When people were in Qin, they captured Zhao and questioned Qin.

Chapter 68 The Intention Lies with the Young Master

Chapter 68 The Intention Lies with the Young Master

The woman's musical skills are indeed remarkable.

Lord Xinling listened for a short while before his eyes closed slightly, his hands tapping out the rhythm on his knees, his face showing a look of deep concentration.

The guests who were included in this group were basically well-known "refined people" in the State of Zhao. Seeing Lord Xinling's state, they all pretended to be intoxicated. Some closed their eyes and shook their heads, while others tapped the table with their fingers in harmony, as if everyone could hear the wonder in the music.

Several people who had been talking in hushed tones quickly stopped, sat up straight, and pretended to be listening attentively.

Finally, the woman gently pressed her ten fingers on the strings. The strings stopped, but the lingering sound lingered in the hall for several breaths before finally fading into silence.

A moment of silence fell over the hall, followed by exclamations and applause. Some whispered among themselves, saying that this woman was exceptionally skilled in playing the zither and excelled in both sword and dance, truly a rare find.

Lord Xinling put down his wine cup, nodded slightly, and showed a hint of appreciation on his face. He said to Lord Pingyuan at the head of the table, "This woman's zither contains a sword, and the sword contains a melody; it is truly rare. Although the music is peaceful, there are faint sounds of metal, which is certainly not comparable to ordinary musicians."

Lord Pingyuan stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "Since Wuji likes it, let him stay."

Upon hearing these words, the woman stepped out from behind the zither and bowed deeply to Lord Xinling. Her movements were small yet fluid and graceful, unlike the deliberate coquettishness of ordinary dancers.

Lord Xinling glanced at her, then turned to Mao Gong behind him and whispered an instruction. Mao Gong nodded, stepped forward, and gestured for the woman to leave. The woman rose and followed Mao Gong out through the side door. Thus, it is clear that this woman ultimately suited Lord Xinling's taste.

Zhao Heng watched the woman's departing figure, picked up his water cup and slowly took a sip. He then glanced at Zhao Yan, who had a smug look on his face, and couldn't help but think to himself.

Zhao Yan's move was probably actually aimed at Lord Xinling; this attempt to use someone else's talent to present something else to the Buddha was quite convincing.

Even if Lord Xinling took this woman in, she was just a dancer who could be given away at will. What purpose could Zhao Yan achieve?

However, recalling the startled feeling he had when he brushed past this woman on the street, he couldn't help but feel a slight jolt in his heart.

If his judgment at the time was correct, this woman was indeed a master.

Could it be the one from Luo Wang (Net of Heaven)?

Zhao Heng raised the cup to his lips but forgot to drink, and his brows furrowed slightly, indicating a hint of trouble.

What if this woman really is Jing Ni from that timeline, who spent years lying in wait by Lord Xinling's side, even developing feelings for him, all in order to assassinate him?

Given the principles and cold-bloodedness of this top-tier assassin from the Luo Wang organization, would she consider him, an "old acquaintance" who was also recognized by her, a potential threat?

Most importantly, if she really is Jing Ni, regardless of how she got involved with Zhao Yan, since she was nominally given to Lord Xinling by Lord Pingyuan, she lost the right to warn or even remind Lord Xinling.

Besides, he was able to lie low for so many years in the original timeline, waiting until he truly developed feelings for Lord Xinling before taking action. How could he possibly expose him with just his words?

Zhao Heng pondered deeply, his brows furrowing more and more tightly, until the water in his cup had unknowingly run out.

At this moment, Zhao Yan, who was opposite, raised his wine cup and toasted Lord Xinling from afar: "Your Majesty has obtained such a remarkable woman, and I am also happy for Your Majesty."

This woman is not only exceptionally skilled in swordsmanship, but also knowledgeable in music; she will surely be able to relieve your worries in the future.

Lord Xinling raised his cup in return, saying, "You are too kind, my lord."

