âFor her, you let your fifth brother go?â Qin Cheng looked at Su Jingmo with a complicated expression on his face.
Su Jingmo narrowed his eyes, raised his eyebrows and glanced at Qin Cheng: âYes, but that wasnât the only reasonâŠ.â Su Jingmo looked indifferent as he said: âThe Lin family was a big family in Great Xu, and their ancestors had fought alongside the founding Emperor when establishing the country. Lin Qing was the eldest daughter of the Lin Family, and she was also a talented woman. Whether her beautiful appearance or her family background, she was the right candidate to be Zhenâs main wife. By marrying her, the Lin family would be in Zhenâs hands.â
Only by Su Jingmoâs words, Qin Cheng can naturally see a loophole. If Lin Qing married Su Jingmo for the sake of Su Jingyan, then that would mean that she had feelings for Su Jingyan. If Su Jingmo had killed Su Jingyan in the first place, then without him, wouldnât Lin Qing have no other choice than to give up those feelings? Besides, according to Su Jingmoâs status back then, if he really wanted to marry this woman, what was the obstacle?
Qin Chengâs final hypothesis was that Su Jingmo simply didnât want to hurt Lin Qing.
âYou were in love with her.â
This wasnât a question, it was a statement of the reality of the situation. Qin Cheng looked at Su Jingmo without missing his momentary trance, this reaction affirming Qin Chengâs words.
Su Jingmo was lost in thought for a while, but then he shook his head: âLin Qing was a strange woman and Zhen was deeply caught in her tenderness and talent, sheâŠ. used to be Zhenâs weakness. But sometimes, Zhen canât really tell whether Zhen liked her or the family behind her.â
The first time he confronted Su Jingyan head-on, he said to Su Jingyan that the reason why he was defeated, was because he had abandoned everything, even his own heartâŠ..
After some time passed by, and he confronted Su Jingyan again, Su Jingyan said similar words to him: âImperial brother, youâve succeeded because you kept the last of your love and affections with you, but now you were defeated because of them. IâŠ. as the fifth brother, feel a little bit sorry for my Imperial elder brother. I understood my own heart well before I could throw it away. But even though my elder brother has always been a merciful man, Iâm afraid that, even now, you havenât been able to see yourself clearly âŠ.â
Qin Cheng stared at Su Jingmo while he spoke about his wife and didnât reply, the only thing he could do was hide his own emotions and remind himself that these things had nothing to do with him. Whoever Su Jingmo has loved while he was alive had nothing to do with Qin Cheng. Moreover, more than a thousand years have passed and Lin Qing died long ago, alongside the Xu Dynasty that no longer exists. Qin Cheng only has to figure out what happened in that part of history, before Su JingmoâŠ.. enters the cycle of reincarnationâŠ..
The mere thought of Su Jingmoâs reincarnation made Qin Cheng feel like he had a lump inside his throat.
Not wanting to keep talking about his past personal life anymore, Su Jingmo changed the subject: âZhen remembers that you said not long ago that there were no other Mausoleums around Zhenâs Imperial Mausoleum, except for the Empress Mausoleum, right?â
âYes.â Putting aside his emotions, Qin Cheng replied: âIn theory, there should be other Imperial Mausoleums here.â
âThen, does that mean the place where Zhen is buried is not at the outskirts of Zhongdu?â
âZhongdu?â When recalling the name of the ancient cities in China in past Dynasties, he recalled that Pingyao in Shanxi Province was set up as Zhongdu County in the Han Dynasty. So, could it be possible that the Capital of Great Xu was in present Pingyao?
Pingyao is located in the Pingyao County, in the middle of Shanxi Province, and was founded in the King Xuan period of the Western Zhou Dynasty <sup>1</sup> âŠ.
Shanxi âŠâŠ
Qin Cheng was frowning while immersed in thought, until he suddenly remembered that a few months ago, shortly after the death of Jiang Bo, he met an old taxi driver that showed him the photo of an ancient Jue <sup>2</sup> . At first glance, those who didnât know much about ancient artifacts would think that the Jue was from the Han or Tang Dynasties, but a knowledgeable person would think that the Jue was fake. Since the craftsmanship and painting techniques of the Jue were different from any of the already known Dynasties, only those who had seen the burial objects coming from the tomb of Ninghua Village would find that the decorations on that Jue were exactly the same as the objects found there.
The old taxi driver said that his son-in-law bought it on Shanxi, and at that time, Qin Cheng hadnât cared about that piece of information, but now, it seemed that Shanxi was actually hiding an Imperial Mausoleum that can prove the existence of the Xu Dynasty!
