Chapter 918: The Temple of Ancestors

duty, but I have always been diligent and never slacked off, for fear of disappointing Your Highness's grace."Li Chen said with a smile that wasn't quite a smile: "It's true that I don't dare to be ne...Chapter 918: The Temple of Ancestors

Inside the Taimiao Temple, the vast open space has a whole wall facing the entrance dedicated to portraits of all the former emperors of the Qin Dynasty.

In the very center, prominently displayed, is a portrait and shrine dedicated to Qin Shi Huang, the founding emperor of the Qin Empire.

Next come Emperors Taizong, Shengzong, Gaozong, and others.

Blood relations wise, these figures in the paintings are the ancestors of Li Chen, the person inhabiting this body now.

To Li Chen's surprise, inside the Taimiao Temple, there was also a middle-aged man in his fifties wearing a blue robe and white soap, with gray hair but a strong and powerful build, who was sweeping.

Li Chen saw him when he looked up and saw Li Chen.

Neither party knew the other.

But upon meeting at the Taimiao, they both developed a certain curiosity about each other's identities.

"Who are you" Li Chen asked first.

The man put down his broom and said, "Just ordinary people of the Qin Dynasty."

Li Chen was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "There are countless people in the Great Qin Dynasty, but only a handful can enter here."

"It's extreme."

The man nodded and looked up at the portraits and spirit tablets of the emperors of all dynasties. "This is the Temple of Ancestors. Apart from the Son of Heaven, only those who have contributed to the country can enter. Young friend, you don't seem to be an official. Ordinary officials wouldn't come to the Temple of Ancestors unless it was a grand sacrificial ceremony. And with your bearing, you must be a member of the royal family."

"Although there are many descendants today, only two of your age are still alive. Are you the current Crown Prince or King Zhao"

"You dare to inquire about this palace's identity first"

Li Chen's self-proclaimed statement already answered his question.

"So it's the Crown Prince today."

The man smiled meaningfully. Upon learning of Li Chen's identity, he didn't appear particularly awed or nervous, but rather as if it were expected all along.

Before Li Chen could speak, he continued, "Over the three hundred years of the Qin Empire, I have admired three emperors for their extraordinary bearing. The first is Taizu, who rose from humble beginnings as a true peasant. Looking at all dynasties throughout history, most founding emperors came from wealthy families, noble lineages, or military backgrounds. Only our Qin Dynasty's founder was born into peasantry, having lived as a beggar and even a monk before leading millions of soldiers and conquering the Central Plains."

"It is unprecedented."

And the other was the Seventh Emperor, Emperor Jingren of Qin.

Li Chen became interested and said, "The paper on military strategies, the first of the Taizu, naturally has nothing to say. But Emperor Jingren, while not particularly outstanding in martial arts, and only mediocre in literature, why do you give him such a high evaluation"

The man smiled and said, "In terms of martial arts, the Emperor Wu before Emperor Jingzong was undoubtedly the second-best after Taizu among the Seventeen Emperors of the Great Qin Dynasty. Before ascending to the throne, he had already made a name for himself in the army. As a prince, he swept through domestic rebellions, and after ascending to the throne, he led three expeditions in person, pushing the border line forward by more than 400 miles. He was the only emperor of the Great Qin Empire who expanded its territory. It was his achievements that led to the existence of Yueya Pass today."

“Following Emperor Jingzong, Emperor Wen inaugurated the era of literary peace, which lasted for thirty years. The entire Qin Empire reached its peak in terms of people's livelihood. The commoners lived peacefully and contentedly, with envoys from all over the world flocking to the empire, awed by the grandeur and strength of Qin. At that time, granaries overflowed, every household dined on meat and rice porridge, literary circles flourished, and foreign powers dared not even approach. It was a rare period of prosperity.”e. Whether or not he kills is his business, whether or not I can stop him is mine."Li Chen's words caused Gong Huiyu to frown slightly, feeling a little annoyed.She felt that what Li Chen said, both e...