Chapter 38 The dome of the main hall of Xianyang Palace had just been erected…

As soon as the dome of the main hall of Xianyang Palace darkened, countless bronze lamps held up blazing candlelight, illuminating the vast space as bright as day.

Seeing Lin Fengzhi's gaze linger on the bronze lamp for a moment, the palace maid serving her whispered in her ear, "Divine Messenger, this lamp is carved from jade. The lamp base is carved with coiled dragon patterns, and the lamp posts are openwork and decorated with coiled dragon patterns. The lamp dish can hold five oil lamps. Hence it is called the Jade Five-Branched Lamp. This lamp is truly a masterpiece of craftsmanship, as you can see."

Lin Fengzhi looked in the direction of his finger and saw that the light shone through the hollowed-out coiled dragon patterns on the palace walls, making them look like lively dragons, adding a touch of mystery and majesty to the palace.

Even more miraculously, when the lights are lit, the scales on the coiled dragon seem to dance, creating a dazzling light and shadow effect that fills the room like a constellation of stars.

Lin Fengzhi nodded slightly, amazed by the wealth at the pinnacle of power in the Great Qin Dynasty, and also impressed by the creativity of the craftsmen.

This appears to utilize the principles of aerodynamics.

Perhaps the five-branched jade lamp was very difficult to make. Looking around the hall, it seems that only a few important officials in the front row used five-branched jade lamps.

It seems that even in a relatively backward era, the top group of people still enjoyed life, as can be seen from the lighting fixtures alone.

The First Emperor sat on his throne atop the Danbi steps, dressed in black robes and crimson skirts, his crown tassels hanging low, obscuring his unfathomable eyes and leaving only an unshakeable silhouette like a black rock.

The air was filled with the smoky aroma of agarwood, the charred scent of roasted oil, the cold metallic smell of bronze vessels, and the breaths of countless officials, all blending into a unique, thick scent belonging to the core of imperial power.

On the lacquered table before the First Emperor, the dishes were exquisite yet not piled up. Sliced ​​into paper-thin, snow-white fish fillets were served on a jade plate, next to plum sauce and mustard sauce; several pieces of roasted, golden-brown, and juicy deer ribs were placed on a bronze sacrificial table; a steaming bowl of pheasant soup emitted an enticing aroma; and there was also a bowl of golden millet porridge.

He rarely touched his chopsticks, occasionally picking up a bronze goblet to sip a mouthful of millet wine, his movements precise and restrained, as if eating was part of the emperor's majesty.

Lin Fengzhi sat to his side and below, a position clearly higher than all the imperial family members and high-ranking officials.

She silently speculated that the First Emperor ate so little, perhaps because after eating stir-fried dishes, he felt as if nothing else mattered, or perhaps it was because of her instructions.

Eat less oily and hard-to-digest foods for dinner.

Lin Fengzhi had given Ying Zheng her painting of the Five Animal Frolics for some time now, and she was genuinely curious about what the First Emperor would look like when performing it. She even considered secretly painting it.

But she never bumped into it. She also subtly inquired whether the First Emperor had ever performed the "Five Animal Frolics," to which Ying Zheng only replied that he had.

As for when it will be done, that's top secret.

What a pity.

Lin Fengzhi silently lowered her head; her table was also laden with a dazzling array of food. Perhaps considering her origins in the State of Chu, the person who hosted the banquet had added several dishes with Chu flavor.

Because she was the messenger of the Black Bird God, a small, exquisitely carved Black Bird with outstretched wings, adorned with gold foil, appeared on the table. It was a silent symbol of reverence.

She picked up a delicate silver skewer and gently placed it on the edge of the crystalline black bird's wing. The tip of the skewer slid very slowly along the curve of the wing, feeling the suppleness and coolness of the mixture of agar and peach.

She put it in her mouth.

The sweet and rich flavor spreads more fully on the tip of the tongue.

She didn't stop there; she raised her hand, intending to cut a piece of deer spine meat to eat.

The pieces of deer spine meat were red and white, with a crispy ochre crust on the surface, the fat sizzling and steaming, as if the wildness captured from the forest had been bound in the dish, and the aroma of caramelization went straight into the nostrils.

She had barely expressed her desire for roasted venison, and before she even touched the meat, a perceptive palace servant behind her swiftly cut off a piece of venison for her. The servant picked up a jade dagger, carefully sliced ​​off a piece, and the meat juices instantly seeped out, staining the jade dagger amber.

"Divine messenger, please use it." The palace servant lowered his head and looked extremely respectful. He had been specially chosen because his appearance was above average and he was very perceptive and quick-witted.

Even when the palace servants were clearing away the tableware, they kept a close eye on the divine messenger's movements, afraid that she would have to do it herself, and wishing they could feed her the food.

When you bite into deer spine meat, the outer skin is crispy, while the inside is tender and smooth like fat.

