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

"Well, if Mr. Cao Ze doesn't mind, Zi Nu will personally host a banquet for you tomorrow as a small token of my appreciation."

"However, Zi Nu is not familiar with Handan, so we will have to trouble you, sir, to decide on the location."

Li Wu pouted, turned around, and went into the courtyard.

Even with her toes, which had been tainted by Cao Ze countless times, she knew that Cao Ze would agree.

Zi Nu thought to herself, "It seems this young lady is having a rough time in love. She must be interested in Mr. Cao Ze, but Mr. Cao Ze hasn't expressed his feelings."

Cao Ze narrowed his eyes slightly.

He hadn't thought much of it before, but now it seems that Zi Nu has designs on him.

Cao Ze said, "Unfortunately, I need to go to the palace tomorrow, so I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint Miss Zi Nu's kindness."

He wanted to test and confirm whether Zi Nu was really after him.

If that's true, then that's interesting.

Li Wu, who was walking inside with a 'tap tap' sound, stopped. Was this the same man she knew, the one she often slept with?

Zi Nu was slightly taken aback, but quickly regained her composure.

She smiled and said, "Since you have something to do tomorrow, then another day is fine too."

She feigned a moment's hesitation, then said, "To be honest, I have other matters I'd like to ask you, and I hope you'll agree."

Cao Ze's lips curled slightly; he really was after him.

Does this mean that the man is interested in the woman, and the woman is interested in him?

"Alright. Let's meet at Feixue Pavilion the day after tomorrow."

Zi Nu's breathing became slightly rapid.

That Feixue Pavilion is even more unscrupulous than a profiteer; they're just out to rip people off.

Accommodation costs 10 gold coins per person per night, and then there's the cost of banquets and meals...

She suppressed her heartache and smiled, "Alright. I won't disturb you any longer, sir. Zi Nu will head back now."

Chapter 191 Yes, we should be happy.

into the night.

After Zi Nu and the others finished their dry rations and had a quick meal, they gathered in the main house.

Nongyu, resting her chin on her hand, looked at Zinu in the candlelight and said, "Sister Zinu, why have you been so gloomy since you came back from Mr. Cao Ze's place? Did Mr. Cao Ze reject you?"

Hongyu and Caidie also looked at Zinu.

A hint of helplessness crossed Zi Nu's beautiful face as she said, "He didn't refuse..."

I added to myself, "It would have been better to just refuse."

"Then Sister Zi Nu should be happy."

Nongyu did not understand.

After checking into the courtyard, Zi Nu had already told Cai Die and Hong Yu about another purpose of their trip to Handan.

If Cao Ze can come to Xinzheng, then let Cao Ze come to Xinzheng.

As the core members of Zilan Pavilion, they were quite clear that Zilan Pavilion was not just a place for entertaining dignitaries and nobles.

Zi Nu slightly twitched the corners of her mouth, managing a weak smile.

"Yes, we should be happy."

She didn't want to appear embarrassed in front of her sisters.

Hopefully, Feixue Pavilion won't be too expensive.

Just thinking about how Princess Yafei casually mentioned the price of ten gold coins per person per night at noon today made Zi Nu's breathing quicken.

Zilanxuan might not even earn ten gold coins a day.

As the person in charge of the accounts at Zilanxuan, she knew all too well how shady things were.

On the other side, inside Qingping Residence.

Li Wu sat on the table, slowly swinging her fair legs.

She was careless after all; she shouldn't have trusted him at all. Sure enough, Cao Ze accepted the invitation from that Zi Nu.

"Lord Jingni, aren't you worried at all? That woman is clearly interested in Cao Ze."

Li Wu glanced at Cao Ze, who was meditating cross-legged, and muttered a few words to Jing Ni, who was doing needlework by the table.

Jingni paused in her delicate hand as she threaded the needle, and said, "You should mind your own business."

Li Wu sighed, rubbing her forehead.

Perhaps Lady Jingni is right; she should mind her own business, or she'll really be driven crazy with frustration.

Jing Ni is not her.

When she wanted to find a powerful figure, she did a lot of research on how to compete for favor and vie for a woman's affections.

They knew that behind the seemingly peaceful backyard of a powerful figure, undercurrents were actually surging.

She had already mentally rehearsed several plans for this purpose.

