Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

When faced with truly difficult problems, he lacks the courage to fight to the death and instead chooses to compromise.

Even knowing that the Imperial Guards were in trouble, Han Yu still chose to compromise.

He pretended not to see it.

After venting his frustrations, he even resorted to self-comfort.

"It's nothing more than paying lip service while acting against it."

"After all, everyone has selfish motives, which is understandable. At least on the surface, they are all willing to obey my orders and pledge allegiance to me..."

It has to be said that after this self-comfort, Han Yu actually felt much better.

However, the Imperial Guards still need to be dealt with for doing such a thing.

So he issued another order.

Xinzheng remains under lockdown, but there's no need to rush the search for the lost treasure in the royal palace.

Perhaps it was through self-comfort that I calmed myself down.

Han Yu also realized that the situation was different now.

If one goes too far, it may incite a mutiny.

"What a coward!"

Xu Qing has been closely monitoring the changes in Xinzheng City.

Originally, they wanted to take advantage of Han Yu's actions to fish in troubled waters and do something.

The result was all bark and no bite.

Han Yu finally stood up for himself for once, but soon he gave in again.

"But I don't expect you to do anything good, you're just a piece of trash!"

Xu Qing did not have a good opinion of Han Yu.

What advantages does Han Yu have compared to Han Wang'an? His only advantage is his youth.

Aside from his youth, he was even inferior to King An of Han in his prime. King An of Han could at least maintain a balance in the Han court, and even though Ji Wuye was ambitious, there were some things he dared not do openly.

By the time of Han Yu, the balance had become unsustainable.

It can be said that South Korea during his time was a complete mess.

With the treacherous ministers like Ji Wuye and Bai Yifei already dead, he could have done his thing without restraint. The country also had capable men like Han Fei. Even if he couldn't make Han a match for Qin, he could at least be a little stronger and have more confidence against Qin's attacks.

Once the State of Han becomes powerful, and the State of Qin suffers losses at their hands, it will hesitate for a moment before it wants to destroy Han.

The final outcome may still be unchanged, but it might be possible to extend South Korea's lifespan by a few more years.

However, Han Yu did not do that.

Even after Bai Yifei and Ji Wuye were gone, he actually began to suspect Han Fei.

Ultimately, he single-handedly sent away the only person who could save the state of Han, causing Han Fei to die in the state of Qin.

"I'll just give you some more trouble."

Xu Qing then gave instructions to Madam Mingzhu.

And so, a whole new rumor began to circulate.

The previous rumors were spread by him at Nightfall; Xu Qing was quite adept at fabricating rumors.

This time, what he sent people to spread was called a rumor, but in fact, it was the truth.

After he killed Bai Yifei, he extracted Bai Yifei's soul.

Although his soul was incomplete and fragmented, Xu Qing still learned some things from it.

Xu Qing originally had no interest in getting involved in the affairs of the Korean royal family.

But now that I'm back, with nothing to do, I think it's quite interesting to let Xinzheng be in chaos, and it's a way to have some fun.

"Did you know? Han Yu was able to become the King of Han entirely because of Bai Yifei!"

"I heard they made a deal: Bai Yifei helped Han Yu kill the former crown prince and also caused the death of the late king!"

"Tianze had previously kidnapped the former crown prince and Princess Honglian, and had already released them, but they were ambushed by Bai Yifei on the way. That's when the former crown prince died, and only Princess Honglian managed to escape!"

These rumors, like a thunderclap, stirred up an even bigger storm in Xinzheng City.

Chapter 192 Siblings Turn Against Each Other, First Encounter with Red Lotus

If these long-buried truths could be revealed to the public while Han Fei was still in Han and full of vigor, they would surely shake the Han court like a thunderbolt, ruthlessly pulling Han Yu off his high throne and causing his painstakingly built power to collapse.

But the truth always comes late, so late that everything is beyond redemption.

Han Fei, now long dead in the Qin state, left behind only endless regrets and longings that linger in the world.

