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

That won't do. Cao Ze lives in Zilan Pavilion. If my little sister goes there every day, wouldn't that be like throwing a meat bun to a dog—gone and never to return, as Cao Ze said?

Besides, what's the point of going to Zilan Pavilion to find men all day long!

Han Fei gazed intently at Cao Ze, who was chatting and laughing with his younger sister, and felt he needed a way to solve the problem once and for all, such as castrating his brother Cao...

Yes, that's a good idea; it's a permanent cure.

Cao Ze felt a chill run down his spine and looked back, just in time to see his brother-in-law peeking at his crotch, which made him feel like a "bastard".

Holy crap... Has my brother-in-law gone gay? Why is he looking at me instead of his girlfriend?

Honglian stopped, followed Cao Ze's gaze to Han Fei, who was lagging behind, and waved her hand: "Hurry up!"

Han Fei took a deep breath. The idea he had just had was too wonderful and too tempting, but wasn't it a bit unfair to his brothers...?

He smiled and strode forward, "Little sister, it's getting late, Brother Cao and I will leave the palace first."

"Leave the palace? What for? To go to Zilan Pavilion with you to find a girl?"

Honglian stood with one hand on her hip, looking at Han Fei with disdain. "When are you going to pay me back the fifty gold coins you borrowed?"

What? You actually dared to take my wife's dowry? Brother-in-law, that's not fair... Cao Ze squinted at Han Fei, who was grinning sheepishly.

"Well, we're out of money."

Han Fei lacked confidence.

Honglian glared at Han Fei with disdain: "You owe me money, yet you still meddle in my business!"

Han Fei glanced at Cao Ze, who was smiling but saying nothing, and felt a surge of hatred.

Is Cao Ze poisonous?!

Finally, Han Fei said dejectedly, "Then let's leave the palace together."

He felt it was better to be outside than to cause any gossip in the palace.

Honglian clapped her hands and laughed, "That's great! Let's go to Zilan Pavilion to play with Zi Nu."

No way... Han Fei opened his mouth, looking at Cao Ze for help. Cao Ze looked helpless and gave Han Fei a powerless look, making Han Fei deeply understand what it means to be treacherous.

The three of them left the palace.

Honglian was attracted by the street food and skipped off to buy candied hawthorns.

Taking the opportunity, Han Fei whispered in Cao Ze's ear, "Brother Cao, my sister is of marriageable age. If people see her frequently visiting Zilan Pavilion, how will she ever get married..."

Cao Ze smiled and said, "It's alright, I don't mind."

But I mind! Han Fei roared inwardly.

Do you guys want some candied hawthorns?

Cao Ze and Han Fei both shook their heads. Hong Lian bought a skewer of candied hawthorns and came back, showing them off. "Let's go!"

Han Fei sighed, regretting his past actions. He should have been buried alive by Cao Ze and Cheng Jiao back then, so he wouldn't be so heartbroken now.

Han Fei's expression shifted slightly upon thinking of Cheng Jiao.

According to what he had learned in the past few days, Cheng Jiao was now on Qin's wanted list and most likely also on the Luo Wang (a secret police organization).

For South Korea, Chengjiao is both a time bomb and an opportunity.

As long as Cheng Jiao is safely returned to Qin and delivered to King Ying Zheng of Qin, it will be of no less significance to Han than the death of Queen Dowager Xia Ji.

But how to get past the snare, past Lü Buwei, and even past Lord Changping who might be involved, to deliver Cheng Jiao to the Qin King's palace...

Han Fei shook his head. If only a grandmaster could help him, it would be simple, direct, and effective.

Thinking about this, Han Fei suddenly began to doubt whether his teacher was a Grandmaster.

He had once witnessed his senior brother Fu Nian, who was already a half-step Grandmaster, asking his old man for advice on swordsmanship, only to have his sword knocked away by the old man with a bamboo stick.

Thinking back to how he always ended up getting whipped without being able to avoid it, he wanted nothing more than to punch and kick the old man, who claimed he didn't know any martial arts.

While Han Fei was pondering how to deal with Cheng Jiao, a dashing young man dressed in fine clothes and followed by two beautiful concubines walked over.

"Ninth Brother, Little Sister, are you shopping?"

Honglian swallowed the last candied hawthorn, "It's Fourth Brother."

Han Fei snapped out of his daze, bowed, and said, "Greetings, Fourth Brother."

Fourth Young Master Han Yu smiled broadly, looked at Cao Ze, and asked, "And who is this gentleman?"

Cao Ze cupped his hands and said, "Cao Ze greets the Fourth Young Master."

"Cao Ze..." Han Yu exclaimed in surprise, "Is this the Mr. Cao Ze who lectured to the disciples of the Hundred Schools of Thought on the Hundred Schools Forum?"

"Exactly."

Honglian asked in surprise, "You've even lectured to the Hundred Schools of Thought?"

She had always thought that Cao Ze was just someone who had written "Journey to the West" and "Dream of the Red Chamber" in Zi Nu's words, and never imagined that he could teach disciples of the Hundred Schools of Thought.

