How A Ride-Hailing Driver Comes To Dominate The World? [EN]: Chapter 708

708. I’m from the Year 2000

Yang Chen loaded as many weapons as the car could hold.

With that done, he prepared to head to the Qin Kingdom.

However, he paused, a thought striking him.

Rushing into the Qin Kingdom so recklessly might be dangerous.

What if Qin Shi Huang [the first emperor of China, known for his ruthlessness] didn’t accept him and ordered his soldiers to attack? He’d be riddled with bullets!

Yang Chen quickly got out of the car and searched online for information about Qin Shi Huang, wanting to understand him as thoroughly as possible before meeting him.

Yang Chen searched and recorded the most useful information.

Ying Zheng [Qin Shi Huang’s personal name] was born to Ying Yiren and Zhao Ji while Ying Yiren was a hostage in the Zhao Kingdom. He was said to have had a peculiar appearance from birth. In modern medical terms, Ying Zheng likely suffered from rickets, which led to pectus excavatum [a sunken chest] and asthma bronchitis. This foreshadowed his death from illness during his later tours.

In 247 BC, at the age of 13, Ying Zheng ascended the throne as the King of Qin. At that time, the Qin court was controlled by Chancellor Lu Buwei, who was also having an affair with Ying Zheng’s mother, Zhao Ji.

Later, Lu Buwei, unable to satisfy Zhao Ji’s desires, presented Lao Ai to her.

In 238 BC, Lao Ai rebelled. Ying Zheng, prepared for this, crushed the rebellion, captured Lao Ai, had him torn apart by chariots [a brutal form of execution], and killed the two children born to Lao Ai and Zhao Ji.

…

In 210 BC, Ying Zheng died in Shaqiu.

Yang Chen, worried he wouldn’t remember all this information, created a document and saved it on his phone.

Even though he couldn’t make calls or access the internet in that era, he could still view photos. Pulling it out at a critical moment might be helpful.

Regarding Qin Shi Huang’s health, Yang Chen needed to make some preparations.

Rickets, pectus excavatum, asthma bronchitis—he should bring some medicine, which might be helpful.

Qin Shi Huang pursued two things in his life: unifying the world and achieving immortality.

He didn’t know how old Ying Zheng would be when he traveled back, so Yang Chen decided to focus on helping him unify the world for now, preparing guns and ammunition. He would deal with the immortality issue later.

Star Chen Biotechnology did have a drug that could prolong life, which he could give to Qin Shi Huang.

This drug was an essence extracted from a large amount of blood. Just one injection required dozens of liters of blood, making it incredibly expensive.

After preparing everything, Yang Chen drove through the time portal and arrived in the Qin Kingdom.

A thin, somewhat sickly-looking teenager was staring at him in shock.

Yang Chen quickly scanned the surroundings. It was a courtyard, and only this teenager was present.

The teenager immediately drew his sword and shouted, “Who are you?”

Yang Chen quickly opened the car window and replied, “My name is Yang Chen. May I ask who you are? And where is this place?”

The teenager replied, “I am Qin King Ying Zheng, and this is my garden. You are Yang Chen? What are you doing here? Where did you come from? How did you suddenly appear? And what is this strange contraption?”

*He really is sickly,* Yang Chen thought.

“You are Qin Shi Huang, Ying Zheng? I am from the year 2000, here to help you. Oh, this is called a car, a means of transportation used by people in the year 2000, equivalent to your current chariot,” Yang Chen explained.

Ying Zheng looked shocked. “What did you say? You are from the year 2000? And you are here to help me?”

Yang Chen nodded. “Yes! What year is it now? Oh, and how old are you this year?”

“I am 21 years old this year,” Ying Zheng replied.

Yang Chen took out his phone and checked the information. When Ying Zheng was 21, he was about to take personal control of the government. At 22, he would hold his coming-of-age ceremony, and Lao Ai would launch his coup.

At this time, Ying Zheng probably didn’t know about the affair between Lao Ai and Zhao Ji.

