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

Chapter 442, Provocation and Scapegoats
Time passed, and a night went by.

The envoys from various countries and the leaders of various schools on Mount Taiyi departed one after another, and Xiong Qi also came to Xu Qing's residence to say goodbye.

"By imperial decree, Grand Master Xu Qingwen, respectful and honest, sincerely serves the country and hereby orders Grand Master Xu to postpone his return to Xianyang to continue praying for the Empress Dowager and the King."

As Xiong Qi entered the courtyard, he saw the eunuch who had come to deliver the King of Qin's edict.

"Your subject Xu Qing accepts the imperial edict." Xu Qing accepted the edict without any change in expression, then casually closed it and handed it to the guard beside him.

"Grand Master, please don't have too many thoughts. Imperial Physician Xia has already examined the Empress Dowager's pulse, and I believe she will recover soon. At that time, you will be able to return to Xianyang with unparalleled glory." The eunuch delivering the imperial edict bowed and said obsequiously to Xu Qing.

"Please convey to Your Majesty and the Queen Mother that I will definitely pray for the Queen Mother at Mount Taiyi until she recovers."

Xu Qing glanced at the eunuch indifferently and said calmly.

"Yes, yes, yes, this servant will certainly convey the message to His Majesty." The eunuch breathed a sigh of relief and nodded repeatedly while maintaining a smile.

If it weren't for the unavoidable situation, the eunuch would never have wanted to come to Mount Taiyi to deliver the imperial edict to Xu Qing. After all, the man before him was someone who dared to draw his sword and confront Marquis Changxin, Lao Ai, in front of the King, the Empress Dowager, and all the civil and military officials at Zhangtai Palace.

If he were to feel displeased with the contents of the edict and angrily rebuke Marquis Changxin for saying something offensive, he truly wouldn't know how to respond to the king or anyone else upon returning.

"You must be tired from your journey, envoy. Although Mount Taiyi is not as grand as the royal palace, it is quiet and peaceful. Why don't you rest for a day before you go?" Xu Qing said with a light smile.

"No, no, no, Your Excellency is too kind. Xianyang is only a little over half a day's journey from Mount Taiyi, or less if you hurry. We need to return to Xianyang as soon as possible to report to His Majesty," the eunuch hurriedly said.

This edict appears to be an official decree, but it is actually a power struggle between Xu Qing and Lao Ai. If he dares to stay, Xu Qing might think he is Lao Ai's man and is deliberately staying to monitor Xu Qing.

He couldn't afford to offend Lao Ai, but he also couldn't afford to offend Xu Qing. The best solution was to return to Xianyang as soon as possible.

"Is this appropriate?" Xu Qing asked, somewhat embarrassed.

“Perfect, absolutely perfect. I am paid by the king, and I must serve him faithfully. How can I use serving the king as an excuse to be lazy?” the eunuch hurriedly explained.

Seeing the anxious eunuch, Xu Qing decided not to test him any further. Since the other party did not intend to stay, he could rule out that the other party was someone sent by Lao Ai to monitor him.

"Envoy, please be careful on your journey and take precautions."

"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Lord Ryōjō."

The eunuch bowed to Xu Qing, then led his men away from the courtyard. When he saw Xiong Qi at the gate, he also bowed respectfully, said a few words, and then went down the mountain without looking back.

After the eunuch and his men left, Xu Qing looked at Xiong Qi, who was walking towards him.

"Right Chancellor, what brings you here?" Xu Qing asked knowingly.

"The covenant between heaven and man has ended, and now it is time for me to leave with my people. I have come here specifically to say goodbye to you, Grand Master, before I depart."

As Xiong Qi spoke, he glanced at the people around him, his eyes somewhat inscrutable.

Seeing this, Xu Qing waved his hand, and the guards in the courtyard all left, leaving only Xu Qing and Xiong Qi in the courtyard.

“Right Chancellor, there’s no one else here. Please speak your mind,” Xu Qing said.

"I wonder if the Grand Chancellor has found a solution to the matter I discussed with you before? Before coming to Mount Taiyi, His Majesty specifically instructed me to inquire about your solution. Now that I am leaving, I need to provide an answer to His Majesty."

Xiong Qi looked anxious, as if he was very worried about Ying Zheng's situation.

"The Right Chancellor need not worry about this matter. I have already sent Wang Ben back to Xianyang with the secret letter. I believe His Majesty has already received the letter. As for the matter of Lao Ai and the Marquis of Guannei, there is also a solution." Xu Qing said with a peaceful smile.

He dared not let Xiong Qi know his plans; no one could guarantee that this traitor wouldn't interfere.

While weakening the Qin state, he could also preserve the three states of Han, Wei, and Chu. Xu Qing believed that the other side would most likely risk disrupting his plan.

