"The He Shi Bi!"
Upon seeing the object in the box, Roy's eyes lit up as he carefully lifted it.
At this moment, the He Shi Bi jade was still in its complete state, not yet the famous jade that would lose a corner when Empress Dowager Xiaoyuan of Han threw it to the ground during Wang Mang's usurpation at the end of the Western Han Dynasty.
For people of China, the story of "Returning the Jade Intact to Zhao" is familiar to all. As for this imperial seal that would be passed down through generations only to disappear eventually, one couldn't help but harbor complex feelings.
Roy was no exception. He cradled the jade in both hands, gently stroking its cool surface as he examined the eight large characters inscribed: "Received the Mandate from Heaven, May the Emperor Lead a Long and Prosperous Life." In a way, this seal represented the imperial authority of Huaxia itself!
"Hmm?"
Roy suddenly let out a soft exclamation, realizing this was no ordinary piece of jade. Perhaps because the First Emperor designated it as the imperial seal, the jade had formed a connection with the dragon veins of the Huaxia land. In a sense, it had become an exceptionally rare magical artifact. Used properly, one could even harness the power of Huaxia's dragon veins to perform grand magic and rituals.
'No wonder it's called the Imperial Seal. This makes perfect sense in magical terms too.'
Roy sighed inwardly, then wondered why the First Emperor hadn't taken this jade into his tomb. With its power to mobilize the dragon veins of Huaxia, many of the First Emperor's ambitions and plans could have been accomplished more easily.
Roy's mind raced, quickly forming a plausible theory. Precisely because the He Shi Bi was connected to Huaxia's dragon veins, the First Emperor might have deliberately abandoned it. According to Su Daji, the First Emperor's goal was to evade the Counter Force. Using this jade connected to Huaxia's dragon veins as ritual material would be tantamount to announcing his presence.
Seeing Roy holding the imperial seal silently for so long, Liu Ji felt pleased, assuming his gift had delighted Roy. If Roy was happy, then she was happy too.
Beside them, Zhang Liang also felt relieved, thinking the King of Han truly understood diplomacy. Presenting the imperial seal to the Overlord of Western Chu clearly signaled his lack of ambition, helping to lower the latter's guard.
After all, what could a mere jade seal really accomplish? Could possessing it truly command the world? The seal had been in the possession of Qin's Prince Ying, yet in the end he still had to surrender it to save his life.
To conquer this vast land required more than just holding a jade seal.
"Such a precious gift from the King of Han brings me great joy!"
Roy carefully returned the imperial seal to its wooden box lined with soft silk to prevent damage.
He gave Liu Ji a deep look, causing the once majestic Emperor Gaozu-to-be to blush immediately. Her phoenix-like eyes sparkled with delight, all traces of her earlier solemnity gone.
'In the end, this seal will return to you anyway.'
With this thought, Roy raised his voice: "...Serve the dishes!"
Maids filed in once more, bringing forth all the dishes prepared for the feast. Though China was renowned for its cuisine, during these late Qin times the variety was limited, and many seasonings were yet to be introduced. To Roy, the food was merely passable—nowhere near the refined culinary arts of the modern era after centuries of improvement.
Of course, the late Qin Dynasty had its advantages, one being the absence of bans on consuming wild animals. Many species were abundant in those days, and regardless of the taste of the dishes, the mere presence of game was enough to whet one's appetite.
"Come, let me propose a toast to the King of Han!"
Roy clasped the jade cup with both hands and raised it in a distant salute. The alcohol of that era was rather weak, unrefined by distillation, and truth be told, not at all pleasant to drink. But the essence of a banquet lay in the atmosphere, not the quality of the food.
Liu Ji did not dare to slight the gesture and likewise raised his cup in return before draining it in one go.
Neither of them touched their jade chopsticks, instead beginning to toast and drink. The alcohol content wasn't high, and normally, Liu Ji was a woman who could hold her liquor. But today, for some reason, after just a few cups, she already felt dizzy and lightheaded. A rosy flush bloomed across her delicate cheeks, and her eyes seemed to shimmer with moisture.
"In all the world, the only true heroes are you and the King of Han!"
Roy sighed with emotion. In this era of the late Qin, warlords rose everywhere, and renowned ministers and generals emerged in droves. Yet whether it was the "God of War" Han Xin, the master strategist Zhang Zifang, the kings of Qi, Han, or Zhao, or even the First Emperor himself—all were merely supporting characters in this chaotic age. This was the era known as the "Chu-Han Contention."
When Cao Cao had spoken these words to Liu Bei, regardless of any political undertones, it had still been a slight underestimation of the heroes of the world. But when Roy said this to Liu Ji, it was nothing less than the absolute truth of their time.
Liu Ji's heartbeat quickened. The more she drank, the thirstier she became. Hearing Roy's words, her joy swelled even further, for this meant Roy acknowledged her—finally seeing her as an equal, someone he could converse with on level ground. No longer was she merely a subordinate under his command, devoid of autonomy.
But Zhang Liang, at this moment, was terrified. What did the Overlord of Western Chu mean by these words? Was he testing whether the King of Han harbored ambitions? He hurriedly glanced at Liu Ji, only to see her flushed and seemingly intoxicated. Assuming the King of Han was feigning drunkenness to evade answering, he finally relaxed, thinking how clever and composed she was.
Little did he know that Liu Ji was truly drunk—not from the wine, but from her heart.
It had to be said that overly intelligent people tended to overthink, dissecting every word for hidden meanings, their imaginations running wild like no other.
"Back in Pengcheng, I once told you that if the Duke of Pei could conquer the Pass, he would be granted the title 'King of Han,' ruling over the Guanzhong region."
At Roy's words, Zhang Liang's heart tightened. The main topic had finally arrived.
"Now, the Duke of Pei has fulfilled that promise. The title of King of Han is yours, but as for Guanzhong…"
Roy paused, rubbing the jade cup in his hand. The atmosphere of the grand banquet instantly grew tense. Liu Ji remained composed, her gaze tender as water as she looked at Roy. But Zhang Liang was on edge, feeling as though the Chu soldiers in the hall were glaring at them, waiting for the Overlord's command to strike the King of Han down where she sat.
Fan Kuai, who had been acting as Liu Ji's personal bodyguard, also eyed the Chu soldiers around them, already calculating how to seize their weapons and escort the King of Han to safety.
But when his gaze landed on Roy, his resolve instantly crumbled.
This Overlord of Western Chu was simply too powerful—invincible in battle, unstoppable in conquest, slaying hundreds with every campaign. He was like a demon god walking the earth—no, he was the Demon God King, existing on a plane far beyond mere mortals.
This wasn't some exaggerated legend from future history books that people might doubt. Among the warlords of the late Qin, who didn't know of the Overlord's peerless martial prowess, unmatched in all the world, unparalleled through the ages?
If he were to face the Overlord in battle, surviving even two exchanges would be nothing short of divine favor.
Fan Kuai despaired.