allendalepharm Chapter 156 Mr. Respect!
Chapter 156 Mr. Respect!
Just as Lin Tian was about to speak, Yan Lingji, who was leaning against the stair railing, crossed her legs and chimed in, her voice sickeningly sweet: "The daughter of Baiyue, nowadays... is the most obedient one by Master's pillow."
Lin Tian slipped and almost fell down the steps—this woman had tricked him so badly that he had no way out!
Looking up, he saw Han Fei, Ying Zheng, and Zhang Liang all looking at him, their lips curled into smiles, their eyes full of amusement.
"Don't believe her nonsense!" Lin Tianqian laughed twice, then put his arm around everyone's shoulders. "She's shameless, just refusing to leave! Come on, come on, take your seats, let's drink until we drop!"
Everyone took their seats, and the kitchen maids filed in, carrying trays steaming hot. Just then, Nongyu gracefully descended the stairs, her skirt fluttering lightly, like a lotus just beginning to bloom.
Lin Tian stood up confidently and introduced the two. Ying Zheng's gaze narrowed slightly as he thought to himself, "Sir, you are indeed a man of refined taste and elegance. This Miss Nongyu is exceptionally beautiful, and she and the Baiyue woman from before each have their own unique charm."
As the woman in purple slowly appeared, her beauty captivating and radiant, Ying Zheng's fingers tightened around his cup, nearly losing his composure—Where is this? Could it be the back garden of your private residence, sir?
Upon hearing that the person before her was none other than King Ying Zheng of Qin, Zi Nu's pupils constricted sharply, and she gasped in shock, mirroring Nong Yu's earlier reaction.
But when she saw Ying Zheng treating Lin Tian with utmost respect, addressing him as "Sir" with utmost courtesy, the slight surprise in her heart instantly turned into deep admiration.
She quietly clenched her sleeve, her heart churning: "Is he a holy teacher who enlightens emperors? Or a reclusive master with soaring swordsmanship?"
When Lin Tian reached out to serve Nongyu food and wine with practiced ease and gentleness, Zi Nu suddenly felt a slight bitterness in her throat, and ripples quietly rose in the depths of her heart.
"This is Zilan Pavilion." Lin Tian flipped his palm, and a white card flashed with light, revealing a pot of amber-colored fine wine in his hand. To onlookers, it was as if the wine had appeared out of thin air in a flash. "Ying Zheng, you've fulfilled your promise. Now that you're here and have seen the place—you should understand how much this place means to me, shouldn't you?"
He reminded him again, his voice soft yet as heavy as a rock.
Lin Tian redeemed a jar of aged wine from the white card, gently placed it on the table, and the moment he broke the mud seal, the rich aroma of the wine spread out like clouds and mist. Han Fei's throat moved, and his eyes shone brightly.
"Does Your Excellency truly believe that I have the potential to conquer the six kingdoms and unify the world?"
At this moment, Ying Zheng did not yet possess the domineering and awe-inspiring imperial demeanor that he would later have; his brows still carried the unique naiveté and sharpness of a young man.
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the room was shocked—except for Zhang Liang, Han Fei, Wei Zhuang, and Gai Nie, who already knew the inside story, everyone else held their breath and looked at Ying Zheng and Lin Tian with surprise and uncertainty.
Yan Lingji even raised her hand and gently patted Wushuang Gui, who was dozing against the stairs, and tapped his shoulder with her fingertip, signaling him to be quiet.
"If you hadn't agreed to my terms just now, you'd probably be dead by now. What's the point of talking about grand plans if you're dead?" Lin Tian's tone was cold, each word like a blade.
.........
Ying Zheng abruptly stood up, flicked his long sleeves, and bowed deeply: "I humbly request your guidance, sir!"
"Destroying Han is the first step you've taken." As soon as Lin Tian finished speaking, Han Fei, Zhang Liang, Zi Nu, and Nong Yu's expressions changed drastically, as if struck by lightning—more than half of the people in this room were originally from Han.
Han Fei and the other Han ministers present had already heard Lin Tian assert that "Qin will surely attack Han first," but now, hearing him point out with absolute certainty that "Han is the first among the six states," they still felt a tightness in their chests and found it hard to accept.
Han Fei questioned in a deep voice, "Brother Lin! Even if the Han dynasty is in decline, it should not become the beginning of the downfall of the Warring States!"
Ying Zheng remained silent, only asking softly, "May I ask, sir, why Han?"
"Among the six states, how does Han's national strength compare to the other five?" Lin Tian's lips curled slightly, but the smile did not reach his eyes.
