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

Han Yu escaped unscathed and silently withdrew.

Han Wang An gazed wistfully out the window. "Ninth Prince, I hope you can understand your father's good intentions and pass the test I've given you. Otherwise… I'll have no choice but to choose Fourth Prince."

The General's Mansion.

Ji Wuye listened to the report from his personal guards, his brows furrowed.

"Useless! You're all useless!"

Ji Wuye kicked his personal guard to the ground, "Increase the manpower!"

"Yes, yes..." The guard, clutching his helmet, scrambled out of the main hall.

Cao Ze glanced at the man in the straw raincoat sitting cross-legged to one side.

If the man in the straw raincoat was the future King Xin of Han, then he certainly did not die after the fall of the State of Han.

As Liu Bang's right-hand man in history, what role did Han Xin, the King of Han, play later?

Ji Wuye patted the wine table, "Tianze will only release the Crown Prince on the condition that the antidote is provided. You all have something to say."

Bai Yifei sipped his red wine and said casually, "Whether you give me the antidote or not, Tianze will kill the Crown Prince."

The jade tiger shrank its neck and kept its mouth tightly shut, not daring to speak again.

Ji Wuye became even more agitated, "Straw-Cloaked Man, didn't you say there was no one in Korea you couldn't find? Have you found out where Tianze is yet?"

The man in the straw raincoat said unhurriedly, "General, investigating a person takes time, and I hope you can understand."

"Understand?" Ji Wuye sneered, "Understand a discarded pawn of the Han family like you?"

The man in the straw raincoat remained expressionless in the face of Ji Wuye's sarcastic remarks, as if Ji Wuye wasn't actually insulting him.

"Why don't you ask Mr. Cao Ze? I heard that Mr. Cao Ze personally issued the Heavenly Marquis, so he must know more about it."

The man in the straw raincoat shifted the blame onto Cao Ze.

Cao Ze chuckled inwardly. Nightfall was truly cunning; no wonder Han Fei later defeated them one by one.

Ji Wuye's face was grim. "Does the gentleman have a good plan?"

Cao Ze cupped his hands and said, "General, now that the Crown Prince has fallen into Tianze's hands, there's no point in saying more. However, I do have an idea."

Ji Wuye was slightly pleased: "Sir, please speak quickly."

"Like the general, Han Fei of the Quicksand is also eager to rescue the crown prince. If the general doesn't mind, I can help Han Fei first."

Ji Wuye frowned and said, "You know Han Fei very well?"

"I don't know about the others, but Han Fei certainly cherished the bond between his brothers."

Ji Wuye asked, "How can we be sure?"

Cao Ze slowly said, "I wonder if Commander Mo Ya can inform the general that today, Han Qiancheng, the adopted son of the Fourth Young Master Han Yu, attempted to assassinate the Crown Prince at the Crown Prince's residence."

"That is indeed true."

Cao Ze said, "Han Fei also knew about this matter, but he did not tell the King of Han. Instead, he covered it up."

Ji Wuye pondered for a moment and asked, "Can Han Fei find Tianze?"

Cao Ze said, "I observed that Han Fei remained calm and composed even when the Crown Prince was taken away from the city. He must have some clues, otherwise he would not have stayed in the city instead of leaving the city overnight to search for the Crown Prince's whereabouts."

Ji Wuye immediately said, "We will do as you say, sir."

Then he mocked Bai Yifei and the man in the straw raincoat, saying, "They are both fierce generals under my command for many years, but none of them are as resourceful as Mr. Cao Ze. You all still need to learn more from him."

The hall was silent. Ji Wuye waved his hand and left.

The man in the straw raincoat gave Cao Ze a meaningful look before leaving the main hall.

Bai Yifei passed by Cao Ze and said calmly, "It's time to change the Crown Prince."

After saying that, Bai Yifei left without giving Cao Ze any time to speak.

Only the Emerald Tiger remained enthusiastic.

"Brother Cao Ze, Tiger will treat you to drinks to celebrate afterwards!"

Cao Ze made a perfunctory response and left the general's mansion alone.

He didn't care whether Crown Prince Han lived or died, but he was very interested in the clues about the Baiyue treasure in Tianze's possession.

Chapter 304 Ride Your Sister

At the third quarter of the Yin hour, dawn was approaching.

The dark clouds dispersed, revealing the waning moon on the horizon.

Cao Ze returned to Zilan Pavilion and happened to run into Han Fei, who was returning from the palace.

Brother Han looks somewhat haggard.

Han Fei yawned and said, "Perhaps I'm sleepy."

He didn't want to reveal to outsiders the hint his father had just given him.

He has his ambitions, but he also has his bottom line. He can do whatever he wants, but he cannot overstep the bounds.

Cao Ze said, "Brother Han, I would like to ask you about something."

A night breeze blew, and Han Fei became a little more awake.

