Qin Shi: I only work eight hours

Chapter 351: No More Than This

"We are Koreans, and we come from Xinzheng, the former capital of the Han Dynasty."

"She is my mother. She has been feeling a little unwell recently. She heard that there is a famous doctor in Handan, the capital of Zhao, so she came here to seek treatment."

"So I'll probably stay in Handan for about half a month."

Xu Lin lied.

He spoke with such conviction and detail, as if it were the truth.

Seeing Xu Lin blurt it out without batting an eye, Zhao Ji had a bad feeling.

Did Xu Lin also lie to her often?

Xu Lin ignored Zhao Ji, took out a bag of money from his waist, and handed it to the guard.

"Although it is springtime, the weather is still chilly. Take this money, brothers, and buy some wine."

Xu Lin offered his suggestion with a smile.

He came to the State of Zhao with no intention of getting into conflict with anyone.

As the saying goes, it's better to avoid trouble.

"it is good."

The guard's eyes lit up when he saw the bulging money bag.

Then he raised his hand to signal that they could pass.

And so, Xu Lin easily entered Handan.

Zhao Ji, however, was somewhat sullen.

"what happened?"

"Is the Empress Dowager worried about the money?"

Xu Lin said sarcastically.

His voice wasn't loud; only Zhao Ji could hear what he was saying.

"Do you think I'd be stingy with money?"

Zhao Ji countered with a question.

Her tone was clearly displeased.

"Why is the Empress Dowager angry?"

"Your Majesty, please speak frankly."

Xu Lin suggested.

He hates guessing what people are thinking.

If you have any complaints, just say them.

Do you often lie?

Zhao Ji asked seriously.

She was afraid that Xu Lin had been lying to her all along.

Xu Lin is now a high-ranking official, and he is also capable.

Xu Lin's success today is not due to Zhao Ji, which makes Zhao Ji feel insecure.

What if Xu Lin abandons her, or has been lying to her all along?

She was the Queen Dowager of Qin; how could she make this public and cause such a commotion?

"No."

Xu Lin immediately denied it.

He often lies, but lying is not the same as deceiving people.

Born in a chaotic era, if he had always told the truth, would he have survived to this day?

For example, could he tell Ying Zheng about his relationship with Zhao Ji?

"Forget it."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping herself, thinking to herself.

She didn't want to delve into the matter, because it would only lead to unpleasantness.

It's a rare opportunity to come to the State of Zhao, and we've only just arrived in Handan. It's not wise to start a dispute right away.

If it were before, when she didn't know Xu Lin, Zhao Ji would most likely have asked her a lot of questions.

But perhaps influenced by Xu Lin, Zhao Ji increasingly felt that many things were not worth taking seriously, and that no one is perfect.

"Is Your Majesty afraid that I have been lying to you all along?"

"I risked my life to come to the State of Zhao with the Empress Dowager. Doesn't that prove my innocence?"

"If I merely wish to leverage the Empress Dowager's influence, is it necessary to risk my life?"

"Moreover, objectively speaking, how much does Your Majesty think I am where I am today, and how much does it have to do with Your Majesty?"

"Without the Empress Dowager, would I have been unable to rise to such a high position?"

Having seen through Zhao Ji's thoughts, Xu Lin said in a deep voice.

Zhao Ji has many advantages, but also quite a few disadvantages.

For example, being love-struck, possessive, prone to overthinking, and suspicious.

"I have no doubts about you."

"I was just thinking about it casually."

"The Grand Tutor is truly domineering; I can't even have a thought of it?"

Zhao Ji's phoenix eyes sparkled as she spoke coquettishly.

This isn't the Qin state, so you don't need to be as reserved as you would be in the Qin state.

"It really won't work!"

Xu Lin pretended to be angry.

Before Zhao Ji could reply, he slapped her.

Snapped!

The sound wasn't very loud, but it still hurt quite a bit. This made Zhao Ji frown deeply.

This isn't Ganquan Palace or Peiyang Palace. How dare Xu Lin?

And their current status is that of a mother and son!

"This will not be allowed to happen again!"

Xu Lin warned.

