She Holds the World After Being Reborn-Chapter 598 - 597: Mind Your Words, Only I Have the Antidote
Reminded by Yan Li’an,
the King of Zhao only then recalled that this Mei Ji was indeed a beauty found by his men in a small remote mountain village six years ago.
Upon closer reflection now, there indeed seemed to be a deliberate element to it.
"The night is deep, King of Zhao should rest early," Yan Li’an’s gaze deepened, "Indecision leads to chaos. I trust King of Zhao is certainly not someone who would become lost in the indulgence of female company."
He was always outspoken, yet he managed to cater precisely to the King of Zhao’s taste.
He liked those who spoke arrogantly, like they’re above everyone else, and moreover, those who seemed to look down on people through their nostrils.
Watching Yan Li’an close the door of the room, the King of Zhao clicked his tongue twice under the moonlight.
"Why must it be a man..." Such a face, truly a waste.
Yan Li’an closed the door and went straight to bed to sleep.
He wasn’t concerned that the King of Zhao would disagree.
Dawei and Chu Kingdom were both heavy with troops, naturally adopting the totalitarian systems of a powerful nation. It would undoubtedly be more stable for the common people if Zhao and Song became vassal states, but for the nobles, it would spell deep trouble.
Firstly, their expenditures would be greatly reduced; secondly, they would be controlled at every turn.
After all, both the King of Zhao and the King of Song were rulers of their nations, possessing regal pride.
They certainly wouldn’t be willing to beg for their livelihoods, hands outstretched to others, and have others dictate their every move.
Therefore, at this moment, the one country, two systems proposal put forth by the Qin State left Zhao and Song simply without grounds to refuse.
To enjoy the protection of a powerful country and still rule autonomously.
What a perfectly good solution!
Who was the genius that came up with this?
Oh, it was him.
Contented, Yan Li’an slept well throughout the night.
Dreamless.
Upon waking up, Yan Li’an heard from the Palace Maids who were cleaning the yard that the Mei Ji from last night was a Chu Kingdom spy and had already been executed by the King of Zhao.
After six years, a Mei Ji could be killed just like that; those in the Imperial Family indeed carried cold and callous blood in their veins.
Everything went smoothly for the Yan Family’s eldest brother, while the investigation into the Official Silver theft in the Qin State was still ongoing with great intensity.
Qin Zhen, using the people from the Guixiao Building, infiltrated the homes of the officials in the Imperial Court, began secretly searching for clues about the Official Silver, and successfully detained a portion of the implicated officials.
Qin Zhen was ordered to interrogate this group of officials, and right when he compiled a substantial list of charges against the Idle King and others, Aman brought news.
Half a tea time earlier,
Qin Wu had summoned the Idle King to the palace.
"The Official Silver in the treasury has all been replaced with silver-plated copper!" Qin Zhen couldn’t believe his own ears, "Has the Idle King gone mad?!"
Who gave that fat pig the audacity!
"Her Majesty specifically visited the treasury today and accidentally bumped into it upon leaving, that’s when she discovered the trickery," Aman clarified the details of the incident.
Which means the entire treasury’s Silver was emptied by these people!
No wonder Qin Wu was furious to the brink of insanity.
"Enter the palace, now!" Without another word, Qin Zhen dropped the dagger in his hand and rubbed his bloodstained palms clean in the water, dried them with a cloth, and followed Aman into the palace.
Before reaching the hall, he could already hear violent quarreling from inside.
"...You are a Prince of the Qin State, how could you commit such an atrocious act! Where do you place the lives of those commoners?!" Qin Wu pointed at the Idle King’s nose and cursed vehemently, no longer bothering to feign sibling affection.
The entire treasury was so depleted that not a single copper coin was left for her.
Such a brother, she, Qin Wu, couldn’t afford to keep!
The Idle King’s neck turned red with anger from the scolding, "What has this Prince done?! Your Majesty, execution should at least be justified. If you don’t make things clear, how would I understand! Don’t just slap such a big charge like disregarding the dawn and the lives of commoners on me!"
"Fine!" Qin Wu’s eyes reddened, "I shall let you die understanding clearly whether you tampered with the Silver in the treasury!"
"Evidence is needed when making accusations. Your Majesty should not throw every dirty accusation at this Prince’s head. You should be aware that you only have this Prince as a brother left now."
He couldn’t believe Qin Wu would dare have him killed as well.
If she killed him, her position as Empress would reach its end.
