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

"Don't treat the gentleman like that again."

"When you become the king, you must respect your teacher and make him your prime minister, so that your mother can rest assured."

Zhao Qian retorted unwillingly, "Who wants him to be prime minister!"

Once he becomes the King of Zhao, he will definitely find a way to kill Cao Ze!

When the Empress Dowager saw that Zhao Qian was no longer insane, she breathed a slight sigh of relief, taking it as Zhao Qian's angry words.

Cao Ze chuckled and said, "Your Highness doesn't care who you want to be prime minister."

With his back to the Empress, his face darkened, and he said to Zhao Qian in a sinister tone, "But Your Highness had better be obedient before you become the King of Zhao, otherwise it won't be good for any of us."

Zhao Qian was terrified, and a chill ran through his body.

Seeing this, Cao Ze smiled with satisfaction: "It seems Your Highness has understood. Let's end today's lesson here."

In front of Zhao Qian, he patted the empress's pert bottom without any restraint, which earned him a roll of his eyes from the empress.

But her body's instincts still compelled her to say, in front of Zhao Qian, in a seductive and alluring tone to Cao Ze, "Sir, you're so naughty~"

Cao Ze laughed and said, "I'm leaving now."

Seeing Cao Ze leave, Zhao Qian gritted his teeth and remained silent.

After regaining her composure, the Empress said softly, "Qian'er, Mr. Cao Ze is a good person. Don't always go against him, okay?"

Zhao Qian was like a powder keg that had been set on fire, and he exploded instantly.

"What's so good about him? Is it because he was having an affair with you in the palace?"

The Empress's face darkened: "Shut up!"

Zhao Qian said somewhat frantically, "Tell me to shut up? Are you afraid I'll use my mouth on you just now..."

The queen was both ashamed and angry. She lifted her long, trailing skirt and kicked Zhao Qian in the stomach with her high-heeled foot.

Zhao Qian was in so much pain that he rolled on the ground again.

The Empress Dowager said coldly, "I am your mother, show some respect!"

Zhao Qian, in excruciating pain, blurted out, "Cao Ze is a scoundrel, and you are a scoundrel too!"

Enraged, the Empress Dowager picked up a whip and mercilessly beat Zhao Qian.

Zhao Qian was once again overwhelmed by his old fears. "Don't hit me anymore, Mother. I was wrong."

After venting her anger, the chief threw down the whip and said, "You stay here and calm down, and reflect on your actions!"

She softened her tone and said, "Empress Dowager didn't want to hit you like this either."

"Your most important task now is to become the Crown Prince. Don't concern yourself with your mother's affairs. Just pretend you didn't know anything about them, understand?"

Zhao Qian was, after all, just a teenager. Although he was furious that Cao Ze and his mother were having an affair, he dared not complain at this time.

"My child, my child understands..."

He secretly vowed that the first thing he would do if he became the King of Zhao was to kill Cao Ze!

Cao Ze, who witnessed this scene from the shadows, smiled slightly.

He pretended to leave early, just to test the waters with the leader.

It seems the woman is alright; she's definitely addicted to his treasure.

That way he won't have to run away.

However, the Empress Dowager was quite something, as she could be ruthless even to her own son.

It seems this woman is truly selfish to the extreme; everything she does is solely for her own desires.

It can be said that Empress Chang was a woman who was true to her own desires.

He could clearly see that the Empress Dowager had no maternal affection for Zhao Qian.

If Zhao Qian hadn't been the guarantee of her future status, enabling her to become Empress Dowager like Zhao Ji, she might have silenced Zhao Qian.

Our ancestors were right: royalty is the most ruthless.

Cao Ze strolled leisurely toward the royal archives.

Zhao Qian did not take the matter of discovering the Empress and his affair to heart.

Just as he said, unless Zhao Qian didn't want to be the crown prince or the king of Zhao, he could only endure it and watch his mother and him have fun.

The archives of the Zhao royal palace contained most of the classic texts about the Azure Dragon and the Seven Mansions, which were obtained from the archives of the Zhou royal family.

Many countries participated in dividing up the Zhou royal family back then.

Most of the books in the Zhou royal archives were obtained by the states of Qin, Zhao, and Han.

Qin takes the lion's share, Zhao takes a smaller share, and Han gets a meager portion.

This is what Cao Ze learned from Ya Fei.

