Core premise: In 210 BC, during Qin Shi Huang’s fifth eastern inspection tour, Zhao Gao and Li Si forged the emperor’s final decree, putting Hu Hai on the throne. The protagonist, Ying Che, a distant member of the Qin royal family and an officer serving under Meng Tian, unexpectedly obtained a pale jade disk engraved with the fragment “By Heaven’s command, may he live long and prosper.” Hidden inside it was the other half of the dragon tally tied to the Heirloom Seal of the Realm, along with a secret edict from Fusu.
- Key events: Ying Che witnesses Meng Tian being forced to commit suicide, then flees with the jade disk. Along the way, he meets the chivalrous Jing Li and the Mohist heir Chu Mo. The three sneak into Xianyang, hoping to contact Prince Ziying, only to fall into the “royal clan purge” trap laid by Zhao Gao.
- Twist: Ying Che believes Ziying is an ally, but discovers that Ziying has long been secretly aligned with Hu Hai and intends to use Ying Che’s jade disk to curry favor with Zhao Gao.
The writing is smooth and the pace is super comfortable. Both the main plot and the supporting characters are outstanding. I'm still unsatisfied after reading it. I must give it a five-star rating!