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

A hundred gold coins is no small sum; many middle-class families may not even earn a hundred gold coins a year from their businesses.

Even high-ranking officials like the Nine Ministers would feel a pang of guilt if they had to spend a hundred taels of silver.

Not to mention some officials whose families have weakened or who have no family support at all.

But everyone in officialdom knows how terrifying "power" can be.

Donating money at this time may not necessarily bring good things, but not donating money will definitely bring bad things, and you'll be slapped with a lot of accusations in no time.

Especially with Lü Buwei present, not donating money would indeed result in being suppressed by him under various pretexts.

Therefore, no matter how unhappy they were, they had no choice but to follow suit.

Many officials dared not resent Lü Buwei, who controlled the Luowang network, and could only vent their resentment on Cheng Jiao.

Cheng Jiao could not help but sense that something was amiss. His expression gradually turned grim, and he secretly groaned in despair.

He wished he could immediately possess Cao Cao's quick thinking and slap Lü Buwei in the face.

Lu Buwei looked at Cheng Jiao, a slight smile playing on his lips, revealing a faint sneer and a mocking expression.

Do you really think his money is so easy to take away?

Ying Zheng sat high on his throne, expressionless, his eyes fixed on Lü Buwei like those of a hawk.

What a teacher! What a wise uncle! In the blink of an eye, he seized the opportunity to subdue the ant and gain a good reputation for himself...

He slowly recalled a story Cao Ze had told him not long ago, a story called "Borrowing Flowers to Offer to Buddha".

Didn't Lü Buwei want fame?

He was determined to take it!

……

Ganquan Palace.

While Zhao Gao was performing in women's clothing, with the Six Sword Slaves around and most of the palace servants in Ganquan Palace in the Grand View Garden, Cao Ze pretended to go to the toilet and temporarily distanced himself from Zhao Ji.

He bypassed the remaining palace servants of Ganquan Palace and sneaked into Zhao Ji's bedchamber.

He had basically explored the entire Ganquan Palace, but this was the only place where he couldn't easily enter to investigate the whereabouts of Lao Ai because there were many palace servants and Zhao Gao and the Six Sword Slaves were present.

The main hall was very large, and with few people around, it felt somewhat empty. Any slight movement would cause the sound to echo within the hall.

Cao Ze had been to Zhao Ji's bedroom before and had some understanding of its layout.

He quickly sneaked into each room and searched, but found nothing.

Cao Ze arrived at Zhao Ji's sleeping room, and hesitated slightly.

If there are no more clues here, then Lao Ai and his two illegitimate children may really be in Yong Palace, not in Ganquan Palace.

This is undoubtedly a test for him.

He took advantage of the time when Lao Ai was a stay-at-home dad to seduce Zhao Ji and transform her into his shape.

They still spent time and energy traveling back and forth between Yongcheng and Xianyang, risking being discovered to monitor Lao Ai.

Cao Ze listened for a while, and after confirming that no one was around, he slowly pushed open the door and entered Zhao Ji's bedroom.

This was his first time coming in.

I had assumed that Zhao Ji's bedroom would be a luxurious and glamorous scene, just like her attire.

To his slight surprise, Zhao Ji's bedroom was very simple.

And it was much smaller than he had expected.

After pondering for a moment, Cao Ze began to investigate the room.

It's easy to find out if there are any clues.

Do you have any children's items? Do you have any decent men's clothing? Do you have any...?

Um, Cao Ze spotted a familiar garment in the wardrobe next to the clothes rack.

It was a men's garment, which stood out among all the women's clothing.

After he took it out, his expression was somewhat strange.

These look like the clothes he wore three or four days ago.

Because he spilled wine while drinking with Zhao Ji, he changed into new clothes at Zhao Ji's instruction.

Cao Ze was speechless for a moment, not expecting to see this here.

Zhao Ji's quirks are truly...unusual.

He swallowed hard, quickly put it back, and carefully disguised himself.

A moment later, Cao Ze pretended to finish relieving himself and returned to the Grand View Garden.

Zhao Gao continued his performance with great enthusiasm, while Cao Ze sat upright, not paying any attention to Zhao Gao's antics.

Zhao Ji did not notice any change in Cao Ze, and simply asked, "Why are you taking so long, sir? Are you feeling unwell?"

It's not that I'm feeling unwell, it's that your fetishes are too perverted... Cao Ze said respectfully, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Thanks to Your Majesty, I am in good health."

Zhao Ji smiled charmingly, "If you are unwell, sir, just let me know. I have many elixirs and medicines for strengthening your body in my bedchamber, and I can give you some."

"It can't be some kind of tonic, kidney-tonifying pill, or 'golden spear invincibility pill,' can it?" Cao Ze muttered to himself.

Zhao Ji wanted to sleep with him, which initially made him very conflicted, fearing that he would be set up by Lao Ai.

