Chapter 721 - 18: No Need to Look Back
"I’m sorry... I’m sorry... He didn’t mean it."
Handan.
Probably terrified by seeing their friend motionless, about to burst into tears.
One of the kids standing at a distance mustered up courage, slowly moved in front of Ying Zheng, tugged at their friend, and apologized in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.
Ying Zheng snapped back to reality, glanced at them, and then walked to the side, passing by the two.
The two little boys were stunned for a moment, and only after Ying Zheng walked away did they breathe a sigh of relief.
"Why were you running so fast, you bumped into someone?"
"Didn’t you say you were afraid the aunties would take over the court?"
"But you can’t bump into people!"
"..."
"Forget it, let’s go."
Their voices drifted over from afar.
After all, they were just kids, though the pressure from Ying Zheng was terrifying.
But at such an innocent age, what scared them just now was soon forgotten.
Soon.
Laughter filled the air again.
Ying Zheng walked ahead, hearing the laughter from behind, he didn’t look back and continued walking forward.
Along the way.
He saw many things he could not understand.
Or more accurately... things unimaginable in his own time.
Spires reaching the clouds, bustling vehicles, glowing phones, comfy clothing, various foods...
Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation.
In every aspect, he couldn’t find even the slightest familiarity.
If just a short while ago in the tomb,
he merely heard that over two thousand years had passed in the mortal realm as a number,
now, by personally stepping into the world... he truly felt the marks of these over two thousand years.
Two thousand years...
Thinking of this,
Ying Zheng suddenly felt a bit disheartened.
He slowed his pace a bit, then silently, slowly looked toward the location of the Zhao King’s Capital City, took a step, and vanished in an instant.
While all around, people seemed not to notice this scene.
Even those observing him did not seem to notice the person they were watching suddenly disappeared, pulling their gazes back and continuing their own affairs.
At the same time.
Zhao King City Ruins Park.
South Gate.
Ying Zheng’s figure appeared again.
The so-called Zhao King City and its grand palace, in the river of history, have long been gone, leaving only earthen mounds, challenging to find traces of the past.
Now,
this is merely a city park with historical connotations.
But for Emperor Shi, this is the place he feels most familiar with at this moment.
Because it is the best-preserved, largest royal capital ruins from the Warring States Period within the country.
Compared to those skyscrapers,
at least at this moment,
Emperor Shi, looking ahead, can recall the layout of this ancient capital.
Of course, it is limited to only recalling the layout.
He walked forward calmly, inside Zhao King City, there were no palaces nor guards, only strolling elderly people, playful children... and tourists taking photos.
It’s almost autumn.
The leaves in the park turn red and yellow, contrasting with the ancient city walls and buildings, creating a unique historical atmosphere.
Many people are capturing this early autumn scene with their cameras.
Only smiles were on their faces, and even if not smiling, one could feel their relaxation at this moment.
And in the distance, the city walls and the palace foundations still stand tall.
Quietly narrating the heritage and depth of this ancient site.
Forming a stark contrast with the tourists around.
Ying Zheng looked at them, at the Zhao King City that has turned to dust, with a calm expression, but a trace of vagueness reemerged in his eyes.
...Four hundred thousand.
The God of Slaughter, Bai Qi, in the Battle of Changping, buried alive four hundred thousand Zhao soldiers.
Four hundred thousand is not a mere number, tens of thousands of Zhao families suddenly lost their loved ones, it was a deep vendetta of blood.
In the forty-eighth year of King Zhao of Qin,
Emperor Shi was born, shortly after the end of the Battle of Changping.
As soon as he was born,
the Battle of Handan broke out.
Qin Kingdom’s great general, the God of Slaughter, Bai Qi, sought to leverage the momentum from the victory at Changping to attack the Zhao Capital Handan, aiming to annihilate Zhao Kingdom once and for all. He pursued his advantage, capturing Zhao’s Wu’an and Taiyuan, and closing in on Handan.
When Qin Army surrounded Handan, the furious military and civilians of Handan were ready to kill his father, Yiren, and him.
In desperation,
Ying Yiren, his father, with the help of Lv Buwei, risky escaped secretly from Zhao Kingdom, returning to Qin Kingdom.
But to ensure the success of Yiren’s escape, Lv Buwei left Zhao Ji and Ying Zheng in Handan, to mislead others.
That year.
Ying Zheng was only three years old.
At three, he was abandoned by his father, left in an enemy nation that buried 400,000 soldiers in pits.
When King Cheng of Zhao and the Zhao people learned of Yiren’s escape back to Qin, one could imagine their fury.
Ying Zheng’s childhood... could be said to be fraught with blood and tears at every step.
And the enraged people of Zhao back then, might not have thought.
That little boy Zhao Ji held, the boy hiding throughout Zhao, would grow to be the eternal emperor who would destroy Zhao Kingdom—Emperor Qin Shi Huang.
History thus mercilessly ridiculed everyone.
And even more merciless is,
Emperor Qin Shi Huang,
the founder of the Qin Dynasty, eternal emperor.
Born in Zhao Kingdom, raised in Zhao Kingdom... and even died in Zhao Kingdom.
On the Bingyin day of the seventh month, Emperor Shi passed away at the Shacheng Platform.
Shacheng Platform.
Was where King Wuling of Zhao enacted the Shacheng Palace change, implementing ’Hu Fu Qishi’.
And over two thousand years later, his first stop upon awakening and touring... remains Zhao Kingdom.
"..."
Ying Zheng looked at the Zhao King City ruins, the vagueness in his eyes quickly dissipated.