Qin Country, Xianyang Palace, Imperial Study.
Sitting on the throne, Ying Zheng was as majestic as ever, but there was a lingering sadness between his brows, and a raging fury was hidden in his eyes.
Below the jade steps, Li Si and Feng Quji stood with their hands by their sides, a deep fear flashing in their eyes. Zhao Gao was still sleeping, his eyes slightly kowtowing and not asking anything.
He gently placed the memorial in his hand to the side and swept his gaze over the two prime ministers who had followed him for many years. He sighed slightly in his heart.
"Feng Quji, as the Right Prime Minister, you are in charge of internal affairs. Jing Ke tried to assassinate me, but you did not investigate at all.”
"And you, Li Si, as the Left Prime Minister, you took over the foreign affairs. Yan Dan planned to assassinate me, but you didn't even get a single piece of information.”
"This lowly subject's oversight has caused Your Majesty to be in danger. Your Majesty, please punish me!”Li Si and Feng Quji knelt on the ground and pleaded loudly.
"Humph, is that all? "Now, we have to make up for your mistakes with action. Immediately send a message to the King of Yan and ask him to send Yan Dan's head to Xianyang. Otherwise, wait for the cavalry of Great Qin!”
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Additionally, as Jing Ke could easily enter Xianyang Palace with a lethal weapon, it means that the imperial palace is not peaceful. Feng Quji, as you're in charge of the Supreme Court, you must investigate this case thoroughly and punish it severely!”
"Old minister, as you wish," Feng Quji replied.
"Li Si, Consort Li's Palace caught fire yesterday.”
"Reporting to Your Majesty, according to the report, the fire in Consort Li's Palace was caused by a candlestick that was accidentally knocked over, igniting the curtains and causing the fire.”Li Si paused for a moment and glanced at the king of Qin's expression.
"Continue, what else?" Seeing Li Si pause, Ying Zheng seemed a little impatient.
"Yes, when the fire was extinguished, Consort Li and Young Master Tianming were already dead. Their bodies had been burned beyond recognition by the fire and could not be identified. However, from the remains at the scene, it seems to be their bodies, but..."
"But what? Why are you hesitating?”
"Your Majesty, we did not find Young Master Tianming's personal jade pendant among Consort Li and Young Master's belongings.”Li Si did not say anything else after that. He just waited quietly for the King of Qin's decision.
"Oh? Are you saying that Young Master Tianming's personal jade pendant is missing?”Qin Wang was slightly surprised after hearing this. He closed his eyes and thought for a while before asking.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, according to the report, we have indeed not seen Young Master Tianming's personal jade pendant.”Li Si gave an affirmative answer again.
His right hand tapped lightly on the table. Although it was undulating, it was quite rhythmic. His palm was half-clenched into a fist. No one noticed the flash of darkness in Qin Wang's eyes.
"Alright, you guys can leave." He turned around and placed his hands behind his back. His voice was emotionless.
" I'll take my leave," Li Si and Feng Quji replied in unison.
The two Prime Ministers left the royal study respectfully, while Ying Zheng stood quietly by the window with his hands behind his back.
'Li Ji, Jing Ke, what a great trick! Tianming must have been sent out of the palace long ago, and the child in Concubine Li's palace must have been switched. I didn't expect that I didn't realize it. How ridiculous, how ridiculous!' Li Ji, Li Ji, I didn't expect that after all my efforts, all I got was a shell, but I couldn't get your heart. You always thought that I didn't know that you were pregnant, but you were wrong. How could I not know if you were my flesh and blood? I just thought that if I kept the child, I could keep you. I didn't expect it to be all in vain. Was the emperor who ruled the world destined to be alone? Laughable, pitiful, and lamentable!
He took a deep breath and threw away the chaotic thoughts in his mind. He looked at Zhao Gao beside him. He grew up with him, but could he really trust him? Or did she really understand him completely?
"Zhao Gao, don't tell me you don't have flowers to tell me? This isn't like you!”He looked at Zhao Gao with bright eyes, as if he had already understood what he wanted to say.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, last night, news came from the net that the reason why Yan Dan was able to avoid Great Qin's eyes and ears this time is inextricably related to the Mo family.”
