Undercurrents of Power Struggles

Faced with the unfathomable figure of Lao Ai before her, Jingni felt a deep sense of dread. She walked on thin ice, acutely aware of the man's insatiable greed for power and his unrestrained depravity. Were it not for her status as a "Heaven-Rank One" assassin, which gave him pause, she would likely have already fallen into his clutches. Now, Jingni's sole desire was to escape from this quagmire as quickly as possible. The trip to Fancheng presented a golden opportunity for her to break free.

With this in mind, Jingni composed herself and continued her report to Lü Buwei: "Chancellor, I have no pressing matters at hand recently. This trip to Fancheng is not only to make contact with Qin Yi, but more importantly, to secretly investigate the whereabouts of Xuanjian! This is no small matter, and whoever undertakes this mission must possess exceptional skills. I believe I am capable enough to handle it. Even if I unfortunately encounter Xuanjian and his associates, I can hold my own and find an opportunity to capture them, thus relieving the Chancellor of his worries."

Lü Buwei listened to Jingni's words, nodding slightly as he fell into deep thought. Within his deep-set eyes, a sharp light flickered, like a predator lurking in the shadows, both keen and sinister. The candlelight within the hall flickered, casting shifting shadows upon his face, adding to his air of inscrutability. After a long while, he finally raised his hand, stopping Lao Ai, who seemed about speaking, and slowly said, "Very well, Lao Ai, let Jingni handle this matter. Within the entire Net, considering both skill and cunning, she is perhaps the most suitable."

Turning his gaze towards Jingni, he continued with a tone of undeniable authority: "Jingni, I entrust this matter entirely to you. The matter of Xuanjian can be set aside for now, but Qin Yi, you must keep a close watch on him for me. Every single action, every minute detail, must be reported to me without fail, do you understand?"

Jingni dared not be negligent upon hearing these instructions. She immediately bowed respectfully, her clear, cold voice responding: "Yes, I understand."

Seeing this, Lü Buwei nodded slightly and gave a terse command: "Remember, your primary objective on this trip is to ensure that Qin Yi completely and utterly submits to me! You can rest assured, I have already ordered a thorough investigation into his background. Qin Yi is merely a low-ranking general who rose from the ranks; he has no affiliations with any factions within the court. He knows little of the political intrigues and backstabbing that occur here. With my current power and position, coupled with the generous gifts I am bestowing upon him, I refuse to believe that he would be so foolish as to reject my offer and refuse to submit."

"This…" Jingni was momentarily speechless. The middle-aged man before her analyzed human nature with chilling precision, as if everyone and everything in the world were merely pawns to be manipulated at his whim. This precise grasp and ruthless exploitation of human nature sent a chill down Jingni's spine.

"Of course, to ensure absolute certainty, I still need to take some precautions, just in case something unexpected happens. After all, if something truly goes wrong, I certainly don't want to have worked for the benefit of others." Lü Buwei's voice suddenly turned icy cold, like shards of ice in the dead of winter, instantly lowering the temperature within the hall.

Hearing these words, Jingni's expression also turned serious. A cold glint flashed in her icy eyes as she instantly understood the deeper meaning behind Lü Buwei's words. "Chancellor means…" she began, then gently mimed a cutting motion across her slender, pale neck with a delicate hand. The gesture was gentle, yet it carried a chilling intent.

Seeing this, Lü Buwei nodded with satisfaction, a sinister smile curving the corners of his mouth. "As expected of the Jingni Sword Master, truly intelligent and perceptive, understanding everything with just a hint," he said in a sinister tone. "This time, I am sending you to Fancheng for two reasons. First, if Qin Yi proves to be uncooperative and stubbornly refuses to submit to me, then you are to eliminate him without hesitation. Second, if Qin Yi proves to be a wise man who recognizes the current situation and is willing to submit to me, then you are to remain by his side, secretly assisting him and monitoring his every move, do you understand?"

"Yes, I obey your command!" Jingni bowed once more, her clear, cold voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor—a mixture of fear towards Lü Buwei and complex emotions regarding the impending mission.

Lü Buwei raised his eyes and gave Jingni's graceful figure a meaningful glance, a hint of admiration involuntarily showing in his shrewd eyes. He mused internally: Such a thorny yet exquisite rose, even he had not dared to touch her until now. If she were to be taken by that unknown Qin Yi, it would truly be a waste of such a precious treasure. With this thought, Lü Buwei could not help but let out a long sigh. What he desired was supreme power, and as for women, once he reached the pinnacle of power, he could have as many as he desired.

Jingni, being so astute, understood the unspoken meaning behind Lü Buwei's words and the strange look in his eyes. A faint blush crept onto her delicate face, but it was only fleeting. She quickly regained her usual cold and detached demeanor. Lowering her head, Jingni said in a respectful yet icy voice: "Yes, I will certainly do my utmost to fulfill the Chancellor's trust!"

Standing to one side, Lao Ai witnessed everything. His already gloomy face became even more ashen, like the sky before a storm, dark clouds gathering, creating a suffocating atmosphere. However, he was well aware of Lü Buwei's power and methods, and even though his heart was filled with resentment and jealousy, he dared not show any disrespect in Lü Buwei's presence. He could only suppress all his grievances and anger deep within his heart, grinding his teeth in silent fury, almost to the point of shattering them.

Lü Buwei, oblivious to Lao Ai's reaction, nodded with satisfaction and then burst into a triumphant laugh. The laughter, filled with the desire for power and the confidence of controlling everything, echoed through the empty and silent hall, sounding particularly jarring and arrogant: "Haha ha ha… Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! In this world, the one with the greatest power and the most esteemed position can be none other than I, Lü Buwei!"

