People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 204, Han Yu, Completely Defeated (5k!)
Han Fei looked at Xu Qing with a smile, his eyes full of curiosity.

Xu Qing naturally understood that Han Fei was trying to test his intentions by asking him questions, and thus trying to win him and Zi Lan Xuan over to become his allies.

If it were someone like Wei Zhuang who already had this idea, he would naturally follow Han Fei's lead and lay a foundation for their cooperation. But unfortunately, Han Fei made a mistake and tested the wrong person.

"Brother Han Fei, do you still remember what I said? A secret is a secret precisely because it is not known to outsiders," Xu Qing said with a slight sigh.

"But Brother Xu has already accepted the invitation and come here."

Han Fei revealed a confident smile, as if he had already seen through Xu Qing. As for his verbal refusal, it was just a pretense of modesty.

"I have come, but out of consideration for your and Zifang's relationship, and also to secure my own future. We can cooperate in the court, but I want to work with you to change the state of Han."

Xu Qing didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was already quite clear.

Zi Nu felt relieved upon hearing Xu Qing's answer. She knew Xu Qing's thoughts best and knew that Xu Qing could only cooperate simply with Han Fei and could not invest in Han Fei like Wei Zhuang did.

Before Wei Zhuang left, he said that if Han Fei came looking for him, he should help him keep the person there. However, if Xu Qing directly refused Han Fei, then she couldn't refuse Xu Qing's request to help Wei Zhuang keep the person there.

Whether dealing with internal or external matters, Zi Nu is a sensible person who will give Xu Qing ample face.

“Ninth Young Master, you should know that coming by invitation and coming to find me on your own initiative are two different things, right?” Zi Nu said with a smile.

Hearing Xu Qing and Zi Nu's answers, Han Fei understood the situation and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

Xu Qing still refused his invitation, but fortunately, this time Xu Qing did not reject him outright as before, but agreed to cooperate with him in the court, which was his biggest gain today.

As for Zi Nu, Xu Qing was invited by him, while he came voluntarily at Wei Zhuang's invitation. The one who was truly interested in him was Wei Zhuang, the master strategist of Guigu School.

Tonight's trip to Zilan Pavilion was very rewarding for him. He not only got Zhang Kaidi to help him become Sikou, but also got the cooperation that Xu Qing agreed to, and was about to receive help from Guigu Zongheng.

"I knew I wasn't so bad that Brother Xu would reject me twice. It seems my performance today has slightly impressed you," Han Fei said with a smile.

Looking at Han Fei's grinning face, Xu Qing smiled knowingly and said...
"However, Brother Han Fei, my help is not so easy to obtain; you should be prepared."

Looking at Xu Qing's smile, Han Fei had a bad feeling and paused slightly before asking...
"What do you mean?"

"You'll find out when the time comes. If you're prepared, it will be a great gift. If you're not prepared, it could be a disaster." Xu Qing left with these cryptic words and stood up.

Seeing that Xu Qing was about to leave, Zi Nu also stood up and said to Han Fei.
"Ninth Young Master, there's no need to worry. Wei Zhuang will be back tomorrow."

Seeing the two preparing to leave, Han Fei also stood up, cupped his hands, and said...

"Then I'll wait and see."

Xu Qing returned Han Fei's greeting and then left the room with Zi Nu. The four girls waiting outside nodded to the two of them and then went back into the room.

After returning to her room, Zi Nu cast a curious glance at Xu Qing.

"What grand gift have you prepared for Han Fei?" Zi Nu asked.

"You'll find out tomorrow. Whether it's a blessing or a curse depends on Han Fei's own abilities," Xu Qing said with a smile.

"You're keeping this from even me, you must be up to something naughty~"

Zi Nu tilted her head and looked at Xu Qing, her alluring mature voice stirring Xu Qing's heartstrings, her slender jade hand gently caressing Xu Qing's firm chest.

Xu Qing smiled without saying a word, took Zi Nu's hand, and pulled her into his arms, but his eyes were fixed on the Han King's Palace outside the window.

Zi Nu leaned against Xu Qing's chest, gazing at his small face with a slight daze, and softly asked...
Are you leaving again tonight?

"I have things to take care of tomorrow, so I can't stay," Xu Qing said.

He had just satisfied the Chao Nv Yao two days ago, and last night, while on duty at the Imperial Hospital, he had also calmed down Hu Meiren. He was not supposed to leave Zi Lan Xuan tonight.

Although Zi Nu's embrace was warm and soft, he had more important matters to attend to tomorrow, so how could he indulge in such tenderness?

"Okay, be careful," Zi Nu said shyly.

"it is good."

A night passed in the blink of an eye. Just as Xu Qing was still working at the Imperial Hospital, news of the border army's mutiny reached Xinzheng.

