Chapter 2, the woman with a furrowed brow

After Yan Shu left, Zhao Kuo returned to his bed and took out the concealed military knife and the titanium alloy beam. The battle he had with the black-clad guards in the morning made him realize that the military knife and the titanium alloy beam were products of a new era, effective tools for self-defense. However, the design of the titanium alloy beam was somewhat crude and should be reworked. As soon as this thought emerged, he immediately thought of an excellent place to do so

"You really know how to boast," Yan Shu laughed and said, "As long as you don't cause me any trouble, that's all that matters!" She knew that Zhao Kuo was not an easy character; she had been keeping a close watch on him for the past two years, otherwise who knows what kind of trouble he might have stirred up!

Finally, it is done; erecting a tombstone would make it even better. Zhao Kuo stood up, and his movement was frozen in place.

The leading black-clad guard looked in disbelief at the half of the iron sword remaining in his hand. This sword was a gift from King Zhao and was said to have been presented to him by the Guo family of Handan. The Guo family's iron swords were renowned for their sharpness and durability, yet unexpectedly, it had been severed in one blow by the opponent. If this were to be told, it would likely be met with disbelief.

Yan Shu was well aware of this and said: "It is not that we are not quick to prepare when the moment arrives! We must maintain the necessary demeanor; otherwise, we will attract gossip, suggesting that our Zhao family is arrogant and looks down on others. Kua'er must understand the principle of not provoking public anger. What we need to do is ensure that no one can find fault with us, and that will suffice"

Zhao Kuo felt a stir in his heart and said, "Mother, has there been any news from Yan? Did Father win the battle?" Based on the timeline, the war between Qin, Zhao, and Yan that occurred this year was of utmost importance to the Zhao family

Yan Shu nodded and said: "Not only is it a victory, but it is a complete victory. Fifty thousand Qin soldiers were beheaded, and the Qin general Hu Yang died amidst the chaos of battle. The king's decree has already arrived at the residence, and your father has been granted the title of Marquess of Cavalry, with a fief of one hundred and twenty li, holding a position equivalent to that of a senior minister ... ... "

Howl

Zhao Kuo looked at the two corpses on the ground, somewhat unable to believe that this was his own handiwork. Although he knew that the original Zhao Kuo was exceptionally skilled, he had not yet reached the level where he could take down two black-clad guards in the blink of an eye. Reflecting on his earlier actions, it seemed that he had moved much faster than he remembered.

Zhao Kuo chuckled and said, "Heaven knows where I have been, quickly have someone prepare some food for me, I am almost starving to death"

Thirsty, Zhao Kuo tilted his head and drank most of a bottle of base fluid. Upon seeing his original self beside the horse, he sighed, realizing that the corpse now seemed merely a vessel. It would be better to dig a hole and bury it!

The crime scene left Zhao Kuo dumbfounded, as the original version of Jack Ma lay collapsed beside Zhao Kuo's steed, looking quite tragic. The time machine had only a two-meter-long titanium alloy beam left, and the DV camera had long since turned into a small pile of scrap. What he found somewhat unbelievable was that the self-defense military knife and that bottle of base factor were still intact

"Mother, will this last-minute effort work?" Zhao Kuo said, "Lian Po is somewhat better; it is said that he is straightforward. Even if he has a disagreement with my father, he would not strike from behind. Lin Xiangru and Zhao Sheng are both deep-minded individuals. Even if I were to visit them, it might not be of any use and would instead lead to ridicule, suggesting that we are afraid of them." In Zhao Kuo's view, both Lian Po and Lin Xiangru are upright individuals, while he has little impression of Zhao Sheng due to the scant historical records.

Taking advantage of the opponent's momentary surprise, Zhao Kuo lost grip of his military knife, which then pierced the forehead of the black-clad guard, who did not even utter a sound before losing his life

Gong ... ... Gong ... ...

As Zhao Kuo made his move, the leading black-clad guard had already launched the signal arrow. The black-clad guards knew that it would not be long before a dozen or so of their comrades would arrive, leaving the assassin before them with no chance of escape.

Zhao Kuo listened to Yan Shu's analysis, and the cheerful smile on his face froze. He did not expect that Zhao She's victory would have such serious consequences; this was simply adding to the frustration! Previously, he knew that Zhao She was not good at making friends, but now he realized that Zhao She was skilled at creating enmities.

