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

"Madam, what's wrong?"

The maid shouted loudly.

Madam Hu took a deep breath and said, "It's nothing. Go tell the steward that someone has come to the mansion to inform me."

After she finished speaking, Mrs. Hu's heart began to race.

The maidservant, noticing the strange expression on Madam Hu's face as she looked through the window, responded with a puzzled look.

"it is good!"

After watching the maid leave, Madam Hu could no longer hold on. She staggered to the couch and lay down, finally letting out a sigh of relief.

He walked up to Madam Hu and looked at her with her eyes tightly closed.

"tired?"

Mrs. Hu nodded quickly, like a chicken pecking at rice.

Cao Ze took a silk cloth and gently wiped Madam Hu's body, which he had soiled.

Mrs. Hu breathed a sigh of relief amidst her awkwardness; at least she wouldn't be coming again.

After Cao Ze finished, he changed the quilt and covered Madam Hu with a new, thin brocade quilt.

"You should rest."

Madam Hu slightly opened one eye.

"Are you going?"

Cao Ze rubbed Madam Hu's head. They had communicated many times, but he was well aware of the unspoken meaning behind Madam Hu's words.

"Once things have calmed down, I will arrange for you and your daughter to meet. Don't be in a hurry."

Mrs. Hu nodded and pulled the blanket up until it covered her eyes.

She mumbled from under the covers, "Don't let anyone see."

Cao Ze smiled calmly and quietly left.

Mrs. Hu, under the covers, slowly let out a sigh of relief.

She was exhausted and her whole body ached; she was afraid Cao Ze would continue.

According to custom, she should also keep vigil; if she can't get out of bed, then trouble is brewing.

Madam Hu huddled under the covers, took off her somewhat dirty mourning clothes, and threw them on the ground.

She gently covered her moist lips, yawned comfortably, and prepared to take a nap to recover her energy and strength.

Just as she closed her eyes, she caught a glimpse of white mourning clothes on the ground.

Even now, I still don't understand why wearing it made Cao Ze happier.

Thinking of the promise she had made in her moment of panic—to agree to be with Cao Ze like they were at the funeral—Madam Hu drifted off to sleep, troubled.

……

Cao Ze slipped out of the mansion and then entered through the main gate.

At this moment, the Liu residence was covered with white cloth, as if shrouded in a somber atmosphere.

Since Liu Yi's death and the discovery of the murderer, the mansion has been deserted and quiet. Not only have there been no endless stream of guests coming to pay their respects, but not even a single relative or neighbor from near or far has come.

As Ji Wuye's watchdog, Liu Yi did countless dirty deeds for Ji Wuye, offending colleagues, poisoning dissidents, arresting and trafficking people, and so on.

Not to mention that even in his own residence, he would occasionally beat his servants to death, causing everyone to become alienated from him.

Therefore, the servants in the mansion did not show any sorrow in their eyes, but rather secretly rejoiced.

Rather than living under the heavy pressure of Liu Yi's unpredictable temper, they preferred to follow the mistress, Madam Hu, not to mention Madam Hu's sister, who was the favored concubine, Consort Hu.

If it weren't for the mourning period, they would all want to celebrate, and they wouldn't be afraid that Madam Hu would be angry; they might even celebrate with her.

When the manager saw Cao Ze, he was somewhat surprised, not expecting that Mr. Cao Ze would come again now.

"Sir, should I go and call for Madam?"

Cao Ze waved his hand, "No need, I'll just come to pay my respects to Brother Liu Yi and then leave."

Mrs. Hu had just been thoroughly tossed and turned by him, and was probably fast asleep.

The steward summoned a maid and handed Cao Ze a white cloth.

"Here you go, sir."

In his view, it was only because Cao Ze had only known Liu Yi for a short time and did not understand Liu Yi that he would not have come here to offer condolences, thus making a fool of himself.

Cao Ze, with a white cloth on his forehead, went to the mourning hall to "pay his respects" to Liu Yi's remains, bowed slightly, and couldn't help but smile.

He thought to himself, "Farewell, Brother Liu Yi. Your wife is truly wonderful. Thank you for your kindness."

The steward behind Cao Ze did not see Cao Ze's smiling face. "Sir, it's time to offer incense."

Cao Ze glanced at the incense burner with sparse ash and said with dissatisfaction, "Has no one come these past two days?"

The steward said after careful consideration, "Our master has few relatives and friends in Xinzheng, and only you, sir, have come today."

Cao Ze sighed, "My brother Liu Yi was such a good person. He treated me like a brother, but now he's all gone and forgotten."

