Chapter 70 The Seal of the King of Qin: "If Lao Ai harbors disloyal intentions, he has no need for my son's kinship..."

What would Chancellor Lü Buwei's reaction be?

Qin Ju leaned down and said, "The Prime Minister's residence did not make any special moves; it was just that the Prime Minister rode to Ganquan Palace."

The Queen Dowager and the Chancellor jointly ruled as regents, and he was allowed to enter and leave Ganquan Palace without informing the King of Qin. However, in the past two years, in order to avoid suspicion, he has not been going to Ganquan Palace much.

"The Empress Dowager is ill; how can she be troubled like this?" Ying Zheng gently stroked his wife's swollen belly, his gaze focused.

Qin Ju nodded slightly, understanding the implication, took two steps back, and turned to leave.

"Cousin."

"What's wrong?" Ying Zheng smiled at her. "Don't worry, none of the outside disturbances can bother you."

Banban hesitated, wanting to say something but then stopped, and gently placed her hand on the back of his hand.

At this moment, inside Ganquan Palace.

Upon hearing that the Prime Minister had come to pay his respects, Ji Changyue turned his head to the side; he was already standing by the door.

Having not seen each other this closely for many years, Ji Changyue's gaze fell on Lü Buwei's face, hair, and shoulders. "I didn't expect you to have gray hair... You get old too?"

These words were laced with undisguised sarcasm.

Lu Buwei waved his hand, and Jingxin lowered her head to look at Ji Changyue. Ji Changyue nodded almost imperceptibly, and she led the other palace servants away, closing the door behind her.

He stood there, and sighed softly, "The Empress Dowager is ill."

"I am sick."

Ji Changyue gently stroked her temples. Her face, still beautiful but etched with weariness, was reflected in the bronze mirror. "During these days of illness, I wished I would never have to wake up again."

Lu Buwei looked at her looking at herself in the mirror, took a deep breath, and stepped closer. "The most urgent matter is that Lao Ai must die."

"Lao Ai?" Ji Changyue was taken aback, turned her head, not quite understanding. "What did you say? Did he get into some trouble?"

"You don't know?" Lü Buwei immediately said, "He actually made outrageous remarks in the tavern, publicly calling himself 'the King of Qin's stepfather.' Do you think the King will let him off the hook?"

With a 'bang,' the bronze mirror was accidentally knocked to the ground. Ji Changyue's head was ringing. She stared at Lü Buwei in the distance, and a faint blush quickly rose on her pale face. She was so angry that she could not sit still.

He immediately argued forcefully, "Your Majesty, Lao Ai cannot be allowed to live."

Ji Changyue turned around abruptly, pulling her thoughts away, and suddenly found it somewhat ridiculous, "Lu Buwei, you're only saying this for your own sake."

"Isn't this all for you?" In his haste, Lü Buwei forgot his bounds and grabbed Ji Changyue's wrist. "You are the Queen Mother of Qin, and the mother of the King of Qin. Do you intend to personally smear the King's face with darkness?!"

"Wasn't this all your doing?!" Ji Changyue suddenly raised her voice. "What are you pretending to be about the big picture for! You've only ever thought about yourself and your own 'big picture'!"

"Actually, you're the worst one!!"

"You deserve it! Are you scared?"

Seeing Lü Buwei's expression change repeatedly, she chuckled.

“I will not kill Lao Ai. If you want to kill him, you can only do so by killing me first.” Ji Changyue deliberately raised her chin.

“Now is not the time for you to deliberately cause trouble. You are forty years old, not a young girl. How can you not understand?” Lu Buwei tightened his grip on her wrist, suppressing his anger and feigning patience. “Once he is dead and this matter is over, I will have no objection to how you seek revenge against me.”

“I’m not joking with you,” Ji Changyue struggled, but couldn’t break free, and deliberately yelled at him, “I will not kill Lao Ai, the father of my child!”

"?"

Lu Buwei's brows furrowed deeply, then relaxed, his face showing a rare loss of control. "What did you say???"

"You heard me right." She viciously pulled her wrist away.

Lü Buwei's hand trembled in the air, the skin on the back of his hand no longer the strong and powerful one of his youth due to age. For a few moments, his expression went completely blank. "You—"

He was completely speechless. The trembling of the back of his hand spread from his forearm to the corner of his eye, his face, and even his scalp. His breathing became heavy and slow, and his eyes instantly became bloodshot. He was more shocked than angry. "You've gone mad! Ji Changyue!"

"I've gone mad! Ever since you fled with the strange people and abandoned me in Handan, I've been mad every single day!!" Ji Changyue said with gleeful hatred. "You can even have such an expression? Prime Minister? Hahahaha!"

