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

Zhao Ji said unhappily, "Yongcheng is too far away, unless you go with me, sir."

Cao Ze smiled wryly and said, "His Majesty recently ordered me and Lord Chang'an Chengjiao to escort Empress Dowager Huayang back to Chu to visit the King of Chu. It will probably take four or five months before she can return from Chu."

That's still an optimistic estimate.

If there are strong winds and heavy snow, it will probably cause further delays.

If it were him, it would be fine; traveling day and night, he could make a round trip within a month without any problem.

But Empress Dowager Huayang, that old lady, couldn't possibly withstand it.

"Hmph!" Zhao Ji's face darkened. "That bitch Huayang!"

When Zheng'er and I first returned to Xianyang, Empress Dowager Huayang gave me a lot of attitude.

They looked down on her background, even though her family was a well-known wealthy merchant family in Handan.

Thinking of how her family had suffered hardship and decline in order to protect her, Zhao Ji sighed.

I understand why my family severed ties with me back then.

There's no other reason than that their family of dozens, even hundreds, needs to survive; how could they possibly fall into the abyss because of her?

Allowing her to live in Handan with Ying Zheng, even if it was in poverty, was already more than enough.

Cao Ze said, "Although the Empress Dowager resides here outside the palace, it is still easy for her to arouse the King's suspicion, and she will be exposed even faster."

Zhao Ji thought that she had only summoned the imperial physician, and Zheng'er had come to Ganquan Palace in no time. She couldn't help but nod slightly, "That's true. Zheng'er does care about me."

"However, if you ask me to go to Yong Palace, I'm afraid Zheng'er won't agree easily."

Cao Ze had already prepared a plan.

“Yongcheng is the old capital and the place where the former kings offered sacrifices.”

"The Empress Dowager only needs to say that she misses the late King and wants to return to Yong Palace for a while, and at the same time pray for the King's well-being and arrange his coming-of-age ceremony. The King will not be unreasonable."

He had a bit of a plan to appease Zhao Ji, in case she caused trouble while he was away from Xianyang, and then others saw that the Empress Dowager was heavily pregnant, that would be quite amusing.

Zhao Ji nodded repeatedly, "It's a good idea. But I don't want Ying Yiren to treat us mother and son coldly back then in order to please Lady Huayang. I still remember that. If it weren't for my skills and Zheng'er's potential, we wouldn't be where we are today."

While listening to Zhao Ji's words, Cao Ze secretly did some calculations with his fingers.

Ying Zheng will be crowned next April, it's October now, there are still five or six months left.

Zhao Ji is now three months pregnant. If all goes well, she will give birth before Ying Zheng goes to Yongcheng.

But what if the baby can't be born...?

hiss~

Cao Ze could hardly imagine how shocking it would be if Zhao Ji attended Ying Zheng's coming-of-age ceremony with a big belly.

It would probably cause a sensation in all seven kingdoms, and Sima Qian would have to write a few words about it in great detail.

On a certain day of a certain month of a certain year, Cao got the Queen Dowager of Qin pregnant at the coming-of-age ceremony of Ying Zheng in Yongcheng.

"Li Wu, please take care of the Empress Dowager during this time."

Cao Ze gave Li Wu some earnest advice.

It's reminiscent of a modern-day scumbag who makes his mistress serve his fourth mistress during her postpartum period.

Li Wu rolled her eyes at Cao Ze as well. She had never seen anyone as capable as Cao Ze, who had actually managed to get the Empress Dowager Qin pregnant.

Getting the Empress Dowager Qin pregnant was bad enough, but making her serve her was truly...

"Li Wu is aware."

Li Wu ultimately held back.

I had no choice but to endure it; we were all in the same boat as Cao Ze.

If Cao Ze is finished, she won't have an easy time either.

Zhao Ji was in a good mood at the moment, and waved for Cao Ze to leave, leaving Li Wu alone.

Cao Ze was more than happy to oblige, so he very considerately closed the door and left quickly, ignoring Li Wu's resentful look.

He knew that Zhao Ji would definitely teach Li Wu the true "way of a concubine".

Outside the pavilion, Zhao Gao, who had been on edge the whole time, was greatly surprised to see Cao Ze walking out with light steps.

"Sir, what about the Empress Dowager..."

Cao Ze snorted, "Hey Lao Zhao, do you really think I'm the kind of person who doesn't know what's important?"

Zhao Gao chuckled awkwardly, "How could that be? How could that be?"

He knew, of course, that Cao Ze was aware of the gravity of the situation; otherwise, he wouldn't have allowed Cao Ze to bring his men in.

But since it concerned his own future and destiny, and even the rise and fall of his Zhao family, he couldn't ask or say more.

What if Cao Ze really does something silly or foolish?

