The Deepest Affection in Qin's Time

Page 48

Cao Yuan chuckled and said, "What's there to be curious about? Of course, it's because the Master showed mercy."

In other words, he was steady enough at the time and did not lack martial ethics.

Otherwise, given Zhu Xi's criticism of Xunzi, Xunzi would probably have crushed him to ashes on the spot.

Yan Dan couldn't help but ask, "Now that the alliance of the six states is about to rise, I wonder what Mr. Cao Yuan thinks about this?"

"A six-nation alliance?" Cao Yuan couldn't help but ask, "Wasn't it a five-nation alliance?"

This is quite different from the history he studied.

He clearly remembered that Qi had not participated in the fifth coalition of states against Qin.

Yan Dan said in a low voice, "Sir, you may not know this, but Prime Minister Qi Hou Sheng was assassinated by the Luo Wang assassins and died in his mansion half a month ago."

"Hou Sheng is not only the prime minister of Qi, but also the maternal uncle of the current King of Qi. Therefore, the King of Qi was furious. After rebuking Qin for its actions, he issued an edict to the world, joined the alliance, and dispatched 30,000 troops."

Cao Yuan was stunned, never expecting that his actions would lead to the State of Qi joining the alliance.

But if you ask him if he regrets killing Hou Sheng, the answer is no.

If given ten thousand choices, he would still eliminate Hou Sheng without hesitation.

The snow woman, who had been keeping her head down, seemed to have thought of something. Her delicate body suddenly trembled, and she abruptly raised her head, her beautiful face filled with shock.

It did not shock the alliance of the six states.

Instead, she was shocked that she might have discovered the truth.

"Only 30,000 people..." Cao Yuan pondered.

“That’s right, only 30,000,” Yan Dan said. “However, although Qi’s contribution is small, it is of great significance.”

Cao Yuan said, "That's true."

The alliance of six states represents not only the participation of six states, but also that the participating states need not worry too much about non-participating states suddenly betraying them.

It should be noted that throughout history, the alliances of the six states, whether they won or lost to Qin, all stemmed from one main reason.

That is, are the nations united or not?

Unity is strength.

If things are not in order, failure will occur.

It's a very simple principle.

Although Qin is the strongest of the seven states, it does not mean that it is stronger than the other six states combined. In fact, the combined forces of the three Jin states alone are enough to confront Qin.

Therefore, as long as the states are united, even if they do not destroy Qin, they can still bring Qin back to its original state and make it barely survive.

But why is it always impossible to do it?

Without him.

The seven states have gone through the chaotic wars of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, and have continued to this day from a period of more than a hundred states.

Which of the surviving vassal states wasn't shrewd and capable of seeing the overall situation clearly?

Those that were easy to eat have long been devoured, leaving not even bones or scraps.

But precisely because they are shrewd and see things clearly, they won't go all out.

As long as the Qin state still possesses the ferocity of a tiger and wolf, and is still willing to risk everything to fight the other states, the other states will not sacrifice themselves for others.

They would all choose to quietly retreat behind the crowd, letting the crowd shield them.

In the end, everyone retreated to the back, parted ways, and went their separate ways.

"It's a pity that with such a favorable situation, my Yan Kingdom..."

Yan Dan suddenly stopped talking, glanced around, and did not continue.

"Alright, it's getting late. I wonder if Mr. Cao Yuan has time tomorrow? Yan Dan would like to invite you and Miss Xue Nu to my residence for a chat. I wonder if this would be too much of a presumption?"

Cao Yuan cupped his hands and smiled, "Your Highness is too kind. I will bring Xue Nu to pay you a visit tomorrow."

The Snow Maiden pursed her lips, her sky-blue eyebrows blinking, but she didn't refute Cao Yuan.

She's very curious about Cao Yuan now; she's itching with curiosity.

Was Qi's Chancellor Hou Sheng really killed by Cao Yuan and his men?

Chapter 50 All-Female Dance Party

"You killed Hou Sheng, the prime minister of Qi, didn't you?"

On the way, the Snow Woman couldn't help but speak.

Since she had already been poisoned by Cao Yuan, it didn't matter whether she said it or not.

Cao Yuan paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "Guess."