Everyone in the world would spread that she was a woman with a venomous heart, who then would be willing to serve her with undying loyalty?
The Idle King’s arrogance became particularly offensive in Qin Wu’s eyes.
"Qin Ying, I ask you once more, where is the official silver now!"
The Idle King sneered back, "I have said, I know nothing of the affair with the official silver! If Your Majesty wishes to find a scapegoat, just come out and ask me directly. In any case, I am your elder brother, and I will agree to whatever you ask!"
Such rebellious words actually came from the Idle King’s mouth.
Qin Wu was so enraged that she drew the longsword from the wall, pointing the tip directly at the Idle King’s throat.
"Do you really think I dare not lay a hand on you? Qin Ying, do not overestimate yourself."
The Idle King took a step forward, seemingly particularly emboldened today, as the sword tip scraped across his throat, "Come on, I have long wished for death, to see our Imperial Father below!"
"Someone like you is not worthy of seeing our Imperial Father!" Qin Wu scoffed coldly.
"And you are?" The Idle King did not give an inch, "When our Imperial Father was alive, he indulged you beyond measure. He certainly never anticipated that the little Princess he doted on would dare to vie with her own elder brother for the throne after his passing, and yet she actually succeeded. Committing fratricide and seizing the throne, becoming the everlasting Empress, haha, tell me, if Imperial Father knew of this below the nine springs, would he still want to see you?!"
"Qin Wu, in the end, you and I are both selfish, seeking only for ourselves. I have ceded the throne and elder brotherhood to you, what more do you want? Is it just for taking a bit of your broken silver, that you have to drive your brother to a dead end?! Qin Wu, you should know, in the whole world, you have only me, this one kin. If you kill me, you will become truly alone!"
The longsword in Qin Wu’s hand trembled.
Alone...
Those who rise to great heights must bear the chill of solitude.
If this is what it truly means to be an Empress...
Qin Wu’s eyes closed, then slowly reopened with a few degrees more cruelty.
She was willing to bear all the consequences!
"Alone in the world, I, find it to my liking."
The Idle King looked at her in disbelief, fear finally creeping into his eyes.
It was only at this moment that he truly understood how terrifying his little sister could be.
In the struggle for the throne years ago, so many superior Princes failed to survive until the end, but only she had succeeded in taking the crown.
For so many years, the Idle King always thought it was her luck, along with the protection arranged by their Imperial Father.
But now, the Idle King felt he had been gravely mistaken.
This little sister of his, indeed had a heart of stone, merciless!
"You cannot kill me, I am your elder brother!" The Idle King shouted loudly, starting to retreat.
Qin Wu, holding the longsword, followed step by step, "A greedy and crooked man like you does not deserve to be my brother!"
As she said this, her longsword swung out.
"Spare life under the sword!" A clear and beautiful female voice called out desperately.
At the same time, a red afterimage streaked across the air, successfully flicking Qin Wu’s longsword from her hand and casting it aside on the ground.
It was Wu Bie.
"Your Majesty, you cannot kill!" Qin Zhen, red-cheeked from running, panted as she spoke, leaning on the doorframe.
The Idle King, terrified, collapsed on the ground, drenched in sweat.
Qin Wu’s eyes were bloodshot, her voice hoarse, "Give me one reason not to kill him."
"The envoy sent by Chu Kingdom this time is Song Huaxu," Qin Zhen shared her intelligence, "If the Idle King dies by Your Majesty’s hand, he will surely use the incident to cause an uproar. It would be very disadvantageous for us then."
Her own elder brother was still in Zhao Song and had not returned.
If the negotiations fail because of the Idle King’s death, it is more likely that her brother will meet with misfortune, and Zhao Song would find it hard not to seize him and present him to Dawei due to his status.
Therefore, the Idle King cannot die at this moment.
Qin Zhen walked in, her breath much steadier.
But she absolutely could not let the Idle King off easily.
As she walked, she took an elixir from her bosom. Approaching the Idle King, she said nothing, dislocated his jaw, shoved the medicinal pill in, then viciously fixed his jaw back.
The pill melted upon contact with saliva, and it was already too late for the Idle King to try and spit it out.
"What have you fed me! Wretch!"
Qin Zhen was expressionless, "Poison."
The Idle King’s face turned aghast, and he immediately stuck his fingers down his throat, eliciting a few repulsive retches.
"The antidote is solely in my possession, the Idle King had better watch your words."
