Chapter 202: Ten thousand troops not enough, then send forty thousand! The Empress Dowager’s mindset collapses!
Soon, Ying Zheng’s imperial study was filled with people.
Civil and military officials, anyone with the qualifications, were pulled from their beds by Zhao Ji’s orders.
Ying Zheng was already aware of the message from the border.
The National Advisor had kidnapped Han’s Princess Hongliang and a general.
Now, Han was in a national lockdown hunting him down, dead or alive!
Silence filled the study.
The gathered officials, still unaware of what had happened,
But such a late-night assembly by the Empress Dowager pulling in nearly all high-ranking officials surely indicated a major event.
Yet they couldn’t fathom what kind of event it could be.
Since the new king Ying Zheng ascended the throne, there had never been such a commotion.
Zhao Ji appeared dignified and stern, her face frostily composed.
She picked up a letter from the table and said coldly, “Everyone, take a look at this matter and consider how it should be handled.”
Zhao Gao received a glance from Ying Zheng.
Zhao Gao humbly took the letter from Zhao Ji’s hand and handed it over to everyone to read.
Moments later, the study erupted with noisy discussions.
“Why did the national advisor kidnap the Han Princess and the general?”
“How can we speculate on the actions of the national advisor?”
“This isn’t right, with the entire Han Empire under martial law and life-and-death situation, doesn’t the Han Emperor fear pushing the national advisor to the edge?”
“It seems the Han Emperor doesn’t even care about the Princess’s life, does he?”
“Right now, the priority is to bring back the national advisor.”
“You think we can just go and bring him back? The Han Emperor’s daughter has been kidnapped, will he release people?”
Everyone below began to argue endlessly, and Zhao Ji listened with a stern face for a while.
Finally, someone stood up and said, “Reporting to the Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, in my opinion, we can send someone to inform the national advisor, if the national advisor releases Princess Hongliang and the Han Empire’s general, the Han Emperor might not pursue the matter further, and the national advisor will be safe.”
Then a dissenting voice arose, “If the Han Emperor cared about the lives of Princess Hongliang and their general, he wouldn’t have ordered not to spare the national advisor’s life under any circumstances.”
“Right, I believe there is more to this, the Han Emperor seems to want to drive the national advisor to death.”
Wang Ben, much more impetuous than his father Wang Jian, snorted coldly, “He dares!”
Lord Changping pondered for a moment and spoke, “Now is not the time to discuss this, we need to think of a way to bring the national advisor back first.”
Someone frowned and said, “The national advisor is deep in Han territory, facing the full strength of the Han Empire, how can we retrieve him?”
Wang Jian coughed once and suddenly said loudly, “We request the Empress Dowager and His Majesty to make a decision.”
Zhao Ji and Ying Zheng had been watching them discuss quietly without expressing any opinions.
They didn’t seem to be listening to their opinions.
Calling them here was more like giving them orders.
Big issues are discussed in small meetings, small issues in big meetings.
Important matters are not discussed in meetings.
Ying Zheng and the Empress Dowager remained silent, which indicated they had already made a decision.
Sure enough, Zhao Ji raised her chin slightly and said sternly, “Send someone to Han, tell the Han Emperor.”
“If he lets our national advisor return, this palace can ensure the safety of Princess Hongliang and Bai Xianwu.”
“If he doesn’t, this palace will march eastward!”
The civil and military officials were immediately taken aback.
They didn’t expect the Empress Dowager to be so decisive, not even negotiating.
If the Han Emperor doesn’t agree, it’s direct war!
Clearly, the national advisor holds a very special place in the hearts of both the Empress Dowager and the Qin Emperor.
“Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, you mustn’t! Han Empire has been confronting our Qin Empire at Hangu Pass for years.”
“Hangu Pass is a dangerous pass, easy to defend and hard to attack.”
“If war breaks out, it’s unlikely we can conquer it with only a hundred thousand troops.”
Now, the national advisor faces more danger with each day he stays in the Han Empire.
If the two countries go to war and become bogged down in a prolonged stalemate, it will only put him in more danger.
Ying Zheng suddenly cast a sharp glance over.
Everyone was startled by his fierce look.
Ying Zheng spoke each word forcefully.
“I am not here to negotiate with the Han Empire, but to tell the Han Emperor, to tell the world, if anyone dares to harm Qin’s subjects, I will lead an army to their city gates.”
“I want to see if their walls of the Han Empire are stronger, or my Qin cavalry is mightier!”
“If a hundred thousand troops can’t conquer it, then two hundred thousand, three hundred thousand, four hundred thousand!”
Ying Zheng’s impassioned and solemn voice echoed in the vast study.
Like the beating of a war drum, it pounded in everyone’s hearts.
Everyone was shaken to the core.
At this moment, this young emperor made them acutely aware.
The era of Qin had arrived!
