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

Zhao Ji's expression softened slightly. "I see. He can be considered a meritorious official."

She had only taken two steps when she suddenly stopped.

"You just mentioned... Cao Ze? The Cao Ze who wrote 'Snow Maiden Song' and 'Dream of the Red Chamber'?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhao Cheng recalled his elder brother's instructions before he went to Xinzheng—to capture Cao Ze alive and send him to see Zhao Ji—and couldn't help but speculate.

Zhao Ji slightly raised her rounded chin, which, against the backdrop of her jeweled head, appeared even whiter and smoother, like white jade porcelain.

"Zhao Gao, when you went to Handan two years ago, you came back and told me that my old neighbor had passed away and that he had only one son named Xue Nu, who was adopted by the elegant concubine of Fei Xue Ge. Is this true?"

Zhao Gao's heart stirred, and he couldn't help but recall the young man who roared angrily in the snowstorm that year. He wondered what kind of surprise his seemingly insignificant move would bring.

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, everything is true."

A slight change in expression appeared on Zhao Ji's dignified and beautiful face. "Have you heard what the relationship is between this Mr. Cao Ze and the Snow Maiden?"

"This……"

Zhao Ji said calmly, "I don't know?"

Zhao Gao took a deep breath. If he said he didn't know, he would be beheaded.

"Your Majesty, it's not that I don't know, but the information about Xue Nu and Cao Ze back then was unverified, so I dared not draw any conclusions. However, I can be certain that the two had a close relationship."

"A close relationship?" Zhao Ji smiled brightly. "Interesting. When he arrives in Xianyang, bring him to see me. I want to ask him some questions."

Zhao Gao quickly replied, "It is the Empress Dowager."

Li Si witnessed all of this from beginning to end.

While Zhao Cheng was still somewhat confused, both he and Zhao Gao could see that Zhao Ji had a strong interest in Cao Ze and the Snow Maiden she had never met before.

Xianyang, the Qin Palace.

Ying Zheng made no announcement to anyone and returned to the palace with Cao Ze and the others, as if he had never left.

However, Lü Buwei, who had complete control over Xianyang, already knew everything when Ying Zheng entered the palace.

Damn it!

Enraged, Lü Buwei grabbed a jade cup from his desk and smashed it on the ground.

Because of the luxurious and soft carpet on the floor, the jade cup did not break.

Old Master Zheng carefully picked up the jade cup and placed it back on the desk.

Lü Buwei suddenly stretched out his arm and wiped away all the books, writing brushes, and inkstones on the table.

The loud crash startled Old Man Zheng. It was the first time he had ever seen Lü Buwei so enraged. Even when Ying Yiren, to whom he had devoted countless efforts, almost lost his status as the heir to the throne, he had never seen Lü Buwei so out of control.

"Traitors, they're all traitors!"

Lü Buwei shouted it almost hysterically.

He didn't hate that he hadn't killed the young King of Qin, nor did he hate Fan Yuqi and Lord Changping; he hated himself for misjudging people.

This made him very apprehensive.

This was the first time he had misjudged someone and then entrusted them with such an important task.

Is he really getting old?

He wasn't afraid of growing old, but rather of losing his eyesight and being unable to distinguish who was loyal to him, who wanted to harm him, who could be used, and who could be killed...

Lü Buwei's anger came and went quickly.

He took a few deep breaths, and his intense, agitated emotions gradually calmed down.

"Prepare the carriage; I will go to the palace now."

Old Master Zheng hesitated and said, "The King has just returned to the palace, and you're going to see him already, what if..."

Lü Buwei sneered, "Are you worried that he'll arrange for three hundred axemen in the palace to emulate Zhao Xiangzi's capture of Dai?"

Old Zheng remained silent; in his view, this was quite possible.

Lu Buwei suddenly burst into laughter: "Old man, you are skilled in martial arts, but you don't understand the intrigues of the court."

“If it is a battle between two armies, or a political struggle between factions, such concern is not excessive.”

"But now, who in the world does not know that I have devoted myself wholeheartedly to the Qin Dynasty and have been utterly loyal?"

"If the young King of Qin dares to kill me now without cause, the Qin state will have no hope of unifying the seven states."

Lü Buwei regained his confidence.

As long as there is no direct evidence, he is innocent and remains the greatest prime minister of Qin.

"Besides..."

Lü Buwei said solemnly, "Lord Changping wants to use me as a stepping stone, but I will not allow it."

Old Man Zheng was puzzled, but he still said, "I swear to follow Prime Minister Lü to the death!"

He thought of the pills that Prime Minister Lü had given him from the Yin-Yang School, and secretly made up his mind that he must break through to the Grandmaster level, even if it came at a price.

Zhangtai Palace.

Besides Ying Zheng, only Cao Ze and Gai Nie were in the study.

To be precise, Cao Ze listened in from behind the screen in the study, while Gai Nie stood guard in front of the screen.

As for Cheng Jiao, he went to see his mother, Madam Han.

