Adhere to the gentleman's principles

Chapter 251: Life is a Laughing Chapter

Qin Zhuoyuan walked into the hall, clapping his hands and laughing, "Haha, you're so awesome! Li Ziyan, you're really awesome, you've tricked me again!" His voice echoed in the empty hall with a hint of disbelief and helplessness.

Li Ziyan quietly watched Qin Zhuoyuan approaching, with a barely perceptible smile flashing across his eyes. Ouyang Jing and Xiahou Yuan led the Imperial Guards to quietly withdraw from the palace, and Wang Luozhong was also escorted away, and the whole scene became unusually quiet.

Qin Zhuoyuan walked up to Li Ziyan, stopped, stared at him, and said with emotion: "Li Ziyan, you are really amazing. Every one of my plans was easily seen through by you. I really don't understand, when you were in Yangzhou before, were you really a playboy, or were you pretending to be so?"

Facing Qin Zhuoyuan's questioning, Li Ziyan still maintained his nonchalant look, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised, and said softly: "Whether it is true or false, does it matter? I am Li Ziyan, no matter in the past or now. I do things with a sincere heart." His tone was calm and firm, as if conveying a message to Qin Zhuoyuan - he would not be swayed by the evaluation of the outside world, but would only live according to his own principles and ways.

Qin Zhuoyuan nodded, expressing his agreement: "Indeed, you were able to achieve the third place in the provincial examination in a short period of time, and you resolved the local military problem in Liangzhou in just half a year. Then, you quelled the rebellion in Bingzhou in just another half a year, and were promoted to the position of Shangshu. It can be said that you have risen rapidly and you deserve the title!"

Li Ziyan responded modestly: "You are too kind."

Qin Zhuoyuan then asked, "But speaking of which, when you come to Pingliang this time, can Zhao Junning still defend Jingzhou?"

Li Ziyan answered confidently: "If you think she can't defend it, you wouldn't ask this question. My wife Zhao Junning is as capable as any man in the country. She has always achieved what she wants. For a talented woman like her, defending a city is a piece of cake."

Qin Zhuoyuan smiled and nodded in agreement. He said with emotion, "Yes, after all, even someone as disheartened as Zhao Junning could keenly detect the anomaly in such a carefully planned and watertight conspiracy, and follow the clues to find the real culprit and eliminate him. Sometimes, I even begin to doubt whether she has the ability to predict the future."

Li Ziyan shook his head slightly, with a hint of emotion and regret in his tone, he said: "In fact, it is not like that, she does not have the ability to predict the future. It's just that when a person has experienced countless losses, he will gradually learn to deal with it calmly and become more and more stable. However, thinking about it, she is only a 19-year-old girl!" His words revealed his admiration, heartache and love for his wife, and he also lamented the injustice and hardships of fate to this young girl.

Qin Wenzhao and Xu walked in together. Qin Wenzhao said with a sad face: "Yuan'er, you can't make the same mistake again!"

Qin Zhuoyuan turned to look at Qin Wenzhao, his eyes full of resentment and anger. He responded loudly: "Wrong? How could I be wrong?"

Qin Wenzhao took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, and then slowly said: "I know you hate me because of your mother's death, but do you know how serious a crime your mother has committed? Your mother stole a state secret - the infantry map. If this map were to be circulated, how many innocent people of the Wei Dynasty would die as a result!"

Hearing this, Qin Zhuoyuan's face became extremely gloomy. He gritted his teeth and said, "So what? Even if my mother was wrong, you shouldn't kill her! In this case, I will personally ascend the throne, hold the power of life and death, and avenge my mother!"

Qin Wenzhao stared at Qin Zhuoyuan with his eyes wide open in disbelief. He murmured to himself, "Are you crazy?"

Qin Zhuoyuan didn't care. He straightened his body, looked determined and said: "Fighting for the throne is a life-and-death contest, and it is inevitable that there will be a chance of death. But those so-called kings are all weak and incompetent, and they have done nothing. Since they can't make it, what's wrong with me taking this position?" His voice was full of confidence and determination, as if he had already seen the day when he would ascend the throne.

After saying that, Qin Zhuoyuan suddenly drew out his sword and stabbed Li Ziyan fiercely! Seeing this, Li Ziyan also drew his sword and fought back without showing any weakness, and the two of them fought each other in an instant.

For a moment, sword shadows flashed, cold light flashed, and the surrounding air seemed to be torn apart by their sharp sword energy!

After a fierce confrontation, Li Ziyan was finally more skilled. He dodged and kicked Qin Zhuoyuan to the ground.

However, Qin Zhuoyuan, who fell to the ground, did not show the slightest sign of frustration. Instead, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He looked at Li Ziyan and said, "Li Ziyan, Li Ziyan, I really envy you! You have the love of your parents, but what about me? I have nothing..."

Speaking of this, Qin Zhuoyuan's eyes revealed a trace of deep sadness and resentment.

Then, he turned to look at Qin Wenzhao who was standing aside, and said coldly: "You are indeed good to my mother, but that doesn't mean you are a good person! Xu Gong, don't you have anything to say?"

Hearing Qin Zhuoyuan's question, Li Ziyan couldn't help but look at Xu Gong. Xu Gong frowned, and after a moment of silence, he finally spoke slowly: "It is indeed my fault to fall in love with your mother; I am also responsible for her death. However, this has nothing to do with others, and you should not implicate innocent people."

Qin Zhuoyuan burst into laughter upon hearing this, his eyes full of disdain and mockery: "Others? Li Ziyan is your nephew! You clearly know that I am your biological son, but you ignored me and turned a blind eye to me. Xu Gong, do you think you are so great?"

Xu Wenhe looked at Xu Gong puzzled. Xu Gong said, "I feel sorry for your mother emotionally. I will agree to whatever you want to do. But nothing happened between your mother and me. I was drunk that night, but I have a problem. No matter how much I drink, I will always be sober."

Qin Zhuoyuan laughed sarcastically, "It's not you, it can't be you, my mother said it was you."

Qin Wenzhao stepped forward and said, "That night I was with your mother. I have admired your mother for a long time. That night she drank too much and couldn't help but have sex with me."

Qin Zhuoyuan laughed loudly and said, "I am the joke after all this. I took revenge on the wrong person."

Then there was a loud bang and flames shot up into the sky. Qin Zhuoyuan said, "My life is such a joke."