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

Chapter 333, Close the Window (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Another interview? Xu Qing wondered to herself.

Xu Qing also understood that although Ji Wuye was there to take the blame for him, being wanted by South Korea was still a stain on his reputation, and it would eventually raise some doubts about his personal conduct.

Therefore, Zhao Ji's question must be answered thoroughly.

"The Attendant-in-Ordinary is to serve the King at his side and to advise him. The person employed should be one who possesses both talent and virtue."

"However, I have heard a saying: 'The ruler is the source, and the minister is the stream. If the source is clear, the stream will be clear; if the source is muddy, the stream will be muddy. Your Majesty is a man of great talent and ambition. Although I am of limited talent and learning, if the source is clear or muddy, the tributaries will surely be clear and transparent.'"

"The stream originates from the source, and we should always remember the gratitude we owe to the source for its creation."

Hearing Xu Qing's answer, Zhao Ji's smile deepened, and she looked at Ying Zheng and said with a smile...

"Zheng'er, you have found a great talent. Congratulations, Your Majesty."

Seeing that Xu Qing had successfully passed Zhao Ji's interview, Ying Zheng smiled. Over the years, Zhao Ji had become increasingly distant from him and had even moved to Yongcheng. Now, she was still able to care about the people he employed.

This rare act of concern brought some comfort to Ying Zheng.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, I will certainly not let your talent go to waste," Ying Zheng nodded and said.

Seeing Ying Zheng's delight, a complex look flashed in Zhao Ji's eyes, but it quickly disappeared, and she chuckled softly.

"I was very worried about you leaving the palace without permission this time. Come and tell me what happened this time."

Ying Zheng was still basking in the joy of Zhao Ji's rare maternal love and didn't notice the change in her eyes. He said with some guilt...
"It was my fault; I should have informed the Empress Dowager first."

Seeing that Ying Zheng and Zhao Ji wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk, Xu Qing and Gai Nie bowed and took their leave, waiting outside.

After leaving the palace, Xu Qing and Gai Nie stood under the eaves of a nearby building, silently gazing at the beautiful pond before them.

Xu Qing glanced around and, finding no one else, broke the silence and said...

"It seems that the relationship between the King and the Queen Mother is not very good."

Upon hearing this, Gai Nie glanced at Xu Qing. According to the palace rules of Xianyang Palace, discussing the relationship between the Empress Dowager and the King and his son was a serious offense, punishable at the very least by caning and expulsion from the palace.

However, since no one was around and considering that Xu Qing was new to Qin, Gai Nie asked in a low voice.
"Brother Xu, please be careful with your words. This is a serious offense of disrespect, and if others find out, it may become a pretext for us to use against you."

"I'm just curious. The King and the Empress Dowager have gone through thick and thin together, and they should be sharing wealth and honor. Logically, things shouldn't have come to this point." Xu Qing ignored Gai Nie's warning and continued to ask in a low voice.

Although Zhao Ji showed great concern for Ying Zheng, if a mother truly cared about her son, the first thing she should ask him upon meeting him was what he had experienced outside, rather than inquiring about his affairs.

If the original historical trajectory had been followed, the reasons for the estrangement between Zhao Ji and Ying Zheng would have been complex, but the root cause and the breaking point would have been Lao Ai's rebellion.

But this world is not the Qin Dynasty in history, so Xu Qing had to ask Gai Nie about it in order to avoid getting into trouble without knowing the details.

Gai Nie glanced at Xu Qing, hesitated for a moment, and then said in a low voice.

"Actually, I don't understand either. I entered Qin two years ago. At that time, the Empress Dowager and the King had already developed a rift, and she even went to the Yong Palace with her entourage."

"At that time, the king was forced to postpone his coming-of-age ceremony, and from then on, Marquis Wenxin, Lü Buwei, rarely entered the palace."

Although Gai Nie didn't say it explicitly, Xu Qing understood the implication: ultimately, it was Zhao Ji and Lü Buwei's unwillingness to relinquish power, coupled with Lao Ai's entry into the palace, that led to the current situation.

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Gai Nie," Xu Qing nodded slightly in gratitude.

"Brother Xu, you must be careful in the palace from now on, lest you give them any leverage," Gai Nie said.

Xu Qing nodded slightly and said no more. The Xianyang Palace was now filled with Lao Ai, Zhao Ji, and Lü Buwei's people. Xu Qing was not worried about the latter, but he was only worried about Lao Ai.

Lü Buwei was willing to kill Lao Ai to protect the interests of the Qin state, but that was another matter.

This man from the Great Yin Kingdom had no interest in the Qin state; all he cared about was his own power.

Time passed quickly, and in less than half an hour, Ying Zheng emerged from Zhao Ji's bedchamber.

Xu Qing and Gai Nie looked at Ying Zheng with a smile on his face, but didn't say anything, and silently followed Ying Zheng away.

Although the two men realized that Zhao Ji's maternal love was likely feigned, neither of them dared to expose the truth. After all, they weren't fools; without solid evidence, saying such things would be tantamount to sowing discord between mother and child, and that would be courting death.

Watching Ying Zheng's departing figure, Zhao Ji's smile vanished, and her eyes became exceptionally complex.

"Zheng'er, what should your mother do?" Zhao Ji sighed softly.

Now that Ying Zheng's coming-of-age ceremony is drawing ever closer, she can't help but feel worried and nervous. If Ying Zheng were still the same helpless man he once was, she could still maintain her current life by stalling for time.

But now Ying Zheng is no longer a newborn tiger calf; he has grown claws and fangs.

Zhao Ji wasn't worried about power; her only concern was her two sons with Lao Ai in the Yong Palace. After leaving Zhao Ji's bedchamber, since it was getting late, Ying Zheng didn't keep Xu Qing company any longer and had someone take Xu Qing to his residence outside the palace.

