Chapter 42: Xu Fu: I Protest, This Ying Zheng Does Not Follow the Rules

Outside the main hall of the Imperial Palace in Xianyang City

"Your Majesty summoned me today; he must intend to send me overseas!"

Outside the main hall, Xu Fu knelt in waiting, yet his mind pondered the purpose of Ying Zheng summoning him.

Over the past year, Ying Zheng's health had grown increasingly poor.

His desire for the Elixir of Immortality had also grown increasingly intense.

As a Fangshi, Xu Fu naturally knew that no Elixir of Immortality existed in the world.

Therefore, to save his own life, and even more so for his own glory and wealth,

Xu Fu told Ying Zheng he would sail overseas to seek the Immortal Pill.

In truth, he intended to flee.

"Before leaving, I must still scoop up another fortune!"

Xianyang City was no longer tenable, yet before departing, Xu Fu planned to fleece Ying Zheng one last time.

After all, Ying Zheng was foolish and rich; if one didn't take it, it was wasted!

Just as Xu Fu imagined enjoying himself after swindling Ying Zheng and then living freely overseas,

a sudden roar of fury from Ying Zheng erupted from within the main hall.

"Bring men! Drag Xu Fu in here! I will make his life worse than death!"

Words laden with rage issued from within the main hall.

Xu Fu, who had been kneeling outside the hall, instantly froze in shock.

What is happening?

Is Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng going to kill me?

Why is this?

For a moment, Xu Fu panicked.

But before he could regain his senses, the guards on both sides, having received orders, lifted Xu Fu directly and dragged him into the main hall.

Inside the empty main hall, Qin Shi Huang Ying Zheng now sat upon the throne, looking down from above.

The moment Xu Fu's figure entered from outside the hall, it instantly made him seethe with rage.

"Good, very good, Xu Fu! You actually dared to deceive me!"

Within the majestic words, Ying Zheng's fury was interwoven.

Instantly, the main hall was enveloped by the formless pressure radiating from Ying Zheng.

Xu Fu, still unaware of the reason, was dragged helplessly beneath the hall, able only to repeatedly cry out his innocence.

"Your Majesty, I have not deceived Your Majesty! Please, Your Majesty, investigate clearly!"

Facing life and death, although Xu Fu still knew why he had offended Ying Zheng,

no matter what it was, he did not wish to die now!

"Your Majesty, I have devoted myself entirely to refining the Elixir of Immortality for Your Majesty; I truly have never deceived Your Majesty!"

Behind him, the two guards were already showing signs of dragging him out.

Xu Fu instantly began wailing for his parents, bowing repeatedly before Ying Zheng and shouting that he was wronged.

At the same time, he subtly touched upon the matter of the Elixir of Immortality.

After all, within the entire Imperial Palace, only he could help Ying Zheng refine the Elixir of Immortality.

No matter what crime he had committed, in light of the Elixir of Immortality, Ying Zheng should spare him.

As long as he survived this calamity, he would immediately tell Ying Zheng he needed to sail overseas to flee.

By then, even if Ying Zheng wanted to find him, he would be unable to.

Yet this time, Xu Fu had kicked against an iron plate.

Not mentioning the Elixir of Immortality was fine; but once he mentioned the Elixir of Immortality, Ying Zheng instantly flew into a rage.

"What a 'no deception,' what an 'Elixir of Immortality'! Xu Fu, do you think I do not know?"

The roar of anger echoed through the main hall; Xu Fu below instantly froze in shock, then suddenly grew greatly alarmed.

If Ying Zheng spoke thus, did he discover that the Immortal Pill Xu Fu refined was fake?

Impossible, absolutely impossible!

Ying Zheng had already consumed it for so long; how could he suddenly stop believing?

Instantly, Xu Fu's mind began to race furiously.

With a glance, Xu Fu noticed an old man standing beside the main hall.

With just one look, Xu Fu recognized the other's identity.

The Qin State's Grand General, Wang Jian!

It was him; it must be this old villain!

At this moment, Xu Fu felt as though he had discovered the truth of the matter.

The reason Ying Zheng suddenly disbelieved the Immortal Pill and transferred his anger onto him

must be that this old villain Wang Jian had said something to Ying Zheng.

Upon thinking this, Xu Fu instantly formed a plan.

As long as it was not Ying Zheng himself who discovered the problem with the pills, then he, Xu Fu, would have nothing to fear.

After all, no one understood Qin Shi Huang better than he did!

"Your Majesty, this old servant is wronged! This must be Old General Wang maliciously slandering this old servant."

Suddenly, Wang Jian, who had been watching the spectacle from the side, did not expect that while enjoying the show so well,

a meteor would suddenly fall from the sky and strike him directly.

Hearing Xu Fu's tearful accusations, Wang Jian was utterly baffled.

What did I do?

What did I slander?

True, his purpose in coming here was to advise!

But from the moment he entered until now, he hasn't said a single word!

Your Majesty wanting to kill you has nothing to do with me, Wang Jian!

He inwardly sneered, too lazy to respond to Xu Fu's words.

But Wang Jian's silence, to Xu Fu, was an admission of guilt.

In an instant, Xu Fu's eyes lit up.

It's definitely this old rascal, Wang Jian!

Too bad, you have no idea what Ying Zheng is like!

No idea of Ying Zheng's determination to achieve immortality!

Since Wang Jian wanted to ruin him, Xu Fu decided to strike hard.

"Your Majesty, General Wang has served with great merit and toil, yet he comes now bearing that merit to warn you against believing the alchemists—but his true intent is to block Your Majesty's quest for eternal life!"

His eyes blazed with fury; Xu Fu's performance was flawless, staring straight at Wang Jian as if he were the wronged party.

These words left Wang Jian utterly stunned.

Damn, why does this script feel so familiar?

Oh right—this is exactly what I came here to say to Ying Zheng!

How did Xu Fu steal my lines?

Despicable! This is outright plagiarism!

But Xu Fu merely sneered in disdain.

Whichever of us says it first, it becomes his.

Yet Xu Fu's performance, though convincing, met with an outcome he did not expect—the Ying Zheng seated upon the Wang Zuo reacted differently than he had predicted.

This time, Ying Zheng did not hesitate—he kept his gaze fixed on Xu Fu.

Seeing this, Xu Fu's heart lurched, and he decided to play his next card.

"Bang!"

He slammed his head hard against the palace floor, his eyes filled with sincere emotion, a man ready to die to prove his innocence.

"I have labored tirelessly to brew the Elixir of Immortality for Your Majesty, seeking only Your Majesty's eternal life—but I have been slandered by a traitor! If Your Majesty does not believe me, Xu Fu today offers his life to prove his purity!"

With noble resolve, Xu Fu's voice echoed through the hall, his eyes brimming with heartfelt conviction—so convincing that even Wang Jian, standing nearby, was momentarily stunned.

In the hall, many began to hesitate.

Watching their expressions, Xu Fu smiled inwardly.

I've made my case so clearly now.

Your Majesty wants immortality—he won't dare kill me.

That means I've escaped this disaster.

Yet just as Xu Fu thought this, Ying Zheng on the Wang Zuo let out a cold laugh.

"Bring Xu Fu out and execute him by a thousand cuts!"

The icy words rang through the hall; the once-confident Xu Fu froze in shock.

His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Ying Zheng.

Brother, the script wasn't supposed to go like this!

Why are you changing the plot and trying to kill me?

I protest! This Ying Zheng doesn't follow the rules!