Chapter 133 My Charming Ancestor 7
Zhou Jue bowed slightly; this time, she did not refuse.
"Since Your Majesty has this intention, Zhou Jue is willing to take on the responsibility."
She didn't refer to herself as "I," nor did she use any mysterious code name; instead, she used her real name.
This is a signal.
I accept your appointment and am willing to work with you as a "person".
“However,” she added, raising her head to meet Ying Zheng’s gaze.
"I am a person outside the secular world and do not like to be entangled in worldly affairs. When the Shennong Bureau is on the right track and the methods of planting taro and sweet potato have spread throughout the world, I will resign from this position and travel around the world."
She had to be upfront about the unpleasant situation, since she was leaving in 60 days.
Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng was not displeased at all; instead, his smile deepened.
He neither sought official positions nor personal gain; once his task was accomplished, he would simply leave without a trace.
This is more like a true hermit.
"Granted." He waved his sleeve decisively.
"As long as the immortal can lay the foundation for a world free from hunger for all generations for me and for the Great Qin, then the world will be vast and boundless, and I will not hold him back."
A thrilling test and tug-of-war has finally come to an end.
The two men, ruler and minister (colleagues), exchanged a knowing smile, everything understood without a word.
"Let's go down the mountain!"
At Ying Zheng's command, he turned and led the way, striding down the mountain.
Zhou Jue followed beside him, half a step behind.
The densely packed civil and military officials and Qin warriors automatically parted to the sides like a tide, bowing their heads respectfully to make way for them to descend the mountain.
Just as Zhou Jue's foot stepped down the last step and landed on solid, flat ground, the system notification sounded.
[Ding! Side Quest 1 (Turning the Tide) is complete!]
[Task Evaluation: Perfect. The host not only helped Qin Shi Huang successfully complete the Fengshan ceremony and dispel rumors, but also greatly enhanced Qin Shi Huang's prestige and the cohesion of the Qin Empire through "miracles" and "divine objects."]
[Task rewards are being distributed...]
[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained a special item: Upgrade Ticket x1]
[Note: Can upgrade any item]
This reward brought Zhou Jue a surge of joy.
It can upgrade any item without any restrictions!
Could we upgrade the system? Or upgrade the Starry Sky Box?
Zhou Jue immediately thought of his two key advantages.
"Brother Tongzi, is there a cooldown period after using this upgrade ticket?"
She can't upgrade the space, because the space will be unusable for a few days. All her belongings are in the Starry Sky Box!
That's right! She decided to upgrade the Starry Sky Box; she had a feeling that a big surprise would follow!
[For some hosts, the cooldown time varies depending on the item; the higher the level of the item, the longer the cooldown time.]
......
At the foot of the mountain, carriages and horses had already been prepared.
Ying Zheng's carriage was naturally an extremely luxurious six-horse chariot, as spacious as a moving palace.
Zhou Jue's carriage, however, was a four-horse carriage, which, while not up to the standards of an emperor, was still far superior to those of a subject.
"Immortal, please." Ying Zheng personally escorted Zhou Jue to the carriage.
"Your Majesty, please." Zhou Jue returned the greeting.
After the carriage curtains were lowered, cutting off all outside sight, Zhou Jue had the system simulate a concealment talisman to completely block out sound as well.
Then, as if all my bones had been removed, I instantly collapsed into the thickly padded carriage.
"Phew~"
She let out a long breath, feeling that this short half-day had been more tiring than fighting zombies for three days and three nights straight.
"Brother Tongzi," she cried weakly in her mind, "I feel like half of my brain cells are dead."
[Host, you've worked hard. According to backend data, your average heart rate during your conversation with the target 'Ying Zheng' reached 145 beats per minute, indicating a state of high-intensity mental stress.] The system's voice sounded at the opportune moment.
"Nonsense, that's the First Emperor!" Zhou Jue rolled his eyes. "I almost lost my composure and knelt down to ask for his autograph!"
She rubbed her face, which was stiff from smiling.
Honestly, she wanted to be a big fangirl and give a huge shout-out to her ancestors.
Instead of being like this now, disguised as a "celestial being," constantly being tested and on guard by him.
She was even planning that once they got to know each other well, she would encourage the ancestor to wipe out those disobedient neighbors and, while she was at it, unify the world!
With the identity of an "immortal," what immortal would worry about such things!
Since the auspicious signs for the Fengshan ceremony have already been fulfilled, why not find an opportunity to confront him privately?
[Emotional modeling and risk assessment are underway...]
According to data analysis, fully revealing one's identity to the target 'Ying Zheng' would cause all the trust currently established by the host to collapse instantly.
[Recommendation: Maintain the current 'immortal' character design. This character design has clear goals, consistent behavioral logic, best fits the target character's cognitive model, and is most conducive to advancing the main quest.]