Unfortunately, more than a month has passed, and he has read through most of the ancient books about the Azure Dragon's Seven Mansions, but he still hasn't found any useful clues.

More than half an hour passed.

Just as Cao Ze was about to leave the archives to give a lecture at the Hundred Schools Forum, a man with an effeminate and beautiful appearance walked in.

"Mr. Cao Ze".

Cao Ze was somewhat surprised to see Han Cang. "Lord Han."

Han Cang glanced at the Keeper of Archives and said, "You go out first. I have something to say to Mr. Cao Ze."

The Keeper of the Archives of the Zhao Royal Court was quite young, quick-witted, and perceptive.

"This humble official will depart immediately."

After Cao Ze saw the Keeper of Archives leave, he paused slightly and said, "Lord Han, does His Majesty have something to tell you?"

He had just slept with Zhao Yan's wife, but he wasn't nervous at all.

I guess I've just gotten used to it.

Han Cang gently touched the bamboo slips on the bookshelf. "Mr. Cao Ze, His Majesty has nothing to instruct you on. However..."

He smiled faintly and said, "I do have some things I'd like to discuss privately with Mr. Cao Ze."

Zhao Yan's health has improved a bit these past few days, so he has some free time.

Knowing that Cao Ze had been frequently visiting the archives recently, they came to find him.

He knew that Zhao Yan probably wouldn't live much longer.

There are some things that need to be said.

His backup plan should be laid out by now.

Chapter 177 To Enjoy or to Die

Zhao Qian found it hard to accept the fact that his mother had been defiled by Cao Ze.

They left Chunqing Palace directly.

After struggling for a while, he gradually recalled the way of forbearance that Cao Ze had taught him.

Ultimately, he didn't choose to tell his father.

He wants to become the crown prince, and he wants to ascend the throne step by step. He must tear Cao Ze apart with five horses!

Zhao Qian left the palace and went directly to the Prime Minister's residence instead of returning to his own.

Only now did he truly realize that Guo Kai was the only person he could rely on, someone even his mother couldn't compare to.

Within the history of the archives.

When Cao Ze heard that Han Cang had something to discuss in secret, his first thought was the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions.

But he then rejected it.

"What brings you here, Lord Han?"

Han Cang stared into Cao Ze's eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips, and asked, "What is your opinion of Prime Minister Guo Kai, sir?"

Cao Ze quickly realized why Han Cang had come.

"The Prime Minister is a pillar of the court; how could I possibly comment on him?"

The sinister smile on Han Cang's face vanished, and his expression turned serious.

"Mr. Cao Ze, you don't need to play games with me."

"Now that things have come to this, I will not hide it from you. Although the king's health has improved, no one knows when an accident will happen."

"Mr. Cao Ze, you haven't forgotten how Guo Kaiming outwardly praised you but actually wanted to frame you, have you?"

Cao Ze remained noncommittal. If he hadn't been quick-witted and presented a slightly modified version of "On the Six States" to Zhao Ting, he might have been in trouble.

Seeing that Cao Ze remained silent, Han Cang continued, "Mr. Cao Ze, I don't have much time, so I can get straight to the point. Do you know why, after staying in Handan for so long, you still haven't been entrusted with an important task by the King?"

Cao Ze knew perfectly well that Guo Kai was constantly making things difficult for him and trying to undermine him. If he hadn't had no interest in navigating the officialdom of Zhao, he probably would have already gone to Guo Kai's side in the middle of the night to knock him out.

"Isn't it His Majesty who needs to recuperate?"

He pretended to be confused.

Han Cang's move was clearly intended to make him fight with Guo Kai. He's not stupid; why would he go looking for trouble?

At least on the surface, Guo Kai won't make things difficult for him.

After all, Guo Kai was the man behind King Zhao Yan, and he was the man behind the Queen.

Han Cang sneered: "Mr. Cao Ze, I don't know if you're really stupid or just pretending. Let me tell you, as long as Guo Kai is alive, as long as Guo Kai is still the prime minister, you shouldn't even think about being able to rise through the ranks in the officialdom."

Cao Ze stopped pretending to be stupid.

He placed the bamboo slips he was holding back on the bookshelf, feigning a sigh, and said, "Lord Han, even if I knew, what could I do?"

Han Cang glanced at the scroll Cao Ze was holding—"Tales of the Azure Dragon".

"Sir, you now only have two paths."

Cao Ze said, "Please speak, Lord Han."