The Korean court was shocked when it learned of this. No one expected that the border troops would actually mutini. King An of Han was terrified and hurriedly sent people to summon Ji Wuye, Zhang Kaidi, Han Yu and Xu Qing to discuss the matter.

At the same time, Bai Niao and the Mo family also sent news of the border mutiny back to Xinzheng.

The Council Hall of the King of Han Palace.

Xu Qing arrived outside the palace led by a palace attendant, followed by Ji Wuye, Zhang Kaidi, and Han Yu.

The four stood outside the hall, and before they could even begin to discuss matters, the atmosphere between Han Yu and Ji Wuye became tense.

Ji Wuye looked at Han Yu with disdain, a mocking smile on his face. Although Han Yu's expression was normal, if looks could kill, Ji Wuye would probably be dead a hundred times over.

Xu Qing looked at the two who were locked in a fierce confrontation, a smile flickering in his eyes. It hadn't been for nothing that he had stirred things up so many times; now the two could truly be said to be locked in a life-or-death struggle.

The three people present were all sensible and knew that the ghost soldiers' robbery of supplies and the border army's mutiny were inextricably linked to Ji Wuye, but they were simply lacking substantial evidence to prove it.

“A mutiny among the border troops is a serious matter. The King must be getting impatient by now. Let’s go in first,” Zhang Kaidi said.

Of the four, he was probably the only one genuinely worried that a border troop mutiny would affect South Korea's security. As for the others, including Xu Qing, they all had their own ulterior motives.

As for South Korea? That's not something for those who favor petty officials and powerful ministers to consider.

Zhang Kaidi's words prevented Ji Wuye and Han Yu from arguing as before, and they followed him into the council hall. Xu Qing was the last to enter.

Looking at the restless King An of Han on his throne, the four men bowed and greeted him.
"Your Majesty, we pay our respects."

"No need for formalities. I've summoned you here today to discuss matters at the border. You should already know about the mutiny among the border troops, right?" King Han asked anxiously.

Ji Wuye glanced at Han Yu and spoke first.

"I have already learned of the news. The root cause of this mutiny in the border troops was insufficient military pay, coupled with the soldiers' homesickness, which ultimately led to a mutiny of several thousand men, which eventually affected the entire army."

"The army's pay was stolen by the ghost soldiers, and less than ten days have passed. How could the border troops have mutinied so quickly? How did Right Sima Liu Yi become the commander-in-chief!?"

Han Wang An didn't care at all why the border troops mutinied; he only cared about why Liu Yi failed to suppress the mutiny, turning a mutiny of several thousand people into an uprising of thirty thousand elite troops.

Military pay delays are commonplace in South Korea. If ten gold coins are allocated from the national treasury, it's considered a sign of the officials' benevolence if half of it reaches the border troops.

Seeing that the criticism was directed at Liu Yi, Han Yu naturally couldn't sit still. Liu Yi had been through thick and thin with him because it was he who had recommended Liu Yi to go to the border.

“Father, the Right Sima should not be blamed for the border mutinied. The army has been stationed outside for more than a year, during which time it has also encountered Qin army attacks, and homesickness and sorrow are rampant.”

"The current shortage of military pay has further fueled the soldiers' discontent. It is already quite remarkable that the Right Commander has been able to hold out for several days."

Han Yu cupped his hands in greeting to Han Wang'an.

"According to what the Fourth Young Master said, Liu Yi failed to suppress the army this time, so not only is he not at fault, but he has also made a contribution?" Ji Wuye said coldly.

"That's not what I meant. It's just that it's not easy for the Right Sima to guard the border. We can't ignore his contributions just because it wasn't his fault," Han Yu said.

Upon hearing Han Yu's words, Xu Qing knew that Han Yu was unaware of the true situation of the mutiny at the border, and even less aware of Liu Yi's escape in the face of the mutiny. Xu Qing looked at Han Yu with a hint of pity in his eyes.

With Ji Wuye present today, he doesn't need to fight on the front lines to eliminate Han Yu, and Han Yu will soon be saying goodbye to his position as crown prince.
Upon hearing Han Yu's words, Ji Wuye revealed a mocking smile and said...

"It seems the Fourth Young Master is unaware of this."

"Know what!?"

Han Yu felt a pang of anxiety as he looked at the confident Ji Wuye.

He was unaware of the border troop mutiny; Liu Yi had yet to send him any updates. But judging from Ji Wuye's expression, he could vaguely guess that the matter was probably not as simple as he thought.

"General, what do you mean by that? Is there some other problem besides the mutiny at the border?" King Han asked in a deep voice.

Ji Wuye cleared his throat and bowed to King Han An, saying...

