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

Through a single day of observation, she realized that Tian Mi was just like the prostitutes in the brothel, only knowing how to seduce men and extract things from them.

Little did they know that only by having the ability, value, and means could they stand alongside someone as outstanding as Cao Ze.

Otherwise, even becoming a dog depends on the mood of the person who decides whether or not to accept it.

So now she only feels that Tian Mi is both hateful and pitiful, and not worth any more emotional fluctuations from her.

If it were Jingni flaunting her charms like this, she might still be in some danger.

But Tian Mi was not worthy; at best, she was just a concubine who served Cao Ze with her looks.

What right do they have to provoke me?

Cao Ze's actions were not unexpected by Yan Fei.

Cao Ze waved to Tian Mi, "You go back to the car first."

After saying that, he pulled Yanfei aside to play, leaving Tianmi alone by the canal like an idiot.

He had an indifferent attitude towards Tian Mi and didn't consider her feelings at all, because he didn't think it was worth wasting his emotions on a beautiful woman who was just someone to try out.

Tian Mi gritted her teeth and watched Cao Ze and Yan Fei leave hand in hand. It would be a lie to say she wasn't jealous or resentful.

But she was powerless to do anything about it; she couldn't even cause trouble if she wanted to.

If she were the head of the Farmer's Clan, an elder of the Farmer's Clan, or even the leader of the Farmer's Clan, would Yan Fei and Cao Ze still dare to treat her so casually?

She hates!

Cao Ze and Yan Fei didn't go far; they stood together by the canal.

Yan Fei calmly said to Cao Ze, "Tian Mi has ulterior motives and is not suitable to be by your side."

Cao Ze knew that Yan Fei genuinely cared about him, which was why she spoke so frankly.

“I know that keeping her around is only for certain considerations. She is still useful, so we will use her for now.”

He's not blind, how could he not see what Tian Mi meant by clinging to him like that, all lovey-dovey?

If he had nothing, or was suddenly demoted and stripped of all his martial arts skills, he could easily imagine Tian Mi's disgusted look and her decisive departure.

Yan Fei hummed in agreement and said no more.

Cao Ze didn't know how to continue the conversation, or rather, he didn't want to talk right now.

So he casually sat down by the canal and waved to Yanfei, saying, "Come on."

Yan Fei hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and sat down with Cao Ze by the canal.

The last time I saw myself sitting casually on the ground like this seems to be back when I was a teenager, running around on Goddess Peak with my junior sister.

"Do you know? I still remember that farewell in the snow outside Handan very clearly, as if it were yesterday..."

Yan Fei said softly, "My heart is grieved by the separation of my confidant."

Cao Ze turned his head to look at Yan Fei's exquisite and flawless face, and slowly recalled the snowstorm of that day. In the blink of an eye, three years had passed...

"Though separated by oceans and mountains, true friends are never far apart..."

For some reason, Cao Ze added the following line: "Do not linger on the wrong path, for we will all shed tears."

Yan Fei looked at Cao Ze in surprise, then raised her face and looked up at the bright moon in the sky.

"Yes... we shouldn't be sad..."

The two admired the moon together. The Moon Goddess, standing on a high ground not far away, watched Cao Ze and his senior sister's tender scene with an extremely cold expression.

She could no longer tell whether she was jealous of her senior or envious of her.

"Let's go to Jingyang."

There's no need to stay here any longer.

The Grand Master of Fate should respond with utmost respect.

The next day.

After a morning of travel, Cao Ze and his convoy arrived in Jingyang County.

Because the Qian family in Jingyang County had their property confiscated, a number of officials in Jingyang County were also investigated and punished, resulting in Jingyang County now being under military control.

The person leading the team was none other than Meng Tian's father, Meng Wu, a majestic and imposing middle-aged man.

"Uncle Meng".

Cao Ze bowed to Meng Wu in the hall.

Meng Wu originally belonged to the Changping Jun faction and served as a captain stationed at the Xianyang Armory.

Due to the Jingyang case, he was temporarily transferred to Jingyang to implement military control over the area.

Meng Wu laughed heartily and said, "It's my nephew! I've been waiting for you ever since I received your letter from Lord Changping."

After exchanging pleasantries with Meng Wu for a while, Cao Ze said, "His Majesty sent me to Jingyang this time not for any other reason than to investigate the State of Zheng. Uncle Meng, have you had any contact with him? What are your thoughts?"