He teased Cao Ze, saying, "It's rare that you still have something to ask me. Let's go inside and talk."

At this hour, Zi Nu was already fast asleep.

Only Wei Zhuang, who guarded the Purple Orchid Pavilion and waited for Han Fei's return, remained on the high platform.

Han Fei looked somewhat tired. "Brother Wei Zhuang, could you please get me a pot of wine?"

Wei Zhuang snorted, his face sour.

But the wine was placed in front of Han Fei.

Han Fei was used to Wei Zhuang's behavior, so he said to Cao Ze, "Brother Cao, ask away."

Cao Ze asked, "Brother Han, do you have a cousin named Han Xin?"

"Han Xin?" Han Fei recalled for a while and said, "There is one. He is my uncle's biological son, but he had been out of contact for many years before I went to Xiaoshengxianzhuang to study."

Cao Ze asked, "Brother Han, do you know anything about this person?"

Han Fei drank half a pot of wine, and his spirits lifted slightly. He said, somewhat drunk, "Brother Cao, why are you asking him?"

Wei Zhuang suddenly looked at Cao Ze and said calmly, "You've met him before."

His tone was very certain.

Cao Ze nodded: "We just met once."

"Well, to be precise, I've never seen his true face; he just calls himself Han Xin of the Han family."

Han Fei put down the wine pot, and asked with some seriousness, "Where did you meet him? Why did he want to see you?"

He remembered that his father had just told him in the study that his former uncle had tried to harm his father in order to secure his position as crown prince, and that his father had cooperated with the Bai family to protect himself and fight back, ultimately securing the throne.

Thus, Han Xin, as the eldest son of his uncle, suddenly disappeared many years ago, either because his father eliminated him or because he secretly escaped.

Now that he has appeared and secretly met with Cao Ze, he would not believe that he had no ulterior motives.

Wei Zhuang said coldly, "Han Xin is Ji Wuye's man. Currently, there are two Nightfall generals whose identities are unknown: one is the Tide Demoness, and the other is the Straw Raincoat Guest."

Han Fei astutely observed, "The Tide Demoness in the palace must be a woman. Could it be that Han Xin is the hermit in the night?"

He muttered to himself, "No wonder there has been no news of him since he disappeared years ago."

He never expected that Han Xin was in Xinzheng, under the cover of night.

Cao Ze said, "That's right, the man in the straw raincoat is Han Xin."

Han Fei rubbed his head. "Brother Cao's information is very valuable. Now, only the Tide Demoness remains unidentified in Nightfall."

His choice was indeed correct; killing only breeds hatred.

His father's actions back then have led to the consequences he has now. He feels no anger whatsoever at Han Xin's betrayal of the royal family and becoming Ji Wuye's henchman.

Wei Zhuang didn't care about the scandal of royal infighting; he had already witnessed countless such incidents throughout the Spring and Autumn Period, not to mention the ones he had heard about firsthand.

Why is the man in the straw raincoat looking for you?

Han Fei also stared at Cao Ze, "Has he discovered you?"

Cao Ze nodded and said, "That's right. He knows that I'm just pretending with Ji Wuye, and there are witnesses."

"Witness? What witness?" Han Fei couldn't think of anyone besides them who could prove that Cao Ze was on their side.

“Li Kai,” Cao Ze said slowly.

Han Fei and Wei Zhuang were both taken aback.

"Li Kai? Didn't he die in the Liu Yi case?" Han Fei suddenly realized something. Li Kai was dead, but his body had not been found.

He looked at Cao Ze and said, "Brother Cao, did you let Li Kai go?"

Cao Ze did not deny it, "That's right."

Wei Zhuang questioned Cao Ze, "Why?"

Han Fei waved his hand and said, "Brother Wei Zhuang, I understand Brother Cao. If it were me, I would also let him leave Xinzheng."

Wei Zhuang coldly replied, "Kindness will only bring harm."

Brother Wei Zhuang truly deserves to be called the foremost king in Qin Dynasty... Cao Ze remained noncommittal to Wei Zhuang's words. He was not a god, how could he know that Li Kai was so unlucky, being captured by the Poison Scorpion Sect when entering the city and by the Straw Raincoat Men when leaving the city.

Han Fei said, "Brother Cao, you haven't told us yet what the purpose of the man in the straw raincoat is in seeking you out."

Wei Zhuang said calmly, "The treasures of Baiyue."

Han Fei frowned in thought, "The man in the straw raincoat captured Li Kai, learned of Li Kai's meeting with Brother Cao, and thus learned about the Baiyue treasure. The only reason he secretly met with Brother Cao behind Ji Wuye's back is that he wants the treasure. As for why he wants the treasure..."

Cao Ze smiled faintly and said, "Then you'll have to ask your father."

Han Fei looked distressed.

Wei Zhuang said indifferently, "The man in the straw raincoat doesn't just want revenge."