under the First Emperor's orders. Qing Ni subtly observed along the way—every brick and stone carried the bold, grand style of the Qin people, with no trace of delicate, graceful details.
…Who knows if the First Emperor's harem buildings also used the same style.
Qing Ni pondered her latest Quest: how to reasonably and while maintaining the Divine Maiden's prestige, propose to the First Emperor that she move into his harem. As she pondered, she arrived before the First Emperor's bedchamber.
"Your Majesty has given prior instructions that the State Preceptor may go anywhere. If you wish to seek him, you may simply push the door open and enter."
After speaking, the hidden guard retreated into the shadows. Qing Ni did not stand on ceremony and strode directly into the palace.
Outwardly, she walked in unhurriedly, but inwardly she was wailing: Your Majesty! Stay calm, you must wait for me! If you castrate yourself, I’ll be condemned through the ages!!
The System said coolly, "Too late. After a whole night, even a castrated pig’s wound would have scabbed over."
Qing Ni’s gaze drifted. "He’s still a man, after all. Surely… he’d hesitate a bit?"
The System stated firmly, "But he is Qin Shi Huang! His will is resolute, capable of what ordinary men cannot achieve!"
"…" This is not the time for such flattery!
A servant had already reported her arrival to the First Emperor. Unafraid of seeing something she shouldn’t, Qing Ni pushed open the door and entered the inner chamber.
—Since the First Emperor had granted her this privilege, why not use it?
As the door swung open, a beam of white light expanded through the crack, illuminating the inner chamber in Qing Ni’s vision. The First Emperor knelt behind a low table, his pupils reflecting the dagger in his hand. The cold blade was soaked with warm, crimson blood.
Qing Ni watched as the blood flowed down the blade, forming a red line that dripped onto the table, blooming like a terrifying blood flower.
Her mind buzzed, nearly causing her to faint. "Your Majesty, you…" Have you already done it?!
Your resolve is truly too formidable.
The System began browsing the Mall, muttering, "You really shouldn’t drink anymore. The consequences are too severe. You should be glad my core isn’t a live-streaming system, or you’d be torn apart by fans of the First Emperor. Don’t panic, our Favored Concubine System has everything. How could the man of a favored concubine be lacking? Let me find a tool to reattach it! I remember there is one…"
At the same moment, the First Emperor spoke with utter calm: "Zheng has just slain a deer. Would the Master care to try some venison?"
Qing Ni: "…A deer?"
The snow weasel blurted out: "You didn’t castrate yourself?"
The First Emperor was taken aback, then burst into laughter. "So the Master and the Divine Beast rushed here out of concern for this."
"Indeed. What I said last night was incomplete. Fearing Your Majesty might harm yourself, I momentarily forgot to divine, leading to this misunderstanding."
The First Emperor would never truly see this as a joke. Even Gong Gong, in a fit of emotion, had rammed into Mount Buzhou. That the Divine Maiden was not entirely free from mortal emotions seemed perfectly normal to him.
"The Master’s concern led to confusion." The First Emperor turned slightly, gesturing an invitation. "Would you care to sit for a while?"
Qing Ni gave a slight nod and was about to walk over when a eunuch entered. He bowed to her and the First Emperor, then addressed the emperor: "Your Majesty, Marquis Tongwu requests an audience."
The First Emperor instructed the eunuch, "Attend to the State Preceptor. Do not neglect her." He handed over the dagger for cleaning, then rose to leave.
The First Emperor, who had been exceedingly gentle with the Divine Maiden, now wore a different face—one of inherent coldness and the aloofness of long-held authority. He addressed Wang Ben: "Well?"
Wang Ben replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, all the disrespectful Confucian scholars have been buried alive."