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

"Father, Father, you're back?"

Although Changping-jun found his daughter strange, he didn't think much of it.

"Did they go to dance practice?"

Mi Lian nodded hurriedly, "Yes, Father."

My second uncle is upright and honest. He knew that his father would not be able to hide the fact that he had mingled with the dancers at the banquet without permission, and he would inevitably be reprimanded.

But it's always better to be a little late; at least Mr. Cao Ze wasn't there, which spared her from embarrassment.

Changping Jun smiled and said, "Perfect, you can accompany your father to meet today's guests."

"Ah..." Mi Lian exclaimed in surprise, then said directly, "I'm not going."

"If you don't want to go, then don't go."

Changping shook his head and left with his hands behind his back.

Mi Lian felt regret, but didn't know how to speak, so she stamped her feet in frustration and was very conflicted.

When Lord Changping entered the main hall, the dancers stopped and lined up on both sides, creating a passageway.

Chang Wenjun stood up and moved to a different seat. Cao Ze and Tian Guang bowed and greeted him, "Your Excellency, Prime Minister."

Lord Changping returned the greetings one by one, and said with a smile, "Imperial Censor Cao, Chief Hero Tian Guangxiao, I apologize to you both, I was delayed in the palace by some business."

After another round of polite greetings, the three of them finally sat down.

After Cao Ze sat down, he stopped talking.

He knew perfectly well that Changping-jun and Tian Guang were in cahoots, just like he and Jingni were inseparable.

Pretending not to know him was clearly an attempt to trick him.

“Oh, by the way,” Lord Changping looked at Cao Ze and said, “Just now, I spoke with the King about the recent disaster relief in Guanzhong. There was something fishy about it. The King ordered that Imperial Censor Cao be in charge of the Jingyang case, and that I be in charge of the purge of Lu Buwei’s remaining followers in Xianyang.”

Cao Ze paused for a moment, slightly surprised.

He was in charge of the task of eliminating the remnants of Lü Buwei's faction in Xianyang.

Ying Zheng suddenly transferred him to Jingyang to investigate a case...

Cao Ze fell into deep thought.

Judging from the appointment of Lord Changping, it seems that Ying Zheng did not trust them.

What exactly triggered this reaction from the King of Qin?

Cao Ze couldn't help but find it amusing; he should have known this sooner.

The country is easy to change and the nature is difficult to change.

Ying Zheng had suffered bullying in Handan since childhood, so how could he easily trust him?

In Ying Zheng's eyes, he was at most a loyal and important minister. By attaching himself to Zhao Ji, he might be able to gain a fake father.

“Imperial Censor Cao, Imperial Censor Cao…” Lord Changping called out.

Cao Ze snapped out of his daze and said, "I understand. Thank you for informing me, Your Excellency."

Changping smiled calmly, seeing Cao Ze's reaction just now, he was clearly overthinking things.

It's good that he thought about it more; the more he thought about it, the more likely he was to have a chance to persuade Cao Ze to defect to the State of Chu.

He decided to seize the opportunity to sow discord between Cao Ze and Ying Zheng.

The Qin state already has a capable ruler; it cannot afford to have another trusted minister.

"We are all working for the King, there is no need for thanks."

Changping Jun changed the subject and said earnestly, "Imperial Censor Cao, according to seniority, perhaps I should address you as my nephew."

"As an elder, I would like to offer my advice to my nephew."

Upon hearing this, Cao Ze cupped his hands and said, "Uncle, please speak?"

Changping Jun said, "As the saying goes, serving a ruler is like serving a tiger. My dear nephew should be mindful of his limits and conduct."

Cao Ze raised an eyebrow slightly. What did that mean?

However, Ying Zheng did become somewhat impetuous after Lü Buwei left Qin.

It's understandable that he's eager to reclaim power and take control personally.

However, resorting to violence and taking drastic measures can easily cause unease and panic among subordinates, and can easily lead to a backlash.

Just like the previous Inner Secretary Si, who did nothing, people wished they could give him two doses of medicine every day to ensure his safety, fearing that he would end up with his family's property confiscated and his clan exterminated the next day.

He and Changping Jun would never believe that these personnel changes for him and Changping Jun were not a warning or a stern warning.

After the private banquet ended, Lord Changping personally escorted Cao Ze out of the hall.

Cao Ze was saying goodbye to Changping Jun when he suddenly noticed someone spying on him from a hidden corner. He couldn't help but glance over.

Mi Lian hurriedly hid, unaware that half of her clothes were sticking out.

Cao Ze's eyes were strange, and Lord Changping asked in surprise, "Nephew, is something wrong?"

Cao Ze coughed lightly, "No."

Tian Mimei, who was beside him, smiled and said, "Your Excellency, Mr. Cao Ze and I can't wait any longer."

