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

Ya Fei snorted, "I'm sure. Hurry up and think about your wife and children!"

Cao Ze was filled with grief and indignation; this was outrageous!

Even so, Cao Ze obediently took it off.

He was wearing the oversized shorts that Jing Ni had specially made for him according to his request, and he spread his hands: "Is that alright now? You don't still want to wear these shorts, do you?"

Ya Fei blushed slightly and spat out a "Pah!"

"Who would wear your stinky stuff?"

Her beautiful eyes unconsciously glanced at Cao Ze.

He was surprised to think to himself, no wonder Xue'er and Li Ji were so hung up on Cao Ze, who could not love or hate him?

Ya Fei realized what she was thinking, her cheeks flushed, and she hurriedly made Cao Ze turn around and put on the clothes he was wearing underneath.

Cao Ze turned around with a grumble and put on his outer robe.

Having lived half his life, this was the first time he'd been treated like this, and he remembered it.

Ya Fei put on Cao Ze's undergarments and haphazardly hung her tattered silver robe and armor on herself. Unless you looked closely, you would only think that her armor had been broken due to the fierce battle.

"This time it's a draw, understand?"

Consort Ya gave Cao Ze a very "thoughtful" instruction.

Cao Ze said with a sour face, "I know."

People have to bow their heads under the roof.

Once he gets the chance to bring Xue Nu, Li Ji, and the two children back, he'll definitely give Ya Fei a good spanking and teach her a lesson about not messing around.

Satisfied, Ya Fei dispersed the icy mist and dashed back to the Three Jin Allied Army.

"Your Highness, Consort Ya..." Mei San Niang couldn't help but call out when she saw Consort Ya, who was dressed in rags.

Ya Fei waved her hand and said, "Since there is no clear winner, let's sound the retreat and fight another day!"

After giving the order, Ya Fei returned to the city and went to her tent without looking back.

Only after entering the tent did Ya Fei's pounding heart gradually calm down.

"Hmph! That brat is smart enough to give me face, otherwise..."

Ya Fei chuckled to herself, "I'll definitely beat him up when the time comes, and call on Xue Nu and Li Ji to beat him up together! Let's have a mixed three-on-one fight!"

……

Cao Ze returned to camp looking dejected.

Because the troops from the three Jin states had withdrawn, and Meng Tian did not want to engage in a decisive battle easily, the war ended hastily today.

"Brother Cao, who won?"

Meng Tian returned to the main tent and couldn't help but ask.

In the end, only a thick white mist remained, obscuring the inside of the fog, making it impossible to tell who won or lost.

"...a draw."

Cao Ze snorted, "I'll teach her a lesson next time."

Meng Tian wasn't too disappointed when he heard the ending.

The battle just now was obvious to everyone; it was extremely fierce, and both sides were clearly fighting with their hearts full of energy.

……

Xianyang, Zhangtai Palace.

An old woman was walking with a cane.

Her temples were as white as snow, she walked slowly, her wrinkles were deep and visible, her teeth were sparse, and her steps were unsteady but could not hide her composure and nobility. One could still see a trace of the graceful demeanor of her youth.

Many palace maids and eunuchs followed closely behind, but no one dared to go up and help her, because it was the old woman's request.

If we were to discuss who holds the highest seniority in the Qin Palace today, it would undoubtedly be the simply dressed old woman in front of us, who looks like a neighbor's grandmother.

She was none other than Empress Dowager Huayang, the wife of King Xiaowen, the mother recognized by the late king, and originally a princess of the Chu Kingdom.

In the study of Zhangtai Palace, Ying Zheng was startled when he heard Gai Nie say that Empress Dowager Huayang was walking towards him step by step, and then he had a headache.

"Gai Nie, come with me to welcome the Empress Dowager."

Empress Dowager Huayang is seventy-four years old this year, ten years older than King Xiaowen.

According to the customs of the Warring States period, men were generally older than women, but King Xiaowen and Empress Dowager Huayang did the opposite.

Perhaps because the State of Chu was at its peak at the time, when faced with the proposal of a marriage alliance between Qin and Chu, King Zhaoxiang Ying Ji, based on various considerations, allowed his second son, King Xiaowen Ying Zhu, to marry Queen Dowager Huayang, who was a princess of the State of Chu.

Afterwards, as the relationship between Qin and Chu broke down once again, King Zhaoxiang Ying Ji forgot about Empress Dowager Huayang. At this time, King Xiaowen Ying Zhu was captivated by Empress Dowager Huayang and made her his principal wife. Her only drawback was that she could not have children.

There has been some speculation that the reason why Empress Dowager Huayang could not have children was because she had been too promiscuous and dissolute before marrying Prince Xiaowen.

All of that has faded away with the wind; now she is just an old woman, an old woman about to leave this world.

Ying Zheng hurriedly left the study and, seeing Empress Dowager Huayang about to ascend the steps, jogged down the steps.

He almost died from exhaustion.

"Empress Dowager, why have you come out of the palace?"

Empress Dowager Huayang said expressionlessly, "I had a palace servant deliver a message to the King, why did the King refuse?"

