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

Chapter 501, Ji Dan's Scheme, the Conspiracy Behind the Axe and Halberd (4000 words, please vote!)

Seeing the fear in Ling Qi's eyes, Ji Dan secretly thought to himself that something was wrong. He had brought up Meng Ao and Xu Qing just to scare Ling Qi and then naturally steer the conversation to Lao Ai, but he did not expect that Ling Qi would be frightened just by hearing the names of these two people.

“It is indeed these two people, which is why I was unwilling to let you stand up for me, for fear of implicating you. Being able to meet you today has already fulfilled my long-cherished wish, and even if I am framed and killed by them in the end, it doesn’t matter.”

Ji Dan looked dejected and sighed deeply.

Ling Qi stared at Ji Dan, who had given up on survival, his eyes darting around. He couldn't believe that Ji Dan's elaborate invitation and expensive gifts were simply out of admiration for him.

However, since the matter involved Meng Ao and Xu Qing, Ling Qi was unwilling to get involved, but he was also unwilling to give up the jewelry worth thousands of gold coins that he had just obtained.

After glancing at the box beside him, Ling Qi decided to continue the conversation to see what Ji Dan's true purpose was.

“Your Highness, there’s no need to be so disheartened. Even though my status is lower than theirs, you value me so much, I will certainly not stand idly by. Even if it costs me my life, I will fight them to the death,” Ling Qi said indignantly.

"No, I don't want you to be implicated because of my affairs. Meng Ao and Xu Qing are favored ministers of the King of Qin. If you oppose them and your family is implicated, wouldn't I be a sinner? We must not fight to the death!" Ji Dan said hurriedly.

Seeing Ji Dan's expression, Qi understood what was going on. He placed his hand back on the box and asked with a puzzled look.

"What do you mean?"

Seeing that the time was ripe, Ji Dan went along with it and revealed his purpose.

"Dan meant no other. If I were to cause trouble in the Qin court, wouldn't that also affect the friendship between Qin and Yan? I thought that if I had the opportunity to leave Qin, I could not only save my life, but also avoid causing unrest in the Qin court because of me."

Ling Qi gave Ji Dan a meaningful look. If he still couldn't figure out Ji Dan's purpose, he hadn't been working in the Qin court for a long time.

The other party sent him gifts hoping to use him to connect with Lao Ai and then leave the Qin state with Lao Ai's help.

"This this."

Ling Qi pretended to be in a difficult position, looking at Ji Dan without speaking for a long time.

“I know this is difficult, but you, Grand Master, are a confidant of Marquis Changxin. If you could put in a good word for me with Marquis Changxin, I would be eternally grateful and would be richly rewarded afterward,” Ji Dan continued.

Ling Qi closed his eyes slightly, a hesitant and conflicted look on his face. He then opened his eyes and looked at Ji Dan, as if he had made a major decision.

“You don’t need to mention anything about generous rewards. Since the Crown Prince of Yan thinks highly of me, I certainly won’t stand idly by while you’re in trouble. It’s just that Marquis Changxin is of such high status that ordinary people can’t even meet him. I’m not sure if he will see you after I mention this matter to him,” Ling Qi said.

"You still want money, don't you?" Ji Dan sneered inwardly, but maintained a warm smile on her face.

"I'll have to trouble you, Grand Master, for this. As long as you can persuade Marquis Changxin to see me, I will certainly not let you waste your time. Besides, before I came to Qin, my father specifically asked me to bring a gift for Marquis Changxin," Ji Dan said with a smile.

"A gift? What gift? May I see it?" Ling Qi asked curiously.

"It's natural."

Ji Dan revealed a confident smile, got up and walked into the house, and soon came out carrying a long box as tall as a person.

Ling Qi stepped down from his seat, walked to Ji Dan's side, and curiously examined the long box.

“I had long heard that Marquis Changxin was ambitious, and I had mentioned his reputation and aspirations to my father. That’s why he specifically asked me to bring this gift, saying that I must personally deliver it to Marquis Changxin.”

As Ji Dan spoke, she opened the long box, and a bright white light burst out, making Qi squint.

When the white light faded, Ling Qi was able to see what was inside the box. His face immediately showed horror, and his legs went weak, almost causing him to kneel on the ground.

Inside the box was an axe, made entirely of white jade and inlaid with gold.

Although axes and halberds were military weapons and instruments of execution for criminals, they also symbolized military power and national rule, were important tools in sacrificial rites, and were symbols of the monarch.

Ji Dan's intention to give the axe made of white jade to Lao Ai speaks volumes.

"Your Highness, please wait a moment."

Ling Qi hurriedly closed the box, propped himself up on his weak legs, and closed all the windows, looking at Ji Dan with a fearful and uneasy expression.