Cao Ze glanced back at the quiet pavilion and said to Zhao Gao, "Li Wu wants to stay by the Empress Dowager's side. Arrange for her to have the identity of a palace maid or something, understand?"

Zhao Gao wondered to himself, what was Cao Ze up to?

"I understand, Lord Cao. Rest assured, I will make all the arrangements."

"Ah."

……

Chapter 513 Tian Mi: Come and eat some honey...

Cao Ze returned to his residence and summoned all the women to Jing Ni's room.

Jing Ni, Yan Ling Ji, the Black and White Sisters, and the Soul-Turning Twin Sisters.

In an instant, the small room became lively and fragrant.

Of course, Cao Ze didn't intend to let loose and throw a party late at night.

"Three days from now, Jingni and I will accompany Lord Chang'an Chengjiao's entourage to escort Empress Dowager Huayang to Chu. In the coming months, the manor will be in your hands."

After Cao Ze finished speaking earnestly, he turned his gaze to Yan Lingji.

"Li Wu is shouldering a heavy responsibility and will not be back for a while. While Jing Ni and I are away, you will be in charge of the manor."

Yan Lingji blinked her dreamy, beautiful azure eyes and asked curiously, "Where did Xiao Wu go? Did she really go to deliver a baby?"

Cao Ze almost stumbled and fell over. How could his intuition be so accurate?

"Ahem!" Cao Ze said seriously, "This is a matter of great importance, and it's not convenient to talk about it."

"Hmm?" Yan Lingji and Jing Ni exchanged a glance, then asked suspiciously, "Is it really inconvenient?"

Cao Ze said sincerely, "It's really inconvenient. You can ask Li Wu when she comes back."

The fewer people who know about Zhao Ji's pregnancy, the less risk of it being exposed.

"Oh……"

Yan Lingji suppressed her curiosity, thinking that Li Wu should be back soon.

Cao Ze hesitated for a moment, then told the twins, Zhuanpo Miehun and the Black and White Sisters, to go back first.

In front of Jingni, he gave Yanlingji a few instructions and told her about the people he knew in Xianyang and how to contact them.

It was emphasized that if the atmosphere became unpleasant, one should leave directly through the secret passage and not linger in Hamyang, but go straight to South Korea.

This trip will last for quite some time, and even if Zhao Ji goes to Yongcheng, it's hard to guarantee that she won't be exposed.

Of course, he had to prepare for the worst.

Hey~

Ultimately, Zhao Ji's pregnancy was too good, and she conceived, causing Cao Cao to live in constant fear.

One night passed.

Cao Ze woke up in the warm bed with Da Huo Ji and Jing Ni.

He could still do some things during these three days.

"Hmm... I'll sleep a little longer."

With her eyes closed, Yan Lingji stretched out her delicate pink arms and groped around a few times before hugging Cao Ze.

"Why are you up so early..."

Cao Ze snorted, "Who's like you, sleeping until the sun is high in the sky every day?"

Jingni had already woken up when Cao Ze got up. If Xiaoyan'er hadn't been still fast asleep in her arms, she would have already gotten dressed.

Cao Ze dressed, got up, and left in one swift motion, much to Yan Lingji's displeasure. She wrapped herself in the blanket and paced back and forth on the bed, waking the sleeping Xiao Yan'er.

Jingni couldn't stand it any longer, so she stretched out her jade foot and kicked Yan Lingji off the bed.

Yan Lingji rubbed her plump, round buttocks. Jing Ni's kick hurt so much!

She huffed, "Birds of a feather flock together! You and Cao Ze only know how to abuse me! It makes me so angry!"

"Sooner or later, I'll turn the tables and be the master of my own destiny!"

After uttering those harsh words, Yan Lingji quickly picked up her battle robe from the ground, slammed the door shut, and left, her bare bottom exposed.

If we don't leave soon, we're afraid we'll get a double spanking from Jing Ni and her mother.

Cao Ze left the mansion intending to secretly find Tian Mi to inquire about Zheng Guoqu's situation, but unexpectedly, he saw Zhao Gao, that damned eunuch, again.

"Sir, the Empress Dowager is looking for you."

Zhao Gao's voice was as soft and feminine as ever.

Upon hearing this, Cao Ze thought to himself, "Just as I thought, that woman Zhao Ji never stops causing trouble."

She's already pregnant, but she still contacts him every day, just like always, causing him no peace of mind.

Upon arriving at Ganquan Palace, Cao Ze casually asked, "When did the Empress Dowager return to Ganquan Palace?"

Zhao Gao said, "It was early morning. Before the Empress Dowager returned to Ganquan Palace, she specifically asked me to find you, sir."

"Getting up unusually early..." Cao Ze thought to himself. "They can't be looking for me so early in the morning because they're thirsty again, can they?"