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

What if Madam Mingzhu uses the excuse that "a girl wouldn't joke about her chastity" to coerce or entice him? Wouldn't he be at her mercy, like a chicken being caught by a hawk?

Honglian raised her eyebrows and rolled up her sleeves. "Anyone who dares to say that! This princess will beat them up!"

She seemed to remember something, "Including my brother!"

After Han Fei went abroad to study, she was bored and practiced martial arts and swordsmanship with a sword master. Now she can easily defeat two or three Han Feis.

Cao Ze thought to himself, "Brother-in-law, I understand your suffering now."

He coughed lightly, "Your Highness, it has nothing to do with Brother Han. It's just that as an outsider, if the King of Han finds out..."

Honglian clapped her hands suddenly, "That's right! I'll go to my father tomorrow and ask him for a token! That way you can enter and leave the palace openly and honestly, and we'll see who dares to gossip!"

"This one……"

Cao Ze was speechless for a moment, thinking to himself that he could only drag it out slowly for now, working hard for two days and then resting for three.

Yes, very good.

Suddenly, he had a brilliant idea.

Cao Ze carefully took out a jade bracelet from his pocket.

“Your Highness, this jade bracelet was the source of inspiration for me when I wrote ‘Dream of the Red Chamber.’ I’m presenting it to you today.”

"Really?"

Honglian's eyes lit up as she accepted the jade bracelet Cao Ze gave her.

But in the blink of an eye, she revealed her pearly white teeth and looked at Cao Ze with a half-smile, saying:

"Is your jade bracelet unique to me, or does everyone else have one? If it's not unique to me, then I don't need it."

Cao Ze's lips twitched slightly. He was now hesitating whether to delete some of Lin Daiyu's sarcastic remarks. His Little Red Lotus seemed to be getting too into character.

"This jade bracelet is unique; Princess, please take good care of it."

He said it with absolute certainty.

If there is even the slightest hesitation, the quick-witted young girl will surely see through it.

Honglian stroked the jade bracelet. With her discerning eye, she could naturally tell that the jade bracelet was of average quality, but that didn't stop her from liking it.

Just like some collectors who collect figurines, they don't look at the material quality, but rather at the "soul" within them.

Cao Ze left Princess Honglian's palace unharmed.

He hadn't walked more than a few steps when he saw Lady Mingzhu, dressed in a purple fishtail palace dress, watching him from a distance. Her lips were slightly curved, and her long, narrow, beautiful eyes, adorned with teardrop diamonds, were filled with laughter.

They've taken him as prey... Cao Ze caught the hunter's gaze in Madam Mingzhu's beautiful eyes.

He could only smile and think to himself, "Who is the hunter and who is the prey is still uncertain. Haven't you heard the story that 'the real hunter often appears as the prey'?"

Madam Mingzhu's moist red lips moved a few times.

Cao Ze couldn't decipher the meaning; he knew very little about lip reading.

"Little one, I have plenty of time to wait for you to come in..." Lady Mingzhu murmured, twisting her waist and turning away, leaving Cao Ze with only her graceful back view.

"Should I buy some oranges?" Cao Ze thought to himself, then strolled leisurely out of the palace.

It seems that Madam Mingzhu is issuing a challenge. In order not to be killed by Madam Mingzhu's barrage, he needs to think things through carefully.

Before he could even leave the palace, he encountered the beautiful Hu woman, dressed in a pink dress, who was incredibly charming.

Cao Ze couldn't help but look at the gray sky, a sign that heavy snow was imminent.

Strangely, Madam Mingzhu was able to pinpoint his location precisely. He could understand it, after all, Madam Mingzhu had spies everywhere in the palace.

But how could Hu Meiren have such a "coincidental" chance of catching up with him?

How did this guy train his skills?

Cao Ze bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Hu Meiren gestured with her hand, "Sir, you don't need to be so polite."

"I wonder how your conversation with my sister went, sir?"

Knowing that Princess Honglian often invited Cao Ze to the palace because of "Dream of the Red Chamber", she came to visit and inquire about her sister's recent situation.

“Very opportunistic. Mrs. Hu is very knowledgeable about drama.”

Cao Ze said to Hu Meiren with a smile.

He suddenly felt a little tempted. He wondered if it would be interesting to see Hu Meiren and Madam Hu performing on the same stage, with Nongyu playing the zither.

"My elder sister has always loved watching plays, and under her influence, I have also become quite knowledgeable about drama."

"In a couple of days, I will go to visit my sister. You may come along so I can see your script."

Is this a family reunion...? Cao Ze certainly wouldn't refuse, "I'll leave it to Your Majesty's arrangement."

"Yes, the palace is about to close, you should leave quickly."

Hu Meiren lightly flicked her sleeves, turned and left, seemingly for just this one thing.

As Cao Ze was about to leave, he inadvertently saw Madam Mingzhu, who had just left, reappear, smiling at him and Hu Meiren.

The cold wind made him shiver.

It seems a great white shark is evolving in his fishpond.

It seems he needs to break through the level of a Sea King trainee as soon as possible and become a true Sea King.