Although the tone was polite, it wasn't particularly warm.

However, Zhao Yan didn't seem to mind. He finished his drink and smiled broadly, as if that casual reply was already a great gain.

The banquet continued. After Zhao Yan's specially prepared performance, musicians and dancers, from the Drunken Moon Pavilion, continued to liven up the atmosphere. Their music was light and lively, and their dances were graceful, quite different from the sword dance and zither music just now.

Lord Pingyuan sat at the banquet for a while longer, exchanging a few pleasantries with several elders of the royal family beside him, his face already showing signs of weariness.

He coughed twice, and Mao Sui immediately stepped forward, bending down to listen to his whispers.

Lord Pingyuan said a few words to Mao Sui, who nodded, immediately straightened up, bowed to everyone in the hall, and said loudly, "His Majesty is advanced in years and in poor health, so he will go back to the back hall to rest first. Distinguished guests, please do not stand on ceremony, the banquet will proceed as usual. His Majesty said that if all the guests are happy today, it will be the greatest birthday celebration for him."

Everyone in the hall rose and bowed to Lord Pingyuan, saying, "Take care, Your Majesty."

Lord Pingyuan helped Mao Sui to his feet and nodded slightly to the crowd. His gaze swept across the hall, pausing briefly on Zhao's side as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he simply nodded and, supported by Mao Sui and two attendants, slowly walked towards the back hall.

Lord Xinling rose to see him off, but Lord Pingyuan waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to.

After Lord Pingyuan left, the atmosphere in the hall became noticeably more relaxed.

The members of the imperial clan behind Zhao Heng began to chat and laugh in hushed tones again. Some raised their cups to toast him, while others started discussing the sword dance that had just taken place.

Lord Xinling sat down again, and one after another, descendants of Lord Pingyuan began to toast him and express their gratitude. Some guests were also eager to have a chance to step forward and chat. The wine cups were clinked, and laughter filled the air.

The servants continued to serve dishes and pour wine, and the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air.

Zhao Yan was contemplating the worst-case scenario and hadn't noticed Lord Pingyuan's gaze. At that moment, his eyes inadvertently swept across the opposite side, and he caught sight of Guo Kai, who had been standing behind Zhao Yan, slightly turning to whisper something to him. Zhao Yan nodded, and Guo Kai bowed and retreated, his steps extremely light, disappearing behind the crowd.

Guo Kai —

Zhao Heng recalled the historical records of this fellow being solely driven by profit, which confirmed his suspicions about Jing Ni to some extent.

If Luo Wang (a Chinese online organization) follows this "God of War Guo" (Guo Zhanshen), it's not impossible that they could orchestrate this whole drama.

Seeing Zhao Yan at the opposite table, holding a wine cup and constantly talking and toasting with guests such as Jianxin Jun, making large gestures while speaking and occasionally laughing, looking quite smug, Zhao Heng put down his cup, got up and walked out.

A member of the imperial clan who was hesitant to raise his cup to speak to Zhao Heng was taken aback when he saw Zhao Heng suddenly leave his seat. He then retreated in embarrassment, awkwardly placing the cup he had half-raised back on the table.

Yan Dan's seat was on the right, towards the back, quite far from the head seat, surrounded mostly by guests of lower status and foreign envoys. After Zhao Heng left his seat, he saw Yan Dan being surrounded by several people.

However, they were several officials from the Zhao state and envoys and guests from other countries.

These people, who had previously been unfriendly to Prince Dan, now vied to chat with him and offer him drinks. One of them had a loud voice, which Zhao Heng could hear from a distance: "Now that Yan and Zhao are on good terms, Prince Dan is a distinguished guest in Handan. If you have time another day, please invite Prince Dan to visit us. I have a few jars of fine wine."

The Yan delegation had just returned from congratulating King Zhao on his birthday, and the two countries had made peace on the surface. As the crown prince of Yan, Yan Dan's status naturally rose accordingly.