Almost everyone in the imperial court knew about this.

If it weren't for the sake of Zheng, investigating the officials in Jingyang and confiscating and executing the Qian family of Jingyang would have been enough.

Meng Wu stroked his beard and pondered, "Of course I've had contact with them."

"How to put it, he seems to be a very honest person, not someone who would collude with the Qian family to embezzle disaster relief funds and grain, and do such a heinous thing."

Meng Wu sighed, "Perhaps Lord Changping has misunderstood something."

In his view, it was because Zheng Guo was a person offered up by Han that he was so suspicious of him.

Cao Ze laughed and said, "A great villain can appear loyal. Without evidence, no one can say for sure."

"Where is the State of Zheng now?"

Meng Wu said, "I went to inspect the Zheng Guo Canal yesterday, and I estimate I won't be able to return to Jingyang until tomorrow."

Cao Ze nodded. The Zheng Guo Canal was very long, and even a simple inspection would take a long time.

He chatted with Meng Wu for a few more minutes before leaving the government office.

When he returned to the inn, he saw a slightly tired young man waiting for him.

"Brother Li, you've worked hard."

Cao Ze stepped forward and patted Li Si on the shoulder with a smile.

After receiving Ying Zheng's appointment, he sent Li Si to Jingyang to conduct a secret investigation.

Instead of leaving three days later like him.

Li Si smiled wryly and said, "My lord, it's not hard work."

He felt bitter. Cao Ze, who was originally a commoner like himself, had obtained everything he had ever dreamed of in the blink of an eye.

He was not only appointed as a high minister by the King of Qin, but also appointed as the Grand Censor.

It made him almost unable to feel jealous anymore.

It's because he didn't play a decisive role in bringing down Lü Buwei.

He was originally awarded the title of a high-ranking official, which marked his entry into the Qin state's officialdom, where he could slowly climb the ranks step by step.

But he was unwilling to take it one step at a time. He knew very well that even if he made no mistake, it would probably take him ten years to reach the position of prime minister that he dreamed of.

Therefore, he decisively became Cao Ze's disciple and served as his chief secretary.

Cao Ze said, "Let's go, let's talk over there."

He still remembered the scene when Li Si suddenly asked him to serve as his chief secretary, which truly surprised him.

But looking back, I admire Li Si's decisiveness.

It's important to know that although the position of chief secretary is lowly, it has extremely high potential, essentially serving as the chairman's personal secretary.

If you succeed, you'll definitely get a good position to realize your ambitions when you're transferred later.

He didn't mind that Li Si had such thoughts.

He was more than happy to have such high-level laborers willingly come to him as his lackeys.

He didn't really want to look at those official documents and papers.

Li Si stood under the tree, maintaining a proper posture, befitting a subordinate.

He bowed slightly and said, "Based on my investigation in Jingyang, it can be confirmed that the claim that Zheng Guo colluded with the Qian family is completely unfounded."

"Oh? How so? Do you have any evidence?"

Cao Ze asked indifferently.

He didn't care whether Zheng and Qian were colluding; he only came to see how many spies Changping Jun had planted in Jingyang.

Li Si said, "We found some. I once found the source of the rumors about the relationship between Zheng and the Qian family. It was a few local thugs. However, less than half a day later, these thugs were all found dead in the street. They must have been silenced."

Cao Ze showed no change in expression.

"and then?"

Li Si respectfully said, "Then I went to the canal and privately visited some of the laborers. They all had great respect for the State of Zheng."

"The reason why these laborers did not cause any major disturbances during the drought was because the State of Zheng took the initiative to persuade and appease them, which prevented any unrest."

Cao Ze chuckled and said, "But the memorials from the officials of Jingyang say that the reason these labor services are stable is because Lord Changping has come."

Li Si said, "They are merely trying to curry favor with the current prime minister, Lord Changping."

Cao Ze remained noncommittal, then asked the question he was most concerned about: "Can you find out what Lord Changping did while he was here providing disaster relief?"

"We found some information."

"Tell me quickly."

……

Chapter 452 Playing with Honey Pots

As the sun sets, the evening glow paints most of the sky red.

The area outside the government office was bustling with noise, and long lines of disaster victims stretched everywhere.