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

Chapter 248, Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?

Xinzheng, Palace of King Han.

The orange candlelight elongated the shadows of Xu Qing and the Tide Demoness, while a gentle breeze stirred the curtains around the soft couch, creating an ambiguous atmosphere.

"You're in big trouble? What do you mean?"

Xu Qing looked at Chao Nu Yao with a puzzled expression, one hand around her slender waist, the other hand on her thigh covered in black and red lace stockings, gently stroking it.

The enchanting woman tilted her head slightly, looking at Xu Qing with a hint of a smile in her alluring eyes, and said softly.

"The red lotus is a noble flower, representing the love from the father, and also has many beautiful meanings such as perseverance, courage, determination, and calmness."

Hearing what the Tide Demoness said, Xu Qing nodded slightly, but the doubt in her eyes deepened.

Given Han Wang'an's deep affection for Honglian, it truly lives up to the flower's symbolism. With such profound love for Honglian, how could it possibly be a major problem?

In the original novel, Ji Wuye took advantage of Qin's attack on Han and used the pretext of sending troops to demand to marry Honglian. King An of Han did not agree immediately, and only allowed the marriage under duress.

"But behind all this beauty, the red lotus flower also carries the meaning of despair and rupture. So for King Han An, the red lotus is not only his beloved, but also a symbol of despair and rupture."

The succubus touched Xu Qing's face with both hands and said softly.

Xu Qing was slightly taken aback. The meaning behind the red lotus flower was exactly the same as the red lotus's life trajectory.

Before the age of eighteen, she was the most noble princess of Han, enjoying the favor of King An of Han. However, in the year she turned eighteen, Han was destroyed, and Wei Zhuang personally set fire to Xinzheng, causing Honglian to transform into Chilian in the fire.

However, Xu Qing quickly realized something and looked at the smiling woman in his arms, saying...
"You mean Honglian is a tool that King Han An used to deal with Ji Wuye?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Chao Nu Yao's narrow eyes. She hadn't expected Xu Qing to be able to think of this meaning. Even she herself had only learned about this matter after she had taken control of Han Wang An and through his unintentional ramblings in his sleep.

"As expected of my man, after the war to pacify the Baiyue, it was a foregone conclusion that Your Majesty would inherit the throne, and Ji Wuye would become the most powerful minister in Han."

"However, King An of Han at that time was not as muddleheaded as he is now. How could he not be at all guarded against Ji Wuye?"

"Governing the country with political maneuvering is a tradition of Marquis Han Ai to this day. However, the court officials all believe that the means he uses to restrain and imprison Ji Wuye is the Fourth Prince Han Yu, but in reality it is this Princess Honglian," the Tide Demoness said with a faint smile.

"Is it because of his status? If Ji Wuye wants to obtain the status of a nobleman or even royalty, there is only one way, and that is to marry a princess." Xu Qing looked at Chao Nu Yao and said in a deep voice.

Even though Ji Wuye wielded immense power in the state of Han and was known as a powerful minister, he initially rose to prominence as a guest minister, belonging to the class of commoners and scholars.

The nobles, without exception, were all powerful families with a long history. Even though they treated Ji Wuye with utmost respect, they still looked down on him deep down.

In this era, social status and hierarchy were still very distinct. Although no one dared to openly belittle Ji Wuye in front of him, the difference in their backgrounds still had some impact on him.

Not only in this era, but even in the later Sui and Tang dynasties, Li Shimin, the Heavenly Khan, was powerful enough, yet he was still looked down upon by the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families.

The meritorious officials who followed Li Shimin in conquering the country also considered it an honor to marry women from the five prominent families, even if some of these women's families had fallen on hard times and were now running small businesses.

The difference in their backgrounds is already etched into the very bones of these people.

“That’s right. His background has always been a thorn in Ji Wuye’s side. Even if no one dares to mention it, he himself will take it very seriously.”

“This little girl Honglian is not only stunningly beautiful, but she is also a princess favored by the king. Whether it is her status or her appearance, she is exactly what Ji Wuye desires.”

“In certain critical moments, Honglian will be Han Wang An’s last resort. That’s why I told you not to provoke this little girl, lest you incur the hostility of Han Wang An and Ji Wuye,” said the Tide Demoness.

No matter how favored a princess is, in the end she is nothing more than a tool to consolidate her throne and power. She is either married off to the king or prince of another country, or given as a reward to a powerful minister.

"That's ridiculous. Ji Wuye may have done a lot of bad things, but he's also a man of some means. Why would he care about these things?" Xu Qing said speechlessly.

As a college student who has received nine years of compulsory education, Xu Qing's education on equality of status has been a constant throughout his academic career, although he gradually became more aware of this as he approached society.

But years of education have long since eroded Xu Qing's sense of lineage and birth.

To paraphrase a later saying, in China, only pets are judged by their pedigree; for everyone else, whose ancestors didn't have a glorious past?

If Xu Qing thought he were Ji Wuye, he might personally organize a Tangxi diving competition, letting the powerful and wealthy of South Korea compete to see who could hold their breath the best.