"Mo Family? What a good Mohist school. In today's world, a hundred schools of thought are contending. Confucianism and Mohism are known as the two great schools of thought in the world. I didn't expect Mohism to be involved. What else?”
"Reporting to Your Majesty, according to the report, the Mo clan has entrusted Fei Xue Pavilion with full authority to handle this matter.”
"Oh, I didn't think that the Mo Family would know how to abandon their chariot to protect their commander and throw Fei Xue Pavilion out. It's a pity that they've underestimated Great Qin. However, since the Mo Family has already done it, I'll kill the chicken to warn the monkeys!”
"What does Your Majesty plan to do?"
"Pass down my order. The net will search for the core members of Fei Xue Pavilion with all its might. Once they are found, kill them without mercy!”
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Yan Country, Fei Xue Pavilion, Purple Cloud Pavilion.
The quiet sound of the zither and the gentle sound of the flute intersected here to form a beautiful movement. It seemed firm but soft, and it seemed to be lingering and sentimental. However, when one listened carefully, they were clearly different. The tacit understanding between the two seemed to be natural and flawless. It complemented the snow scenery in the garden to form a beautiful picture scroll.
Fifteen minutes later, the zither music gradually stopped. Xiao Gao and the snow maidens looked at each other and smiled. They were very happy. This had nothing to do with the relationship between men and women. It was just like Boya and Ziqi's mutual understanding of each other.
This was the first time Gao Jianli had felt this way since Kuang Xiu's death. Although Yan Hong was also good at music, his innate kingly aura was incompatible with Gao Jianli's chivalrous aura. On the contrary, it was somewhat repulsive. Therefore, although the two of them were bosom friends, they could never achieve a natural harmony when they played together. Now that Gao Jianli had regained this feeling from the snow maidens, he was naturally happy.
Ever since Xie Zhiyun faded out, the snow maidens had officially taken over the Fei Xue Pavilion. Now, the nobles of the Yan Country had gradually become accustomed to the snow maidens outshining others. However, who knew the inner world of the snow maidens? After her master left, she had to support the huge Fei Xue Pavilion alone. She had to do everything herself. The feeling of exhaustion almost made her breathless. The loneliness in her heart became more and more intense. It seemed that she would only feel happy when she played music with Gao Jianli. Every time she thought of this, the snow maidens would think that this was the release of emotions brought about by music and the baptism of the mind. But was everything really as the snow maidens thought?
Perhaps, they had yet to understand what they truly desired in the depths of their hearts. One day, when they truly understood it, it would definitely be that their hearts were connected.
Standing side by side, the two of them were thinking of the same person-Jing Ke!
It had already been more than a month since they had made the near-death journey to Xianyang, which was thousands of miles away. He believed that everything would be revealed soon.
In the blue sky, a pure white figure gradually entered their line of sight. What should have come had come.
Gently, the fair little thing landed on Gao Jianli's shoulder. The snow maiden carefully took down the letter and carefully unfolded it. The core technology of the paper-making technique was still firmly in Yan Hong's hands. It was only used for secret information transmission. As for spreading it to the world, it would still have to wait for the right time.
The letter was opened bit by bit, and every word and sentence was carefully read, not daring to make the slightest mistake. After reading the letter, his heart turned cold. There were not many words, only eight words----
This was the final result, and it was also the result that Xiao Gao and the snow maidens were most unwilling to see. It was a dangerous situation, and in the end, Jing Ke still did not manage to grasp that sliver of hope.
Tears fell quietly. Men's tears!
From now on, he, Gao Jianli, would have one less confidant, but there would be another hero in the annals of history. He firmly believed that the name Jing Ke would be passed down through the ages.
For some reason, the snow maiden felt a pang of pain in her heart as she looked at the man in tears. It was a sudden and intense pain. She liked to see the man's white robes fluttering in the wind, she liked to play the zither and flute with him, and she liked to see the man's sword dance with a murderous intent. It was only now that she realized that his shadow had been carved into the depths of her heart.
