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

Cao Ze was thinking rapidly.

Did the Snow Woman's side slip up?

Was Ya Fei trying to trick him?

Ya Fei looked at Cao Ze with a deep gaze, "Is this question difficult to answer, Mr. Cao Ze?"

"I can tell you that I know Xue'er always talks nonsense when she's drunk, which is why she only drinks with me."

"What exactly did Xue'er say to you that night after she got drunk?"

She hadn't really paid much attention to what happened that night.

Because Xue'er hadn't drunk with her in a long time.

Until Cao Ze knocked over her wardrobe inside her room.

Later, she inadvertently recalled that Cao Ze's gaze towards her contained only a hint of embarrassment at being caught, but not much surprise; rather, it seemed as if he had known all along.

That's when she realized something was wrong.

I found out this morning after getting Xue'er drunk that the little girl had become a traitor and had told Cao Ze a lot of gossip about her.

I just don't know exactly how much was said.

She has a secret that she must never let outsiders know.

Cao Ze suddenly realized something.

He thought to himself, "The Snow Woman seems quite clever, why would she voluntarily confess what she did?"

However, since Ya Fei didn't fly into a rage and engage in a super-friendly duel with him, Xue Nu probably didn't mention that she helped Ya Fei draw patterns in an indescribable place.

then……

"Being cute, dancing, asking for a hug, sexy stockings..."

"what--"

Cao Ze and Ya Fei immediately looked at the Snow Maiden who was covering her face by the door.

Ya Fei glared at Xue Nu, then took a deep breath at Cao Ze, "Continue!"

Snow Maiden blushed, "Sister Yafei, I really didn't say anything, that's all..."

Cao Ze wanted to communicate with Xue Nu through eye contact, perhaps by exchanging information, but Ya Fei kept staring intently into his eyes.

I must say, Ya Fei's deep black eyes are quite attractive.

Cao Ze confessed almost everything honestly, except for mentioning that the Snow Maiden had drawn patterns on Ya Fei's body.

Ya Fei was still worried, so she pulled Xue Nu aside and invited Cao Ze in for a drink.

After making Xue Nu drunk, Ya Fei made her and Cao Ze give their testimonies.

When Cao Ze saw that Xue Nu was drunk again, well, there was no way to hide it anymore.

Or rather, he no longer needed to hide it; the Snow Woman's eyes were very bright as she looked at him, and she started gossiping again.

Ya Fei answered whatever she asked.

She even held his and Ya Fei's hands, saying they would stay together forever.

"Cao Ze, let me tell you, the tattoo I did for Sister Ya Fei looks amazing, do you want to take a look?"

Under Ya Fei's force-feeding, Xue Nu stuck out her little tongue and finally said something that made Cao Ze's heart skip a beat.

"Xue'er!"

Ya Fei clutched her head in frustration, utterly exasperated. She hadn't expected the Snow Maiden to even mention this.

Xue Nu looked bewildered and said, "Sister Ya Fei, didn't you say that I could say whatever I wanted in front of him?"

Ya Fei wanted to burst into tears.

Her previously tense face was now flushed with a shy blush.

It's still quite embarrassing to reveal so many of your little secrets in front of a man.

She glared fiercely at the Snow Woman, saying, "If you tell me everything, how will I ever get married?"

However... these are all minor issues.

Ya Fei calmed herself down and stopped asking Xue Nu. She looked at Cao Ze seriously and said, "I'm asking you, Xue'er didn't mention anything about a box or anything like that, did she?"

Cao Ze was slightly taken aback. "What box?"

The Snow Woman was also confused. "Sister Ya Fei, what kind of box is this?"

Ya Fei breathed a sigh of relief; Cao Ze truly didn't know.

As the guardian of the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions of the Zhao royal family, she cannot let too many people know this secret.

It was also due to her carelessness that the Snow Woman inadvertently saw the bronze treasure box once.

If only Yuki-onna knew, that would be fine, after all, they are good sisters and good students.

But Cao Ze, being an outsider, absolutely cannot be unaware of this; otherwise, once word gets out, the martial arts world will be in chaos again, and she won't be able to live in peace.

To express his apology, and to punish the Snow Woman.

Ya Fei made the still-drunk Xue Nu dance until she was completely exhausted!

Cao Ze was thoroughly entertained.

The Snow Woman, with her natural, bare face, dances various fancy dances; she's incredibly captivating.

Ya Fei, with a sly smile, asked, "Mr. Cao Ze, is it good?"

"nice."

Do you want to keep watching?

"Well... Your Highness, please feel free to speak your mind."

Even while watching Xue Nu dance, Cao Ze could tell that Ya Fei was in trouble.

