Chapter 140 Extortion
Regarding the matter of Meng Tian and Meng Yi recognizing each other, the three, the emperor and his minister, decided to leave it to fate.
After all, Meng Yi is now Zhao Ping'an, with parents, and doesn't know his own background. Even an upright official can't settle family disputes, so it's best not to interfere and let them resolve it themselves.
Of course, no matter how legitimate the reasons, they cannot conceal Gao Yao and Xiang Shaolong's intention to watch the show.
Ying Zheng considered himself a conscientious ruler, so he decided to bring Meng Tian with him whenever he visited the Imperial Preceptor's residence, hoping that his General Meng would recognize his younger brother after several meetings.
Back in the inner hall, the three sat facing each other.
Xiang Shaolong frowned and asked, "There were only a few dozen people in today's martial arts test, and three of them have already shown unusual phenomena. The spiritual energy has just recovered; will this kind of situation continue to occur frequently?"
Gao Yao raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you already have the answer in your heart when you asked this question?"
Ying Zheng's deep gaze turned northward, as if piercing through the palace walls and reaching the vast grasslands.
Xiang Shaolong also fell silent. The tacit understanding cultivated over twenty years allowed him to instantly understand Ying Zheng's thoughts, "The Xiongnu..."
Compared to the solemnity of the two men, Gao Yao appeared remarkably relaxed, a slight smile playing on his lips as he pulled out a brand-new booklet. "Your Majesty, do you have any plans to promote this improved method of stargazing?"
Ying Zheng picked up the booklet, flipped through a couple of pages, raised an eyebrow slightly, and handed it to the curious Xiang Shaolong beside him. "Did the Imperial Advisor prepare this in advance?"
While claiming to be an improvement, it actually uses some ambiguous terms, obscuring the core of the technique—which clearly connects the observation of the "Great Qin" star with the fate of the individual and the destiny of the Great Qin state.
If Xiang Shaolong had seen this manual for the first time, he would have believed it to be about the Purple Star and would have been convinced of it.
"The North is also Your Majesty's domain. With the hearts of the people turned to you, it is only right that you help the Great Qin Dynasty last for thousands of years."
Originally, Xiang Shaolong only had suspicions, but now that Gao Yao said it, he was completely certain of his guess. "Playing this big?"
Gao Yao looked at him with a half-smile: "You don't agree?"
Xiang Shaolong naturally agreed to reveal the method of star observation to the Xiongnu, allowing them to contribute to the fate of the Qin Dynasty without any precautions!
"How could I disagree? I must say, I finally understand why you call this the art of stargazing. It's top-notch at deceiving people..." Xiang Shaolong gave a thumbs up, thinking about how to create some more trouble for the Xiongnu.
The more complicated the process of obtaining it, the more the Xiongnu will trust it. The more they trust it, the more eager they will be to practice it. The outcome of the practice will be beyond their control. It is simply a brilliant strategy to subdue the enemy without fighting.
He could even foresee that even if the Xiongnu later discovered the flaws in the cultivation method, who would be willing to give up the allure of immortality?
"By the way, is this phenomenon only seen in humans, or can it also occur in animals?"
Xiang Shaolong thought of the tiger-shaped phantom that appeared behind Zhao Ping'an and couldn't help but ask.
Gao Yao slowly said, "All things have a spirit, and the restoration of spiritual energy does not only benefit humans."
Seeing Ying Zheng and Xiang Shaolong deep in thought, Gao Yao continued to explain: "Whether it is a bird soaring in the sky, a giant whale diving in the deep sea, or a beast running in the mountains and forests, all can be nourished by spiritual energy and become beneficiaries of this transformation of heaven and earth."
Humans, with the awakening of their intelligence, are the first to perceive and utilize spiritual energy, but other living beings also possess unique talents and instincts. Once awakened by spiritual energy, the extraordinary abilities they display may not be inferior to those of humans.
Beasts are much harder to control than humans.
After listening to his account, Ying Zheng's eyes flickered. He thought of the Qilin that had been eating, drinking, and playing in his bedchamber and asked, "Is it possible to tame a strange beast?"
