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

Chapter 500, Scarlet Smoke: My Fate is Above Yours
"Why is he here?"

Xu Qing watched the figure step down from the carriage and walk straight into Tianxiang Tower, and murmured in confusion.

Seeing Xu Qing's serious and puzzled expression, Fei Yan also looked at the figure. Looking at the unfamiliar face with the mustache, she asked, somewhat confused.

"Who is that person?"

“Qi, a retainer of Lao Ai and a high-ranking official,” Xu Qing said in a deep voice.

"Ling Qi? Do you suspect he's here to see Ji Dan?"

Fei Yan's eyes flashed with surprise. First Ji Dan, and now Ling Qi. The two of them walked into Tianxiang Tower one after the other. It was hard not to connect Ji Dan and Ling Qi.

"The fact that these two appeared at Tianxiang Tower at the same time makes it hard not to think things through. But what does Ji Dan want with Ling Qi?"

Xu Qing looked thoughtful and spoke slowly.

Ji Dan's greatest wish right now is to leave Qin. The fact that the other party wants to contact Lao Ai through Ling Qi means that they must want to leave Qin through Lao Ai.

However, Xu Qing was more curious about how Ji Dan would persuade Lao Ai to help her.
"Besides wanting to use the power of Marquis Changxin, Lao Ai, to leave Qin, I can't think of any other reason. But isn't this a good thing? After Ji Dan leaves Qin with Lao Ai's help, whether he dies on the way or dies after returning to Yan, no one can blame Qin for it."

Fei Yan turned to Xu Qing and said calmly.

Even if the Yan state lost face and severed diplomatic relations with the Qin state afterward, once Ying Zheng took power and eliminated Lao Ai, he could then conveniently shift the blame onto Lao Ai.

In any case, Lao Ai's status as Marquis of Changxin was enough to bear the blame and give the State of Yan an explanation, allowing it to continue its friendly relations with the State of Qin.

For the Yin-Yang School, who already believed in fate, Ji Dan's initiative to leave Qin through Lao Ai was precisely helping her to befriend Xu Qing. Fei Yan felt that such a coincidence could not be explained by anything other than fate.

"Sister, it seems that the fate between me and Xu Qing cannot be changed by you forcibly taking away the mission."

Feiyan gently tapped her waistband with her fingers on her lower abdomen and sensed the jade silver needle hidden inside. The unique hardness of the needle gave Feiyan a strange sense of pleasure, just like when she broke through the bottleneck of Yin-Yang Technique.

The joy in her heart brought a faint smile to Fei Yan's face.

Unfortunately, Xu Qing was preoccupied with what impact Ji Dan's contact with Lao Ai would have on the Qin state and did not notice Fei Yan's smile.

So much happened today that Xu Qing was unable to sort out the clues and make a definite judgment.

"Looks like I'll have to see Ying Yu tonight," Xu Qing thought to himself.

Ying Yu, under the guise of Yan Ri, had already gained Lao Ai's trust. As Lao Ai's confidant, Ying Yu must have known what had happened between Lao Ai and Zhao Ji, and what Ji Dan was plotting when he contacted Lao Ai.

Fei Yan looked at Xu Qing, who was deep in thought, pursed her lips, and asked in a cool voice.

"Lord Zhaoming, what do you think?"

"It is still uncertain why Ji Dan sought out Lao Ai. Moreover, Ji Dan is a hostage personally chosen by the King. I think we should not take action against him for the time being. If he dies in Xianyang, it will not be good for the King or the Qin state."

Xu Qing snapped out of her reverie, looked at Fei Yan, and shook her head slightly.

Before figuring everything out, it's best to keep Ji Dan alive; who knows, we might be able to use him to do something later.

Seeing that Xu Qing disagreed, Fei Yan naturally couldn't insist any further. She removed her fingers from her belt and nodded.

"You can come find me again once you've thought it through."

"Alright, it's getting late. I have to give a lecture to Gongyang Ru this afternoon, so I need to hurry up and eat something."

As Xu Qing spoke, he picked up his chopsticks and prepared to eat. Fei Yan, who was sitting opposite him, also picked up her chopsticks and ate in an orderly manner.

Meanwhile, at the Tianxiang Tower across the street, Ling Qi also found Ji Dan.

In the simple and elegant room, Ji Dan and Ling Qi faced each other, with some wine and dishes and a small box on the table in front of them.

"Your Highness, what is the meaning of this? You invited me to Tianxiang Restaurant for dinner precisely to deliver a letter from my old friend in Yan. What is the purpose of bringing out these things?"

Ling Qi looked at the box on the table and said with a half-smile.

"Doctor Zhong misunderstands. After Dan learned of your name from Su Menke in Yan, he has long admired you. It's just that we are separated by thousands of miles and cannot meet."

"Now that we've finally met, it's only natural that I should express my gratitude."

With a smile on her face, Ji Dan opened the box as she spoke, revealing the jewelry inside.

Pearls, agates, jade, and other valuable jewels were piled up in the small box, radiating a luxurious aura under the sunlight, which surprised Ling Qi. Although Ling Qi was a retainer of Lao Ai, he was only a Zhongdafu (a high-ranking official), holding the title but not real power. He relied on his meager salary for his daily life and lived very frugally.

