When people were in Qin, they captured Zhao and questioned Qin.

Chapter 33 Mother and Daughter

The horse-drawn carriage made a dull rumbling sound as it traveled through the streets of Handan.

Inside the carriage, Jianxin's face remained so gloomy it looked like it could be wrung out. He leaned against the carriage wall, his eyes closed, his chest heaving, clearly still seething with anger.

After a while, he suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze flashing with cold light. He grabbed a brocade cushion from the side and slammed it hard onto the carriage floor.

"waste!"

A sharp shout exploded in the cramped space, startling even the horses pulling the carriage, who seemed to stumble.

He glared fiercely at the trembling follower kneeling in the corner of the carriage: "You useless idiot! Today, it's all because of your loose tongue and loss of composure that I, a mere child, have been caught off guard and humiliated! What use are you!"

The attendant was terrified, repeatedly banging his head on the ground, pleading, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger! I know my crime! I deserve to die! Please spare my life, Your Majesty, spare my life..."

Jianxinjun grew angrier the more he looked, and with nowhere to vent his anger, he raised his foot to kick him.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger," Guo Kai's voice rang out at the opportune moment.

He sat on the other side, his face still bearing that warm smile, as if the suffocating anger in the carriage had nothing to do with him. He stroked his beard and said slowly:

"What kind of status does Your Majesty have? Why bother getting angry with a mere child and harming your noble body? His father was driven away by Your Majesty back then, let alone a little boy like him? He only acts so arrogantly because he relies on his petty cleverness and his princely airs."

As I told Your Majesty before, there is plenty of time. Zhao Heng's every move in Handan, his signs and reputation of "colluding with Qin," are all within Your Majesty's grasp. We only need to wait for the right opportunity, to give him a little guidance and skillful instruction before the King or in the court..."

Jianxin paused in mid-air with his raised foot before slowly lowering it, but his face remained terribly gloomy.

Seeing that he had taken some of the advice to heart, Guo Kai leaned slightly towards him and comforted him, "My young master Yan has seen and remembered all the grievances His Majesty suffered today. In the future, he will surely repay you handsomely and make His Majesty recoup his losses in a glorious manner, with interest."

Jianxin snorted, his expression softening slightly, but then darkened again.

"And that Zi Nu! That wretched woman who popped out of nowhere dares to put on airs and act all mysterious in front of me. I will investigate her and her Drunken Moon Pavilion thoroughly! I'll let her know who's really in charge in Handan!"

Guo Kai's eyes narrowed slightly, and after a moment's hesitation, he advised:

"Your Majesty, the fact that Zuiyue Tower has been able to establish itself in the most prosperous area of ​​Handan for so many years suggests that its background is probably unfathomable. I vaguely heard in the past that it has some unclear connections with the residence of Lord Pingyuan, and even with the late Queen Wei. Although Queen Wei has passed away, her influence remains, and there are quite a few old ministers in the court who have benefited from her kindness. Although Lord Pingyuan has been old and ill in recent years and lives a secluded life, his reputation still remains, and his retainers and old friends are all over the court. If we were to rashly clash with them at this time, it would probably not be the best course of action."

"Lord Pingyuan?"

Lord Jianxin scoffed, saying disdainfully, "Just an old man lying on his bed waiting to die. I visited him last month; he could barely speak, barely breathing. How many days does he have left? When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. Once he closes his eyes, those so-called old friends and retainers will lose their leader. What can they possibly do? There's nothing to fear!"

A glint flashed in Guo Kai's eyes, and the fingers that were twirling his beard paused slightly. He didn't try to persuade him further on the matter, but simply nodded thoughtfully: "It's best that Your Majesty is aware of the situation and has clear insight."

He then said, "As for the background of that woman, Your Majesty, rest assured. Once we return, we will send people to investigate thoroughly. For a mere woman to dare to defy Your Majesty like this, she must have something to rely on. Only by knowing ourselves and our enemy can we plan carefully and strike decisively."

Jianxin Jun's gloomy expression softened slightly, and he squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth: "Investigate as you see fit, I'll take full responsibility."

"Here you are."

……

The fake mother led the snow maiden, her feet barely touching the ground, almost running back to a secluded courtyard in the back alley of the Drunken Moon Pavilion.

Only after closing the door, shutting out the occasional sounds of people and vehicles passing by in the alley, did she seem to truly breathe a sigh of relief. Leaning against the door, she patted her chest with lingering fear.

As dusk settled, the light in the courtyard dimmed.

A few half-withered saplings cast blurry shadows in the corner of the wall, making the scene appear particularly desolate.

The fake mother composed herself, turned to look at the snow woman beside her who had remained silent throughout, and couldn't help but mutter to herself again:

"My little darling, you're too honest today. I'm not really greedy for those ten thousand coins. It's just that in this world, people like you and me, without roots or foundations, if we don't take advantage of this opportunity to save up some capital to make a living, what will we do when... this Drunken Moon Pavilion can no longer accommodate us? Will we starve?"

She turned her head, using the dim light to examine the snow woman. Seeing that her porcelain-white face remained expressionless, she grew even more anxious. Lowering her voice further, she spoke with reproach: "Do you really think that your man... still cares about whether we live or die?"

