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

He doesn't care about money.

Han Fei was overjoyed, holding the small sandalwood box. "Brother Wei Zhuang, thank you very much. I will definitely return the money in full. As for the rest, we will split it 30/70."

Cao Ze sneered, "If we lose, will the debt be split 30/70...?"

Han Fei said nonchalantly, "If we lose, it's on me; if we win, it's on Brother Wei Zhuang."

Zhang Liang said timidly, "Brother, isn't this too much of a bullying?"

Han Fei said emphatically, “Zifang, I have always felt that Brother Cao said something very good: ‘If you have not experienced the suffering of others, do not advise them to do good.’”

As he spoke, Han Fei said with great distress, "You don't know, he almost... almost buried me alive back then, and even asked me if I wanted a wooden stele, a stone stele, or a gold stele. It's outrageous!"

"...What kind of monument did my brother request?"

"Wine glass".

……

Chapter 297 Smooth Things Over for Madam Mingzhu

With Wei Zhuang's financial support, Han Fei felt confident of victory.

With at least four thousand gold pieces, he refused to believe he couldn't take down a mere Cao Ze.

Cao Ze just smiled as he watched the smug Han Fei, hoping he wouldn't cry himself to death later.

He also glanced at Uncle Wei, who remained as cold as ever.

It turns out that my second uncle also had a habit of hiding money. If I hadn't wanted to get back at him, he probably would have kept it very well hidden.

I wonder if Uncle Wei will suffer as much as he did when he lost his two daughters as he did when he lost his uncle.

"You can still laugh? Aren't you afraid of losing everything?" Zi Nu teased Cao Ze with sparkling eyes and a voice as melodious as a nightingale's song.

"Lose?" Cao Ze chuckled. "Then do you want me to lose?"

Zi Nu winked at Cao Ze and spat lightly, "Want me to help you?"

"Miss Zi is truly intelligent and quick-witted."

"Hehehe..." Zi Nu laughed like a silver bell, her face made even more beautiful by the candlelight: "Wei Zhuang is indeed going too far. If you want me to give you money, it's not impossible."

She was waiting for Cao Ze to take the bait.

"Miss Zi Nu, aren't you afraid to give me the money and then take it back?" Cao Ze said with a half-smile.

Han Fei stipulated in the betting agreement that the money and valuables must be his own and could not be lent out. Wei Zhuang, however, gave them to Han Fei directly, which shows they are truly good brothers. It's just unknown whether they will share the debts later.

"If you don't give me the money, then I can only take you as my own." Zi Nu narrowed her purple eyes, a glint of light flashing in them, as if she really wanted Cao Ze to return the money.

"Giving money and having to pay it back is not as good as making money."

Cao Ze swirled the bronze wine cup. "I wonder if Miss Zi Nu would like to make a fortune?"

Zi Nu glanced at Han Fei, who was pestering Wei Zhuang to brag, and said, "Isn't it all about making money off them?"

"They're only worth a few bucks," Cao Ze said dismissively.

One is a protection collector, the other a drunkard; there's no need for him to exploit them.

Zi Nu narrowed her eyes halfway: "It seems that you have ulterior motives, sir."

"It won't be easy to bring down Nightfall. This time, we'll cut off their 'financial support' first, and help Miss Zi Nu make some money along the way."

Zi Nu chuckled lightly, "You're that kind of person?"

Cao Ze shamelessly said, "It's mutually beneficial to cooperate."

With so many wives to choose from in the future, it would be a huge loss if he didn't take the opportunity to make a quick buck in the night.

"What do you want to do?" Zi Nu narrowed her purple eyes.

She loved gold coins; with them, she and her sisters could live a better life.

Cao Ze whispered a few words in Zi Nu's ear, which excited her and made her heart race.

Aren't you afraid something will happen?

"At worst, I'll just pack up and leave." Cao Ze wasn't worried at all. "Besides, they were the ones who wanted me to destroy Zilan Pavilion. I just failed."

Zi Nu nodded slightly, suppressing her excitement: "I will cooperate with you. I hope you won't lie to me, otherwise I'll cling to you for the rest of my life!"

She's staked everything on Zilan Pavilion; if Cao Ze fools her, she'll be devastated.

But the potential profits are so huge that she doesn't mind taking some risks.

Looking into Zi Nu's alluring purple eyes, Cao Ze said, "You're putting me in a difficult position."

Zi Nu's smile froze. "What do you mean?"

I wanted to lie to you so you'd cling to me.

"..."

The beautiful face of the woman in purple was tinged with a faint blush.

She gave a coquettish snort: "Dream on! Not only will I cling to you, but all the sisters in Zilan Pavilion will cling to you, eat you out of house and home, and make you starve!"

Zi Nu spoke in a low voice, her tone sharp and stern, as if she truly intended to teach Cao Ze a lesson.