Lu Buwei felt a sharp pain in his eyes and brows. He could no longer contain himself. "That happened so many years ago. It's all in the past. Aren't you living a good life as Queen and Empress Dowager now?"

He still dares to bring this up? He still dares to say that?

Ji Changyue's emotions suddenly spiraled out of control. "I can't get over it! I can't get over it!!!" She frantically waved her wide sleeves, as if anyone could mention him but he couldn't, nor did he have the right to. "You'll never get over it here!"

"Do you know how the people of Zhao treated me! How they humiliated me!" she cried out, her voice hoarse, as if she had gone mad. "You don't know! Nobody knows!"

Lü Buwei sensed something from her few words, "You—"

"So what if I want to be good to Lao Ai?" She grabbed Lü Buwei's collar, shouting and venting like a child defying an adult. "I just want to be good to him! He may not be as good as all of you, but he's willing to spend time making me happy and being good to me." Even though he later became powerful and his heart changed, and he became a playboy, none of that could change the fact that he had been good to her at the beginning. She didn't want to continue being with him, but she had no intention of erasing those beautiful memories. "What did I do wrong? Why are you all treating me like this?!"

Seeing Ji Changyue's deranged state, Lü Buwei's words, "He's lying to you," stuck in his throat, and he couldn't bring himself to say them.

...She was a woman who was not very smart, even a little foolish, but she was grateful and had a clear sense of right and wrong. Although she was shrewish, she was not a bad person at heart.

"Where is that child?" Lü Buwei calmed down and adopted a more peaceful attitude. "I can spare Lao Ai, but the child cannot be spared."

"What makes you think I would kill my child?" Ji Changyue threw him away violently. "I've hidden the child well; you won't find him."

"You're insane!" Lü Buwei couldn't remember how many times he'd said "you're insane," but he truly believed Ji Changyue was beyond redemption. "An illegitimate child cannot be kept! If the King's bloodline is questioned, Qin will be thrown into chaos. Who do you think gave you the position of Empress Dowager?"

"Stop being so hypocritical. When my son Zheng'er's lineage was questioned, you didn't commit suicide to prove your innocence." Ji Changyue scoffed. "Do you really care about the Great Qin Dynasty, do you really care about Zheng'er?"

“How can this be the same?” Lü Buwei pleaded earnestly. “The events of that year were maliciously fabricated by Empress Dowager Huayang in order to help Chengjiao seize the throne. It was completely fictitious, and no one believed it at all. If the fact that you have an illegitimate child with Lao Ai is exposed, it will only further confirm the rumors from back then.”

If the Empress Dowager could have an illegitimate child with Lao Ai, could the King of Qin also have a child with someone else in the same way?

"Then he's finished! He'll be overthrown by the Ying clan! He might even lose his life!"

Ji Changyue froze, staggering back several steps, her face turning deathly pale. "This...this is impossible..."

"Can't you tell who's the most important?" Lü Buwei asked her, exasperated.

"Zheng'er... Zheng'er! My Zheng'er is the most important." Was there even a choice? Ji Changyue panicked.

"Where exactly did you hide that child?" Lü Buwei quickly asked. "I will help you."

"Handan." Ji Changyue's eyes instantly filled with tears. Thinking of her eldest son, Ying Zheng, she hardened her heart, closed her eyes, and said, "Kill them. They are twins. My maid Qingzhuo brought them. They should be arriving in Handan by now."

Upon receiving the accurate information, Lü Buwei turned to leave, but stopped at the door. "What about Lao Ai?"

Ji Changyue did not turn around. "Let me think about it some more."

Lü Buwei sighed. To avoid any unforeseen complications, he said, "Lao Ai came to your side under my guidance. I told him all your preferences. You can judge for yourself whether his feelings for you are genuine or not."

Ji Changyue turned around abruptly, but Lü Buwei was nowhere to be seen at the door. She lost her balance and swayed until her lower back hit the square table, causing her wide sleeves to sweep the things on the table to the ground.

"Aaaaaaah!" she screamed, throwing everything she could grab at the door.

Hearing a faint, shrill scream behind him, Lü Buwei paused slightly, tugged at the corner of his lips, looked ahead again, and walked away.

His arm, hidden beneath his wide sleeve, was still trembling slightly.

Before he could think it through, he bumped into Qin Ju as soon as he left Ganquan Palace.

He had barely entered the palace when Qin Ju arrived.

Without the King of Qin's instruction...

Lu Buwei immediately suppressed all unnecessary emotions, tightened his nerves, and forced a smile, "Lord Prefect, are you going to Ganquan Palace?"

Qin Ju gestured to the side, and a servant appeared with a tray on it, on which was a white jade porcelain bowl. The medicine was light brown and emitted a gentle steam.