The Snow Woman stamped her foot in annoyance and said angrily, "Tell me if you want, or don't."

After a while.

While struggling with her dilemma, Xue Nu said, "I once heard Sister Ya Fei say that the Prime Minister of Qi, Hou Sheng, was extremely wicked, committing all sorts of evil deeds, and deserved to die. But aren't you assassins from the Luo Wang organization? Why are you killing him?"

Cao Yuan chuckled and said, "Can't we act on behalf of Heaven?"

“But you are from the Luo Wang…” Xue Nu frowned her beautiful eyebrows. “Could it really be that Qin ordered you to kill Hou Sheng? But how could that be? Qin would not risk Qi joining the alliance to kill Hou Sheng, even if Hou Sheng was a bastard.”

"Heh, you're quite clever," Cao Yuan teased. "Haven't you considered that we've already betrayed the Luo Wang?"

Snow Maiden rolled her eyes at Cao Yuan.

"That woman is carrying the Jingni Sword, she must be Jingni from Luo Wang. Do you think a top-tier assassin from Luo Wang would betray Luo Wang so easily?"

"Why not, Miss Xue Nu?" Cao Yuan said calmly, "Compared to Qin ordering Luo Wang to kill Hou Sheng, isn't this a more likely possibility?"

The Snow Woman was completely confused by Cao Yuan.

For a moment, she couldn't tell whether Cao Yuan and the others were members of the Luo Wang organization or not.

However, after Cao Yuan's suggestion, she realized that perhaps Cao Yuan and the others had indeed betrayed Luo Wang.

She shouldn't have prejudicially assumed that Cao Yuan and Jing Ni were both henchmen of the Luo Wang organization.

After all, with Cao Yuan's talent, he could have had better options, so why should he risk his life for Luo Wang?

Therefore, there is only one truth, and that is...

The Snow Woman squinted her beautiful sky-blue eyes, her gaze carrying a hint of wisdom, appearing both aloof and profound. Paired with a blue and white long dress, she looked even more elegant and refined.

“You and Xiao Mengjiang are not members of the Luo Wang organization, but Jing Ni and Li Wu are. Furthermore, Jing Ni and Li Wu are not your wife and concubine.”

“I don’t know what happened between you two that led you to choose to kill Hou Sheng. But I do know that you are definitely not in a cooperative relationship with Luo Wang.”

"So? What are you trying to say, Snow Woman?"

Cao Yuan looked at the Snow Maiden, who was only a head shorter than him, and asked with a half-smile.

The snow woman frowned slightly, her exquisitely beautiful face showing a hint of solemnity. "I don't understand, why did you poison me?"

"Isn't that simple? It's just because you're too beautiful, and I happen to be a lecherous man, hahaha..."

Cao Yuan couldn't help but chuckle and teased, "Do you understand now, Snow Maiden?"

The Snow Maiden glanced at Cao Yuan and pursed her lips.

"I don't believe you for a second."

At first, she thought Cao Yuan had taken a liking to her, but now if she still thought that way, she felt she could jump off a cliff.

Cao Yuan laughed and said, "Alright, enough joking. I just really wanted you to dance for me."

The Snow Woman was completely speechless.

Do you think I'm that easy to fool?

The previous reason was better; at least it was more plausible.

Cao Yuan shrugged.

Goodness, nobody believes the truth anymore these days.

He really just wanted the snow woman to dance, to reminisce about his childhood.

It would be even better if there were a chance to have Xue Nu, Yan Ling Ji, Zi Nu, Li Wu, Hua Ying, and Lian Yi form an all-female dance group and debut together.

Wow, just thinking about it is exciting.

You can give it a try.

Hmm, let's add Nongyu playing the zither...

hiss~

The scene is so beautiful, I can't even imagine it, it's so awesome!

……

Lin Ye, Cao Yuan returned to the rented mansion.

Little Meng Jiang is practicing swordplay with Jing Ni.

Her thin body was covered with many red marks.

Jingni held a tree branch in her hand and showed no mercy in her attack.

If Xiao Mengjiang makes even the slightest mistake, the branches will whip her.

Xiao Mengjiang remained silent, enduring the pain, and continued to swing her sword at Jingni.