The snow woman did not stop walking; her long, snow-white hair shimmered faintly in the twilight.

The stepmother followed beside her, glancing at the Snow Woman's face, which appeared even paler and colder in the twilight. Her feelings were complex, and she continued her rambling:

"Moreover, I don't think that Prince Heng has any good intentions. I vaguely heard someone mention when he was drunk that when Lord Chunping was at the height of his prestige and was about to become prime minister, he was sent to Qin as a hostage. It seems that Lord Jianxin was behind it all, pushing and framing him in various ways."

You said that today, when Prince Heng saw Jianxin Jun, he was so confrontational. Perhaps... it was just an old grudge flaring up, and he was using you as an excuse to embarrass Jianxin Jun. It's not that he truly loves the flute music or cherishes any talent...”

The snow woman paused slightly.

She raised her light blue eyes and glanced at her stepmother. In the dim courtyard, her light blue eyes appeared particularly cold and aloof.

"He found me when I first started playing music."

The stepmother was taken aback: "What?"

"I saw it," said the Snow Maiden. "He heard the sound of the flute, walked to the railing, and looked at the curtain where I was hiding."

The stepmother stared, her mouth agape, not reacting for a moment.

"What do you mean? How...how did he find it?"

The Snow Maiden offered no further explanation, but simply pursed her lips, turned around, and, carrying the jade flute, walked towards the small side room in the courtyard.

The stepmother stood there, frowning, pondering Xue Nu's words. She vaguely understood something; perhaps Zhao Heng had indeed noticed Xue Nu because of the sound of the flute.

But so what? Young nobles and nobles are just indulging in a moment of excitement, a fleeting pleasure. How much will they remember afterward?

In this world, the most unreliable thing is a powerful person's momentary whim.

She shook her head and followed him.

The two walked to the door of the house.

The stepmother reached out and pushed open the door, still muttering, "No matter what, you need to be more careful when you go to Lord Chunping's residence in the future. Don't talk too much. Those noble residences have many rules, and people's hearts are unpredictable..."

The door opened.

The stepmother's words came to an abrupt end.

Her expression froze instantly, the color draining from her face, replaced by fear and awe. She stood frozen at the doorway, forgetting to step inside, as if the space beyond that threshold were some dragon's den or tiger's lair.

The house was dark inside, even more so than the courtyard.

A woman sat by the wooden table near the window.

She was around thirty years old, dressed in a simple but well-tailored dress made of ordinary material. She had a charming and beautiful face with delicate features. Even with very light makeup, she could not hide her natural charm and mature elegance.

At this moment, she was holding a ceramic cup, slowly sipping tea, looking relaxed, as if she were sitting in her own home.

Beside her stood an old woman. The old woman was expressionless, quite old, with deep wrinkles on her face and a fierce look. She wore a simple, antique-style short knife at her waist.

The Snow Woman stopped at the door when she saw the woman. But unlike the stepmother, she didn't lose her composure; she simply stood there quietly, looking into the house with a blank expression.

The stepmother finally came to her senses, hurriedly bowed, and said with a forced smile, "You...you came in person? I didn't know you were coming, I'm so sorry for not welcoming you properly..."

She bent so low that she almost knelt down.

The woman put down her teacup and ignored the stepmother.

She raised her eyes, her gaze passing over the fake mother and landing directly on the Snow Woman. A gentle, almost ethereal smile instantly bloomed on her alluring face as she beckoned to the Snow Woman, her voice soft and affectionate:

"Xue'er, come here, come to your mother."

The Snow Woman stood still, still holding the flute in her arms.

Cold sweat broke out on the stepmother's forehead. She forced a laugh, trying to smooth things over: "Madam, Miss Snow Maiden was quite frightened today, so..."

The woman's smile remained unchanged, but her voice was still gentle as she said, "What? Now that you've climbed the social ladder by marrying the grandson of the King of Zhao, you don't even want to acknowledge your own mother anymore? Or is it—"

Her gaze turned slightly cold. She shifted her gaze from the Snow Woman, glanced sideways at the fake mother, and then returned it to the Snow Woman's cool, aloof face.

"With the meager flute skills I taught you on a whim back then, do you really think you're worth a fortune for a single piece, that you have the means to make a living, and that you can disobey your mother and act on your own?"

The fake mother's legs went weak, and she knelt down with a thud, saying urgently:

"Madam, you are wise. Xue Nu had no such intention! I was just about to send someone to inform you of what happened today. It was Jianxin Jun who suddenly arrived today, pretending to be drunk and speaking inappropriately. I... offered him ten thousand coins for a meeting, hoping to make him back down. I had no other intentions. Who knew he would actually take out the money!"

"I had no choice but to send Xue Nu to smooth things over, hoping to avoid jeopardizing Madam's important matter! Later... it was that young master Heng who suddenly appeared and caused trouble, which is why things turned out this way... I remained cautious and didn't say a word!"

The woman listened without much expression on her face until her stepmother finished speaking, at which point she let out a soft hum from her nose.

"For a mere ten thousand coins," her voice turned colder, "you almost ruined my plans, and you still have the nerve to argue here?"

