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

Ying Zheng flipped through the unsigned official documents, which listed batch after batch of names, densely packed together.

From the highest-ranking officials to the lowest-ranking clerks, it had everyone.

"Whom Heaven wishes to destroy, it first makes mad. I now believe what Cao Ze said. Using someone's strength against them and going with the flow is truly a brilliant strategy."

Ying Zheng put down the official document in his hand and sighed deeply.

This was a secret report that Li Si secretly sent to Cao Ze, who then forwarded it to him.

All the official documents sent to the Prime Minister's office from various places to report merits that Li Si handled were recorded by name, allowing him to easily obtain a list of officials and clerks who were close to Lü Buwei and the local forces throughout the country.

To him, this list was priceless.

At least unlike before, when looking around, it was impossible to tell who was a loyal minister, who was a treacherous minister, or who was a fence-sitter.

Gai Nie's face was cold as he said, "Mr. Cao Ze's talent is truly the best I have ever seen in my life."

Before Ying Zheng could speak again, a palace servant bowed and reported from outside the study, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has arrived."

"Oh? The Empress has arrived?" Ying Zheng immediately stood up. "Quickly invite her... no, I will personally invite her."

This was a rare occurrence for him, as his mother had always disliked trivial matters of state and therefore rarely visited his study, much to his regret and frustration.

Zhao Ji, dressed in a red and black phoenix robe, walked in with graceful steps.

“My son is the king, why should I go to the trouble of personally going out to invite him?”

Looking at his radiant and energetic mother, Ying Zheng smiled and said, "Your teachings are correct, Mother."

After Gai Nie personally brought over the table, he stood aside like a wooden statue.

Ying Zheng asked, "Mother, is there something you wish to discuss with me today?"

Zhao Ji knelt gracefully on the cushion, somewhat displeased, and said, "Can't Mother come here unless she has something to do?"

Ying Zheng had always been serious and reserved, but when facing Zhao Ji, he was both smirking and submissive.

"Mother, I was wrong."

Ying Zheng bowed deeply, showing no airs of a king whatsoever.

Zhao Ji's expression softened slightly, and she smiled, "It's also because your mother has been too strict with you. Get up and sit down. It's been a while since we, mother and son, have had a casual chat."

Ying Zheng respectfully agreed and sat upright beside Zhao Ji.

Gai Nie was already used to seeing Ying Zheng being so cautious and respectful towards his mother.

He knew that Ying Zheng valued the Empress Dowager more than himself.

Zhao Ji casually chatted with Ying Zheng about everyday matters.

Realizing that his mother was not angry, Ying Zheng gradually relaxed and began chatting with her about trivial matters.

Zhao Ji suddenly said, "You said that Cao Ze is also very talented, why not summon him to the palace?"

Ying Zheng pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty may not know this, but it is not that I do not want you to serve as an official in the court. Rather, there are some unavoidable reasons that force me to temporarily put you in this difficult position."

He doesn't have much influence in the court. He can get Cao Ze into the court, but it's hard to guarantee Cao Ze's safety under Lü Buwei's targeting.

After all, not being in the imperial court and being in the imperial court are different concepts.

In officialdom, those of higher rank have absolute power, and many things are beyond one's control, even for someone like him.

Zhao Ji's jade-like face darkened slightly: "Is it that Lü Buwei?"

Ying Zheng asked in surprise, "Even the Empress Dowager knows?"

Zhao Ji snorted coldly: "When I heard Zhao Gao's letter that Fan Yuqi was leading death row inmates and assassins from Xianyang to Liyang to assassinate you, wasn't the mastermind behind it Lü Buwei?"

"And wasn't it Lü Buwei who assassinated you in Xinzheng?"

Ying Zheng remained silent. To avoid involving his mother, he did not say much to her, knowing that she was already aware of the situation.

"Mother..."

Zhao Ji said, "I know your difficulties, but we cannot treat you unfairly, sir."

"It just so happens that I like his work 'Dream of the Red Chamber,' so how about I appoint him as a Doctor of Ceremonies in my Ganquan Palace, in charge of classics and teaching students?"

"This……"

Ying Zheng hesitated. This was too much of a waste of his talents; it would be better if he didn't enter the palace.

Zhao Ji spoke again: "Yi Xiu, the Duke of Lu, was a scholar who became the prime minister of Lu due to his high rank."

"You should give him an important position in the future; it would be good if he had some kind of official post."

When Ying Zheng heard his mother say this, he stopped hesitating. In any case, Cao Ze was not going to court now, so it was fine for him to work in his mother's palace.

"As Your Majesty has said."

Zhao Ji smiled, a hint of smugness in her expression.

"Very well, I will issue an imperial decree tomorrow, instructing him to enter the palace on a chosen date."

Doesn't this kid like to avoid her? With Zheng'er's approval, she'll see how he runs this time.

……

Late at night, Cao Ze was quietly writing his academic papers in his room.

It was rare that he didn't hang out with Li Wu, Jing Ni, Yan Ling Ji, and the others.

He has already cultivated his three-chariot strength to the middle three-chariot stage, having broken through the messenger chariot; the next stage is the thunder chariot.