It seems like all her efforts have been in vain. Her most trusted confidante, Lord Jingni, is as stubborn as a blockhead.

Li Wu took a light breath and tried to persuade Jing Ni again.

"Lord Jingni, aren't you worried about the future at all? What if he falls in love with someone else and abandons his wife and daughter? We'll be devastated."

Jingni raised her clear, beautiful eyes and looked at Cao Ze, who was cultivating opposite her. She said softly, "I know you're worried, but I trust my intuition more. He's different from others. I can feel that he loves me."

This time, she didn't remain silent. Instead, she said to Li Wu, "You should also be able to sense the difference between him and others. In his eyes, it seems that there is no distinction between high and low, noble and base."

“Even if I dislike someone, I will at least treat everyone equally and will not think that I am superior to others.”

"Therefore, as long as we do not betray him and continue to believe in and support him, he will never abandon us."

Li Wu's supple body stiffened for a moment.

Goodness, she really is Lady Jingni; she quickly gave her a pep talk.

I almost managed to get her to cry.

However, it seems that Lady Jingni, whom she had always thought was indifferent, saw more than she did.

"This is so hard for me~"

Li Wu couldn't help but groan.

"Actually, I just wanted to..."

She was too embarrassed to say, "He loves me more."

This was her personal reason.

Of course she knew how good Cao Ze was to her, and that's why she couldn't bear to see him go to other women, and that's why she always couldn't help but... in his words, she was jealous.

The next day, Cao Ze entered the palace.

He did not perform his daily good deed at Chunqing Palace as usual.

Instead, they went to Longtai Palace.

The day before yesterday, Zhao Yan sent Han Cang to deliver a message to him, asking him to come to Longtai Palace today to test Zhao Qian's studies together.

Just as he had expected, how could Zhao Yan, who didn't even understand the idiom "a white horse is not a horse," possibly understand "Logic," even though most of the logic he talked about was just high school knowledge?

At the beginning of the Si hour, Cao Ze arrived outside the Longtai Palace.

Just then, Zhao Qian, a courtesan, arrived.

The empress swayed her voluptuous figure, striding with her long, shapely legs, and walked over with a broad smile on her face.

Cao Ze secretly thought to himself, "It's better to be a little warmer than to be wrapped in a thick robe in winter."

In modern times, it's the days when young women with long legs are running all over the streets.

"Mr. Cao Ze".

The woman slightly parted her bright red lips, which had been visited by Xiao Cao countless times.

"This examination is very important for Qian'er. I hope that you can help Qian'er at this crucial moment."

She lowered her voice and said, "This concerns whether Qian'er can successfully become the crown prince in the future."

Cao Ze nodded slightly, subtly exchanging a flirtatious glance with the Queen, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I've got everything under control."

I mentioned this matter to him before and after the initiative.

What was originally just a routine test turned out to be a scheme secretly orchestrated by Guo Kai.

In other words, this wasn't a test for Zhao Qian, but rather a test to make him act like a good student in front of his father.

He and Guo Kai were responsible for making sure Zhao Qian didn't show his true colors and act too incompetently.

Zhao Qian's eyes revealed a hint of annoyance. It was outrageous that she would flirt with his mother in front of him and in public!

I must endure. Once this test is over, according to Guo Kai, I will have won over my father, and once Zhao Jia leaves Zhao, I will be able to become the crown prince the following year.

He will become the King of Zhao step by step, and tear Cao Ze apart with five horses!

Guo Kai, dressed in an intricately patterned official robe, strode over. Seeing that Cao Ze and Chang Hou had not yet gone inside, he breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"Your Majesty, Mr. Cao Ze, please wait a moment."

He took a slight breath and said, "His Majesty is not in the study right now, but is admiring the flowers at Lotus Pond."

Cao Ze paused for a moment. It seemed that Zhao Yan's health had recovered well, and he even had the mind to go out sightseeing.

It's probably because they stopped administering the medicine to Dalang for a period of time after the incident.

The group arrived at Lotus Breeze Pond.

Zhao Yan was sitting under the pavilion, with Han Cang beside him. A dozen maids and eunuchs stood around him, each carrying something, ready to serve him at any time.

The queen took the lead in 'concern' and said, 'Your Majesty, it's windy outside. Don't hurt yourself. You should go back inside.'