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

Zhao Qian's eyes turned sinister as he said, "I'm going to kill Cao Ze!"

"Ah? Your Highness, please don't! Cao Ze must not die now."

Guo Kai subconsciously tried to stop him.

It’s different in the past.

Now, Cao Ze is not only the mistress of the Empress, but also the object of attention of Consort Ya and the Crown Prince, and has even been praised by Li Mu and Pang Nuan.

Moreover, as a lecturer on the Hundred Schools Forum, his reputation has spread to almost every country.

It's fine after the advocacy.

If Cao Ze dies in Handan, Consort Ya, the Crown Prince, Li Mu, and others will definitely seize the opportunity to cause trouble.

Even he couldn't predict the consequences.

It's possible that Zhao Qian will not only fail to become the crown prince, but will also implicate him.

Zhao Qian's tone was frantic, "Guo Kai, that's my mother, not yours!"

"Can you tolerate your mother being treated like this by your enemy?"

"I can spare his life, but I'll cripple him! I'll make him a eunuch!"

Guo Kai's heart was pounding.

To be honest, what he's most worried about right now isn't Cao Ze or the Empress.

The Empress was one thing, but Cao Ze was definitely a man no less capable than him, and he certainly wouldn't easily expose his relationship with the Empress.

But Zhao Qian was different. He was just a teenager, like a powder keg. Who knew how he would explode?

If you can go with the flow, then go with the flow.

Compared to killing Cao Ze, it seems better to depose Cao Ze and have the Empress abandon him.

“Alright, Your Highness, I can give it a try, but Your Highness must follow my instructions.”

Zhao Qian gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! You're full of tricks, you do it!"

……

After finishing his lecture on the Hundred Schools Forum, Cao Ze leisurely went to Feixue Pavilion.

As soon as he entered, the scent of rouge wafted towards him.

Before my eyes were a group of beautiful young women and a group of elegant ladies.

They were all noble ladies from Handan, each seated and exchanging letters.

For a moment, he felt disoriented, as if he were surrounded by flowers, or as if he had entered a land of women.

Fluffy flowers gradually desire charming eyes.

He suddenly thought that if he went to all the girls in Qin Shi and they danced around him, wouldn't he be ecstatic?

"Hey, isn't that Mr. Cao Ze?"

"Hehe, you're here to see Princess Ya Fei, aren't you?"

"Pah, don't talk nonsense, it should be Yuki-onna."

……

Cao Ze was sharp-eyed and quick-witted, and easily noticed that many girls were discussing him with their close female friends.

These women generally came from wealthy families, and most of them were nobles.

Many of them have learned to read and write.

Cao Ze gave a warm, friendly smile to the girls who were secretly watching him.

He was thinking to himself, "Ya Fei really knows her stuff."

These women love gossip; with just a little attention, they can easily obtain all sorts of information.

By simply compiling the information and carefully discerning the situation, one can understand the state of affairs beneath the surface.

"Oh, Mr. Cao Ze is looking at me."

A pretty young woman looked at Cao Ze, who had a handsome face and a tall and straight figure, and showed a lovestruck expression.

Then, her two best friends bluntly retorted, "Would anyone even be interested in you?"

Handan has a very open atmosphere, but at this moment the building is full of wealthy ladies and young women, so they don't feel comfortable going up to Cao Ze to talk to him directly.

He could only watch Cao Ze go upstairs with a sigh, listlessly flipping through Dream of the Red Chamber.

Suddenly I understood why Daiyu was always so melancholic.

Upon arriving on the second floor, Cao Ze immediately felt a sense of peace and tranquility.

The air is much fresher now.

The natural fragrance of daughters is certainly delightful.

But it's perfect that you can only look at it from afar and not smell it up close.

Unlike the snow woman who was trying to snuggle up to him and hug his arm, she knew how to offer him gentle comfort.

Cao Ze and Xue Nu arrived at the dance studio, just as Li Ji had finished dressing in her gorgeous dance costume and putting on her exquisite makeup.

