Chapter 1167: Meeting the Emperor of Qin

“Emperor Huai possessed great beauty and grace, was well-versed in music, and was a master of both poetry and painting, with a countenance that could captivate the world. Some said, 'He could be a noble son in times of peace, but not a supreme lord in times of chaos.'”— “History of Qin, Annals of Emperor Huai”

Upon the Martial Stage, Huang Sheli, with the Thunderous Sound Pagoda above his head and the Pudu Demon Subduing Pestle in hand, stood poised and ready.

Zhao Rucheng's eyes were cold, intent on shattering the Buddhist seals, his momentum building.

It was at this moment that a voice suddenly rang out.

A voice of immense authority, like the very rules establishing heaven and earth.

A voice that everyone had to listen to, had to obey.

“Just now I was wondering who this handsome man was. Now I understand.”

The voice of the Great Qin Emperor!

To the north of the six pillars of the realm, the dark dragon robe stirred slightly.

The voice seemed to rise from the ninth heaven, travel across the six realms, and inevitably spread through the eight directions!

“Ying Ziyu, how came you here?”

A solemn hush fell over the spectators!

People looked left and right, exchanging startled glances through their eyes.

What was happening?

This impossibly handsome prodigy from Mu Kingdom on the stage, his name wasn't Deng Qi, but Ying Ziyu?

He actually had the surname Ying?

Stormy waves surged in people's hearts.

Upon the Martial Stage, Zhao Rucheng still gazed at Huang Sheli, his gaze unwavering, and merely said, “Standing upon the Platform of the World, shouldering the responsibilities of Great Mu, forgive me for not performing the ritual.”

Although the Yellow River Conference was of extraordinary significance.

No one could, or should, influence this grand event.

Interfering with the competition or interrupting a battle were both improper.

But when the Great Qin Emperor spoke, who dared truly ignore it?

He was one of the six most esteemed and noble existences among the rulers of the nations of the world!

Did they not see that the fearless Huang Sheli had also temporarily held back his actions?

That Ying Ziyu, who spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly and claimed he could not perform the ritual, had not truly continued to make his move.

That True Monarch Yu Xi, who presided over the Yellow River Conference, remained completely silent!

The handsome man on the stage named Ying Ziyu directly responded to the Great Qin Emperor's question, saying that his presence at the River Observation Platform was to “shoulder the responsibilities of Great Mu” and fight for Mu Kingdom.

There was no difference between him and the prodigies from the other nations.

His statement that he could not perform the ritual was also to emphasize the sacred significance of the Yellow River Conference, so that the Qin Emperor could not interfere.

Some understood, some did not.

Below the stage, Jiang Wang had by this time withdrawn from his mix of joy and sorrow. He was now caught in another kind of shock.

He had known for a long time that Zhao Rucheng had an extraordinary background. Even back in Maple Forest City, they had their own guesses. None of his brothers were foolish, but since Zhao Rucheng didn't say, they didn't pry.

However, the "extraordinary background" they understood at that time was likely along the lines of "Zhao Rucheng might be the descendant of a fallen minor family," or "perhaps the inheritor of a small sect that has been destroyed." Guesses of that nature.

Their perspective at that time dictated that their conjectures could only be limited to a certain level.

But now...

Zhao Rucheng's name wasn't Zhao Rucheng, but Ying Ziyu?

Jiang Wang could still imagine him being called Deng Qi, after all, he knew Uncle Deng and had frequent contact with him in Maple Forest City. He was a very gentle elder, Zhao Rucheng's steward.

But the surname Ying?

Ying of the Great Qin Imperial Family?

Even the Great Qin Emperor knew him and was speaking to him?

Regardless of the listeners' feelings.

The Great Qin Emperor's voice, which seemed to set the rules of heaven and earth, continued to ring out: “Imperial family members do not contend in the Yellow River Conference. This is a rule of long standing. It is because if blood relations slaughter each other on the stage, we who are the monarchs guarding the rivers, I fear, may find it difficult to avoid partiality.”

He asked, “Ying Ziyu, what responsibility do you bear?”

People were dumbfounded.

This person on the stage, was he truly a descendant of the Qin imperial family?

And why would he represent Mu Kingdom in the Yellow River Conference?

What story lay within this?

Who exactly was this person?

Jiang Wang almost immediately recalled the anecdote the Qi Crown Prince Jiang Wuhua had told him before the Qi Royal Ancestral Temple.

The imperial kinsman Ying Zhang raised an army and killed Emperor Huai of Qin in Xianyang Palace!

Why did Zhao Rucheng, with his exceptional talent, waste it?

Why did he, who clearly disdained vulgar beauties, spend his days frequenting brothels?

Why did he have no hope for the future, wishing only to live a life of passing time?

Why did he live under a false name?

If this were the case...

Then everything could be explained.

And just now on the stage, he said he would bear everything.