Zhao Ji was also stunned for a long time.
Looking at the son she had raised, she suddenly felt a bit strange.
This power, this unchallengeable authority.
Even she had never seen it before!
All eyes were on Zhao Ji.
The Qin Emperor’s stance was clear.
The decision-making power and military command were still with the Empress Dowager.
What she said was the key to the matter.
Is a national advisor really worth such a huge commotion for Qin?
Zhao Ji took a deep breath and stood up.
With a serious gaze, she looked at Wang Jian.
“Convey my orders, mobilize three hundred thousand troops from all over the country, be ready to act at any time!”
All the ministers immediately held their breath.
The Empress Dowager was even more direct than Emperor Qin, indicating that she was already prepared for war!
Zhao Ji continued coldly: “Send a message to the Emperor of Han, if anything happens to the National Advisor, I will
bury his entire royal family!”
The ministers were shaken once again!
They exchanged glances and responded in unison.
“Yes!”
The Empress Dowager and Emperor Qin’s attitudes were resolutely firm.
The Han Empire was willing to pay any price to keep the National Advisor.
The Qin Empire was willing to pay any price to get the National Advisor back!
The ministers withdrew.
Only then did Zhao Ji sit down, as if deflated.
Ying Zheng’s heart tightened, showing concern: “Mother.”
Zhao Ji raised her hand slightly to interrupt him.
“I’m fine, it’s just… it’s just…
Ying Zheng continued: “Is mother worried about the National Advisor?”
Zhao Ji was suddenly startled.
Her gaze flickered.
As if afraid Ying Zheng might see through her.
Ying Zheng straightforwardly said: “I am also worried about the National Advisor.”
“The National Advisor once saved my life and contributed greatly to the Qin Empire.”
“No matter what, I cannot be indifferent while he is in danger.”
Zhao Ji’s eyes brightened and she agreed: “Yes, the Emperor is right.”
“Yes… the National Advisor is a good person, he has a debt of gratitude to you and the country.”
“He is also a pillar of our Qin Empire, we cannot let anything happen to him.”
“Yes… nothing should happen to him.”
Zhao Ji sighed with relief, eyeing Ying Zheng peripherally.
Since you said this yourself, it is only right for your mother to be concerned about him.
Ying Zheng also felt relieved.
He had been worried that Zhao Ji would be unwilling to send troops.
The National Advisor had never gotten along well with her, and the Empress Dowager had never treated him kindly.
Moreover, the National Advisor always supported Ying Zheng in power struggles.
If Zhao Ji bore any resentment towards him and wanted to use this opportunity to leave him in the Han Empire permanently, that would have been a real problem.
But fortunately, his mother was still reasonable.
“Mother, rest assured, the National Advisor is a master of unparalleled skill. As long as he isn’t surrounded by large armies, no one can keep him.”
After saying this, Ying Zheng had another doubt: “But… why did the National Advisor capture Princess Hongliang and Bai Xianwu?”
Zhao Ji turned to Ying Zheng, asking: “Didn’t he tell you why he went to the Han Empire?”
At that time, she hadn’t even wanted to see him, let alone ask questions.
Ying Zheng pondered: “The National Advisor told me he had a feud with Bai Xianwu, but he didn’t mention capturing her.”
If there was a feud, it would have been easier to kill her on the spot rather than bringing her along for such a long journey.
Moreover, Bai Xianwu wasn’t just anyone.
She was a general of the Han Empire.
The ten thousand soldiers at the border were her forces.
Even Guiguzi was amazed at her prowess.
If anything unexpected happened on the way and she broke free, it would put Li Mo in even greater danger.
Zhao Ji was still pondering this problem when she returned to her chambers.
She thought about it for a long time but couldn’t figure it out.
If it was to take a hostage, Princess Hongliang alone would suffice.
Capturing Bai Xianwu was far riskier than the potential reward.
Li couldn’t help but comfort her: “The National Advisor never acts conventionally, there must be a reason for this.”
Zhao Ji glared at her.
“What do you know? I heard from Zheng’er that Bai Xianwu is a master of the Transcendent Realm.”
“What if something unexpected happens along the way and that traitor puts himself in danger?”
Li’s eyes moved slightly, a subtle smile appearing at the corners of her mouth.
“Is the Empress Dowager afraid she won’t see the National Advisor again?”
Seeing Zhao Ji’s stern look, she immediately bowed her head: “I spoke out of turn.”
Zhao Ji didn’t withdraw her gaze.
Instead, she stood up and looked Li up and down.
Li felt uneasy under her scrutiny.
“E… Empress Dowager, I know my mistake, I won’t speak recklessly again.”
Zhao Ji shook her head, staring directly at her.
“I feel that you’ve been acting strangely lately, you never used to talk like this.”
This maid had been with her for nearly ten years.
