Chapter 51
Book 5 Chap 6 – The real and fake Ying Zheng
As the northern wind blew, Xiang Shaolong and Jing Jun climbed over walls quietly, avoiding the patrols and gantry posts and arrived at the garden outside Zhuji’s building.
Jing Jun stayed behind as a look out while Xiang Shaolong took the familiar route to the window on the 2nd floor, pushed it gently, and the window opened immediately.
Zhu Ji’s voice called out quietly from inside, "Is it Shaolong? Come in quickly!"
Xiang Shaolong slipped in through the window.
Zhu Ji hurriedly closed the window, turned around and leaned on the window ledge, her chest heaving, obviously she is feeling very nervous.
Only a weak, lone lamp was s.h.i.+ning in the room but because it’s placed on the corner of the window ledge, it will not reflect their shadows on the papered window.
The lamp emphasized half of the right side of Zhu Ji’s body while her left side was cast in the shadows, making her dainty and voluptuous body look all the more dimensional and extremely alluring.
A stove was lit in the room, making it as warm as spring, which is why although Zhu Ji was thinly dressed, she still felt comfortable.
Her pretty eyes burned like fire, with a warmness that can scald as they stared unwaveringly at Xiang Shaolong, as if she’s trying to scrutinize him inside out.
This is the first time Xiang Shaolong has met such a bold and wild character, a woman who is not afraid of men at all and his heart can’t help but beat faster but on the surface he looked at her coolly.
This is definitely not a simple woman.
Zhu Ji’s lips quivered slightly as she asked, "Xiang Shaolong! Can I trust you?"
Xiang Shaolong smiled slightly, "It seems that Lady has no other choice!"
Zhu Ji’s pretty eyes stared at him, "Even if I can trust you, but what ability do you have that will enable you to take me and my son away."
Xiang Shaolong secretly thought, "Since I can infiltrate into this place, naturally I can bring you out. He was about to blurt this out when he suddenly felt that something was amiss and changed his words, "This is the reason why I came to discuss with Lady, because I guessed that Zhao Mu will certainly gather all his men at the Hostage Residence."
Zhu Ji nodded her head, "You’re very astute, no wonder Zhao Mu is so wary of you. Every time they talk about you, I will listen very carefully. I did not expect Buwei to actually find you, it’s really great."
Xiang Shaolong heard that when she was talking about Lu Buwei, she seems to be talking about a stranger and was secretly startled. I seems that she will not be loyal to any man. Men are making use of her, she is also making use of men.
He furrowed his brows and asked, "How is the situation at the Crown Prince’s side?"
Zhu Ji sighed lightly, "Unless you can lead a huge army and successfully attack Handan City, or else you can forget about taking him away. Ever since my husband ascended the throne, Zhao Mu has transferred 200 highly skilled warriors who is constantly by his side day and night on rotation s.h.i.+fts. He also added high walls outside, making it a residence within a residence. Also, there is a troop of almost a thousand soldiers who have been posted here permanently to guard. Unless you can turn into a bird, or else you can forget about infiltrating that place to see him."
Xiang Shaolong’s brows furrowed deeply on hearing this. When Wu Yingyuan was telling Xiao Yuetan about how heavily guarded the Hostage Residence is today, he was not exaggerating, instead he even ‘understated’ the real situation.
Zhu Ji continued nonchalantly, "Besides it’s no use even if he is saved. Zhao Mu is an expert in using drugs and has given him s strange herb and he must take the antidote regularly to ensure his safety. If there’s no antidote, he will die of poisoning in less than 10 days."
Xiang Shaolong feels as if his whole spine has been frozen into an ice pillar.
Oh my gos.h.!.+ Is this going to be the future Emperor Qin?
This time he is really stuck between a rock and a hard place, unable to advance or retreat at all.
And he thought that saving mother and son would only require the lifting of a finger, he is really too naïve.
He breathed out a gush of cold air, "By keeping the Crown Prince like this, besides giving vent to their anger, what other good does it do to the Zhaos?"
Zhu Ji said lightly, "You should have heard of Zhao Mu’s nefarious plot, to deliberately use wine and women to make him into a useless person. To tell the truth, Zhao Mu can’t wait to send him back to become the King of Qin. But the time is not yet ripe, because Lu Buwei will stand to gain from it, do you understand?"
Of course Xiang Shaolong understands. The reason why Lu Buwei is so anxious to send mother and son back to Xianyang is because he wants to strengthen his relations.h.i.+p with King Zhuangxiang.
At this instant he finally realized that when Zhu Ji was talking about her son, she only said ‘he’ and did not address him in any other form or utter his name directly. He tone was so indifferent that it’s scary and for a moment he can’t help but feel perplexed.
Zhu Ji suddenly said with hatred, "It’s better that this lad is dead, I get furious for no reason just at the sight of him."
Xiang Shaolong was stunned, people said that no matter how vicious a tiger is, it will not eat its offspring. Why would Zhu Ji curse her precious son who can make her become the Empress Dowager?
Zhu Ji moved over, took his hand and pulled him as she walled towards the bed and said gently, "Come! Let’s continue the conversation on the bed!"
Firstly Xiang Shaolong is totally not in the mood and secondly, he just had a wild time with Chunying and the maids and is still tired and thirdly, he remembered the advice not to have any amorous relations.h.i.+p with this woman whom both Lu Buwei and King Zhuangxiang was enamored with so he immediately slipped his hand away and grabbed hers, saying "I’m afraid this is not a suitable time and place!"
Zhu Ji pouted, "Don’t you think I know? It’s just that those maids have been ordered to come and check on me every once in a while. It’s a lot safer hiding in the bed."
Xiang Shaolong thought that he has misunderstood her so he hurriedly followed her into the curtained bed and immediately a fragrance wafted into his nose.
Zhu Ji told him to lie down inside and used the blanket to cover the both of them. She turned around and snuggled into his arms and hugged him tightly, her tiny mouth going up to his ears and whispered, "I want to tell you a huge secret, but first you must make a blood oath not to tell anyone else before I can let you know. Hai! I have no other choice but to tell you as well. I am not allowed to take even a step out of this place and there’s no one I can trust."
Xiang Shaolong was secretly surprised, what secret can be so great that he needs to make a blood oath?
He answered, "I, Xiang Shaolong, is a man of my words. Once I’ve made a promise, I won’t go back on my words, Lady can rest a.s.sured."
Zhu Ji said with relief, "I know you are a trustworthy man, but I am still worried, so why don’t you just give in to me!"
With a beauty besieging him like this, he has no choice but to make a blood oath. At the same time he was secretly laughing, he doesn’t even believe a blood oath will become true, so what restriction can this promise do to him? But since he’s made the promise, he will not reveal it so readily.
Zhu Ji was hesitant for a moment before saying quietly, "The child they imprisoned is