Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

He did not bring Madam Hu and Lady Hu with him. For these two, following Xu Qing was not a good choice. What they sought was a peaceful life, but being with Xu Qing meant that peace was out of the question.

So, after bringing them to the State of Qi, Xu Qing found them a place in Linzi and helped them settle down. In the years to come, they would live in Linzi as ordinary people.

Honglian insisted on staying by his side.

During the arduous journey, this former Korean princess finally shed her last vestiges of childishness. As the carriage entered the city gate of Linzi, she lifted the curtain and gazed at the bustling city. Though her eyes held sorrow for her lost kingdom, they held even greater anticipation for the future.

"I never imagined you would be willing to submit to someone else!" In the quiet courtyard of the Prime Minister's residence, Honglian finally couldn't help but speak.

That being said, the tone of his words was rather odd, making the statement sound more like a joke.

She could see clearly along the way that Hou Sheng almost always obeyed Xu Qing's orders, and even when assigning guards in the mansion, he would ask Xu Qing's opinion first. This kind of "subservience" was more like turning the tables.

Xu Qing was sipping tea by the window when he heard this and smiled casually: "Hou Sheng is a very good employer. There's little work, a lot of money, and you don't have to take on any responsibility."

Honglian gave him a deep look, the question she wanted to ask stuck in her throat.

Why is Madam Mingzhu so subservient to him? What is his true identity? What was his ultimate goal in doing all that he did in South Korea?

But the words that came out were ultimately transformed into another question: "So, what are your plans for me next?"

"Why should I be the one to arrange things for you?" Xu Qing retorted, her gaze clear and gentle. "Do what you want to do. I have no right to decide your life."

Honglian remained silent for a long time before finally raising her head, her eyes flashing with determination: "Can you teach me martial arts?"

Xu Qing raised an eyebrow in surprise.

He certainly thought highly of Honglian. In his heart, Honglian was a beautiful jade that needed to be polished. But that didn’t mean he only planned to let Honglian learn martial arts. In Xu Qing’s opinion, although Honglian’s martial arts aptitude was not bad, it was still inferior to her talent in medicine making and poison refining.

He prefers to train a Gu master or poison master rather than a martial artist.

"Is it okay?" Honglian looked at Xu Qing with expectant eyes.

Although it's true that Han Yu died at her hands.

But whenever she thinks about what happened in South Korea, Honglian resents her own weakness more than once.

Ultimately, it's because she's too weak.

If she were strong enough, many tragedies would never have happened.

When she and her brother, the Crown Prince, returned to Xinzheng, if she had possessed greater strength, she could have easily dealt with those assassins and wouldn't have watched her brother die a tragic death.

When I first faced Han Yu, I wouldn't have become a prisoner.

It was because she killed Han Yu with her sword that Honglian deeply realized the importance of power.

"Of course you can!"

Xu Qing met Honglian's gaze and did not refuse her request.

Practicing martial arts and learning medicine are not actually contradictory.

After arriving in the State of Qi, Xu Qing had already decided what kind of teacher to find for Honglian.

In the original work, it is not said where Honglian learned those skills.

However, considering the fire charm technique she used, as well as those poison techniques, one can see the deep traces of the Baiyue assassin group. Without a doubt, her teacher was one of those people from the Baiyue assassin group.

Xu Qing was currently unable to contact the Baiyue assassin group, and he had no idea where Tianze had taken those assassin group members.

But within the State of Qi, there are actually some people who can serve as Honglian's teachers.

"Lord Anqi, from now on, she will be under your care!"

Xu Qing led Honglian directly to An Qisheng and said this to him.

After learning Xu Qing's purpose, An Qisheng couldn't help but shake his head, "You really know how to give me trouble."

But he did not refuse.

After all, the sword he obtained from Xu Qing was indeed a fine sword, and even though he wasn't good at using swords, he started practicing swordsmanship for the sake of it.

Besides, he and Xu Qing were close friends and considered each other confidants, so it was only natural for him to help his friend teach the younger generation.

After settling Princess Honglian in, Xu Qing lived a leisurely life in the Prime Minister's residence in Housheng.

During the time he was away from the State of Qi.

Xiao Hei and Xiao Bai, after diligent study, have thoroughly mastered the "self-cultivation of maids." In any case, after Xu Qing's return, one can sense the difference in them.

Here, he experienced a completely new kind of enjoyment.

Originally, he wanted to bring Lady Mingzhu into the Prime Minister's residence as a maid.

But after thinking about it, I finally gave up.

It would be better to let him remain in the marketplace of Qi under a different identity.

In this way, it can be used as a chess piece when necessary.

