Chapter 345: Admit Defeat

Xianyang.

The Wei River flows slowly eastwards.

The waterside pavilion by the river, surrounded by green trees, looks increasingly quiet in the cold winter wind.

A fresh fish was fished out of the river and quickly sent to the kitchen to be cooked by the best cook here.

Lu Buwei sat alone, with a place in front of him, but the guards who followed him didn't know who it was for.

The cold wind cannot blow into this exquisite waterside pavilion, but you can enjoy the river view from inside.

The charcoal fire emits light smoke, and the bronze heater radiates heat, filling every corner.

"Xiangbang, the fish is here."

The chef of this waterside pavilion had the same attitude towards Lu Buwei as before, without any change.

Lu Buwei nodded, but did not move his chopsticks.

The cook frowned slightly, confused.

"Xiangbang, this fish won't taste good if it's cold."

Lu Buwei didn't care, he just poured himself a glass of wine.

"It's okay, I'm waiting for the guests."

The cook responded, a little strange, who is so powerful that he dares to let Lu Buwei wait?

Even though he felt strange, the cook did not continue to wait. Instead, he returned to the kitchen and continued to prepare the rest of the dishes.

Lu Buwei seemed to be very interested in drinking. Until, with a thump, a shadow fell from the tree.

One stone stirs up a thousand waves.

A large number of guards gathered there, but then, a second and third figure fell from the trees outside the waterside pavilion.

Lu Buwei waved his hand and motioned for his men to retreat. Soon, the person he was waiting for appeared in front of him.

"In this season, Xiangbang is still so interested?"

Wei Zhuang appeared in the room and looked at the old man in front of him with complicated eyes.

"You've got some good men."

Lu Buwei smiled, waved his hand, and motioned for Wei Zhuang to sit down.

"The people in Luowang and Lord Changping's men are all staring at Xiangbang, but Xiangbang's interest is unexpectedly good. Wei Zhuang is really impressed at this time!"

"These are the people I prepared for you. If you can't fix it, then there's no point in having this conversation."

Wei Zhuang's face was solemn, facing the person in front of him with a cautious attitude towards a powerful enemy.

"Then does Xiangbang know why I'm here?"

Lu Buwei touched his beard, his expression a little complicated.

"When you followed him, I was actually very confused. But now, I understand a little bit. I have huge power in my hands, but I was helplessly defeated amidst the encirclement and suppression by everyone."

"As time goes by, the power that used to follow me will leave little by little. Until I have nothing left."

Wei Zhuang remained silent. Even as a political strategist, he didn't know how to speak when facing the somewhat frustrated old man.

"As for Zhao Shuang's request, I can agree."

Wei Zhuang was surprised.

"Xiangbang knows what he wants?"

Lu Buwei gently touched his beard and smiled slightly.

"I'm leaving. There's no use keeping this property in Guanzhong. It doesn't hurt to give it to him."

At this point, Lu Buwei's frustration was swept away, replaced by a sense of competition.

"When I came to Qin alone, I was in high spirits; today I am about to leave, but I am in low spirits. However, I am not convinced."

Wei Zhuang looked at Lu Buwei and asked softly.

"What does Xiangbang want?"

"Zhao Shuang is indeed powerful! However, in contrast, I am not afraid. I am also confident that I will not lose when compared with him. However, he adopts the strategy of fighting without fighting."

Zhao Shuang did not walk in front and compete with Lu Buwei like Lord Changping. In fact, he hid behind and did not seem to be involved in the tense battles in the Xianyang court during this period. However, the impact behind the scenes is huge.

But this trick hit the vital point.

"He dug the hole, and he is the one who wants to rescue me now. When I think about it, I feel so angry that I wish I could unite all my troops and fight with him to avenge my shame. But I also know that this is impossible."

Lu Buwei shook his head. Others didn't know, but he knew how damaged Zhao Shuang was. But in the end, Lu Buwei sighed.

"That's all! The reason why I saw you here is because I still have a doubt in my heart. Why did you leave in the first place?"

Wei Zhuang raised his head, feeling a little surprised.

"Isn't it normal to leave a ship that is about to be damaged?"

Lu Buwei poured himself a glass of wine, but he didn't take it seriously.

"Ordinary people may be like this, but you are Wei Zhuang."

Wei Zhuang had never thought that Lu Buwei knew him so well.

"Because he is Zhao Shuang!"

A simple answer, but Lu Buwei, who was pouring wine, stopped what he was doing and looked at Wei Zhuang.

"I thought I knew you very well, but actually I don't know you well enough. You and Genie seem to be completely different, but I thought you were the same kind of person. But now I find that you are still different."

Lu Buwei's eyes were very clear, as if he could see everything clearly. But Wei Zhuang didn't understand the deeper meaning.

For the first time, Lu Buwei poured Wei Zhuang a glass of wine and seemed very happy.

"I understand that after exiting Xianyang, there seems to be a way to survive, but there is not much time left for me."

Lu Buwei drank a glass of wine, stood up slowly, and looked at the distant scenery.

"After all, the future does not belong to an old man like me."

Wei Zhuang looked at the glass of wine in front of him but never drank it. He stood up and left without saying a word.

After a while, Lu Buwei turned around and looked at the wine-filled Lord, with a slight smile on his face.

"Zhao Shuang, I lost, but you may not win."

Huayang Palace.

"Wei Zhuang and Lu Buwei?"

In front of Queen Mother Huayang stood the chef who had been in the waterside pavilion during the day.

"What did they say?"

"Weizhuang's murderous intent was very strong and his vigilance was very high. His subordinates did not dare to move forward. But at the end, when Wei Zhuang left, I heard Zhao Shuang's name."

Queen Mother Huayang thought for a moment, seemed to understand, and waved her hand.

"Get down!"

The palace was empty, and as the footsteps faded away, only the Empress Dowager Huayang sighed slightly.

"Did Lu Buwei admit defeat?"

Former allies and enemies, the moment he admitted defeat, his old rival, the Queen Mother Huayang, felt very complicated.

One era is over, and another is about to begin.

In this coming era, there are too many things that the Queen Mother Huayang cannot control. She is from Chu and the daughter-in-law of Qin.

The conflicts brought about by the dual identities were put aside for a long time with the peace talks between Qin and Chu. But as King Qin grew up, Queen Mother Huayang understood how powerful this young king was and would eventually lead the era in a new direction.

And Queen Mother Huayang was actually unwilling to face all this.

She sighed slightly, as if she was recalling the glory of the past and lamenting the splendor of today.

"Zhao Shuang? What a trick!"