Before long, the young eunuch on duty came in and said, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Lü requests an audience."

Ying Zheng was slightly taken aback. He had thought that Lord Changping would arrive first, but unexpectedly, it was Lü Buwei who arrived first.

As expected of his most respected uncle, he turned the tables in a short period of time.

Before Ying Zheng could let Lü Buwei in, another eunuch on duty entered, saying, "Your Majesty, Lord Changping requests an audience."

Ying Zheng pondered for a moment and said, "Let them in."

Inside the Zhangtai Palace, Lord Changping smiled and said to Lü Buwei, "Prime Minister Lü looks quite well these days; something good must have happened."

Lu Buwei said with a forced smile, "Lord Changping is no less so, still making a ruckus in the middle of the night."

The two knew exactly what they were talking about, but neither said it aloud.

Lü Buwei secretly rejoiced that he had acted decisively and had not made the same mistake again.

Lord Changping inwardly praised Lü Buwei, thinking, "What a cunning old fox! No wonder he has been able to sit firmly in the Qin court for so many years as prime minister."

The young eunuch came out and said, "Prime Minister, Your Majesty, the King invites you in."

Without hesitation, Lü Buwei strode from inside the hall toward his study.

Lord Changping stroked his beard and followed the eunuch.

Inside the study.

Ying Zheng addressed Cao Ze behind the screen, "Now that the two of you have come together, what do you think, sir?"

Cao Ze smiled faintly and said, "That's perfect. Your Majesty doesn't need to say anything more; the two of them will explain things clearly on their own."

Ying Zheng couldn't help but smile: "I think so too."

Lü Buwei and Lord Changping entered the study one after the other.

They were unaware that Cao Ze was also in the study.

Lü Buwei spoke first, his voice trembling with emotion, "May Heaven grant Your Majesty a safe return to the palace. This old minister is guilty, and begs Your Majesty for punishment!"

After saying this, Lü Buwei knelt down on the ground and bowed his head, refusing to get up.

Lord Changping opened his mouth to speak, but seeing that Lü Buwei had spoken first, he had no choice but to swallow his words and quietly watch Lü Buwei's performance.

Ying Zheng stood up, walked to Lü Buwei, and personally helped Lü Buwei up.

"Why do you say such things, Your Excellency, and what crime have you committed?"

Lü Buwei loudly proclaimed, "This old minister failed to properly observe his subordinates and was unaware that Ying Lao harbored treacherous intentions and plotted to harm the King. He deceived his superiors and secretly used the Net of Assassination to kill the King. His crime is unforgivable, and this old minister has already ordered his execution."

"It's to silence them..." Cao Ze and Changping Jun thought at the same time.

"Ying Lao?" Ying Zheng's hawk-like eyes narrowed slightly. "Why would he want to assassinate me?"

Lü Buwei said, "He believed that since his father was the crown prince, the throne should have belonged to him, so he plotted to kill the king."

Ying Zheng sneered, "My grandfather became crown prince because his father died of illness. How can he be considered as the heir apparent?"

“Grandfather shouldn’t have been so mindful of past relationships and allowed me, his cousin, to take charge of the Net and become its leader.”

So this generation of Yan Ri was Ying Lao... Cao Ze thought silently. Then, would the later Yan Ri be Zhao Cheng? He felt that it was very likely.

Lü Buwei nodded emphatically: "That's right. Ying Lao was a general back then and was on good terms with Fan Yuqi. Later, he became the leader of the Luo Wang organization. Last night, he dared to release a death row inmate, allowing Fan Yuqi to ambush and kill the king. He should be exterminated... torn to pieces!"

Lord Changping gave Lü Buwei a strange look. "It's just the extermination of three clans, why don't you just say it?"

Ying Zheng remained noncommittal; he knew very well that Ying Lao was simply a scapegoat thrown out by Lü Buwei.

"Lord Changping, what business do you have with me?"

Lord Changping cupped his hands and said, "I heard that someone was trying to assassinate Your Majesty, so I came. I am very pleased to see that Your Majesty is without worry."

He didn't seize upon Lü Buwei's weakness to launch a relentless attack.

Although he had already lost the initiative, Ying Zheng did not seem to believe Lü Buwei's nonsense.

As long as Ying Zheng no longer trusts Lü Buwei, he will have plenty of opportunities.

Ying Zheng said, "Lord Changping is very kind."

"I am tired, please leave."

Lü Buwei and Lord Changping left the study together.

The two exchanged a glance, each with their own thoughts.

Cao Ze emerged from behind the screen and said, "Your Majesty."

Ying Zheng looked somewhat weary. "These people are neither safe to touch nor kill. I have to endure the humiliation of being assassinated, which is extremely unbearable."

You've got it all figured out. You don't know how well the emperors of the Han and Ming dynasties were manipulated... Cao Ze said, "Your Majesty, Lü Buwei is now in decline. We only need to wait a little while, and we can take him down."