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

Fortunately, through his tireless efforts, both Qin and Zhao expressed their willingness to negotiate peace.

It's not too late; it can still be salvaged.

As long as Zhao Yan issues an edict ordering Zhao Jia to leave the country and go to Qin, Zhao Yan can rest easy in Longtai Palace and wait for death.

Guo Kai sighed and entered the palace.

He never imagined that the Empress would be so ruthless.

She secretly drugged Zhao Yan without telling him.

As a result, Zhao Yan had to lie down every winter for the past three years.

Judging from the Empress's words, Zhao Yan shouldn't expect to live until next spring.

He needed to hurry up and get Zhao Yan to make up his mind to get rid of Zhao Jia.

Otherwise, as the queen's belly grows larger, and the truth can no longer be hidden, everyone will die, including him.

Zhao Yan lay half-reclined on the dragon bed, while Guo Kai leaned forward and reported on the recent situation.

The peace talks between Qin and Zhao were facilitated by him through his connections with Lü Buwei.

Therefore, Zhao Yan entrusted him with the entire task.

Zhao Yan said weakly, "Guo Kai, what do you think?"

Guo Kai suppressed his excitement and said honestly, "Your Majesty, Qin's demands are not excessive. As long as we send Prince Jia there and reconcile with Qin, our Great Zhao will be able to recuperate for a period of time and will certainly be no weaker than Qin."

"Moreover, His Highness Jia previously advocated for peace talks, and he thought the same way."

Although Zhao Qian was physically weak, he was still quite mentally sharp.

"My health is declining year by year. If... how is Zhao Qian doing lately?"

Guo Kai quickly replied, "Your Highness is currently studying Mr. Cao Ze's 'Three Character Classic', 'Thousand Character Classic', and other classics."

"Since receiving instruction from Mr. Cao Ze, His Highness has improved day by day."

He suppressed his disgust for Cao Ze and praised him enthusiastically.

At this critical moment, it is absolutely crucial not to let Zhao Yan lose faith in Zhao Qian.

Zhao Yan sighed, "What a pity about Cao Ze."

"What's there to regret? Your queen is already pregnant with someone else's child..." Guo Kai thought to himself, but said with a sincere and honest expression, "Your Majesty, now we need to make a decision."

To persuade Zhao Yan to make a decision, Guo Kai continued, "The State of Zhao cannot afford to drag this out. If we are dragged down by the State of Qin again, like in the Battle of Changping, our Great Zhao will truly be doomed."

After the Battle of Changping, the State of Zhao did not perish. Apart from having capable generals like Lian Po and Pang Nuan, it was purely due to the wealth inherited from its ancestors that it did not collapse.

Zhao Yan was still hesitant, saying, "Jia'er is more suitable to lead the Zhao state to recuperate and rebuild."

Guo Kai has always been very clever.

“Your Majesty, I know that Prince Jia is virtuous and prudent, but he is indecisive and does not understand the wolfish heart of the Qin state. That is why, during the Battle of Yaoshan, he repeatedly told his retainers in private that they should negotiate peace with the Qin state.”

Zhao Yan recalled the scene three months ago when Zhao Jia advocated for peace talks in court. His previously steady breathing became somewhat rapid. "You unfilial son!"

Guo Kai chuckled inwardly. Zhao Jia did indeed advocate for peace talks, but it was merely a suggestion, an expression of his opinion.

"Your Majesty, I believe that we should take this opportunity to send Prince Jia to Qin as a hostage for further studies. This will allow Prince Jia to understand that Qin is a ruthless and cunning country that has never given up its desire to destroy our Great Zhao. Only then will he be able to better govern Zhao and carry on the will of our ancestors when he succeeds to the throne."

Zhao Yan squinted, listless, and physically exhausted.

"As you say, Prime Minister, next spring we will send Jia'er to Qin. When he returns to Zhao, we will recognize his great merit."

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, states frequently exchanged hostages.

If the hostages sent to various countries were able to return to their home countries, even if they were not the crown prince, there was a considerable chance that they would become the crown prince. If they were the crown prince, it was almost certain that they would inherit the throne, provided they did not die a violent death.

A typical example is Ying Zheng's father. Apart from recognizing Empress Dowager Huayang as his mother, it was because of his great merit in being a hostage in Zhao that he was able to become the crown prince without any obstacles.

Guo Kai was relieved at first, but then he raised the question again.

The Queen will be giving birth next spring.

The only thing to do is to get the Queen to find that Imperial Physician Li, so that Zhao Yan can stay in the Longtai Palace. This way, Zhao Yan won't have the energy to pay attention to the Queen, and he won't die before the spring, before Zhao Jia enters Qin.