Before Lin Fengzhi could even savor the taste, a palace maid gently used silver chopsticks to part the thick sauce between the plates and cups, picked up a small, trembling piece of gelatinous substance, and placed it to her lips.

Lin Fengzhi immediately broke out in a cold sweat, subconsciously turned her head away, and quickly said, "I can do it myself."

The palace servant's long eyelashes fell thickly, casting a small shadow under his eyes. He didn't say anything more. His gaze was lowered, and his expression dimmed.

Logically speaking, anyone who sees such a beautiful woman looking so heartbroken would want to offer some words of comfort.

Lin Fengzhi, oblivious to romance, turned around and started eating.

Only after finishing did they remember to ask, "What did you just eat?"

She savored the memory of the sticky, gelatinous texture that had instantly enveloped her tongue, followed by an explosion of intense sourness and spiciness in her mouth. She thought about it and realized she had never tasted anything like it in her past life.

The palace servant answered obediently, "Divine messenger, it is bear's paw."

Lin Fengzhi inwardly exclaimed, "Ah!" She hadn't eaten it before, as expected. After all, in her time, bears were a Class II protected animal in China; anyone who dared to harm a bear would be facing a "food and lodging package."

The Imperial Censor Feng Quji, an old minister with eyes as sharp as a hawk, keenly caught the divine messenger's delighted eating during the toasting. He breathed a sigh of relief, but remained outwardly calm, continuing his official conversation with Li Si, who sat next to him.

"Prime Minister Li..." Feng Quji raised his cup, but stopped mid-sentence.

He was closest, and the light from the palace lanterns illuminated every weary wrinkle on Li Si's face and every dark spot under his eyes. Feng Quji's heart jolted. Where was the face before him, the same vigorous, awe-inspiring prime minister, second only to the emperor?

He was clearly a 60-year-old man whose spine was about to be crushed by heavy official duties and whose mental strength was exhausted! The "youthful" mask bestowed by power, which was unbearable to look at, shattered like thin ice under the bright lights, revealing the deep haggardness and old age that could not be hidden underneath.

Was Li Si that old before his eastern tour?

Feng Quji was so surprised that he forgot to speak for a moment, only muttering, "You... Prime Minister Li, have you been working too hard lately?"

This soft question, inconspicuous in the noisy banquet, pierced Li Si's carefully maintained composure like a needle. His fingers, gripping the wine cup, tightened almost imperceptibly.

He sighed inwardly. It's alright. So what if I worked a little too much? So what if my colleagues noticed how tired I looked from working overtime? I'll be fine in a while.

"Toiling for the country is a joy in itself." Li Si smiled slightly as he swallowed the bitter wine.

Feng Quji's expression changed, and he immediately became solemn and respectful: "It is a blessing for Great Qin to have such a diligent minister as Prime Minister Li. We should also strive to be like him."

"Let's encourage each other," Li Si said reluctantly.

In the center of the palace, a musical and dance performance entitled "Da Wu" was in full swing. The drums boomed like thunder, the chimes and bells played the clanging of swords and horses, and the strings of the zither played a rapid, rain-like melody.

Dozens of dancers, clad in simplified leather armor and wielding spears and halberds, moved to a powerful rhythm, bringing the battlefield to the heart of the hall. Their movements were fierce and violent, their steps heavy like the beating of drums. The clashing of shields and the whistling of weapons simulated the charge and combat of a battle formation. Muscles bulged, roars were deep, sweat glistened in the candlelight, and the air was filled with the intense atmosphere of simulated gunpowder and bloodshed.

This is a blatant eulogy to the invincible martial prowess of the Qin army. Every strike of the shields seemed to pound on the borders of the empire, and every thrust of the spears symbolized the destruction of the six states.

At the climax, the dancers used shields and their bodies to form a huge pattern symbolizing the nine provinces, and all the weapons pointed towards the throne. The thunderous roar of "Long live the Emperor!" almost lifted the roof off the palace.

The First Emperor's gaze pierced through his crown and fell upon the agile dancers, a subtle smile playing on his lips. His ministers held their breath, awestruck by the overwhelming power and sense of conquest, as if reliving the iron-blooded glory of the empire's rise.

Suddenly, the First Emperor seemed to remember something and said, "Divine Messenger, what if we send Zhang Han to Baiyue? Would that be acceptable?"

It wasn't a whim of his. A few days ago, Lin Fengzhi told him about the various setbacks in the southern expedition against Baiyue, and he immediately began to mentally assess the generals of the Great Qin.

Wang Ben is too old to be sent out to fight against the Baiyue. Meng Tian is stationed in the north to guard the Xiongnu and cannot act rashly. Wang Li is clearly incapable of leading a force independently.

After counting them, it seems there's a gap between the old, middle-aged, and young generals.

He then thought of Zhang Han, whom he had appointed as the Assistant Commander of the Imperial Guards. In the dream of the Black Bird, Zhang Han had transformed the convicts of Mount Li into an effective fighting force in just a few months, defeating several rebel armies. This rapid training capability, if applied to the Baiyue people, might allow them to adapt to the Yue people's guerrilla tactics even more quickly.

