Some time ago, from the first time Qin Cheng came into contact with the ancient tomb, his postgraduate professor, Li Guoxian, said: âThereâs something odd about this Mausoleum.â
At that time, almost all the archeologists were speculating that this was a tomb from the Han Dynasty, and if it wasnât from the Han Dynasty, then it should be from a period prior to the Tang Dynasty. However, at that time, Li Guoxian didnât make any comments, and in front of everyone, Li Guoxian only said: âWithout a coffin, every speculation is just a mere speculation.â
However, Li Guoxian was less cautious with some of his students, he told them that this tomb wasnât simple, and asked them to observe it very carefully.
Perhaps, at that time, Li Guoxian had already discovered something and had a vague idea on his mind, but he just wasnât so sure.
In the later archeological excavations, Qin Cheng gradually understood what Li Guoxian meant when he said that this ancient tomb was very strange. In terms of the technological advancement of the tomb construction, it was behind the Tang Dynasty and above the Han Dynasty <sup>1</sup> , because of this, they once thought that it should be a tomb from the Northern and Southern Dynasties <sup>2</sup> . However, if they carefully observed the excavated objects, the patterns and designs were fundamentally different.
The examination of the bones of 1000 people in a battle pit not far away, that was dug out in the early years of this tomb excavation, showed a date of about 1500 years agoâŠ. But, 1500 years ago, thatâs the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties <sup>3</sup> !
Without knowing how to explain these conflicting answers, and as the excavation research progressed, Qin Chengâs desire to discover the identity of the tombâs owner grew more and more. He made guesses, countless guesses, some of which even Qin Cheng found unimaginable.
He remembered that Zhang Jun once jokingly said to him and Jiang Bo: âCould it be possible that this tomb doesnât belong to any Dynasty known in history? Hahaha, perhaps that Dynasty was forgotten by history for some reason.â
After hearing this, Qin Chengâs heart thudded as he looked at Zhang Jun, whose mouth was smiling, but whose eyes werenât smiling at all.
âJust like the legend of the Loulan Ancient Kingdom <sup>4</sup> ?â Qin Cheng didnât answer to Zhang Junâs tentative words, and instead, asked a rhetorical question like this.
âSo, youâre trying to say that thereâs an historical gap, right?â At that time, Jiang Bo expressed what Zhang Jun meant. âJust like the Xia and Shang Dynasties <sup>5</sup> whose origins date from more than 2000 BC years. Because thereâs no documented records, the foreign historians simply donât recognize their existence at allâŠ..â
But when he thought about it, Jiang Bo was puzzled: âBut more than a thousand years ago, when the feudal system was flourishing, and Chinaâs history wasnât interrupted at all, how could an Empire emerge in the middle of the process without a single record of its history? This is simply impossible! And even if, for some reason, the Empire was annihilated, it would be impossible for this event to not have a single record in the Official Records <sup>6</sup> !â
In fact, Jiang Boâs doubts were also Qin Chengâs doubts, and the doubts of all the archeologists who were now attached to the ancient tomb. Even if there really was a Dynasty they didnât know about, at least, there should be a record of it in the Official Records of each Dynasty that came afterwards; and yet, they werenât able to find even a single trace of it on the Official Records of the 24 Dynasties.
If they guessed correctly and such an Empire really existed, then it would be like it appeared out of nowhere, only to disappear without leaving any trace of its existence in anyoneâs memory, as if it had never existedâŠ.
Such speculation was so scary, something that no common person would think of <sup>7</sup> , that it made Qin Cheng feel that it must be simply impossible.
However, when he looked at the ghost in front of him that has been stuck in the world of the living for thousands of years, Qin Cheng couldnât help but smile bittely and think; â Thereâs no way. I once thought that there werenât any ghosts and deities in this world, but what had happened here that many years ago? â
Just as a scholar who studied the space-time in the universe said: âIn the final analysis, human beings are only small things compared to the whole universe, and weâve been trying to use these extremely small minds to explain the huge universe, but since we canât even see the whole universe, how can we say that something is impossible?â
No one knows what time is, where it begins and where it ends. Where it stops, no one can tell. So, who can be absolutely sure what really happened in the pastâŠ.?
Qin Chengâs sentence, âThereâs no such Xu Dynasty in History Recordsâ, made Su Jingmo flinch for a moment.
âThere isnât?â
âNo.â Shaking his head, Qin Cheng said: âThereâs no records of the Xu Dynasty at the Official Records.â
Qin Cheng said something wrong, which made Su Jingmo laugh out loud: âOfficial Records? Zhen is curious, why do you believe more in the Official Records, when this tomb is right here?â
Speaking of this, Su Jingmo narrowed his eyes. Although he said that, in his heart there were still some doubts. Why are there no records of his life before death? He doesnât understand. He doesnât even know what happened to the outside world after he died, nor he remembered about the Xu Kingdomâs history 70 years prior to his death. â Could it be that after I died, my memory got destroyed? â
â No, itâs impossible. At that time, none of the foreign Countries and the vassal States on the border of Great Xu had the ability to compete with Great Xu. Besides, Great Xuâs army had already intimidated every opponent. â Even if he didnât mention this, Su Jingmo still doesnât think that the Emperor after him, his cold-blooded and ruthless brother, will let Great Xu be destroyed.
