Chapter 42: Xu Fu: I Protest, This Ying Zheng Isn't Following the Script

Xianyang City, outside the main hall of the imperial palace.

"His Majesty is looking for me today; he must be planning to send me out to sea!"

Outside the main hall, Xu Fu knelt in wait, his mind racing as he pondered the purpose of Ying Zheng summoning him.

Over this past year, Ying Zheng’s health had been deteriorating.

His desire for the elixir of immortality had grown increasingly intense.

As an alchemist, Xu Fu naturally knew that no such elixir of immortality existed in this world.

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

Xu Fu had told Ying Zheng that he needed to go to sea to seek the immortal elixir.

In reality, he was planning to run away.

"Before I leave, I must make one last haul!"

He could no longer stay in Xianyang City, but Xu Fu intended to fleece Ying Zheng one last time before departing.

In any case, Ying Zheng was foolish and wealthy; it would be a waste not to take it!

Just as Xu Fu was daydreaming about finishing his haul from Ying Zheng and then living a carefree life overseas.

From within the main hall, a sudden roar of rage erupted from Ying Zheng.

"Guards, drag Xu Fu in! I want to make him wish he were dead!"

The words, filled with fury, echoed out from the main hall.

Xu Fu, who had been kneeling outside the hall, was instantly stunned.

What was going on?

The First Emperor, Ying Zheng, wanted to kill him?

Why?

For a moment, Xu Fu panicked.

But before he could collect his thoughts, the guards on either side had already received their orders, lifting Xu Fu up and dragging him into the main hall.

Inside the empty main hall, the First Emperor, Ying Zheng, sat upon the throne, looking down at the floor below.

The moment Xu Fu’s figure entered from outside, it filled him with uncontrollable rage.

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

Ying Zheng’s majestic voice was laced with fury.

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

Still clueless, Xu Fu was dragged before the hall, able only to open his mouth and repeatedly cry out his innocence.

"Your Majesty, I have not deceived Your Majesty! I beg Your Majesty to investigate clearly!"

With life and death at stake, Xu Fu still did not know why he had offended Ying Zheng.

But regardless of the reason, he did not want to die now!

"Your Majesty, I have been wholeheartedly refining the elixir of immortality for Your Majesty; I have truly never deceived Your Majesty!"

The two guards behind him were already showing signs of dragging him away.

Xu Fu immediately began to wail and howl, kowtowing repeatedly to Ying Zheng and shouting that he was being wronged.

At the same time, he subtly touched upon the matter of the elixir of immortality.

After all, within the entire imperial palace, he was the only one who could help Ying Zheng refine the elixir.

No matter what crime he had committed, for the sake of the elixir, Ying Zheng should spare him.

As long as he survived this ordeal, he would immediately tell Ying Zheng he needed to go to sea to run away.

By then, even if Ying Zheng wanted to find him, he wouldn't be able to.

However, this time, Xu Fu had hit a brick wall.

It would have been better not to mention the elixir; the moment he did, Ying Zheng flew into a rage.

"A good 'no deception,' a good 'elixir of immortality'! Xu Fu, do you really think I don't know?"

The roar echoed through the hall; Xu Fu, down below, was stunned for a moment before being seized by sudden terror.

With Ying Zheng saying this, could it be that he had discovered the immortal elixir he refined was fake?

Impossible, absolutely impossible!

Ying Zheng had been taking it for so long, how could he suddenly stop believing?

In an instant, Xu Fu’s mind began to race violently.

Glancing to the side, Xu Fu noticed an old man standing in the hall.

With just one look, Xu Fu recognized the man’s identity.

The Great General of Qin, Wang Jian!

It was him; it must be this old scoundrel!

At this moment, Xu Fu felt as if he had discovered the truth.

The reason Ying Zheng suddenly stopped believing in the immortal elixir and was taking his anger out on him.

Must be because this old scoundrel, Wang Jian, had said something to Ying Zheng.

Thinking of this, Xu Fu immediately had an idea.

As long as it wasn't Ying Zheng who discovered the problem with the pills himself, then he, Xu Fu, had nothing to fear.

After all, no one understood the First Emperor better than he did!

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

Suddenly, Wang Jian, who had been watching the show from the sidelines, had not expected that while he was enjoying the spectacle.

A meteorite would suddenly fall from the sky and smash directly onto him.

Listening to Xu Fu’s tearful accusations, Wang Jian was completely bewildered.

What did I do?

What did I slander?

Although his purpose in coming here was to offer counsel!

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

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

He thought with disdain, too lazy to even acknowledge Xu Fu’s words.

Yet, to Xu Fu, Wang Jian’s silence was an admission of guilt.

In an instant, Xu Fu’s eyes lit up.

It really was that old scoundrel Wang Jian!

Unfortunately, you don't understand Ying Zheng at all!

You don't understand Ying Zheng’s determination to achieve immortality!

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

"Your Majesty, Old General Wang has rendered great service, but this time he comes bearing his merits, claiming to advise Your Majesty not to listen to the words of alchemists, but his true intent is to block Your Majesty from achieving immortality!"

With eyes that seemed to be spitting fire, Xu Fu acted with such realism, confronting Wang Jian directly as if he were truly being wronged.

Such words left Wang Jian completely stunned!

Good heavens, why did this script feel so familiar!

Oh, right, these were the very words he had intended to use to advise Ying Zheng when he arrived!

How did this Xu Fu manage to steal his lines!

Shameless, this was blatant plagiarism!

Xu Fu, however, curled his lip in disdain.

Whoever says the lines first, they belong to them.

However, although Xu Fu’s acting was realistic, the moment his words fell, Ying Zheng, still on the throne, reacted differently than he had expected.

This time, Ying Zheng did not hesitate, but continued to stare at him.

Such a scene made Xu Fu’s heart skip a beat, and he decided to use a stronger dose of medicine.

"Bang!"

He slammed his head heavily against the floor of the hall, his eyes filled with sincere emotion, appearing as if he were ready to die to prove his integrity.

"I have wholeheartedly refined the elixir of immortality for Your Majesty, wishing for Your Majesty to live forever, but I have been slandered by a villain. If Your Majesty does not believe me, Xu Fu is willing to die today to prove my innocence!"

Ready to sacrifice himself, Xu Fu’s clear voice echoed through the hall, his eyes filled with such genuine feeling that even Wang Jian, standing to the side, was slightly taken aback.

Inside the hall, many people began to waver at this moment.

Seeing the expressions of the crowd, Xu Fu smiled inwardly.

He had spoken so sincerely.

Since His Majesty wanted immortality, he certainly wouldn't kill him now.

In this way, he had managed to escape this disaster.

However, just as Xu Fu was thinking this, Ying Zheng, upon the throne, let out a cold laugh.

"Guards, drag Xu Fu out and execute him by slow slicing!"

The cold words echoed through the hall, and the confident Xu Fu below was instantly dumbfounded.

His eyes stared at Ying Zheng in shock.

Big brother, the script we agreed on wasn't supposed to go like this!

Why did you change the script and decide to kill me!

I protest, this Qin Shi Huang is not following the script!