Xianyang Palace, above the main hall.

Ying Yuan sat high on the dragon throne, looking down at Gai Nie and Xue Nu who were kneeling below.

"Tell me, why do you want to assassinate me?" Ying Yuan asked with a cold tone.

Gai Nie and Xue Nu remained silent.

"You won't tell me?" Ying Yuan sneered, "Then don't blame me for being rude."

He waved his hand, and two guards immediately stepped forward, ready to torture Gai Nie and Xue Nu.

"Wait!" The Snow Girl suddenly said, "I have something to say."

Ying Yuan looked at her with interest: "You say."

The Snow Girl took a deep breath and then said slowly: "My name is Zhao Ji..."

The Snow Girl took a deep breath and said slowly: "My name is Zhao Ji..."

Ying Yuan suddenly stood up from the dragon throne, his eyes full of shock and disbelief.

"Zhao Ji?" Ying Yuan repeated the name, his voice trembling, "You are...you are Zhao Ji?"

The Snow Girl, or Zhao Ji, nodded, a hint of pain flashing in her eyes.

"Yes, I am Zhao Ji, your... mother."

There was silence in the hall.

Ying Yuan was stunned, as if he was struck by lightning. He could never have imagined that the one who assassinated him would be his mother.

"Why?" Ying Yuan's voice was hoarse and painful. "Why did you do this?"

Zhao Ji was silent for a moment, then raised her head, looked directly into Ying Yuan's eyes, and said, "Because you killed my lover."

"Lover?" Ying Yuan frowned. "Are you talking about Lao Ai?"

Zhao Ji nodded: "Yes, it's him."

Ying Yuan sneered: "Lao Ai? That traitor? You actually want to assassinate me for him?"

"He is not a traitor!" Zhao Ji said excitedly, "He is my lover, he is everything to me!"

"That's enough!" Ying Yuan said angrily, "I don't want to hear any more of your nonsense! Someone, take her away!"

The guards immediately stepped forward and took Zhao Ji away.

Ying Yuan sat back on the dragon throne dejectedly, his eyes full of pain and confusion. He could never have imagined that his mother would assassinate him for a man.

He closed his eyes and the figure of Zhao Ji appeared in his mind.

He lost his mother when he was young and had only vague memories of her. He always thought that his mother was a gentle and kind woman.

However, today's Zhao Ji made him feel unfamiliar.

He didn't know what Zhao Ji had gone through to become what she was now.

……

Cold palace.

Zhao Ji was imprisoned in a dark and damp room.

She huddled in a corner, covered with a tattered quilt, shivering.

She has been here for three days.

During these three days, she didn't eat a single bite of food or drink a single sip of water.

She is desperate.

She knew that Ying Yuan would not let her go.

She closed her eyes and the image of Lao Ai appeared in her mind.

"Lao Ai, where are you?" Zhao Ji murmured to herself, "I miss you so much..."

Suddenly, the door opened.

Ying Yuan walked in.

Zhao Ji raised her head and looked at Ying Yuan, her eyes full of fear.

"What...what are you going to do?" Zhao Ji asked tremblingly.

Ying Yuan walked up to Zhao Ji and looked down at her.

"I want to ask you a question." Ying Yuan said, "Why do you want to assassinate me?"

Zhao Ji was silent for a moment, then raised her head, looked directly into Ying Yuan's eyes, and said, "Because you killed my lover."

"Lover?" Ying Yuan sneered, "Are you talking about Lao Ai?" Zhao Ji nodded, "Yes, it's him."

A trace of anger flashed in Ying Yuan's eyes: "Lao Ai? That traitor? You actually want to assassinate me for him?"

"He is not a traitor!" Zhao Ji said excitedly, "He is my lover, he is everything to me!"

"Shut up!" Ying Yuan roared, "You actually want to assassinate me for a man? Are you worthy of me? Are you worthy of the country of Qin?"

Zhao Ji sneered: "The country? Do you think I still care about these? I have nothing left, I only have Lao Ai!"

"You..." Ying Yuan was so angry that he was shaking all over, "You are really hopeless!"

He turned and left, his figure disappearing into the darkness.

Zhao Ji sat on the ground dejectedly, her eyes filled with despair.

She knew she was finished.

……

Xianyang Palace, Imperial Study Room.

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.

Ying Yuan sat on the dragon throne, looking at the memorial in his hand with a frown.

He hasn't slept well for several days.

He has been uneasy ever since Zhao Ji assassinated him.

He didn't know how to deal with this.

He didn't want to kill Zhao Ji, after all, she was his mother.

But he couldn't let her go.

If he let Zhao Ji go, he would not be able to explain to the people of the world.

He was in a dilemma.

At this time, Gai Nie walked in.

"Your Majesty." Gai Nie saluted.

"Mr. Gai, you are here." Ying Yuan said, "I have something to ask you."

"Your Majesty, please speak." Gai Nie said.

"Mr. Gai, how do you think I should deal with Zhao Ji?" Ying Yuan asked.

Gai Nie was silent for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty, I think this matter should be dealt with leniently."

"Give me a lighter sentence?" Ying Yuan frowned. "Mr. Gai, what do you mean by this?"

"Your Majesty, Zhao Ji is your mother after all." Gai Nie said, "Moreover, she assassinated you because of Lao Ai. If Your Majesty kills her, I'm afraid it will cause criticism from the world."

Ying Yuan was silent.

Gai Nie's words made him fall into deep thought.

He really didn't want to kill Zhao Ji, but he couldn't let her go.

What should he do?
At this time, Li Si walked in.

"Your Majesty." Li Si saluted.

"Li Si, you are here." Ying Yuan said, "I have something to ask you."

"Your Majesty, please speak." Li Si said.

"Li Si, how do you think I should deal with Zhao Ji?" Ying Yuan asked.

Li Si was silent for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty, I think this matter should be dealt with severely."

"Sentence severely?" Ying Yuan frowned. "Li Si, what do you mean by this?"

"Your Majesty, Zhao Ji's assassination of you is a crime of treason," Li Si said. "If Your Majesty lets her go, you will not be able to explain to the people of the world."

Ying Yuan was silent.

Li Si's words made him fall into deeper thought.

What should he do?
How should he deal with Zhao Ji?

Gai Nie advocated a lighter sentence, while Li Si insisted on a heavier sentence. The two completely different opinions made Ying Yuan even more irritated. He waved his hand, signaling the two to leave, and paced alone in the imperial study. Zhao Ji was his biological mother, which made it difficult for him to let go, but she was the criminal who assassinated and the source of Lao Ai's rebellion, which made him intolerable.

Ying Yuan suddenly stopped, a cold light flashed in his eyes: "Someone come!"

Two guards came in and knelt on one knee. "What do you want, Your Majesty?"

"Pass on my order to imprison the Queen Mother... Zhao Ji in Yongcheng and not to leave without an imperial decree!" Ying Yuan's voice was cold and emotionless. He knew that this was the best choice he could make at the moment, which would not only save Zhao Ji's life, but also maintain the dignity of the Qin Dynasty. (End of this chapter)