Ya Fei, holding a cup of hot tea in both hands, leaned against the wooden wall, watching with a smile as Xue Nu whispered something to Cao Ze.

"Xue'er, Li Ji is still waiting for you."

Xue Nu quickly whispered the last sentence in Cao Ze's ear, "Li Ji has heard that Qin is going to attack Wei and is going to ask you about it. Think carefully about what you want to say."

Cao Ze nodded slightly and gave Xue Nu a reassuring look.

The news that Qin was about to attack Wei had spread throughout Handan and could no longer be kept secret.

He felt a pang of pity at the thought of Li Ji's sorrow upon hearing of Puyang's fall.

In the chaotic Warring States period, not everyone could do whatever they wanted, not even Qin Shi Huang.

Never mind, I'll comfort Li Ji properly later.

Life goes on, doesn't it?

Chapter 182 The Conflict Between the King and the Minister (Part 2)

A light drizzle began to fall in Xianyang.

Lu Buwei rode in a low-key yet luxurious carriage toward the Qin Palace.

He lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the gloomy sky at Shenshi (3-5 PM), and his mood became melancholy.

The debate with Ying Zheng was not as smooth as it had been at the beginning.

This intelligent King of Qin seemed to be a born ruler.

They possessed a keen insight into the existence, absence, quantity, and nature of royal power that was rarely found in ordinary people.

Even though he was already being extremely careful.

……

Handan, Feixue Pavilion.

A female musician was playing a soothing melody.

Cao Ze and Ya Fei sat side by side, watching the duet dance between Xue Nu and Li Ji.

It was quite obvious that Li Ji's dancing was a bit rusty. If it weren't for the Snow Maiden's constant assistance and rescue, Li Ji might not have been able to finish the dance.

Ya Fei said softly, "Li Ji's talent in dance is not as good as Xue Nu's. She was able to perform the Zhao dance completely in just over a month, which shows that she worked very hard."

Cao Ze paused slightly and said, "Your Highness should know about Qin's attack on Wei. Why doesn't Your Highness say so?"

Consort Ya said matter-of-factly, "If it weren't for you, the old general wouldn't have come to me and entrusted Li Ji to me. As the middleman, you must see this through to the end."

Cao Ze smiled and said, "So I'm the one playing the bad cop?"

Indeed.

Consort Ya chuckled softly, then said in a calm tone, "Actually, it's still that Consort Li is somewhat distant from me. Although Consort Li hasn't shown it openly, I can still sense it."

At this point, she sighed softly, "She is a smart girl. Even if she didn't guess the truth of the matter, she still sensed something was wrong from my words and actions."

Cao Ze said, "Perhaps His Highness unintentionally gave her a feeling of being dependent on others and being taken in."

Upon hearing this, Ya Fei was slightly taken aback. She looked at Li Ji, who was dancing with Xue Nu in a very formal manner, and suddenly realized what was happening.

"It was my oversight. I should have treated her the same as Xue'er."

Ya Fei reflected on her actions.

She didn't take Li Ji in with the intention of teaching her to dance from the beginning; it was purely out of kindness.

If Cao Ze hadn't pointed it out, Li Ji would probably still have a rift between them.

Just like this time, Li Ji and Xue Nu secretly invited Cao Ze without telling her.

What seemed ordinary was actually something she knew very well; how could she not see through the thoughts of the two young girls?

She simply pretended not to know and let them do as they pleased.

When the incense burned out, the two women finished their dance.

Li Ji smiled brightly at the Snow Maiden and let out a long breath.

"Thank goodness you're here."

The Snow Woman said in an old-fashioned tone, "That's right."

They walked together to the opposite side of Cao Ze and Ya Fei and knelt down.

With a hint of nervousness, Li Ji said, "Sister Ya Fei."

Consort Ya smiled radiantly and said with grace and generosity, "Very good, worthy of praise."

Li Ji glanced at Cao Ze with a somewhat unfocused look in her eyes, "Mr. Cao Ze, um..."

Looking at the slender girl dressed in her finest attire, resembling a flower bud, Cao Ze found it hard to have any desire to tease or amuse Li Ji.