At the same time, in a secluded courtyard far away in Xianyang… A young man dressed in luxurious robes stood with his hands clasped behind his back, a hint of melancholy etched between his brows, gazing at the bright moon in the sky, as if confiding his endless thoughts to it. A gentle evening breeze caressed the courtyard's trees and flowers, bringing a slight coolness, yet it failed to dispel the lingering sorrow in his heart.

"A long and tranquil night, the moonlight is truly captivating!" After a long silence, the young man finally let out a long sigh, breaking the stillness of the courtyard. He slowly turned around, his gaze falling upon a black-clad figure kneeling on one knee not far away.

"Are you saying…" The young man's voice was deep and resonant, like a stream flowing through a deep valley, calm and far-reaching, making it difficult to discern his current mood. "Are you saying that the Hun army not only failed to capture the small city of Fancheng, but was instead routed by a mere thousand Qin soldiers, fleeing in utter disarray?"

Upon hearing the young man's question, the black-clad figure dared not conceal or delay anything. He lowered his head respectfully and replied in a deep voice: "Reporting to the Young Master, that is indeed the case! Your subordinate witnessed it firsthand. The Qin army was originally on its last legs, their morale at rock bottom, seemingly on the verge of collapse. But for some unknown reason, the Qin general defending the city suddenly displayed extraordinary power, single-handedly leading a hundred or so Qin soldiers and shockingly routed tens of thousands of Hun troops, sending them fleeing in complete panic!"

After hearing the black-clad man's report, the young man fell into a prolonged silence, his deep gaze fixed on the distant night sky, as if contemplating some crucial matter. Silence descended upon the courtyard once more, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the evening breeze, whispering through the night like the soft murmurings of lovers.

After a long while, the young man slowly raised his hand, gently waving it towards the black-clad figure. "Very well," he said calmly, "you have traveled a long and arduous journey, you must be exhausted. Go and rest well! Conserve your strength for future use."

"Yes! Thank you for your concern, Young Master!" The black-clad figure bowed deeply once more, then retreated as silently as a ghost melting into the darkness of the night, leaving only the swaying shadows of the trees and the rustling leaves dancing gently in the moonlight within the courtyard.

Once the black-clad figure had completely disappeared into the night, only the young man in the fine robes remained standing in the courtyard. He still stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing up at the cold, bright moon in the sky. 

The moonlight bathed him in a faint silver glow, further accentuating the loneliness and desolation of his figure. The night breeze swept past, bringing waves of coolness and causing his robes to flutter and rustle, yet it failed to dispel the deep-seated sorrow etched between his brows, instead adding a touch of bleakness to the scene.

"Young Master, now that the plan has completely failed, what should we do next?" Suddenly, a slightly languid voice, tinged with a hint of nonchalance, drifted from a shadowy corner of the courtyard, shattering the tranquil atmosphere and instantly dissipating the heavy silence that had hung in the air.

Upon hearing this voice, the young man's previously calm expression remained unchanged, as if he had anticipated this person's appearance. There was no trace of surprise or panic on his face. He continued to gaze up at the moon, his deep eyes flickering with complex emotions, making it impossible to decipher his true thoughts. After a long pause, he finally spoke slowly, his voice low and composed, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority: "It seems that the young general being discussed in court today, the one who defended Fancheng, must be the Qin Yi you mentioned!" He paused for a moment, his tone tinged with a barely perceptible hint of regret and admiration. "Alas, it is truly unexpected that the state of Qin continues to produce such outstanding talents. It is truly a land of heroes! In contrast, my Yan state…" He shook his head slightly, a fleeting look of ruthlessness flashing across his brow, like a shooting star streaking across the night sky—brief but chilling. However, this ruthless expression vanished as quickly as it appeared, instantly replaced by his usual gentle and refined demeanor, as if everything just now had been a mere illusion.

He slowly turned his body, his gaze directed towards an even darker corner of the courtyard, and spoke in a flat tone: "It seems that this time, I will truly need you to personally take action."

As soon as the young man spoke these words, a blurred figure flickered out from the previously empty shadowy corner. The figure stood with their back to the bright moonlight, completely shrouded in darkness, making it impossible to discern their true features. Only a vague outline could be seen, like a phantom haunting the night, mysterious and eerie.

"Hehe…" The figure in the shadows let out a few low chuckles, their voice carrying a hint of playful indifference, breaking the previously tense atmosphere within the courtyard. "Young Master, just give the order, and this subordinate will certainly do everything in my power, even at the cost of my life!" As they spoke, they gave a slight bow towards the young man's direction, their every gesture revealing a nonchalant attitude, as if everything was completely within their grasp.

"Hmm." The young man merely nodded slightly, without saying anything more, and then turned back again, continuing to gaze up at the bright moon. His voice, tinged with an unfathomable meaning, drifted into the ears of the figure in the shadows: "Since this plan has completely failed, then I have no choice but to activate another plan that I have already prepared! Hehe… Great Qin… Ying Zheng… just you wait! Wait to be turned upside down by me, to have no peace whatsoever!"

"Hahahaha…" Before his words had even finished echoing, the young man suddenly threw back his head and let out a burst of unrestrained and arrogant laughter. The laughter reverberated throughout the silent courtyard, sounding particularly jarring and overbearing, also foreshadowing a massive storm that was about to descend. This laughter, like the roar of a beast lurking in the darkness, was filled with danger and ominous premonitions, sending chills down one's spine.

This concludes the translation. I focused on maintaining the descriptive richness and dramatic tension of the original Chinese while ensuring accurate and natural English phrasing. I hope this meets your expectations.