People in the Qin Dynasty, entertained during the Warring States period

Cao Ze paused for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty, during this time..."

He didn't care whether Zhao Yan lived or died.

I just don't know if, because of my actions, Zhao Yan, who was supposed to die in three or four years, will die this year instead.

He slowly and methodically propped his head up with one hand, his legs crossed.

"As for him, Imperial Physician Li went to see him today and said that he was awakened by a thunderclap last night, which caused him to be absent-minded and he needs to rest. Apart from Han Cang, I can't even go to see him at will."

At this point, the Empress Dowager said with some regret, "What a great opportunity! It's a pity that Qian'er hasn't become the Crown Prince yet, otherwise I would definitely make sure he doesn't live to see the spring."

Cao Ze smiled faintly, "Why is Your Majesty in such a hurry? His Highness is still young. This Zhao Kingdom will belong to Your Majesty sooner or later."

The Empress smiled charmingly and said, "It belongs to me and to you, sir. When the time comes, I will have Qian'er recognize you as her uncle. You must help Qian'er well."

The reason we don't use the term "false father" is because "false father" is a derogatory term for a man who has an improper relationship with the monarch's mother.

"Zhongfu" is a respectful title used by the monarch to address an important minister, meaning to treat him as a father and to give the minister a position of respect second only to his father.

Cao Ze chuckled, "I will definitely help Prince Qian become the Crown Prince."

"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister requests an audience."

The queen's trusted maidservant reported this from outside the house.

Cao Ze was slightly taken aback, then said, "I'll avoid suspicion first."

The woman grabbed Cao Ze and said with a coquettish smile, "Sir, there's no need for this. Guo Kai saw it, so he saw it."

She called out, "Let him wait inside the hall."

"Yes."

The palace maid quickly left.

Cao Ze frowned slightly. "Your Majesty, does Guo Kai already know about our relationship...?"

The Empress casually wiped her body, which had been soiled by Cao Ze, and said indifferently, "I know, I mentioned it to him. But you don't need to worry, sir, Guo Kai wouldn't dare to tell anyone."

A faint black line appeared on Cao Ze's forehead.

Stupid, absolutely stupid.

No wonder Guo Kai has been looking at him strangely these days, and his laughter seems inexplicable.

Given Guo Kai's shrewdness, he certainly wouldn't easily reveal it, especially while Zhao Yan was still alive.

But if Zhao Qian becomes the crown prince, Zhao Yan will be dead.

This weakness is enough for Guo Kai to control him.

After all, Zhao Qian hated him to the core.

If the Empress Dowager were to help him become Prime Minister, Guo Kai would definitely turn against her.

He instigated Zhao Qian to arrange for three hundred axemen to chop him into mincemeat outside his mother's house.

Of course, all of this is predicated on the fact that he is still in the State of Zhao.

Fortunately, I didn't plan to stay in Zhao, otherwise, it would have been a complete disaster from the start.

Chapter 167 No way, no way!

Guo Kai waited in the Chunqing Palace for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

His expression changed slightly when he saw the Empress and Cao Ze appear together.

He then looked at the only palace maid beside him, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

The Empress Dowager scoffed, "Prime Minister, what does this mean? Do you intend to kill my family?"

Guo Kai paused for a moment, his tense face relaxing. The Empress was not so foolish as to be beyond redemption.

"Your Majesty is too kind. I am merely worried..."

The empress glanced seductively at Cao Ze beside her, then lightly waved her sleeve and said, "Let's come in and talk."

Guo Kai watched as the courtesan casually put her arm around Cao Ze's shoulder, just like a courtesan entertaining a guest, and his lips twitched slightly.

The king is not dead yet.

Afterwards, the Empress took Guo Kai to the secret room where Cao Ze had been playing.

Everything here was meticulously arranged by her, so that she could handle Zhao Yan's sudden visit with ease.

She was fully aware of what she was doing, but she couldn't control herself and could only scheme and plot.

Guo Kai inadvertently glanced at a corner of the room and saw a small pile of tattered clothes.

With a quick glance, he noticed the messy bedding and clothes on the bed.

And some things that evoke vivid and suggestive images...