"Your Highness, how could you take out such a thing? If someone sees it, neither of us will escape death," Ling Qi said anxiously.

Forging axes and halberds without the consent of the monarch is no different from treason, and the crime is even greater than hoarding armor.

"You don't need to worry, I've already made arrangements beforehand, and no one else will see it except you and me."

"I wonder if Marquis Changxin will like this gift?"

Ji Dan remained calm, a faint smile on her face, and said with a light laugh.

Ling Qi looked at Ji Dan with complicated emotions, his hands trembling beneath his sleeves. Despite his fear, he understood Ji Dan's meaning.

By sending the jade axe to Lao Ai, Ji Dan meant that he wanted to support Lao Ai to become the King of Qin. Moreover, Ji Dan said that King Xi of Yan had asked him to send it. Doesn't this mean that the State of Yan wanted to support Lao Ai?
As the day of Ying Zheng's coming of age drew closer, Lao Ai and his retainers were preparing for a rebellion. Since they knew they wouldn't be able to escape once Ying Zheng took power, they might as well take the risk. If they succeeded, they would achieve lasting fame; if they lost, they would simply die.

To increase their chances of winning, Lao Ai not only won over some marginalized military merits and nobles in Qin, but also secretly sent people to sign an alliance with the three states of Han, Zhao, and Wei. As long as they launched a rebellion within Qin, the allied forces of the three states would head straight for Hangu Pass, cooperate with them from within and without, and bring about a change in Qin's fortunes.

Although they didn't know how Ji Dan learned about their rebellion, the fact that Ji Dan was willing to support Lao Ai's rebellion was a good thing for them.

The combined forces of Han, Zhao, Wei, and Yan, forming an army comparable to the previous alliance of six states against Qin, would greatly increase their chances of victory.

Immediately, Qi thought of agreeing to Ji Dan's request. If he introduced Ji Dan to Lao Ai, he could not only get more money from Ji Dan, but also gain more appreciation and trust from Lao Ai. Once their plan succeeded, his status would naturally rise, and he might become another Marquis Wenxin, Lü Buwei.

However, the fact that Ji Dan sent such a valuable gift only to return to the Yan Kingdom still made Ling Qi somewhat worried.

"The Marquis of Changxin will surely like this gift, but I don't understand why Your Highness would take such a great risk to send a gift to the Marquis of Changxin, just so that you can return to the Yan Kingdom?" Ling Qi asked.

"I'm not afraid to admit it, but I do have something else I'd like to ask Marquis Changxin for help with."

"Although I am the Crown Prince of Yan, there is a treacherous official in Yan named Yan Chun Jun who has bewitched my father, seized power in the court, and regarded me as a mortal enemy, wanting to kill me."

“Lord Yanchun is my royal uncle. I didn’t want to break ties with him, but he’s been pressing me relentlessly. So I’m thinking of waiting until Lord Changxin succeeds in his great undertaking, so that he can help me deal with Lord Yanchun in the name of Qin.”

Ji Dan sighed softly and spoke slowly.

Upon hearing Ji Dan's purpose, Qi's last worry vanished. Helping Ji Dan deal with Yan Chunjun meant that the Yan state would eventually belong to Ji Dan; helping Lao Ai seize the Qin state in exchange for the future throne of Yan was indeed an equal exchange.

“Your Highness has treated me so kindly, I certainly won’t stand idly by if you are in trouble. Please wait a little while, and when I return, I will mention your matter to Marquis Changxin. I believe Marquis Changxin will definitely be willing to help you,” Ling Qi said with a smile.

"Then it's up to you."

Ji Dan, with a joyful expression, cupped her hands in greeting to Ling Qi.

"Please wait for my news."

Ling Qi helped Ji Dan up, then picked up the box and prepared to leave. He had no appetite for the food and wine anymore; he needed to tell Lao Ai the good news as soon as possible.

After bidding farewell to Ji Dan, Ling Qi quickly left.

As Ji Dan watched Ling Qi's hurried departure, all the gratitude and joy on her face vanished, replaced by a cold smile.

"Fortunately, I had the disciples of the Mo family make replicas of the axe and halberd for me beforehand, otherwise I really wouldn't have been able to impress Lao Ai," Ji Dan said softly, looking at the box in his hand.

This axe was indeed brought by his father, but the bronze axe was meant to be given to Ying Zheng as a congratulatory gift when he came of age. The one he had was a one-to-one replica of that bronze axe.

Seeing that her plan was going so smoothly, Ji Dan's mood improved considerably. Thinking of Xiong Qi's words that he should wait for the right opportunity, a disdainful smile appeared on her face.

Human effort is key; you can't rely on anyone but yourself.

If we were to rely on Xiong Qi, he wouldn't necessarily have to wait any longer. By relying on himself, he not only gained the opportunity to leave Qin, but could even exacerbate the internal strife within Qin.