The key to breaking through the Thunder Chariot Pass is the perfect harmony of Yin and Yang, the coexistence of water and fire, and the ability to hear the sound of thunder in stillness.

It is known that thunder is yang and lightning is yin.

Therefore, if he wants to break through the Thunder Chariot Barrier, he needs to harmonize the Yin and Yang Five Thunders within his body and generate a pure Yang Five Thunder within his body.

After several months of deduction, he concluded that since Lei Che Pass does not require mental or spiritual enlightenment, it is not impossible to generate pure Yang Thunder power within the body with the help of external forces.

He looked up at the silent night.

June winds, July rains.

As July approaches, the Guanzhong Plain will enter its rainy season, meaning that thunderstorms will occur frequently.

Cao Ze got up and paced around the room. He pondered for a long time over the book "The Intrinsic Relationship Between the Silver Standard and Currency" written on his desk, and decided to try building a Faraday Silver Cage.

The metal with the best electrical conductivity is silver, followed by copper and gold.

Copper was used for electrical wires because silver and gold were too valuable.

Silver existed in this era, as did silverware, but in small quantities; it was a rare and valuable item.

Since silver is heavier than copper, he wanted to build a cage the size of half a small courtyard in Handan, which required more silver than copper.

Moreover, being struck by lightning is not a game. For safety, he not only needs to improve the electric cage, but also needs to build a larger electric cage than the one he had in Handan.

This would cost even more.

Leaving aside the question of how much money would be needed, it would probably take collecting all the silverware in Xianyang and melting it down to make it enough.

Therefore, he thought of deceiving, or rather, helping Ying Zheng, and spent two nights writing the essay "The Intrinsic Connection Between the Silver Standard and Currency".

At least finding someone to mine silver is much more reliable than searching around for silver items to melt down yourself.

The next day was the first day of the seventh lunar month.

The dark clouds over Xianyang were extremely thick, as if filled with lead, heavy and making one's chest feel suffocated.

Even though it was nearly noon, the sky was still as dark as dusk.

"A storm is brewing..."

Cao Ze got off the donkey cart and walked into Zhangtai Palace, shaking his head.

As for why he could pass through without any obstacles, Cao Ze greeted Gai Nie with a smile: "Brother Gai Nie, thank you for your help again."

Gai Nie calmly said, "Sir, you have visited Zhangtai Palace seven times in total. This is the eighth time. It's not a problem."

"What a good memory..." Cao Ze couldn't help but think. Compared to the carefree Wei Zhuang, Gai Nie was very meticulous. Meticulous people are always gentle. Even if they are cold on the outside, they are warm on the inside. No wonder Uncle Wei cares so much about Uncle Gai Nie...

Cao Ze followed Gai Nie to Ying Zheng's spacious and simple study.

The only valuable item in the study was perhaps the large gold scale placed next to the desk, which was as tall as a person.

The only difference was that it wasn't covered with heavy official documents, which made Cao Ze feel a little awkward.

It's quite strange not seeing Ying Zheng as a workaholic.

"Your Majesty."

Cao Ze bowed and made a gesture of respect. Having been in Qin for many years, he was considered to have observed etiquette and understood the law.

Ying Zheng put down the list compiled by Gai Nie and smiled at Cao Ze, saying, "This plan is excellent. Lü Buwei probably never imagined that we would get what we wanted most."

Cao Ze knelt down and replied, "Some things happen unexpectedly, and some things turn out well. The fact that it worked is largely thanks to Brother Li Si handling the documents at Lü Buwei's residence."

He wouldn't mind praising Li Si first.

“Ah…” Ying Zheng raised his hand and said, “Opportunities are fleeting. If it weren’t for your guidance, I wouldn’t have thought of it, nor would Li Si, and we wouldn’t have this list today.”

This list was of extraordinary significance to him. If Lü Buwei were to fall from power one day, this list would determine whether he could eradicate Lü Buwei's faction and eliminate dissidents in the fastest and least damaging way possible for the Qin state.

Cao Ze exchanged a few more polite words. He knew Ying Zheng's character well; he had mastered the essence of concealing one's abilities and biding one's time, never competing or vying for anything, so no one could compete with him.

"Alright, let's not talk about that for now. It's rare for you to come to the palace, sir. I wonder what good news you have?"

Ying Zheng asked with great interest, and Gai Nie couldn't help but prick up his ears as well.

Cao Ze coughed lightly and said, "There is indeed good news..."

Compared to the hard work and worry he would put into mining, he felt that Ying Zheng was more suited to do it and was more willing to do it.

Ying Zheng seemed to remember something and suddenly smiled and said, "Sir, please don't speak yet. I also have some good news to tell you."

Cao Ze was slightly taken aback. "What good news is it?"

Ying Zheng said leisurely, "The Empress Dowager values ​​you highly and wants you to first enter Ganquan Palace as a Fengchang Doctor, to teach the palace servants and manage the palace's records."

Cao Ze almost spat out his drink.

Ever since he learned that Lao Ai was gone, he has been less interested in going to Ganquan Palace. Although Zhao Ji is very attractive, there are quite a few demons in his household as well.

Judging from the current situation, it seems he has to go to Ganquan Palace every day to report for duty?