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

Chapter 372 The Aggressive Zhao Ji

Inside the main hall are two stone platforms, each three feet wide.

It is topped with sixteen lotus-shaped bronze lamps, and the lower part is hollowed out to form an incense burner, from which smoke curls upwards.

The stone platform is carved with dragons and phoenixes. The carving technique is very simple and unadorned, but the momentum is amazing and full of royal majesty.

Zhao Ji's seductive words startled Cao Ze.

He gazed at the stone platform still exhaling incense smoke and pondered, "I wonder what business the Empress Dowager has summoned me for?"

Zhao Ji rose from the brocade couch, looking down at Cao Ze in the palace, a faint smile on her beautiful face.

"I first heard of your name two years ago, and since last year I have paid special attention to you. Do you know why?"

Cao Ze thought to himself, "Who knows why you're paying attention to me?"

"Please enlighten me, Your Majesty."

Zhao Ji smiled sweetly and slowly walked down the steps of the throne.

The palace maids standing on either side gently lifted the gauze curtain.

Cao Ze was slightly dazed when he saw Zhao Ji's true face.

In an instant, countless words flashed through his mind—beautiful and charming, a femme fatale, alluring and seductive, a venomous beauty…

How did this woman grow up?

If the Queen of the Courtesans was both seductive and alluring, then Zhao Ji was a pure and beautiful woman with captivating charm, every inch of her skin exquisitely beautiful and incomparably alluring.

With just one glance, if a person's will is not strong, they will easily make a fool of themselves.

Zhao Ji was not wearing a phoenix crown and gorgeous robes today, but instead wore a set of crimson formal attire.

The blouse was made of fine silk, with a wide collar that rose high like flower petals, embroidered with intricate cloud-like patterns. And between the exquisite collar, the snow-white skin of the chest was exposed, glossy and radiant.

Her lower garment was a vibrant red skirt, the long hem of which cascaded down the velvet carpet like a pomegranate blossom, creating a graceful and enchanting effect.

Cao Ze watched as Zhao Ji approached him, and out of courtesy, he lowered his eyes.

Zhao Ji smiled gently, "I have long heard that you, sir, possess a heart that encompasses the world and are calm and composed. Why do you not dare to look up at me?"

Cao Ze replied, “The Empress Dowager is the mother of the king, and I am her subject; the proper etiquette cannot be disregarded.”

Zhao Ji seemed to have thought of something, and snorted softly, "The rites cannot be disregarded? What if I insist on disregarding them?"

As long as you're happy... Cao Ze glanced at Zhao Ji's belly, which wasn't showing any signs of pregnancy.

He pondered, calculating the time, that she must have already given birth to her second child, otherwise Zhao Ji wouldn't have gone to Liyang overnight to meet the fake King of Qin.

But speaking of which, where is Lao Ai?

Since he came in, he has only seen half a man—Old Zhao—and has not seen any other men.

I'll have to ask Zhao Gao about it discreetly later.

We need to keep a close eye on Lao Ai. Whether I can smoothly become Prime Minister Cao depends on whether this guy's divine assistance can get rid of Lü Buwei.

Zhao Ji paced back and forth in front of Cao Ze, her two bright red earrings swaying with her slow steps, making her already fair and beautiful face even more alluring.

"Why is the gentleman silent? Does he think I am wrong, or is there something he is afraid to say?"

Cao Ze knew he couldn't reason with a woman, especially one who disregarded etiquette and inherited the style of Empress Dowager Xuan.

"The Empress Dowager's words are law, and your subjects dare not offer any dissent."

Zhao Ji paused for a moment, then chuckled lightly, "I didn't realize you had such a magnanimous air, sir. Are you unwilling to stoop to the level of a mere woman like me?"

Damn it... Faced with Zhao Ji's aggressive questioning, Cao Ze wondered what he had done to offend her. Was he going through early menopause?

Looking at Zhao Ji, who appeared to be a woman in her early twenties but was actually in her early thirties, Cao Ze wondered if she hadn't gone through menopause yet.

Grandpa Kong is right. Women and petty people are the hardest to deal with. If you get too close to them, they become subservient; if you keep your distance, they resent you.

Zhao Gao, who was serving nearby, was also somewhat puzzled.

Based on his past observations, Zhao Ji should have a good impression of Cao Ze. Why is she acting so strangely today, seemingly deliberately making things difficult for Cao Ze?

Is there something he doesn't know?

Zhao Gao lowered his head, his mind in turmoil.

Cao Ze took a deep breath. Faced with such a stunning beauty, he...

I can't afford it!

"Your Majesty is joking. I had no such intention."

Cao Ze chose a steady and conservative answer, emphasizing the idea that "let him be strong as he may, the breeze still caresses the mountain; let him be arrogant as he may, the bright moon still shines over the great river."

Zhao Ji yawned softly, slightly dissatisfied with Cao Ze's perfunctory attitude.

But when she thought of Cao Ze's great reputation, which was renowned throughout the seven kingdoms, and the fact that Cao Ze was polite and handsome, and that Zhao Gao had said that Cao Ze was quite powerful, she couldn't help but feel a surge of attraction.

