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

He followed the maid into Lady Mingzhu's bedroom.

He pondered all the way to see what Madam Mingzhu wanted in private.

He didn't think that Lady Mingzhu was like the Empress, a woman who was lusting after him.

But there's always a chance of something going wrong. What if Lady Mingzhu wants to cuckold the King of Han? Should he help her or not...?

"Madam, Mr. Cao Ze has arrived."

Lady Mingzhu placed her hands on her lower abdomen, her back to Cao Ze.

She was still wearing a purple fishtail dress, the curves of her back revealing her voluptuous and graceful figure, making her even more elegant.

Her beauty differed from that of the courtesan.

The Empress Dowager is the type who appears noble and dignified on the surface, but in reality, she still enjoys flirting and is quite provocative when she's having fun.

Madam Mingzhu, on the other hand, was a beautiful woman with a captivating charm; every smile and frown of hers was full of allure.

"You go down."

"Yes."

Madam Mingzhu did not turn around, so Cao Ze took the initiative to bow and said, "Greetings, Madam Mingzhu."

In later dynasties, women in the imperial harem who wanted to meet with officials in private not only needed to report to the emperor, but also needed to be watched by a eunuch.

Women in the imperial harem during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods generally did not need to go through such troubles; the higher their status, the more casual they were.

Just like Lady Mingzhu at this moment, even though it was almost night, she still had no concern about privately meeting with foreign officials.

Therefore, during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, scandalous affairs within the palace were commonplace, and later rulers took this as a warning.

"I have long admired Mr. Cao Ze’s exceptional talent. These past few days, I have listened to the poem and music of 'Snow Maiden Song' and was immediately awestruck."

As she spoke, Lady Mingzhu turned around, her long, alluring phoenix eyes fixed on Cao Ze. "Sir, would you be so kind as to write a poem for me?"

Cao Ze was taken aback. Madam Mingzhu liked poetry?

Seeing that Cao Ze remained silent, Madam Mingzhu's tone changed: "Sir, are you unwilling?"

Cao Ze paused for a moment, then said, "It is my wish, but I dare not ask."

A satisfied smile appeared on Madam Mingzhu's beautiful face.

"That would be best. I order you to finish it before nightfall. It cannot be worse than the 'Snow Maiden Song.' Otherwise, don't blame me for being angry."

Madam Mingzhu spoke casually, as if she were just joking, but the mockery in her eyes was saying, "If you really can't pull it off, then don't expect to have a good time."

Cao Ze realized something was wrong.

There is at most half an hour left before it gets dark.

To create a poem in such a short time that is no less impressive than "The Song of the Snow Maiden" is extremely difficult.

If Madam Mingzhu truly loved poetry, she would never have pressured him like this.

It gave him a sudden sense of déjà vu, as if he were witnessing the history of his Cao family—Cao Pi ordering Cao Zhi to compose a poem in seven steps.

But why did Madam Mingzhu treat him this way?

Was it simply because he got close to Consort Hu, Princess Honglian?

Or is it because of Han Fei that he became a thorn in the side of Nightfall?

The hall was eerily quiet, with only the clattering of Lady Mingzhu's black high heels.

Cao Ze did not immediately start composing a poem. Instead, he patiently waited to see what kind of medicine Madam Mingzhu was up to.

Time passed slowly, and the incense on the altar burned out.

The sky outside the palace was dark.

Lady Mingzhu stood behind Cao Ze, her back to him, her cold voice echoing in the hall.

"Sir, you can't finish it?"

Cao Ze smiled faintly and said, "Whether or not it can be done depends on whether Madam wants to."

"Hmm?" Lady Mingzhu's slightly authoritative voice rang out: "Are you saying that I don't want you to do it?"

Cao Ze remained silent.

The gaze in Madam Mingzhu's beautiful eyes shifted unpredictably.

She was indeed deliberately making things difficult for Cao Ze.

Regardless of whether Cao Ze's work is good or bad, or whether it surpasses "Snow Maiden's Song," she will always express dissatisfaction in order to force Cao Ze to submit, so that she can use both kindness and power to make him her devoted subject.

However, it seems that this kid saw right through my intentions.

This both infuriated and angered her, and it also piqued her interest in Cao Ze.

No wonder Bai Yifei, even though he was at the border, still sent her a secret letter, urging her to capture Cao Ze before Ji Wuye could.