Gao Yao smiled slightly, "But it's worth a try."
Hearing this, Ying Zheng felt more confident and said loudly, "Then let's build a truly fierce and powerful army for Great Qin!"
...
Xiang Shaolong still needed to discuss the follow-up issues of the martial arts test with Ying Zheng, but Gao Yao wasn't interested in listening and left early.
Not long after he left, a small black Qilin, dragging its round little belly, strolled out.
"Sixth...Sixth Brother, have you gained weight?"
Having not seen it for a long time, Xiang Shaolong was somewhat dazed when he suddenly saw the little Qilin appear. Was this chubby little guy still the same domineering and arrogant little Qilin from before?
Xiao Liu sucked in his stomach hard; he hadn't expected that getting new skin would bring the problem of gaining weight.
Ying Zheng skillfully placed him on the desk, pushed a plate of pastries in front of him, and frowned as he looked at Xiang Shaolong: "The Qilin is a divine beast. Only these mundane things in Xianyang Palace can catch the Qilin's eye. It's fine to use more."
Xiang Shaolong was shocked and speechless. "I've known you for over twenty years, and only now do I realize that you are this kind of First Emperor?"
Looking at the little Qilin happily munching on its pastries, and noticing its skin color, Xiang Shaolong suddenly realized. A divine beast with black skin—the buffs are stacked up to the max! No wonder His Majesty likes it.
Watching the Qilin devour a plate of pastries in just a few bites, Xiang Shaolong silently wondered to himself, "Is this a Qilin or a Taotie? It's eating way too fast!"
After enjoying the delicious food, Xiao Liu casually dropped a bombshell: "I'm leaving."
"But is there any place in Xianyang Palace that is not comfortable to live in?" Ying Zheng asked, frowning.
Xiao Liu shook his head, "Xianyang Palace is great..." He was living too comfortably, so comfortably that he had been slacking off for a long time.
"But I'm going to find the Emperor."
"This..." Xiang Shaolong was somewhat surprised and doubtful. Could it be that Gao Yao's memories had been restored?
Before he could even ask, he heard the little Qilin say, "I just overheard your conversation. The spiritual energy has been restored, and mythical beasts can appear again. So I can pretend to be a mythical beast and try to scam the Emperor so he can take care of me."
Xiang Shaolong's lips twitched. As expected of a mythical beast that had lived in the modern world, it even knew how to stage an accident.
But considering Gao Yao's intelligence, and looking at the round and chubby Qilin, Xiang Shaolong hesitated: "Are you sure you can do this?"
He was really worried that Little Qilin would be exposed on the spot.
"Watch me—" Xiao Liu puffed out his chest confidently.
...
"oops--"
The Black Ice Guard received news that traces of a strange beast had appeared in the suburbs of Xianyang.
Because it was the first time this had been discovered, Xiang Shaolong personally led the team, and also took Gao Yao, who seemed to be fine, with him to go out of the city to investigate.
Then, in the grove, Xiang Shaolong stared in disbelief as the little Qilin, as if drunk, bumped into Gao Yao's leg, then hugged his leg and spoke in human language.
"You bumped into me, so you're responsible for taking care of me."
“Alright.” Gao Yao didn’t object at all and hugged the little Qilin. “I happen to have a cat named Xiao Wu, so you can be called Xiao Liu.”
"Okay, thank you, Master—"
Is this Little Qilin's tactic of extorting money? Is it really that blatant?
Xiang Shaolong looked at Gao Yao speechlessly: "You actually believe that?"
Gao Yao smirked: "I'm the Imperial Advisor, isn't it perfectly normal for a Qilin to come to me?"
Xiang Shaolong didn't know whether to call him gullible or confident. Of course, he also felt a strange sense of collapse and guilt. Why did he feel more like Gao Yao had dismantled the stage and was no longer going to act with him?
So, is he still the same Lao Gao? Has he really not reverted to his true form? Was this whole thing just a ploy to extort him?
But he really didn't dare to ask!
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