Ya She

Chapter 69 Cloud Elephant Tomb

【one】

Ying had long hoped to run into acquaintances at Tian Guang Xu, but apart from A Luo, whom he had met at the beginning, he hadn't seen anyone he knew. So when he saw the box of Liubo chess pieces that had suddenly appeared in this abandoned general store, with the names of people he knew written on it, he had other ideas.

However, he did not expect to encounter Zhao Gao instead of the young master whose name was written on the chess piece.

"My lord, I never expected to meet you here." Ying gave a forced smile, relaxed her body, and leaned back against the wall.

Although Zhao Gao had only heard the eldest son Fusu use this title not long ago, he was still taken aback.

Because Ying's attitude towards him was far too normal, so normal that it was as if nothing had ever happened between them.

This is a very strange scene—Zhao Gao is actually facing the very person who killed him back then.

Although he survived by some means, the Qin Emperor, whom he had personally supported to ascend the throne, plotted to assassinate him on the fifth day after his coronation.

It's hard to imagine that such a seemingly harmless young man could commit such a heinous act.

Zhao Gao hid his face behind the candlelight, and for once, he recalled the past two thousand years ago.

Back then, under his influence, Hu Hai massacred all his brothers and sisters, thus eliminating any desire among his ministers to support his rebellion. Ying, however, escaped this fate because of his discreet behavior.

It was this fish that slipped through the net that ruined his plan to overthrow the Qin state and take its place, and even caused him to be devoured by it. Only then did the Taoist seize the opportunity to plunge him into an abyss of no return.

As Zhao Gao observed Ying's appearance and demeanor in the dim light, he recalled the events of the past, trying to find a suitable title in his mind. After all, Ying had once been a carefree prince and had also briefly served as the Third Emperor of Qin.

However, this did not seem to be a problem. After all, although the purple-robed youth in front of him was somewhat resistant, he was generally indifferent and ignored him, without the hatred and forbearance that he would later desperately hide.

Zhao Gao knew he had lost his composure, but Ying was different from others in his eyes. This young man, whom he had never paid any attention to before, was like an ant that an elephant had never noticed, but unexpectedly, he had become his stumbling block, and his influence on Ying was naturally different from that on others.

The infant did not hear the polite and perfunctory response he expected. There was an unsettling silence in the abandoned general store, and the unreadable gaze from the darkness opposite him was like a lurking beast sizing up its prey.

Ying composed herself and tentatively called out, "Lord Ling?"

A self-deprecating chuckle came from the darkness. Zhao Gao's voice was flat: "It's nothing. I just thought no one would take my things here. I didn't expect my cleverness to backfire."

Ying frowned, unsure if he was overthinking it, but he felt that Zhao Gao's words had a double meaning.

Zhao Gao carefully observed Ying's expression and found that the other party was only surprised when he saw him, without any resentment or vigilance. Therefore, he deduced a surprising conclusion: "You didn't read the history of the Qin Dynasty when you were in Tianguangxu?"

Why are they all asking him this question? Ying calmly repeated the same words he had given Tang Yuan: "Why should I look? Everyone has to die eventually, the only difference is whether they die sooner or later. And even if I knew now, I would forget it once I left Tianguangxu, so why bother myself?"

Zhao Gao was silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "I underestimated you." This statement applies not only to the present but also to more than two thousand years ago.

Ying answered the question for the second time in a short period of time. However, the person who asked the question was not Tang Yuan, who had no connection with him, but Zhao Gao, the Seal Keeper. So, he took the opportunity of sitting up and supporting himself on the ground to quietly put the chess piece in his hand back into his sleeve, and said with a light laugh, "Lord Keeper, seeing how concerned you are, I won't do anything to you later, will I?"

Ying was joking, but as soon as he said it, he felt the atmosphere in the room become somewhat subtle.

Zhao Gao's expression froze. His concern seemed to have emboldened Ying to oppose him, a miscalculation on his part. Zhao Gao didn't reply, but instead emerged from the darkness, calmly asking, "You should have returned your last chess piece, shouldn't you?"

Ying, unable to accuse Zhao Gao of forcibly changing the subject or even scrutinize the man's strange attire, was shocked that the other man knew he possessed the last chess piece. Unless… Zhao Gao knew Tang Yuan held eleven other chess pieces! Or perhaps, the other man had already reclaimed those eleven pieces!
"Why are you so surprised? I just retrieved what was stolen from me." Zhao Gao said casually, but his usually flat voice emphasized the word "steal."

"Is this chess piece important?" Ying continued her efforts to extract more information. "Of course it's important." Zhao Gao stroked his chin, then suddenly seemed to think of something interesting, a smile playing on his lips.
"I want to play a game of chess with your Aro, are you coming?" Ying pursed her lips.

【two】

Lu Zigang sat nervously in the rosewood official's hat chair, holding a hot blue-and-white porcelain covered teacup, glancing anxiously at the boss out of the corner of his eye.

The shopkeeper gently lifted the lid of the cup, blew away the foam, took a sip of fragrant tea, and then put down the teacup, saying lightly, "Zigang, I'm so sorry to have troubled you these past few days."

Here it comes! Lu Zigang's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly felt weak all over, the gaiwan teacup in his hand weighing an ounce. He gave a wry smile, stopping the shopkeeper from continuing, and said, "Sir, do you want Zigang to leave?"

