Chapter 97

“Holy shit! This is so fucking huge. I didn’t know Professor Li was like this.”

“Maybe it’s fake? Maybe someone who doesn’t like Professor Li deliberately faked the photos.”

“You’re right. I don’t really believe that Professor Li would be the kind to steal essays. I’ve assisted his classes, and he’s indeed the best teacher and lecturer at this university. Besides, his academic ability is beyond doubt.”

“Are the damn pictures even real? Who knows, ah. In any case, it really makes Professor Li look like an immoral and despicable person….”

“Who knows what’s going on in the background.”

The alumni next to Qin Cheng kept talking about the scandal, and when Qin Cheng heard their conversation, he shook his head. In the past, Qin Cheng respected Li Guoxian immensely, after all, he wasn’t aware yet that Li Guoxian had such a dark side to himself. If this situation had been brought to light in the past, regardless of the relationship between a female student and Li Guoxian, Qin Cheng wouldn’t have been interested in such a scandal. However, although he wasn’t good with computers, Qin Cheng didn’t think that the pictures were fake….because Qin Cheng actually knew who the student was. Among Li Guoxian’s students, this Shimei ¹ was quite close to Li Guoxian.

In other words, only people close to Li Guoxian could take such photos. The image of Li Guoxian as a great scholar had now completely collapsed in Qin Cheng’s heart, but he also didn’t have the energy to speculate who was behind this, and what would happen to Li Guoxian from now on.

Looking at the words ‘To be continued’, gave the impression that someone wanted to discredit Li Guoxian, and Qin Cheng wasn’t interested in this tug-of-war, nor did he have anything to do with it. After observing for a while, Qin Cheng finally went straight into the building.

Given that the excavation on the tomb in Ninghua Village had been temporarily stopped, there weren’t many people inside the research room. There were only two or three people still organizing documents indoors.

After calling Zhang Jun to ask him where the sorted materials were put, Qin Cheng saluted the people inside the research room and then went to the place Zhang Jun had told him about. After rummaging around for a while, Qin Cheng finally found the documents Zhang Jun had mentioned before.

In terms of porcelain patchwork and text translation, Zhang Jun was indeed an expert. The choice of words and sentences in ancient China were indeed very different from modern times, and when it came to the Xu Dynasty, they certainly had different writing styles compared to other Dynasties. Zhang Jun was highly skilled in different writing styles, so his translations of official texts were always spot on. As Qin Cheng looked at the extended text and read Zhang Jun’s notes, he could roughly put together what was recorded on the broken porcelain pieces.

Indeed, as Zhang Jun said, what was recorded there spoke about Su Jingmo’s marriage. However, in Qin Cheng’s opinion, this record didn’t tell a love story. Instead, it described Su Jingmo’s marriage to the Crown Princess ² after becoming the Crown Prince.

The Crown Princess was Lin Qing, who Su Jingmo had mentioned before. The porcelain pieces gave a detailed recording of the wedding ceremonial system of the Crown Prince of the Xu Dynasty, which was similar to the one used in the Tang Dynasty, only more tedious. The ceremony respected the Six Rites ³ and maintained the custom: ‘The parents decide on the marriage, and the matchmaker introduces the spouses’. However, it was vaguely stated in these records that the Emperor didn’t agree with Su Jingmo marrying the Crown Princess, and that the marriage was completely Su Jingmo’s decision. After all, Su Jingmo had a powerful army under his command, and the Emperor was forced to agree to the wedding….

To be honest, Qin Cheng felt uncomfortable when reading these records. After all, every word revealed the Crown Prince’s feelings for the Crown Princess.

‘ Su Jingmo said that he didn’t have an Empress, but he still married Lin Qing as his main wife so that she could hold the Crown Princess title. What’s that supposed to mean? ’

Qin Cheng brushed off these questions, to stop himself from thinking too much, and concentrated on finding the name ‘Xu Yun’.

Indeed, not long after, Qin Cheng found that name. The first time it appeared was in reference to the origin of the Crown Princess Lin Qing, saying that although the Taowu bone was hidden with the Crown Princess’ family, it has been guarded by Xu Yun, a respected monk from the Ruohua Temple. The second time this name was mentioned, was that the marriage was presided over by Xu Yun.