Guo Kai took a light breath and looked at the empress, whose face was rosy and whose eyes were like spring water.

This woman, could she have just been with Cao Ze...?

He suppressed the urge to curse the prostitute.

Cao Ze held the tea that the Empress Dowager brought him barefoot and drank it silently.

Empress Zhang made no attempt to hide her affection for Cao Ze from Guo Kai.

It can be said that they took great care of them.

"What brings you here, Your Excellency, to my palace?"

Upon hearing this, Guo Kai said with a worried expression, "I just left the Dragon Terrace Palace. Your Majesty's health, which had just improved, seems to have deteriorated again due to the thunder last night."

He paused, then said, "I inquired with Physician Li, who just went in, and the situation is not optimistic. Your Majesty may not live to see the weather warm up."

The Empress Dowager exclaimed, "How is that possible? Physician Li told me this morning that His Majesty's life was not in danger."

Guo Kai was stunned, then suddenly realized that he had always heard that Physician Li and the Empress were related, and it must be true.

"It's already noon..."

At this point, Guo Kai frowned and said, "In any case, the King's health cannot collapse at this time; at least we must hold out until the end of the year."

If Zhao Yan had died when Zhao Jia was still the crown prince, all his schemes would have been thwarted.

The Empress Dowager said bitterly, "Those things that should be dead but aren't, and should be alive but aren't!"

Guo Kai was speechless.

Thinking of the private dance hall that Empress Zhang had opened years ago, a place for singing and dancing, he silently grieved for Zhao Yan for a moment.

These women are indeed selfish, greedy, and self-serving.

They have no emotions; they are all loyal to their own desires.

"Your Majesty, what should we do now?"

After calming down, she said, "You are the Prime Minister, what do you say?"

Guo Kai smiled wryly and said, "I am indeed the Prime Minister, but I do not know anything about medicine, nor am I a god."

The empress squinted her beautiful eyes, "Isn't Physician Li at all capable of doing anything?"

"Physician Li only said four words: 'Wait and see.'"

Guo Kai sighed, "This is the only way now."

He remained silent after making the proposal.

She had strictly ordered Physician Li to use every possible means to keep Zhao Yan alive.

It seems there's really no other way.

The only one to blame is Zhao Yan for his youthful arrogance and lack of self-control, which led to the breakdown of his health.

She had no idea that she had given Zhao Yan a larger dose of the drug because she wanted to have an affair with Cao Ze.

Cao Ze sipped his tea, remaining indifferent to the matter.

He found it very interesting.

It evokes a feeling similar to Pan Jinlian's desire to seize Wu Dalang's family fortune but failing to do so.

"Sir, what do you think?"

Cao Ze chuckled inwardly. What did he think? He was watching it like it was a joke.

"Things have come to this..."

Before Cao Ze could even offer a perfunctory reply, the Queen's personal maidservant quickly announced from outside the secret chamber, "Your Majesty, the King has sent Han Cang to see Mr. Cao Ze!"

Cao Ze was stunned.

What the heck? We've been exposed? Are we going to run away?

The Empress's face, which had been flushed from Cao Ze's touch, was now deathly pale. She suddenly glared at Guo Kai and shouted hoarsely, "Did you tell Zhao Yan?"

"That's not the truth. The truth isn't that foolish!"

Guo Kai calmly said, "Let's go out first."

There was nothing unusual when he left Longtai Palace.

The woman looked at Cao Ze, her voice trembling slightly, and said, "Sir..."

Cao Ze remained silent, quietly sensing his surroundings, and found no signs of violence.

"Your Majesty, do not worry, it may just be a coincidence."

Upon careful consideration, he realized that he had entered "blatantly," in broad daylight, using the palace token given to him by Zhao Yan.

It's normal for Zhao Yan to know that he was in Chunqing Palace.

The only flaw is that Zhao Qian is not in the palace at this moment.

Cao Ze slightly reassured the Queen to prevent Han Cang from noticing anything amiss.

Inside the main hall.

Han Cang looked anxious. If it weren't for maintaining etiquette, he would have paced back and forth in the hall to calm his chaotic thoughts.