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墨書 Inktalez
The missing King Zhao of Qin, Ying Ji, was unaware of the major incident happening at home. He was still admiring the moon from a distance of thirty miles outside the capital. If he had known that someone trapped in the mountains was also gazing at the full moon in contemplation, he would have rushed to rescue them without hesitation.
Since agreeing to help Fan Ju settle matters, things had not gone smoothly. After meeting with the Plain King, the situation took a turn for the worse. When the conversation subtly hinted at handing over Wei Qi, Zhao Sheng immediately rejected the idea without hesitation. The reasoning was sound and indisputable.
When forming friendships, one must understand the importance of loyalty. This is not just about making friends during prosperous times; sometimes it is about forging connections for when one may fall into hardship. Many people are willing to add embellishments to one's success, but true friends are those who provide support in times of need. I seek refuge from friends when I am in trouble, and they seek refuge from me when they face difficulties. If someone chooses to protect themselves out of fear, then that person is not worth befriending! If my assumptions are correct, the King Qin would certainly not be that kind of person. Since he is willing to befriend me, the Plain King, I too am not someone who is unworthy of friendship.
A few words left the King Qin speechless, and he expressed that he was indeed someone worthy of friendship. The key issue now was not about who was virtuous but how to coerce Zhao Sheng into handing over Wei Qi! Seeing that the conversation was unproductive, they quickly ended the banquet and went outside to enjoy the moon alone.
The Plain King valued loyalty; if he made a promise, it would not be broken lightly. He did not expect this person to back down anyway, so it was time to proceed with Plan B. Besides, since the hostage had already arrived, it was believed that the Messenger who had set off to inform Zhao Wang Dan had already received word. Now all that remained was to wait for news.
As expected by King Qin, once King Zhao learned that his uncle had been detained, he hastily dispatched troops under cover of night to surround the Plain King's residence and capture Wei Qi. Zhou Ping Wang had merely been suspected of patricide without any actual evidence and was already looked down upon by various Feudal States. If he did not take care of his own uncle and allowed him to become a permanent resident of King Qin's court, how would Zhao State face the world in the future?
However, what no one anticipated was that Wei Qi had already received news and escaped long ago. As for where he fled, none of the Retainers present knew the details.
When news of Wei Qi's escape reached back to King Qin, he cursed under his breath. Whether intentional or accidental, it was clear that this person had indeed fled Zhao State. Holding onto a hot potato like this made things difficult to handle, so he decided to bring the Plain King back to the capital first. Before reaching the palace upon returning to the capital, they encountered Chancellor Fan Ju rushing over with bloodshot eyes and dark circles under them.
After all, their carefully laid plans had completely failed. King Qin felt frustrated as he saw how haggard Fan Ju looked after just a few days apart. He chuckled inwardly at how anxious this man seemed; this matter would eventually be resolved in due time. He reminded Chancellor Qin to always pay attention to his appearance; looking like a giant panda would not reflect well on them if seen by their people!
Fan Ju had truly lost his appetite these past few days—not because he was waiting for his own news but rather for news of King Qin's return to the capital. The day had turned chaotic; anyone could see that! After waiting so long until they were almost skeletal with worry, they finally saw their leader return alive during their lifetime. In a hurry, Fan Ju followed King Qin back to the palace. Once they were inside and alone, he knelt down and sorrowfully delivered the tragic news about the Crown Prince.
Elders often say one should not curse oneself all day long. Anyone could have predicted that what had previously been feigned illness had now become reality. Upon receiving this news, King Zhao of Qin immediately spat blood and fainted; he lay unconscious for half a month. When he regained some awareness, he promptly ordered Luzi to enter the palace immediately.
If this grudge is not avenged, what is the point of being a ruler? Anyone who dares harm my beloved Crown Prince shall face my eternal wrath!
The Messenger reported that Luzi was not in the capital.
King Zhao of Qin, who was gritting his teeth in anger, was taken aback by this news. How could this brat dare not return to stand by during such a major incident in the country? It was truly infuriating! What could be more important than avenging the Crown Prince? He immediately ordered a swift search for Luzi's whereabouts, setting a deadline for his return to the capital without fail!
The Messenger, who had already received news of Luzi's assassination, hesitated to speak up, mainly out of concern for the health of King Qin, who had just recovered from a serious illness. After all, he was an old man, and it was uncertain whether he could withstand another blow. If he were to learn the truth and suffer a shock that caused him to collapse, even committing suicide on the spot would not atone for the sin.
Initially planning to wait some time before reporting, the Messenger realized that King Qin's eagerness for revenge could no longer be concealed. He had no choice but to kneel and plead for mercy, steeling himself to deliver the bad news. Just over ten days before the incident with the Crown Prince, Luzi had also been killed by an assassin sent by Wei Wujie! After delivering the report, the Messenger stole a glance at Your Majesty's expression. If things seemed amiss, he would immediately summon the Surgeon waiting outside to provide assistance.
Upon receiving the news, King Qin was shocked but did not show any further reaction. He simply did not believe that Luzi could be killed! There must have been some unavoidable difficulties leading to this situation! He understood that the more chaotic his heart felt, the more he should seek inner peace; yet he still wanted to mobilize his troops immediately to take revenge on Wei Kingdom. Taking a deep breath to suppress this impulse, he coldly regarded the kneeling Messenger without speaking.
The Messenger on the ground felt a chill at the back of his neck but dared not utter another word. He waited anxiously for King Qin to speak and soon realized that his clothes were already soaked with sweat.
“Zhang Cheng!”
Hearing His Sovereign's call, the Messenger quickly responded, “I am here!”
“Sigh! You have been with me for quite some time now, haven’t you?”
Zhang Cheng had followed King Qin since childhood; counting it up, it had been over twenty years. While he wouldn’t dare claim to fully understand the temperament of the one sitting above him, he was close enough. The meaning behind this statement was clear: it was a reproach for concealing the truth. This was a grave offense against the ruler, one that could lead to execution or worse! He hurriedly bowed his head and pleaded for Your Majesty’s mercy, asserting that every word he had just spoken was true and that his loyalty to Your Majesty was as solid as heaven and earth.
If things were indeed as simple as that, then it would be good! King Zhao of Qin had already realized a particularly serious issue: Luzi’s death and the Crown Prince’s demise were certainly not mere coincidences; there must be an invisible thread connecting them. This was one reason why Zhang Cheng dared not reveal the facts; after all, it involved both Qin State's future Sovereign and the current unrecognized Luzi.
Before everything became clear, no one dared make any assertions about this matter. But whether through speculation or fact! These fellows surely knew well about the ins and outs of this situation! With a heavy grunt, he muttered under his breath. “Hmm! If someone stays in one position too long, they become complacent; it seems it's time for a change.”
If it were another position, it would be easier to handle; one could simply find an overseas assignment to brush it off. However, knowing too much, the so-called "change" proposed by Your Majesty is self-evident in its outcome. Zhang Cheng was so frightened that he trembled all over, crying and begging on his knees.
At this moment, King Qin had already regained his former wisdom; he only wanted to uncover the truth of the matter. With a light sigh, he said, "Zhang Cheng! I shall spare you this time. Speak boldly. Tell me the entire truth, no matter what it is! If there is even a single word of concealment, you will face double punishment!"
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