‘ The wedding of the Crown Prince, the future Emperor, was presided over by a mere monk? ’ Qin Cheng laughed a little. ‘ Was Su Jingmo trying to win over Xu Yun because he wanted the Taowu bones? As I thought, this monk, Xu Yun, was greatly related to the Taowu bones! ’

‘ However, even if I know this, what’s the use of it? Thousands of years have passed, and that man is long gone. How can I find this man and ask him the questions whose answers I’m so desperate to know? ’

As he held a breath in his chest, a sense of powerlessness made Qin Cheng sit heavily in a chair.

Qin Cheng didn’t know what to do, and he didn’t even know where to start. But he did have a vague feeling in his heart, a feeling that everything had long been doomed and the outcome had already been set. What can an ant like him do?

‘ Even though I’m unwilling, it seems that I can only look at history, observe until all this dust is settled….I will always be a spectator. ’

‘ No, impossible. There must be a way! Hasn’t it been said that the Taowu bones can make people come back to life? Although it’s necessary for the dead’s bones and body to be intact, how can I believe it? How can I deny a possibility when I haven’t even tried it myself? ’

Qin Cheng raised his hand and rubbed his brow. ‘ I cannot believe this is a dead-end. ’

After pondering, Qin Cheng got up and left the research room.

He was in a coma for a period of time, and when he woke up, he avoided going to Ninghua Village in order to sort out his thoughts. Unexpectedly, those same thoughts were about to burst.

Qin Cheng’s heart was already filled with happiness that the man he loved corresponded to his feelings. Even though he knew very well that this was a road with no return, he didn’t wish to look back. After all, he finally obtained Su Jingmo’s heart, something he had been waiting so long for.

Qin Cheng wanted to see him so badly.

With this thought in mind, Qin Cheng planned to ride a bike to Ninghua Village. However, he was unexpectedly stopped by three people before he could walk through the university’s gate.

Qin Cheng wanted to pass by them, but soon he found that these people were blocking his way on purpose. They were clearly looking for a fight, making Qin Cheng frown.

“What’s the meaning of this? Are you not afraid I’ll call the police?”

Although these men were really big, not to mention the students coming and going, even the doorman was ready to interfere.

The three men also knew that it was better to not attract too much attention, so the leader approached Qin Cheng. Before Qin Cheng could avoid him, that man whispered: ”Mr. Su would like to invite you to his house.”

“Su?” Qin Cheng was very sensitive to that surname, and as soon as he heard it, the man he met in the hospital suddenly appeared in his mind. “Why should I follow you? Who says I won’t be killed?”

Without knowing what that man’s intention was, Qin Cheng didn’t dare to follow these men casually. After all, he is not a child, and he doesn’t dare to bet on his life.

The leader had already guessed that Qin Cheng would say something like this, so he wasn’t angry. Instead, he pulled a jade ring out of his pocket with a smile. That jade ring looked exactly the same as the one Su Jingmo wore on his hand. The moment Qin Cheng saw it, he was stunned.

The man said: “Mr. Su said that he will tell you why you couldn’t see the man in the tomb.”

As soon as this was said, a bit of doubt surged at the bottom of Qin Cheng’s heart, shocking him. Qin Cheng looked at the men in front of him with an utter look of surprise.

In fact, Qin Cheng had some doubts about what happened the last time he saw Su Jingmo, but he didn’t dare to think about it. After hearing Su Jingmo’s vague explanations, he chose to ignore that event.

Su Jingmo threw Qin Cheng out of the tomb, only to appear later at the entrance of the tunnel. Qin Cheng could see Su Jingmo as clearly as always, but the next second, Su Jingmo suddenly disappeared from his sight. As if he had vanished into thin air….

Then, when Su Jingmo appeared again, he was still standing at the exact same position he disappeared from. Su Jingmo’s weird attitude also made Qin Cheng feel a bit suspicious.

Qin Cheng had a vague idea at the bottom of his heart, but he didn’t dare to think about it….but now, Mr. Su has exposed the fact….

That he may not be able to see Su Jingmo anymore….

“What does this Mr. Su want from me?” A long, long time passed before Qin Cheng could find his voice and ask somewhat dryly.

“I don’t know. Mr. Su only asked us to bring you to him. However, I can assure you that he means no harm.”

Qin Cheng pondered about it, and then nodded: “What if I don’t want to go?”

“Of course, we have plenty of ways to bring you with us. The key is whether you will like to be ‘carried’ there, or ‘walk’ over by yourself.”

“So, can I tell someone where I’m going?”

The man in front of him just smiled. The answer was self-evident.