"Only a weirdo like you wouldn't care about these things~"

The succubus gently poked Xu Qing's forehead with her finger and chuckled. Xu Qing was the strangest person she had ever met; greed, lust, immorality, and rudeness could all be attributed to him.

However, Xu Qing himself did not value power or money much. He was like a Taoist master in a story who came to play in the human world, treating everything as a pastime.

As for his lack of morality and manners, Xu Qing seemed to be dissolute and immoral, but after getting to know him better, it was discovered that this scoundrel was still polite and moral, only his moral standards fluctuated wildly, making him unpredictable.

What Chao Nv Yao found most interesting was Xu Qing's attitude towards people. Whether they were ordinary citizens or powerful officials, Xu Qing treated them all with genuine equality, rather than with contempt stemming from power.

Even when facing King Han An, Ji Wuye would feel fear in the face of royal power, but she had never seen Xu Qing feel fear in the face of royal power.

Xu Qing wanted to explain to the Tide Demoness, but didn't know how to begin, so she changed the subject.
"What's strange about me? Is there something you wanted to talk to me about?"

Seeing that the matter had been brought up, the Tide Demoness looked at Xu Qing's bandaged arm, gave him a resentful look, and said coquettishly.

"How are your hands? You're going to such lengths to balance the books. I could have just moved my hands."

"It's nothing, it'll be fine in a couple of days. I'm a respectable man, I can't always rely on you," Xu Qing said with a smile, gently patting Chao Nuyao's smooth thigh.

Although he didn't mind being a kept man, Xu Qing was still willing to do things himself if he could.

The trendy girl gave Xu Qing a flirtatious glance, then, as if remembering something, said in a coquettish whisper.

You ate it a couple of days ago, didn't you?

After saying that, the trendy woman couldn't help but twist her thigh on Xu Qing's thigh, her plump, upturned buttocks making Xu Qing's heart flutter.

"Madam, please don't be silly. I still have to leave the palace in a little while," Xu Qing said helplessly, tightening his grip on Chao Nu Yao's waist.

He fed this great white shark just two days ago, so why does he want him to sacrifice hundreds of millions of lives again today?

It wasn't that he didn't want to appease the Tide Demoness, but the Crown Prince's residence had just been besieged by Tianze, which presented him with an opportunity to get close to Tianze. He needed to go back and make preparations.

The Tide Demoness gave Xu Qing a mournful look, but remembering what had happened at the Crown Prince's residence, she could only suppress her desire to devour him and said...
"There's something else. My cousin asked me to tell you that you need to be careful these next few days. It's best not to go out, and if you do go out, you must have someone from the Mo family protect you."

"What's wrong? Is someone trying to harm me?" Xu Qing asked, puzzled.

"You must have heard about the attack on the Crown Prince's residence by the Crimson-Eyebrowed Dragon-Snake Tianze in the council hall, right? Tianze was captured alive by my cousin and has been imprisoned in the secret dungeon ever since."

Chao Nuyao briefly recounted the events between Bai Yifei and Tianze, paused, and then continued...

"Ji Wuye released Tianze to take revenge on Han Fei. Tianze has the Huaku Gu planted in his body by his cousin. This mad dog will definitely try to get rid of the control of Huaku Gu in order to get revenge."

“My Imperial Physician, you are a renowned physician in the outside world, known for your miraculous healing skills. Since the King of Ten Thousand Poisons cannot cure the Withering Gu, he will surely come to you.”

After speaking, the Tide Demoness cupped Xu Qing's face in her hands, her long, narrow eyes filled with tenderness. She licked her lips with her delicate tongue and softly said...

"Why don't you stay in the palace for the next couple of days? Firstly, you can keep me company, and secondly, you won't have to worry about Tianze harming you. That mad dog won't show you any mercy."

Xu Qing looked at the seductive shark and thought that if she stayed in the Han Palace, she would probably be drained in less than three days.

He had tried the Chao Nv Yao brand juicer before, not to mention that the palace not only had Chao Nv Yao, but also Hu Meiren. If the two of them joined forces, he would probably be finished.

For the sake of his own life and his future plans, Xu Qing absolutely could not stay in the Han King's Palace, but he also couldn't refuse outright, otherwise this great shark wouldn't let him off easily.

Xu Qing's gaze gradually deepened, and he earnestly grasped the Tide Demoness's small hand, whispering...
“My safety is indeed guaranteed when I’m by your side, but I can’t rely on you for protection forever.”

"If I can't even face this little storm on my own, how can I fulfill the promise I made to you in the future, Shu'er? I need to hone myself and grow. Only in this way can I gain more strength and power, and only in this way can I be worthy of you."

Only then can I stand openly by your side, instead of always having to sneak around like this.

Xu Qing held the Chao Nu Yao's hand, his expression more resolute than ever before, momentarily too immersed in the role.

The trendy girl's beautiful eyes were glazed over for a moment, then she pounced on Xu Qing like a great white shark, not caring about anything else, and opened her mouth to devour Xu Qing.

"Hey~ Stop it~ Stop it~"

"Little man, submit to this lady~"

(End of this chapter)