Only in this way can the fishpond be turned into an ocean, and he will be fearless no matter if it is a great white shark or an octopus.

I guarantee I can hook them with a fishhook and turn them into mandarin fish, I can catch them one by one with a fishing net, and I can even use a harpoon to...

Chapter 249 A Mere Man

Heavy snow fell for several days, covering Xinzheng in a blanket of white, and there was no sign of pedestrians.

Cao Ze began to lead a very regular life.

Listening to Nongyu playing a little tune in Zilan Pavilion and drinking Zinu brewing new tea was incredibly pleasant.

As for his promise to go to the palace to tell stories to Little Red Lotus, he had long forgotten about it.

It's not that I don't want to, but that I can't; the snow is too heavy.

Zi Nu tended to the flowers and plants inside the house.

Cao Ze, holding a teacup in one hand, leaned closer and asked, "The fragrance is fresh and rich. What kind of flowers and herbs are these?"

He knew that Zi Nu loved flowers and plants, and often took care of them herself.

This is why the Purple Orchid Pavilion is filled with flowers of many varieties, and even the rooms are decorated with a variety of potted plants.

However, despite the abundance of floral scents, Zi Nu only ever exudes the fragrance of this particular flower.

"The purple rush has purple stamens and a delicate, elegant fragrance. The only drawback is that the scent of this flower easily sticks to your body."

At this point, the Purple Goddess said leisurely, "But I like it."

Cao Ze understood, and was just about to take advantage of the situation to cultivate their relationship when Cai Die walked in from outside.

"Mr. Cao Ze, the Left Sima Liu Yi has sent someone to invite you to his residence."

Cao Ze paused for a moment. The heavy snow had only stopped for half a day, and she was already looking for him. Could it be that his sister-in-law was lonely?

No, given Madam Hu's weak, easily bullied, and submissive nature, she wouldn't take the initiative to ask Liu Yi to come over.

He suddenly remembered what Hu Meiren had said many days ago.

Could it be that Consort Hu went to Liu Yi's residence to visit her sister and asked Liu Yi to invite him over so that he could have an in-depth discussion about the opera lyrics with the sisters?

With this thought in mind, Cao Ze bid farewell to Zi Nu, then leisurely and lightly descended the stairs, left Zi Lan Xuan, and boarded the carriage sent by Liu Yi.

Just as he expected.

Before he even entered the mansion, Liu Yi came out to greet him, lowering his voice and saying, "Brother, Consort Hu has come, specifically asking me to come here. Please don't be offended."

It seems that Lady Hu is treating Liu Yi very badly because of Madam Hu… Cao Ze laughed and said, “It’s alright, let’s go together, brother.”

"No, no, no, I won't go there. Lady Hu only wants you to go to the West Garden."

Cao Ze seemed to be deep in thought, not expecting Liu Yi to be so afraid of Hu Meiren.

This doesn't make sense... Liu Yi is Ji Wuye's dog, not Hu Meiren's dog. His humility means either Hu Meiren has powerful methods, or Liu Yi needs something from Hu Meiren.

Liu Yi had mentioned to him many times how he would have beaten her up if it weren't for the fact that his sister-in-law's younger sister was a beauty.

It seems more likely that it is the latter, as Liu Yi needs Hu Meiren's help.

Is it that she no longer wants to be Ji Wuye's watchdog, or is she trying to leave herself a way out...?

A gust of cold wind blew by, and Liu Yi pulled down his green hat, which was dyed with green velvet, and rubbed his hands together, saying, "It's cold outside, brother, let's go inside and talk."

Cao Ze chuckled and said, "Brother, are you always wearing green these days?"

Liu Yi chuckled and said, "Brother, you have a good eye. This green fabric is really comfortable. And let me tell you, wearing all green in the freezing cold makes us look especially impressive."

Cao Ze smiled without saying a word, only able to say that in this era before pimps wore green hats, wearing a green hat and green clothes was indeed very stylish.

Liu Yi escorted Cao Ze to the West Garden and couldn't help but ask, "Brother, if I may ask, why did Consort Hu summon you here?"

“A few days ago, Hu Meiren said she wanted to visit her sister and asked me to come over so I could show her the opera script.”

"Oh, is that so?"

Liu Yi said with some envy, "I really admire your brain, brother."

That's right, otherwise your wife would be willing to flirt with me... Cao Ze said politely, "Not at all, brother, you're very smart and have a lot of room for improvement, you just haven't put your heart into it and aren't good at talking."

Liu Yishen agreed, saying, "Yes, if it weren't for my temper, things wouldn't have come to this..."

"Sigh! Never mind, from now on, little brother, please help your older brother with your sister-in-law's affairs more."

"Go in and give my regards to Lady Hu, and say a few kind words to her."

Don't worry, brother, I'll definitely help you take care of your wife... Cao Ze smiled and cupped his hands, saying, "Definitely, definitely, I'll take good care of her."

Liu Yi watched with satisfaction as Cao Ze walked into the West Garden.

Upon entering, Cao Ze was greeted by a scene of pure white.