lcionline Chapter 241 The Death of Zhao Jia, Zhao Gao's Intent
Chapter 241 The Death of Zhao Jia, Zhao Gao's Intent
Chapter 241 The Death of Zhao Jia, The Heart of Zhao Gao
Hey, did you hear?
"You mean... that affair between Lord Chunping and the Queen?"
"So you knew too, huh? The relationships between these important figures are really messy!"
"Stop talking! Aren't you ashamed to have such a queen?"
"Sigh, how can our King tolerate this? Is the Crown Prince his son?"
"Shh! Are you out of your mind? Saying whatever comes to mind. Come to my house and we'll talk..."
Some abrupt rumors began to circulate on the streets of Handan.
The affair between Chunping Jun and the Empress was suddenly exposed.
Of course, this is just a rumor, without any evidence.
However, rumors can be terrifying, and their power is immense.
Especially the private affairs of these important figures, even if ordinary people dare not speak out openly, are spread more and more strangely in private.
Although King Zhao was skeptical of the news, his attitude toward Queen Chang changed. Queen Chang and Zhao Qian were now filled with fear and resentment toward the person who spread the rumors.
"Why did Master ask Guo Kai to do this? Isn't he helping Li Mu and Zhao Jia?"
In the small courtyard that the Moon Goddess "rented" using Yin-Yang magic, Yan Lingji asked with some confusion.
The people around them, including Lady Xiang, the Black and White Master of Fate, and the Moon Goddess, all pricked up their ears with curiosity.
Ying Jing inhaled the fragrance of plum blossoms in the courtyard and smiled calmly: "Do you think Guo Kai is stupid?"
The Moon Goddess clasped her hands together, her voice like an aria: "Guo Kai's greed is no secret, but he is certainly not a fool to have reached such a high position."
"Since Guo Kai isn't stupid, why would he actually do the plan that Zhao Gao presented to him if it truly helped Li Mu and Zhao Jia?"
The Moon Goddess frowned slightly: "Does Lord Changxin have a deeper meaning behind this plan?"
"The Queen has been managing her affairs in the State of Zhao for many years, and a few rumors cannot shake her and Zhao Qian's position."
Ying Jing spoke indifferently: "Some people want to incite internal strife in Zhao on the surface, but in reality they want to make Zhao an impregnable fortress. How can I let them have their way?"
Lord Changping used the affair between Lord Chunping and the Empress to incite conflict between Li Mu, Zhao Jia, the Empress, Zhao Qian, and even Guo Kai.
On the surface, it seems that they were indeed fulfilling Ying Zheng's mission to instigate internal strife within the Zhao state.
In reality, Guo Kai, the Empress Dowager, Zhao Qian, and their ilk were all allies!
If Li Mu succeeds and Zhao Jia ascends to the throne, with no discord between the ruler and his ministers, the State of Zhao will become the toughest nut to crack.
Yan Lingji blinked. Among the women present, she had followed Ying Jing the longest and had been exposed to a lot of information from the Luo Wang, so she knew who Ying Jing was referring to.
"Then what is the master's purpose?"
Ying Jing looked at the women: "These rumors are not enough to pose a real threat, but they are enough to alert the Queen and make her feel threatened. What do you think she will do?"
Yan Lingji instinctively responded: "Thoroughly investigate who's behind this? Order that this matter be completely shut down?"
Ying Jing simply chuckled and shook his head: "It is easier to stop the people from speaking than to stop a river from overflowing. Even the Empress has risen from the bottom to where she is today, so she must understand such a simple truth."
"Let me put it another way, Nvying, if you were in her shoes, what would you do?"
Nu Ying gently took Ying Jing's arm and said, "If I were the Queen of Zhao, my biggest concern right now would be the Crown Prince's position. Why not just kill Zhao Jia and be done with it?"
Kill Zhao Jia!
Yan Lingji was a little stunned. How come she hadn't thought of that?
The Moon Goddess added, "Queen Zhao was able to win the favor of King Zhao and was never lacking in ruthlessness, but in the end, she had been immersed in the struggles of the harem for many years. Killing Zhao Jia was indeed the most convenient and direct thing for her."