Seeing that Xu Qing was wary of him, Xiong Qi couldn't help but become suspicious. He wondered if Xu Qing knew something, which was why he was so wary of him. Otherwise, given his status as Ying Zheng's brother-in-law and the Right Chancellor, he shouldn't be treating him like this.

Despite his inner worries, Xiong Qi outwardly feigned a slight anger at being distrusted.

Xiong Qi's expression was solemn with a hint of gloom. After giving Xu Qing a deep look, he said in a slightly cold voice.
"Since the Grand Chancellor has already sent someone to reply to Your Majesty, I naturally will not ask any further questions."

After inwardly praising Xiong Qi's acting skills, Xu Qing maintained her smile, took a step forward, and whispered mysteriously.

"Right Chancellor, please do not worry. This matter is of great importance. Apart from the King and me, no one else should know about it until it is accomplished."

"Furthermore, I have other matters I would like to ask for your assistance with. I really don't know who else to entrust this task to besides you."

Upon hearing Xu Qing's words, Xiong Qi's expression softened, and a subtle, unnoticed glint flashed in his eyes before he spoke.

"It's all for the sake of Qin and Your Majesty, so I naturally have no doubts about the Grand Chancellor. But I wonder if there's anything you need my help with? If it's within my capabilities, I will certainly do my best to assist you."

Xu Qing smiled without saying a word, clapped his hands under Xiong Qi's puzzled gaze, and then a noisy sound rang out outside the courtyard.

Xiong Qi looked at the courtyard gate with a puzzled expression, only to see dozens of people dressed in different clothes walking towards him. After recognizing the people's identities, Xiong Qi's face showed a look of surprise.

"The thing I need your help with is taking these leaders of the Hundred Schools to Xianyang. I have already persuaded the seniors that they are willing to go and see the situation in Qin, so that they can decide whether they are willing to serve Qin."

Xu Qing smiled and bowed to the members of the Hundred Families.

Xiong Qi looked at the dozens of people in front of him, and his hands under his black sleeves clenched involuntarily. Among them were the old master Lu, a physician; Gongyang Di, the head of the Gongyang School of Confucianism; Gongsun Long, the head of the School of Names; a geomancer; and an astronomer.
These people were all renowned figures among scholars. Even though most of their sects had declined, their talents were genuine and undiminished.

“Prime Minister, before I came to Mount Taiyi, the King and the Queen Mother ordered me to find a way to select talents for the Qin state. After talking with the seniors, I found that we got along very well, so they all agreed to go to Xianyang to take a look.”

"His Majesty has decreed that I must continue praying at Mount Taiyi, so I am unable to lead the sect leaders to Xianyang. For the safety of the sect leaders, I can only ask that you lead them to Xianyang."

"I know this matter is quite troublesome, but you are the only person I can trust. I hope you can lead everyone safely to Xianyang."

Xu Qing smiled at Xiong Qi, a hint of smugness in his expression. He winked at Xiong Qi, as if to say, "Am I being nice to you? I gave you such a great and trouble-free opportunity, aren't you going to thank me?" Xiong Qi looked at the winking Xu Qing, took a deep breath, and for some reason felt that he had been provoked. He felt like punching Xu Qing.

He couldn't imagine how much power these people would bring to Qin after they entered the country.

He painstakingly devised various methods to weaken the Qin state in order to preserve the other six states and thus buy time for the Chu state.

But upon closer inspection, it became clear that Qin was not weakened at all; its national strength was actually increasing at an incredible rate.

"You're too modest, Da Liangzao. This is no trouble at all; you're clearly giving me credit. I thank you very much." No matter how helpless and powerless Xiong Qi felt, he smiled sincerely and thanked Xu Qing.

"What are you saying?"

Xu Qing then looked at Gongyangdi and the others, and said...

"Gentlemen, the person beside me is the Right Chancellor of my Great Qin, and also a relative of the King of Qin. I have other matters to attend to, so it is inconvenient for me to lead you all to Xianyang. I can only have the Right Chancellor lead you to Xianyang."

"I have already sent someone with a letter to Xianyang to report the situation to the King, so you need not worry."

Gongyang Di and the others looked at Xiong Qi. Seeing this young man who was not yet thirty years old and was already the Right Chancellor of Qin, they couldn't help but think more highly of Xiong Qi.

"Then we'll have to trouble the Right Chancellor," Gongyang Di and the others said to Xiong Qi.

"How dare I? You are all renowned for your talent and virtue. It is my greatest honor to lead you to Xianyang."

Xiong Qi politely bowed, but his heart was filled with helplessness.