Yang Chen nodded and said, “Then do you know about the affair between your mother and Lao Ai?”

“What affair?” Ying Zheng asked, confused.

“Lu Buwei has been having an affair with your mother for years. Seeing you growing up, he worried you’d discover it. To get rid of your mother, he shaved Lao Ai’s beard but didn’t castrate him, and presented him to her. Your mother and Lao Ai have been indulging in nightly pleasures, and they should already have two children. Go to the Li Palace and see for yourself. Oh, by the way, bring soldiers, because Lao Ai plans to kill you and let his and your mother’s children inherit the throne,” Yang Chen revealed.

Ying Zheng was furious. “How dare you! Insulting me and my mother! I will kill you myself!”

“Wait, wait, why are you so anxious? I really am from the year 2000, and everything I said is true. If you don’t believe me, go to the Li Palace and see for yourself. Or arrest Lu Buwei and interrogate him. If I’ve lied, I’ll raise my hands and accept your beheading. If it’s all true, find me a place to stay, and I’ll help you unify the six kingdoms as soon as possible and conquer vast territories. How about it?” Yang Chen proposed.

The temptation of unifying the six kingdoms was too great, perfectly aligning with Ying Zheng’s ambitions.

Yang Chen had considered being more subtle, finding a better time to reveal these things.

However, he figured Ying Zheng was an emperor of the ages. If he couldn’t handle this, he couldn’t be a great emperor, so subtlety was pointless. He decided to be direct.

And it seemed to work.

Ying Zheng was silent, then slowly sheathed his sword.

“Fine! I will verify it. If what you said is true, I will appoint you as chancellor, and you will assist me in unifying the six kingdoms. If it is false, I will kill you with my own hands!” Ying Zheng declared.

As the King of Qin, Ying Zheng wasn’t completely ignorant. He’d heard rumors, but dismissed them.

Now, he’d verify them.

Yang Chen nodded. “Okay, go verify it. I’ll wait here.”

Ying Zheng nodded and turned to leave.

Yang Chen felt safer in the car. If things went south, he could drive away. He wouldn’t let his guard down just because the other party was Qin Shi Huang. His life was paramount.

Ying Zheng urgently summoned Meng Wu and others, ordering them to take a small number of elite soldiers and follow him to the Chancellor’s residence.

Lu Buwei was reading at home when a guard ran in, panicked, and loudly reported, “Chancellor, Chancellor, something terrible! The King is here with General Meng Tian and others, and they’ve stormed in!”

Lu Buwei twitched, slowly put down his book, sighed, and said, “Understood. Order everyone in the residence to withdraw immediately. No one is to stay. Disobedience will be punished by death!”

The guard nodded and ran to convey the order.

Lu Buwei got up, straightened his clothes, and walked out to greet Ying Zheng. He’d barely taken a few steps when Ying Zheng arrived, radiating anger.

Lu Buwei quickly saluted. Ying Zheng said with a forced smile, “Uncle, no need to be so polite. I have some questions for you today, and I hope you’ll be truthful.”

Lu Buwei smiled and nodded. “Your Majesty can ask anything, and I will answer truthfully.”

“This matter is of great importance, and I want to speak with you alone,” Ying Zheng said.

Lu Buwei nodded and led Ying Zheng to the study.

Ying Zheng drew his sword and placed it on the table. Lu Buwei tensed.

“I want to ask, what is the relationship between you and my mother? I will ask only once, and I expect the truth,” Ying Zheng said, gripping the hilt.

Lu Buwei was stunned, sweating profusely.

Ying Zheng stared at him.

Finally, Lu Buwei knelt. “I deserve to die! I have had a private affair with the Queen Mother!”

Ying Zheng swayed, taking deep breaths to control his anger.

“What about Lao Ai?” Ying Zheng asked.