However, when he looked at Qin Chengâs eyes, Su Jingmo knew that this man hadnât lied to himâŠâŠ
As if remembering something, Su Jingmo suddenly laughed: âAre you an archeologist? Whatâs an archeologist?â
Qin Cheng didnât know why Su Jignmo would ask such a question, and when he was about to explain it to him, he didnât know how to explain archeology, after all, there wasnât a profession like this in ancient times. Archeology can mean digging and exploring tombs, but because ancient China was influenced by Confuciansm, digging up ancestral graves wasnât allowed by Confucian morals. However, such people did exist, like the tomb-robbing families from ancient times up until now, they would have some legitimate archaeological status. Like Sima Qian <sup>8</sup> , theyâre all studying history, not prying open peopleâs coffins.
ââŠ.. Archeology is a job that studies ancient history, culture, and historical figures. It also requires the permission of the state to excavateâŠ.â
âSo, thieves in the name of the Government?â
âNoâŠ. itâs not quite the same.â Although Qin Cheng doesnât know what the difference isâŠ
âWhatâs the difference?â Su Jingmo sneered. âThe âstudying ancient historyâ is just a pretext to get permission to dig and steal the tomb. That fact canât be changed.â After he said that, Su Jingmo didnât want to say more, because this was a different era from his time. Besides, he didnât care about this issue at this pointâŠ. âWell, since youâre an âarcheologistâ, you must know how many Imperial Mausoleums there are in this radius of a hundred Li <sup>9</sup> , right?â They had an Imperial Mausoleum in Great Xu, where almost all the Emperors were buried.
Xiâan is an historical ancient city with many Imperial Mausoleums of various Dynasties, and itâs one of the most concentrated places in China. In addition to the Imperial Mausoleum of the first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty, there are also 11 Imperial Mausoleum of the Western Han Dynasty and 18 Imperial Mausoleums of the Tang Dynasty. Itâs just that in Ninghua Village, they could only find this single Imperial Mausoleum.
âIn this area, in addition to⊠your Imperial MausoleumâŠthere are several burial pits. In the Southeast thereâs a mountain called Shuize, which has been identified as an Imperial Mausoleum, and since itâs close to your Imperial Mausoleum, we presumeâŠ. that it should be the Empressâ Mausoleum.â
âThe Empressâ Mausoleum?â Su Jingmo seemed to be smiling, as if he had heard something funny. Su Jingmo then looked at Qin Cheng and asked again: âDid you say⊠the Empressâ Mausoleum?â
âYesâŠ.â When Qin Cheng saw the expression Su Jingmo just made, and after he looked at his eyes, he hesitated for a moment before slowly replying: âGenerally speaking, the Southeast direction of an Emperorâs Mausoleum is the Mausoleum of the Empress. Moreover, the archeologists who explored some years ago also dug out some womenâs burials from there. No one can be buried at the Southeast of your Mausoleum except for the Empress.â
Su Jingmo nodded his head. â It seems that this archaeologist seems to know some things â. âThe Southeast direction should indeed be the Empressâ Mausoleum.â
It was clear to Qin Cheng that Su Jingmo must be ridiculing him at what he said about the Empressâ Mausoleum, which made him ask: âIs it not? Itâs not the Empressâ Mausoleum?â
âIf you say so, then that should be the case.â Without letting Qin Cheng speak, who wanted to retort after hearing his words, Su Jingmoâs eyebrows were raised and his eyes seemed like they were smiling with a hint of cynicism. âZhen doesnât know when you archeologists will be able to open that Mausoleum, but Zhen would really like to know who Zhenâs âEmpressâ is.â
Su Jingmoâs obvious words made Qin Chengâs mind explode in an instant.
â What did he mean? He wants to know who his Empress is? Does that mean⊠â
âYou donât have an Empress?!â
Qin Cheng, who just said that, didnât even notice that his eyes were a little bit eager at the moment. Su Jingmo looked at Qin Cheng with a smile, and after a while, he said: âAre you happy⊠that Zhen didnât establish an Empress?â
âAh⊠noâŠnoâŠ.â Qin Cheng said, closing his eyes. âItâs just a little strange, you should have established an Empress right after succeeding the throne.â
Su Jingmo glanced at Qin Cheng and said: âAlthough Zhen didnât establish an Empress, Zhen still had many concubines. Zhen wonders if those concubines were all buried in that tomb.â
Although he didnât have a main wife, itâs possible that in the absence of an Empress, a later Emperor would establish one for him and get her buried there.
âZhen would like to know whether itâs concubine Yan from that Western region, or the beautiful concubine Su from SuhangâŠ.â
The one who can leave a place in Su Jingmoâs heart is definitely the concubine he favored before his death, and at this thought, there was a sudden and unexpected discomfort in Qin Chengâs heart.
By trying to change the subject, Qin Cheng frowned and asked: âThereâs a burial of a thousand people at the West side of this tomb, and almost all of them died violently. Are these your enemies?â
âA burial pit for a thousand people?â Qin Chengâs words made Su Jingmo suddenly change his expression. Great Xu didnât have the bloody practice of those far distant countries that buried their slaves with them, and he couldnât have anyone buried with him after he died. His younger brother shouldâve been the one to kill a thousand people, burying them with himâŠ. as for who did he kill, Su Jingmo had a guess in mind.
Those must have been his personal guards, his trusted MinistersâŠ.
âQin ChengâŠ.would you like to make a deal with Zhen?â
Itâs soooo funny seeing Qin Cheng being âhorny on mainâ while Su Jingmo doesnât know how to respond to that xD
Also! Things are getting interesting with the tomb ?? and whatâs all about Su Jingmo not having an Empress?? What the hell happened to his Dynasty??? Did Su Jingmo really **** both men and women or did he just say that to ridicule Qin Cheng? So many questions! (hahaha)