Including that period of experience in Maple Forest City, and including what he had been burdened with since birth...

From escaping to shouldering, what else had he experienced?

Jiang Wang stared blankly at Zhao Rucheng on the stage, and then thought—

Why did Zhao Rucheng participate in the Yellow River Conference under the name Deng Qi?

What... happened to Uncle Deng?

Facing the Great Qin Emperor's question, Zhao Rucheng continued to stare at Huang Sheli, focused on his battle, his gaze not shifting again.

Therefore, he did not see Jiang San Ge's eyes.

Of course, he knew it in his heart, and precisely because he knew it too well, he actually dared not look.

He simply focused on his battle.

He only asked, “Your Majesty, esteemed as you are, do you wish to acknowledge me as a member of the imperial family?”

Yes, he did know the current Qin Emperor.

As a direct descendant of Emperor Huai, the former true lineage of Great Qin, his fathers and grandfathers were not truly completely useless.

Objectively speaking, they left behind quite a few stratagems and made considerable efforts.

It was just that those stratagems, those efforts... were gradually obliterated over the long passage of time. Some were destroyed by the years, others by pursuit and extermination.

For instance, those loyal old officials who were fiercely dedicated to restoring the true lineage, some died, some were demoted, some changed...

For instance, he was actually raised in the residence of the Marquis of Hexi since childhood.

He still used the name Ying Ziyu, and publicly, he was said to be the son of the Marquis of Hexi.

From a young age, he lived in luxury, received the best education, just waiting for the time to be ripe to restore the true lineage and ascend the throne—at least, that's what those people said.

Later, the case of the Marquis of Hexi, Ying Dezhao, harboring fugitives was exposed, and his entire family was executed.

That was another period of blood and tears...

Deng Yue, the then Chief Warden of the Great Qin Prison System, fled with the young him.

The two have since lived under assumed names, constantly on the run.

It wasn't until they were in Maple Forest City in Zhuang Kingdom that they spent a rare period of peace.

And then later, the fall of Maple Forest City, the borderland monster hunts...

This was what he, Zhao Rucheng, had experienced along the way.

The current Qin Emperor said that imperial family members should not participate in the Yellow River Conference.

So he counter-questioned, Am I a member of the imperial family?

If the descendants of Emperor Huai can still be acknowledged. Still should be acknowledged.

Then who is the one currently seated on the great throne?

“Of course!”

The Great Qin Emperor's voice said, “In the past, Emperor Huai was improper and lost his lineage. For many years, the imperial clan has been searching for the bloodline. The blood of the Qin imperial house flows in your veins, this is something no one can erase. If you return to the imperial house, We can grant you the status of an imperial prince, allowing you to compete fairly with them!”

Everyone was astonished.

There was no one who didn't know the story of Emperor Huai of Qin.

And the magnanimity of the current Great Qin Emperor surpassed everyone's imagination!

As the descendant of Emperor Xuan of Qin, this branch that had usurped the Qin imperial domain, he actually, on this Platform of the World, in front of everyone, acknowledged the imperial status of the descendant of Emperor Huai of Qin, granted him the status of an imperial prince, and gave him the possibility of contending for the great throne!

What kind of confidence was this!

Only a peerless heroic lord could do such a thing.

At this moment, Zhao Rucheng only needed to nod his head. He would immediately enjoy the status of a Great Qin Imperial Prince, and could openly and legitimately contend with others for the throne. Even if the chance of success was slim, at least he would no longer have to wander and be in constant danger of life and death.

If it were anyone else, in Zhao Rucheng's position, it would be difficult not to be swayed.

But Zhao Rucheng remained expressionless.

Intelligent as he was, how could he not understand?

The reason such conditions were offered could only mean that the current Qin Emperor's lineage had long since firmly secured the great throne and did not fear any challenge at all.

Under the rule of the current Qin Emperor, the Great Qin Empire had won the Battle of the River Valley, re-established its supreme position in the western regions, and simultaneously expanded its influence southward. It was precisely at its peak.

The momentum of this supreme being was also imaginable.

And once he agreed, the last trace of "illegitimacy" of the current Qin Emperor's lineage would be wiped away.

He would be acknowledging a usurper as his father!

“Kindly allow His Majesty to know.”

“This humble subject Zhao Rucheng is not a member of Your Majesty's imperial family. Coming to this River Observation Platform is to dedicate myself to Mu Kingdom and contend for the nation.”

He spoke to the Qin Emperor, but his gaze was firmly fixed on Huang Sheli, his right hand reaching behind his back, held loosely above his spine.

The sword cry that had been faintly whistling within him suddenly intensified.

“Today, with this sword...”

It was as if a thousand swords, ten thousand swords, were whistling together.

Terrifying sword energy swept across the Martial Stage.

He actually drew out a sword of brilliant radiance from within his own spine!

And continued—

“I pay my respects to the Son of Heaven of Qin!”