The boss sighed and nodded.

"Am I really going to be fired?" Lu Zigang placed the covered teacup on the square table, speechless for a moment. He had to take responsibility for his mistakes. He had used the fragrant herb to erase the doctor's memory of the boss without authorization, and the boss had already gone to great lengths to fire him until now.

"Zigang, there might be some changes at Ya She. You'd better stay away for a while."

An unexpected turn of events? Lu Zigang noticed the word his boss mentioned. It turned out... wasn't he being fired because he had done something wrong?

Seeing Lu Zigang's unpleasant expression, the boss realized his words had been somewhat irresponsible. Lu Zigang had previously been a researcher at the National Museum, a stable and well-paid job, yet he had resolutely resigned at his beck and call to work at the Silent Shop. Although Lu Zigang had never said it aloud, the boss had overheard an argument Lu Zigang had made on the phone with his family. In his parents' eyes, Lu Zigang quitting his enviable job at the National Museum to work at this obscure antique shop was simply...

It's like someone has cast a spell on me.

Lu Zigang risked his future to come here, and now he has to fire him. The boss said with guilt, "I talked to the curator, and he can offer you a well-paid position. You can contact him directly for details."

Lu Zigang perked up: "What happened at the Silent House?"

The boss was taken aback. Why was Lu Zigang so happy to hear that there had been a change in the situation at the Silent Shop?

"Uh, I thought I'd been fired," Lu Zigang explained awkwardly. He couldn't explain his feelings to his boss in detail. The world of Ya She was magical. Having always lived in a world of only black and white, he had glimpsed a corner of a dazzling world. How could he bear to leave so easily?

"That's not the point..." Lu Zigang brushed it off lightly, then asked with a serious expression, "Boss, is the change you mentioned related to a chess game?"

"How did you know?" The boss frowned slightly.

"I also know that this game is a game of Liubo." Lu Zigang took out his phone, pulled up a picture, and handed it to the boss.

The picture shows a white rectangular chess piece with a smooth surface. Three large characters, "Lu Zigang," have been written on it in cinnabar.

"This is your handwriting." The shop owner was very familiar with Lu Zigang and recognized him at a glance. "And it's from several years ago."
trace."

Lu Zigang nodded. Since arriving at the Silent Shop, he had devoted himself to studying carving and calligraphy, and with the awakening of his memories from his previous life,

His handwriting is different now than before. "This was sent to me by Tangyuan. He got this chess piece by accident and came to ask me what happened."

The shop owner stroked the now-warm gaiwan teacup with his fingers, never expecting the matter to involve so much more than he had anticipated. "I once played Liubo with Hu Hai, and this piece is the same one from back then," Lu Zigang said bitterly.

He laughed, recalling his experience in that Liubo chess courtyard back then, and still felt a chill down his spine. "According to that kid Tangyuan, of the chess pieces he collected, apart from the one with my name on it, the rest were all blank. So, boss, you don't need to send me away. That game of chess from back then probably never ended."

Upon hearing this, the boss pursed his thin lips slightly, as if he had understood something.

Seeing that the boss no longer mentioned asking him to leave, Lu Zigang was secretly pleased. Just as he was about to press on and say something more, he heard the carved door of the Silent Shop creak open.

"Welcome..." Lu Zigang reflexively smiled, ready to open for business, but then saw Tang Yuan dragging a small bag...

Li Xiang walked in with a "clatter".

This... it's truly a case of speaking of the devil and he appears! Lu Zigang secretly wiped away a bead of sweat. Fortunately, he was telling the truth and hadn't embellished anything.

The boss's gaze didn't fall on Tang Yuan, but rather on the doctor who followed him in. Both the adult and the child were dragging suitcases…were they going on a long trip?
Tang Yuan had sharp eyes and immediately noticed that the phone screen on the table showed his stolen chess pieces. His face fell, and he rushed over to complain, "Senior brother! All eleven chess pieces I painstakingly collected are gone! They were all stolen!"

Since deciding to keep a safe distance from Fusu's reincarnation, the boss hadn't been around children for many years. This sudden appearance of a spoiled little dumpling was a bit of a shock. However, his instincts kicked in before his brain could process it; he reached out and pulled Tang Yuan into his arms, patting his thin back with one hand… Well, this child's little body was much more robust than he looked; it seemed the doctor was taking good care of him.

Tang Yuan was actually a little afraid of his senior brother. He had only intended to use this opportunity to act cute and break the awkward atmosphere, but instead received an unexpected hug. And his senior brother smelled so good! He couldn't quite describe the scent, but it was so pleasant to smell.

The doctor watched as the usually boisterous little dumpling transformed into a docile kitten in the boss's arms—oh my! Even its ears were bright red! He felt a slight pang of bitterness, but that wasn't the point. The point was—"Hmm? When did you lose something? Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's no use talking to you!" Tang Yuan grumbled, nestled in his boss's arms.

Since he could remember, Tang Yuan had rarely been this close to anyone. His master had rarely carried him since he could walk, and after meeting Madam Shi, although she would often try to hug his leg, Madam Shi was reserved and polite, maintaining a slight distance. He never knew that being hugged could feel so good. Although his senior brother's body temperature was a bit low, and this hug wasn't exactly warm, the feeling of being completely protected and comforted in someone's arms was truly intoxicating.