"If it weren't for the fact that there is a carriage leaving the palace, you might have truly escaped." In front of Zhao Kuo stood two individuals dressed in black, both appearing breathless, suggesting they had been running all the way to catch up.

Zhao Kuo recognized by the voice that the speaker was the leader of the black-clad guards who had searched Zhao Ni's dormitory last night. He believed that this was a very good way to escape the palace, but in the end, it all came to naught. Had he known it would turn out this way, it would have been better to use Zhao Ni as an excuse to leave the palace, which would not have raised any suspicions

Zhao Kuo needed time; how could he allow the opponent's objective to succeed? Before colliding with the black-clad guard, the titanium alloy beam in his right hand had already pierced the guard's chest. After knocking the guard in front of him aside, he did not look back. With a swift motion of his left hand, he struck back, and with a crisp sound, Zhao Kuo turned his head to see that the opponent's iron sword had been severed into two pieces by his military knife

"Everything is loaded, let's go! These items need to be thrown outside the city, hurry back as soon as possible." As the person spoke, the wheels began to turn slowly.

Zhao Kuo felt quite helpless when he heard his mother mention Zhao She’s character. Taking their family circumstances into account, it is not worth mentioning that Zhao She became the governor of a remote county in the State of Yan, as he was merely a guest in Yan. However, since returning to the State of Zhao to serve as an official in the Department of Agriculture, the family has never been well-off. The official in charge of agricultural taxes is supposed to hold a lucrative position, yet Zhao She, after so many years, has not brought any change to the family’s situation. To exaggerate, one might say that even the rats would have moved out due to hunger. After the Battle of Maiqiu, the situation improved slightly, as the King of Zhao often bestowed some rewards. Nevertheless, Zhao She remained oblivious, distributing those rewards among the soldiers. If it were not for Yan Shu managing the household, it is feared that the family would have long since fallen into ruin.

Yan Shu understood that her son was still young and said: "Sometimes, killing does not require a knife or a gun; a mere mouth can bring a person to their demise. Ten years ago, during the Battle of Maiqiu, your father offended Lian Po once. Now, in the Battle of Yan and Zhi, it was your father who overturned Lian Po's suggestion and insisted on sending troops for rescue. This enmity is firmly established. Lin Xiangru and Lian Po are of one mind, not to mention the fact that there is also Zhao Sheng, the Lord of Pingyuan. Your father once killed nine of his retainers in one go. Although Zhao Sheng did not express any grievances on the surface, can he not harbor hatred for your father in his heart? Lian Po is a seasoned general with military power; Lin Xiangru is the foremost civil minister with many followers; Zhao Sheng is a noble from the ancestral temple with thousands of retainers. Offending these three is tantamount to offending the entire aristocracy of the Zhao state. How can your mother not be afraid?"

Zhao Kuo chuckled and said, "Mother, what are you afraid of? Our Zhao family is not only a noble family in the temple, but we have also achieved great merit. Who would dare to bully us with their eyes closed? I, Zhao Kuo, will make them regret it for a lifetime." The victories of Zhao She and the rewards from King Zhao made Zhao Kuo feel elated. Titles, lands, and high offices, all of which were once unattainable, now came pouring down, making him feel fearless of heaven and earth.

Zhao Kuo was pressed against the bottom of the cart, unaware that the horse pulling the cart was defecating. The horse manure nearly fell onto his head. He cursed softly, rolled away from the cart, and after checking the direction, headed towards the accident scene

Sitting idly and waiting for death is not Zhao Kuo's character. Upon seeing the black-clad guard draw out a small crossbow, he realized that the other party intended to fire a signal arrow to summon reinforcements. He had little time left to escape and had to act swiftly to resolve the situation.

Ugh! What bad luck

You are to take these barrels of waste out through the side door and dispose of them, and remember not to spill any; the smell is truly unbearable.

The leading black-clad guard swiftly dodged the flying stone; at this moment, it was too late to draw the crossbow and shoot. He discarded the bow and crossbow, drew out his iron sword, and thrust it towards Zhao Kuo's side, aiming to break his companion's encirclement while also hoping to buy time for other black-clad guards to arrive

The sunlight shone on Zhao Ni, as if she were coated with a layer of golden film, making her appear exceptionally pure and graceful. Zhao Ni woke up with a frown, stretching as usual, but as soon as she raised her arms, she froze in place. She recalled the events of the previous night, lifted the brocade quilt, and looked at her disheveled state, realizing that everything from last night was indeed true. The expression on her face instantly became incredibly complex.