When he thought about this, Qin Cheng suddenly got excited, took the map, and drew something on it: âSu Jingmo, look here, do you see the Zhongdu City you just mentioned around this place?â
Then, regardless of the slight pain in his right arm, which bone had been reattached not long ago, Qin Cheng took a pen and marked the general location of Pingyao on the map: âWas Zhongdu the Capital City of Great Xu? If so, then Great Xuâs Capital City is on the other side of Shanxi. If thatâs soâŠâ As he said this, Qin Cheng drew the location of XIâan: âYour tomb is actually located in Xiâan, although you might know it as Changâan, am I right?â
When Su Jingmo heard Qin Chengâs words, he couldnât help but restrain his expression: âThis location is really where the Zhongdu City was located, but itâs also where the Imperial City of Great Xu was. The Imperial Mausoleum of Great Xu was located in the northern part of Zhongdu City, at a high mountain used as a Mausoleum, where the Royal Family were buried, at the northern side of the mountain. This represented that from high above, the Royal Family were able to overlook the entire Capital and protect Great Xu.â
âThen whyâŠ. Jingmo, why are you buried in Changâan, thousands of miles away from Shanxi?â
Su Jingmoâs eyes widened slightly when he heard his words, and looked up at Qin Cheng, who had just left out his surname, and called him directly by his given name. However, in the end he didnât mind. He simply chuckled and said: âThat, Zhen can only know by asking Zhenâs fifth brother, who inherited the throne.â
âIt seems that Iâll have to make a trip to Pingyao, ShanxiâŠâ
âTo the current Zhongdu City?â Su Jingmo thought about it and nodded his head. âThere must be a lot of things hidden in thereâŠ. moreover, thousands of years have passed, and the Zhongdu City wonât be like it used to be. Because, just like how you donât know the existence of Great Xu, Zhen believes that the Zhongdu City had long disappeared as well. So, how will you find the traces of the existence of Great Xu?â
While Qin Cheng heard Su Jingmoâs words, he thought about that issue too: âA few months ago I met an old taxi driverâŠ. wellâŠ. a cart driver. His son-in-law bought a Jue in Shanxi and I could see that the patterns on that Jue, and the objects buried in your tomb, are almost identical. I think thatâŠ. I can follow his son-in-lawâs route and find some cluesâŠ. Fortunately, I saved his phone number that time.â
Because QIn Cheng was immersed in explaining, he didnât see that Su Jingmoâs expression suddenly changed, and after a while, he said: âSevered headâŠ. cry <sup>3</sup> ?â
When he heard this, Qin Cheng flinched for a moment, and then started to laugh: âNo, not âsevered headââŠ..â Then he took out his cellphone from his backpack and tapped the screen. âIâm referring to this object. As long as you know the number of this machine from the other party, you can contact them, no matter how far away they are.â
Su Jingmo stared at Qin Chengâs fingers casually sliding on the smooth surface of the strange object, seeing how the images under his hand changed alongside his fingers. âNo matter how far away they are? You can still contact them?â
âWell, yes.â Knowing that the things from modern times would be too complicated for Su Jingmo to understand, Qin Cheng simply said: âThis thing can emit a kind of message that through a certain medium of interpretation, the person at the other side will be able to hear your voice.â
âThen, wonât it be very slow? Not only do you have to let the message reach the other side, but the message also has to get interpreted.â
âNo, itâs not like that. The message can pass as fast as light.â
âLight?â Su Jingmoâs eyebrows tangled together showing his complex thoughts: âIs there any speed in light?â
âYesâŠ..â Qin Cheng looked at Su Jingmo, and for some reason, a sad feeling slowly overflowed inside his heart. This man doesnât know anything about the modern world, not to mention that Su Jingmo canât understand him, but thereâs also the matter that Su Jingmo and Qin Cheng are really separated by thousands of yearsâŠ..
Qin Cheng has never been ashamed of himself, but there were some things that are bound to be inevitable, no matter how hard he tries; and when he understood that something between them was impossible, he was instantly trying to stop whatever he was starting to feel.
â There has been nothing between us from the beginning, and it should remain this way from now onâŠ. â
Qin Cheng thought so in his heart, but when the feelings inside your heart are calm before you meet someone you might like, and you actually meet them, your mind will naturally be in complete chaos. Even if his mind reminded him a thousand times, over and over again, that he should stop, his actions in the end would follow his deepest desires, acting against his will.
When Su Jingmo saw that Qin Chengâs right hand, which was holding the pen, was trembling slightly, he knew that it was caused by the pain of his armâs bones being reattached together after a dislocation.
âItâs getting late, you should go back and go to a physician to get your arm checked.â
As soon as Su Jingmo said that, he waved his hand and the gates of the Underground Palace opened: âThe pen and paper can stay in the tomb, and you can come over tomorrow. Zhen will give you some drawings of the locations of the Imperial Mausoleum in Great Xu. Even if the times change, the mountains and rivers should remain similar, so you should be able to find it according to the map Zhen will give you.â
Qin Cheng still wanted to say something, but when he saw Su Jingmoâs smiling face as if he was âseeing off guestsâ, he held himself back.
âThen⊠see you tomorrow.â
Qin Cheng took a deep breath, picked up his backpack, turned on the flashlight and walked out of the Underground Palace.
As usual, as soon as he left the Underground Palace, the white marble gates slowly closed behind him, and Su Jingmoâs desolated figure would slowly disappear in front of his eyes. This time, however, Qin Cheng didnât want to look at him as he slowly disappeared from his sight, so he simply went away the moment he was outside the Underground Palace.
Even if the bones in his arms were reattached, Qin Cheng could still feel that his arms were a little bit loose and it felt like they were about to fall down. When he thought that he would arrive at campus around 7 in the morning, if his arms kept being like this, it would be a huge problem, so he decided to go directly to the hospital instead.
At that moment, Qin Cheng walked out of the tunnel whispering some self-mocking words: âThe times Iâve been visiting the hospital these past few months, make up for the number of times Iâve visited the hospital in the past few years.â
Since Qin Cheng didnât look back a few moments ago, he naturally didnât know that the instant the white marble gates of the Underground Palace tightly closed, Su Jingmo silently collapsed all of a sudden on the gloomy white floor of the Underground Palace.
To put it worse, his figure was faintly visibleâŠâŠ
Noooooo SJM!!! You better be fine ok? (;ïŸĐïŸ)
QC is suffering bc his crush wonât reciprocate his feelings, but also, bc heâs dead (;ïč;)