"Your Majesty, there are indeed many reasons for the border troops' mutiny, but the reason why it has affected the entire army is due to human error."

"As far as I know, the mutiny initially involved only a few thousand soldiers. If it had been suppressed in time, it would not have affected the entire army." "However, Liu Yi, the commander-in-chief, fled with his personal guards after learning of the mutiny, abandoning the army. This led to the destruction of the camp and the loss of 30,000 elite troops."

"What!?"

Han Wang'an, Zhang Kaidi, and Han Yu looked shocked. Although Liu Yi could not be called a famous general, he was a veteran of the battlefield. How could he do something like deserting in the face of battle?

"General, I know you and Liu Yi are at odds, but there's no need to frame him like this, is there?" Han Yu said in a deep voice.

Han Yu now has no way out but to protect Liu Yi at all costs; only by protecting Liu Yi can he protect himself.

"I am not making this up; this is the testimony of Feng Lan, the border commander."

As Ji Wuye spoke, he took out a bamboo slip from his bosom and presented it to King Han An.

With a gloomy face, King Han opened the bamboo slip and looked at its contents. His expression gradually turned angry, and veins bulged on his forehead.

King Han An angrily threw the bamboo slips to the ground.
"What a Liu Yi! He actually dared to desert his post! He has failed my expectations!"

Seeing Han Wang'an's anger, Xu Qing, Ji Wuye, Zhang Kaidi, and Han Yu quickly bowed.

"Your Majesty, please do not be angry. Anger harms the liver and can easily cause discomfort. One person's words are not enough to prove anything; perhaps there are other hidden circumstances?" Xu Qing interjected, stirring up trouble.

Zhang Kai glanced at Xu Qing, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. He didn't understand why Xu Qing would stir up trouble at this time.

Feng Lan was a member of the royal family, and her mother was the younger sister of King Han An. She was one of King Han An's few confidants in the army, so her testimony would certainly be without any problems.

At this point, saying that Feng Lan's testimony was problematic would not appease King Han's anger, but would only add fuel to the fire.

Just as Zhang Kai had expected, King Han An showed no signs of calming down; on the contrary, he became even angrier, slamming his hands on the table, breathing heavily, his eyes seeming ready to burst into flames at any moment.

“Feng Lan is gentle, respectful, and upright; how could he possibly frame Liu Yi!” King Han An said angrily.

Han Yu glanced at Xu Qing with a sinister look, his eyes flashing with coldness, but more so with doubt.

He didn't understand why Xu Qing would kick someone when they were down at this time. Liu Yi was Madam Hu's husband and Hu Meiren's brother-in-law.

As Hu Meiren's favorite minister, Xu Qing should have protected Liu Yi at this time, unless something happened to Hu Meiren.

Just as Han Yu was lost in thought, Ji Wuye spoke again.

"I request that someone be sent to search for Liu Yi's whereabouts and to bring him to justice in order to set an example."

"Besides, Liu Yi was recommended by the Fourth Prince, and I just pleaded for him. Perhaps there is some shady deal between the two. I request that this matter be thoroughly investigated."

Before Han Wang'an could speak, Han Yu interrupted.

“Father, it is indeed unforgivable that I misjudged people, but I was only a colleague of Liu Yi and had no private dealings with him. General’s words are a slander against me.”

"Is that so? I did hear that Liu Yi had quite close dealings with the Fourth Prince when he was in Xinzheng."

"He is the Right Sima. The Imperial Guard is short of personnel, so I asked him to select suitable candidates from the army to fill the gap. Is there a problem?"

Ji Wuye and Han Yu completely ignored King Han An and started arguing in front of the palace. Ji Wuye wanted to kill Liu Yi and Han Yu, while Han Yu, in order to protect himself, naturally had to argue his case and defend himself.

Watching the two arguing incessantly, Zhang Kai couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He knew that Liu Yi and Han Yu were doomed this time.

Because of Liu Yi's desertion at the last minute, he couldn't defend Liu Yi. Now he only hoped to save Han Yu and prevent him from being eliminated directly.

"Enough! You two are important officials in the court. What kind of behavior is it to argue like a shrew in front of the palace!" King Han An said angrily.

"Your subject has been disrespectful." "Your subject has been disrespectful."

The two stopped arguing and bowed to King Han An.

"Prime Minister, what do you think should be done about this?" King Han asked Zhang Kaidi.

"Liu Yi deserted his post in the face of battle, a crime deserving of death. A reward should be offered to him and the local authorities should be notified to capture him."

"As for the Fourth Prince, his recommendation of Liu Yi to guard the border was based on the hope that he would defend the country's borders and protect the frontier."

"However, I did not expect that Liu Yi was no longer the same as he used to be, daring to fight and killing, and made the move of deserting in the face of battle. This is not the fault of the Fourth Prince."

