I am not a seventh-generation descendant of Lord Wu'an from the Qin Dynasty.

"Hmm~?" King Zheng of Qin's heart started pounding again, and he was so angry that he wanted to kick him.

"Can you stop pausing so dramatically when you speak?"

"The Empress Dowager devised a plan. She took advantage of Bai Qi's handsome appearance, had him spend the night at Ganquan Palace, and favored him. Then she pushed him out of the court to confront the powerful minister Lü Buwei."

"Your Majesty can remain behind the scenes, observe the struggle between Bai Qi and Lü Buwei, and then plan to assume personal rule."

"Bai Qi dared not act on his own initiative, but he was determined to resist to the death. However, the Empress Dowager's coercion was too great, so he had no choice but to hang his sword at his neck and devise a desperate solution."

Bai Qi, with his head down, dared not look up at Qin Wangzheng's expression, for it was truly difficult to say what would happen after this matter was done.

"Bai Qi secretly had an affair with a palace maid from Ganquan Palace, and considered himself a favorite of the Empress Dowager."

"If he goes out again, he will lead the eight colonels of Shanglin Garden to attack Han and plunder its territory to increase his prestige."

King Zheng of Qin rubbed the bronze token with the character "ice" in his palm, a sneer playing on his lips.

"Oh, is Bai Qizi trying to become my stepfather? Trying to use the Empress Dowager and my uncle to pressure me?!"

"Bai Qi wouldn't dare!"

"Hmph, I find you, Bai Qizi, quite audacious! What, do you think that just because you've obtained the Wu'an Jun Sword and it has recognized you as its master, I won't be willing to kill you?"

Bai Qi bowed twice and said in a deep voice, "To prove that what Bai Qi said is true, Bai Qi promised the Empress Dowager three things at Ganquan Palace. If I fail to do so, may I be pierced by ten thousand arrows!"

"First, within a week, expel the three regent empress dowagers from the palace in Xianyang to pave the way for Your Majesty to assume personal rule."

"Secondly, within one year, raise 8,000 soldiers for Your Majesty in Xianyang, and return the Tiger Tally to Your Majesty."

"The third task. Within three years, expand Qin's territory by at least three commanderies and expel Lü Buwei!"

These three things, at least on the surface, are indeed progressively more difficult than the last.

King Zheng of Qin pondered for a while and realized that he had indeed underestimated his mother.

But precisely because of this, he also had questions.

"Could his foolish mother from his memories really have come up with such a meticulously planned scheme? And the smell seems familiar... what is it?"

"If any one of these three matters fails, the Empress Dowager will take over the reins and decide on the royal affairs herself!"

King Zheng of Qin frowned deeply, puzzled. "Three years? Exile? Couldn't you just kill that old scoundrel Lü?"

Clearly, in King Zheng of Qin's heart, Lü Buwei is always the first person he hates.

"Because I inherited the 'Lao Ai' model, I'm afraid of becoming a second Lü Buwei!"

Bai Qi smiled wryly and said, "Before answering this question, Your Majesty would be better off reviewing the fates of the powerful ministers of Qin after the reforms of Shang Yang under Duke Xiao of Qin."

"Those who die peacefully are truly few and far between!"

King Zheng of Qin noticed the apprehension in his eyes and said irritably:

"In that case, Mr. Bai should simply do as the Empress Dowager requests. Why bother to come and plead with me again?"

"Sir, Brother Zheng called me 'Sir' now! Even though his tone wasn't very pleasant."

Bai Qi smiled ingratiatingly, tilting his head back and saying, "Bai Qi is Your Majesty's subject, how dare I conceal anything from Your Majesty?!"

King Zheng of Qin sneered, "Ha, what Bai Qizi did was not as nice as he said."

"Hehe, nothing can be hidden from the king."

Bai Qi said with a forced smile, "Actually, there is one more thing that I need to tell Your Majesty."

King Zheng of Qin nodded, indicating that he was listening.

"Bai Qi heard that before the late king passed away, he divided the Black Ice Platform token into four parts, symbolizing the four-part regency."

"The Empress Dowager San Gong commands the three most powerful assassin groups of the Black Ice Guard: Heavenly Slaughter and Earthly Destruction, while Lu Xiangbang commands the intelligence organization Chimei Wangliang, which spans seven kingdoms."

"Heaven-slaying and earth-shattering, demons and monsters alike. In the martial world, they are also known as the Net of Deception!"

"Empress Dowager Zhao Ji has handed over the 'Ice' token as promised. If Your Majesty could borrow the 'Black' token from Empress Dowager Huayang for three days..."

"Bai Qi is 90% confident that he can use the six sword slaves to coerce Empress Dowager Xia Ji into handing over the 'Tai' token."

King Zheng of Qin hesitated and said, "Empress Dowager Xia is power-hungry. Would she really relinquish her regency?"

"If the King goes, she won't," Bai Qi said resolutely. "But if Bai Qi goes, she must hand it over!"

King Zheng of Qin looked at him and suddenly fell silent. Without even asking, he knew that the methods used were certainly not honorable.

"The Empress Dowager's dignified appearance must not be harmed!"

"Oh, as long as there are no injuries on your face." Bai Qi understood and nodded in acknowledgment.

"With the Black Ice Guard's three major assassin groups at its disposal, Empress Dowager Zhao Ji will be the first to head to her separate residence in Yongcheng as agreed."