With a smile on his face, he spoke in a high-pitched voice, "The Empress Dowager is unwell, and the King has found a prescription to treat her. This is a new medicine developed by the imperial physician, and it was just brewed when he hurriedly ordered the servants to bring it over."

"Does the Prime Minister have something important to discuss? The Empress Dowager is not in good health and cannot bear to exert herself for long. I hope the Prime Minister will be understanding."

Lü Buwei nodded, "Indeed, indeed, I am very pleased that His Majesty is so filial."

"Then I won't disturb you any longer. I'll leave the palace now." He pointed outside, indicating that he was leaving.

Qin Ju smiled apologetically and stepped aside to let him pass.

Watching Lü Buwei's figure disappear into the distance, he stopped smiling.

Carrying the medicine into Ganquan Palace, Jingxin stood by the door and gently knocked. "Empress Dowager, the Prefect has arrived."

Qin Ju tucked his arms into his pockets, tapping his fingers lightly on his arm. He glanced at Jingxin and raised his chin in acknowledgment. Jingxin lowered her head, took out a piece of paper from her folded sleeve, and handed it to him.

He caught it and tucked it into his sleeve, giving her an approving nod, indicating that there would be a reward later.

Not long after, Qin Ju returned to Chengzhang Palace after serving the Empress Dowager her medicine. He did not open the folded letter but presented it directly to the King of Qin.

Ying Zheng paused slightly, his outstretched fingertips hovering over the letter for a good three or four seconds before picking it up and opening it.

Qin Ju hunched over, not daring to look.

He knew in his heart that the few seconds the King of Qin hesitated were probably because he was afraid of seeing something that he didn't want to see.

Ying Zheng read the entire letter quickly, his broad shoulders relaxing slightly as he slowly sat down.

The Prime Minister asked: "Can't you tell who is the most important?"

The Empress Dowager replied: "Zheng'er is the most important."

He read those two sentences three times, then folded the letter again and threw it into the brazier. After the flames engulfed the yellowed paper and burned it to ashes, he smiled again and looked at Qin Ju, saying gently, "Serve the meal. It's getting late. Send some of the Empress Dowager's favorite dishes to Ganquan Palace."

"Yes." Qin Ju breathed a sigh of relief, then gestured, "The Queen is still resting, shall we go over here?"

"Send the message, I will tell her to get up."

Banban was asleep when her cousin woke her up, saying it was time for dinner.

She rubbed her eyes and was helped up. She was reluctant to get up and nestled in his arms, murmuring, "I was just dreaming."

What did you dream about?

"I dreamt that my cousin was about to have his birthday, and my aunt made chicken noodles for us... It's been so long since I've had it."

"Mother is still ill. Once she recovers, she will definitely be willing to cook for you again." Ying Zheng said affectionately to his wife, gently stroking her long, flowing black hair that cascaded down her back. "Let's eat what the kitchen makes first. Don't you like it too?"

"I was just saying it casually, how could I trouble my sister-in-law?" Banban propped herself up and cheered herself up. "Let's eat!"

Dinner tonight is simple.

The braised chicken livers, cooked until tender, were sliced, plated, and served with dipping sauce.

Two bowls of red date, duck blood, and vegetable soup;

Fresh bamboo shoots stir-fried with sliced ​​meat, stewed with fish slices,

A small bowl of rice mixed with egg yolk.

These are all foods that are good for pregnant women, and they've been made to taste what everyone loves.

She'll have a small meal now, then another one later tonight, and she'll probably wake up hungry in the middle of the night, at which point she'll eat again.

The physician advised eating small, frequent meals.

Halfway through her meal, she suddenly remembered something and froze, "My mother is still in Zhaoyang Palace, I forgot about her!"

"You've forgotten, but I haven't." Ying Zheng tapped her on the head. "I sent someone to escort your aunt out of the palace early on."

Banban breathed a sigh of relief, gave him a resentful glare, and continued to enjoy her meal.

As night fell, the two returned to Zhaoyang Palace together. Ying Zheng helped his wife wash her body briefly, carried her back to the bed, and then washed himself before lying down with her.

Banban slept too much in the afternoon and couldn't fall asleep at all. "Cousin, have you sent someone to keep an eye on Lao Ai?"

“I’ve been keeping an eye on him,” Ying Zheng said, flipping through the book. “I know exactly how often he goes to the toilet and how many bites he eats.”

Ugh, that sounds really disgusting.

"So what do you think he will do?" She wanted to lie flat, but couldn't resist being close to him, so she simply rested her head on his chest and lay sideways.

"He is probably trying to find a way to survive, and the only way is to rebel. All day today, he has been like a grasshopper in autumn, jumping around and constantly contacting his retainers, servants, confidants and henchmen in order to recruit men."

