Chapter 81: The First Emperor’s Chronicles

Princess Changle’s words made sense.

The emperor’s favors could not be dispensed so lightly.

Now, as Fan Li pretended to be the Qin Emperor, if he granted every request Zhao Gao made without hesitation, it would hardly befit the dignity of a sovereign.

Having reasoned this through, Fan Li put on a stern face and remained silent.

Zhao Gao, who had served the First Emperor, naturally understood the principle of “receiving no reward without merit.”

“Your Majesty, Zhao Gao is but a humble servant of Great Qin. Whatever you command, Zhao Gao would face death a thousand times without hesitation!”

Fan Li was rather tempted by this.

He truly wished to keep Zhao Gao by his side; after all, this was a mighty cultivator of the Grand Ascension Realm.

But it was only a fleeting thought. Fan Li maintained a calm outward demeanor.

Zhao Gao, after all, could not even leave the bounds of the imperial mausoleum—how could he pledge such unwavering loyalty?

“By the way, I haven’t yet obtained the Qin Emperor’s Sword or the First Emperor’s Chronicle. I must not lose sight of my purpose.”

His mission here was to acquire two treasures from the imperial tomb.

The sword was in Zhao Gao’s possession, and the chronicle likely only Zhao Gao knew its whereabouts.

Fan Li could not simply ask for them outright; it would contradict the authority he needed to display.

After a brief consideration, he devised a plan.

Fan Li sneered, “I am the Qin Emperor. Is there anything under heaven that could possibly stump me? And you, just a servant, dare pledge your life so readily? Have you forgotten that I come to inspect the imperial tomb with more than two thousand Golden Core guards, and experts of the Divine Transformation, Dao Merging, and Grand Ascension Realms at my side?”

Fan Li boasted with ease; Zhao Gao could hardly verify whether Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Quan, Qingqiu, and the others truly belonged to his retinue.

As expected, Zhao Gao seemed utterly deflated, unable to utter a single word in protest.

“Your Majesty, your servant… your servant speaks only from the heart, willing to serve with utmost loyalty…”

Realizing he had no further use, Zhao Gao could only grovel for pity, hoping Fan Li might show some mercy.

Fan Li continued, “Moreover, the First Emperor is my ancestor. To alter his sacred decree would violate filial piety. Zhao Gao, do you wish me, a descendant of the House of Ying, to become an unworthy son?”

“Your servant would never dare, never dare! Your Majesty, I would never dare!”

Even though Zhao Gao was a Grand Ascension level corpse, he trembled in fear, kowtowing repeatedly.

Fan Li frightened Zhao Gao just enough, but not to the point of despair; a cornered rabbit will bite, after all.

“Zhao Gao, there is something that still troubles me.”

---

“Ah?”

Zhao Gao, thoroughly frightened, awaited Fan Li’s words in a daze.

“I have ventured to speculate upon the First Emperor’s true intent. If he truly thought your crime unforgivable, he would have annihilated you on the spot. Yet, he left you to guard the tomb, perhaps hinting there is a glimmer of hope for you in the future?”

As a transmigrant, Fan Li recalled the phenomenon of ‘over-interpretation’—such as when a great writer once penned: ‘There are two trees in front of my house, both are jujube trees.’

He remembered a university professor who, with just those twenty words, composed a research paper of over a hundred thousand characters, deeply dissecting the author’s emotional world, philosophical depth, and various symbolic nuances.

Fan Li believed that over-interpreting the First Emperor before Zhao Gao would have the desired effect.

“Yes, yes! Your Majesty is wise; the First Emperor must have thought so!”

Seeing hope appear from nowhere, Zhao Gao was nearly moved to tears—if not for his dry, lifeless corpse.

Fan Li suppressed a laugh and sighed, “Do not rejoice too soon. How could I easily presume my ancestor’s sacred will? A thousand years divide me from the First Emperor; I know little of him, understand him even less…”

He paused deliberately, heightening Zhao Gao’s anticipation.

“To speak frankly, it is a shame—I have never even seen my ancestor’s handwriting.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gao exclaimed excitedly, “Your Majesty! The Immortal Palace holds many of the First Emperor’s writings. I will fetch them at once for your inspection, if you please!”

Just as Fan Li had hoped.

Fan Li sighed again before replying, “You earned a small merit in saving the Empress earlier. Very well, I too am eager to behold my ancestor’s writings, and will accept them as your reward.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Afraid Fan Li might change his mind, Zhao Gao hurried away.

He soon returned, carrying in both arms towering stacks of bamboo slips, each as tall as a man.

“So many?” Fan Li feigned annoyance. “Zhao Gao, do you think I have endless leisure to waste my days?”

“Your Majesty, forgive me! I brought them all, but how much you read is entirely your decision. I dare not presume.”

Desperate for reincarnation, Zhao Gao had brought out every writing of the First Emperor stored in the Immortal Palace.

Hearing Fan Li’s words, he quickly set down the bamboo slips and kowtowed to apologize.

Fan Li continued, “You should select only the most important ones—those that best reveal the First Emperor’s life, character, and inner thoughts. Diaries or essays, for example.”

“Reading such works will help me better understand my ancestor. Do you understand?”

“Yes, yes! Your Majesty’s wisdom is profound. I was foolish.”

Delighted, Zhao Gao pondered and realized such writings indeed existed.

---

After some searching, he produced a jade tablet.

Fan Li, seeing it was not a bamboo slip, was curious, but did not reach for it.

Zhao Gao hastily explained, “Your Majesty, this is a chronicle personally recorded by the First Emperor.”

“Oh?”

It was the First Emperor’s Chronicle.

Fan Li kept a calm exterior, though his heart surged with excitement.

He glanced at Zhao Gao, then suddenly demanded, “Zhao Gao, having guarded the tomb for so many years, have you ever stolen or secretly read the contents of the First Emperor’s Chronicle?”

“No, never, Your Majesty!”

With a loud thud, Zhao Gao dropped to his knees.

“Having been punished by the First Emperor to remain here, how could I dare commit another offense? Please believe me, Your Majesty, I have long since repented and will never err again.”

Kowtowing, Zhao Gao thought to himself: Truly, this is the heir of the First Emperor. The mind of an emperor is ever the same. I must serve him as I once served the First Emperor!

“Good.”

Fan Li nodded, his tone still stern.

“I do not trust you lightly, but I trust my ancestor. Since he has already chastised you, I believe you have changed.”

“Since the Empress must recover, I will read this chronicle while accompanying her. As for the bamboo slips, have them removed.”

Fan Li acted as if he accepted the chronicle only reluctantly, showing no greed for the treasures of the Immortal Palace.

The more he behaved this way, the more Zhao Gao revered and feared him.

“Your servant would not dare disturb Your Majesty and the Empress. I shall withdraw. At dawn tomorrow, I will return to serve.”

With three resounding kowtows, Zhao Gao backed away and left.

Once Zhao Gao’s figure vanished completely, Fan Li breathed a sigh of relief.

Pretending before a Grand Ascension cultivator was exhausting.

“Here.”

Fan Li handed the First Emperor’s Chronicle directly to Princess Changle, without a trace of reluctance.