With a single glance, without even a word, the vicious old woman standing beside her immediately sprang into action.

She appeared old, but her movements were unusually swift. In two steps, she reached her stepmother and, without saying a word, slapped her across the face.

The crisp, loud sound of a slap echoed in the quiet room.

The stepmother was knocked to the ground by the slap, her cheek visibly swelling and turning red, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. Stunned, she lay on the ground, unable to utter a sound.

The old woman remained expressionless and seemed about to step forward again.

A figure in pure white suddenly moved.

The Snow Woman stepped forward, blocking the path of the fake mother. She didn't speak, but simply raised her light blue eyes and stared intently at the woman sitting behind the table.

The old woman remained expressionless, but she was momentarily stunned by the sudden obstruction and subconsciously looked at the woman.

The woman paused slightly in her teacup, a hint of surprise flashing across her face, but then she simply watched the scene with amusement.

The Snow Woman ignored the old woman and turned to help the trembling fake mother on the ground.

The fake mother suddenly snapped back to her senses, and as if electrocuted, gently pushed away the snow woman's outstretched hand. She dared not look at the snow woman, nor even get up, and knelt down on the ground.

"Madam, please spare me! I know I was wrong. I will never dare to do it again. It's just that Lord Jianxin is too powerful, and I had no choice... I had absolutely no intention of making things worse. After that young master Zhao Heng appeared, I have been very careful and have not revealed anything I shouldn't have..."

As the woman listened, the frost on her face slowly melted away. She stood up, walked gracefully to her stepmother, bent down, and personally helped her up from the ground, as if she hadn't been the one who had ordered the beating.

"Good sister, get up quickly." She sighed, "We've known each other for over ten years. Don't you know what kind of person I am? If I didn't trust you, why would I entrust Xue'er to your care? This huge city of Handan is full of all sorts of people, and I only feel at ease here in this peaceful place."

As she spoke, she reached out and carefully straightened the hairpin that had been knocked askew for her stepmother, then tucked the stray hairs behind her ears with delicate and gentle movements.

"Alright, considering you were ultimately quick-witted and didn't drag me into this, you are quite loyal. Since you earned those ten thousand coins, they are yours to keep as a token of your comfort."

The stepmother was flattered and overwhelmed, her cheek still burning with pain, but she waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "No, no! My money is naturally all for you, Madam, I..."

"Hey," the woman interrupted her, her tone leaving no room for argument, "take it. Do you think I'm short of a little money?"

The stepmother dared not refuse any longer and readily agreed.

The woman then turned around and looked at the snow woman who had been standing silently by the door.

"As for Zhao Heng... I should thank you, sister."

The stepmother was taken aback, not understanding the reason for the thanks, and hurriedly said, "Madam, although Young Master Heng mentioned hiring a tutor, he also stated that it was negotiable. If Xue Nu doesn't want to go, or feels it's inconvenient, she can find an excuse to decline, and we can discuss it further..."

"Go," the woman interrupted her. "Why don't you go?"

The stepmother was stunned.

The woman didn't look at her, but her smile became even gentler, and her eyes even welled up with tears, filled with a sense of guilt and pity. She stepped forward and, without saying a word, took the snow maiden's slightly cool hand and held that soft, boneless yet icy little hand in her warm palm.

"Xue'er,"

She sighed, "Over the years, it's not that your mother is heartless, neglecting you or disowning you. It's just that I haven't fully established myself with your stepfather yet. There are eyes everywhere, and I have to be careful at every step. I myself am walking on thin ice, facing a precarious situation. How could I dare let you come with me and endure that fear and anxiety? Your mother loves you!"

She gently stroked the snow woman's cool, smooth, white hair.

"But this time, it's an opportunity. As long as you listen to your mother, get close to that young master Zhao Heng, win his favor, and gain his trust..."

The snow woman raised her eyes.

Her light blue eyes reflected the woman's alluring yet ambitious face.

The woman smiled: "Your stepfather will definitely look at you with new eyes and fall in love with you. At that time, not only will your mother be able to gain a firm foothold in Handan and live a glorious life, but she will also have the opportunity to formally inform him of your existence. Let him know that he has such a smart and talented daughter as you."

The snow woman's body trembled almost imperceptibly.

The woman seemed oblivious to her subtle resistance, and said in an even softer voice:

"Think about it, Xue'er. When your father goes further in the future and ascends to the throne of Zhao, you will be the rightful princess of Zhao, a golden branch and jade leaf, with boundless honor. You will no longer have to hide in this squalor's alley and courtyard, watching other people's faces, depending on their whims, and living a precarious life. What kind of life will that be? Fine clothes and sumptuous food, servants like clouds, all the rare treasures in the world at your disposal, and the respect of all people..."

Looking at the Snow Woman's lowered eyelashes, she asked softly, "Isn't it a thousand times, ten thousand times better than it is now?"

The snow woman bit her pale lips, almost draining them of color. Her slender body trembled slightly in the dim light.

The woman released her grip, took a half step back, and continued to smile as she looked at her.

"Good child, your mother is doing all this for your future. You know what to do, right?"