If Lao Ai succeeds, the Qin state will surely be crippled and will never be able to expand eastward again. In this way, the Yan state will have enough time to recuperate, and he will have enough time to eliminate Lord Yanchun, lead the Yan state to become strong, and contend for hegemony.

If Lao Ai had not succeeded, the Qin state would have suffered a severe blow and would have been unable to expand eastward for a short period of time, which would have bought him time to grow.

Either outcome would be excellent for him.

In high spirits, Ji Dan picked up the wine cup on the table, drank the wine in it in one gulp, sat down, and looked in the direction of Zhangtai Palace.

"So what if you become the King of Qin? So what if you have many wise ministers like Xu Qing and Meng Ao by your side? Your mother is having an affair with a lowly eunuch, and now she wants to join forces with the three Jin states to rebel and usurp the foundation that your Ying family has built over hundreds of years."

"Hahaha, how utterly ridiculous! I really want to see with my own eyes the scene of Lao Ai leading his troops to defeat you, capture you alive, and execute you."

Ji Dan revealed a sinister smile and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Thinking of how Ying Zheng, relying on his power, casually decided his fate with a single word, only to have it usurped by a lowly fool like Lao Ai. Thinking of how Ying Zheng, who prided himself on his ambition and exceptional talent, ultimately lost to Lao Ai.

Thinking about this, Ji Dan found it laughable, and all the humiliation she had suffered vanished.

After laughing, Ji Dan calmed down and realized that he had only completed the first step of the plan. The rest required careful planning.

"I can't be too complacent. I must help Lao Ai succeed. I'll contact the people of Yan later and have them prepare to send troops," Ji Dan thought to himself.

After Ling Qi left Tianxiang Tower, Xu Qing and Fei Yan also left Wanfu Tower and headed towards Zhangtai Palace together.

After arriving at the Doctor's Palace, Fei Yan returned to the palace assigned to her by Ying Zheng, while Xu Qing went to give a lecture to Gongyang Ru and check on the progress of his book writing.

The sun gradually set in the west, and half a day passed in the blink of an eye.

Just as the palace gates were about to close, Xu Qing managed to break free from the Gongyang Confucian disciples who refused to let him leave. After leaving Zhangtai Palace, Xu Qing did not rush home, but waited until dark before heading to Shanglin Garden to wait for Ying Yu under the cover of night.

Xu Qing stood under the shade of the tree, glancing at the sky every now and then, until the moon rose above the treetops, when Ying Yu, holding the Sun-Covering Sword, finally appeared.

Why did you suddenly contact me?

Ying Yu, dressed in Qin army armor, emerged from the shadows and looked at Xu Qing, asking a question.

"I came to you to confirm two pieces of information."

Xu Qing also came out from under the shade of the tree, glanced at Ying Yu, and said with a serious expression.

"what news?"

"The first piece of information is: what happened between Lao Ai and Empress Dowager Zhao Ji? Or is there something wrong with Lao Ai's health?"

"The second piece of news is: Did Ling Qi, a retainer of Lao Ai, meet with Prince Ji Dan of Yan at Tianxiang Tower today? Was their meeting orchestrated by Lao Ai?"

Upon hearing Xu Qing's question, a look of surprise flashed across Ying Yu's face beneath the mask, and he asked unexpectedly.

How did you find out about this?

Putting aside Lao Ai's health problems, he only learned about Ling Qi's meeting with Prince Ji Dan of Yan tonight when he saw Ling Qi secretly meeting with Ji Dan and Lao Ai.

Xu Qing had barely met the two of them before asking him to confirm the information, which made Ying Yu feel a sense of unease. He suspected that Xu Qing had planted more than just him by Lao Ai's side.

"It seems I guessed right. Can you tell me the specifics?" Xu Qing asked in a deep voice.

Ying Yu gave Xu Qing a deep look, pondered for a moment, and then spoke.

"Lao Ai's health did indeed suffer. He had secretly sent people to search for doctors and various prescriptions for treating male impotence in the Qin state and the six states east of the mountains. However, despite searching for famous doctors all over the country, nothing changed."

"That is why he has been staying at the Marquis of Changxin's residence recently and rarely goes to the palace."

“Before each visit to the palace, I would be asked to fetch incense sent from Korea.”

Upon hearing Ying Yu's explanation, Xu Qing looked surprised. Lao Ai was indeed impotent. No wonder Zhao Ji suddenly had designs on him.

As for the incense sent from South Korea, he knew without guessing that it must have been made by the Chao Nv Yao.

"Why is Lao Ai like this? Did someone do something?" Xu Qing asked curiously.

Xu Qing was curious about the reason why Lao Ai suddenly became impotent.

(End of this chapter)