In her view, only the leaders of various schools and learned individuals have the qualifications and ability to do this.

No wonder my brother values ​​Cao Ze so much.

Even if she didn't pay much attention to worldly affairs, she was aware of the weight and status of the various schools of thought in different countries.

It is no exaggeration to say that the status of these young masters and princesses is not comparable to that of the heads of various families, or even some well-known and learned scholars.

Cao Ze laughed and said, "It's nothing, nothing at all."

Han Yu grinned like a lecherous man seeing a beautiful woman, "So it really is Mr. Cao Ze!"

Cao Ze breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, they didn't come up and say, "You're not dead..."

"Ninth Brother is back, and we haven't had a proper get-together yet. How about we all go to my residence together?"

Han Yu focused his gaze on Cao Ze and took the initiative to invite him, directly abandoning his plan to go to the Crown Prince's residence, send his elder brother Mei Ji, and continue to corrupt the Crown Prince.

Honglian instinctively said, "No, we have to go..."

"Cough! Cough!"

Two coughs came from Cao Ze and Han Fei at the same time.

Honglian realized something was wrong and went to Zilan Pavilion. It didn't matter if her brother and Cao Ze knew, but she couldn't let her fourth brother know, otherwise her father would probably find out tomorrow.

Han Fei said, "Since Fourth Brother has invited you, Brother Cao, why don't you go?"

Cao Ze has no problem with it.

Honglian pouted, feeling a little depressed. Her plan to share Cao Ze's latest "Dream of the Red Chamber" with Zi Nu was ruined.

Han Fei and Han Yu were chatting idly in front.

Cao Ze and Hong Lian lagged behind by two steps, walking alongside Han Yu's two beauties.

He glanced at the two beauties; they were two or three levels below his own Jingni Liwu.

He chuckled and said to Honglian, "Why does your fourth brother always bring his concubines with him when he goes out?"

Honglian tilted her head. "I don't know, maybe Fourth Brother has become lecherous?"

"Was your fourth brother a womanizer before?" Cao Ze pondered for a moment. According to the original novel, the fourth young master was cunning and not the kind of person who was obsessed with beautiful women.

"Not bad, much better than my elder brother. He's quite virtuous and has only a dozen or so wives and concubines in total."

Honglian thought for a moment and gave a fair answer.

"Unlike my brother, who still hasn't married, he's truly an anomaly among anomalies!"

Honglian said with a hint of disappointment.

As a princess, she was taught a great deal about nobility.

According to the normal and common practice among nobles, Han Fei should have already married several wives and concubines and had several children by this time.

Only a dozen or so... Cao Ze's lips twitched slightly. He had originally felt somewhat ashamed of his idea of ​​marrying more wives.

Now it seems...

I really am a good man, a good man is me, please call me Cao Cao, I endorse myself...

My current motto is—marrying wives is like Han Xin commanding his troops, the more the merrier!

"Ah!"

Han Fei, who was chatting and joking with Han Yu, was testing him when he suddenly sneezed.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Fourth Brother. I've caught a cold," Han Fei said, sounding somewhat unwell.

"Ninth Brother, you must take good care of your health." Han Yu, acting as the elder brother, showed great concern for Han Fei.

Han Yu's residence is not far from the Han King's Palace, located in the eastern part of the inner city; it's just a short walk away.

As a seasoned schemer who frequently entertained guests at his residence (forming cliques for personal gain), the Fourth Young Master quickly prepared a banquet.

During the banquet, the four young masters first welcomed Han Fei, who had just returned to Xinzheng, and then began to inquire about Cao Ze's well-being.

Honglian muttered under her breath, "How hypocritical."

Han Fei remained noncommittal. It was clear that his fourth brother didn't care about him at all, and might even prefer him to be dead.

"Seeing that Mr. Cao Ze is alright, I am relieved. If you don't mind, I have plenty of guest rooms at my residence, please feel free to stay."

"Thank you for your kindness, Fourth Young Master. I am already residing at Zilan Pavilion, so I will not disturb Your Highness any longer."

"Zilanxuan..." Han Yu smiled inexplicably, "So you are also a romantic, sir. How wonderful!"

He keenly sensed that Cao Ze was very likely like his dear elder brother, a person obsessed with beautiful women.

Recalling the "Snow Maiden Song" that came from Handan, and the rumors that Cao Ze frequented the song and dance halls in Handan, Han Yu formed a preliminary stereotype about Cao Ze.

"Haha, Fourth Young Master is joking."

Honglian asked Han Fei, "Does Cao Ze really reside at Zilan Pavilion regularly?"

Han Fei's eyes lit up, and he seized the opportunity to say, "Yes, yes, yes, Zi Nu even arranged for two beautiful girls to serve him. You don't know how wonderful this guy... cough cough, Brother Cao's life is now. He stays at Zi Lan Xuan every night."

"Really?"

Honglian said with a grin, "That's great! Now I can go directly to Zi Nu, haha."

"What?!" Han Fei was dumbfounded. This script wasn't right. Shouldn't it be that the younger sister was unhappy and cut off all ties with Cao Ze?