It can’t be helped. The man is the actual First Emperor of Qin, and that is his real name.
"System, I’ve discovered a serious issue. When you summon our ancestors here, how are we supposed to resolve their personal identity documents, like ID cards and household registers?" Zhu Yu suddenly blurted out this question. It was of the utmost importance—surely they couldn't just live as undocumented citizens?
Without an ID card, how was the production crew supposed to sign a contract with an ancestor?
The long-silent system finally responded: [Host, please rest assured. The system has prepared ID cards and household registers for Ying Zheng, with complete documentation. Every ancestor summoned hereafter will have the same, along with a background setting of having completed nine years of compulsory education. There is no need to worry, Host.]
Hearing this, Zhu Yu immediately felt relieved.
They had even completed compulsory education—clearly, the system had put in the effort. Regardless, as long as there were ID cards, that was enough; as for the education level, it didn't really matter if they were illiterate.
But she still had questions.
"What about the money Ying Zheng earns from working? Is there a limit to the scope of this 'work'?"
"And the skills he learns from your system—I noticed some of them could be learned in this era. What if Ying Zheng learns these skills here in modern times?"
In truth, this wasn't just an issue for Ying Zheng; every ancestor who arrived later would face the same problem. Many modern technologies were applicable and advanced even by ancient standards.
[Regarding your first question: the Host must not interfere with their work. The ancestors must use their own abilities to find a job and earn money; that is the system’s standard for judgment.]
[Regarding your second question: please do not worry, Host. Any technology Ying Zheng learns is ultimately intended to be taken back to the Qin Dynasty. Once he returns to his own era, the system will redact the knowledge he gained in this world.]
In short, it would all be for nothing.
Zhu Yu frowned. *The money he earns has nothing to do with me? Then he can’t work as an actor for me? No, wait, that’s not right. He still can. The system might not acknowledge the money the ancestors earn, but I do, and this era does!*
*Xingmang can survive!*
But...
"I can't interfere? How am I supposed to sit back and do nothing? These are our ancestors, they know absolutely nothing about this era!" Zhu Yu protested.
If they had to find jobs on their own, who knew how long that would take? She didn't deny the wisdom of the ancients, but the current job market...
"System, you really need to look into the current job-seeking climate. I’m not exaggerating—plenty of students graduating from legitimate universities are unemployed. In modern times, it’s not just about ability; it’s about credentials. Without a degree as a 'stepping stone,' how do you get anyone to notice you?"
Zhu Yu rattled off a string of arguments: "Just on the strength of a middle school diploma?"
Or did they want to try their hand at something that would get them written up in the *Criminal Law*?
[...] The system seemed to glitch.
The points the Host raised did seem valid. However, working was never easy to begin with.
Seeing the system's silence, Zhu Yu pressed her advantage: "I’m doing this for your own good. The system tasks should be completed as quickly as possible, right?"
"You systems aren't so rigid that you enjoy making life unnecessarily difficult, are you?"
[What the Host says... makes sense.] The system’s processes whirred silently for several rotations. This was its first mission—why had it designed such difficult parameters for itself?
A "ding" sounded as some of the system rules were updated.
[The Host may assist the ancestors in finding work, but may not coerce them. The salary must also be within a normal range, and you may not over-assist. The main program has specific criteria, and this unit 0208 cannot override them.]
Zhu Yu nodded, feeling somewhat satisfied. It was a good thing she had thought of these issues in time. If Brother Zheng had finished filming and the system suddenly declared his salary invalid, wouldn't that be a total waste of time?
During the few minutes Zhu Yu spent communicating with the system, the director and screenwriter had been asking Ying Zheng questions, all centered on him as a person or the IP of "First Emperor of Qin."
Ying Zheng answered without a single error. With three masters having mapped out the plans in advance, he naturally didn't slip up once.
As for Li Si and the others, seeing the Majesty use the content from the memorials they had written, they felt a sense of honor and were stirred with excitement.
"Director, my artist even kept notes for this role, written on bamboo slips!" In order to ensure the First Emperor’s audition went well, Zhu Yu remembered the thick stack of Qin slips she had seen earlier and spoke up quickly.
As she spoke, she gestured for Ying Zheng to bring out the bamboo slips.
"Bamboo slips?" The director was surprised. He watched as the newcomer pulled out a thick roll of slips; when he took it, his wrist sank abruptly from the weight.
The screenwriter curiously leaned in as well.
Opening the slips, the two men saw the text written in Small Seal Script and couldn't help but gasp.
This was extraordinary. This newcomer actually knew Small Seal Script; he must be a man of culture.
The director and the screenwriter had worked on Qin and Han period dramas before. Old-school dramas weren't as sloppy as modern ones—everything required meticulous research. They had studied Small Seal Script themselves.
Because they had studied it, they could read the content, and both were shocked once more: this was actually written in Classical Chinese!
The director sized Ying Zheng up, feeling very satisfied.
"President Zhu, the person you brought today is a real find!" He said, giving Zhu Yu a thumbs-up.
