“Why doesn’t the Princess come to the front and see for yourself?”

The burial chamber was completely silent. Ye Li looked over the black-clad man’s shoulder at Lin Doctor standing opposite, his expression notably tense. After pondering for a moment, she suddenly gave a light laugh and voluntarily withdrew the dagger pressing against the man in black, stepping back several paces. Meeting Lin Doctor’s somewhat surprised gaze, Ye Li said with a smile: “It was just a joke. Now we’re all in the same boat – if we start fighting, perhaps none of us will be able to get out.”

The man in black adjusted himself slightly, lowering his head and letting out a low laugh before saying in a deep voice: “Everyone says Princess Ding is extraordinarily intelligent. I originally didn’t believe it. But now it seems the reputation is well-deserved. No wonder Prince Ding would for the Princess’s sake…”

At the mention of Mo Xiu Yao, Ye Li’s heart tightened. It had been too long since she had heard any news of Mo Xiu Yao, and thinking of his health and the environment he was in made her worry. However, at this moment, she wouldn’t reveal even the slightest hint of her thoughts in front of this man whose background she knew nothing about. She simply looked calmly at the black-clad man’s back and said indifferently: “It seems the Princess and you are indeed acquainted. If that’s the case, why not meet face to face?”

The man in black didn’t say much else, turning around to face Ye Li.

Based on Ye Li’s understanding, Lin Yuan should be in his early thirties, but the man before her looked only about twenty-six or twenty-seven. His black attire made his figure appear even more slim and straight and also made his originally handsome features appear more sinister and cold. Just one look gave people a very uncomfortable feeling, and Ye Li frowned slightly. Seeing Ye Li’s expression, the man didn’t mind, his gaze lingering on her noticeably pregnant belly for a moment before smiling and saying: “I have met Princess Ding before.”

Ye Li stared at him for a long while before calmly speaking his name: “Tan. Ji. Zhi.”

The black-clad man looked at Ye Li, his originally gloomy smile seemingly gaining a few traces of pleasure. “I didn’t expect the Princess to remember such an insignificant person as myself. I am truly blessed in three lifetimes. I am Tan Ji Zhi, though the Princess may also call me Lin Yuan.”

Ye Li snorted lightly and said indifferently: “Lord Tan, now doesn’t seem to be the time for reminiscing. If we don’t think of a solution… you and I will both rest here eternally.”

Tan Ji Zhi wasn’t bothered by Ye Li’s sarcastic words, responding very calmly: “The Princess speaks truly.” After speaking, he turned to look at the black mist at the entrance that was growing larger and larger. They could only be thankful that these things seemed to prefer staying together rather than flying around individually, otherwise their troubles would be even greater.

Tan Ji Zhi turned back to look at Ye Li and asked: “Since the Princess seems to have some understanding of these things, might you know of a way to deal with them?”

Ye Li also understood that now wasn’t the time for bargaining, and said indifferently: “These things become insects when warm and jade when cold. Lord Tan shouldn’t need me to say more, right?”

Tan Ji Zhi stroked his chin, pondering: “Cold, is it… I understand. Please wait a moment, Princess.”

With that, Tan Ji Zhi leaped into the air again and flew to the opposite side, clearly intending to search for something. This was accompanied by unceasing hidden weapons and arrows. Fortunately, Tan Ji Zhi seemed quite familiar with this burial chamber. Although somewhat awkward, he wasn’t injured, and after several bounds had disappeared among the numerous palace rooms and treasures on the other side.

Ye Li pulled Lin Doctor toward a more distant place to retreat. Lin Doctor looked at her and stopped her, walking in front of himself to lead the way. The inside of the tomb wasn’t as safe as the previously traversed passageways – many mechanisms and traps weren’t something ordinary people could spot.

Only when there was nowhere left to retreat did Lin Doctor stop and turn back to look at Ye Li, saying: “You’re the current Prince Ding’s Princess?”

Ye Li smiled apologetically: “Indeed. I apologize for concealing this from Master. My surname is Ye, given name single character Li.”

Lin Doctor snorted lightly: “What you’re called doesn’t matter to me. How do you know Lin Yuan?”

Ye Li raised her delicate eyebrows. “Lord Tan and I have met once before. He is an attendant in the Da Chu Emperor’s study, a true confidant. Speaking of which… my appearance here might have something to do with Lord Tan.”

Lin Doctor frowned, pondering: “Have the Da Chu Emperor and Prince Ding’s mansion fallen out?”