Ying Zheng gave a bitter smile.

He felt no affection for his father who recognized his mother, and he harbored resentment because Empress Dowager Huayang had made things difficult for them in the past.

However, all of that is in the past. He was able to stabilize the court after eliminating Lü Buwei, thanks to Empress Dowager Huayang's continued deference to him and her refusal to interfere or question him. This was the greatest support she could give him.

"Your Majesty, the State of Chu is thousands of miles away from Xianyang. You are already of advanced age. How can I be at ease?"

Empress Dowager Huayang remained expressionless, her eyes showing no emotion whatsoever.

“Brother Wang is seriously ill and may not live past this winter. I want to see him one last time, so that I can die in peace.”

Ying Zheng did not understand Empress Dowager Huayang's insistence. Wasn't she afraid that she would die on the way before even seeing the King of Chu?

"This……"

Ying Zheng glanced at the palace maids and eunuchs kneeling behind Empress Dowager Huayang, and then looked at Empress Dowager Huayang who had come on foot. How could he not know that once Empress Dowager Huayang made up her mind, she could not be persuaded by him with a few words?

"Make them all disperse!"

Ying Zheng waved his hand, instructing Gai Nie to dismiss the palace maids and eunuchs.

"Your Majesty, if you do not grant my request today, I will stand here until I die."

Empress Dowager Huayang spoke in a calm and unhurried tone, as if she were talking about something that had nothing to do with her.

Ying Zheng found this extremely difficult; it had truly presented him with a difficult problem.

Whether Empress Dowager Huayang lived or died was of no importance to him.

But he is the one person who cannot die.

"Empress Dowager...how do you plan to go to the State of Chu?"

Empress Dowager Huayang said, "Let Qi'er and his brother accompany me. With them by my side, I will feel at ease. This is a good opportunity to let them see their father."

Ying Zheng frowned slightly. The peasant family recommended by Lord Changping had been making small moves with Zheng Guoqu recently, which meant that what Cao Ze said was not unfounded.

At this critical moment, Empress Dowager Huayang insisted on returning to Chu. How could she not overthink things?

"Empress Dowager..." Ying Zheng said in a low voice, "Although Lord Changping and Lord Changwen are marquises in Qin, they are still hostages. The rules must not be broken."

Back then, the King of Chu was held hostage in the State of Qin. Later, with the help of Huang Xie, he escaped, leaving behind two children.

According to the default practice, it was the King of Chu's ability to escape back, but since the two children were left in Qin, they had to replace their father as the new hostages.

Empress Dowager Huayang said calmly, "It's fine if Qi'er and the others don't accompany me. I won't interfere with anything else. I want to see my brother one last time."

She added, "I have treated you well over the years, and I hope Your Majesty will not disappoint me."

Ying Zheng felt this matter was troublesome and pondered for a long time before saying, "Alright, since the Empress Dowager wants to see her brother one last time, I cannot be unreasonable. However, I will arrange everything."

Empress Dowager Huayang said, "Yes."

She slowly turned around, leaning on her cane as she left.

Ying Zheng hurriedly instructed Gai Nie to prepare the carriages and horses. Knowing that Empress Dowager Huayang was coming, if she were to walk back, something bad might happen, which would only cause him trouble.

After dealing with Empress Dowager Huayang, Ying Zheng returned to his study with a deep frown.

When Empress Dowager Huayang traveled from abroad to Chu, she first had to ensure her safety on the journey, and secondly, she had to prevent the news from leaking out.

Furthermore, the Qin state had no choice but to send a sufficiently influential person and manpower to accompany Empress Dowager Huayang, in order to show its respect for both Empress Dowager Huayang and the King of Chu.

Thinking about each and every one of these matters, Ying Zheng had a real headache.

After a moment's thought, Ying Zheng said, "Gai Nie, have Cheng Jiao come over here."

Just as Gai Nie was about to leave, Ying Zheng suddenly said, "Wait a minute."

He took out paper and pen, wrote a simple letter, and sealed it with sealing wax. "Send this letter to the Wusui camp and have Meng Tian deliver it to Cao Ze."

Gai Nie took the letter, cupped his hands, and said, "Yes."

Ying Zheng felt slightly relieved; Cheng Jiao's identity was sufficient, but his strength was average.

Furthermore, due to Empress Dowager Huayang's advanced age and sensitive status, her entourage could not be too large.

One can only seek out a trusted expert, preferably an official of high rank to accompany them.

After eliminating these possibilities, only Cao Ze, whom he had arranged to gain military merit in the Wusui camp, was suitable.

Now that the war in Nanyang is mired in a quagmire, it would be better to let Cao Ze return and handle this thorny matter for him.

……

The battlefield of Nanyang.

Since Cao Ze and Ya Fei engaged in hand-to-hand combat on the battlefield, both sides seemed to have reached a tacit understanding and entered a brief period of calm.

Meng Tian stopped his daily sieges, and Consort Ya stopped leading troops out of the city.

Cao Ze stayed idly in the Wusui camp, playing "poker" with Jing Ni as usual.