The Qin Dynasty entered the game with love.

Chapter 73 Death

Zhao Yan's request for an audience was not unusual, but he was still stopped at the palace gate.

Looking at the few unruly servants who refused him, Zhao Yan vowed to teach them a lesson, but his face was still full of grief: "Zhao Yan is incompetent. My father's life is hanging by a thread, but I can only watch. I am heartbroken and want to share my father's burden. Now that my elder brother is a hostage in Qin, I am willing to give myself in exchange for my brother's return and to take control of the government."

Upon hearing Zhao Yan's words, the ministers who were seeking an audience with the King of Zhao praised him for his magnanimity, and even Lian Po and Mao Sui were impressed by him.

Lian Po clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Your Highness Yan is magnanimous. I admire you greatly and hope that Your Majesty will grant you an audience."

Mao Sui then suggested, "But King Zhao is already terminally ill. Even if Prince Yan is willing to be a hostage in Qin, there is no time to do so."

Lian Po was dissatisfied: "The King of Zhao is still in good health. He is not like what you said. It is perfectly fine to wait a few days. Even if something unexpected happens, Prince Yan will be in charge."

Mao Sui still offered a different opinion: "But if we are to exchange hostages, Prince Yan and Prince You will both be on their way. If the princes are in trouble, which ruler should Zhao appoint?"

Lian Po pondered for a moment, and General Li Mu spoke up at the opportune moment: "It would be better to have Prince Yan meet with King Zhao and let King Zhao make the decision."

Lian Po nodded, and the ministers outside began to demand that Prince Yan and King Zhao discuss state affairs face-to-face.

King Zhao was surprised that Zhao Yan was so sensible. As people get older, they yearn for their children to be around them, so he arranged for someone to invite Zhao Yan in.

When Zhao Yan entered the hall, he saw Zhao Dan, whose face was gaunt. Upon seeing his son, Zhao Dan felt a little better and beckoned Zhao Yan to come closer.

Seeing that his father could not raise his hand, Zhao Yan lowered his head and brought it close to his palm: "Father, Yan'er is incompetent and cannot help you share your worries. I know you don't like me, and I know I don't have any great ambitions. Without you, no one will be willing to protect me."

Looking at this extremely mischievous child, Zhao Dan felt gratified: "My child, your father... your father has not misjudged you. You have always been a good child. I heard you say that you are willing to be a hostage in Qin in exchange for You'er."

Zhao Yan's eyes were filled with tears: "Yes, I am willing. Without your protection, I only have my elder brother as my family. I am doing this voluntarily."

Tears welled up in Zhao Dan's eyes: "Yan'er, you've grown up. I'm very happy, but you can't leave. You must stay and inherit the rightful line. Qin and Zhao have a long-standing feud. With neither of you in Zhao, it's the perfect opportunity for them to attack."

Zhao Dan had felt powerless for some time, but now that Zhao Yan had come, he felt a surge of heat, which must have been a sign of joy and a temporary resurgence of energy.

He summoned his trusted confidants and invited the ministers outside the gate into the hall.

Zhao Dan struggled to his feet, and Zhao Yan quickly helped him up: "Prime Minister, now that the State of Zhao is in peril, are you willing to assist Yan'er?"

Lian Po, his voice booming, said, "Your Majesty, I humbly request your command."

Zhao Dan was pleased. Lian Po was capable and hardworking, and leaving him to Zhao Yan could help him withstand a lot of open and covert struggles: "Yan'er, after I leave, you must continue to serve Lian Po as prime minister. Li Mu is a brilliant strategist, and you must make good use of him. After I leave, Qin will definitely mobilize its army. As long as someone guards Yanmen Pass, Zhao will not perish."

Once Zhao is stable, you must pressure Qin to bring Prince You back to Handan and make him their ruler.

Lian Po felt it was inappropriate, but considering the actions of Prince Yan at the palace gate, he did not refuse: "Your subject obeys the order and will certainly assist Prince Yan and Prince You well in the future."

Mao Sui felt flustered. He knew what kind of person Zhao Yan was and that he was not suitable to be a ruler. But thinking of that weakness, he could only close his eyes and wait and see what the future of the Zhao state would be like.

Li Mu was always a member of the prince's faction, and he listened to no one but the king's orders, kneeling down to receive them.

Zhao Dan felt much better, a surge of warmth coursing through her body. She patted Zhao Yan's head, who was still weeping, and said, "Yan'er, I know you're a good child. Assist your brother well in the future, and he won't mistreat you."

Zhao Yan nodded in agreement, crying like a child.

Zhao Dan was a little tired and stopped talking, telling everyone to leave. However, she couldn't calm down the anger in her body, so she called a maid to help her.

In his excitement, his face was still flushed, but then he stopped moving, and the maid turned pale with fright.

Zhao Dan's trusted eunuchs were the first to beat the maid to death with sticks, then broke off the second son, cleaned up the body, and hung up a white cloth to announce to the world that King Zhao had died.

The people were grieving, but Gongzi Yan, who had returned home, was overjoyed to receive the news.

He immediately hugged and kissed the actor: "It's a good thing that old man is dead. Sure enough, he was planning to make my elder brother the King of Zhao. Humph, and that Lian Po, who said he would assist two kings. What use is that fickle courtier to me?"

The courtesan was overjoyed. Who could have imagined that a woman from the courtesan academy would one day become the mother of a nation, and that her children would one day become the kings of Zhao?

Just thinking about it makes me tremble with excitement.

Guo Kai immediately knelt down: "Congratulations, Your Majesty, Congratulations, Madam."

Zhao Yan was happy for a while, then, thinking of Zhao You, he beckoned Guo Kai over and gave him a few instructions.

Guo Kai smiled mysteriously, accepted the order, and left.