Just as Xu Qing and Qi Guo continued to enjoy their peaceful life.

A mighty wind has just begun to blow across the land.

The aftershocks of South Korea's defeat will not be so easily eliminated.

Apart from the State of Qi, the remaining states were plunged into great fear.

They all mobilized their armies to varying degrees, and even secretly tried to contact each other to form an alliance. Their goal was not to defeat Qin, but simply to improve their ability to defend themselves when the Qin army attacked.

Meanwhile, in the Qin state, Lord Changping also had an idea and began to formulate a preliminary plan.

Chapter 197 The Azure Dragon Plan: Reforging the Old Sword

People change.

As people experience various things over the years, their thoughts can undergo tremendous changes at different stages.

As a child, Lord Changping had only a vague concept of the State of Chu. Only his father, who was then a hostage in the State of Qin, told him that he was actually a person from the State of Chu.

As Changping Jun grew older, he harbored deep resentment towards his father because his father had escaped back to the State of Chu with Huang Xie's help.

Later, under the care of Empress Dowager Huayang and others, he no longer regarded himself as a Chu person, but as a Qin person.

This situation persisted for many years.

Although he was a prince of the State of Chu, Lord Changping always served the State of Qin.

The State of Qin was the country where he was born and raised.

But I don't know when it started, he began to change again.

They began to pay close attention to the State of Chu.

Perhaps it was because she had been listening to Empress Dowager Huayang and the relatives of the Chu state recounting stories of the generations of intermarriage and friendship between the Qin and Chu states.

In Changping Jun's opinion, the Qin and Chu states could perhaps remain friendly forever.

However, he ultimately overlooked one thing.

Now, we are in the Warring States period, an era of great contention.

The states frequently engaged in diplomatic conflicts; the strong became strong, and the weak perished.

It was impossible for the states of Qin and Chu to remain friendly forever.

Especially after Ying Zheng came of age and assumed personal rule, completely taking control of the situation, this young King of Qin directly revealed his terrifying ambition.

He actually wanted to destroy the six states and let Qin unify the world.

When Changping Jun first learned of Ying Zheng's ambitions, he wanted to stop him, feeling somewhat apprehensive, because the State of Chu was also a target that Ying Zheng wanted to destroy.

Under the auspices of Empress Dowager Huayang, Ying Zheng married a woman from Chu and had a son, Fusu, who bore the blood of Chu.

However, Ying Zheng wanted to destroy the State of Chu.

How can this be? How can this be allowed?

Lord Changping attempted to change Ying Zheng's mind through a gradual approach.

However, once Ying Zheng made up his mind, it was very difficult to reverse it.

In particular, Ying Zheng is now the undisputed ruler of the Qin state.

The once powerful ministers Lü Buwei and Lao Ai have both faded into obscurity.

Empress Dowager Zhao Ji was also neglected because she was deeply involved in Lao Ai's rebellion.

Lord Chang'an, Chengjiao, had died even earlier due to a rebellion.

It can be said that no one could restrict what Ying Zheng could do; all the power in the Qin state was in Ying Zheng's hands.

When Han Fei advised Ying Zheng to first destroy the states of Zhao and Chu, Lord Changping sensed something was wrong. So he did not hesitate to destroy Han Fei in order to prevent Ying Zheng from listening to Han Fei's advice. Afterwards, he actively encouraged the Qin state to destroy Han.

His original intention was to buy time for the State of Chu in this way, so that he would have the opportunity to persuade Ying Zheng to change his mind.

However, with the fall of South Korea...

As many soldiers made great contributions and were promoted, the rest of the soldiers who had not participated in the war to destroy Han also became interested.

There are several countries that are as powerful as, or even more powerful than, South Korea.

If the other countries also perish.

If they make even a small contribution, their descendants will never have to worry about food and drink in the future.

After enjoying the benefits of conquering Han, the calls within Qin for the annihilation of other states and the unification of the world reached an unprecedented level.

It was precisely because of this that Lord Changping realized that he would probably find it difficult to persuade Ying Zheng.

Even if Ying Zheng changed his mind.

The soldiers who benefited from the war would not agree either.

"With the fall of Han, the situation of the other five states in Shandong has become delicate. Among them, Qi can be ignored!"

"If the remaining four countries join forces, they might be able to form a powerful force!"

"Vertical alliance..."

Inside the mansion, Lord Changping murmured to himself, planning for the future.

"The states of Shandong have formed alliances several times, but to no avail. Now, the state of Han has been destroyed. Alliances are not a safe strategy..."

"Therefore, we must find a breakthrough from other aspects!"