"If you want to cry, then cry. After crying, you have to be strong. I think that Brother Jing's soul in heaven doesn't want to see a decadent Gao Jianli who has given up on himself!”His cold voice and indifferent tone were filled with deep concern.
He quietly looked at the peerless beauty beside him, and a trace of warmth rose in his heart. Big brother doesn't want to see a dispirited me. Big brother is gone, but his name will definitely go down in history. I still have many things to complete. What I need is to cheer up and be strong.
" Thank you--" There was no need to say much between confidants. A word of thanks was enough!
The corners of his lips curled up slightly as he shook his head gently. His snow-like hair danced in the wind, and his eyes were filled with encouragement and gratification.
The music resumed, sonorous and powerful, poignant and somber, as if they were mourning the passing of a hero. The heroic spirit was not far away, and their affection lasted forever!
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Yan Country, royal study.
Compared to the solemnity of the royal study in the Qin royal palace, the study of Prince Xi of Yan was more magnificent. There was a huge candlestick hanging on the top, which could light nearly a hundred candles at the same time. The four walls were hung with silk, which was painted with beautiful mountains and rivers. There were also more than ten luminous pearls the size of table tennis inlaid on the pillars. It was extremely luxurious, but all of this was exchanged with the blood and sweat of the people of Yan Country. It was even paid back with the military expenditure of Yan Country. As the saying went, the people were in dire straits. If the army had no fighting spirit, how could such a country last long?
Even in such a magnificent royal study, the King of Yan was not in the mood to eat snacks like usual. Under the service of the maids, he leisurely admired the ancient books.
Instead, he was anxiously pacing back and forth in the room. His brows were already furrowed into dough twists, and his palms were covered in sweat. At this moment, the internal palace steward hurriedly walked to the King of Yan's side and bowed." Reporting to Your Majesty, the Prime Minister, Yan Chunjun, Chang Guojun, and the Grand Tutor are already waiting outside the hall for summons."”
"Then what are you waiting for? Quickly announce it!”The ruler of a country had lost his bearing and demeanor at this time. The country was about to perish!
"Summon all the ministers!"
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" All the officials entered the royal study and kowtowed together!
"Get up, get up. I believe you know why I called you here. Now, you should think about what to do!”
"Your Majesty, this humble subject is willing to fight to the death with the Qin Country for Your Majesty.”This was what King Chang, Le Xian, had said. As the descendant of Yue Yi and a soldier, he had his own integrity and pride. He would never agree to give Yan Dan's head to the State of Qin!
"You! Alright, I know that Monarch Chang's loyalty is commendable. What about you?”Obviously, he was not satisfied with Le Xian's answer.
"I believe that we have already spent a lot of money to form an alliance with Qi and Chu to resist the violent Qin.”These were the words of Grand Tutor Ju Wu. As Yan Dan's teacher, he naturally didn't want to see his student's head cut off like this, so he could only re-establish the method of alliance. However, the six countries in the east of the country couldn't resist the violent Qin Dynasty, and now there were only three countries left. Would this alliance really work?
"Prime Minister, Uncle Wang, do you have any good ideas?”
"I agree with the Grand Tutor. In the current world, although the Violent Qin is strong, with the combined strength of the three countries, the Violent Qin would not dare to act rashly.”Prime Minister Su Fu replied.
"Uncle Wang, why aren't you saying anything? Don't you have anything to say to me?”
"Your Majesty, I am stupid and have nothing to say.”
"Humph, you guys, normally you are all eloquent. Why can't you think of a decent solution at this moment of life and death? Disperse, disperse, lest I get annoyed.”At this moment, a trace of darkness flashed across the King of Yan's eyes. He thought that it was very likely that he would become the ruler of a subjugated country. His heart was filled with grief, anger, and fear!
He stood on the jade steps with his hands behind his back and shook his head helplessly.
"We will take our leave."
The others did not notice that the King of Yan was the last one to make a gesture of brandishing his saber at Yan Chunjun, and Yan Chunjun only nodded without showing any emotion.
Accompanying the ruler was like accompanying a tiger. The most important thing in the mind of an emperor was always the supreme throne!
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。