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

After arranging many matters in Xianyang, she asked King Ying Zheng of Qin for leave and went to the Western Regions with the High Priestess Ehuang, Yanfei, and the Moon Goddess.

Inside the study of Zhangtai Palace in the Qin Palace, Ying Zheng frowned as he looked at the leave request document handed over by Cao Ze, his brows almost furrowed into a knot.

"What exactly is Cao Ze trying to do?"

Ying Zheng hated it when he couldn't figure out someone, especially someone like Cao Ze who was completely beyond his control.

Gai Nie thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, Mr. Cao Ze is not a reckless person. There must be a reason why he is acting this way."

"Hmph! What compelling reason? He's just someone who doesn't respect royal authority!"

Because of his high regard and expectations for Cao Ze, Ying Zheng rarely showed his true feelings and revealed his inner thoughts.

He had already discovered that Cao Ze had little sense of hierarchy, let alone genuine support for the monarchy.

This point is particularly strong compared to Meng Tian.

Anyone can easily see that when Cao Ze and Meng Tian stand together, Meng Tian's loyalty contrasts sharply with Cao Ze's attitude of equality.

The contrast is so striking that it's hard for anyone, especially someone as sensitive to power as him, to ignore it.

Gai Nie remained silent.

He was actually similar to Cao Ze, except that he chose Ying Zheng and remained steadfast in his choice.

Cao Ze seemed to have chosen Ying Zheng, but he wasn't as resolute as Ying Zheng.

He didn't know the reason behind it. However, he could sense that Cao Ze seemed to have other ideas in mind.

Gai Nie slowly recalled the words Cao Ze had said to him in the Qin Palace that afternoon.

"To establish a moral compass for Heaven and Earth, to secure a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of past sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations."

Gai Nie murmured these words to himself.

This is a sentence Cao Ze gave him when he was advising him about the Saint's Sword.

Now that I think about it carefully...

Cao Ze seemed to be explaining more than just what the Sage's Sword was to him.

It was more like she was telling him what she wanted to do.

Could it be that Mr. Cao Ze's ideal is to "establish a heart for heaven and earth, establish a destiny for the people, continue the lost learning of the past sages, and usher in an era of peace for all generations"?

Gai Nie seemed to be deep in thought.

"Gai Nie, go and find out what Cao Ze is up to!"

Ying Zheng's face was grim.

For a monarch, the most intolerable thing is for his subjects to break free from his control.

"...Yes, Your Majesty."

Gai Nie snapped out of his reverie, accepted the order, and took his leave.

He was also curious as to why Mr. Cao Ze insisted on taking leave and leaving, even at the risk of offending Ying Zheng.

……

Yongcheng was located more than 300 li west of Xianyang, and was the capital of the Qin state before that.

Because of its western location, it is not conducive to eastward expansion. Unlike Xianyang, which is located on the north bank of the Wei River, in the heart of Guanzhong, with convenient water and land transportation, it can quickly deploy troops in Guandong, control the key roads of the Central Plains, and allocate national resources.

In addition, the old nobles in the old capital Yongcheng were deeply entrenched and directly or indirectly hindered the reforms, which was not conducive to the reforms. Duke Xiao of Qin decisively advocated moving the capital, which enabled Shang Yang's reforms to succeed smoothly and laid the foundation for Qin's eastward expansion and hegemony.

When Cao Ze entered this ancient capital, he was filled with awe.

Of course, it wasn't just his admiration for the ancient capital that moved him, but also his deep sorrow at Zhao Ji's ever-growing belly.

Based on his experience of getting many women pregnant, Zhao Ji must be at least six months along.

It's already February, and the time for King Zheng of Qin to be crowned in April is getting closer. I wonder if we can successfully keep it a secret then.

Hopefully, this trip to the Western Regions won't take too long.

Otherwise, not only would it be difficult to explain to King Zheng of Qin, but if Ying Zheng discovered that his mother's belly was so big, he could jump ship and run away in advance.

"You damned devil, you finally came to visit me, but here you are, sighing and lamenting. Are you cursing me to die?"

Zhao Ji spoke with a mixture of anger and resentment, laughter and rage.

Cao Ze embraced the most honored Queen Dowager of Qin.

"Your Majesty, you have misunderstood me. Since I was sent as an envoy to the State of Chu, I have been thinking of Your Majesty every moment. How could I possibly curse Your Majesty to die?"

Originally, he was going to travel to the Western Regions day and night with Ehuang, the High Priest, Yanfei, the Moon Goddess, and other women.

But when he passed through Yongcheng, he remembered Zhao Ji, who was still in Yongcheng taking care of her unborn child.

Although Li Wu was there to take care of him, he was still a little worried, so he made up an excuse and sneaked into Yongcheng Palace at night to see Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji's eyes were alluring, and she smiled dreamily.

"You think you're thinking of me all the time? Then tell me, how exactly are you thinking of me all the time?"