"Tell your senior brother, what chess pieces are missing? Where did you get them?" The boss patted Tang Yuan on the back and asked gently.

Tang Yuan leaned against the boss's chest and recounted in detail how he found the chess pieces at Tian Guang Market, how he exchanged the chess pieces with Ying, and how he discovered that all eleven chess pieces were missing.

The boss's brows furrowed deeper as he listened. He hadn't expected that even trapped in the Heavenly Light Market, Ying could still cause so much trouble. Tang Yuan thought for a moment and then relayed Ying's thoughts: "Brother Ying said that you, Senior Brother, specifically took his token..."

They just didn't want him to leave Tianguangxu. Since leaving Tianguangxu would be dangerous, he would obey and not come out.

The shopkeeper was filled with mixed emotions upon hearing this. He knew he was powerless to change history; Ying should have been dead for many years. Yet, who could have imagined that Ying had once entered such a magical place as Tian Guang Xu? So, he couldn't help but wish that Ying could stay in Tian Guang Xu a little longer. As long as Ying was still in Tian Guang Xu, then in a sense, Ying was still alive and well.

He was worried that Ying would misunderstand him, but he never expected that Ying would see through his good intentions so easily. That purple-robed youth was as wise as ever, feigning ignorance…

Tang Yuan raised his head, looked at the complicated expression on his senior brother's face, and proudly puffed out his chest, saying, "Senior brother, I have a token that allows me to enter Tian Guang Xu at any time. Do you need me to go and say something to Brother Ying right now?"

The shopkeeper stroked Tang Yuan's soft hair and smiled. Tokens from the Heavenly Light Market are generally only usable in the Ghost Market before dawn. This was the first time he'd heard of a token that could be used to enter the Heavenly Light Market at any time, especially one in this little Tang Yuan's hands. It seemed the Market Owners truly adored the little guy.

The shopkeeper initially wanted to decline, promising to personally visit Ying at Tianguang Market when the appointed time arrived that evening. However, he reconsidered. All eleven chess pieces in Tang Yuan's possession had been stolen; would the last one, in Ying's hands, survive? That would be the most dangerous situation, wouldn't it? Tang Yuan, seeing the shopkeeper's expression, guessed his thoughts. He skillfully pulled out the chess pieces that Madam Shi had woven for him from his pocket.
Just as the mother was about to do something, she noticed the doctor watching them from the side and was taken aback. The doctor was puzzled by Tang Yuan's gaze; what did that look mean?
Tang Yuan felt it best to avoid making any idealistic gestures in front of the doctor, who believed in science and reason. So, reluctantly, he climbed out of his boss's arms and asked in a fake manner, "Where's the restroom?"

“Go inside, turn right…” Lu Zigang pointed to the inner room, feeling uneasy about letting the child go alone, so he stood up and said, “I’ll take you there.”

"Thank you, Brother Lu." Tang Yuan readily agreed and followed with small, quick steps.

The doctor was a little annoyed. Why did this little dumpling call the boss "senior brother," Lu Zigang "brother Lu," and him "uncle"? Wasn't that a difference in seniority? He would definitely have to give that brat a good talking to later.

Seeing the boss's gaze turn towards him, the doctor, dragging a suitcase in each hand, raised his chin and said, "As we agreed before, Tang Yuan and I will be staying here for the time being. Could you make the arrangements?"

The boss, looking at the self-righteous doctor, was speechless for a moment. Did the doctor's earlier comment about "please guide me through the next period of time" actually mean he was going to stay at the mute's house?

Given the increasingly dangerous situation, they should all be sent away. Why are one or two of them insisting on getting involved instead...?

"Don't say you have nowhere to stay! I remember the Silent House was quite big, with several rooms!" The doctor stroked his chin, recalling, as a few blurry images flashed through his mind.

If two rooms were tidied up, they could actually be habitable... wait, why is he actually seriously considering this? The boss was both amused and exasperated.

Just as he was thinking about how to persuade the doctor to give up the idea, he saw the doctor carrying a suitcase and walking inside. Lu Zigang happened to come out and kindly helped him carry a suitcase, leading him into the inner room.

"Boss, I'll arrange for him to stay in the same room as me first." Lu Zigang was afraid that the boss would stop him, refuse his suggestion, and kick him out alone, so he quickly led the doctor through the corridor and headed towards the basement room before the boss could answer.

The doctor was taken aback by Lu Zigang's previous apparent aversion to him, and felt a little uncomfortable at first, but he still followed him down the stairs to an antique-style bedroom.

"Let's make do for a few days. I remember there are two rooms upstairs that can be tidied up and people can live in them." After placing the box against the wall, Lu Zigang took out an item wrapped in brocade from deep inside the bookcase and solemnly handed it to the doctor. "This... originally belonged to you, and I think it's time to return it to you." Lu Zigang pursed his lips, feeling an indescribable guilt about his selfishness.

Inside is the longevity lock that the doctor has always carried with him since childhood.

When the doctor was twenty-four, his longevity lock shattered in two. To bid farewell to Fusu, he placed the broken lock in Fusu's coffin, where it was later taken by Huhai, who followed him. Huhai then gave the broken lock to Lu Zigang. Lu Zigang repaired the lock with gold thread but did not return it to the doctor; instead, he wore it himself.