Some Zhao officials, either wanting to establish good relations with Yan or to demonstrate their diplomatic skills by showing courtesy to the Crown Prince of Yan at Lord Pingyuan's birthday banquet, naturally took advantage of this legitimate occasion to join in.

Yan Dan handled the situation quite well, smiling as he toasted with one person and exchanged pleasantries with another, clearly enjoying the rare treatment he received as the crown prince in this setting. He occasionally let out a hearty laugh, and sometimes spoke a few words in hushed tones with someone, appearing completely at ease.

The smell of alcohol mixed with the steam from the broth in the pot, along with the breathing, talking, and music of dozens of people, gradually made Zhao Heng feel a bit stuffy. So he asked a waiter for directions to the restroom and then went outside.

There was also a table in the outer room of the main hall. Zhao Heng, guided by a waiter, walked straight along the corridor to a secluded spot.

The corridor led to a courtyard, where several peach trees were in full bloom, their petals fluttering down to the ground in the breeze. Zhao Heng stood under the corridor, taking a deep breath of the fresh, fragrant air, which cleared his mind of some of the jumbled thoughts.

He frowned, lost in thought, gazing at the peach blossoms in the courtyard, when a familiar female voice came from behind him: "Young master, instead of being at the banquet, you've come here to get some fresh air. Perhaps you find it too stuffy inside, or are you looking for someone?"

Zhao Heng turned around. Zi Nu had appeared under the corridor at some point, leaning against a pillar with her arms crossed. Her face was covered by a light veil, revealing only a pair of smiling eyes. At this moment, she leaned slightly forward, looking down at him, her chest appearing as if it could not be contained and was about to spill out.

Zhao Heng withdrew his gaze and, instead of answering, asked, "If you're not behind the scenes managing the music and dance, how come you have the leisure to come out and stroll around?"

Upon hearing this, Zi Nu narrowed her eyes slightly, then smiled. She straightened up from the pillar, walked to Zhao Heng's side, and stood next to him, also looking at the peach trees in the courtyard.

"You mean, my lord, that I have deep ties with the Lord Pingyuan's household?" Her tone was somewhat teasing, but she didn't deny it. "You'll have plenty of opportunities to find out about these things in the future, so please allow me to keep you in suspense for now."

Zhao Heng nodded thoughtfully and asked no further questions.

Zi Nu glanced at him sideways, then suddenly reached out and grasped his wrist.

Her hands were warm, dry, and delicate, with a comfortable feel, like holding a warm piece of jade. Zhao Heng glanced down at his wrist, which she was holding, but before he could say anything, Zi Nu had already pulled him along the corridor deeper into the passageway.

"It's so stuffy inside, I can't stand it anymore. How about you accompany me for a walk, young master? The scenery in the back garden of Lord Pingyuan's residence is quite nice."

Zhao Heng was pulled along by her for a few steps. He chuckled and didn't break free, but simply let her lead him and followed.

The two walked through the corridors. Zi Nu was quite familiar with the layout of Lord Pingyuan's residence. She led him through several twists and turns, passing through two moon gates, until they arrived at a more secluded little garden. Here, there was no noise from the front yard, only the rustling of bamboo leaves in the wind and the occasional chirping of birds.

Upon entering the small garden, Zi Nu released her grip and walked directly to a clump of green bamboo. She reached out and parted a bamboo leaf, gazing at the remaining dewdrops rolling on it. Zhao Heng stopped two steps behind her, neither urging her nor waiting for her to speak.

A moment later, Zi Nu turned around, her smile fading slightly, and her tone becoming serious.

"The matter that you asked me to arrange a few days ago is already making some progress. Sending someone out of the city is not difficult. Although I can't say that I have connections everywhere in Handan, I still have a few ways."

Zhao Heng nodded, waiting for her to continue.

Zi Nu then walked slowly along the bamboo path, and Zhao Heng followed behind her.

