Chapter 50: Bidding Farewell to the First Emperor

Suddenly, the music changed, and the dancers swung their long water-sleeves in unison. Amidst a flurry of flying colorful silks, a slender figure spun gracefully into the hall from the outside. It turned out to be the lead dancer wearing a bronze mask and holding a sharp sword, performing a sword dance that combined both strength and gentleness.

"So cool!" Geng Cang could not help but exclaim, drawing good-natured smiles from several princes nearby.

Ying Zheng leaned lazily against the throne, watching his descendants look utterly mesmerized, a trace of satisfaction flashing in his eyes. He tapped his fingers lightly, and another troupe of musicians holding panpipes entered the arena.

Amidst the melodious music, the early summer night breeze swept through the hall, making the candlelight flicker and forever freezing this millennium-spanning feast in the memories of the ten-member group.

The next day, as the morning mist lingered and morning light faintly illuminated the plaza before the Xianyang Palace, Ying Zheng, dressed in casual attire, personally led senior officials such as Meng Yi and Li Si to see off Jiang Ye and his party.

Qiao Wenbo suddenly retrieved a long black cylinder from his luggage and handed it to Meng Yi. "Lord Meng, this is a gift specifically requested by Jiang Kate to be brought to you, which can be used in the military."

"What is this?" Meng Yi curiously took the pitch-black metal cylinder. It felt heavy in his hand, and there were strange patterns on the surface.

"This is called a 'night-vision telescope'," Qiao Wenbo explained, stepping closer. "Using this at night allows you to clearly see human figures within a hundred paces."

As he spoke, he helped Meng Yi put on the neck strap and instructed him on how to adjust the focus.

"Truly wondrous!" Meng Yi exclaimed in surprise. "I can even make out the tile-end patterns on the palace walls!"

"It has the same effect when used at night. You might want to try it out tonight," Qiao Wenbo said with a smile.

Hearing this, Ying Zheng also became interested, and Meng Yi hastily and respectfully presented it to him.

When Ying Zheng looked through the lenses and saw the clear faces of the guards on the distant city tower, his pupils suddenly contracted.

"Truly wondrous."

"Jiang Kate said this is most useful for night patrols at the border," Qiao Wenbo said, scratching his head with a smile. "He specifically chose the military-grade one."

Geng Cang handed a duffel bag to Meng Yi. "These are all night-vision telescopes inside."

Seeing that Li Si, Feng Jie, Zhao Gao, and others were all interested, Feng Yiming took telescopes out of his bag, handed them to each of them, and taught them how to use them hands-on.

After they learned how to use them and clearly saw the patrolling guards on the distant palace walls through the telescopes, their faces were filled with utter shock.

"With such a divine artifact," Li Si sighed repeatedly, "how much blood can be spared by our soldiers at the borders."

Meng Yi lowered the telescope in his hand and looked at Qiao Wenbo. "Please convey Meng's gratitude to Brother Jiang!"

Suddenly thinking of something, he unclasped the jade pendant from his waist and shoved it into Qiao Wenbo's hand. "Give this to him!"

Qiao Wenbo did not refuse and accepted the jade pendant.

"Jiang Kate said he hopes this item can help the soldiers of Qin guard the frontiers well."

With that, he took out another item from the case: "Your Majesty, this is a solar charger used to recharge the telescopes. This can also charge mobile phones."

Qiao Wenbo demonstrated to them how to charge it.

Ying Zheng finally understood why that mobile phone had not lit up earlier—it had simply run out of "electricity."

Ying Zheng suddenly raised his hand to signal, and a team of palace attendants immediately filed out, holding gilded trays.

Under the sunlight, the treasures on the trays shone brilliantly. Piles of gold cakes were arranged like roof tiles, warm jade bi-discs emitted a cyan glow, necklaces strung with South Sea pearls shimmered with colorful light, and bronze wine vessels inlaid with turquoise each deserved to be called a national treasure.

He personally picked up a pair of gold-inlaid cloud-patterned goblets and presented them to Qiao Wenbo. "This is not a reward; it is my parting gift to my young friend."

Looking at the golden goblets handed right before his eyes, Qiao Wenbo stopped breathing.

