The Deepest Affection in Qin's Time

The worst-case scenario is that Donghuang Taiyi kills Cao Yuan, putting his mother in danger.

The current situation has become a dilemma, like being caught between a rock and a hard place.

Ying Zheng closed his eyes and shook his head slightly.

After understanding Ying Zheng's meaning, Donghuang Taiyi breathed a slight sigh of relief.

He didn't want any rift with Ying Zheng unless absolutely necessary, but he also couldn't bear to risk his life against Cao Yuan for it.

In his view, although Ying Zheng's mother, Zhao Ji, was the Queen Dowager of Qin, it was a blessing for her to become Cao Yuan's woman.

How many people in the world can be as strong as them?

Even though Zhao Ji and Ying Zheng were both noble figures, like the Empress Dowager and the King of Qin, they were still just ordinary people.

To put it bluntly, they're nothing but ants.

"Forehead……"

Cao Yuan was somewhat surprised and speechless when he saw Donghuang Taiyi leave without looking back.

He genuinely wanted to spar with Donghuang Taiyi and test his current strength.

Somewhat disheartened, Cao Yuan lightly touched the ground with his toes, stepped into the void, and flew towards Ying Zheng.

The imperial guards surrounding Ying Zheng immediately went on high alert, drawing their bows and aiming their arrows at Cao Yuan.

However, Ying Zheng suddenly reprimanded the Imperial Guards and ordered them all to leave.

The Imperial Guards looked at each other, hesitated, and then withdrew.

Cao Yuan looked down at Ying Zheng from his high vantage point.

Ying Zheng tilted his head back and looked at Cao Yuan, who was about the same age as him, with some displeasure.

"Cao Yuan, I admired your talent, but I never expected you to do such a despicable and vile thing!"

Cao Yuan coughed lightly and smiled, "There's no other way. The Empress Dowager is so kind as to refuse, so I have no choice but to reluctantly accept."

"..."

Ying Zheng almost vomited blood upon hearing this.

Do you mean people?

But who was Ying Zheng?

He suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice, "What do you intend to do to the Empress Dowager?"

Cao Yuan smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty, as I have already said, your mother and I are mutually in love and our hearts are in harmony. Naturally, I will not do anything to the Empress Dowager; I will only treat her well for the rest of my life."

After he finished speaking, he left.

He was just greeting Ying Zheng; he didn't mean anything by it.

Ying Zheng watched Cao Yuan's departing figure, trembling with rage.

Zhao Gao and the Six Sword Slaves, who were standing not far away, were also trembling with fear.

As insiders, they were all to be silenced should Ying Zheng have any intention of killing them.

Fortunately, Ying Zheng did not do that, but he still ordered them to find Cao Yuan and others and bring the Empress Dowager back. He also strictly forbade them to utter a single word about it, or they would be killed without mercy!

On the other side, as soon as Cao Yuan left the Qin Palace, he encountered Zi Nu, Yan Ling Ji, and Zhao Ji, who was sleeping in the arms of the Marquis.

While Cao Yuan and Donghuang Taiyi were fighting, the three women had already secretly arrived.

Upon seeing Cao Yuan, Zi Nu solemnly said, "We can't stay in Xianyang any longer; we need to leave quickly. The entire Yin-Yang School has been mobilized to secretly investigate our whereabouts, clearly determined to obtain that box."

Cao Yuan nodded.

Although things took a turn for the worse and he had to leave, he had already exceeded his goal of coming to Qin and obtained two bronze treasure boxes.

Moreover, although the intelligence network built for Zi Nu was not perfect, it laid the foundation and could be restarted once the storm had passed.

After Cao Yuan, Zi Nu, Yan Ling Ji, the Marquis, and Zhao Ji successfully left the city, they did not immediately set off for Xinzheng. Instead, they rested outside the city for a few days to observe the wind direction and movements within Xianyang.

When Zi Nu learned from Xianyang that Qin had no intention of sending troops to destroy Han, they were relieved and returned to Xinzheng in a carriage.

This was all thanks to Cao Yuan's act of feigning injury with Han Fei to avoid any unforeseen circumstances. Although it might not have fooled those who were interested, in the eyes of the world, Cao Yuan had gone to Qin because he was not appreciated for his talents in Han.

Even if Ying Zheng wanted to vent his anger, he would first need to know how deep the relationship was between Cao Yuan and Han Fei.

Otherwise, he would not have easily complied with Lü Buwei's wishes, sent troops to Han, and allowed Lü Buwei to further consolidate his military power.

Cao Yuan and the women were not in a hurry to return to Xinzheng. They traveled at their own pace, enjoying the scenery, cultivating their minds, appreciating nature, and consolidating their cultivation.

More than half a month passed before they finally returned to Xinzheng.