After walking a short distance, Zi Nu finally spoke, "However, I have thought about this matter over and over again these past few days, and I feel that there are a few aspects that need further consideration."

Zhao Heng said, "You speak."

Zi Nu glanced at him sideways.

"My lord's idea of ​​having the Crown Prince of Yan leave with false information is good. If Yan truly intends to attack Zhao, this news would be the perfect way to mislead them. But the problem is, how do we make him believe this news is true? He was able to remain unharmed as a hostage in Handan for so many years; it wasn't just luck. Why should he believe that the news you're letting him hear isn't something Zhao deliberately leaked to him?"

Zhao Heng pondered for a moment, then walked up to her and said, "Whether he believes it or not is indeed beyond my control. It's a gamble in itself."

Zi Nu looked at him.

Zhao said, "I specifically invited General Li to perform that scene at my residence to make this 'accidental' event appear as natural as possible. Yan Dan is indeed cautious, but he is only two or three years older than me. A teenager hearing such news in that situation would certainly be suspicious, but it wouldn't be entirely true that he didn't believe it at all."

Upon hearing these words, Zi Nu first nodded, then looked at Zhao Heng, who was half a head shorter than her, and found it amusing.

Zhao, however, did not notice anything amiss and continued, "Consider this from another angle: Yan Dan has been a hostage in Handan for many years. What does he lack most? An opportunity. An opportunity that can allow him to escape his predicament and even serve the Yan state. With General Li gone beyond the Great Wall, Zhao's territory is vulnerable. If the Yan state truly intends to attack Zhao, this is a golden opportunity. As the Crown Prince of Yan, he cannot possibly remain unmoved."

Zi Nu listened quietly, a hint of approval flashing in her eyes, but she deliberately showed a mischievous smile on her face.

"Young master certainly understands people's hearts quite well. But isn't he afraid that even if he believes the news is true, he will still remain inactive?"

Zhao Heng turned around and gestured for her to continue.

Zi Nu then said, "Young master, consider this: if he truly escapes, Zhao will surely be furious and even become wary, immediately shattering the superficial harmony between Yan and Zhao. If Yan is not prepared to act at that time, he will be the culprit who ruined Yan's grand plan. This man is cautious and will not take such a risk."

Zhao Heng stopped and looked at Zi Nu. "So you mean, even if he heard the news, he might not run away?"

Zi Nu stopped and stood facing him. "What I mean is, if you truly want him to leave with this message, you must make him feel that he seized the opportunity himself and that he had no choice but to leave. At most, you can only give him a chance," but not a way out.

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Zhao Heng pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded. "I understand. If he feels everything is going too smoothly, he will inevitably become suspicious. But if, as you say, he wouldn't have run away on his own initiative, then where did this opportunity come from?"

Zi Nu said, "These past few days, through the intelligence I've gathered, I've observed the Crown Prince of Yan and I have a feeling. He's been in Handan for many years; it's impossible that he's completely unprepared. Perhaps you, my lord, don't need to do too much; just wait. If he has his own plans, they will inevitably leave traces sooner or later. At that time, it will be much more natural for you, my lord, to act accordingly than for him to passively accept your arrangements."

Zhao Heng was silent for a moment, then nodded. "I understand."

Seeing that he still had a thoughtful look on his face, Zi Nu smiled again, her tone becoming more relaxed. "Young master, you're so young, yet you spend all your time thinking about these things. Don't you find it tiring? Today is Lord Pingyuan's birthday banquet, which should be a relaxing day, but instead, you've hidden yourself away here pondering these matters."

Zhao Heng glanced at her. "You hid too, didn't you?"

Zi Nu was stunned for a moment by his remark, then burst into laughter.

"Young master's tongue is getting sharper and sharper."

The two walked a little further and came to a small pavilion in the garden. The pavilion was open on all sides and surrounded by several clumps of green bamboo, whose leaves rustled in the wind. Zhao Heng went into the pavilion and sat down, and Zi Nu sat down next to him. The two were an arm's length apart, each looking at the bamboo shadows outside the pavilion.