Seeing that the last matter had been settled, Xu Qing introduced Gongyangdi and the others to Xiong Qi, gave them a few more instructions, and then let Xiong Qi and the others leave.

Before long, the once lively courtyard became quiet again, and Yan Lingji came out of the house.

"Didn't you not trust Xiong Qi? Why did you let him lead the Hundred Schools of Thought into Qin? Aren't you afraid that Xiong Qi might send people to do something halfway through?"

Yan Lingji leaned against a pillar under the eaves, blinking at Xu Qing as she asked in a charming and languid voice.

“It is precisely because we do not trust him that we must let him lead people into Qin. Although Xiong Qi’s heart is not in Qin, his ability is beyond doubt. Even if Lao Ai learns of the Hundred Schools’ entry into Qin and sends people to stop them, Xiong Qi is more than capable of handling it.” Xu Qing turned to look at Yan Lingji and stretched as he spoke.

Xiong Qi wasn't stupid. The other party had been lurking in Qin for so many years, they certainly wouldn't be exposed because of this.

Moreover, Gongyang Di and the others are all prominent figures among the Hundred Schools of Thought. If Xiong Qi dared to attack them, he would become the common enemy of the Hundred Schools of Thought. Therefore, Xu Qing was not afraid at all.

"Besides, I just want to provoke him. After all, Ji Wuye can't handle the situation in Nanyang alone."

Xu Qing narrowed his eyes and said with a forced smile.

Seeing Xu Qing's expression, Yan Lingji knew that he was plotting against her again, so she rolled her eyes at him speechlessly and walked briskly to Xu Qing's side.

"When are we leaving Mount Taiyi? Or are you going to say goodbye to Zi Nu, Hu Meiren, Yan Ling Ji, Dong Jun and Yue Shen of the Yin Yang School, and that person from the Farmer School before leaving? It seems like even ten days or half a month wouldn't be enough for you."

Yan Lingji stretched out her delicate little hand, one finger at a time, counting how many people Xu Qing would have to meet. She looked at Xu Qing with curious eyes and said softly.

"Stop fooling around~ After Xiong Qi and the envoy leave, we'll set off for Xinzheng this afternoon."

Xu Qing's forehead was covered in black lines. After vigorously rubbing Yan Lingji's head, he still seemed unsatisfied. So he cupped Yan Lingji's small face in his hands and squeezed it into a fleshy bun.

He's been so busy with various things lately that he's forgotten about the little vixen, Yan Lingji.

Once he arrives in Nanyang, he really needs to teach Yan Lingji a lesson, otherwise this little vixen will keep teasing him.

Is Xu Qing really the kind of person who likes to philander? He just wanted to give those girls with tragic backgrounds in this chaotic world a home. What did he do wrong?

"Hmph~ You're only this tough in front of me. If you're so capable, go find that Purple Maiden sister and tell her what you've been up to lately."

Yan Lingji snorted, crossed her arms over her chest, her breasts bulging, and although Xu Qing was holding her face, her gaze still showed no sign of yielding.

If we're talking about who on Mount Taiyi can best tame this stinky man Xu Qing, Yan Lingji thinks it's only Zi Nu. After all, Zi Nu's dignified and elegant demeanor is very convincing.

"Why would I want to see her? Don't you know how tough I am? How about we postpone our trip to Nanyang for a day and get a good night's rest tonight?"

Seeing that Yan Lingji was jealous, Xu Qing let go of her hand and whispered something in her ear.

Zi Nu and Nong Yu left yesterday with the Korean delegation, so even if Yan Ling Ji wanted to find Zi Nu, she couldn't.

"Pah, you stinky man! I've packed everything for you."

Yan Lingji sniffed with her pert little nose, rolled her eyes at Xu Qing, and huffed.

Seeing Yan Lingji like this, Xu Qing just smiled helplessly. In the end, although Yan Lingji liked to throw a little tantrum, it never interfered with things. And this little tantrum was more like a little fun in life.

"Okay, I'll go tell the sect leader first, and then we'll set off for Nanyang this afternoon."

"Go ahead, I'll be waiting for you to come back."

Yan Lingji nodded and said that she couldn't wait to return to South Korea.

After leaving the courtyard, Xu Qing headed towards Chisongzi's residence. He was going to Nanyang secretly this time and could not let any word of it leak out. He needed Chisongzi's cooperation to put on a good show.

Just as the envoys from the Hundred Schools and the Seven Kingdoms were leaving Mount Taiyi, Chisongzi announced that Xu Qing would be going into seclusion again. However, since the covenant between heaven and man had ended, no one paid much attention to it.

At the same time, Xu Qing also led Yan Lingji down the mountain via a small path in Taiyi Mountain. The two disguised themselves and headed towards Nanyang.

(End of this chapter)