If Ye Xiu's previous displays of hardship were merely feigned to garner sympathy, this time his eyes were genuinely watering. These women were also from impoverished families, likely struggling to find their next meal, yet they offered a bowl of their meager grain to a stranger.

Ye Xiu suddenly felt that there were still people in the world who cared for him. Though Wan'er’s whereabouts were unknown, and though he didn't know if Hong'er had returned home safely, from this moment on, Ye Xiu seemed to realize he was about to step onto an extraordinary historical stage.

“If you’re hungry, eat quickly, what are you waiting for,” the woman said, smiling at Ye Xiu. In her eyes, Ye Xiu now resembled a small child needing care.

“Th-thank you,” Ye Xiu nodded, immediately scooping the rice up with his hand and stuffing it into his mouth. This was the first time since arriving in this era that he had eaten with his hands. The dry white rice truly did not suit his palate, yet psychologically, he felt it tasted delicious.

The woman departed. Ye Xiu, with a lump in his throat, bowed deeply to their retreating figures, then shouldered his backpack again, hoisting the wooden sword, and continued his trek toward Yuanyang County.

Suddenly, upstream by the river, a powerfully built figure and a slender figure appeared before him simultaneously. He walked closer, scrutinized them, and couldn't help but gasp in wonder. In his twenty years of life, Ye Xiu had never seen such a tall giant, nor a man so exquisitely beautiful.

Who were these two?

Ye Xiu stopped before them, his face full of suspicion. Unexpectedly, the exceptionally handsome young lord walking ahead was the first to salute him. He smiled faintly, with a mesmerizing, almost alluring grace.

“Does this young hero find something unusual?” The young lord’s tone of voice was effeminate; in modern terms, one might call him a niangpao.

Ye Xiu nodded, though most of his gaze remained fixed on the giant beside him, who stood at least three meters tall: “May I ask, young lord, what is this giant…”

“Giant, hehe,” the young lord chuckled upon hearing this. “Just unusual, that’s all. A bit taller than others.”

“Zifang, let’s continue on our way. Who cares who this boy is,” the giant clearly disliked being stared at and urged them to move.

“Zifang?” Ye Xiu steadied himself and once again scrutinized the young lord before him. The old woman had mentioned they were near the eastern outskirts of Yuanyang, which meant this was likely Bolangsha. This young lord’s name was Zifang? Zifang, Zifang… Could this be the later great statesman of the Han dynasty, Zhang Liang, Zhang Zifang!

“We shall take our leave now,” the young lord bowed carefully, then exchanged a meaningful glance with the giant, and the two resumed their journey.

Ye Xiu had long harbored questions, and seeing the corner of the young lord's eye twitching incessantly confirmed that they were heading toward something extraordinary. Then he looked at the muscles on the giant’s arm.

This young lord is Zhang Liang! Bolangsha! Zhang Liang! The giant—was what he was about to do what later generations called the Flying Wedge assassination attempt on the King of Qin? Ye Xiu was intensely excited by his own deduction. To have the privilege of witnessing such a moment—was it truly fate?

“Are you Zhang Liang?” Ye Xiu shouted from a distance. Though excited to have encountered such a pivotal figure, he added, “You must have something very important to attend to, sir.”

“What?” The young lord indeed stopped in his tracks, turning back to look at Ye Xiu from afar. He felt it impossible that this youth could recognize him. Although Zhang Liang was descended from the Prime Ministers of Han, since Qin unified the Six States, he had lived hidden from the public eye; very few people had ever seen him. How could this fellow discern his name based only on his courtesy name?

Seeing that his shout had an effect, Ye Xiu slowly approached Zhang Liang and smiled: “Indeed, my guess was partially correct. Then, Zifang, may I ask if the matter you attend to today, should it succeed, can change the situation of the world?”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liang’s expression immediately grew tense. He thought that only three people knew of his plan to assassinate the Qin King, and this person was a complete stranger—how could he know?

“Zifang, if you wish, I am willing to accompany you,” Ye Xiu certainly wanted to go, though not to commit the crime, but to see exactly how large a flying hammer the giant intended to use to smash Qin Shi Huang’s carriage.

“Good, with the young hero’s aid, the great task can be achieved.” Zhang Liang was genuinely intrigued by Ye Xiu’s words, feeling both annoyed and curious. “May I ask what the young hero’s name is.”

“I dare not presume. I am Ye Xiu, courtesy name…” Ye Xiu intended to introduce himself politely, mimicking Zhang Liang’s formality, but realized he didn't know his own courtesy name. In a moment of playful improvisation, he blurted out, “I am Ye Xiu, courtesy name Nima.”

Zhang Liang merely registered the name, murmuring it softly to himself, and began to probe Ye Xiu’s background: “May I ask where Brother Ye comes from, and where he is heading?”

Ye Xiu shrugged, saying with a helpless air, “I know not where I am going.”

“Hehe,” Zhang Liang smiled faintly and moved to the main point. “What is this great matter of changing the world that Brother Ye mentioned?”

“Hmph!” Ye Xiu tilted his head back and smiled too. It was clear Zhang Liang didn't trust him and was probing repeatedly. Truly, he possessed the potential of a cunning strategist, but Ye Xiu was not so easily managed. “To tell you the truth, I have long held an irrepressible hatred for that First Emperor—he killed my family, burned books and buried scholars, his rule is incompetent and unjust, and he seeks eternal life! He is utterly deserving of death by everyone.”

Zhang Liang’s face lit up upon hearing this. It seemed that in this age, there was someone who hated the First Emperor as much as he did. However, he remained cautious and quickly followed up: “Then what plans does Brother Ye have?”

Ye Xiu shook his head, thinking that to make Zhang Liang believe him, he needed to show some sincerity. He asserted firmly: “To be frank, I am here today to lie in wait at Bolangsha, planning to assassinate the King of Qin when he passes during his Eastern Tour, to vent the hatred in my heart.”

“A marvelous plan! I…” Zhang Liang remained suspicious and was deliberately testing him further. “Although the Qin might is not what it was, its mandate has not yet expired. Brother Ye, what you say sounds a bit extreme.”

Seeing that Zhang Liang was nearly hooked, Ye Xiu pressed on: “I have already determined that the Emperor’s carriage will pass Bolangsha precisely at Shen Shi today. I plan to use my sword to assassinate him.”

“How could it be so easy? Does Brother Ye know which carriage the First Emperor is traveling in?” Zhang Liang watched Ye Xiu with a half-smile, as if posing an extremely difficult riddle.

“According to the regulations governing the chariots of the Son of Heaven, the Emperor uses six horses. Thus, Qin Shi Huang’s carriage is drawn by six horses, while other ministers use four. The assassination target is naturally the six-horse chariot,” Ye Xiu handled these historical records and court etiquette with ease. “Therefore, I am quite confident.”

“Excellent, that’s it then.” At this point, Zhang Liang was beaming. His face, already possessing a delicate beauty, looked utterly exquisite when he smiled like this. “I will not conceal anything from Brother Ye either. We two are indeed here for the assassination. With Brother Ye’s assistance today, I believe we will surely succeed.”