Hence this question.

Lin Fengzhi paused for a moment, pondering how Zhang Han's military talent had been discovered by the First Emperor so quickly. After much thought, he concluded it must have been revealed by the Black Bird, much like the discovery of his own death.

She is no longer surprised by many of the changes.

The fact that Liu Jin could appear beside Meng Yi, that the First Emperor could find her in Xiangshan, and that she dreamt of a black bird on the day she traveled through time, can only mean that her time travel was not sudden, but premeditated.

“If Your Majesty thinks it is permissible, then of course it is,” Lin Fengzhi said. She glanced at Zhang Han, who had stepped forward, and added, “The birth of any great general is tempered by mountains of corpses and seas of blood. If he can withstand it, then he is a great general.”

The First Emperor immediately looked at Zhang Han, feeling that this man was loyal, brave, and upright, a rare talent among generals: "And you? What do you think?"

Zhang Han prostrated himself on the ground and agreed: "Your subject is willing to fight for Your Majesty in all directions."

After escorting the Nine Tripods back to Xianyang with Prince Fusu, he feared disappointing the First Emperor, so he diligently studied military texts and consulted with the generals left behind in Xianyang. Gradually, he defeated them one by one. Whether in personal martial prowess or troop deployment, the generals who fought him all said he was born for the battlefield.

He was destined to make a name for himself on the battlefield.

The courtiers were horrified.

With just a few words, the First Emperor arranged for a former civil official to be sent to the Baiyue battlefield. Moreover, this was initiated by the First Emperor himself, so Zhang Han's position in the army must not have been low.

However, despite the turmoil in their hearts, the ministers remained silent.

Only the generals who had fought against Zhang Han understood. The group looked around and chuckled.

Being defeated by the unknown Zhang Han and being defeated by the renowned Zhang Han are two different situations.

They certainly weren't willing to say it.

Lin Fengzhi pretended not to notice the change in the expressions of the officials, thinking that no matter what, the First Emperor would take the blame.

In a sense, the First Emperor was a very good boss.

"Your Majesty, do you remember me saying that the Lishan Imperial Mausoleum is the place where the cosmic mechanism of heaven and earth converges?" Lin Fengzhi said, still thinking about her experience of traveling through time in front of the Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum.

No matter how good the Qin Dynasty was, or how much respect the First Emperor gave her, it was not her home.

The First Emperor nodded slightly: "I am currently having people build a palace for the divine messenger at Mount Li. How about the divine messenger waits a few months until the palace is completed before going?"

"Your Majesty's great kindness in treating us with such a magnificent palace is deeply appreciated." Lin Fengzhi looked at the First Emperor, knowing his weakness, and then said, "However, the workings of the world are ever-changing. While the magnificent palace is beautiful, it is not indispensable."

The First Emperor was already alarmed by the mere mention of "changing in an instant" and immediately agreed to her request to go to Mount Li as soon as possible.

With permission granted, Lin Fengzhi finally turned her attention to the performances in the palace.

The lingering notes of "Da Wu" still echoed between the beams when the music suddenly shifted. The chime stones struck with clear, ethereal sounds, like pearls falling onto a jade plate; the zither and se flowed with melodious tunes; and the sheng and yu imitated the clear chirping of birds. The lamplight seemed to soften as well.

A troupe of dancers, dressed in long, dark blue and emerald green gowns adorned with gold tassels and feather-like patterns, appeared as gracefully as valley fairies. Their movements were light and fluid, their long sleeves billowing like flowing clouds, their waists twisting like willow branches. The rise and fall of their arms mimicked the flapping of wings, the light tapping of their toes resembled the leaping and glancing of birds, and as they spun, their skirts spread out, like divine birds spreading their wings in the wind.

This is the dance of the Black Bird.

The lead dancer, adorned with an exquisite black bird headdress, moved with captivating eyes, gracefully embodying mystery and elegance to the fullest. The ethereal music and pristine dance contrasted sharply with the previous fierce aura, as if proclaiming the mysteries of destiny and the arrival of auspicious omens.

She was unaware that this music and dance piece was newly composed for her.

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The author writes: *The Xianyang Palace... its treasury was filled with gold, jade, and precious jewels beyond description. What was particularly astonishing was a five-branched lamp of green jade, seven feet five inches tall. It was shaped like a coiled dragon, holding the lamp in its mouth. When the lamp was lit, its scales and armor moved, shining brightly like a constellation of stars, filling the room. (From *Miscellaneous Records of the Western Capital*, Volume 3, recording Emperor Gaozu of Han's observations at the Xianyang Palace)

P.S. Reading the comments reminded me of a discussion I had with a friend about who would have the best experience working under Longfengzhu (a famous Chinese idiom referring to a powerful and influential figure).

Ranked by job comfort: Li Shimin > Ying Zheng > Liu Che

PPS will take a break tomorrow.