But the truth is called the truth because it has the power to penetrate the fog of time and unravel the doubts in people's hearts.

When the rumors about the death of the crown prince spread like a fine spider web, first quietly in the streets and alleys of Xinzheng, then slipped into the depths of the palace through the cracks in the palace walls, and finally reached someone's ears, the air in the palace instantly froze.

"Brother Crown Prince..."

A trembling whisper escaped from Princess Honglian's lips, and the exquisite pendant in her hand slipped from her grasp.

The pendant, carved from warm jade, featured a lifelike red lotus and was adorned with a delicate silver chain. It was a farewell gift she had painstakingly crafted for Han Fei, who was about to embark on his studies in the State of Qi. Now, the pendant struck the cold ground with a clear, resonant clang, as if striking the heart of the red lotus.

She snapped back to her senses, hurriedly squatted down, and picked up the pendant with trembling hands.

She gently stroked the smooth surface of the jade pendant with her fingertips, and only after confirming that there was not a single crack in the warm jade did her tense shoulders slowly relax and she let out a long sigh of relief. However, her eyes unconsciously reddened.

In the original story, Han Fei lost all his money after falling into the water on his way back home. He had no choice but to pawn the pendant, which carried his sister's affection, to the owner of a roadside shop to get money for his journey home.

But in this world changed by Xu Qing, Han Fei did not experience such hardship. He always wore the pendant close to his body, and it accompanied him through countless days and nights.

On the eve of his departure for Qin as an envoy, perhaps sensing the uncertainty of the road ahead, or perhaps harboring unspeakable concerns, he solemnly returned the pendant to Honglian as a parting gift.

Today, this pendant is the only relic left by Han Fei in the world. It does not contain any earth-shattering secrets, but it carries Honglian's heavy longing for her brother.

From the day the news of Han Fei's death in Qin reached Han, Honglian spent her days in tears, heartbroken and devastated.

The once cheerful and lively princess, as vibrant as a red lotus blooming in the sunlight, has become utterly melancholic. This pendant has become her only spiritual sustenance, which she always holds tightly in her hand, day and night, as if she can feel the lingering warmth of her brother.

At this moment, upon hearing the rumors related to her elder brother, the Crown Prince's, death, Honglian's long-dormant heart was finally stirred.

Her longing for Han Fei never ceased, but what lingered in her heart was not only Han Fei's departure, but also the tragic death of her elder brother, the Crown Prince, which was an unhealable scar in her heart.

She still remembered that year when she and her brother, the Crown Prince, were kidnapped by Tianze. The dark and damp dungeon, the cold iron chains, and the fierce appearance of Tianze's men made her think that she and her brother, the Crown Prince, would never be able to return to Xinzheng, and that only the despair of death awaited them.

But who would have thought that Tianze would suddenly release them? The relief and lingering fear of escaping from a desperate situation were deeply imprinted in her heart.

On their way home, she and her brother, the Crown Prince, supported each other. When they were thirsty, they drank from the streams by the roadside, and when they were hungry, they ate the dry rations they carried with them. Just as they were about to reach home, with the city walls of Xinzheng not far away, a sudden ambush shattered all their peace.

She watched as the assassin's blade pierced her brother's chest, the blood staining his robes and her own eyes.

Although she was eventually rescued by Tianze's people and her life was spared, the image of her brother, the Crown Prince, dying in front of her became her eternal nightmare and a mystery hanging in her heart.

She secretly told Han Fei about it, hoping he would find out the truth and avenge her brother, the Crown Prince.

Even with Han Fei's intelligence and tireless investigation, he was still unable to find the real culprit.

She thought this mystery would remain buried forever, but she never expected that, at the moment when South Korea was about to be destroyed, the truth would be presented to her in such a cruel way.

The mastermind behind the murder of her elder brother, the Crown Prince, was none other than Han Yu, her nominal brother who now sits on the throne.

Scenes from the past flashed through his mind, and the things Han Yu did after taking the throne now had a reasonable explanation.