Then he took Zhao Ji to the inn.

……

Half an hour later.

After checking in and quickly washing up, Xu Lin went with Zhao Ji to the hostage residence where Zhao Ji and Ying Zheng had previously stayed.

Because Zhao Ji and Ying Zheng had left the Zhao state more than ten years ago, the surrounding area was overgrown with weeds.

"More than ten years ago, my son Zheng'er and I lived here."

"At that time, I was only in my twenties. Because of the Battle of Changping, the people of Zhao hated the people of Qin to the bone."

"Therefore, people often come to cause trouble for me and Zheng'er."

"A mother's strength is boundless. At that time, I was not afraid at all, even when I was fighting two against one."

"..."

Zhao Ji spoke as she recalled the events.

Time flies so fast; those things seem like they happened just yesterday.

Xu Lin didn't interrupt this time, choosing instead to listen quietly.

Zhao Ji lifted her skirt and walked into the hostage's residence.

She told Xu Lin a lot about her past with Zheng'er, and Xu Lin listened very attentively.

Seeing Xu Lin's serious expression and frequent nods, Zhao Ji liked him even more.

Zhao Ji is a woman who needs emotional support; she has a strong urge to confide in others, but she can never find a suitable person to talk to.

At first, she tried to talk to Ying Yiren, but Ying Yiren only thought about returning to Qin and was unwilling to listen to her nonsense.

Playing the lute to a cow gradually caused Zhao Ji to give up talking to Ying Yiren.

Later, Zhao Ji tried to talk to Lü Buwei, but Lü Buwei treated her as a pawn. After she married Ying Yiren, she had no further use to Lü Buwei.

Although Zhao Ji was exceptionally beautiful, being with her did more harm than good, so Lü Buwei took the initiative to sever ties with her, causing the two to drift further apart.

Then Zhao Ji tried to talk to Ying Zheng.

However, Ying Zheng's ambition was to rule the world, which was completely different from Ying Yiren's. In Ying Zheng's view, Zhao Ji's words were unnecessary, because in a chaotic world, no one is without hardship.

Are they the only ones facing difficulties at the hostage residence in Handan?

From then on, Zhao Ji closed her heart and stopped confiding in anyone.

This doesn't mean Zhao Ji no longer needed to confide in anyone, but rather that she found it too difficult to find a suitable person to confide in.

It wasn't until today that Zhao Ji realized that Xu Lin was the perfect candidate.

Because Xu Lin was willing to listen and didn't interrupt her.

It's a pity that I was born before you were born, and you were born after I had grown old.

"Why has the Empress Dowager stopped speaking?"

Seeing Zhao Ji deep in thought, Xu Lin asked.

"I was daydreaming."

Where was I?

After regaining her senses, Zhao Ji looked down at her own figure.

She maintains a good figure, and given that she is the Queen Dowager of Qin, her relationship with Xu Lin should last for several more years.

Zhao Ji didn't dare to hope for a lifetime; a few years was already very good.

"Yan Dan".

"The Empress Dowager just said that Yan Dan often comes to see the King."

Xu Lin replied.

He was somewhat interested in Yan Dan.

"Yes, Yan Dan."

"Yan Dan is a few years younger than Zheng'er, and she is very thoughtful."

"Zheng'er will tell you everything he thinks, but Yan Dan says one thing and does another."

"I once told Zheng'er that Yan Dan should not be befriended too closely, but at that time Zheng'er was still young and felt that Yan Dan was in the same boat as him."

"..."

Zhao Ji said.

As she spoke, she walked toward Xu Lin.

Then she took Xu Lin's arm.

For some reason, she has recently taken to linking arms with Xu Lin, as if it makes her feel safer and keeps him from leaving her.

"Was Yan Dan's residence very close to here at that time?"

Xu Lin asked.

Zhao Ji's enthusiasm was almost overwhelming for him.

Because Zhao Ji was at the peak of her life, and Xu Lin had more than just Zhao Ji as a woman.

Xu Lin wouldn't be afraid in a one-on-one fight, but the problem is he's facing a group attack! (End of Chapter)