“I couldn’t resist the Queen Mother’s temptation, but as Your Majesty grew, I feared discovery. I wanted to end the affair, but the Queen Mother refused to be alone. I lived in fear. Later, I decided to present a younger, more virile man to her, so she would leave me alone. I chose Lao Ai, who was exceptionally talented, shaved his beard, but didn’t castrate him, and sent him to the Queen Mother. She was satisfied and no longer bothered me. From then on, I ignored their affairs,” Lu Buwei confessed.

Ying Zheng, enraged, picked up his sword and split the table in two.

“Your Majesty, calm down! I know my crimes!” Lu Buwei cried.

Ying Zheng calmed himself, then asked, “Do you know that Lao Ai and my mother have two children?”

Lu Buwei shook his head. “Your Majesty, I don’t know. I said I ignored their affairs. Where did you hear this? How could the Queen Mother be so foolish as to have children with Lao Ai, and two of them! Such outrageous news should be treated with caution!”

Ying Zheng sneered, then put the sword to Lu Buwei’s neck. Lu Buwei froze, terrified, but dared not beg.

After a moment, Ying Zheng withdrew the sword. “Because you served Great Qin, I will spare you today. But do the honorable thing. Don’t force me to help you.”

Ying Zheng turned to leave. Lu Buwei chased after him, kneeling. “Your Majesty, spare my life! I will accept banishment!”

Ying Zheng paused. “Heh… wait. I will deal with Lao Ai first.”

Lu Buwei said, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Ying Zheng stormed to the front yard and left with Meng Wu and the others.

“Your Majesty, where are we going? Should we send for more troops?” Meng Wu asked.

Ying Zheng shook his head. “You all return. I will go to the Li Palace alone to see my mother.”

Meng Wu and the others nodded and did not follow.

Ying Zheng arrived at the Li Palace. The guard was about to salute when Ying Zheng silenced him, whispering, “No one is to speak, or I will execute your entire family!”

The guards were silent, and Ying Zheng carefully opened the door.

Just inside the main hall, he heard children playing. His heart twisted.

Ying Zheng walked in. Two children ran out, wielding wooden swords modeled after Ying Zheng’s own, showing Lao Ai’s ambition.

The children had never seen Ying Zheng.

The older child raised his sword. “Who are you? Kneel before this King! I am the future King of Great Qin!”

“Haha… brother, this is fun! I want to play too! Hmph! I will also be the King of Qin! Kneel and salute!” the second child said.

Ying Zheng clenched his fists. He was about to draw his sword when a maid walked out. Seeing Ying Zheng, she knelt, terrified.

Ying Zheng silenced her, then squatted down, smiling at the children. “Who is your father?”

The eldest child said proudly, “My father is Marquis Changxin [Lao Ai’s title].”

The second child added, “My mother is the Queen Mother.”

Ying Zheng felt a crushing blow, struggling to breathe.

After a moment, he nodded, smiling, then got up and left.

The maid took the children to Zhao Ji and Lao Ai, who walked out.

The eldest child said, “Father, there was a big brother just now.”

Lao Ai asked, “Really? Who was it?”

The maid replied, “It was the King.”

Lao Ai’s legs gave way, and he collapsed.

The children didn’t understand. “Father, what’s wrong?”

“Why did you fall? Get up! We’ll help you!” the eldest said.

Lao Ai smiled awkwardly, got up, and told the maid, “Take care of them!”

He ran to Zhao Ji’s chambers.

Zhao Ji was at her mirror when Lao Ai burst in. “The King was here!”

The comb fell from Zhao Ji’s hand. She sat blankly, then asked, “Did he say anything?”

“Xiao Cui said he spoke to Ming’er and Yue’er before leaving,” Lao Ai said.

Zhao Ji was silent, then roared, “What are the guards doing? Why didn’t they report? What about the maids and eunuchs? Kill them all! A bunch of useless trash!”

Lao Ai hugged Zhao Ji. “Calm down! The thing I mentioned, you must decide now. Either he dies alone, or the four of us die. What do you choose?”