"When he was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Changxin, relying on the Empress Dowager's favor, he followed the example of the Fourth Prince and kept thousands of retainers and servants at home. These were guests and retainers who depended on the nobles. It would not be difficult for him to recruit soldiers and horses."

"How many people are there?" Banban scoffed. "The Qin people aren't stupid. Why would they follow them and do something that could cost them their heads for a little money?"

After saying that, she remembered that whether it was Qin or other vassal states, there would always be some desperate people who couldn't afford to eat, and Lao Ai might not necessarily tell these people what he was going to do when he recruited soldiers.

What Ying Zheng didn't say was that he intercepted letters that Lao Ai had secretly sent out of the city. Those letters were destined for the Three Jin states, and Lao Ai wanted to contact these three states to put pressure on Ying Zheng.

When he succeeds, he will be willing to cede land to them.

If the Three Kingdoms were to actually send troops to attack Qin, Ying Zheng would certainly have to send troops to Hangu Pass to form a battle line against the enemy, which would weaken the defenses of Xianyang.

He wouldn't do as Lao Ai wished, but he could turn the tables on him.

The feeling of things unfolding step by step in the direction he had anticipated was very encouraging. Lao Ai's rebellion would be the grandest ceremony Ying Zheng had ever given himself in assuming power.

He wasn't even worried about how to win over the people after taking power, which made all his planning and scheming worthwhile.

When Lü Buwei's men arrived in Handan, they did not find Qingzhuo, whom the Empress Dowager had mentioned. After several investigations, they contacted the coachman who had taken her there and received a chilling message.

He knew in his heart that the situation was hopeless.

When Ji Changyue received the letter, she unfolded it and turned pale with fright.

The letter contained only three characters: Wang Zhizhi.

Just three words, so concise, yet enough to terrify anyone.

Ji Changyue couldn't sleep all night. The next morning, she went to the council hall with a tired face and dark circles under her eyes.

Qin Ju stood outside the council hall, not surprised to see the Queen Mother coming. He stepped aside to welcome her inside, saying, "Your Majesty has been waiting for you for a long time."

Ji Changyue's back stiffened, she forced a smile, and went inside, clutching her sleeve.

"Zheng'er," she murmured, as Ying Zheng's figure appeared in her vision. Tears streamed down her face instantly. "Your Majesty—"

Ying Zheng suddenly lifted his mother up with his strong arms, preventing her from kneeling in disarray before him. She kept apologizing, saying, "Mother is sorry."

"Mother, why do you do this?" Ying Zheng helped her up. "You cannot kneel before me."

She was at a loss for words. "When did you find out?"

"That time I took my cousin to Yong to visit you," Ying Zheng said firmly. "As for those people and that fake eunuch, I knew from the beginning."

Ji Changyue, exhausted, said self-deprecatingly, "I actually thought I could fool you. Yes, you are a king, not a child."

"Then how did you..."

Ying Zheng did not answer, but simply looked at her.

Looking into her son's eyes, Ji Changyue vaguely understood his unspoken meaning, and she immediately covered her mouth and burst into tears.

“I always thought you were on your father’s side.”

“Father has wronged Mother, and my resentment towards him is no less than that towards Mother,” Ying Zheng said earnestly. “Others may not know, but how could I not know the suffering Mother endured to protect her child?”

"No matter when or where, your child will never abandon you."

Ji Changyue sobbed uncontrollably, burying her face in her son's broad shoulders, "It was my fault."

“Mother is not wrong.” Ying Zheng wiped away his mother’s tears. “It’s just that I need Mother to ‘make a mistake’ once.”

"What?" Ji Changyue asked, puzzled.

Ying Zheng took the Qin King's seal from the table and handed it to Ji Changyue.

The Qin King's Seal was given to Ying Zheng by Ji Changyue after she returned from Yong. She was already prepared for her son to assume power and naturally did not intend to continue holding the Qin King's Seal.

"As expected, Lao Ai will come to the palace to see you."

Ji Changyue was shocked. "You want to give him the Qin King's Seal? That won't do!"

“You still have hope for him, don’t you? I wish to use this seal to help Mother prove his heart. It’s not for him, but just to leave him room to steal.”

Ji Changyue was completely stunned. How could she not understand why her son could hand over the seal to her directly, showing that he had made ample preparations and was not afraid of Lao Ai at all... Helping her test Lao Ai was probably just a side effect.

Ji Changyue slowly accepted the Qin King's seal, saying, "If he has any disloyal intentions, my son will not need to take action himself."

She was the kind of woman who wouldn't give up until she saw the truth, or rather, she had to see it with her own eyes. Just as everyone had said back then that Ying Yiren wouldn't take her back or want her anymore, she felt the same way.