In Xianyang, in the courtyard of Xu Qingzhan's residence.

Although Ying Zheng said it was a temporary residence for Xu Qing, and it was somewhat shabby, it couldn't really be shabby. Apart from being a little small, there was nothing wrong with it.

The carved beams and painted rafters, the humble dwellings and pavilions, all are decorated with wealth and grandeur. The doors, windows, tables, chairs, desks and screens are all made of precious materials and are exquisitely crafted.

In the courtyard, there is also a pond and a terrace. The terrace is covered with greenery on both sides, with bonsai trees and several bamboo water dispensers used for timing.

Xu Qing sat by the window, looking at the moonlight reflected in the pond in the courtyard. His expression was somewhat heavy, and he gently tapped the table with his right hand.

"What's wrong? The King of Qin has bestowed such a reward upon you today, and Lü Buwei has even raised your rank by several levels. Aren't you happy?" Yan Lingji's gentle voice rang out.

Xu Qing turned around and saw that Yan Lingji had already changed into a plain white nightgown, but the robe looked familiar and seemed to be his.

A thin, plain robe wrapped around her curvaceous figure, her jet-black hair tied back in a ponytail, and the loose robe could not conceal her full-figured body.

Her beautiful face was free of makeup, her complexion fair and smooth. Compared to her previous pretty and lively appearance, Yan Lingji now had a more charming air about her, which he had painstakingly cultivated.

Her icy blue eyes seemed to flow like water, and her long eyelashes fluttered slightly, as if a thousand tender feelings were brewing within them.

With a piece of white pastry between her rosy lips, she walked briskly to Xu Qing's side and hugged her from behind.

Xu Qing leaned back gently, and two heavy balls of fluff appeared on her head. She sighed softly and said...

"This is not a good thing. Lü Buwei must have his own purpose in doing this. Moreover, the position of Grand Chancellor is not easy to hold. If I make even the slightest mistake, someone may seize on it."

"Didn't you say that no one in Qin would dare to kill you? And I noticed that Lü Buwei is very enthusiastic towards you; perhaps this is just a bargaining chip to win you over?"

Yan Lingji said, lightly biting the pastry in her mouth. White pastry crumbs remained on her rosy lips, only to be licked away by her fragrant tongue.

"But I don't want to be just a mascot. Ultimately, one's destiny must be in one's own hands. Entrusting one's life to others might mean not even knowing how one dies in the end," Xu Qing said with a sigh.

After much deliberation, Xu Qing finally came up with a plausible reason for Lü Buwei's offer of the position of Grand Master of Works.

That is, Lü Buwei wanted him to be a mascot to maintain the relationship between the Qin state and the medical family.

As the Grand Master of Ceremonies, he will inevitably become the center of Xianyang, and his every move will be watched by everyone. If he makes even the slightest mistake, it will be magnified infinitely.

The Qin state was not like the Han state; Qin law could truly be deadly.

By taking a step back, it seems like they value him, but in reality, they've placed him in a precarious position, keeping him under everyone's watchful eye and preventing him from making any moves.

"Yes, yes, Mr. Xu, please don't lecture me here~ I'm not your student."

Yan Lingji swallowed the pastry in her mouth, turned around and sat down next to Xu Qing. Her full, round buttocks pressed against her robe, pulling the white dress tight and outlining the perfect curve of her hips and waist.

With one hand resting on the table, Yan Lingji placed the other on Xu Qing's shoulder, twirling Xu Qing's hair between her fingers. She leaned slightly forward, her plain clothes billowing in an exaggerated arc from her rounded breasts.
Her icy blue eyes were as gentle as spring water, and her pretty face was slightly flushed, making her even more charming and captivating.

Looking at Yan Lingji, who was dressed without a bra, Xu Qing reached out and put his arm around her slender waist. Even through the thin white clothes, he could feel her smooth and fair skin.

“A teacher is one who imparts knowledge, instructs in skills, and resolves doubts. I see that you are a little slow to grasp things, so I will give you some extra help tonight.”

After Xu Qing finished speaking, he leaned forward slightly, pressing Yan Lingji halfway down onto the table, and gently bit Yan Lingji's rosy lips, taking away the pastry crumbs from the corner of her mouth.

"The first lesson will be to impart the Dao to you. The Dao is divided into Yin and Yang, with men being Yang and women being Yin. Today, I will impart the Dao that is suitable for you," Xu Qing said with a wicked smile.

"Disgusting! You call yourself a disciple of Taoism? If your teacher found out, he'd probably expel you from the sect!"

Yan Lingji blushed and tilted her head slightly, not daring to look at Xu Qing. She really didn't expect Xu Qing to say such embarrassing things.

"How can the affairs of scholars be called vulgar?"

Xu Qing chuckled as he placed Yan Lingji completely on the table. Her plain clothes draped over her thighs, revealing her shapely and slender legs.

Her delicate little feet were slightly raised, her rosy toes curled up, and her fair soles were tightly wrinkled. Because of shyness, Yan Lingji's fair skin, as white as snow, was flushed with a rich red, adding a touch of mature charm.

"Close the window."

Yan Lingji closed her eyes slightly, her shy voice fading as she reached out to hook the wooden stick by the window.

As her small hand grasped the wooden stick, Yan Lingji suddenly opened her slightly closed eyes, let out a soft hum, glared at Xu Qing with her icy blue eyes, and then gripped the wooden stick tightly in her hand.

"You stinky man!"

The window suddenly slammed shut, blocking out the beautiful moonlight outside, but Xu Qing saw an even more beautiful view.

(End of this chapter)