Frequently sent various precious and rare treasures and beautiful women to the King of Qin. After Qin Shi Huang unified the six states, he accumulated vast wealth from them. The treasuries in the Xianyang Palace were filled with stacks of treasures. Moreover, royal consorts from the six states were swiftly summoned to the palace. However, Xianyang was not large enough, so Qin Shi Huang immediately ordered the construction of the Afang Palace at the foot of the Lishan Mountain—a magnificent undertaking. Though the scale of Afang Palace, spanning hundreds of miles, may be somewhat exaggerated, the historical account that the cosmetics of the palace ladies and consorts stained the Wei River red is credible. The palace grounds stretched continuously, like a poetic landscape. With over three thousand beautiful women in the harem, Qin Shi Huang's harem far exceeded that number. Yet, Qin Shi Huang was unique in that he merely collected beautiful women. Due to the constant demands of state affairs, he had little time to visit Afang Palace. Many consorts and princesses from the six states waited eagerly, yearning for an opportunity to see him. The Palace of A Fang effectively became a cold palace. Moreover, Emperor Qin had a lasting wound: his mother, Zhao Ji, had been involved with the eunuch Lao Ai, causing disorder in the imperial harem. With Lao Ai's support from his mother, he had even led a military rebellion. Fortunately, Emperor Qin had detected this early and dispatched troops to suppress the uprising, ultimately defeating Lao Ai's forces. In the process of defeating Lao Ai, it was discovered that Zhao Ji and Lao Ai had secretly borne two children. Emperor Qin immediately had them personally executed—unbelievable, his mother had been so unfaithful. If this were to become public knowledge, how could the Supreme Ruler, the First Emperor, preserve his dignity? Lao Ai was then beheaded and his mother, Zhao Ji, was expelled from the Xianyang Palace and sent into the cold palace at Yuyang. The scene shifts to Gao Liang. With the elder gentleman as guide, Gao Liang and Zhang Yuping arrive in Handan, the capital of Zhao. At that time, Handan had already been taken and firmly controlled by the Qin forces, with strict defenses in place. One by one, they were questioned and inspected. With the elder's assistance, Gao Liang changed into a fresh outfit, now dressed as a well-to-do young nobleman, holding a feather fan, elegant, graceful, and refined. As for Zhang Yупing, she had taken on the role of a male servant, carrying her personal belongings. Frowning slightly, Zhang Yупing expressed her dissatisfaction with this arrangement, yet she had no choice. Entry into Handan city was thorough and meticulous; any slight misstep might reveal the deception to the Qin forces, and once discovered as a pretender, she would surely face execution. To conceal her true identity, Zhang Yупing repeatedly addressed Gao Liang as "Mr. Gao! Mr. Gao!" While Gao Liang, in turn, kept calling out, "Ping'er! Ping'er!" The elder smiled and gently stroked his beard. At the city gate inspection, the two Qin soldiers showed no suspicion toward Gao Liang and the elder gentleman, but they found something off about Zhang Yuping. Originally, Zhang Yuping's qingyi was not properly worn—her hair was high up in a bun, she was wearing a straw hat, and she was carrying a bundle on her shoulder. Yet, how could Zhang Yuping possibly carry a bundle? Her posture was utterly awkward: her shoulders never shifted to the center of the pole, her head heavy and her feet light, growing more and more fatigued with each step, her cheeks flushed pink with effort. As for Gao Liang, hah! My wife has been carrying the bundle for me—what a relief! Zhang Yuping, Zhang Yuping! You think just being my household servant is easy? Being my wife is even better! But this time, I’m not coming to Qin with you as a devoted husband and wife. I’m here for the Jade Seal of the Heavenly Emperor. It’s said that the gem suitable for the seal was already known to exist in the State of Zhao. This journey to Handan is precisely to investigate the city’s available gemstones, to see if there are any "One Qin soldier barked orders, and Zhang Yuping immediately set down her bundle, her face beaded with sweat. Another Qin soldier tried to lift the bundle—though it wasn't particularly heavy—and then glanced at Zhang Yuping, who was now wiping her powdered face with her sleeve. A male servant, after all, should have been able to carry such a light load, especially one with a delicate complexion, a well-developed chest, and smooth, fine skin. Surely, he was a woman! 'Seize her! She's a woman!' the soldier who had tested the bundle shouted. Continually patting his own face, he said, "I'm so clumsy! Please forgive me, sir! You're so graceful! You're so graceful!" Gao Liang folded his fan and turned to the two Qin soldiers, saying, "From now on, keep your eyes open! Otherwise, I'll report you to King Qin—make sure you end up with nothing but the clothes on your back!" "Yes! Yes!" the soldiers bowed and replied in unison. Zhang Yuping had never imagined that Gao Liang could so easily calm the soldiers with just one gesture and one sentence. Why did Gao Liang have such remarkable ability? How clumsy she had been herself! She hadn't even learned how to carry a load. As Gao Liang stepped into Handan and said to Zhang Yuping, "Pine! Actually, before this journey, I had already thoroughly studied Qin history, and I've made in-depth research on Qin's geography, astronomy, customs, and even its customs for border crossings. That yellow silk scroll—quite by coincidence—we found it along the way and were about to discard it. But just when we needed it most, it came in handy! Haha! Well, that "This time, it really worked!" Satisfied, Zhang Yuping smiled gently. "Ping'er! From now on, try to act more composed!" "Mr. Gao! Yes, Ping'er will comply!" Zhang Yuping bowed formally, but the elder gentleman, standing by, shook his head in clear disapproval—someone who valued refinement and etiquette, he had been teaching them all manner of formal courtesies. Zhang Yuping grasped the concepts quickly and learned swiftly, mastering the Qin dynasty's rituals with ease. She also learned to carry the load with confidence, dressed neatly and properly, and conducted herself with grace. Now, as the master and servant appeared together in Handan, no one could tell that Zhang Yuping had ever worn men's clothes. The top priority now is to visit the largest jewelry store in Handan City. The elder gentleman, a native of Zhao, is quite familiar with the city's most renowned jewelry house, "Tianhe Silver Hall." When the three of them arrive at this premier jewelry store, they are immediately captivated by the dazzling array of precious stones. Zhang Yuping is nearly frantic—these treasures have never been seen before in 2011. Each piece is handcrafted, meticulously polished, and exhibits exceptional artistic merit and significant collection value. "I want them! Husband! Buy me one right away!" As soon as Zhang Yuping speaks, she commands a sharp stare from Gao Liang. Goodness—now we're in a master-servant relationship, and she's calling me "husband" right in front of everyone! If this is discovered, our identities will be exposed, and that would be no small matter.