Zhang Kai cupped his hands and said that Han Yu would inevitably be punished, but his words pinned the blame on Han Yu's poor judgment of character. It seemed like a punishment, but it was actually a form of protection.

Upon hearing Zhang Kaidi's words, Han Wang'an's expression softened slightly; he naturally did not want to severely punish Han Yu.

However, since Ji Wuye had a valid reason this time, he couldn't openly show favoritism. He could only rely on Xu Qing and Zhang Kai's words to protect Han Yu.

"Imperial Physician, what is your opinion on this matter?" King Han An asked again.

Ji Wuye, Han Yu, and Zhang Kaidi all looked at Xu Qing nervously. Han Wang'an's intention was clearly to favor Han Yu. Currently, the punishment for Han Yu was either too lenient or too severe, making Xu Qing's opinion particularly important.

If Xu Qing chooses to impose a severe punishment, Han Yu will lose power immediately. If he chooses to support Zhang Kaidi's explanation, Han Yu will at most be confined to his room to reflect on his actions.

Although Zhang Kaidi was nervous, he was also somewhat relieved. Xu Qing was Han Wang'an's mouthpiece and should stand on Han Yu's side.

Han Yu was both nervous and uneasy. He had many conflicts with Xu Qing, and although Xu Qing was his father's man, no one could be sure whether she would speak up for him.

Ji Wuye was much more relaxed. Although he hadn't informed the Tide Demoness beforehand to get Xu Qing on his side, Xu Qing's earlier instigation made him feel that Xu Qing was on his side.

Under the tense yet expectant gazes of everyone, Xu Qing stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said...

"Your Majesty, I believe that Liu Yi should not be severely punished to serve as a warning to others. However, since the Fourth Prince fell ill, the officials he recommended and selected have made frequent mistakes."

“Previous mistakes, whether minor or major, were not enough to affect the government, so they could be ignored. But this time, the loss of 30,000 border troops is enough to shake the foundation of the country.”

"Although the Fourth Prince is unaware of the principal's mistake, according to the laws of our Korea, when an official makes a mistake, the person who recommended him shall also be punished. He should be punished as a warning to others."

As soon as Xu Qing finished speaking, he glanced at Han Yu out of the corner of his eye. He had been planning for half a year, not only to kill Liu Yi, but also to remove Han Yu from the political arena and make him a useless person.

Han Yu met Xu Qing's mocking gaze, biting his lower lip tightly, his eyes filled with coldness and anger.

Han Wang'an and Zhang Kaidi looked at him with surprise and doubt. Neither of them expected that Xu Qing would support Ji Wuye.

"Your Majesty, Liu Yi should be punished. The Fourth Prince is affected by his health, making it difficult for him to rationally recommend talents for the country. I believe that the Fourth Prince should be allowed to recuperate for a period of time," Ji Wuye said, bowing.

Although it was called a period of recuperation, everyone present understood that it was actually a way of banishing Han Yu to the cold palace, stripping him of his right to participate in politics, and rendering him completely useless.

Han Yu clenched his fists beneath his sleeves, his sharp nails digging straight into his flesh, drawing out drops of blood.

He knew he had lost this round, and lost miserably. But he was unwilling to accept it, unwilling to become a useless person.

So Han Yu looked up at Han Wang'an, hoping that Han Wang'an could lend him a hand and save him.

Han Wang'an glanced at Xu Qing, then looked at Han Yu. Seeing the resentment and plea for help in the other's eyes, his heart softened. After all, the other was his child, and someone he had raised with his own hands.

Han Yu is already lame; if he is stripped of his power as well, he will be completely rendered useless.

"Liu Yi must be severely punished, but what about the fourth brother?"

Before Han Wang An could finish speaking, Ji Wuye interrupted.

"Your Majesty, the souls of tens of thousands of soldiers who died on the border have not yet found peace. If those responsible are not punished, it will be difficult to silence the discontent among the soldiers."

Hearing the threat in Ji Wuye's words, King Han An was furious but helpless. He closed his eyes and said resolutely.

"Since his injury, the Fourth Young Master has been in a daze and has made many mistakes. Effective today, he is stripped of his political power and sent back to his residence to recuperate."

Upon hearing this, Han Yu was completely disheartened. He glanced at Ji Wuye, then at Xu Qing.

Although Xu Qing and Ji Wuye's expressions remained unchanged, their eyes were full of mockery and ridicule, as if to say that a cripple should act like a cripple, rather than having any delusions about the throne.

Thinking that his decades of forbearance and scheming had now been in vain because of Xu Qing and Ji Wuye, Han Yu could no longer contain his anger.

A mouthful of blood spurted from Han Yu's mouth, and he collapsed to the ground.

(End of this chapter)