"The weakest," Ying Zheng answered decisively.
"Han is located in the heart of the world, and Qin wants to expand eastward to contend for supremacy. Which country stands directly in front of its military might, and cannot be bypassed?"
Han Fei slumped down, letting out a long sigh: "...It's the State of Han."
Zhang Liang truly deserves his reputation as a sage unparalleled throughout history. Although he had not yet received the "Art of War by Taigong" from Huang Shigong, his insight was already sharp. He calmly analyzed the situation, saying, "Whenever the ruler of Qin aspires to unify the six kingdoms, he will surely take Han first—its long-standing problems make it vulnerable to attack; its strategic location makes it imperative to eliminate it. It is right under Qin's nose and is situated at the junction of Qin, Wei, and Chu."
"Believe it or not, it's up to you." Lin Tian suddenly raised his hand, pointing at Ying Zheng, his eyes deep and his smile hidden. "This man will sweep across the six kingdoms, encompass the four seas, make the nine provinces bow down, and have all nations pay tribute—he is the only emperor in history."
The room erupted in uproar, and everyone turned pale!
Ying Zheng abruptly stood up, personally took the wine pot, first filled his own cup, then poured one for Lin Tianman, raising the wine cup high with both hands, and bowed solemnly: "Sir, your wisdom is as bright as the stars, entrusting me with the fate of the world! I am already in a precarious situation, walking on thin ice, yet you still wholeheartedly pledge your trust... I will certainly live up to your expectations and achieve unification to repay your kindness! I offer this wine to you, sir!"
Lin Tian chuckled inwardly: "Heh, so Ying Zheng has been driven to the brink of disaster by internal and external troubles, and he can hardly even trust himself anymore."
But he knew perfectly well that what Ying Zheng needed most right now was not praise, but survival.
The first sword truly hanging over his head was the Eight Linglong and the Black and White Xuanjian.
Lin Tian was already secretly planning his move. Although Gai Nie and the others could protect him, they couldn't protect the future of Zi Lan Xuan.
If he were to bestow upon Ying Zheng the grace of rebirth, and Ying Zheng were to quietly withdraw from the scene, Ying Zheng, despite having a thousand thoughts, would not dare to easily break his promise.
Even if I'm certain he wouldn't dare, I'd rather be a little more cautious.
After all—there are people here he can't let go of.
Thinking of this, Lin Tian couldn't help but curse the damned system in his heart: Dongfang, Long'er, and now Nongyu... all were torn apart by it.
Otherwise, why would he rack his brains and scheme so hard for the Purple Orchid Pavilion? It's truly a headache!
He did not refuse and readily shared a cup of wine with Ying Zheng. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that the gloom between Ying Zheng's brows had vanished.
From the moment he stepped into Xinzheng, to the moment he first met himself, and now to this moment, Ying Zheng's face was always shrouded in an inescapable weariness and worry—he knew better than anyone that he was standing on the edge of a precipice.
And this gloom dissipated quietly with just a few words from him. It seems that his importance in Ying Zheng's heart has subtly changed.
Lin Tian was quite satisfied. All he wanted was to exchange this for Ying Zheng's promise.
As long as Zilan Pavilion remains unharmed after he withdraws, everything else can be put aside.
As for the Eight Linglong and the Black and White Xuanjian—the two sharpest blades in Lü Buwei's Net—they should have infiltrated Xinzheng long ago.
Today, Blood-Clad Marquis Bai Yifei led his men to the door; it was clearly to pave the way for Luo Wang, and even he himself had tacitly acknowledged this.
But why have we not seen any trace of those eight people, nor has Xuan Jian appeared?
The net of cunning is always swift and decisive, leaving no room for compromise.
By this time, the daylight had long since faded, and the heavy night pressed down upon the city walls of Xinzheng, yet the anticipated assassination attempt was still nowhere to be seen. Lin Tian had intended to use the pretext of inviting Ying Zheng for a drink to secretly keep a close eye on him while simultaneously forcing out the Luo Wang assassins lurking in the shadows, intent on taking Ying Zheng's life.
Whether it's the Eight Linglong or the Black and White Xuanjian, if they were to truly clash, it would only take one sword strike to decide life or death; yet they prefer to remain hidden like shadows, concealing their strength and making people's hearts clench.
Lin Tian waved his hand casually and smiled at Ying Zheng: "It's not that I'm praising you, it's just that you were born to bear this destiny."
Ying Zheng's heart trembled violently, but Han Fei stepped forward and asked urgently, "Brother Lin, what you call destiny... could it be related to the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon?"