He fantasized that Xia Zhelan's unfortunate death was due to her not wearing the longevity lock on her body. He tried to return to the Ming Dynasty again and again using the Luoshu Nine Stars Compass, but he was still powerless to change the facts that had already happened.

He was far too extreme back then; he was the one who should have used the fragrant herb, Hengwu. The doctor took the cloth bag in his hands; this object, no bigger than a child's palm, was surprisingly heavy.

The owner stood in the shadows of the stairs, watching everything unfold inside, without uttering a sound to stop it. Whose property this longevity lock ultimately belonged to was up to the lock itself to decide.

Just as the doctor was about to open the brocade cloth to see what was inside, Tang Yuan from upstairs pushed open the bathroom door and ran out panting, shouting as he ran, "Senior brother! Not only are the chess pieces gone, but Brother Ying is also missing!"

The boss's breath caught in his throat, a sense of foreboding washing over him. This game of chess had probably already begun without his knowledge.

【Three】

Fusu walked alone on the bustling street. Pedestrians came and went, each with their own destination or home to return to. Only he walked alone, looking around blankly. The world was vast, yet he had nowhere to find peace.

"Fallen leaves on trees in a foreign land, a lonely person under a cold lamp at night." He couldn't return to Bi Zhi's side, because the other would notice something was wrong. In that vast world, there was only one place he could go.

Fusu smiled silently, then turned and walked in the opposite direction.

Minghong had been circling in the sky, tirelessly chasing the innocent sparrows, when it realized that Fusu had gone far away. It quickly flapped its wings and chased after him.

Fusu struggled to navigate the complex city, finally arriving at a familiar building. The glass doors reflected the image of a stranger. He'd been in this body for a while now, but Fusu always felt uneasy. Oh well, even if he wasn't used to it, time was running out. Besides, he'd never really gotten used to it, had he? Since waking up in this world, he'd never been in his own body.

Fusu looked at his reflection in the glass door—his overly long bangs and mask covered half of his face, revealing mottled burn marks. He looked completely different from before. He smiled helplessly, then indifferently pushed open the door and went inside.

Upon seeing it from afar, Minghong immediately spread its wings and flew upwards towards the familiar window, relying on its memory.

Fusu stepped out of the elevator and stood in front of an apartment building, reaching under the carpet to retrieve a spare key. This was the place where he and Huhai had lived together, though not for very long.

Bi Zhi found him another body, but he experienced a rejection reaction and had to recuperate for a while, without having a chance to say goodbye to Hu Hai. When he returned, Hu Hai had already disappeared.

It's ironic, really. Even in modern society, there are still situations where a farewell becomes a final goodbye. Fusu turned the key, pushed open the door, and immediately noticed that the house was completely different from when she last visited.

The musty smell that had lingered for so long had dissipated, replaced by a delicate, incense-like aroma. The house was spotless, the thick layer of dust gone. The crystal chandelier in the living room was on, and a tea set sat on the table, the teacups still steaming.

"Is this... Hu Hai back?" Fusu was overjoyed. He had just taken a step into the house when he heard a questioning voice from inside. "Who are you? How did you get in?" The voice sounded strange, not human.
It has a slightly mechanical feel.

Fusu stopped in his tracks and looked in the direction of the sound. He saw a round-faced boy wearing an apron slowly walking out of the kitchen. His gait was also strange, looking somewhat stiff, with each movement followed by a subtle pause, like a puppet being manipulated.

But where has he seen this boy's face before?

Fusu had an excellent memory; after only a brief recollection, he asked incredulously, "You are... Sun Shuo?" "Yes, I am Sun Shuo." The round-faced boy blinked, clearly not expecting this intruder to know his identity.
first name.

Sun Shuo was once the eunuch of his troublesome younger brother, and was later killed by his brother. Why is he here?

As Fusu pondered, he sighed, "If I remember correctly, I was the one who gave you your name." "Young...Young Master?" Sun Shuo's voice sounded surprised, but his expression remained stiff.

Whether he believed it or not, his attitude had clearly become much more humble and respectful. He specially came over, took out slippers from the shoe cabinet, and helped Fusu put them on.

As Fusu drew closer, he noticed that while the round-faced boy vaguely resembled the face Sun Shuo had originally possessed, his skin was bluish-white, making him look like a talking, moving zombie—it was unclear how he had managed to survive. However, Fusu wasn't concerned with that; what mattered to him was, if Sun Shuo was here, then where was Hu Hai?

Just as he was about to ask, Fusu heard Minghong's joyful chirping and Huhai's laughter coming from inside the house. Fusu smiled with relief. It was good that his younger brother was safe and sound. Since nothing had happened, it was best for him not to show up.

Fusu suddenly regretted that he had been too impulsive. He should have sent Minghong to check first, but it was still not too late to leave now.

As Hu Hai carried Minghong out of the room, he saw a strange figure with his back to him, about to leave. The way the person changed his shoes was somewhat hurried and clumsy, and there was a strange sense of familiarity about him, like... like his elder brother, who was completely clueless about household affairs and was always clumsy when doing things.

Hu Hai first glanced at Sun Shuo standing next to him and found that the other man was bowing slightly and keeping his head down, showing a more respectful attitude than towards him.

Besides him, who else could Sun Shuo treat like this? And Minghong has been missing for so long, but suddenly flew back. Who brought it back? The answer is obvious.