[Risk mitigation plan: Judging from the comparison of combat strength, the host possesses cultivation abilities and high-tech weaponry, making it impossible for the target to cause you any substantial harm. If you insist on being honest, the worst outcome will simply be rebuilding trust.]
The system provides a fallback solution.
The implication is: You can confess if you want, you won't die anyway.
Zhou Jue: ...
With a thought, Zhou Jue's consciousness sank into the Starry Secret Box space.
Inside the space, the old tree was no longer the bare sapling it once was.
Nourished by the "spiritual spring," it has grown into a large tree with lush branches and leaves, reaching a height of three or four meters.
"Xiao Jue, why do you look so worried?" The old tree's consciousness transmitted over, carrying a hint of concern.
Zhou Jue told Lao Shu about his troubles.
Old Tree burst out laughing after hearing this.
"Xiao Jue, what do you think someone in this era would be called if they could travel through time, create things out of thin air, and turn lead into gold (growing potatoes)?"
Zhou Jue was stunned: "A deity?"
"Then that settles it?" A hint of a smile appeared in the old tree's mind: "You are a 'deity' to begin with, so how can you say you're deceiving me?"
"Your identity is real."
"Your abilities are real too."
"You just didn't tell him that you, this 'deity,' are not the immortal, otherworldly beings he knows, but rather people from two thousand years in the future."
“You don’t have to tell the whole story. You can choose to… partially confess.”
"Half-confession?"
“That’s right,” the old tree explained. “You can maintain your immortal identity ‘from the river of time,’ which is the best protective shell.”
"But you can tell him that you have witnessed what will happen a thousand years from now. If he is interested, you can tell him about it."
"In this way, you can have a more sincere conversation with him while retaining enough mystery and awe."
“You are no longer just a ‘fairy,’ but a ‘prophet’ who can bring him the future.”
Zhou Jue's eyes lit up instantly.
...
at the same time.
Inside another, larger, six-horse carriage.
Ying Zheng sat alone at his desk.
He wasn't reading books or reviewing memorials; he simply closed his eyes and rhythmically tapped his fingers on his knees.
He was reviewing the situation.
From that sudden downpour to the clearing skies and the cranes taking flight.
From the sudden arrival of the immortals to the three questions and answers on the altar.
From the unconventional sweet potato to the final appointment as "Left and Right Assistant Ministers".
Every detail, every word, every expression was repeatedly replayed, dissected, and analyzed in his mind.
After a long while, he opened his eyes, which were clear and bright.
"Zhao Gao."
"Your subject is here," came Zhao Gao's respectful reply from outside the carriage.
"The story goes that Li Si and Xu Fu were involved."
"promise."
Soon, Chancellor Li Si and Xu Fu boarded the emperor's carriage and respectfully bowed, saying, "Your Majesty."
"Sit down." Ying Zheng pointed to the soft cushion opposite him.
The two sat down cautiously, their hearts pounding with trepidation.
Ying Zheng didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "Xu Sheng, what do you think of what happened at the summit of Mount Tai today, and that... immortal?"
The moment the immortal appeared, Xu Fu immediately lowered his profile and observed carefully. After all, the immortal was fake, so his first reaction was that the other party was also fake, just with more sophisticated methods.
But when he saw that the other person had actually ripened the taro, he believed that the other person was a true immortal!
After returning from the mountain, he kept thinking about whether to seek refuge with the immortals and serve them, or to run away.
But all the land under heaven belongs to the emperor; where could he go? Could he possibly flee overseas?
"Your Majesty, I believe that the other party is a true immortal. Whether it is the crane, the ability to stand in mid-air, or the ability to make the taro mature quickly, these are all extraordinary methods."
"Prime Minister, what do you think?" The First Emperor posed the same question to Li Si again.
Li Si pondered for a moment and gave an extremely brief yet comprehensive answer.
"Your Majesty, I believe that regardless of whether it is true or false, whether it will bring misfortune or fortune to our Great Qin remains to be seen."
"However, if the 'divine object' they offer can truly produce a hundred bushels of grain per mu, it will bring immense benefits to the country and the people. With just this object, Your Majesty can usher in an era of peace for ten thousand generations."
"As for this person... his origins are unknown, and his supernatural abilities are unpredictable. We should use him, but we should also be wary of him."
After hearing Li Si's words, Ying Zheng's face remained expressionless.
He simply picked up a cup of tea from the table and gently blew on it.
Just when Li Si thought His Majesty was about to get angry, Ying Zheng suddenly smiled.
"What the Prime Minister said is very wise."
“However…” he put down his teacup and said slowly.
"Trust those you employ, and do not employ those you do not trust."
"I am willing to trust her this once."
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