Moreover, she wanted to keep Cao Ze in Ganquan Palace so he could finish writing the rest of "Dream of the Red Chamber" for her.

This kind of man is worth the challenge for her.

As for Lü Buwei… Zhao Ji’s eyes flashed with murderous intent. Not only had he been cold to her for years, but he also wanted to kill her own son. He was truly despicable!

If given the chance, she would not only have Zhao Gao castrate that old man.

"Whether you have this intention or not, I don't care. Zhao Gao, take the gentleman away. I'm tired. Order someone to prepare a bath."

Zhao Gao hurriedly replied, "Yes."

"Mr. Cao Ze, please come with me."

Cao Ze blinked. What the heck?

They inexplicably came to me, and then inexplicably made me leave.

Cao Ze followed Zhao Gao out of the main hall and said to Zhao Gao, "Lord Zhao Gao, did the Empress Dowager not see me about the Snow Maiden?"

A hint of embarrassment appeared on Zhao Gao's effeminate face: "Well, I can only guess at the Empress Dowager's thoughts, I dare not be certain."

Cao Ze thought to himself, "What's Zhao Ji up to? Is she playing hard to get? Is she just toying with me?"

He chatted idly with Zhao Gao.

"I've heard there's a mysterious man in Xianyang, known as the Wheel King. The rumors are all over the place. They say that thing can turn a wheel and walk around in public carrying a small cartwheel made of paulownia wood. Tsk tsk, I wonder if it's true or not."

Cao Ze did not directly ask Zhao Gao and Zhao Ji if there was a man named Lao Ai by their side, but asked the question casually.

But Cao Ze forgot that Zhao Gao was a eunuch, and that he had been castrated due to practicing some kind of magic.

Although Zhao Gao was somewhat displeased, he thought it was just casual conversation and Cao Ze might not have meant it.

He said calmly, "I don't know."

The rather disappointing answer was a stark contrast to Zhao Gao's previous shrewdness.

Cao Ze was slightly taken aback, then suddenly realized that he had forgotten that Zhao Gao was a eunuch.

Talking about this in front of eunuchs, well, it's quite discouraging.

But he couldn't stop talking, so he said calmly, "People say this man is called Lao Ai, and that he entered the palace, took a job, and was valued by the nobles in the palace."

"Lao Ai? How could such a despicable name appear in the palace? Mr. Cao Ze, you should not listen to these rumors from the streets. They are all vulgar and base stories spread by mistake."

Zhao Gao mistakenly believed that Lao Ai, whom Cao Ze mentioned, was a significant figure, hence this statement.

Based on his experience in the palace, no noble person would promote someone whose name inherently carries a lowly connotation.

Even if they want to help me, I have to change my name first, so as not to embarrass the important person.

Cao Ze looked at Zhao Gao's seemingly genuine words and felt a mixture of surprise and doubt.

Lao Ai was hiding so well that even Zhao Gao didn't notice?

Or, as some have speculated, is it true that Lao Ai was not his real name, but rather that he was stigmatized in historical records because of the First Emperor's dislike of him?

Damn! If that's really the case, why didn't Sima Qian write down the real name as well?

Lao Ai was a figure who changed the landscape, so why is it so difficult for him to leave his real name?

Zhao Gao saw Cao Ze off from Ganquan Palace and then returned home.

Cao Ze gazed at the long street, lost in thought.

It's possible that Lao Ai is no longer called Lao Ai.

But how to identify the real Lao Ai who isn't actually named Lao Ai is a problem.

Ok?

Cao Ze's eyes suddenly lit up.

Although Lao Ai's real name is unknown, the number of men in Ganquan Palace is certain.

As long as Zhao Gao...

Cao Ze paused slightly, knowing that having Zhao Gao investigate would easily expose his presence.

If Lao Ai finds out he's investigating him, wouldn't he be in a lot of unnecessary trouble?

After much thought, it seemed the only solution was to find opportunities to frequently enter and exit Ganquan Palace to observe. After all, a living person wasn't a ghost; it was impossible for them to remain completely hidden.

As for the infiltration investigation...

Zhao Gao and the Six Sword Slaves were not mere figureheads.

Cao Ze left Ganquan Palace with a long sigh.

Is it wrong for Cao Cao to want a smooth and successful career as Prime Minister?

That scoundrel Lao Ai doesn't even know how to cooperate...

He'll be castrated sooner or later, so he can sit at the same table as Zhao Gao.

As soon as Cao Ze returned to his residence, he saw Cheng Jiao directing a large number of servants to move things in the courtyard.

When Cheng Jiao saw Cao Ze return, he laughed and said, "Brother Cao, this mansion has been uninhabited for many years and is somewhat dilapidated. You have just arrived in Xianyang and must be busy with many things, so I took the liberty of bringing some things over and helping you tidy up the mansion. The lakeside pavilions and waterside terraces in this mansion are exceptional and need to be repaired and maintained by a specialist."

Cao Ze smiled and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Brother Chengjiao."

Cheng Jiao suddenly pulled Cao Ze aside, his face serious.