Chapter 182

On this day, a fine drizzle fell, the willows drooped, and Yongcheng was shrouded in boundless, misty rain. The white-headed Nanshan Mountain, which stood before the eyes of the old Qin people all day, was also swallowed by the chaotic Qin River.

When the gates of Qinian Palace opened, Ying Zheng was seen wearing a black robe, embroidered with ancient mysterious bird patterns. "Heaven's mandate is the mysterious bird, descending to give birth to Shang." The mysterious bird was actually not only related to the ancestors of Shang but also to the ancestors of the Qin people. Legend has it that in ancient times, a descendant of Emperor Zhuanxu named Nüxiu was weaving when a mysterious bird dropped an egg; Nüxiu swallowed it and gave birth to a son named Daye.

Walking slowly out of Qinian Palace, Ying Zheng's long, black hair was draped behind his head, appearing unrestrained and dashing. Afterward, he needed to head to the ancestral temple to hold the capping ceremony, and after the capping ceremony was completed, it would signify that the King of Qin had officially become an adult.

Just as the gates of Qinian Palace, which had been closed for seven days, opened again, in another part of the Yongcheng royal city, Lao Ai also received this news. He did not know when, but he had already donned armor, and his white, beard-less face was filled with murderous intent.

Looking at his subordinates, Lao Ai waved his hand without saying a word.

But the meaning revealed was unmistakable.

In the ancestral temple, also waiting for Ying Zheng to arrive for the capping ceremony, was Lu Buwei.

Lu Buwei was the "Zhongfu" (Second Father) of the King of Qin, the current Chancellor, and the only person qualified to perform the capping ceremony for the King of Qin.

At this moment, he was waiting quietly, his eyes lowered. If one looked closely, one would find that his eyes revealed deep coldness.

He knew clearly what Lao Ai wanted to do.

After all, that letter from that day had already stated it very clearly.

He also hoped that Lao Ai could take action as soon as possible and was waiting for that news to spread.

"Can you... reach this place?"

Lu Buwei thought to himself.

As for whether Lao Ai would make a move on the civil and military officials who had come to Yongcheng together after the event last night, Lu Buwei did not care at all.

He had controlled Luo Wang for many years, and Luo Wang was used by him.

This time, when he left Xianyang and arrived in Yongcheng, Luo Wang also moved accordingly.

Even if there were truly variables, Luo Wang would kill Lao Ai at the first opportunity.

In fact, he had already prepared to kill Lao Ai immediately after Lao Ai completed that task.

Lao Ai thought that by relying on the Empress Dowager, he could break free from his control, not knowing that once in Luo Wang, one is in Luo Wang for a lifetime; this is a destiny that can never be resisted, and he was the one who truly controlled that destiny.

At the same time.

In Yongcheng.

Su Xuan reached out his hand toward Yan Lingji.

"Are you interested in accompanying me on a trip to the old royal city of the Qin Guo?"

Yan Lingji looked at Su Xuan in surprise, and then gave her reply: "Since it is your request, I will accompany you on a trip."

She held Su Xuan's hand.

Afterward, a wild wind arose, and under Su Xuan's manipulation, it lifted their figures, heading toward the old royal city of the Qin Guo in Yongcheng.

Qinian Palace was some distance from the ancestral temple where the Ying clan's ancestors were worshipped in Yongcheng. It required crossing two long streets, a distance of about two li. It did not seem very far, but when Ying Zheng, with Gai Nie and many guards, had not even walked two hundred meters, a group of people dressed in black, holding long swords, rushed toward Ying Zheng from both sides of the road.

Gai Nie's expression tightened immediately. "Protect the King!"

Without needing Gai Nie to speak, the guards protecting Ying Zheng on both sides immediately drew their weapons to meet this group of black-clad assassins.

The sounds of shouting and killing echoed, and the smell of blood permeated the air.

Ying Zheng's expression remained unchanged, as if he did not care at all about the fact that someone wanted to kill him.

He said to Gai Nie beside him: "Mr. Gai, let us go!"

Gai Nie held his sword and nodded gently.

Because of Zhao Gao's report earlier, Ying Zheng had long been prepared for Lao Ai to take advantage of the situation to cause chaos.

In Xianyang, because he had visited the old Empress Dowager Huayang beforehand and sent a secret letter to Wang Yi, there was no need to worry. Presumably, Lord Changping and Lord Changwen, who were also Chu maternal relatives, would handle the matters there properly.

On the contrary, here in Yongcheng, Lu Buwei and Lao Ai, these two people with different intentions, were both here. Whether he could successfully survive this calamity would depend on himself.

Continuing forward.

The many guards beside Ying Zheng resisted the surrounding assassins' attacks with all their might.

Gai Nie also took action, intercepting the assassins.

However, the number of assassins was large. Lao Ai was determined to eliminate Ying Zheng before he stepped into the ancestral temple. He knew deeply that from the moment he chose to cause chaos, he had no other choice: either Ying Zheng died, or he died.

Although because of his early preparations, Ying Zheng had many guards by his side, under the assassins' fearlessness of death, Ying Zheng's progress over the short two-li road became increasingly difficult. Just at this moment, the sound of sword ringing echoed.

Two dazzling sword lights flashed past, and wherever they passed, all the assassins died one after another.

Seeing this sword light, a faint smile could not help but curl at the corner of Ying Zheng's mouth.

Although his expression was calm, deep down, he was still a bit nervous. Fortunately, Su Xuan did not disappoint him after all. ===== CHAPTER 184 =====