When Yanshu entered, she happened to see her son devouring his food as if he had never eaten in his life. She felt a pang of heartache and said, "Eat slowly. Where have you been? Did you not even have a meal?"

Second Young Master? The old servant of the Zhao residence, upon seeing Zhao Kuo, exclaimed with delight: "You have returned! The old lady was just asking why she hasn't seen the Second Young Master for a whole day and night!"

If Yan Shu knew that Zhao Kuo, who was before her, had just assaulted Princess Zhao Ni, she would probably faint from shock

Is that true? Zhao Kuo saw Yan Shu nodding and couldn't help but feel ecstatic, saying: "So, that means my father's status is now the same as that of Lian Po and Lin Xiangru. From now on, who would dare to look down on us? Ma Fu Jun, Ma Fu Jun, it sounds a bit strange when called out." Zhao Kuo suddenly recalled that the origin of the Ma surname came from Ma Fu Jun Zhao She, and it seems that his connection with the Zhao family is indeed quite profound

Yan Shu let out a gentle sigh and said, "Kua Er also knows that when the king first learned of the Qin army's sudden attack on Yan Yu, intending to seize Yan and spy on Handan, he once asked the officials whether they should send troops to rescue Yan Yu. At that time, all the officials said the journey was too far to provide aid, even Lian Po said the same. Yet your father insisted that 'in a narrow path, the brave prevail.' Fortunately, they won the battle, but the consequence of this victory is that it offended the officials. I fear that your father's return to Handan will not be so easy."

"Mother, you look truly beautiful." Addressing a woman in her thirties as 'Mother', Zhao Kuo felt no discomfort at all; perhaps it was the influence of their blood relationship.

Zhao Kuo noticed a hint of sorrow in Yan Shu's expression and asked, "Mother, you seem a bit unhappy, don't you?"

Zhao Kuo believed that his misfortune had finally come to an end, as he had not encountered any black-clad guards along the way. When he arrived at his doorstep, the anxiety that had weighed on him was finally lifted.

Zhao Kuo was stuck under the carriage. Familiar with Handan City, he knew that they had already left the royal palace. However, the carriage was on the main road, crowded with pedestrians, making it inappropriate to roll out at this moment. It seemed he could only wait until they were outside the city to address the situation. He had another important task to attend to outside the city, which was to inspect the site of the "trans-temporal traffic accident".

Upon this thought, Zhao Kuo no longer hesitated. He used the tip of his foot to flick a fist-sized stone towards the wrist of the black-clad guard, and immediately after, he charged at another black-clad guard with his military saber in hand

Yan Shu noticed that her son's expression was somewhat stiff and said, "Your father has that kind of temperament; he cannot change it. I can only place my hopes on you. Although our family is not affluent, we can still offer something. You should visit the residences of the three of them tomorrow; it would help to ease our mutual relations." Yan Shu understood that her son had a smooth personality, and such matters had to be handled by him.

Yan Shu smiled slightly and said, "It is indeed your sweet words." She had someone clear the dishes and invited Zhao Kuo to sit beside her, saying, "Kuo'er, Mother has some good news to share with you, and I would also like to hear your opinion." Although her second son was only sixteen years old, Yan Shu felt that Zhao Kuo's mind was much sharper than that of her eldest son, Zhao Ping, and she was willing to discuss matters with Zhao Kuo.

Zhao Kuo, upon hearing the remarks from outside, went over to slightly open the window and looked out. He discovered a cart parked in the courtyard, seemingly transporting goods outside the palace. He immediately sensed that this was a good opportunity to leave the palace. Taking advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention, he rolled under the cart and firmly grasped the axle, pressing his body tightly against the bottom of the cart

Zhao Kuo looked at the woman speaking in front of him, who was in her thirties, with a dignified appearance. A beauty mark was located right in the center of her chin, adding a touch of allure to her. She was Zhao Kuo's mother, Yan Shu

Zhao Kuo had no time to think further; he had to escape before the other black-clad guards arrived. He drew the military knife from the forehead of the black-clad guard and said: "I’m sorry, I cannot be recognized. If I get caught, it won’t just be one or two people who die. Who told me to appear inexplicably in the palace! If there’s someone to blame, let it be heaven!"

Zhao Kuo felt that Yan Shu's words were very reasonable, saying: "Alright then! I will visit each of their residences tomorrow. Mother, rest assured, I, Zhao Kuo, can handle two with one effort, and I guarantee to settle them all one by one"