But lately, she had changed somewhat.
She talked more, and often spoke well of that traitor in front of Zhao Ji.
Zhao Ji hadn’t noticed it before.
But the teasing remark that Li had just made was something she would have never said before.
After all, Li was born as a killer, her mental resilience wasn’t something an ordinary person could compare to.
With a thud, she knelt down on the ground, pretending to be terrified and said, “Empress Dowager, please forgive me. It was… it was the National Advisor who instructed me to say this.”
“Empress Dowager, please forgive me!”
Zhao Ji was taken aback.
Then her expression turned grim.
“What did he tell you to say?”
Li’s mind was working rapidly, and she said without hesitation, “The National Advisor said that the Empress Dowager should not concern herself with him.”
“He offended the Empress Dowager earlier because her charm was overwhelming, and just hearing her voice made it impossible for him to resist.”
“In his heart, he admires the Empress Dowager; he merely made the mistake that any man would make.”
Zhao Ji’s mind went blank for a moment.
“Admire me?”
Li raised an eyebrow slightly and discreetly observed Zhao Ji’s reaction.
Stunned?
Not angry?
Could it be that the Empress Dowager actually has feelings for the master?
Women understand women after all.
Had it been a common person treating Zhao Ji this way, they would have been beheaded a thousand times over by now.
Yet she had mentioned his name countless times without ever intending to harm him. On the contrary, upon hearing that the National Advisor was trapped in Han, she became extremely anxious.
The panic she showed upon receiving the news did not seem like mere concern for a subordinate.
Li thought for a moment and then continued, “The National Advisor said his journey is fraught with peril, a matter of life and death, and he may not have the opportunity to return to see the Empress Dowager.”
“If he truly dies in Han, he only hopes the Empress Dowager can retrieve his body, and it would be enough if she could see him one last time.”
Zhao Ji suddenly stood up.
Li was startled by her intense reaction.
Did she go too far with the story?
Zhao Ji’s breathing became labored, as if something was stuck in her chest.
She clenched her hands tightly and stared at Li, asking, “Did he really say that to you?”
Li hesitated for a moment.
But Zhao Ji couldn’t wait any longer.
She urged, “Speak, I am asking you!”
Li pursed her lips and nodded heavily.
“Yes!”
Zhao Ji took a deep breath.
She inhaled all the mixed emotions stuck in her chest.
A myriad of feelings intertwined in her heart.
For a moment, she didn’t know how to feel.
“He… he… how dare that traitor say such things!”
“I am the Empress Dowager!”
Li secretly curled her lips and continued fabricating, “The National Advisor said, what difference does it make? The Empress Dowager is still a woman, and as a woman, she has the right to be loved.”
“He said that as long as the Empress Dowager is willing, even if it means facing a mountain of swords or a sea of flames, or braving sheer cliffs and precipices, he would dare to go through it for her.”
Old witch, you were already made to howl by the master, so why keep pretending?
Li was grumbling in her heart.
The master already had two concubines; adding an Empress Dowager to the mix wouldn’t make a difference.
“The right to be loved… a mountain of swords and a sea of flames… sheer cliffs and precipices… would he really not be afraid?”
“That could lead to eternal damnation.”
Zhao Ji was lost in thought for a long time, her dazed eyes slowly began to focus.
Her delicate brows furrowed slowly.
Looking at Li, she said, “No, that’s not right.”
“What… what’s not right?”
Zhao Ji scrutinized her for a few more moments.
“When did you become so close to him?”
“Why would he tell you, a maid, such things instead of telling me directly?”
Li lowered her head and said, “The National Advisor couldn’t discern the Empress Dowager’s feelings, so he had no choice but to convey them through me.”
Zhao Ji asked again, “And you just conveyed his message because he asked you to? What did he offer you in return?”
Li quickly explained, “The National Advisor, in his divine wisdom, promised to guide me.”
Then she mumbled, “But what good is divine wisdom when the entire nation of Han is hunting him down, and he doesn’t even have a single guard.”
“If only he had some guards to buy him some time, with his abilities, he might have already returned to Qin.”
Li’s words carried a hint of complaint.
And she indeed thought so.
If someone could have delayed the pursuit for a while, he could have escaped before the Hann king ordered a nationwide lockdown.
Zhao Ji murmured, “No guards… no guards…”
“For an emissary traveling from Qin to Han, how could he possibly be without protection?”
Raised his head abruptly.
Have you forgotten?
“Wasn’t it you who, out of spite, didn’t arrange a guard for him back then?”
Zhao ji turned pale at her words.
It really was that way!
But how was she to know things would turn out like this?
At that time, she didn’t even ask what Li Mo was doing in Han, let alone think he would go through such an ordeal.
“Is… is it my fault?”
Zhao Ji slumped back into her seat, as if her soul had left her body.
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