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

She remained silent for a moment, then said, "Let him in."

As soon as Zhao Gao stepped out of the main hall, he ran into Cao Ze, who was entering.

"Mr. Cao Ze?"

Zhao Gao subconsciously bowed to Cao Ze.

They were not surprised at all by Cao Ze's unauthorized entry and exit from Ganquan Palace.

As far as Mr. Cao Ze was concerned, he could go wherever he wanted in the entire Ganquan Palace, even to the bath where the Empress Dowager was bathing.

This was one of the privileges the Empress Dowager granted to Cao Ze.

Cao Ze waved his hand: "I can go in by myself."

Zhao Gao didn't think much of it, nodded, and left.

Cao Ze entered the main hall, much to Zhao Ji's surprise.

"The gentleman has arrived?"

She waved her hand, signaling the maids on either side to leave the hall.

Cao Ze said, "I apologize for disturbing the Empress Dowager."

Zhao Ji smiled sweetly and said gently, "What are you saying, sir?"

"Sir, please go to the inner room first. I will go and keep you company in a little while."

They've done this countless times; a few words are all it takes to start a "Xianyang craze."

Cao Ze should have followed that and then entered the rear hall.

However, instead of going into the inner room, he randomly found a dark corner to settle down in.

Before long, Lü Buwei, dressed in formal attire, strode into the hall.

Zhao Ji, with her beautiful face cold and aloof, was the first to shout, "Lü Buwei, what do you mean? Are you trying to threaten me?!"

Lu Buwei remained calm and said indifferently, "Empress Dowager, the matter from back then has already been discovered."

"If I don't come, will Your Majesty dare to bear the consequences?"

Zhao Ji's phoenix eyes were cold and sharp, her voice clear and cold, "Who is it? Kill him at once!"

Lu Buwei slowly said, "Cao Ze is now the king's favorite."

Zhao Ji was stunned, her mind going blank for a moment.

“…Cao Ze?”

Seeing that Zhao Ji's expression was not right, Lü Buwei mistakenly thought that Zhao Ji was worried and afraid.

"That's right, it was him. He found the files on what happened back then in the Prime Minister's residence, so he probably already knows about it."

"I know that the Empress Dowager values ​​Cao Ze because of the King, but there are countless talented people in the world. Why should the Empress Dowager risk a rift between mother and son for the sake of one person?"

Lü Buwei deliberately made it sound very dangerous, forcing Zhao Ji to step forward, abandon Cao Ze, and even join forces with him to suppress Ying Zheng and kill Cao Ze.

“This matter, this matter…” Zhao Ji was somewhat incoherent.

But she quickly calmed down.

What's there to be afraid of? The man is hers, and he loves her so much. How could he possibly ruin her?

Recalling Cao Ze's affectionate eyes, Zhao Ji's body went weak.

Lü Buwei said in a deep voice, "Empress Dowager, we cannot hesitate on this matter. Once the King finds out..."

"Enough!" Zhao Ji shouted. "I know what to do. You may leave!"

Lü Buwei paused slightly, then did not continue.

He believed that Zhao Ji would not risk her reputation and would make a wise choice—to abandon Cao Ze and then kill him.

After Lü Buwei left, Zhao Ji returned to her inner room somewhat absentmindedly.

Cao Ze had been waiting for this moment, and seeing Zhao Ji so distraught, he already knew a thing or two.

"Your Majesty, you seem to have something on your mind."

Zhao Ji leaned against Cao Ze's chest, feeling exceptionally safe and secure in his broad embrace.

"Sir, do you think I am a ruthless, vicious woman?"

Cao Ze really wanted to say yes, but he could only mutter it to himself.

However, adhering to the principle of not letting go of good women and not wasting bad women, Cao Ze gently comforted Zhao Ji.

"How could that be? The Empress Dowager is beautiful and kind-hearted, and she's been so good to me. How could she be a bad woman..."

Zhao Ji was deeply moved.

"Sir, could you please stop investigating the Prime Minister's residence? Okay?"

"If you agree, then I will do whatever you want to have fun with me."

Zhao Ji looked at Cao Ze expectantly, her big, watery eyes incredibly alluring.

Cao Ze was deeply moved.

Could it be that the wonderful thing of "beating Zhao Ji" can be realized today?