Lady Mingzhu paced back and forth for a moment, then came to the palace gate. She raised her pretty face, looked at the already bright moon outside, and said in a soft voice:

"Since you don't want to compose poetry, then please leave."

Once she realized things were getting interesting, Madam Mingzhu stopped using the following tricks.

She has her own methods; if all else fails...

Madam Mingzhu raised the corners of her mouth slightly, revealing a cold smile.

Cao Ze's heart skipped a beat. Was he playing hard to get?

He walked out of the palace, and as he passed by Lady Mingzhu, he stopped and followed her gaze to the rising moon on the horizon.

"Sir, do you not want to leave and wish to stay here with me?"

Madam Mingzhu spoke in a low voice, glancing at Cao Ze with a dangerous and excited look in her beautiful eyes, as if she wanted to see if Cao Ze would have the guts.

"No, it's just that this scene suddenly makes me want to compose a poem for you, Madam."

"Hehe, is that so?" Madam Mingzhu laughed so hard her body trembled, seemingly amused by Cao Ze's words.

Cao Ze looked up at the boundless moonlight and slowly recited:

"Clouds remind me of her clothes, flowers of her face."

"The spring breeze caresses the balustrade, and the dew is heavy."

"If we hadn't seen it atop Mount Qunyu"

"We will meet again under the moon on the Jade Terrace."

"Madam, farewell."

Cao Ze bowed and took his leave, walking straight out of Lady Mingzhu's Hundred Fragrance Palace.

Lady Mingzhu stood there stunned for a moment, until Cao Ze's figure became blurred and disappeared outside the hall, before she gradually came back to her senses.

"Clouds remind me of her garments, flowers of her face; the spring breeze caresses the balustrade, heavy with dew. If not seen atop Jade Mountain, she will surely be met beneath the moon on the Jade Terrace..."

This poem is composed of seven-character lines... It is somewhat like the Qu Yuan poems from the Chu region, and also somewhat like a folk song.

After savoring the moment, Madam Mingzhu suddenly looked up at the sky.

The clouds swirled around the bright moon, changing like a dream, while the plum blossoms outside the Hundred Fragrances Hall were in full bloom.

For some reason, Madam Mingzhu's heart, which had been dormant for many years, suddenly skipped a beat.

Is this the poem written for her...?

Madam Mingzhu suddenly felt an unprecedented urge to grab the man who had just left, no matter what.

It wasn't to complete the task Bai Yifei had given her; she simply wanted to experience that feeling again, that unprecedented experience, the thrill and excitement that came from within her mind and soul.

She resisted the urge; it had been a long time since she had encountered something she truly enjoyed and was willing to take things slowly.

"What happened today must not be told to anyone, understand?"

"It's ma'am."

……

Cao Ze left the Han Palace just in time, and breathed a sigh of relief as he looked at the closed main gate behind him.

He frequented the Zhao King's palace and accumulated a wealth of experience.

It is clear that leaving the palace before the palace gates close and leaving the palace after the palace gates close are two different things.

The latter involves many procedures, and if things go wrong, it will reach the ears of King Han An.

Therefore, the only way to achieve the feat of spending the night in the royal palace is to sneak in secretly.

Or perhaps become Prime Minister Cao...

Cao Ze rode his new lover down the street, the snow clattering softly.

"Whoosh-"

A dark shadow flashed by, and a bamboo tube was shot towards Cao Ze.

Cao Ze grabbed it with one hand and smiled silently.

Yingge is becoming more and more skilled at her job.

He continued riding his snow-covered horse towards the Purple Orchid Pavilion, opened the small bamboo tube, and took out a piece of cloth from it.

"The Marquis in Blood Robes and Ji Wuye sent a letter to recruit you, but Ji Wuye refused."

Cao Ze put away the cloth, and he began to understand why Madam Mingzhu was behaving so strangely.

It turned out to be because of that red-skinned monkey.

Tsk tsk, I've become a hot commodity.

Thinking of how Ji Wuye sent Liu Yi to get close to him, Bai Yifei sent Madam Mingzhu to get close to him, and the Fourth Young Master Han Yu who was eyeing him...

His brother-in-law couldn't bear to part with one of his younger sisters!

They're absolutely blind!

Late at night, at the General's Mansion.

A man dressed in black wearing a straw hat stood in the hall.