Chapter 220: Ying Zheng Passes the Buck, Did You Just Sell Me Out to Your Mother?
Zhao Ji frowned discontentedly.
She solemnly asked, “Since you knew this, why did you still cede Nanyang?”
Before Ying Zheng could speak, she followed up with a stern reminder, “Tell the truth, don’t deceive Mother.”
Ying Zheng clenched his lips tightly.
Inwardly, he mourned: Sorry, national advisor!
Zhao Ji’s words already carried strong dissatisfaction.
If he didn’t explain honestly now, both of them might suffer consequences.
“The national advisor said, this way, we would have a legitimate reason.”
A flash of anger appeared on Zhao Ji’s haggard face.
“Are you deliberately provoking a war?”
Ying Zheng remained silent, pursing his lips.
Zhao Ji seethed with anger and said coldly, “Alright, you lot, you kept such an important matter from me.”
“Does he even regard me as the Empress Dowager? Do you even regard me as the mother?”
Ying Zheng replied truthfully, “Of course, in my heart, I respect the mother.” However, I don’t know about the national advisor.
Originally, Ying Zheng intended to discuss it with Zhao Ji, but Li Mo wouldn’t let him say anything. He said, “Let’s give your mother a surprise.” Now that things are out in the open, there’s no surprise, only anger directed solely at him.
“With Li Mo in Zhao State, did you think you could just take it down so easily? Did you think it was that simple?”
Li Mo was revered as the God of War in Zhao State and held extremely high prestige among the people and soldiers there, being a true pillar of the nation, much stronger than the likes of Ji Wuye of Han back then.
“The national advisor said he has his ways,” replied Ying Zheng, visibly angered.
Flinjing her sleeves, Zhao Ji stood up, highly agitated. “What kind of bewitching words has the national advisor fed you to make you trust him so much?”
Ying Zheng looked seriously at the furious Zhao Ji and said, “Even if the national advisor has no plans, do we just not fight? Have you forgotten the humiliations suffered in Zhao State back then?”
His deep-seated hatred for Zhao State stemmed from indelible memories of his childhood there. If they were intimidated by a single Li Mo, how could they even talk about unifying the world?
Zhao Ji was rendered speechless by his rebuke. “Who taught you to speak to your mother like that?”
The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt, her eyes welling up with tears. Not only had she been angered by that scoundrel, now even her own son had this attitude toward her.
Ying Zheng hadn’t expected his words to incense her so much, he was just stating facts. Why was she reacting so strongly? As a straight-laced man, he couldn’t fathom Zhao Ji’s anger points. Looking at his mother’s reddened eyes, he sighed deeply and said, “It’s also what the national advisor said.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji nearly exploded with rage. “He tells you to speak, and you speak? Had you been a daughter, you might have been kidnapped by that scoundrel already, just like Princess Hongliang of Han!”
Gnashing her teeth, Zhao Ji retorted, “You invited him here for advice, and he teaches you how to infuriate your mother?”
Ying Zheng disagreed with her comment, countering, “The national advisor has your best interests at heart, how can you say he’s trying to anger you?”
Furious to the point of laughter, Zhao Ji retorted, “My hearing and mind are quite sharp, yet I can’t detect any concern for me in his words.”
However, Ying Zheng’s next words plunged her into deep silence. “The national advisor said that the source of your fear is Zhao State. If Zhao State is annihilated, so will be your fear.”
This struck a deep chord within Zhao Ji, shaking her to the core, and her thoughts drifted back to her past experiences in Zhao State.
Seeing her silent for a long time, Ying Zheng knew Li Mo’s words had hit the mark. “Mother?”
Zhao Ji, roused from her daze by Ying Zheng’s call, felt a jumble of emotions, unable to decide whether to feel relieved or sad. Just then, a eunuch entered, “Empress Dowager, Emperor, the national advisor requests an audience.”
Ying Zheng’s eyes lit up. Finally, he thought, as dealing with his mother’s anger alone had left him helpless. She was his mother after all—he couldn’t be stern nor coax her. It was harder than dealing with Lu Buwei!
Zhao Ji’s face darkened upon hearing the eunuch’s announcement. “What is he here for?”
Li Mo had tried visiting her several times recently, but she refused to see him each time. The eunuch glanced awkwardly at Ying Zheng, who took over, “I summoned him.”
Zhao Ji gave a sidelong glance and walked out from her seat, emotionless, “Then you two talk. I’m leaving.”
Ying Zheng was momentarily stunned. With the decision-maker leaving, what was there left to discuss?
Li Mo naturally came over to talk to him about the matters of the Zhao Empire.
As a result, the two of us had a lively discussion here, but what if you flatly reject it, wouldn’t it be a waste of our discussion?
Zhao Ji couldn’t care less what he was thinking.
She left without even giving him a chance to persuade her to stay.
Just as Zhao Ji stepped over the high threshold, she saw Li Mo standing there with a slight smile on his face.
“Greetings, Empress Dowager.”
Sensing Zhao Ji coming out, Li Mo greeted her first.
Zhao Ji turned her head away and snorted through her nose.
Not only did she not respond, but it also seemed as if she didn’t see him at all.
She walked past him, surrounded by a group of palace maids.
Li Mo touched his nose.
He sensed a tense atmosphere.
Walking into Ying Zheng’s study, he immediately asked, “Did you make your mother angry?”
Ying Zheng sighed lightly, “Mother knows about our plans for the Zhao Empire.”
Li Mo had a look of realization.
Nodding his head, he said, “No wonder. You kept this from her, so she must be angry with you.”
Ying Zheng gave him a complex glance.
“I told her it was you who didn’t want her to know.”
Li Mo’s face instantly turned blank.
Wow, you sold me out to your mother?
Ying Zheng thoughtfully rubbed his fingers, deliberating seriously, “So Mother should be angry with you.”
Li Mo was speechless for a long time.
Suddenly, he laughed calmly.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“No matter how many debts you have, they won’t crush you.”
“Your mother already dislikes me enough, let her be angry if she wants.”
Ying Zheng asked in surprise, “Aren’t you worried that Mother will give you trouble?”
Li Mo smiled, “I act with a clear conscience, so what is there to worry about?”
What trouble could she give me?
If she wanted to, she would have done it long ago, not waited until now.
She doesn’t even want to see me right now.
Ying Zheng’s eyes sparkled slightly.
Since you say so…. I’ll push all the blame on you in the future!
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