After Cao Yuan returned to Xinzheng, Han Fei, upon receiving the news, immediately went to Cao Yuan's residence to secretly meet with him.

However, when Han Fei saw Zhao Ji serving tea and water to Cao Yuan with a smile on her face, his eyes widened and he was completely taken aback. His expression was incredibly interesting.

As the Queen Dowager of Qin, Zhao Ji was the most noble and powerful woman among the seven states.

He had naturally seen Zhao Ji's portrait through various channels, so he recognized her at a glance.

But at that moment, he wished he were blind so he could see nothing.

Isn't this just messing with people's mentality?

Chapter 161 Numb

"What happened? Why did you bring the Queen Dowager of Qin back?"

After Zhao Ji left the council hall, Han Fei finally couldn't help but ask.

Cao Yuan put down his teacup and pretended to sigh, saying, "This matter is a long story, too complicated to explain in a few words. Please listen to me slowly."

"In short, the Empress Dowager Qin took a liking to me and insisted on remarrying me. I had no choice. In order for us to successfully establish an intelligence base in Xianyang, I had to sacrifice myself. Who knew that something unexpected would happen afterward..."

Cao Yuan embellished the whole story and told it to Han Fei.

Han Fei is in an even worse state now, almost questioning the meaning of life.

For some reason, a question suddenly popped into his mind.

If Cao Yuan really wants to marry the Queen Dowager of Qin, what will happen to his younger sister?

Should we make his younger sister a concubine?

But if his younger sister wanted to become Cao Yuan's wife, wouldn't the Empress Dowager Qin become a concubine?

If the Qin state finds out that the Queen Dowager of Qin married Cao Yuan as a concubine, what would happen?

Unless Cao Yuan leaves Han, will Qin let Han off the hook?

Even though he no longer has any official relationship with Cao Yuan...

"I think you should send this great deity back to Qin as soon as possible."

Han Fei carefully considered his words and offered advice to Cao Yuan.

To be honest, even if the King of Qin were on his territory, he would still consider whether or not to do something to the King of Qin.

But after the Empress Dowager Qin took over, he completely lost that idea.

Just kidding, everyone knows that the King of Qin and the Queen Dowager Qin relied on each other for survival in Handan back then, and had a deep bond between mother and son.

Cao Yuan chuckled and said, "Do you think that's possible? Not only would the Empress Dowager Qin be unwilling, but I wouldn't be either. Besides, if we really did that, do you think the King of Qin wouldn't know about our relationship? The Empress Dowager Qin just served you tea."

After hearing Cao Yuan's words, Han Fei looked at the teacup he had just taken a sip from and felt as uncomfortable as if he had swallowed a fly.

It's numb, it's numb, this time it's really numb!

I was really careless this time; I didn't flash it!

Han Fei struggled to mentally prepare himself, forcing himself to accept the harsh reality before him.

"You should try to avoid showing your face during this time... um."

Han Fei sighed and said, "I should have known better than to let you go to Qin."

He was initially pleased that he could successfully establish strongholds and spies in Xianyang, the capital of Qin, but he never expected this outcome.

This time, Cao Yuan didn't criticize his brother-in-law again, but nodded and said, "I understand."

He needed some quiet time to go into seclusion with the women and consolidate his cultivation.

Only in this way can the spiritual energy from the next bronze treasure box be absorbed.

Han Fei walked away with a sigh every three steps.

He had many impulses to abdicate the throne.

With someone like Cao Yuan around, it's really testing his mentality as the King of Han. He probably won't be able to sleep soundly at night.

Cao Yuan then settled into a regular life.

Besides creating babies with the women, his daily routine consists of consolidating his cultivation.

During the period when Cao Yuan neglected foreign affairs, the Qin state experienced several upheavals.

The conflict between royal power and the power of the prime minister is becoming increasingly intense.

Especially after the mysterious disappearance of Zhao Ji, the Empress Dowager Zhao.

Everyone is speculating whether the mysterious disappearance of Zhao Ji, the Empress Dowager, is related to Lü Buwei.

Otherwise, why would Ying Zheng have escalated the conflict with Lü Buwei so directly before he had assumed personal rule and come of age?

Of course, most people are unaware that this decision was made by Ying Zheng after witnessing the strength of Donghuang Taiyi, who was at the Celestial Realm.

Otherwise, given Ying Zheng's personality, he would never have done something so risky.

Soon, it was deep winter.

Outside Xinzheng City, a somewhat haggard and weary figure was leading six equally exhausted subordinates on their journey.

"I hope we can find the Empress Dowager..."

Zhao Gao looked at the guards at the gate of Xinzheng and muttered to himself.

After months of tireless investigation, they finally found some clues.

It is highly likely that the Empress Dowager and Cao Yuan were hiding in Xinzheng City.