"Mr. Cao Ze lectured on the Three Character Classic on the Hundred Schools Forum today and composed the Thousand Character Classic on the spot. How could he not become famous in Handan? I don't know how many disciples of the Hundred Schools, especially Confucian disciples, look at Mr. Cao Ze with new eyes. They all believe that Mr. Cao Ze is a disciple of Confucianism, not a military strategist, much less a strategist of diplomacy."

Upon hearing this, Cao Ze couldn't help but laugh at himself, saying, "I don't even know which group I belong to anymore."

The ancient cultures that became popular in later generations were extremely diverse, and Confucianism was just the most popular and least noticeable one in China.

Anyone can chime in with a few words.

For example, a person who verbally criticizes Confucianism for its harmful influence over thousands of years does not necessarily accept the concept of the three unfilial acts.

It belongs to Schrödinger's Confucianism.

Ya Fei smiled faintly and said, "What kind of family it is is not important. What is important is why these families exist."

Cao Ze looked at Ya Fei with some surprise, not expecting her to have such insight.

"Your Highness is right."

Consort Ya blinked her beautiful eyes slightly, "My nephew wants to hold a lecture on the Hundred Schools of Thought next month. Would Mr. Cao Ze be willing to attend?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Ze realized that Zhao Jia was still persistent in pursuing him.

"It is an honor to be personally invited by Her Highness Consort Ya, and I will certainly go."

He was very interested in such gatherings, which could be seen as a good way to gain fame.

If there's a chance, we should get the chief magistrate to help him organize more major events so that he can become famous.

We can't always let him do the work while we just lie in Chunqing Palace enjoying ourselves.

Ya Fei was in a good mood when she saw Cao Ze agree.

They then watched the Snow Maiden dance and chatted with Cao Ze.

Meanwhile, in the palace of Xianyang, a thousand miles away, Lü Buwei was in high spirits.

Ying Zheng sat upright, speaking earnestly and solemnly: "Uncle, in the past half month, I have roughly read through the 'Lüshi Chunqiu' that you compiled."

"This book takes Daoist doctrines as its main framework, and incorporates the ideas of the School of Names, Legalism, Confucianism, Mohism, Agriculturalism, Military Science, and Yin-Yang School, fusing the doctrines of various schools of thought into one. It can be called a remarkable book."

Lu Buwei felt extremely pleased with Ying Zheng's praise.

Ying Zheng said, "Now, can you explain in detail how my Qin Dynasty can have the title of unifying the seven kingdoms?"

“Very well, that is exactly what I was thinking. I will now present my ‘name’ to Your Majesty.”

With a smile in his eyes and anticipation in his heart, Lü Buwei believed that reforming the Qin military system was the most important step he could take in seizing military power in Qin, and he needed Ying Zheng's support.

Ying Zheng said, “The Book of Rites, Tan Gong II, says that if an army has a just cause, it will be invincible. Your Excellency has presented a just cause, and your contribution is great. Please tell me what you have to say, and I will listen carefully.”

Lü Buwei replied, "Your Majesty flatters me."

"The name of this old minister, in short, is 'righteous army'."

Ying Zheng frowned slightly and said, "The Zhuangzi, in the chapter 'Xu Wugui,' says that 'for the sake of righteousness, weapons should be laid down,' which is the foundation of military strategy. Is Zhongfu's righteous army the same as laying down weapons?"

Lü Buwei said, "No."

Lao Tzu said, “Compassion, when used in battle, brings victory; when used in defense, brings security. Heaven will save those who are compassionate and protect them.”

"Since ancient times, people have been constantly fighting. It cannot be stopped or restrained. Therefore, wise kings of the past had righteous armies but never ceased to fight."

Ying Zheng nodded slightly. "Uncle, please explain in detail. How should we use righteous troops?"

Lü Buwei said, “If a family has no corporal punishment, the children will commit all sorts of evil deeds; if a country has no laws, the people will plunder and oppress; if the world has no soldiers, the feudal lords will fight each other endlessly.”

"Therefore, using troops is like using medicine: 'Good medicine saves lives, bad medicine kills.' The righteous army is indeed a great medicine for the world."

"The Great Qin, with its 'righteous army,' will surely be invincible in its campaign against unjust states!"

Ying Zheng clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Brilliant!"

"The states are without armies, which leads to endless warfare. Our Great Qin is the strongest nation in the world and should raise an army of righteousness. Not for the sake of war, but to stop the war."

"How does Zhongfu plan to implement the theory of 'righteous army'?"

Lü Buwei said slowly, "Shang Yang's theory of prioritizing merit needs to be revised."

Ying Zheng frowned and said, "The laws of Shang Yang are the foundation of our great Qin's strength. How can we easily change them? Wouldn't that weaken our great Qin?"

Lü Buwei did not answer directly, but instead gave a number.