Qin Shi: I only work eight hours

Chapter 67 Playing the long game to catch the big fish
the other side.

Xianyang, Zhangtai Palace.

It was Dongyue and Chunhua's turn to keep watch.

"Is it Sister Hong's turn to take a day off tomorrow?"

After confirming that Zhao Ji had fallen asleep, Lao Zheng, disguised as Dong Yue, asked in a low voice.

The "Hong Jie" he mentioned was Zhao Ji's confidante, Hong Zao.

"Yes."

Chunhua nodded.

"Does your stomach hurt?"

Upon hearing this, Lao Zheng was overjoyed. He immediately covered his lower abdomen and asked in a painful tone.

Zhao Ji doesn't know martial arts, so as long as Hongzao is not around, won't he be able to take control of Zhao Ji?
Now or never!
Lu Buwei was busy dealing with Confucianism, Mohism and other schools of thought, and most people's attention was on Lüshi Chunqiu. This was his best opportunity to "surprise attack" Zhao Ji!
"You have a stomachache?"

Chunhua shook her head and asked back.

"We had the same meal this afternoon, why didn't I feel anything?"

"You're not looking for an excuse to go to bed, are you?"

Chunhua teased.

"Am I the kind of person who likes to be sneaky and cunning?"

"Maybe it's because I drank too much raw water this afternoon."

"I have to go to the bathroom, I'll be back soon!"

Lao Zheng was thinking and making up stories.

After saying that, without waiting for Chunhua to respond, she pretended to be in pain, covered her abdomen, and ran to the toilet.

Looking at Lao Zheng's back as he walked away, Chunhua frowned slightly.

After a moment's hesitation, she told Hongzao about this.

As early as last month, she discovered that Lao Zheng was suspicious, so she and Hong Zao were waiting for Lao Zheng to take action!

Lao Zheng’s acting skills are good, but how could it be so easy to hide it from Chunhua, who had been with him day and night?
Hongzao was even more insightful. Just a few days after Lao Zheng moved into Ganquan Palace, Hongzao discovered that there was something wrong with Lao Zheng!
After finishing his urination, Lao Zheng grinned, washed his hands, and then wiped his hands with straw paper while walking towards Zhao Ji's bedroom.

It was late in the evening, and Zhao Ji's bedroom was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Ganquan Palace is different from Huayang Palace and Zhangtai Palace. There are no guards patrolling at night, only a few maids keeping watch.

Soon, Lao Zheng sneaked into Zhao Ji's bedroom through the bamboo window.

In order to be heard, he took off his shoes before climbing through the window.

After entering Zhao Ji's bedroom, Lao Zheng smelled a faint fragrance.

It was not the scent of rouge or powder, nor was it the body fragrance of Zhao Ji, but rather the scent of incense.

He was dozens of steps away from Zhao Ji at this moment. How could he possibly smell Zhao Ji's body fragrance?

"Queen Mother."

"The late king passed away many years ago. You've lived here alone for so long. Aren't you lonely?"

Lao Zheng raised his brows and thought to himself.

After saying this, he walked quickly towards Zhao Ji's bed.

The wind was strong in the evening, blowing the red and purple curtains left and right.

The plump Zhao Ji lay flat on the phoenix couch, with the brocade quilt covering only her abdomen. She folded her hands on her belly, looking charming.

After seeing this scene, Lao Zheng couldn't hide his excitement and swallowed his saliva.

Then he took out the rope he had prepared in advance from his arms.

He planned to tie Zhao Ji's hands and feet while she was still asleep, and then stuff her mouth with cloth. In this way, even if Zhao Ji could make a sound, it would be very small.

Just when Lao Zheng was thinking about whether to tie his feet first or his hands first, Zhao Ji suddenly opened her eyes.

This made Lao Zheng's pupils tremble, and he felt something was wrong.

So he immediately took out a dagger from his arms.

"What do you want to do?"

Zhao Ji's eyes narrowed upon seeing this, and she asked in a cold voice.

She didn't know that Lao Zheng had disguised himself as Dong Yue and sneaked into Ganquan Palace.

"Your Majesty, there is no need to panic."

"I won't hurt you."

"The Queen Mother has always been alone and has never thought about..."

Lao Zheng smiled and comforted him.

He was interrupted before he could finish his words.

It was not Zhao Ji who interrupted him, but Hongzao.

Whoosh!
A red figure teleported behind Lao Zheng.

By the time Lao Zheng realized that something was wrong, it was too late.

Hongzao stabbed Lao Zheng with a sword, forcing him to kneel on the ground, and then put the sword against Lao Zheng's neck.