"Brother Emperor!"

Upon hearing Hu Hai's voice, Fusu froze for a moment. "Brother, why are you only just returning?" Hu Hai reached out and grabbed Fusu, stopping him from leaving. "Brother, why are your hands so cold? Come, have a cup of tea to warm them up." Hu Hai pulled Fusu towards the dining table...
Even after seeing Fusu, who had changed bodies and looked completely different from before, his attitude remained unchanged. No, to be precise, it was even more affectionate than before.

Fusu looked down at Huhai holding his hand, wondering if he too had lost some of his memories. Were he and his younger brother really that close? He remembered that after he woke up in the modern world, Huhai always looked like he had done something wrong, too guilty to meet his gaze, and would humbly lag behind him by half a step when walking... Besides, he could feel the coldness in Huhai's hand even through his gloves? And, did Huhai already know he had switched bodies? How did he know?
Hu Hai pulled Fusu to sit at the dining table, took out clean teaware, and poured him a cup of hot tea. He even tested the temperature of the teacup with the back of his hand, and handed it to him only when he felt it was just right.

Looking at his younger brother, Fusu almost suspected that he too had had his body switched.

Hu Hai also looked over, and in his bright red eyes, besides surprise, there was a hint of nervousness. What was he nervous about?
Fusu lowered his eyes. Rather than saying that Huhai was truly close to him, it was more like he was putting on an act for someone else. Besides him and Huhai, the only other person in the room was Sun Shuo.

Just then, Hu Hai spoke up and ordered, "Sun Shuo, go and fetch that cloak." "Yes, sir," Sun Shuo replied with a bow of his head, and backed into the room to retrieve the item.

The instant he was out of Sun Shuo's sight, Fusu noticed that Huhai visibly relaxed. What happened? Fusu raised an eyebrow, asking with his eyes.

Something terrible has happened. Hu Hai pursed his thin lips and closed his eyes in despair.

What major event could possibly occur? Fusu curled his lips into a smile, not believing that anything earth-shattering would happen. Hu Hai had just made a complaining expression when he heard Sun Shuo's soft footsteps behind him, and quickly interrupted him...
Fusu's gaze shifted from a troubled expression to one of concern.

Fusu glanced at Sun Shuo and saw that the other was holding a dark black garment. Because it was folded, the overall shape was not visible, but the edges were trimmed with reddish-gold cloud patterns.

“Your Majesty, I have heard that you are unwell. This cloak will surely be of benefit to you.” Hu Hai took the cloak from Sun Shuo and casually unfolded it. It was a dark black hooded cloak with reddish-gold cloud patterns along the edges.

Fusu felt the fabric looked familiar, but couldn't quite place where he had seen it before. He watched as Huhai put on the cloak...
The wind whipped around him, draping him over him without him flinching. He wanted to see what tricks his foolish younger brother was up to.

Hu Hai carefully fastened the cloak around Fu Su's body, confirming that although his elder brother had a different body and half his face was disfigured, he was still very handsome. Perhaps it was his brother's cooperation today that gave him courage, Hu Hai boldly grabbed Fu Su's hand and tried to take off his gloves.

Upon realizing his intentions, Fusu immediately clenched his fists to stop the other party's nonsense and warned him with his eyes to stop.

"Brother Emperor..." Hu Hai called out softly.

Fusu got goosebumps from his shout, and his clenched hands involuntarily loosened slightly. Huhai seized the opportunity and quickly took off his gloves, revealing long, fair hands covered with bluish-purple lividity, a gruesome sight.

Fusu was somewhat angry. He didn't want anyone to see him looking so bad, especially with Sun Shuo, whose stance was unclear, standing beside him. Just as he was about to reach for his gloves back, his fingers touched a teacup beside him. The slightly warm touch made him pause. His hand seemed to have a mind of its own and grasped the teacup. The soothing feeling instantly spread from his palm to his limbs, warming his entire body.

“Brother, this cloak originally belonged to you.” Hu Hai took off Fu Su’s other glove as well, looked at the lividity on it, and boldly began to rub it for him. “This cloak was originally the lower half of a banner robe.”

Fusu was taken aback upon hearing this, his banners fluttering and his robes flowing.

The ancestors of the Qin royal family can be traced back to Dafei, a fifth-generation descendant of the Yellow Emperor. Dafei once assisted Yu the Great in controlling the floods, and when Emperor Shun rewarded Yu the Great, he also bestowed upon Dafei a black banner and the surname Ying. This black banner bestowed by Emperor Shun was a national treasure passed down through generations of the Qin state and the fundamental reason why the Qin Dynasty revered black. However, no one could have imagined that his father would covet this huge black banner and actually want to cut it into robes to wear.

The work of cutting that huge black banner was done by the weaving workshop, and the weaver in charge of this task was Caiwei. Caiwei was originally a maidservant by Bi Zhi's side. She used the cut fabric to make another banner robe and secretly gave it to Bi Zhi, which was the original red dragon robe.

The banner robe that was actually made to present to his father was stolen by the treacherous minister Zhao Gao. It was eventually taken back by Bi Zhi and put on his body, ensuring that his body would not decay for two thousand years.

Later, Bi Zhi's red dragon robe was damaged. The upper half of the banner robe stored in the Qin Emperor's Mausoleum was altered by Bi Zhi into a shirt, while the lower half was taken by Hu Hai and turned into this hooded cape.