"Very well, since that's the case, as your brother, I should keep vigil for you!"

The manager didn't react in time, "Sir..."

Cao Ze glared at the steward: "No way?"

The steward trembled slightly and said awkwardly, "Of course, when will you be arriving, sir?"

"If there are things to do during the day, then let's do them at night."

After speaking, Cao Ze glanced at the mourning hall.

Yes, there's a long table with a white cloth, an incense burner, and a warm basin—everything you could need. Your sister-in-law won't suffer here.

The steward saw Cao Ze off from the mansion, muttering to himself, "This is truly strange."

Liu Yi had committed countless evil deeds and his reputation was utterly infamous, yet he was able to make a friend like Mr. Xian before his death. I wonder what kind of good fortune he had received in his past life.

If the lady could remarry the gentleman, we would be blessed.

In Xinzheng Tianjie, the Marquis in Blood Robe stood on a bronze chariot, leaning on his sword. Suddenly, he looked up and saw a cold-faced young man standing in the tall buildings along the long street.

“Wei Zhuang…”

Blood-Clad Marquis licked his blood-red lips, a hint of excitement in his expression.

For so many years, no one had dared to provoke the night like this, making him almost forget the scenes of those proud nobles kneeling before him, trembling and repenting.

Wei Zhuang seemed unaware that Bai Yifei had discovered him, and remained standing motionless on the high-rise building.

In Bai Yifei's view, this meant that he was not taken seriously.

"A grandmaster of swordsmanship... Heh..."

Despite being looked down upon by a master swordsman, Bai Yifei remained completely unperturbed.

Contempt based on strength is beyond reproach.

Bai Yifei entered the palace to meet King Han.

King An asked, "Has the Qin state made any unusual moves recently?"

Bai Yifei, with one hand behind his back, said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "No."

King Han An breathed a sigh of relief. He had received intelligence that Zhao Jia had ascended to the throne in Zhao and had sent the former Zhao prime minister Guo Kai and the prince to Qin. For various reasons, Qin had chosen to cease hostilities.

At least for the next six months, South Korea will not be affected by the war between Qin and Zhao.

"You've worked hard, Qing."

Bai Yifei raised the corners of his mouth slightly and said, "To share your burdens, I dare not utter the word 'hardship'."

After this incident, most of the border guards are now under his control, while Han An and Ji Wuye remain completely unaware.

In South Korea today, the only person who can rival him in terms of military power is Ji Wuye.

Once his mother defeats Ji Wuye and takes control of the night, it will be time for him to realize his grand ambitions.

The inner palace, Mingzhu Hall.

Two maids held up Lady Mingzhu's long, flowing palace dress behind her.

Lady Mingzhu stood gracefully in the hall.

In a corner of the hall, a palace maid gently waved a round fan beside an incense burner, filling the hall with fragrance.

A palace maid entered the hall with her head bowed. "Madam, the Marquis has arrived."

Madam Mingzhu nodded slightly and raised her chin slightly. "Bring him in."

To facilitate her secret communication with Cao Ze, she went to great lengths to keep a tight rein on the palace maids she frequently used and set rules for them.

Bai Yifei walked in with his hands behind his back, looking dashing and imposing. He said with some displeasure, "Do I need to announce my arrival?"

Lady Mingzhu, with her charming demeanor, lied and said, "Please forgive me, cousin, but recently the King has become suspicious."

Bai Yifei frowned slightly, glanced around, and said, "Let them leave."

Madam Mingzhu coughed lightly: "You may all leave."

"Yes."

After the palace maid left the main hall, Bai Yifei asked, "You've been exposed?"

"No." Lady Mingzhu, tall and slender, strode through the hall in her flowing palace gown, exuding a seductive charm. "He's just a little suspicious, so we need to add more spices."

Bai Yifei pondered for a moment and said, "This period is critical, and we cannot afford any accidents in the palace."

Madam Mingzhu's eyes brightened slightly: "My aunt has emerged from seclusion?"

"Indeed, Mother secluded herself in the eternal ice for eighteen years, and now her injuries have been fully healed, and her cultivation has even advanced further. She is currently in secret contact with those nobles, and soon, this Korea will be ours."

Bai Yifei spoke with some excitement as he recounted his mother's recent message urging him to expedite the control of the border troops.

He had the ambition to become the King of Han, but he had to admit that if his mother hadn't been a woman, she would have been more suitable to be the King of Han than he was.

Madam Mingzhu couldn't help but lick her lips lightly.