Upon hearing this, King Zheng of Qin's first thought was, "Could something have really happened between these two last night? Are they trying to avoid me?!"

"Your Majesty and Queen Chu have only been married for a short time. Furthermore, with your ministers promising to attack Han but not Chu, I'm sure Queen Dowager Huayang will understand the harmony between Your Majesty and Queen Chu."

Even so, the expression in Bai Qi's eyes revealed a tacit understanding between them.

"If she's not understanding, then let her be understanding!"

"As for Empress Dowager Xia Ji, she has no power and an assassin is in her presence. I think she will understand Your Majesty's situation."

"So, you're going to resort to force, climb onto the Empress Dowager's bed, and coerce her?!"

King Zheng of Qin remained silent, and Qin could not continue the conversation.

"To prevent the Third Empress Dowager from leaving the palace and causing trouble, Your Majesty should temporarily stay away from the palace gates and feign illness."

"Hiding from visitors and not going to see them off as their grandson seems a bit inappropriate!"

"Bai Qihui spent the night at Ganquan Palace, personally guarding Chang'an Jun Chengjiao, before heading north to Longxi."

"No, what does this have to do with my brother?" King Zheng of Qin finally couldn't hold back anymore.

Bai Qi's elaborate scheme is clearly designed to leave him all alone.

He didn't like his arrogant half-brother, but there was no need to eliminate him completely.

King Zheng of Qin finally realized that something was wrong. His silly and adorable mother could never have come up with these ideas. This was clearly Bai Qizi's doing!

With a knife to the left and a sword to the right, this gesture is clearly a military tactic of "encirclement"!

They have something going on in private!

"In five years, your good younger brother will be pointing his sword at his elder brother, the king. He can't stay in Xianyang!"

Bai Qi was taken aback for a moment, then noticed that Qin Wangzheng's expression was not quite right, so he could only explain in a low voice.

"Chang'an Jun Chengjiao is getting older, and Your Majesty has already married. For the sake of the throne's security, he should leave the palace immediately and go to Longxi. He may not return without Your Majesty's summons."

King Zheng of Qin coughed lightly, covering his mouth, and waved his hand, afraid that Bai Qi would see through the darkness in his heart.

Bai Qi continued.

"After the Qin King's palace was abandoned three times in one day, Lord Chang'an Chengjiao went far away to Longxi. If Your Majesty gives birth to another prince, the Qin King's throne will undoubtedly be secure."

"At that time, I will lead the three major assassin groups to Prime Minister Lü's residence. The day when the Black Ice Guard is perfectly reunited will be the day Your Majesty enters the court to observe the government."

"Observe the government?" King Zheng of Qin frowned deeply. "Why can't he rule personally yet?"

Bai Qi smiled wryly, "That depends on Your Majesty."

"You, the emperor?"

"May I ask Your Majesty, how many prefectures and counties does Qin have? What is the population size? How are the military and civilians distributed? What is the grain yield? What about water conservancy, construction, and even the number of livestock? What are the future national policies...?"

King Zheng of Qin was speechless. Although Lü Buwei never tried to stop him from obtaining the channel, he was only sixteen years old and had only been on the throne for three years.

Of the seven questions posed by Guang Bai, he could only answer one or two clearly.

Honestly, if entrusted with the affairs of the entire Qin state's military and political affairs, King Zheng of Qin truly could not take on the responsibility now.

"Your Majesty, Lü Buwei has served as the Prime Minister of Qin for six years. His influence in the court and among the common people is deeply entrenched. We must proceed cautiously. Qin cannot afford to be thrown into chaos!"

King Zheng of Qin nodded. "Alright!"

Bai Qi quickly grabbed his sleeve as he turned to leave, and said urgently, "Bai Qi has one more thing to tell you."

King Zheng of Qin looked at him with a "when will you ever stop?" expression.

Bai Qi looked troubled and said with a slightly awkward expression, "Last night, the Empress Dowager used her power to coerce Bai Qi, but there was actually another factor."

"The Empress Dowager may be afraid that Bai Qi will become the next powerful minister Lü Buwei, so she wants to first pin a charge on Bai Qi for causing chaos in the palace, so that the King will have a legitimate reason to take action in the future."

"Although Bai Qi would rather die than comply, if the Empress Dowager were to coerce him again in the future, Bai Qi might..."

King Zheng of Qin's expression changed, and he suddenly flung his sleeves and fled as if he were escaping.

He was somewhat convinced that Bai Qi or the Empress Dowager were alright, but he couldn't guarantee that the three of them would be safe in the future.

This put him in a difficult position. His mother was lonely and wanted to find a male concubine, but she ended up targeting his little brother.

The younger brother prefers young girls and clearly doesn't want to get involved with the Empress Dowager, who is two generations older than him, so he makes all sorts of excuses.

However, if the Empress Dowager used drugs to force him, it also carried the implication of clearing obstacles to his royal power.

What can he do?

"Mother, oh Mother, you're really putting Zheng'er in a difficult position!"

"Fine, at worst, Bai Qizi will just have to work a little harder."

Qin King Zheng, who hurried away, did not see the fleeting gleam of secret joy in Bai Qi's eyes as he looked up and watched him leave.

"The matter has been resolved smoothly, and I informed you in advance. If anything unspeakable happens again, it won't be my fault, little brother."

"Sigh, having such an unreasonable Empress Dowager of Qin makes everything so difficult!"