These were genuine, authentic Qin dynasty palace treasures!

Placed two thousand years later, they would undoubtedly be national-treasure-level cultural relics!

It was only a pity that they lacked the traces of time, making them impossible to pass off as antiques.

"Your Majesty, this is too precious," Zhang Huaiming hurriedly declined.

"These worldly goods are not worth mentioning compared to the things you all brought."

Ying Zheng motioned for the attendants to open a sandalwood box. "This is the finest Lantian jade seal, engraved with everyone's full names."

Once the sandalwood box was opened, eleven jade seals were neatly arranged, and the seal scripts were precisely their respective names in Small Seal Script.

Qiao Wenbo and the others did not care much for these gold, silver, and jade wares since, lacking the passage of time, they could not be considered antiques.

He hesitated before finally speaking, "Ancestor Dragon, could I exchange this for a different gift?"

Ying Zheng grew interested. "What item?"

"I-I want to take a photo with you." As he spoke, he took out his mobile phone.

Ying Zheng was slightly stunned, then smiled and nodded. "Very well."

Qiao Wenbo was overjoyed, and Geng Cang and the others immediately clamored.

"We want one too!"

"I want one too!"

Ying Zheng looked at the excited quartet of four, then looked at Zhang Huaiming and the other six, who could not escape worldly desires either; a hint of longing was evident in their brows and eyes.

"Very well."

Having obtained Emperor Zheng's approval, the ten-member group was thrilled.

Ying Zheng straightened the collar of his black dragon robe and strode to the center of the crowd to stand still. Meng Yi immediately understood, standing slightly behind and to the right of Ying Zheng with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, his back held straight as a ramrod.

"Come, come, everyone stand properly!" Qiao Wenbo excitedly called out to his companions. "Uncle Zhang, you guys stand on the left, and we'll stand on the right!"

Ying Zheng stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze beneath the beaded imperial crown burning like a torch, exuding majesty without anger. Meng Yi had sharp brows and starry eyes, his dark robes shimmering with a cold light in the morning sun. Qin officials like Li Si and Feng Jie stood respectfully on both sides in separate ranks, their expressions solemn.

In stark contrast to them was the modern ten-member group.

Qiao Wenbo and the four squeezed onto the right side; Wu Jie flashed a V-sign, Geng Cang struck a wacky pose, and Feng Yiming even stealthily made bunny ears behind Ying Zheng's head.

Zhang Huaiming and the other executives looked slightly more composed, yet wore smiles as well.

"Don't move, everyone!" Jiang Ye raised his mobile phone, secured its position, handed it to an attendant, and instructed, "Later, when we count down three, two, one, you press the button in the middle."

Jiang Ye had the person try it once, and upon confirming that the attendant had learned how, he walked to the center of the formation.

Jiang Ye initiated the count, and the Qin Dynasty tour group chanted in unison: "Three, two, one..."

As that final "one" fell, a soft "click" sounded, and the frame was frozen in time.

The majestic emperor and the quirky moderns, the solemn Qin officials and the smiling tourists, the classical and the modern, blended in a wondrous way at this very moment.

As soon as half-past nine arrived, the time-travel passage opened.

An 18-seater Coaster business van materialized out of thin air in the plaza, its paintwork shimmering with a cold luster in the sunlight.

Jiang Ye said to Ying Zheng, "Your Majesty, we must leave."

Ying Zheng's gaze was deep as he nodded slightly, "You and I have a long journey ahead."

Jiang Ye pulled open the car door, turned around, and said to the others, "Get in."

Qiao Wenbo's eyes darted around. Gritting his teeth, he spoke up once more, "Ancestor Dragon, before parting, I have one last presumptuous request."

Ying Zheng nodded slightly, "Speak."

"Might I shake your hand?" Qiao Wenbo asked nervously.

Ying Zheng pondered for a fraction of a moment before actually extending his right hand.

When Qiao Wenbo's trembling fingertips touched that powerful, strong hand, his entire body stiffened as if struck by lightning.

He was shaking the hand of the emperor who had unified the six states!

The First Emperor, whom countless people over two thousand years could only look up to in history books, was now pressing palm to palm with him!