In the silent hall.
The astonished expression on Li Si's face was quickly replaced by a slight smile.
"Your Majesty King An of Han. It seems this Qin-Han marriage alliance still needs to be discussed. Perhaps, Your Majesty King An of Han should first properly persuade Princess Honglian! After all, the Qin-Han alliance is to continue the good relations between Qin and Jin. Marriage is not for forming enmity! Moreover, I believe our King also does not wish for Young Master Ying An to marry a concubine who is completely unwilling!"
"Your Excellency, please rest assured," King An of Han said awkwardly, "This king will definitely persuade Honglian. That girl Honglian has been completely spoiled by this king. Please give this king some time, Your Excellency. This king believes that Honglian will surely understand that marrying Young Master Ying An is the greatest blessing of her life! This is also the blessing of our South Korea!"
"Then I shall await your good news!" Li Si exchanged a perfunctory greeting. Although in Li Si's heart, he truly hoped that the marriage alliance plan between Qin and South Korea would fall through.
But as the deputy envoy of the Qin delegation, Li Si would not neglect his duties. He would certainly try his best to facilitate this marriage alliance, but if the alliance failed due to reasons from South Korea, then Li Si would not be punished.
Perhaps, by creating an excuse for Qin to attack South Korea, it could even accelerate Li Si's speed in boarding the great ship of King Zheng of Qin.
Don't forget, Li Si was still Lu Buwei's retainer at this time. And this mission to South Korea was his best opportunity to break free from his status as Lu Buwei's retainer and officially enter Ying Zheng's sight.
"This king will certainly not disappoint Your Excellency!" King An of Han said with trepidation.
What was originally a high-end banquet to entertain the Qin delegation ended unhappily due to Honglian.
After sending off the members of the Qin delegation, King An of Han immediately summoned Honglian.
Here, King An of Han used both carrot and stick, hoping that Honglian would accept her fate and obediently marry into Qin to become a concubine for Young Master Ying An.
Meanwhile, after the banquet dispersed, Han Fei first went to the Purple Orchid House.
Inside the brightly lit Purple Orchid House, which could be called the largest pleasure house in New Zheng, South Korea, on the second floor in a secluded room.
All members of Liusha Four Giants knelt before a low table.
Wei Zhuang raised an eyebrow and said, "Gongzi Ying An of Qin? According to the information I have, this Gongzi Ying An is the second son of King Zheng of Qin. He was born to a Korean Princess. However, since birth, he has suffered from congenital deficiencies, and a Medicalists expert once prophesied that Gongzi Ying An would not live past sixteen years old!"
"As an elder brother, are you truly certain you want to marry your sister to someone who could die at any moment?" Wei Zhuang looked coldly at Han Fei.
"Brother Wei Zhuang." Han Fei said with a wry smile, "I'm afraid the information you have is severely outdated. Just now, in the King's Palace, I personally saw this Gongzi Ying An!"
"Oh?" Both Wei Zhuang, Zi Nu, and Zhang Liang showed interested expressions upon hearing this. Each of them eagerly awaited Han Fei to continue.
"Then, Ninth Prince, how do you feel about your cousin?" Zi Nu asked with a smile.
Frowning, Han Fei pondered for a moment before saying in a deep voice, "Very conflicted! The first time I saw him, he gave me the impression of a frail scholar. But strangely, I also felt an inexplicable sense of oppression from him! It was like... like facing a natural predator. It was a feeling that my life could be taken by the other party at any moment!"
"Natural predator?" Zhang Liang said in surprise, "Ninth Prince, are you mistaken because of Gongzi Ying An's Qin background?"
"No!" On this point, Han Fei had enough confidence. He said with conviction, "Do you remember what I told you? Although Qin is powerful, I still believe that as long as reforms can be carried out in Han, then one day, even Han, located in a land of four battles, will be able to exert pressure on the Six Kingdoms."
"Of course, I remember!" Zi Nu said playfully, "Ninth Prince personally said that the Seven Kingdoms under heaven, he wants ninety-nine!"
Han Fei chuckled and shook his head, "This Gongzi Ying An definitely has a problem! Not because of his identity, but because of him personally!"
"It seems that Gongzi Ying An harbors a secret hidden from the entire world!" Wei Zhuang showed an interested expression. Although his tone was cold, he kindly reminded, "Since you have already noticed Gongzi Ying An's abnormality, are you still insisting on marrying Honglian to Qin? Especially marrying her to this Ying An as a concubine?"
Han Fei said with a wry smile, "Although I firmly believe that Han can be made strong and prosperous, one must consider defeat before victory! We will soon be at odds with Liusha Four Giants. In this situation, if Honglian can gain the identity of a Qin prince's concubine, I believe even Ji Wuye would show some restraint!"
"So, you are doing this for Princess Honglian's safety!" Zi Nu nodded understandingly, but quickly asked in confusion, "Aren't you afraid of making things worse?"
"No!" Han Fei shook his head, his tone full of confidence, and said, "Ji Wuye is merely a stepping stone for me to implement reforms in Han. Even facilitating Honglian's marriage alliance with Qin is only to prevent Ji Wuye from acting recklessly."
The moment his words fell, Wei Zhuang suddenly seemed to think of something and corrected himself, "No! That's not right! The marriage alliance is a guarantee, and at the same time, you probably also have the idea of testing Gongzi Ying An. If Gongzi Ying An passes your test, and Honglian doesn't mind, you should complete this marriage alliance in the future, but by then, your goal of reform should have been achieved. Han will have the right to negotiate with Qin on equal terms. And Honglian will leap from the status of a concubine to a proper wife!"
Han Fei touched his nose and said awkwardly, "Brother Wei Zhuang, I never thought of going back on my word!"
"Indeed!" Wei Zhuang looked at Han Fei with a strange look in his eyes and said, "You certainly didn't think of breaking your promise. But through a marriage alliance, you have gained enough time for both Han and your reform plan. In fact, even Qin is just a pawn in your plan."
"Ninth Prince has such a grand plan. Even the tiger-wolf Qin is being used as a pawn by Ninth Prince!" As Han Fei's little admirer, after Wei Zhuang guessed Han Fei's plan, Zhang Liang was not only filled with emotion but also looked incredibly admiring.
Zi Nu reminded, "Ninth Prince, don't forget, this Gongzi Ying An is not a simple existence, besides the Qin behind him! Aren't you afraid of making things worse?"