Chapter Eleven: Thunder Shakes the Xianyang Palace
Only then did Emperor Qin’s anger subside slightly. He turned to Meng Yi and said, “Send Xu Fu back immediately, and from now on, have him take one elixir pill daily, as per his instructions.”
At these words, Xu Fu collapsed to the ground, utterly defeated.
Originally, he had planned to use the elixir to refine his skills, petition for some requests, and set sail again. This time, he intended never to return, choosing instead to live out his remaining days peacefully on the newly discovered island.
Yet now, all those thoughts were utterly extinguished.
After the imperial guards took Xu Fu away, Emperor Qin’s conviction in Fusu’s words deepened even further.
Not even Meng Yi had anticipated that things were truly as Fusu described—it was simply unbelievable.
The emperor then looked toward Zhao Gao and asked, “Which prison cell has Fusu been confined to?”
Zhao Gao hesitated and dared not answer. Instead, he glanced at Meng Yi.
Meng Yi finally responded, “Your Majesty, he is imprisoned in the same cell as the alchemists.”
Qin Shi Huang’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Why there?”
Meng Yi was uncertain but explained, “Perhaps because the alchemists’ prison, though it appears to be a cell, is actually an alchemical workshop. The conditions in other cells are far more severe...”
The emperor nodded approvingly. “Good, very thoughtful.”
Seeing the emperor’s expression soften, Zhao Gao added, “Your Majesty, the alchemists’ prison has always been reserved for punishing royal family members. It was left vacant for some time and only recently put back into use.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Shi Huang’s mind raced.
Alchemists!
Confucian scholars...
Consort Li had been introduced by a great Confucian scholar, and Fusu was quite close to these scholars.
When the treacherous ministers Lu Sheng and Hou Sheng fled after accepting bribes, Fusu had even pleaded on their behalf!
The thought enraged the emperor further.
These Confucian scholars deserved death!
Suddenly, Qin Shi Huang looked at Meng Yi sharply. “Investigate who arranged for Fusu to be with those alchemists.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
As Meng Yi was about to leave, the entire hall suddenly trembled.
Then, a thunderous roar, like the crack of celestial thunder, echoed through the palace of Xianyang.
Immediately, everyone in the hall was shaken to the core, frozen in place.
What on earth was happening?
---
Within the prison of Xianyang Palace, in a small cell, thick smoke billowed forth.
Imperial guards rushed in, faces filled with terror as they stared at the gaping hole blasted into the roof, unsure of how to respond.
As the smoke cleared, two figures emerged, covered in soot—Prince Fusu and the alchemist Shi Sheng.
Though they had taken protective measures from a distance, the explosive force had been overwhelming, leaving them blackened like coal.
Yet Shi Sheng’s bright eyes shone with unrestrained joy. “Old Six! We’ve succeeded!”
“You truly are Old Six! Without you, how could we have forged celestial thunder?”
Fusu, hiding his identity under the alias Ying Liu, pushed Shi Sheng’s eager hand away with disdain.
“Success? That’s hardly success! Your celestial thunder is far too unstable.”
“We must create those black granules—only then is it truly successful! Keep working, keep working!”
Watching nearby, Han Zhong’s mouth dropped open in disbelief.
He had initially scoffed at their alchemical pursuits, especially when Fusu had boldly claimed he would create celestial thunder.
But in just a few days, they had really done it!
That deafening blast—wasn’t that the celestial thunder itself?
Han Zhong’s interest was piqued.
Though a bit embarrassed, he could not help but covet their method for forging celestial thunder.
Eventually, he awkwardly joined their discussion.
Fusu bore no grudge for Han Zhong’s previous coldness and generously explained their process.
As Han Zhong listened, his eyes brightened more and more.
---
Back in the imperial study, the courtiers’ faces changed after the tremendous explosion.
Qin Shi Huang frowned. “What was that noise?”
It seemed to come from the place where the alchemists were confined.
Could it be that something had gone wrong with their elixir refining, causing an explosion?
But how could such a blast occur from a mere furnace explosion?
Zhao Gao gasped, “Your Majesty, could it be divine thunder from heaven’s punishment?”
As the official in charge of rituals, he was well-versed in omens and portents.
After all, the ruler’s preferences inevitably influenced those below.
Hearing this, the emperor’s expression darkened.
If Heaven truly had sent down thunder as punishment, the implications would be dire.
Unable to remain seated, Qin Shi Huang rose and strode out of the hall, casting a distant gaze toward the alchemists’ prison.
He faintly saw black smoke rising, with occasional flickers of fire.
Fury blazed within him. “These useless, disruptive fools! If they cannot produce the elixir, that is one thing, but to bring such calamity upon me!”
“Send someone to investigate immediately. I want to know exactly what happened.”
Returning to the imperial study, Qin Shi Huang’s face remained grim.
Meng Yi and Zhao Gao looked equally perplexed.
A quarter of an hour later, an imperial guard hurried in. “Your Majesty, the investigation is complete.”
“It was the alchemists’ prison. The commotion was caused by… a furnace explosion.”
Qin Shi Huang sneered. “A furnace explosion?”
“Do you think your ‘furnace’ could cause such a noise?”
“Do you take me for a fool?”
“Impudent!” Zhao Gao immediately scolded, “Daring to deceive the emperor—do you value your life?”
The guard knelt, trembling and sweating, unable to respond.
It was indeed a furnace explosion!
Meng Yi said nothing in defense but questioned, “How could such a loud noise come from a mere furnace explosion?”
Sensing something amiss, Zhao Gao continued, “Your Majesty, I believe the alchemists staged an illusion to cover something up.”
The guard, sweating profusely, insisted, “Your Majesty, it really was a furnace explosion. Prince Fusu himself refined the furnace—I saw it with my own eyes!”
At these words, Qin Shi Huang’s anger erupted, and he glared, ready to storm out.
Meng Yi’s expression shifted as he followed, “Your Majesty, Prince Fusu—”
“Silence!” The emperor’s fleeting recognition of Fusu vanished instantly.
He roared with fury, “How bold this traitorous son is!”
“Once, I thought him a learned sage, versed in poetry and morality. And now, look at what this so-called sage has done!”
“As my legitimate eldest son, he should be focused on governing and stabilizing the realm. Instead, he stirs up such disasters that anger both heaven and man. How can I trust him as crown prince?”