But Cao Ze wasn't that impulsive yet. He needed to figure out what happened back then and whether it was possible to get rid of Lü Buwei.

"Your Majesty, may I ask why?"

Zhao Ji was caught in a dilemma.

After a long while, she sighed softly.

"It was all because I was foolish back then, and listened to that scoundrel Lü Buwei, which led to the downfall of King Xiaowen..."

Cao Ze thought to himself, "It really is related to King Xiaowen."

Could it be that Lü Buwei and Zhao Ji conspired to kill King Xiaowen?

Zhao Ji slowly recounted to Cao Ze the trials and tribulations that had taken place in Xianyang City back then.

The situation was more complicated than Cao Ze had imagined, but the final result was as he had predicted: Lü Buwei persuaded Zhao Ji to kill King Xiaowen, who had just ascended the throne, so that Ying Yiren could smoothly succeed to the throne.

It seems that Ying Yiren was aware of this matter, and even tacitly approved of it.

Having witnessed King Zhaoxiang's decades-long reign, he couldn't guarantee that he would outlive his father.

However, these are all from Zhao Ji's perspective; who can know the truth?

Zhao Ji was filled with sorrow, her face streaked with tears.

"I don't want to take action either, but Lady Huayang was too bullying back then. She couldn't stand seeing us, a widow and her children, doing well. I want to have status and dignity in the harem, and I don't want to suffer Lady Huayang's temper..."

Cao Ze thought to himself, "This industry is really messy, making me look like some innocent white lotus..."

"Your Majesty need not think too much; one must look forward. I have come up with a brilliant idea today that can ease Your Majesty's guilt."

Zhao Ji wiped away her tears and smiled brightly, "What wonderful method do you have, sir?"

"This method is called punishment."

Cao Ze said in a very serious tone.

He chuckled to himself, thinking to himself that he could easily defeat Zhao Ji today...

Chapter 435 Streaking in Xianyang

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

"Was I wrong?!"

"Alas, I was wrong, I was wrong..."

Zhao Ji opened her mouth and let out a soft cry.

Her body trembled slightly, and she swayed excitedly in mid-air, as if she were swinging on a swing.

Cao Ze said with a serious face, "What did you do wrong? Tell me the truth, or I'll beat you until your soul is scattered and cast into the endless hell, never to be reincarnated!"

Zhao Ji was about to explain, but then found it difficult to speak. With teary eyes, she looked at Cao Ze and said, half-scolding, half-coquettish, "Sir, just hit me then, don't make me say it!"

Cao Ze said in a serious tone, "No, this is part of the punishment. The criminals need to honestly explain their criminal motives, purposes, methods, and consequences."

"Your Majesty, you are now a female prisoner and need to cooperate with me in order to reduce your sins."

You bitch!

"The sting of the yellow-tailed bee is most poisonous than a woman's heart"—this saying is absolutely true.

Regardless of whether Lü Buwei instigated it or whether it was a conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, the daughter-in-law ultimately poisoned her father-in-law.

Zhao Ji stammered, "You, aren't you making things difficult for me? Haven't I already told you?"

Cao Ze said very formally, "What just happened is what just happened. Now the Empress Dowager is the criminal, and I am Judge Shi Li. The Empress Dowager needs to repeat the whole story in order to determine the crime."

Zhao Ji trembled inexplicably. Seeing Cao Ze's reaction, she asked fearfully, "Should I tell you?"

"Of course!" Cao Zeqing shouted, "Hurry up and confess, or I'll have to use torture on you!"

With tears welling up in her eyes and her voice choked with sobs, Zhao Ji said, "Your Excellency, I am innocent! I am guilty, but it was all Lü Buwei who bewitched me. He said that as long as I lit the Thousand Spider Dream Eater in Ying Zhu's room, he would die in his dream without anyone knowing."

"My lord, all of this was done at Lü Buwei's behest. It has nothing to do with me. I beg you to see the truth..."

Zhao Ji got so into the role that she burst into tears when she got to the emotional part.

It seems she genuinely believes she is innocent.

Cao Ze thought to himself, "Has this gone too far?"

"Hmph! You audacious slut! You dare lie to my face! Give her another thirty lashes!"

Zhao Ji suddenly sobbed, "I did nothing wrong, I really did nothing wrong, I was forced into it..."

"Ying Yiren knew, he tacitly approved, I am the victim..."