After a moment, Zhao Heng suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, have you seen or heard of the woman who danced with a sword at the banquet earlier?"

Zi Nu thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I've never seen her before. This woman is completely unfamiliar; she doesn't seem to be from the music halls of Handan. Do you think there's something wrong with her, young master?"

Zhao Heng frowned.

"This woman was brought by Zhao Yan. Judging from his smug expression just now, I suspect he planned this all along, intending to take advantage of Xinling."

As he said this, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

The feeling was extremely brief, like someone coldly watching him from a great distance before disappearing without a trace.

He instinctively wanted to search for her, but forcibly restrained himself, and continued to say to Zi Nu, "Zhao Yan is a man who always likes to put on a show. But this time, he went to such great lengths to find such a woman who is skilled in both sword and dance to present to Lord Xinling. I'm afraid he's not just after currying favor."

Zi Nu then asked, "Is the young master worried that Zhao Yan gained some advantage from Lord Xinling through this woman?"

Zhao Heng nodded in agreement. "Although Lord Xinling is residing in Handan as a guest, his reputation is too high, he has many retainers, and Lord Pingyuan is on good terms with him. If Zhao Yan can establish a connection with him, it will be disadvantageous for me."

Upon hearing this, Zi Nu couldn't help but smile, her tone becoming somewhat more relaxed.

"I never imagined that you, young master, would worry about such things. Rest assured, I will have someone investigate this woman's background. What Zhao Yan could find out, I may well be able to find out as well."

Zhao Heng nodded.

Thank you for your trouble.

Just then, a young woman hurried over from the corridor. She approached, bowed to Zi Nu, and whispered, "Master, there are some matters inside. Aunt Xin requests your return."

Zi Nu nodded, stood up and said to Zhao Heng, "Young master, please excuse me."

Zhao Heng also stood up. "Please make yourself at home, young lady."

Zi Nu followed the woman, her purple skirt flashing at the corner of the corridor before disappearing from sight.

Zhao Heng stood in the pavilion, silent for a moment.

He did not leave immediately, but after a moment of contemplation, he slowly turned around, his gaze passing over the bamboo grove and looking towards the other end of the small garden.

There, a woman dressed in a light white dance costume stood quietly under the eaves. Her face was covered by a light veil, her figure graceful and beautiful.

She didn't know how long she had been standing there.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the eaves, illuminating her and casting her figure in a half-light, half-shadow. She remained motionless, staring at Zhao Heng, her eyes, visible through the light veil, as empty and cold as a deep pool, devoid of any emotion.

Zhao Heng narrowed his eyes and met her gaze.

The two were about ten paces apart, with dappled bamboo shadows and falling peach petals between them. A breeze passed between them, carrying a few petals that swirled in the air before slowly falling.

No one speaks.

Zhao's hands hung naturally at his sides, his fingertips slightly curled inwards. He appeared relaxed, but every muscle in his body was tense. He didn't look away, nor did he speak; he simply watched her, as if waiting for her to make the first move.

The woman looked at him too. Her eyes remained empty—no hostility, no curiosity, or anything else that could be deciphered.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from the direction of the garden entrance, followed by a panting voice: "Young master, young master, how did you get here? If it weren't for Miss Zi Nu reminding me, I wouldn't have been able to find you."

Zhao Heng turned around.

It turned out to be a servant from Lord Pingyuan's household, who was running and sweating profusely. When he arrived, he didn't even bother to bow and said breathlessly, "Young master, my lord requests your presence. He has been looking for you for quite some time, searching everywhere inside and outside the hall."

The chill on his back vanished instantly, as if it had never existed. Zhao Heng was silent for a moment before nodding and saying, "Thank you for your help. Please lead the way."

He followed the servant a few steps, then turned back.

The other end of the corridor was deserted.

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