Now it seems that going with the flow isn't necessarily a bad thing...

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I have medicine at home. Your Majesty is of noble health, and it would be a waste to use it on me."

He didn't lie to Zhao Ji; Li Wu still had two small bottles of clove oil that she treasured, which she used to open doors.

Of course, that's not important.

The important thing is that during this period, he maintained a respectable persona with Zhao Ji.

If he suddenly starts flirting with Zhao Ji, it would definitely ruin his character.

Zhao Ji's beautiful face darkened, and she said, "Use it when I tell you to. Only when you are healthy can I...only then can I feel at ease!"

Cao Ze feigned hesitation and said, "Then I will accept it."

Zhao Ji smiled, her beautiful eyes crinkling. "Isn't this wonderful? From now on, if I give you anything, you can't say no."

The Six Swordsmen stood to the side, not daring to look away, pretending not to hear anything, their eyes fixed on their leader's passionate performance on the stage.

They suddenly felt that Ganquan Palace was becoming abnormal, and they had an urge to escape back into the net.

Cao Ze didn't care and went along with Zhao Ji's suggestion, saying, "Okay."

Zhao Ji smiled with satisfaction, then, after a moment's thought, she said, "After a while, I would like to return to Yongcheng for a period of time. Would you be willing to accompany me, sir?"

Feeling that it was inconvenient for her to stay in Ganquan Palace, she had the idea of ​​taking Cao Ze to Yong Palace to spend their "days" together.

Cao Ze refused without even thinking.

Zhao Ji's beautiful face immediately fell, and she said in a low voice, "Does the gentleman have some concerns?"

Cao Ze had dealt with Zhao Ji many times and had gained some experience.

He said, "Your Majesty, to be honest, His Majesty has recently been secretly vying with Lü Buwei, and I really cannot get away from it."

Zhao Ji's eyes were full of suspicion. "This excuse again? Do you think I'm a fool?"

Isn't that right? Cao Ze thought to himself.

Just as Zhao Gao finished his performance, before he could even ask for a reward, Zhao Ji waved her long sleeves and said, "Zhao Gao, go to Zhangtai Palace now."

"Today is the grand court assembly. Go and see what they are saying at the assembly, and then come back and tell me the truth."

Zhao Gao paused slightly, glanced at Cao Ze casually, and said, "It is the Empress Dowager."

Zhao Ji stared at Cao Ze and said, "Today at the grand court assembly, Zheng'er originally wanted to invite me to rule from behind the curtain, but I have no such intention and will simply stay in Ganquan Palace."

"If what you say is true, and Zheng'er is indeed going head-to-head with Lü Buwei, then I will do as you say."

"If what you say is false, hehe..."

Zhao Ji suddenly burst into laughter, her laughter moist and captivating.

"Then you'll be at my mercy, won't you?"

Cao Ze swallowed hard; this woman was really something else.

He felt both relieved and regretful.

Fortunately, Ying Zheng and Cheng Jiao agreed to join forces to deal with Lü Buwei at today's grand court assembly.

Unfortunately, Zhao Ji's wishful thinking is going to fall through, and she won't be able to get her share of Tang Sanzang's flesh.

The main hall of Zhangtai Palace.

Ying Zheng waited patiently for the civil and military officials in the hall to express their willingness to donate money.

When the sound gradually faded away, Ying Zheng spoke: "I am deeply moved by the eagerness of all my ministers to share the burdens of the country."

“In the five hundred years since the founding of our Great Qin Dynasty, this situation is unique, and I am extremely gratified.”

"Men, erect a monument of merit outside the palace. Have a craftsman carve the name of all those who donated gold today onto the monument, so that all the people of the world may admire it, and know that the Qin emperor and his ministers are of one mind, and know why the Qin Dynasty is so powerful!"

When Lü Buwei saw Ying Zheng casually absolve himself of responsibility, he frowned slightly.

To this day, he still doesn't know what methods Cao Ze taught Ying Zheng.

Seeing that Lü Buwei seemed not to have heard, Ying Zheng revealed a cold smile.

This is just an appetizer.

"My esteemed ministers, with Cheng Jiao's donation and the national treasury being plentiful, let's settle our accounts today and establish clear regulations for the year-end expenses that require careful budgeting."

"Report your needs as much as you require, and I will discuss it with you all in the palace."

"The discussion shall not end until all members of the court have left. I will provide for their food, lodging, and other needs!"

Lü Buwei's pupils contracted slightly.

For major court assemblies that are not in urgent situations, such as those to discuss the national treasury expenditures for the second half of the year, it generally takes three days. If the national treasury is in short supply and negotiations among all parties are required, it may take one to two days.

In other words, the methods he originally planned to use after the court session were directly blocked by Ying Zheng.