Just from the aura this newcomer had displayed moments ago, if President Zhu hadn't been sitting right there, the director would have been tempted to get swept into the role and shout, "Long live Your Majesty, long, long live!"
His acting was already barely adequate, but the dignity and presence of an emperor were there. That indescribable, majestic, and heroic quality about him added a great deal of points.
Coupled with these expensive, high-quality clothes—was this just a wealthy man here to fulfill a dream?
Thinking of this, it was no wonder Xingmang was able to come up with such a large sum of money to fill the gap when the previous investors pulled out.
In that case, wasn't this... a "Gold Master Dad"?
He looked at Ying Zheng, who seemed to be draped in a faint, golden glow.
The director and screenwriter exchanged a few private glances. They were old partners who had worked on several projects together; their personalities aligned, and a single look was enough for them to understand what the other was thinking.
He was cultured, handsome, his acting was up to par, and he had money. This role had to be his!
"President Zhu, the screenwriter and I are very satisfied with this new actor you brought. When should we sign the contract? The crew has been halted for several days now. Fortunately, most of the actors are relatively unknown and haven't quit, but if we drag this out, things might change. After all, everyone here is just working to make a living."
The implication was: let’s sign the contract quickly.
Ying Zheng watched the clumsy (in his eyes) eye contact between the screenwriter and the director, and his hypothesis was further solidified: so base and lowly, how could they possibly be immortals?
The shrewd, mercenary aura of businessmen was far too evident on these two men. Forget about the detached air of an immortal; their mere appearance wasn't convincing in the slightest.
Zhu Yu also urged, "No need to wait, Director. Let's do it now."
This ancestor could only stay for five days a week; with the system in place, the two-day weekend policy was strictly enforced. If they dragged it out any longer, the five-day window would be wasted.
Zhu Yu’s words resonated with the director and screenwriter. The two sides hit it off immediately, and they quickly printed the contract. During this time, the director’s gaze drifted to the long sword at Ying Zheng’s waist, and he said casually, "Oh, is this the 'King Bearing the Sword' (Wang Fu Jian) of the First Emperor?"
It was nearly 1.6 meters long, and the patterns on the scabbard looked quite exquisite.
Zhu Yu gave an awkward smile. "Yes, it is."
Ying Zheng frowned. *Wang Fu Jian?* What kind of name was that? He remembered none of his accessories having such a name.
After the contract was printed, both parties began the formal signing. Before signing, Zhu Yu added a reminder: "Director, there’s one more thing I need to mention in advance."
The director and screenwriter looked at her.
Zhu Yu said: "This artist only works five days a week, not a single day more."
The director and screenwriter were stunned. "Ah?"
Zhu Yu nodded firmly: "And those five days must be consecutive."
The two men opposite her frowned. Why would that be?
"This is a requirement from his family; I can't change it." Zhu Yu wasn't stupid. The clothes Ying Zheng wore, combined with his entire bearing—to outsiders, his family background was clearly not simple. Why not use that to their advantage?
When Ying Zheng heard this, he glanced at Zhu Yu, his eyes shimmering. The little immortal knew how to lie, too.
However, these words also soothed the director and screenwriter. *Normal, it's normal.* He was a rich man; if the money was right, working one day a week would be fine.
The two waved their hands, indicating it didn't matter. They could just adjust the filming schedule later.
But the peace they had just found was shattered when they saw the name on the actor's ID card.
The director stroked his scruffy beard several times, afraid he had misread it. He peered at it again and again, then said with a strange expression, "It really says 'Ying Zheng.' That surname is quite rare."
"Yes, indeed." The screenwriter nodded, adding jokingly, "Isn't it said that all the Ying family were killed by Huhai and Xiang Yu? That the lineage is extinct?"
These words dealt a massive blow to the two people in the room.
As soon as those words were uttered, Ying Zheng could no longer sit still. With a swift movement, he unsheathed the sword at his waist and slammed it onto the table.
What had he just heard? *Extinct?*
"What were those words you just spoke?" The voice was like a thunderclap, exploding in the ears of the four people present, filled with deep rage and disbelief.
In an instant, the blade sliced past the director and screenwriter’s necks. The gleam of the sword was blinding, scaring the two men so badly their legs gave out and they toppled to the floor.
Zhu Yu’s mouth twitched stiffly as she looked at the director and screenwriter, who were huddled together trembling, and the First Emperor, who had entered a state of pure fury. Assistant Fang, showing great situational awareness, dove under the table.
*It’s over.* She had originally planned to find a suitable time to break the news to Brother Zheng.
The cold light of the blade reflected in Zhu Yu’s eyes, and she swallowed nervously. Others might not know, but she was certain this sword had tasted blood.
In the Qin Dynasty, these words were also accurately transmitted to everyone currently watching the Skyscreen.
The Qin royal clan could no longer sit still.
They didn't know who Xiang Yu was—a surname of Xiang? From the State of Chu? But as for that "Huhai"—could there be a second person in the world with that name?