As Fusu recalled the past that Bi Zhi had mentioned to him, he listened to Hu Hai's explanation and pieced together the whole story in his mind. He lowered his head and watched as the bluish-purple lividity on the back of his hand slowly faded under Hu Hai's rubbing.

"I'm so happy! My brother is finally like me! We can be together forever..." Huhai said joyfully. Fusu smiled slightly upon hearing this; the half-formed banner and deep-coat cloak could only slow down the rate of his physical decline. (End)
Unlike Hu Hai and Bi Zhi, he hadn't taken the elixir of immortality. "Your Majesty, I was truly wrong back then," Hu Hai said softly, his remorse evident. "Give me a chance to make amends, Your Majesty," Hu Hai said. "I know Your Majesty wanted to help that person win that game of chess; how about I help Your Majesty too?"

Fusu found this somewhat unbelievable. Could someone really win at will after entering Zhao Gao's meticulously planned game? His foolish younger brother...

More than two thousand years ago, they were completely manipulated by Zhao Gao. More than two thousand years later, it's still the same.

There has been no progress whatsoever.

But… Fusu raised his head and saw Huhai's frequently blinking crimson eyes, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Well, it seems he has made some progress.

【Four】

Ying looked at the bronze urn in front of him, then looked up at the archway above, and asked Zhao Gao with a hint of disbelief, "You mean I have to put a token in this urn? Isn't that the method of leaving Tianguangxu? If I do that, won't I be able to go back immediately?"

The bronze urn before him was over a meter tall and filled to the brim with water. The water was dark and murky, its surface as smooth as a mirror due to the stillness of the Heavenly Light Ruins, exuding an indescribable eeriness. The way to leave the Heavenly Light Ruins was simply to drop the token into this bronze urn.

Ying was somewhat suspicious of Zhao Gao. After all, A Luo had taken his token and made him stay in Tian Guang Xu, which must have been for his safety. Zhao Gao had only said a few words about the talisman and token, yet he was already trying to coax him away from Tian Guang Xu?
Zhao Gao didn't explain, but simply reached out and gently pressed a certain pattern on the wall of the bronze urn, and the upper part of the bronze urn slowly began to rotate.

The bronze components emitted a teeth-grinding grinding sound, and ripples appeared on the once calm surface of the black water inside the urn. The infant also noticed that it wasn't just the upper part of the bronze urn that was rotating; the intricate patterns on its surface were also rotating, one pushing another, perfectly sealing each other without a single drop of black water leaking out. It was truly...

uncanny workmanship.

The infant had no idea what the original patterns on the bronze urn were. Who would be so bored as to look at that? However, after the bronze components were moved, the patterns on the urn gradually pieced together a mountain peak shrouded in clouds and mist.

Zhao Gao explained from the side, "This is a Yin-Yang bronze urn, which is said to connect Yin and Yang. Tian Guang Xu is already outside the rules of time and space, and this street is more like a bridge connecting various places. If you want to break free from the shackles of time and space and reach the present world, you need to pass through Yun Xiang Tomb."

"Cloud Elephant Tomb?" Ying had never heard of this place before and found it very mysterious.

“Yes, you need to think carefully about whether you want to stay here or return to the original era. If you want to return to the original era, you must pass through the Cloud Elephant Tomb, but if you get lost in the Cloud Elephant Tomb, you will be stuck there forever,” Zhao Gao said calmly.

Ying, however, turned her gaze away from the bronze urn because of these words, and carefully examined the strangely dressed official in front of her: "You're a very strange person! Logically speaking, when you play chess with A'Luo, why are you so eager to find teammates for him?"

Zhao Gao lowered his eyes; this was a question he had also wanted to ask himself.

In the timeline, the person in front of me will kill me in the future, but he actually wants to take the opportunity to eliminate the baby in advance in the game of chess—the past him was careless, so let the present him solve it.

But this is another time paradox. History is predetermined; he died because of the infant. This, in turn, proves that the infant could pass through the Cloud Elephant Tomb and survive the final game of chess.

So why did he still invite Ying to play chess? Perhaps it was because deep down he wanted to defy fate.

"Why find teammates for the high minister?" Zhao Gao smiled slightly, looking at the purple-robed youth waiting for his reason, and said inscrutably, "Perhaps, it's because he hopes I can win more easily."

Ying gritted her teeth in anger upon hearing this; wasn't this a veiled insult implying he was a terrible teammate? "But speaking of tokens, what token do I have?" Ying dusted off her thin purple robe, gesturing for him to...

My sleeves are empty.

"Don't worry, I've already prepared it for you." Zhao Gao took out a brocade box from his trench coat pocket.

Just as he was about to hand the brocade box to Ying, Zhao Gao narrowed his eyes dangerously. He had been so distracted by the boy's jokes that he had almost forgotten his original purpose for seeking him out: "Wait, speaking of which, where is that Liubo chess piece you have? Don't try to fool me."

"Oh, you mean this chess piece?" Ying smiled slightly, her fingertips holding a black jade chess piece. Before Zhao Gao could react, she released it, and the Liubo chess piece fell into the Yin-Yang bronze urn with a "plop," swiftly...

It was swallowed by the black water.