"Are you okay, Queen?"

Hongzao turned his head to look at Zhao Ji and asked respectfully.

Zhao Ji shook her head and pulled the quilt up to cover her violently heaving chest.

"Sister Hong, you misunderstood."

"I have no intention of hurting the Queen Mother, I just..."

Lao Zheng rolled his eyes and defended himself.

He was interrupted by Hongzao again just as he was halfway through his words.

"Cut the nonsense!"

"Do you think I don't know that you are not Dongyue?"

Hongzao's voice and expression were both stern.

Then he abolished Lao Zheng's martial arts.

When Zhao Ji heard this, she frowned. What was going on?

If this person in front of me is not Dong Yue, then who is he?

Seeing Zhao Ji's puzzled expression, Hongzao had Lao Zheng escorted to her room and shared her suspicions with her. "I didn't tell the Queen Mother until today because I didn't want to cause her any more worry."

"Please forgive me, Queen Mother!"

After saying this, Hongzao knelt on one knee and apologized.

"What are you doing?"

"Get up quickly!"

"You did the right thing. If I knew she wasn't Dong Yue, I wouldn't have tolerated her taking action!"

Zhao Ji said.

She agrees with Hongzao's strategy of "playing the long game to catch a big fish."

Because obviously, Lao Zheng was just a pawn!
"Go and interrogate her."

"Let's see who is behind this."

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Ji gave the order in a serious tone.

"promise!"

Hongzao immediately accepted the order.

Then he walked straight to her room.

Crunch!

The wooden door opened!

"Sister Hong."

"are you……"

Lao Zheng looked in the direction of the sound, and after seeing the red dates, he smiled apologetically.

"Shut up!"

Hongzao scolded coldly.

After she finished speaking, she took out a pill from under the table and had someone stuff it into Lao Zheng's mouth.

This pill is priceless. She bought it last year and it is called the Truth-Telling Pill.

Soon, Lao Zheng's eyes lost their color.

"Who sent you?"

Red Date asked.

"Lü Buwei."

Lao Zheng answered mechanically.

"Where's Fuyutsuki?"

Hongzao asked.

"Killed by me."

The righteous way.

"What is your mission?"

Hongzao suppressed his displeasure and continued to ask.

"Get close to the Queen Mother and make her my woman."

Lao Zheng answered with empty eyes.

Upon hearing this, Hongzao became furious and kicked Lao Zheng several meters away.

Then he asked Lao Zheng to write down everything he had just said!

……

After a cup of tea.

Hongzao picked up the "confession" written by Lao Zheng and walked towards Zhao Ji's bedroom.

At this time, Lao Zheng had gradually regained consciousness.

After seeing Lao Zheng's "confession", Zhao Ji was so angry that her eyebrows raised and she vowed to kill Lao Zheng and Lu Buwei with her own hands.

That old villain Lu Buwei deserves to be killed. He actually dared to send people to force me!
"Queen Mother."

"Calm down first."

"The reason I didn't expose Lao Zheng was because I thought I could use Lao Zheng's first move to completely overthrow Lu Buwei!"

Hongzao said respectfully and comfortingly.

After saying that, she poured Zhao Ji a bowl of cold tea.

"What are you going to do?"

Zhao Ji took the tea bowl, took a sip of cold tea, and asked with an angry look on her face.

"I thought we could wait a few days to kill Lao Zheng, because he could identify Lü Buwei."

"But for what happened tonight, Lao Zheng's heart deserves death, so I plan to castrate him first!"

The red date's thin lips slightly opened.

Zhao Ji nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this and let Hongzao continue.

"I believe this matter is of great importance and requires your notification."

"Therefore, the Queen Mother can write a letter to the King, or go to Zhangtai Palace in person tomorrow to report this matter..."

Hongzao added respectfully.

Before she could finish her words, she was interrupted by Zhao Ji.

"Not urgent."

"Write a letter to Mr. Xu for me first."

"Mr. Xu is a master of strategy. With his help, even if that old villain Lu Buwei doesn't die, he will be demoted to a commoner!"

Zhao Ji said sternly.

She doesn't care much about her reputation, so she doesn't care if Xu Lin finds out about this scandal!
In fact, it was not a big scandal. After all, Lao Zheng didn't even touch her, he just wanted to do something inappropriate!

"Yes!"

Hongzao was stunned when he heard this, then nodded.

Then she knelt in front of the table and wrote a letter to Xu Lin on behalf of Zhao Ji, asking Xu Lin to come to Ganquan Palace tomorrow, saying that the Queen Mother had something important to discuss with her.

(End of this chapter)