Longevity by Picking up Attributes in the Battlefield

Chapter 339: Chapter 155: Zhao Feng: Emperor Qin Shi Huang Went to Handan for Efang! (Part 3)

”Who do you think suggested the arranged marriage for the Wang Family’s daughter?” Ying Zheng asked with a smile.

”Was it not Your Majesty?” Zhao Feng replied, slightly surprised.

”Do you know what a king fears the most?”

Looking at Zhao Feng’s candid expression, Ying Zheng momentarily set aside his royal status and the lofty dignity it commanded.

After some thought, Zhao Feng responded, ”Forming cliques for selfish purposes?”

”It seems you are not only skilled in commanding troops but also have some understanding of court affairs,” Ying Zheng said with a slight smile.

”My father-in-law wields military power, and the position of Crown Prince is currently unsettled. Whoever gains his support obtains a powerful ally.”

”It seems the ministers in the court pushed for it,” Zhao Feng concluded after a moment.

”You’re quite good at reasoning,” Ying Zheng chuckled.

”Your Majesty, it’s not that I’m good at reasoning. It’s that I was once threatened in the military to break off my engagement with the Wang Family to make way for Mr. Fusu,” Zhao Feng said with a cold smile.

Although the matter had passed and Fusu had apparently come to apologize that day, Bai Wu had suddenly targeted him in court today. Zhao Feng was certain that Wang Wan and his faction were behind it, and since they were looking for trouble again, he was not going to indulge them.

Now that the King of Qin was being so amiable, Zhao Feng had no qualms about increasing the pressure on Wang Wan and the others.

So you want to make Fusu the Crown Prince? Then I’ll just increase the pressure and make the King of Qin even more wary of you, and by extension, more wary of Fusu. The King of Qin sits high above all. While everything is under his control, he is constantly both using and guarding against his ministers. They can choose to take sides—that’s their decision. But if they go too far, they will naturally incur the King’s dissatisfaction. And today, I am going to amplify that dissatisfaction.

Indeed, upon hearing Zhao Feng’s words, Ying Zheng’s brow furrowed. ”Threatened you to break off the engagement with the Wang Family? Who did this?”

”I hope this doesn’t count as backbiting,” Zhao Feng said with a self-deprecating smile.

”Speak,” Ying Zheng said with an irritated glance.

Having already come this far, there was no way Ying Zheng would let Zhao Feng stop. This was the first he had ever heard of it; no rumors had reached him before. Even the Heibing Plarform was unaware.

Of course, this was because only Zhao Feng and his trusted aide knew about the incident. Chunyu Yue and his ilk certainly wouldn’t be foolish enough to publicize it.

Since the King of Qin had commanded it, Zhao Feng had no reason to stay silent. Suppressing a smile, he stated in a serious tone, ”Chunyu Yue’s disciple, Men Jia.”

”Chunyu Yue?” Ying Zheng murmured, his expression visibly turning colder.

”Yes,” Zhao Feng continued. ”He may have threatened me, but I didn’t suffer any loss. The disciple he sent was beaten to a pulp before I sent him back. Moreover, Mr. Fusu was unaware of this matter. When I went to Yingchuan, Mr. Fusu personally apologized to me.”

Though he was willing to play their underhanded games, Zhao Feng still knew where to draw the line. The King of Qin was exceptionally astute. If Zhao Feng appeared to be targeting the king’s son, then no matter how well their conversation was going now, Ying Zheng might eventually realize it and think he was intentionally going after Fusu. It was better to clarify his position, as his main goal was to increase the pressure on Wang Wan and the others.

”Hmm,” Ying Zheng nodded, acknowledging the point.

Seeing the King of Qin’s reaction, Chunyu Yue is going to have a hard time in the future. As for Wang Wan and the others, their attempt to promote an alliance between my father-in-law and Fusu has backfired. They have no idea they’ve crossed one of the King of Qin’s taboos, and they will face the consequences.

I didn’t start a fight with those old fools; they came after me. They have no one to blame but themselves when I turn up the heat. Zhao Feng sneered inwardly.

”Do you know why I personally went to Handan in the first place?” Ying Zheng suddenly changed the subject.

”I suppose Your Majesty wanted to revisit old haunts,” Zhao Feng replied after some thought.

”Handan?” Ying Zheng sneered. ”What kind of old haunt is that? If I still harbored the grudge I once had against Handan, I would have wanted to slaughter Handan City.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Feng remained silent, because Ying Zheng was telling the truth.

No one knew the suffering and humiliation Ying Zheng had endured in Handan during his time as a hostage in the Zhao state. The people of today saw only the domineering power of King Zheng of Qin and his ambition to rule the world; they were unaware of the hardships he had endured as a hostage. Any ruler who didn’t harbor ambitions for the entire realm would have ordered the slaughter of the city that once humiliated him the moment it was conquered. But Ying Zheng restrained himself and did not. This was all because he held the entire world in his heart.

Seeing Zhao Feng’s silence, Ying Zheng poured himself a cup of wine and then personally filled one for Zhao Feng.

Zhao Feng immediately accepted it.

”This is fine liquor from the Immortals’ Liquor House,” Ying Zheng said. ”I’ve tasted many wines, and this is one of the best. I had it specially brought from Yingchuan County.”

”I have also tasted it. It is indeed a fine wine,” Zhao Feng agreed with a laugh.

Inwardly, however, he was amused. Brewing techniques from a future age naturally far surpass those of this one. Even the King of Qin is captivated by this wine. No wonder the Immortals’ Liquor House is making so much money; fine liquor is clearly the most lucrative business in this era. At this rate, I can be considered as wealthy as a nation.

Ying Zheng lifted his wine vessel and drained it in one gulp. Zhao Feng naturally did the same.

After finishing the wine, a hint of reminiscence appeared in Ying Zheng’s eyes. ”Actually, I went to Handan to find someone.”

”Find someone?” Zhao Feng asked, his curiosity piqued. ”Who could be so important that Your Majesty would personally go to Handan to search for them? Was it some great talent?”