Cao Ze looked troubled: "Now I want to lie to you even more..."

He's really torn between being scammed out of one person and getting N free!

Zi Nu nearly suffered internal injuries from suffocating, and lightly scolded, "Don't even think about it!"

Perhaps the noise was a bit loud, because Han Fei and the others looked over, causing Zi Nu to quickly cover up her embarrassment and glare at Cao Ze in annoyance.

Once they realized what had happened, they knew they had been tricked. It was all their own fault for being too greedy, which had led them astray.

She would never admit that she had suddenly fallen for someone.

Not far away, Han Fei caught a glimpse of Cao Ze flirting with Zi Nu, secretly pursed his lips, and continued to whisper his plans to Wei Zhuang and Zhang Liang.

……

The next day.

A ray of dawn pierced the darkness, spilling across the eaves and rooftops of the Han King's Palace, casting golden hues like waves of wheat in June.

"Chirp chirp—"

Cao Ze sat in the carriage, resting his chin on his hand, listening to the birds chirping outside the carriage, feeling rather depressed.

As dawn broke, Xiao Hongyu and Cai Die were still gazing at each other tenderly, just waiting for him to nod so they could have a joyful morning exercise.

Unexpectedly, this great white shark really treated him like livestock, not even giving him a moment to breathe, summoning him to the palace first thing in the morning, as if she really thought she was his boss's wife!?

This time, the maid did not lead Cao Ze to the main hall, but instead led him through the corridor next to the hall to the secondary hall behind the main hall.

Cao Ze thought to himself that he should increase the intensity of his efforts today and make the great shark lie down for a few days.

Because Lady Mingzhu had spies everywhere in the palace, he was discovered as soon as he arrived, which meant he hadn't had much time to connect with Xiao Honglian these past few days.

He could only write a bit of "Dream of the Red Chamber" to keep Xiao Honglian hanging, but he couldn't do it himself.

If things continue like this, with his brother-in-law interfering, he and Xiao Honglian might really break up.

Cao Ze, intending to make a living under Lady Mingzhu's roof, prepared to enter the palace.

He suddenly turned his head and asked, somewhat puzzled, "Aren't you coming in with me?"

He always came with this maid, but this time seemed a little different.

The maid stood gracefully and shook her head, saying gently and obediently, "Madam instructed that only the gentleman should enter."

She hesitated for a moment, then said, "Recently, Madam's emotions have been unstable. She is sometimes irritable and often beats and scolds us servants. I hope you can comfort Madam."

Cao Ze paused for a moment.

Should we let him appease her? If we continue to appease her, Madam Mingzhu will only become more irritable.

This is clearly a side effect of the massage he received with his golden finger.

Although Madam Mingzhu possessed cultivation and was a second-rate expert, he could not stop him from only massaging her without communicating with her.

This is a problem. I'll write it down and talk to Madam Mingzhu about it.

Cao Ze secretly noted it down. He couldn't let the great shark get bored. It seemed like it was time to try to take it down, so it wouldn't always come here as a technician instead of a healer.

"Leave this to me. May I ask what business you have with me this time, Madam?"

Could it be that Madam Mingzhu wanted to devour him this time, which is why she let him in alone?

Cao Ze thought this was quite possible, but that didn't stop him from asking a few more questions.

"I didn't know, sir. Please rest assured, Madam is in a good mood today."

The maid mistook Cao Ze for being worried about being scolded by Madam Mingzhu, and offered a few words of comfort.

"Hmm." Cao Ze responded, then pushed open the palace door, stepped over the high threshold, and went inside.

As soon as he entered, Cao Ze sensed a chilling and sinister aura spreading over him.

The palace doors behind him suddenly slammed shut, and the interior became chillingly cold, with several icicles piercing his face.

Cao Ze's expression changed slightly. He subconsciously thought that someone was ambushing him. Just as he was about to use his methods, he caught a glimpse of Madam Mingzhu and Bai Yifei in the shadows.

Test him?

If he were to expose himself, these ice spikes would be nothing more than a tickle to him.

As expected, the ice cone stopped a foot away from Cao Ze, and Bai Yifei's effeminate laughter echoed in the hall.

Cao Ze feigned shock, almost falling to the ground.

Bai Yifei, wearing military boots, stepped out of the shadows.

“Mr. Cao Ze, you can’t neglect your cultivation. The night can be very cruel.”

Bai Yifei appeared to be giving Cao Ze pointers, but in reality, he was demonstrating his own strength, showing that he could kill Cao Ze at any time.

Cao Ze was disdainful. If it weren't for the fact that it wasn't the right time to turn against him, he would have already struck this red-skinned monkey with lightning and locked it in a cage for people to watch.

Madam Mingzhu's beautiful face revealed a faint smile as she walked forward with alluring eyes.