The Yin-Yang School is never short of conflict!
Both the Moon Goddess and Lady Xiang are adept at directly destroying enemies with physical means.
Ying Jing plucked a plum blossom and gently blew the petals away: "Yes, as long as Zhao Jia is killed, even if Li Mu really finds out something, he will not be able to shake Zhao Qian's position. It is a simple and effective way for the Empress."
Given Li Mu's personality, he wouldn't continue the investigation once Zhao Jia was dead.
King Zhao only had these two sons. If he continued to investigate, it would shake the foundation of the state.
In fact, helping Zhao Jia return to Zhao and fight against them would be more in Qin's interest, but Ying Jing did not want to do so.
Zhao Jia should have died five years ago. These years of lingering in Qin as Zhao Ji's punching bag have fulfilled his final purpose, and he can now rest in peace.
Yan Lingji moved closer to Ying Jing with her graceful figure and took his other arm.
"But how could Guo Kai spread such rumors? What if Queen Zhao and Zhao Qian found out?"
Ying Jing said calmly, "It's very simple. I had Zhao Gao give him something he couldn't refuse."
The women were all curious: "Something you can't refuse?"
"Conclusive evidence and witnesses of the affair between Chunping Jun and the Queen, including the time, place, the Queen's personal clothing, hairpins and jade pendants."
Guo Kai was a great philanthropist, but he had always been at odds with Li Mu.
Therefore, Zhao Jia, who was close to Li Mu, was never the crown prince he had hoped for.
On the other hand, the Queen and Zhao Qian were on good terms with Guo Kai, so Guo Kai naturally sided with the Queen.
However, Guo Kai and the Empress Dowager and Zhao Qian's positions were by no means entirely the same.
After all, one side was the powerful prime minister, and the other was the future ruler of the Zhao state.
If someone can go to such lengths as Guo Kai, how could they not leave themselves a way out?
He certainly won't reveal the evidence of Chunping Jun's affair with the Queen now, but if the situation changes after the new king takes the throne, this will be his life-saving tool.
"But it could also be something that threatens his life."
Guo Kai couldn't possibly be unaware of this, but he still agreed.
After all, although he now wields great power, he still faces many constraints. However, if he can control Empress Chang and Zhao Qian, he can achieve his goal.
He's the next Lü Buwei!
That was true power that wielded immense influence, even the king had to be mindful of his every whim, and everyone had to curry favor with him.
However, Lü Buwei's fate was not good; he is now practically deserted.
However, Guo Kai still had Jing Dashanren as a good friend, so the worst outcome would be for him to flee to the Qin state.
With such a great opportunity, how could we not give it a shot?
……
Just three days later, news of Zhao Jia's death arrived from the Qin state.
"Zhao Gao, I will reward you handsomely!"
In Feixue Pavilion, Ying Jing looked at Zhao Gao kneeling before him and lavished praise upon him.
Sending Zhao Gao to the State of Zhao was indeed a move that had an unexpected effect.
Not only did he discover the connection between Zhao Jia, Li Mu, and even Lord Changping, but he also gave Zhao Qian a final push when the Queen hesitated, making her finally make up her mind.
"It was all Your Majesty's brilliant plan. Zhao Gao dares not take credit. He only asks Your Majesty to allow Zhao Gao to return to your command."
Zhao Gao spoke with some fear, a hint of flattery in his dead fish eyes.
As the one who personally carried out Ying Jing's plan, he could better understand just how terrifying Changxin Jun was.
Not only do they hold high positions of power and possess unfathomable abilities, but they are also capable of stirring up trouble with just a rumor.
Zhao Gao was ambitious, and the sudden loss of everything made the sense of loss almost unbearable for him.
But with his current abilities, it wouldn't be difficult for him to gain status from other places, such as Zhao Qian.
All this effort is for the hope of returning to Lord Changxin's command.
Only by following someone like Lord Changxin could he climb to the top step by step!