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

Li Si smiled and said, "Then I would like to congratulate Brother Wei Zhuang on becoming the Right Sima of Han."

He then sighed, "Perhaps there are many who desire to be kings in the world, but I think my senior brother is not among them."

Wei Zhuang said coldly, "How do you know he doesn't want to?"

Li Si said, "I have shared a room and slept with my senior brother for more than three years. How could I not know my senior brother's character?"

Cao Ze said slowly, "Brother Wei Zhuang, there is a saying by Confucius, a Confucian scholar: 'Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you.' Have you not heard the principle that 'Do not impose on others what you yourself desire'?"

Li Si exclaimed in admiration, "Indeed."

Wei Zhuang gave a faint "humph," realizing he had just misspoke.

He originally thought that Han Fei, as the King of Han, would gradually become the king he envisioned.

Unexpectedly, Han Fei remained unchanged, continuing to do things that were both laughable and absurd.

He even ordered someone to send Li Si, who was an envoy of the Qin state, to the Zilan Pavilion.

This would be an insult to the national dignity and would easily invite retaliation from the Qin state.

This displeased him, which is why he spoke frankly.

"Lord Li Si has traveled a great distance to the state of Han; surely he has a mission to complete?"

Wei Zhuang cut to the chase and asked the question.

Li Siwei paused: "That's true."

Could you please explain?

Li Si glanced at Cao Ze, who was playing with the little girl, and said slowly, "When I meet the King of Han, in front of all the officials of Han, I will naturally make it clear."

He needs to turn the tide; he can't afford to suffer a complete defeat.

……

Chapter 338 Relax

Zilanxuan stands beside an unnamed lake. The four-story building features flying eaves and brackets, and before the purple-red lights are turned on during the day, it looks quite imposing from a distance.

Li Si walked out of the ornately decorated Zilan Pavilion and glanced back at the plaque with the three large gilded characters "Zilan Pavilion".

A map of Xinzheng City appeared in his mind, and he recalled what he had observed in Zilan Pavilion. Zilan Pavilion was clearly an architectural layout based on the Guigu School of Strategies.

Could it be that Wei Zhuang is the master behind Zi Lan Xuan?

Li Si couldn't help but find it a little funny. How could a disciple of Guigu be running a brothel in Xinzheng? Could it be that his good senior brother Han Fei had instigated Wei Zhuang?

Li Si thought of Wei Zhuang's cold expression inside the building and shook his head. Then he blended into the crowd, walked leisurely, and headed towards the Qin State post station.

Zi Nu slightly opened the doors and windows on the third floor.

It was already noon, and the street below Zilan Pavilion was bustling with people, but Zi Nu still spotted Li Si at a glance.

Her rosy, full lips parted slightly. "He must have gone to the Qin State post station."

Cao Ze held his wine glass, swirling it slowly. "He's just not reconciled."

Zi Nu withdrew her gaze, smiling as she knelt beside Cao Ze. "It's not just resentment, it's also resentment that's building up. Tell me, why did His Majesty have Wei Zhuang entertain Li Si?"

Cao Ze chuckled and said, "What reason could there be? Based on Brother Han's understanding of Brother Wei Zhuang, he must want Brother Wei Zhuang to provoke Li Si."

Zi Nu was still puzzled: "Li Si is an envoy of Qin. Provoking him would only bring harm and no benefit to Han, wouldn't it?"

Cao Ze drank the orchid wine in his cup, and the rich orchid fragrance lingered in his mouth for a long time.

Based on the principle of sharing happiness, he chuckled and kissed Zi Nu. Zi Nu rolled her eyes at Cao Ze but did not dodge. She simply lowered her purple eyes and let Cao Ze transfer the fragrance from his mouth into hers.

After talking with Zi Nu for a long time, Cao Ze reluctantly left.

Zi Nu pursed her lips, feigning annoyance and coquettishness, and said, "Can you tell me now?"

Cao Ze added with a hint of something else: "Although Li Si appears humble and polite, he is actually very proud inside. This pride is very well hidden, almost ingrained in his bones, and is generally difficult for those who are not close to him to detect."

"Therefore, Li Si will definitely be unwilling to accept Han's unreasonable and disruptive actions, and will make a comeback to compete with Han once again."

Zi Nu seemed to understand: "I see."

Cao Ze laughed and said, "Blunt its sharpness, untangle its knots, soften its light, and mingle with its dust. Brother Han is trying to get Li Si to join him in his corrupt ways."

Zi Nu blinked: "Li Si is a bit unlucky to have such a senior brother."

Cao Ze shook his head slightly: "Li Si is not stupid. He won't help Han just because Han Fei is his senior brother."

"However, Li Si is profit-driven. As long as there is profit to be made, he will cherish his good senior brother."

Zi Nu couldn't help but smile. "Li Si is just an envoy, and he's currently a retainer in Lü Buwei's court. Is it really necessary to go to such lengths to treat him?"

Cao Ze remarked with emotion: "Some people are born extraordinary. Even when they are at their lowest point, they can rise to great heights when the time is right."

Zi Nu softly recited: "Shun rose from the fields, Fu Yue was raised from among the builders, Jiao Ge was raised from among the fish and salt merchants, Guan Zhong was raised from among the scholars, Sun Shu'ao was raised from the sea, and Baili Xi was raised from the marketplace..."