Faced with jewelry worth thousands of gold pieces, Ling Qi was naturally shocked. His eyes were fixed on the small box, and in addition to surprise, there was also a hint of greed in his eyes.

Why did he side with Lao Ai? Wasn't it for fame and fortune?

Now that he had enough fame and fortune, Ling Qi was naturally tempted. However, he also understood that Ji Dan would not give him gifts for nothing; she must have something to ask of him.

Ji Dan glanced at Ling Qi, who was swallowing hard, a smug look flashing in her eyes, and continued...
"Dan came to Qin as a hostage, and he didn't bring much with him, and most of it was common stuff, so I don't have anything nice to give you. I can only offer you some common items as a gift, so please don't find them offensive."

No problem, no problem, mundane things are good, mundane things are good.

Although Ling Qi really wanted to accept the gifts directly, he still had to maintain appearances, so he withdrew his gaze, coughed twice, and said...

“Your Highness, you are too kind. Brother Su is an old acquaintance of mine, and you are Brother Su’s lord. We can’t be called close friends, but we can certainly be called friends.”

"Why must friends act like this?"

Paying money makes you a friend, not paying money makes you the crown prince of an enemy state. Ji Dan couldn't help but sneer at Ling Qi's pragmatic attitude. However, Ling Qi's greed was a good thing for him, since he wanted to get in touch with Lao Ai and use Lao Ai's power to return to Yan. Ling Qi would be indispensable in facilitating this.

“It is precisely because we are friends that we should do this. How can one visit someone’s home without bringing a gift? Brother Ling Qi, please accept my token of appreciation. Otherwise, if Su Menke finds out, he will suspect that I am ignorant of etiquette.” Ji Dan pushed the box in front of Ling Qi and said sincerely.

Ling Qi was already blinded by the glittering jewels in the box; his greed was no longer concealed, and he no longer bothered with politeness. He nodded and said...

"Since it is His Highness the Crown Prince's kindness, it would be wrong of me to refuse. You have given me such a valuable gift, so I must return the favor. My family is poor and I have nothing of value to offer."

"However, I still have some influence in Xianyang. If you encounter any difficulties, please feel free to contact me, and I will do my best to help you."

Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Ji Dan's eyes, the smile vanished from his face, replaced by a look of vicissitude, and he said in a somewhat low voice.

"Actually, Dan really did run into some trouble."

Ling Qi closed the box, his expression turning serious, and began to speak.

"Your Highness, please speak freely. We are friends, there is no need for concealment."

"As you know, Dan's trip to Qin as a hostage was at the special request of the King of Qin. I thought that after arriving in Qin, I would not be troubled because of the friendship I had with the King of Qin back in Handan."

"But recently I heard that someone has misinterpreted some of my actions in Yan, falsely accusing me of opposing the alliance between Yan and Qin, and has offered slanderous advice to the King of Qin, saying they want to secretly kill me."

As Ji Dan spoke, a look of grievance appeared on her face, and her eyes reddened. She covered her face with her sleeve and spoke in a trembling voice.

Looking at Ji Dan, who was on the verge of tears, Ling Qi, whether impressed by her acting or moved by the gift she had given him, immediately revealed a look of anger and slammed his hand on the table, saying...

"Such a thing has happened? These treacherous officials are truly incorrigible, daring to frame Your Highness, the Crown Prince of Yan. I think they are the ones who truly want to destroy the friendship between Qin and Yan!"

Ji Dan covered her face and remained silent, only sobbing softly, but her eyes gleamed with a sharp light, and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, revealing a smile.

“Your Highness, please do not be afraid. Although I, Ling Qi, do not hold a high position in Qin, I am still a Grand Master of the Palace and have the power to offer advice. I will soon present my case to the King to clear your name,” Ling Qi said indignantly, as if he were the one who had been framed.

“No, Brother Ling Qi, I’m only telling you this to express my distress, not because I want you to stand up for me. Besides, the person who framed me is very powerful, and I don’t want to implicate you because of this.”

Ji Dan lowered her sleeve and said anxiously.

His purpose was to establish a relationship with Lao Ai through Ling Qi, not to have Ling Qi stand up for him. Moreover, it wasn't that Ji Dan looked down on Ling Qi, but rather that the other party was just a powerless Grand Master of the Palace, and what he said was no different from farting.

"Your Highness, do you underestimate me? My position in Ling Qi may not be high, but I do have some influence. Tell me, who has framed you?"

Ling Qi wasn't stupid; he only said those words to Ji Dan to justify the money he had received.

The person who could petition Ying Zheng to kill Ji Dan, the Crown Prince of Yan, was of a higher status than him. For him to offend such a person for Ji Dan's sake, this box of jewels alone would certainly not be enough; more money would be needed.

"It is General Meng Ao and Xu Qing, who has just been granted the title of Lord Zhaoming," Ji Dan said, enunciating each word clearly.

"It was actually these two!?"

Qi exclaimed in surprise, his voice rising several octaves, and he withdrew his hand from the box.

If it had been said earlier that it was these two people, Meng Ao and Xu Qing, he would never have come to the banquet. These two people are not only untouchable for him, but even his master, Marquis Changxin Lao Ai, could not afford to offend them.

Especially Lord Zhaoming, Xu Qing, terrified Lao Ai to the point that he almost lost his ability to have sex.

(End of this chapter)