He first disregarded her wishes and betrothed her to Ji Yihu; after Ji Yihu died, he then betrothed her to the cold-hearted Bai Yifei. In his eyes, he was nothing more than a tool that could be given away at will to consolidate his power.

If that were all, it wouldn't be so bad. He also suppressed Han Fei at every turn, eventually sending Han Fei to the Qin, a land of tigers and wolves, which indirectly led to Han Fei's death.

Han Yu's usually gentle face gradually became ferocious and hateful in Hong Lian's heart. An uncontrollable hatred arose from the bottom of her heart and spread through her blood to her limbs and bones.

Honglian was inherently stubborn. When she was kidnapped by Tianze, he tried every means to make her submit. Even though she suffered all kinds of humiliation and was locked in the cellar shivering from the cold, she never lowered her proud head.

It was this indomitable spirit that made Tianze admire her, which led him to release her and even have Yan Lingji secretly escort her back to Xinzheng.

Now that she has learned the whole truth, after the initial sadness, only deep anger remains in Honglian's heart.

Instead of suppressing her anger, she gripped the pendant tightly, her eyes hardening. She was going to find Han Yu and get to the bottom of things!

As the only princess of Korea, Hong-ryeon held a special position in the palace. Even though Han-woo neglected her after ascending the throne, the palace guards dared not easily stop her.

She trudged through the palaces with heavy steps, each step feeling like she was walking on a knife's edge, her anger making her tremble slightly.

Soon, she arrived outside Han Yu's palace.

Even through the vermilion palace gates, she could hear the sounds of drinking coming from inside.

She took a deep breath, pushed open the palace gate, and saw Han Yu sitting alone at the table, with a pot of wine and a bronze jue in front of him, drinking one cup of wine after another with a dejected expression.

"Honglian, what brings you here?" Han Yu heard the commotion, raised his bloodshot eyes, looked at Honglian who had suddenly barged in, his tone carrying a hint of surprise, but more so, exhaustion.

Lately, one infuriating thing after another has happened. The Qin army is eyeing the border with predatory intent, ready to march south at any moment and destroy the kingdom of Han. The palace's defenses are practically nonexistent; several unidentified individuals have broken in, but their whereabouts remain unknown. The treasury's money and provisions have been silently emptied by someone, and despite his thorough investigation, not a single clue has been found. Even the imperial guards, who are supposed to protect the palace, have been infiltrated like sieves, and he doesn't even know who among his entourage can be trusted.

He had thought of turning the tide and saving South Korea from its crisis, but the successive blows made him realize the reality: he had never truly controlled the country.

Now, he has long lost the vigor he once had when he was vying for the throne. All that remains is a deep sense of powerlessness, and he can only numb himself with alcohol to dispel the vexation in his heart.

In other words, Han Yu has already started.

All we can do is open it up.

The title of a deposed monarch is certainly unpleasant, but he has done all he could, and the rest is up to fate.

Han Yu had naturally heard about the rumors circulating in the palace.

At first, he was indeed a little flustered, fearing that the secrets of the past would be completely exposed, shaking his throne.

But then he thought about it again and felt relieved. Even if the truth were revealed, what difference would it make? He had never been personally involved in those events; he only knew some of the hidden details.

Now that South Korea is on the verge of collapse, would anyone risk taking the risk of deposing him from the throne?

He wanted to see who would be so "blind" as to covet the title of a king who had lost his country.

That's why he didn't suspect Honglian's sudden arrival too much, assuming she was just visiting him out of boredom.

"Han Yu, you still have the mind to drink!" Seeing Han Yu's dejected and indifferent state of mind, Hong Lian's pent-up anger exploded instantly. She pointed at Han Yu, her voice trembling slightly with rage.

Han Yu paused slightly, the bronze wine cup in his hand hovering in mid-air. He looked at the aggressive Hong Lian, a bitter smile playing on his lips, and slowly said, "What can I do if I don't drink? You know, the state of Han is about to perish, and I, as the king of Han, can do nothing about it."