Changping Jun was unaware of Tian Mi's rudeness, knowing that Tian Mi was a beautiful woman used by Tian Guang to seduce Cao Ze.

"Haha, young people are so good. I won't keep you any longer, my dear nephew."

Mi Lian, who was facing away from the wall, heard Changping Jun's words clearly and stomped her feet in anger.

What an annoying father! Why doesn't he punish that rude vixen with a cane?

Cao Ze and Tian Mi left Changping Jun's residence and arrived at a nice restaurant.

Their relationship is very simple.

For Tian Mi, it was like having a polite sexual encounter with a certain celebrity.

For Cao Ze, sleeping with Mimi was like a small gift to accompany their first meeting, allowing him to spare some of his energy for her...

Chapter 448 To destroy Qin, one must first destroy Qi.

Korean Royal Palace, South Korea.

Ya Fei and her entourage traveled down the Yellow River, and after several detours, they evaded the Qin soldiers' pursuit and arrived in the territory of the State of Han.

The royal study in the Han King's palace.

Unlike the solemn study when King Han An was alive, Han Fei placed all the treasures he had collected since childhood in the study after moving here.

The spacious and bright imperial study was decorated with carved beams and painted rafters, and the room was covered with soft carpets that made no noise when people walked on them.

The surrounding walls are adorned with cautionary maxims personally written by Han Fei, including the Book of Changes' "As heaven maintains vigor through movement, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-improvement," and Cao Ze's "A fine sword is forged through tempering, and the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from bitter cold," among other sayings.

Of course, the most flamboyant items are the antiques, jade, and other treasures displayed on the curio cabinets.

Whenever Han Fei saw that these things were still there, he couldn't help but sigh that it was good that his cheap brother-in-law had left. If he hadn't left for Qin, wouldn't all of his possessions have been given to Cao Ze as his younger sister's dowry?

Upon realizing this, Han Fei couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

However, Zhang Liang's untimely voice rang out.

"Your Majesty, the disaster in Nanyang has been alleviated, but the people are impoverished and urgently need money and grain to restore their livelihoods. This money..."

Han Fei immediately grabbed his head with both hands: "Stop talking! Stop talking!"

"Take whatever's valuable in this room and pawn it first!"

Zhang Liang smiled and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

Han Fei almost grabbed the inkstone from the table and smashed it over there.

He had finally managed to thwart Ji Wuye's plans for Emerald Tiger in Nanyang, but unexpectedly, he almost went bankrupt himself.

Zhang Liang coughed lightly. "Your Majesty, according to the intelligence from Liu Sha, Brother Wei Zhuang and his men have already entered Xinzheng and should arrive at the palace soon."

Han Fei was taken aback and straightened his slightly crooked and disheveled flat crown.

He stroked his chin and muttered to himself, "Lü Buwei... I must meet him in person..."

Half an hour later.

Wei Zhuang stood in the imperial study, still with his cold and arrogant demeanor.

Han Fei didn't bother to exchange pleasantries with Wei Zhuang, and instead focused his gaze on a tired and listless old man.

If someone didn't know him well, they would think that old man from the mountains had broken into the palace.

"I have long admired Prime Minister Lü, so why am I so dejected now that I have met him?"

Lü Buwei raised his eyelids, glanced at Han Fei, and said, "Just rotten wood and withered branches, what is there to admire?"

Han Fei smiled faintly, "I once heard Cao Ze tell a story about the phoenix, the immortal bird. Would you like to hear it, Prime Minister Lü?"

Lü Buwei closed his eyes and did not say a word.

Han Fei didn't take it to heart and continued telling his story.

"In the legendary land of Tianfang, there was a pair of divine birds, the male being called Feng and the female Huang. After reaching the age of five hundred, they would gather fragrant wood and immolate themselves, only to be reborn from the ashes, becoming exceptionally beautiful and never dying again."

Lü Buwei gave a soft snort.

"I have also heard another story about the immortal firebird."

"Legend has it that the immortal firebird is beautiful and lonely. Every five hundred years, it burns itself to ashes and is reborn from the ashes, repeating the cycle to achieve immortality. But when the phoenix is ​​baptized by flames, it may or may not be reborn from the ashes. If it fails to be reborn, it will disappear forever."

Han Fei clapped his hands and exclaimed, "This is even better!"

"The immortal firebird can be reborn by using the power of rotten and withered wood, so why should Prime Minister Lü belittle himself?"

"Does Prime Minister Lü truly wish to be driven out of Qin like this, and does he not yearn to return to Xianyang?"

Lü Buwei chuckled self-deprecatingly, "What do you mean? Do you think the three Jin states alone can break through Hangu Pass?"

Even if the Three Jin states had not split up, at most they could contend with the current Qin state. As for breaking through Hangu Pass and storming into Xianyang, that was just wishful thinking, at least during his lifetime.

Ya Fei sneered from the side, "Who said it's only us from Shanxi?!"