Time flies like an arrow. In the blink of an eye, sixty years have passed since Ying Zheng and his wicked husband passed away one after the other.
Although Xianyang City remains prosperous, its former glory seems to have gradually faded. The palaces are still magnificent, but the government is no longer as orderly as it once was.
On this day, Emperor Ying Jing, the fourth emperor of Qin, was sitting alone in his study, his brow furrowed as he read through reports from various regions.
"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister requests an audience," a eunuch whispered from outside the door.
Ying Jing rubbed his temples: "Send it."
Prime Minister Li Ping entered the hall, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, the Protectorate of the Western Regions has another urgent report."
Ying Jing's expression tightened: "Another rebellion?"
Li Ping nodded: "Three cities in the distant Western Regions have launched a joint uprising, killing the local prefect and garrison commander. The Protectorate has dispatched troops to suppress the rebellion, but the situation is not optimistic."
"Another rebellion! This is the seventh since last year! Why is this happening?"
Ying Jing slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly: "Back when the Ancestral Dragon Emperor and my grandfather, King Wu, were alive, the world was at peace and the people lived in peace and contentment."
"During the reign of my grandfather Fusu, the government was efficient and the country was more prosperous than during the reign of the First Emperor!"
"The late emperor was a ruler who maintained the status quo; he had no great achievements, but he also made no major mistakes!"
"Now, I have only been on the throne for three years, yet rebellions have been occurring one after another!"
Li Ping sighed and said, "Your Majesty, the late emperors were all exceptionally capable, while you are still young. They are merely blatantly testing the bottom line of the new dynasty."
Ying Jing slumped down, saying, "Even so, I..."
He didn't continue speaking, but the self-reproach in his words was quite evident.
Li Ping comforted him, saying, "Your Majesty need not blame yourself too much. The most urgent task at present is to quell the rebellion and stabilize the border."
Ying Jing pondered for a moment, then resolutely said, "Prepare the carriage; I am going to the ancestral mausoleum."
"Your Majesty, the situation is tense, you—"
"It's alright." Ying Jing waved his hand. "I have something on my mind and must personally go to the Ancestral Dragon Mausoleum and the Martial King's Mausoleum to seek guidance from my ancestors."
Seeing that the emperor had made up his mind, Li Ping dared not persuade him any further and could only accept the order and leave to arrange the carriage.
Before long, Ying Jing, escorted by elite guards, left Xianyang City and headed to the Zulong Mausoleum, a hundred miles away.
The Mausoleum of the First Emperor Qin Shi Huang, also known as the First Emperor Ying Zheng, is a magnificent and imposing structure that covers an area of several square miles.
A huge stone tablet stands in front of the mausoleum, inscribed with the four characters "千秋功业" (Qianqiu Gongye), which were written by Qin Shi Huang himself.
Next to the Zulong Mausoleum is the Wu King Mausoleum, also known as the Mausoleum of Wu King's Wicked Husband.
Although smaller in scale, it is equally magnificent. The four characters "辅国安邦" (Assisting the State and Securing the Nation) on the stone tablet were written by Emperor Qin Shi Huang to commemorate the achievements of the wicked ruler throughout his life.
In accordance with Ying Zheng's last wishes, his tomb was built next to that of his wicked husband, symbolizing that the two worked together in life and stood side by side in death.
The carriage stopped outside the cemetery, and Ying Jing walked into the cemetery alone.
The early summer sun shines through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled light and shadow on the ground.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, as if they were telling the young emperor something.
Ying Jing first arrived at the Ancestral Dragon Mausoleum and respectfully performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony.
"Great-grandfather, your grandson is unfilial and has disappointed you," Ying Jing said softly, his voice filled with remorse. "Since I ascended the throne, the court has been in chaos, and the borders are rife with trouble. Rebellions have broken out in the Western Regions, the Northern Frontier, and the Eastern Sea. I am of limited talent and knowledge, and I do not know what to do..."
As he spoke, his eyes were already filled with tears.
"Great-grandfather, you and King Wu created this vast empire, where the people lived in peace and prosperity, and the country was at peace. Now, this golden age is slipping away little by little in my hands. I have failed your expectations and betrayed the bloodline of our ancestors!"
Ying Jing lay prostrate on the ground, tears streaming down his face. After a long while, he wiped away his tears, got up, and went to the tomb of King Wu.
"Grandpa King Wu!" Ying Jing bowed again. "You and your great-grandfather worked together for a lifetime and laid the foundation for the Qin Dynasty. But your grandson is incompetent and incapable of governing the country, causing your and your great-grandfather's hard work to go to waste."
"I heard from my father that you were proficient in many fields such as agriculture, military strategy, water conservancy, and shipbuilding, and that you were exceptionally wise and courageous. I am an unworthy grandson, lacking both your wisdom and my great-grandfather's strategic brilliance. How can I possibly safeguard this vast empire?"
Ying Jing knelt before King Wu's tomb, weeping bitterly: "Grandpa King Wu, your grandson truly hopes that you and your great-grandfather can return and recreate the glorious era of yesteryear!"
The crying startled several birds perched in the trees, which flapped their wings and flew away into the distance.
Ying Jing knelt before the two tombs for a full hour, pouring out his bitterness and helplessness.
By the time he finally stood up, it was nearly dusk.
Just as he was about to leave, an unusual gust of wind suddenly blew by, making the pines and cypresses in front of the mausoleum rustle.
Ying Jing couldn't help but shiver, feeling as if the wind contained some kind of message.
"Could it be my great-grandfather and grandfather King Wu responding to me?" Ying Jing's heart stirred, filled with both surprise and joy.
Just as he was at a loss, an elderly man with white hair walked slowly from a distance.
"Your Majesty," the old man said, bowing.
Ying Jing looked closely and realized it was Old Liu, the guardian of the Ancestral Dragon Mausoleum.
Old Liu is over seventy years old and is one of the few people still alive during the time of Emperor Taizong.
"Old Liu, what brings you here?" Ying Jing asked.
Old Liu smiled slightly: "I was worried when I saw His Majesty kneeling for so long, so I came to check on him."
Ying Jing sighed, "I am troubled and have come to seek guidance from my ancestor. Unfortunately, he has passed away and cannot give me any guidance."
Old Liu looked at Ying Jing, a barely perceptible glint in his eyes: "Your Majesty is concerned about the affairs of the country. The spirits of our ancestors in heaven will surely bless the Great Qin."
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
