Daqin: The First Emperor Bestowed The Throne Upon Me

The wild boar, freshly hunted, was scalded in boiling water, its coarse bristles scraped clean with practiced ease. Zhao Yu wielded the sharp bronze knife with precision, slicing the beast into eight even portions. His movements were fluid, his butchering technique impeccable—there was nothing crude about it.

Lao Zhao, Wang Jian, and Meng Yi watched in surprise. They had expected Zhao Yu to have many talents, but they hadn't foreseen that his culinary skills would rival those of palace chefs.

Two hours later, a large pot of steaming hot wild boar stew, thick with tender meat and fragrant potatoes, was placed on the wooden dining table. Zhao Yu then brought out several bottles of high-concentration liquor—his own creation since arriving in this era. The clear liquid carried an intoxicating aroma, its strength exceeding 40 degrees.

As he uncorked a bottle, the rich scent filled the air. Wang Jian, ever the straightforward one, immediately licked his lips and called out, "Lao Yu, pour me a cup. This old man's throat is already dry."

Zhao Yu, however, raised an eyebrow and replied with a calm but firm voice, "One thousand coins covers the meal, but the wine… that will cost extra."

The table fell silent. Wang Jian, Meng Yi, and even Lao Zhao, the mighty First Emperor in disguise, were momentarily stunned.

Meng Yi, his brows furrowing, asked in disbelief, "Lao Yu, aren't we brothers? Have we ever paid for a drink before?"

Zhao Yu, unshaken, replied matter-of-factly, "You eat here every day. Do you think the meat and wine appear out of thin air? Even feeding a pig costs money, let alone three full-grown men."

Lao Zhao chuckled at Zhao Yu's audacity but, eyeing the fine liquor, made a decisive move. "Fine, I'll pay for all three of us. How much do you want?"

Zhao Yu raised a single finger.

Wang Jian, quick to assume, asked, "One hundred coins?"

Zhao Yu shook his head.

Meng Yi's expression darkened. "A thousand?"

Zhao Yu nodded and calmly clarified, "A thousand per person."

"…."

The trio exchanged glances, their expressions complicated. Wang Jian, in particular, was tempted to grab the wine outright, but considering Zhao Yu's strength—he had single-handedly killed a wild boar with his bare palm—he thought better of it.

In the end, Qin Shi Huang sighed and signaled Meng Yi to pay the fee. After all, a thousand coins for fine wine was nothing to him.

Zhao Yu happily pocketed the money. In his eyes, the three men before him were no longer just drinking companions but walking gold mines.

"Come! Cheers!" he said, grinning as he clinked cups with the others.

The drinking battle commenced. Zhao Yu, despite being outnumbered, drank them under the table. Within an hour, both Wang Jian and Meng Yi were completely intoxicated, leaving only Qin Shi Huang with a hint of sobriety.

At one point, Wang Jian, cheeks flushed red, staggered over to Zhao Yu and blurted out, "Lao Yu, do you have a wife?"

Zhao Yu, caught off guard, shook his head. "No."

Wang Jian's eyes sparkled with excitement. "That's perfect! This old man's daughter is the pearl of my house, a true beauty. I think… you two would make a great match!"

Zhao Yu nearly choked on his wine. I just want to be your brother, and you want to be my father-in-law?

He could barely imagine Wang Jian's daughter—judging by Wang Jian's thick limbs and rugged features, it was better left unknown.

Inside Xianyang Palace

Zhao Gao, dressed in his elaborate eunuch robes, sat with an eerie smile on his face. Before him knelt a trembling eunuch, sweat dripping down his forehead.

"What do you need from this humble servant, Lord Zhao?" the young eunuch stammered.

Zhao Gao responded with a sudden kick to the eunuch's chest. The frail man was sent sprawling, coughing up blood.

"Tell me," Zhao Gao's voice was ice-cold. "What was the imperial physician's latest diagnosis of His Majesty? And why has His Majesty been making secret trips to the eastern suburbs?"

The young eunuch hesitated. Revealing such information could lead to the extermination of his entire family.

Zhao Gao, noticing the hesitation, smirked. From his sleeve, he produced a slave contract and waved it before the eunuch's eyes. "Your younger brother, Li Hu, is currently a slave in my residence. If you tell me what I want to know, I will release him. If not, I will burn him alive."

The eunuch's breath hitched. His younger brother was his only remaining family.

After a moment of torment, he clenched his fists and whispered, "Lord Zhao, I will speak. But please… spare my brother."

Zhao Gao's smile widened. "Good."

By the end of the conversation, Zhao Gao had everything he needed: Qin Shi Huang had less than three months to live, and His Majesty had secretly dispatched the Xuanwu Guards to protect a man named Zhao Yu in the eastern suburbs.

Zhao Gao's expression darkened. His moment had come. If His Majesty died, he could seize power. But why was the Emperor so concerned with this Zhao Yu?

"Someone!" Zhao Gao called.

A figure emerged from the shadows—a trained assassin, his eyes filled with bloodlust.

"You will investigate Zhao Yu in the eastern suburbs. Do not alert him. If discovered…" Zhao Gao's gaze was cold.

The assassin bowed. "If discovered, I will take my own life."

Silently, he melted back into the darkness.

Meanwhile, at Zhao Yu's table…

The drinking continued, but Qin Shi Huang, his mind no longer on the wine, turned to Zhao Yu with a serious expression.

"Lao Yu, I heard today that His Majesty has less than three months to live. Is it true?"

Zhao Yu, surprised by the question, nodded. "If His Majesty keeps taking those pills, then yes."

Meng Yi furrowed his brows. "Pills?"

Zhao Yu sighed. "The so-called elixirs in Xianyang are all scams. They're made of lead and mercury—pure poison. Even a small dose could kill a rat. His Majesty has been taking them for years."

The revelation stunned them. Qin Shi Huang's expression darkened. Wang Jian, however, had been by his side long enough to know exactly what this meant—if the Emperor verified this information, the alchemists of Xianyang would not live to see another sunrise.

After a long silence, Zhao Yu added, "Lao Zhao, judging by your clothes, you seem like a merchant. If you ever meet someone with access to the palace, tell them to warn His Majesty—the medicine must stop."

Qin Shi Huang and Wang Jian exchanged glances. After a moment, Lao Zhao chuckled. "Lao Yu, you're sharp. Yes, we're merchants who travel frequently to Xianyang. We might even have a chance to pass along the message."

Zhao Yu smiled knowingly. "Then I'll leave it to you."

Lao Zhao, still deep in thought, refilled his cup. His mind was elsewhere—on the looming battle for the future of the empire.