"..." Zhao Gao watched as Ying waved triumphantly at him and disappeared from sight, his anger turning into a bitter laugh. It seemed he had repeated the same mistake as before.

We can't underestimate our opponent...

【Five】

Lady Shi wiped the water mirror, and the shadows of Zhao Gao and the bronze urn became blurred, eventually vanishing into nothingness.

The doctor looked down at the water mirror reflecting his face and marveled. Although he had accepted that all sorts of unscientific things could happen, seeing it with his own eyes was still incredibly shocking.

He was currently in a magical place called Tianguangxu, and the beautiful woman before him was said to be the wife of the ruler of Tianguangxu. This Madam Shi was extremely beautiful, her face only lightly powdered—any more would be too heavy, any less too light—and her brows carried an indescribable sense of sorrow. Although she wore only a simple, plain pale purple robe, it perfectly accentuated her graceful figure. Every frown and smile made people unconsciously hold their breath, afraid to offend such a beauty.

However, Mrs. Shi... why does that title sound so familiar... I think I heard someone mention it not long ago...

"It seems someone has opened the Yin-Yang Bronze Urn without permission," Madam Shi said with a slight frown, her voice filled with worry. She had intended to summon a maid to restore the tampered Yin-Yang Bronze Urn, but after glancing at the young man in the crimson dragon robe, she sighed and said, "This Yin-Yang Bronze Urn is connected to the Cloud Elephant Tomb. Sir, do you wish to go to the Cloud Elephant Tomb to rescue people?"

The water mirror can only reproduce the scene at that time, but it cannot record the sound. However, Madam Shi knows the place that the bronze urn leads to after it is activated.

The boss fell into deep thought and did not answer Mrs. Shi's question immediately.

Meanwhile, the doctor, after deep thought, suddenly asked, "Madam Shi? Could she be the owner of the Five-Toothed Ship in Xiyong Village?"

"It is indeed I." Madam Shi opened her almond-shaped eyes in surprise, clearly not expecting that this young man had been to Xiyong, and was the first person to define her as the owner of the Xiyong Five-Tooth Ship.

The doctor's first thought was of the memory he had seen through the Candle Dragon Eye, and where Lady Shi came from. Only a moment later did he realize that the Lady Shi mentioned by Prince An was the famous Xi Shi. He was so shocked that he couldn't speak.

Seeing this, Tang Yuan knew that the doctor wouldn't be able to find his voice for a while. To prevent an awkward atmosphere, he tugged at Madam Shi's skirt and said softly, "Madam, thank you for your trouble."

The doctor's lips twitched. He had never heard this brat speak in such a gentle, almost coquettish voice before, which gave him goosebumps.

Madam Shi, however, was quite pleased. She smiled, her red lips curving upwards, and stroked Tang Yuan's head, saying, "Yuan'er, you don't need to be so formal with me. Don't you know? I can't have my own children. I truly wish you were my own..." As Madam Shi spoke, her eyes drifted to the silent shopkeeper beside her. She was deliberately speaking to Tang Yuan's senior apprentice. Madam Shi genuinely treated Tang Yuan like her own child, but the child still had his senior apprentice, and she couldn't interfere in their efforts to save their master. But regardless, the child was still so young; he didn't need to be involved in such a complex and dangerous situation. An adult should have the responsibility of an adult.

Unexpectedly, before Tang Yuan's senior brother could say anything, the young man wearing glasses next to him suddenly interjected, "Madam, why can't you have children?"

Even the worldly-wise Mrs. Shi was speechless at this moment, unsure of how to respond.

How could he... How could he... She couldn't help but feel angry and embarrassed, her cheeks flushed. She had never seen such a rude person!

Tang Yuan understood what the doctor meant, and quickly raised his small face, anxiously explaining, "Madam, please don't be angry, Uncle is a very capable doctor... Doctor, very capable!"

The doctor then realized he had been too blunt and added, "Oh, I meant why do you think you can't have children? You don't look that old!"

Xi Shi was presented to the King of Wu for over ten years, and she is only about thirty years old now. Moreover, I heard that Lady Shi was taken away by Tao Zhugong at Zhenlu Pavilion in Xiyong, so she was not alone!

Lady Shi realized she had misunderstood. She calmed herself down, covered her mouth and smiled bitterly, "Before I was sent to the State of Wu, the King was afraid that I would betray the State of Yue if I had a child, so he made me drink a bowl of infertility soup."

The doctor almost burst out laughing upon hearing this, but seeing the pitiful look on Madam Shi's beautiful face, he realized that laughing at this moment would be too much of a blunder. He quickly controlled his expression, coughed lightly, and said, "Madam, may I take your pulse?"

Having watched too many period dramas, the doctor can now deliver this line with remarkable conviction.

Madam Shi didn't have much hope, but seeing Tang Yuan's encouraging and expectant look, she couldn't bear to refuse his kind offer. She could only sigh softly, turn around and sit at the table, rolling up her sleeves to reveal her slender, fair wrists.

Tang Yuan picked up a small, unfinished square handkerchief from Madam Shi's embroidery frame, folded it a few times, and placed it under Madam Shi's wrist.

Although he wasn't as skilled as a student at a traditional Chinese medicine university, the doctor had learned pulse diagnosis. He sat opposite Madam Shi, gently pressing three fingers of his right hand onto her radial artery pulse.