Thinking of this, Guo Kai secretly groaned, blaming it all on that scoundrel Cao Ze.

Having an affair with the Queen is one thing, but what kind of offspring are you going to have? What kind of offspring are you going to have?

And the queen is also despicable; we can't bear to punish her, leaving behind future troubles.

It was only because of him, Guo Kai, the Prime Minister. If it were anyone else, their crimes would have been exposed long ago, and their entire family would have been executed!

……

Cao Ze drank the millet and pumpkin porridge that Cai Die had brought him, and glanced at Han Fei, who was lying on the couch, talking to himself.

"Brother Han, aren't you getting up for breakfast?"

Han Fei seemed not to hear, continuing to mutter to himself, "I should have thought of that sooner, I should have thought of that sooner..."

The thought of Han Fei drinking heavily despite catching a cold made Cao Ze wonder if the child had suffered brain damage from the fever.

Cao Ze said, "Brother Han, would you like me to find a doctor to take a look at you?"

Han Fei seemed to have been brought back to his senses. He covered his face with his hands, looked up to the sky and sighed, "My lifelong reputation is ruined!"

After saying that, he sprang to his feet and instantly threw off the covers and got out of bed.

"No, I can't stay with you, you're too weird!"

Cao Ze chuckled.

It wasn't me who encouraged you to give that passionate "poetry recitation," so why make such a fuss?

However, before Han Fei could open the door and run out, he tripped and fell. He braced himself with one hand on the ground and covered his head with the other, letting out a painful cry of "Ah!"

"Brother Cao, save me!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Han Fei lay on his back on the ground, becoming weak and powerless.

Cao Ze squatted down and asked, "What's wrong with you?"

Han Fei felt dizzy and gave a bitter laugh: "I might be seriously ill."

"Serves you right!"

Han Fei huffed and puffed, "I'm a patient now!"

"Then lie down properly."

"...No!"

Cao Ze chuckled and said, "I heard you have a younger sister?"

Han Fei said with a look of utter despair, "I know, I have a younger sister."

"Haha, Brother Han, what are you doing lying on the ground? Come, come, the room is nice."

Han Fei was on the verge of tears. "Brother Cao, please help me find a doctor."

Cao Ze readily agreed: "Don't worry, I'll go right now."

Han Fei was deeply moved and resolved to abstain from alcohol for three days to recover from his illness.

Then, in front of Cao Ze, she severed her sibling relationship with Honglian.

He doesn't have a sister!

……

Zilan Pavilion has few customers during the day, unlike the lively atmosphere at night; it's mostly filled with people listening to music and discussing matters.

Cao Ze left Zilan Pavilion, intending to find a doctor, when he saw a young man dressed in a blue robe, acting suspiciously outside the pavilion despite it being early winter.

"Hey young man, are you too shy to come in and have some fun?"

"Ah..." Zhang Liang stood there awkwardly, unsure whether to leave or stay.

His grandfather told him this morning that the Ninth Prince Han Fei had returned to Xinzheng and was at Zilan Pavilion, and asked him to go and meet him.

He was naturally excited to see his elder brother, whom he had greatly admired in the past. After bidding farewell to his grandfather, he went straight out the door.

But after he went outside, he remembered what Zilanxuan was.

No wonder my grandfather sent him here.

This is really... a disgrace to his grandson!

"And who is this gentleman?"

"Me? Cao Ze."

Cao Ze looked Zhang Liang up and down with a smile.

Han Fei's future best friend, now a handsome young man.

He still remembered the beautiful boss forwarding him some BL (Boys' Love) fanfiction written by young girls on Lofter about Zhang Liang and Han Fei, where the mistress was Wei Zhuang, who only loved Fei and not his senior brother.

Back then, it was all because he read too fast; by the time he realized what he had read, it was too late.

They died from the poison, the kind that even Shennong couldn't save.

"Ah?" Zhang Liang exclaimed softly, "Mr. Cao Ze? You're not dead?"

Cao Ze's eye twitched slightly. "Not dead? Disappointed?"

"..."

Zhang Liang deeply regretted not checking the almanac before going out today—it was truly a ghost story!

Cao Ze patted Zhang Liang on the shoulder, "Do you know Qimen Dunjia?"

"I know a little."

"Can it cure colds?"

"I know a little."

“Very good, let’s go inside and talk.”

Cao Ze, all smiles, pulled Zhang Liang into the Zilan Pavilion, looking every bit like a villain forcing a good man into prostitution.

"Oh, whose young master is this?"