Cao Ze nodded and said, "That's exactly what I meant."

At this point, he had to admire his brother-in-law's strategy.

If this succeeds, the Qin court will have two influential figures speaking on behalf of the Han state, buying them more time.

Wise people think things through without being preoccupied with the present.

Zi Nu shook her head slightly: "I don't want to think about that anymore. I need to ask you for a favor."

Cao Ze casually asked, "What is it?"

“Nongyu is currently staying with Madam Hu. I’m too busy to leave right now. Could you please go and talk to Madam Hu so that Nongyu can come back for a while and help me out?”

Zi Nu said somewhat embarrassedly, "I don't want Nong Yu and Mother to be separated at this time either, but there are just too many things to do, and I really can't finish them all."

Cao Ze grinned: "Don't worry, I will have a good talk with Madam Hu and try to get Nongyu back."

Zi Nu hummed in agreement, as if she had remembered something, and took a small sandalwood box from the shelf.

"This contains some delicate fragrance that I blended. Nongyu said that her mother often reads all night long, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to give some to Madam Hu."

Cao Ze took the incense box from Zi Nu's hand. "Alright, I'll take care of it."

Xiao Hongyu and Caidie entered at the right time, carrying a wooden basket full of books and placing it heavily on the large table.

Zi Nu rubbed her temples. "Hong Yu Cai Die, help me arrange them."

Xiao Hongyu and Caidie, with smiles on their faces and sighs in their voices, helped Zi Nu take out the scrolls and set them apart.

They weren't very literate and couldn't help Sister Zi Nu in that regard, so they could only do odd jobs.

Cao Ze struggled to look away from the table full of books and scrolls.

He genuinely couldn't handle documents weighing hundreds of pounds every day.

Cao Ze bid farewell to Zi Nu without making a sound; it was best to relax with his sister-in-law first.

A mansion in Xinzheng.

Inside the mansion, a young woman was with a young girl in the courtyard.

A clump of green bamboo by the wall in the courtyard, after being watered by the recent rain, looked very fresh and tender.

On the other side of the bamboo grove, fragrant orchids are planted, their lush green leaves creating an elegant scene.

Meanwhile, the young woman and girl were chatting and laughing as they tended to the orchids in the courtyard.

"Yu'er, the orchids you grow are better than your mother's."

Mrs. Hu praised her daughter with a smile in her eyes.

Nongyu said coquettishly, "Mother just doesn't plant as many. I plant them often at Zilan Pavilion, which is why they look so beautiful. Mother is more talented than me."

Mrs. Hu was overjoyed by her daughter's praise, her beautiful face beaming with smiles as she chuckled and whispered intimate words to her daughter.

The old steward walked into the courtyard and saw Madam Hu and Nongyu getting along harmoniously. His old face wrinkled up with a smile.

"Madam, Mr. Cao Ze has arrived."

Madam Hu's expression immediately lit up with surprise: "Sir, you've arrived?"

Madam Hu immediately realized that Nongyu was still by her side and quickly said, "I haven't had a chance to thank you yet, sir. Please come in."

Nongyu did not notice her mother's unusual behavior, because she was also delighted by Cao Ze's arrival.

In the front hall, Cao Ze knelt before a screen painted with landscapes, plants, and birds, drinking tea to himself.

Before long, a clear, melodious girl's voice rang out.

"Sir, you've arrived?"

Nongyu, dressed in a pale yellow dress, gracefully entered the hall, bringing with her a fragrant breeze.

Cao Ze smiled and said, "I came to see you on someone's behalf. It's been a long time. How is Miss Nongyu?"

Nongyu's beautiful face was full of joy: "Very good. If it weren't for you, sir, I don't know when my mother and I would have been reunited."

Madam Hu arrived with composure and grace, but only Cao Ze, who was familiar with Madam Hu inside and out, knew the restraint and patience beneath her calm demeanor.

"Sister-in-law, Miss Zi Nu has asked me to do something for you."

Nongyu was very close to Cao Ze, and she asked in surprise, "Sir, is there something you need, Sister Zinu?"

When Madam Hu saw her daughter, who was being a little too intimate with Cao Ze, she felt a slight pang of jealousy.

How wonderful it would be if I were in the prime of my life, like a beautiful flower or a delicate jade.

"What is it? I will definitely help if I can," Madam Hu said, though she seemed a little unsure of herself.

My younger sister came to the mansion the day before yesterday, and I told her about the huge changes in the palace.

Now my younger sister is also struggling financially, and many things are not as convenient to do as before.

Cao Ze waved his hand and laughed, "No need to be nervous, it's nothing serious."

“Zi Nu has been quite busy lately and wanted Nong Yu to help her at Zi Lan Xuan for a while. She couldn’t get away and was worried that it might be too abrupt and disturb your mother-daughter reunion, so she asked me to come over.”

"Oh right, this is a calming incense that Zi Nu asked me to give to my sister-in-law. The incense is called Shuying Danxiang, and it is very calming. My sister-in-law can light one at night, and it will be very effective."

Madam Hu took the sandalwood incense box, and Nongyu said to Madam Hu with delight, "Mother, this incense is wonderful; it's Sister Zinu's treasured possession."

Madam Hu smiled and said, "I thought something serious had happened. Zi Nu has taken care of Yu'er for many years, so if Zi Nu has something to do, Yu'er will naturally go to help."