The room fell silent as the doctor carefully felt the pulse beating in his fingertips.

The general situation was similar to his guess. What kind of "fertility-preventing soup" or "contraceptive soup" is this? It's not like you're having an open-abdomen tubal ligation surgery. You think drinking a bowl of this will guarantee lifelong sterility? Anyone with a little medical knowledge knows that's absolutely unreliable.

From a young age, Madam Shi washed clothes by streams, inevitably exposed to the cold and dampness of the environment, resulting in cold hands and feet and a weak constitution. The legend of "Xi Shi holding her heart" illustrates this; Madam Shi suffered from heart disease in her youth, a fact known to all. However, her condition differed from ordinary heart disease. "Holding her heart" wasn't about pressing for pain relief, but rather a delicate, protective gesture, often indicating qi deficiency. Furthermore, her current poor complexion suggests stomach pain caused by spleen and stomach deficiency, not heart disease. Her thin physique also indicates poor digestion and qi and blood deficiency. This constitution makes conception extremely difficult.

After taking Tang Yuan's pulse, the doctor had a good idea of ​​what was going on. He turned his head and noticed Tang Yuan's suspicious look. He couldn't help but flick Tang Yuan's forehead with his finger and said with a laugh, "What kind of look is that? Western medicine uses a stethoscope, and traditional Chinese medicine takes a pulse. The principle is the same!"

"And what was the result? What's wrong with Madam's health?" Tang Yuan had been staying with the doctor for a while, and he could guess the general situation from the doctor's expression, so he asked anxiously.

The doctor wasn't in a hurry to answer, but instead told Mrs. Shi several symptoms of qi and blood deficiency, each of which was accurate, which greatly surprised Mrs. Shi.

Tang Yuan suddenly remembered that Tao Zhugong had three sons according to legend. Judging from the owner's feelings for Madam Shi, he would not marry someone else. Therefore, Madam Shi must be able to have children!
"Can this constitution of qi and blood deficiency be cured?" Madam Shi asked, her lips trembling with excitement.

The doctor nodded. Although a full physical examination hadn't been done, if it was just a case of qi and blood deficiency, traditional Chinese medicine could treat it. He always carried a pen with him, and when he got a piece of paper, he quickly wrote down the recipe for Bazhen Tang (Eight Treasures Decoction) and a series of precautions, including sunbathing, exercising more, regulating one's mood, and using dietary supplements.

"Rewrite it, and no cursive writing allowed." Tang Yuan was furious as he looked at the doctor's handwriting. He simply called a maid to bring him pen and ink and wrote a new version in traditional Chinese characters based on the doctor's original prescription.

Madam Shi gently stroked Tang Yuan's head and praised him with a smile, "Yuan'er is so clever!" Tang Yuan's ears turned red from the praise, and he barely managed to keep his handwriting from going crooked.

Mrs. Shi then asked the doctor some more questions, some of which even the doctor didn't know how to answer, since he wasn't a gynecologist.

After thinking for a moment, the doctor concluded, "Madam, there is no such thing as a 'fertility-preventing elixir' in this world. Even if there were, it would only have a limited effect on your body back then. So many years have passed, and the medicine's effects are now negligible."

Madam Shi nodded solemnly and said gratefully, "Sir, your words have saved me." The slight sorrow between her brows vanished, and she looked like a blooming red lotus, radiating dazzling beauty.

Although Tang Yuan was happy for Madam Shi, he couldn't help but feel jealous upon seeing this, and pouted, "Madam, children are actually quite scary."

Madam Shi was easily swayed by his charm. She pulled him over and gave him a tight hug, then stood up and said to the shopkeeper beside her, "Sir, are you going to the Cloud Elephant Tomb? If so, please hurry, as the passage from the Yin-Yang Bronze Urn to the Cloud Elephant Tomb is still open."

The boss seemed to have just come to his senses, hesitated for a moment before nodding and saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Madam." The doctor also stood up and quickly said, "I'll go with you!"

The shop owner remained silent, surprisingly offering no objection, and instead left the embroidery workshop first. The doctor, somewhat surprised, scratched his head, said goodbye to Madam Shi, and followed her out.

Tang Yuan was about to raise his hand to say he wanted to go too when Madam Shi grabbed his little hand and warned him softly, "Stay put and don't run around."

Tang Yuan was dejected.

With a flick of her slender hand, Madam Shi caused ripples to spread across the calm water mirror, and soon the real-time scene from the Yin-Yang bronze urn appeared.

The small white snake on Tang Yuan's wrist crawled up his sleeve and emerged from his neck, curiously watching the water mirror with Tang Yuan.

In the water mirror, it was unclear what the shopkeeper and the doctor said, but the shopkeeper took out two Qin Banliang coins from his pocket and handed one to the doctor. The doctor, without hesitation, threw the Qin Banliang coin into the Yin-Yang bronze urn and quickly disappeared. The shopkeeper, however, stood there for a long time, clutching the Qin Banliang coin, motionless.

Tang Yuan blinked, hardly believing his eyes. The boss actually dared to let the doctor go to the Cloud Elephant Tomb by himself? And it seemed more like he was being tricked into going in!

“Yuan’er, very few men can hide their thoughts from me. But you, my senior brother, I really haven’t seen through you…” Madam Shi sighed softly.

(End of this chapter)