People in the Qin Dynasty, entertained during the Warring States period

"Qisu"?

Tianze's snake eyes suddenly narrowed as he suddenly thought of the Azure Dragon Seven Constellations.

Could the Baiyue treasure be related to the Azure Dragon's Seven Mansions?

Tianze felt a burning desire in his heart.

Originally hesitating between returning to Baiyue first and finding the treasure first, he instantly chose the latter.

But he soon began to have doubts.

He couldn't help but suspect Cao Ze's motives.

Why give him something so secret and precious?

Tianze gave the Corpse-Driving Demon a deep look, recalling the Corpse-Driving Demon's behavior when it followed him. It was nothing like the Hundred Poison King, who went all out and disregarded life and death.

What did he say to you?

The Corpse-Driving Demon honestly recounted his story, which consisted of mostly idle and pointless chatter.

Tianze put away the scroll and said, "Is that all?"

"Yes."

"Really?" Tianze's face showed a cold smile, clearly not believing the Corpse-Driving Demon's words.

The Corpse-Driving Demon realized that Tianze's tone was a bit off and subconsciously glanced at the Hundred Poison King.

The King of Poisons, being an old and shrewd man, could easily see that Tianze already harbored resentment and suspicion towards the Corpse-Driving Demon.

"Master, be careful not to fall into Cao Ze's trap of sowing discord."

Tianze paused for a moment, thinking that the utterly shameless Cao Ze was indeed capable of doing such a thing.

"Trying to use me to find treasure? Humph!"

Tianze sneered.

The Baiyue treasure is in Xinzheng, not Xianyang. If he finds the treasure, how could Cao Ze possibly fly all the way to Korea?

……

The next day, while Cao Ze was still in Yan Lingji's bed, Li Wu came in directly and said, "A eunuch named Zhao Gao is looking for you."

Cao Ze rubbed his head. "Zhao Gao?"

He thought of Zhao Cheng and the Six Sword Slave, and suddenly his eyes lit up. Could it be that the Six Sword Slave was given to him?

Hmm, that's a bit unrealistic.

However, we can try harder.

Cao Ze threw off the covers and went outside.

Yan Lingji let out a soft moan, turned over, and went back to sleep.

Li Wu moved closer to Yan Ling Ji and sniffed her.

Immediately, she waved her little hands in front of her nose repeatedly; the smell alone told you what the two of them had done the night before.

"Ugh, that's disgusting."

Yan Lingji, still half-asleep, mumbled, "Li Xiaowu, you want to get burned again, don't you?"

Li Wu chuckled and said, "Sleeping quite soundly."

She stretched out her wicked hands and began scratching and clawing at Yan Lingji's body.

"Hahaha..."

A burst of laughter filled the air as Cao Ze arrived at the gate of the mansion.

Although Zhao Gao had never met Cao Ze in person, he had seen his portrait many times.

"Mr. Cao Ze, I apologize for disturbing you."

Zhao Gao bowed slightly, his voice extremely soft and feminine.

Cao Ze sized up Zhao Gao, who was dressed in a flying-eagle robe, resembling a Warring States-era "spirited young man."

"It's Lord Zhao! I've heard Brother Zhao mention him many times. He has a wonderful elder brother. I've long admired your name. Please come in, Lord Zhao."

Zhao Gao smiled and politely declined, saying, "That won't be necessary. I've come on behalf of the Empress Dowager to convey a message to you, sir, requesting that you make a trip to Ganquan Palace."

Cao Ze was slightly taken aback. Why did Zhao Ji want to see him?

"Has the Empress Dowager returned to the palace?"

Cao Ze asked tentatively.

"I just returned to the palace last night and met with the King. Both the Queen Mother and the King said that you deserve the most credit. I would like to congratulate you in advance."

Zhao Gao proactively revealed this information, thus currying favor with Cao Ze.

The king's unauthorized departure from the palace to Han was not convenient to publicize, so although Cao Ze had rendered meritorious service in protecting the king, it could only be temporarily suppressed.

However, they were all smart people and knew that this matter could not end there, and Cao Ze would benefit from it in the future.

Cao Ze seemed to be deep in thought. It was very strange that Zhao Ji saw him as soon as she returned to the palace.

"Lord Zhao Gao, could you please tell me why the Empress Dowager summoned me?"

He quietly took out a gold note and went all out.

He was well aware of the destructive power of Zhao Ji, the beautiful empress.

As the saying goes, whether the Qin state is in chaos or not is up to Zhao Ji.