Damn it—another deadly question… Cao Ze quickly came up with a solution.

He suddenly released his hand from Zhao Ji's pregnant belly, slowly walked to the window, looked up at the starry sky, and exuded a melancholy air.

"Since Your Majesty wishes to know how I miss you every moment, then I can only pour out my heart."

Zhao Ji smiled in surprise.

She looked relaxed, propped herself up on the bed with her hands, crossed her legs, and watched Cao Ze's back with a smile.

"I like this, so I'll listen to your sophistry."

Cao Ze slowly turned around and looked at Zhao Ji, who was heavily pregnant, with deep affection.

"Rain beats against the pear blossoms, the door is tightly shut; youth is forgotten, youth is wasted. With whom can I share delightful pleasures? Enchanted beneath the flowers, enchanted beneath the moon."

Sorrow gathers on her brows, she frowns all day long, a thousand tear stains, ten thousand tear stains…

Cao Ze was constantly building up his emotions, which were influencing Zhao Ji.

For a moment, the small room was filled with a mixture of ambiguous and melancholic atmosphere, creating a unique ambiance.

Zhao Ji's heart was pounding.

Looking into Cao Ze's affectionate eyes, she was completely captivated, her beautiful face filled with admiration, excitement, and uncontrollable longing.

At this moment, she truly believed Cao Ze, and thought of her and longed for her day and night.

If it weren't for this, how could Cao Ze have written such verses? It's as if she and he were intertwined, always together, never separated.

Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Cao Ze took a light breath of the cool early spring air.

"...At dawn I gaze at the sky, at dusk I watch the clouds; whether I'm walking or sitting, I think of you."

The most esteemed Queen Dowager Zhao Ji of Qin was once again conquered by Cao Ze, both body and soul, to the point that she almost collapsed.

"You, you, you damned bastard..."

Zhao Ji was at a loss for words.

She laughed and cried at the same time, holding onto Cao Ze's delicate hand and refusing to let go no matter what he said.

Like Cao Ze, she had been thinking about this little thief who had stolen her heart every single moment for the past few months.

Cao Ze said once again with deep emotion, "Your Majesty, my heart has never changed. No matter how many women I have around me, none are as important to me as Your Majesty."

The Empress Dowager is the most special person in the world and in my heart. For me, I could abandon everything in the world, but I cannot, and dare not, betray the Empress Dowager.

At this moment, Cao Ze just wanted to give himself a thumbs up. After years of hard work, it seemed that he, the trainee "Sea King," could finally become a full-fledged "Sea King."

But as luck would have it, Li Wu walked in at that moment carrying a basin of warm water.

Li Wu looked at Cao Ze and Qin Taihou Zhao Ji, who were leaning on each other, with surprise.

"Cao Ze? When did you arrive?"

After Li Wu's commotion, Zhao Ji left Cao Ze's embrace with a shy expression.

But how could Cao Ze let such a great opportunity slip by?

Without saying a word, he pulled Zhao Ji into his arms again.

If Zhao Ji hadn't been pregnant and her belly wasn't already quite large, he would have taken the opportunity to punish her.

Cao Ze made a snap decision. The atmosphere was already right, so what if Li Wu was here?

He went straight to the point: "Would the Empress Dowager be willing to spend some time with me?"

He certainly didn't intend to actually play cards with Zhao Ji, after all, Zhao Ji was heavily pregnant.

He simply wanted to go further, to make a deeper impression on Zhao Ji, and to completely imprint Zhao Ji with his mark.

Zhao Ji subconsciously touched her large belly, wanting Cao Ze's love but also worrying about the baby in her womb.

Li Wu rolled her eyes. If Zhao Ji hadn't been there, she would have definitely cursed him, "What a shameless and despicable scumbag!"

The next moment, Li Wu was dumbfounded.

"Li Wu, tonight you will serve the master for me, and I will carefully instruct you on how to serve him."

Li Wu: "???"

Seeing Li Wu standing motionless with the water in her hand, Zhao Ji said with displeasure, "What? You don't want to?"

Li Wu glanced at Zhao Ji, then at Cao Ze, who was equally caught off guard. After taking several deep breaths, she finally gave in.

Ever since she was taken on the pirate ship by this little thief and started following him, she had no other choice.

"...I am willing."

Zhao Ji gave a soft snort.

"Then hurry up!"

If it weren't for the fact that Li Wu was the only one by his side who could take care of him and help him with his pregnancy, given Li Wu's performance tonight, he would have starved her for three days to teach her what it means to have a proper hierarchy and to obey orders.

When Cao Ze appeared before Ehuang, the High Priest, Yanfei, and the Moon Goddess at dawn with a beaming smile, the four women all looked at him strangely.

Compared to Ehuang, the High Priestess, and her senior sister Yanfei, the Moon Goddess showed no respect for Cao Ze and unleashed her "strongest skill"—sarcasm.

"I didn't see you until midnight last night, huh? Were you so horny you went to find another woman?"