Qin Cheng pondered over the words of the man in front of him. Given that Mr. Su deliberately wanted Qin Cheng to be aware that he knew the reason why he couldn’t see Su Jingmo that time, it must be because he knows Su Jingmo’s situation as well as why his tomb is placed in Ninghua Village; which is exactly what Qin Cheng knows very little about.

Qin Cheng doesn’t believe that this Mr. Su is merely concerned with these matters due to a particular hobby, but now that he has the opportunity to meet someone like him….

‘ Only by knowing yourself and your enemy ⁴ , will you be prepared for the critical situation when it comes, right? Besides, even if I really didn’t want to go, I’m in a difficult position. ’

Qin Cheng finally nodded: “Then I’ll go. It’s just that I made an appointment with Jiang Ping in the morning to meet this afternoon. If I don’t show up or don’t answer the phone, he’ll probably get suspicious. You should know who Jiang Ping is, am I right?”

Qin Cheng estimated that these people shouldn’t have been following him all the time, or that they weren’t that close. Otherwise, Jiang Ping would have noticed he was being followed by more than one person. Because of this, Qin Cheng told a half-truth.

Sure enough, the man stared at Qin Cheng for a long time before he nodded his head: “You can call him and tell him that you won’t be meeting this afternoon.”

After saying that, the man took Qin Cheng’s phone from his hand. Once Qin Cheng dialed Jiang Ping’s phone, the man pressed the speaker.

“Qin Cheng? What’s the matter?”

“Nothing much, it’s just that I have a headache. I’ll be going to the hospital this afternoon, so I won’t be able to meet with you.”

At that moment, Jiang Ping didn’t hesitate to reply: “Alright, it just so happens that the man I arrested this morning has some issues, so I won’t be able to leave work today.”

“Then I’ll be contacting you some other time.”

“Alright.”

By the time Qin Cheng hung up the phone, the man couldn’t find anything wrong with their conversation. He simply turned off Qin Cheng’s phone and took him away.

However, the thing the man failed to notice was that Qin Cheng’s palms were full of sweat. Jiang Ping was worthy of praise as a police officer. If Jiang Ping had replied with the slightest trace of hesitation or denial of ‘said agreement’, those men would have found out that Qin Cheng had lied. As for the hospital….he mentioned it on purpose because he met Mr. Su there, hoping that Jiang Ping would understand the hint and search for the hospital surveillance cameras.

On the other side, Jiang Ping naturally smiled after Qin Cheng hung up the phone. He stood up from his chair and went to the hospital.

He knew that Qin Cheng’s appointment was false. After working as a police officer for so many years, he naturally knew when something was amiss by the tone of someone’s voice alone.

‘ Besides, ’ Jiang Ping thought, ‘ Qin Cheng going to the hospital because of a headache? Pfft! Don’t make me laugh. That man isn’t even afraid of death…. ’

Qin Cheng was so jealous when reading Su Jingmo’s marriage lmao! Babe, that woman you’re so jealous of is looong dead 😂😂 she won’t get on the way of your forbidden love 👻👻👻

Also, Qin Cheng is in danger yet again (ノ_<、)

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(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ ✧

Footnotes

<ol><b>师妹</b> <b>shī mèi</b> ; Junior female student or apprentice. <b>太子妃</b> <b>tài zǐ fēi</b> ; Title of the Crown Prince’s main wife. <b>六礼</b> <b>liù lǐ</b> ; It refers to the six kinds of rituals during the process of marriage, from negotiation to the completion of the marriage: The groom’s family will ask a matchmaker to go to the bride’s family to propose marriage, if the bride’s family agreed to discuss the marriage, then the groom’s family would prepare gifts to propose. The matchmaker would then ask the bride’s name and birth date, so the groom’s family can take it for divination to a temple. If everything looks auspicious, the groom’s family will send a dowry to the bride’s family. Then, the groom’s family will decide on a date, and send gifts to the bride’s family to seek approval. Finally, a day or two before the wedding, the bride’s dowry will be sent to the groom’s house and prepare the wedding bed. The next day, the groom himself will go to the bride’s house to take her back to his house and start the wedding ceremony. <b>知己知彼</b> <b>zhī jǐ zhī bǐ</b> ; Chinese idiom, it means that by knowing the situation of both sides thoroughly, you can be invincible in battle. From <b>《兵法》</b> by ( <b>孙子</b> <b>sūn zǐ</b> ) Sun Zi from the Spring and Autumn Period [770-476 BC].</ol>