This is no joke; who knows why this woman suddenly contacted me?

Zhao Gao glanced at the gold notes worth a hundred gold coins that Cao Ze had given him, and couldn't help but laugh, without refusing.

Firstly, it was to reassure Cao Ze, and secondly, it was to increase his personal savings.

Although he was in charge of the Six Sword Slaves on behalf of Zhao Ji and held considerable power in Ganquan Palace, he still lacked money and supplies.

He was unwilling to be just a close eunuch to Zhao Ji. Like the young man who roared in the snow that year, he wanted to climb step by step to the top of power.

Therefore, he needs subordinates, allies, money, and status...

"Sir, you may not know this, but when the Empress Dowager was in Handan, she received a favor from a neighbor. Now that neighbor has passed away, only a daughter remains, who happens to have a connection with you."

Snow Woman… Cao Ze suddenly remembered a story the Snow Woman had told him.

Cao Ze and Zhao Gao arrived at Ganquan Palace.

Walking along the passageway to Ganquan Palace, Cao Ze couldn't help but marvel at the immense power wielded by the empress dowagers during the Warring States period.

Among the more recent examples are Zhao Ji, the queen of Qi, and the more distant example is Empress Dowager Xuan, the former mistress of Ganquan Palace.

Empress Dowager Xuan of Qin was a legendary figure, and Ganquan Palace was also a legendary place.

During the reign of King Huiwen of Qin, the Qin state built the Zhangtai Palace south of the Wei River as its political center.

Afterwards, King Huiwen of Qin not only expanded the Zhangtai Palace, but also built the Xingle Palace, the Liuying Palace, and the Ganquan Palace, which was known as the Southern Palace.

Because Ganquan Palace is located north of Zhangtai, on flat and open terrain, and close to the Zao River to the west, it was named Ganquan Palace.

After becoming Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager Xuan used this place as her palace, and she gave birth to two sons with the King of Yiqu here. In the end, she lured the King of Yiqu here and killed him. It can be said that she took down the Yiqu, which was of great importance to the Qin state, without shedding blood, thus laying the foundation for the Qin state's future hegemony.

He even felt that the reason why Zhao Ji in history was able to have a second child was not because she was stupid, but because she thought of the good example of Empress Dowager Xuan.

If Lao Ai hadn't brought this upon himself, and if Zhao Ji hadn't invoked the name of their ancestor, Empress Dowager Xuan, Ying Zheng might have actually accepted having more younger brothers and sisters.

Zhao Gao said, "Sir, please follow me into the palace."

Cao Ze nodded and looked around Zhao Ji's bedroom.

Because of the abundance of giant trees, the palaces of the Warring States period were extremely magnificent, and the palaces of the Ming and Qing dynasties in later times were considered small halls here.

This palace is six zhang high and ten zhang long and wide. Inside the palace are two rows of round pillars, carved with all kinds of ancient patterns. In the middle is a brocade couch about ten zhang in size, with gauze curtains hanging around it.

Behind the gauze curtain, a hazy woman leans languidly against a brocade couch in front of a screen.

Because the gauze curtains were so thin and almost transparent, Cao Ze could easily see the woman's alluring figure as she lay on the brocade couch.

She rested her rosy cheek on one hand, a smile on her face.

Her long, flowing hair almost reached the ground, her snow-white cheeks were like goose eggs, and her rounded jawline was graceful, without the foxy allure of an oval face.

But when her eyes sparkle, with a slight upturn at the corners, her natural allure is impossible to conceal.

It seemed like a woman who hadn't been with anyone for a long time, a bit... Cao Ze somehow remembered something a famous gaming expert had said.

I couldn't help but chuckle to myself; it seems that most of the so-called "veterans" online are just boasting.

Zhao Gao bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, Mr. Cao Ze has arrived."

"Ha ha……"

A charming laugh, tinged with a hint of moisture, rang out.

Cao Ze couldn't help but swallow hard.

This woman is really something else.

She truly deserves the title of Cleopatra, a legendary femme fatale.

If a ranking of beautiful women were made in history, Zhao Ji would definitely be in the top three, and possibly even number one.

With such alluring charm and irresistible allure, it's no wonder that even after Ying Yiren died so young, Lü Buwei still had to find a way to send Lao Ai to his door.

This woman is someone most men simply can't handle.

"Mr. Cao Ze, I've finally met you."

The sexy voice stunned Cao Ze.

what happened?

Wasn't I asking him about the Snow Woman?

I need to be a little cunning, lest I accidentally fall into Zhao Ji's trap.

……