Ye Li shrugged without answering. Even if they hadn’t openly fallen out yet, it was probably close. She just didn’t know how much of a role this Tan Ji Zhi had played in it. Among all those civil and military officials, nobles, and generals in court, they had all been fooled by this person. There were plenty of martial arts experts in court, but it seemed everyone had taken him for a weak scholar. Even Mo Jing Qi, suspicious as he was, hadn’t harbored the slightest doubt about him. This showed how truly formidable this man’s methods were.

Lin Doctor looked at Ye Li and asked somewhat strangely: “If that’s the case, why don’t I see you showing any concern for your safety?”

Ye Li covered her mouth and smiled slightly. “Master, forgive your disciple’s disrespectful words. In this ancient tomb… even if Lord Tan abandons you, elder, he won’t abandon me. As long as there’s the slightest hope, he will want to get me out alive.”

The value of a living Princess Ding and future heir was far greater than a corpse. With her and the child alive, Tan Ji Zhi could use them to threaten Mo Xiu Yao and the Mo family army, or even negotiate with Mo Xiu Yao. But if they were just corpses, Tan Ji Zhi might not dare present them to Mo Xiu Yao, as that would only thoroughly enrage him.

Lin Doctor lowered his head, silently acknowledging Ye Li’s words. Having raised Lin Yuan until he was nearly twenty, he naturally understood his thinking. In Lin Yuan’s eyes, his adoptive father probably wasn’t worth as much as Ye Li, a useful Princess Ding of the nation.

As the two were talking, Tan Ji Zhi had already returned. His lightness skill was excellent – at least after dodging more than ten waves of hidden weapons and arrows, he still seemed completely at ease. After glancing at Ye Li and Lin Doctor standing in the furthest corner by the mercury river, he rushed without hesitation toward the black mist that looked ready to expand.

“Oh? What’s that?” Ye Li looked somewhat surprised at the distance where a thick layer of white ice crystals had enveloped that black mist. Although it still seemed to struggle, Tan Ji Zhi held a bag of water, continuously pouring it onto the ice crystals, making the white crystals grow thicker and thicker until they completely encased the black mist.

Lin Doctor’s expression wasn’t good as he said coldly: “Snow Jade Pearl.”

Ye Li was bewildered. Although she had learned some basics of appraising treasures and antiques in her childhood under Madam Xu and the Xu family’s guidance, she had never heard of this Snow Jade Pearl.

Lin Doctor said coldly: “Its other name is the Corpse Preservation Pearl. Just put it in a dead person’s mouth, and the corpse will quickly be encased in a layer of ice crystals, preventing decay for a hundred years. He disturbed the remains of the entombed consorts.”

Ye Li uncomfortably rubbed her cheeks, smiling apologetically at Lin Doctor: “Master, desperate times call for desperate measures…” This tomb was at least five hundred years old – taking something from the mouth of a five-hundred-year-old corpse… even Ye Li’s smile became somewhat stiff. However, if that was the only way to resolve the current situation, Ye Li could only apologize to those entombed consorts. After all, no one knew what that black stuff might ultimately become. Just looking at its continuously expanding appearance, Ye Li did not doubt that it might eventually corrode half the burial chamber, including them if they couldn’t escape.

Seeing that the situation over there seemed mostly resolved, the two walked back leisurely. Tan Ji Zhi smiled at them both, saying to Lin Doctor: “Father, all the mechanisms in the tomb have been activated. If we want to get out safely, we can only completely solve the riddles and treasure left by the ancestor in this hall.”

Lin Doctor said coldly: “Young Master, this old man doesn’t deserve to be called father. I don’t know anything about riddles or treasures. Since Young Master is the owner of this imperial tomb, please do as you wish.”

Tan Ji Zhi’s expression darkened slightly as he said indifferently: “Father, why be stubborn with me? Haven’t I always been fulfilling the wishes of our ancestors? If Father doesn’t support me, that’s fine, but why create difficulties at every turn?”

Lin Doctor’s face twisted slightly as he turned away without speaking further. Tan Ji Zhi didn’t mind, turning to look at Ye Li on the side with a smile: “Princess, there are traps everywhere in this tomb. Can I trust that the Princess won’t cause trouble?”

Ye Li gently stroked her belly, her smile gentle: “Lord Tan can rest assured. Even if I didn’t care about my own life, I still have to consider the child in my womb.”

Tan Ji Zhi nodded satisfactorily and said: “Very good. I don’t want to harm the Princess and the little heir, nor do I want to be enemies with Prince Ding.”

Having received Ye Li’s promise, Tan Ji Zhi no longer concerned himself with other matters and walked forward to examine the palace doors. The previous black insect mist had caused considerable damage to the white jade doors – the originally snow-white doors were now covered with black spots and pockmarks. Ye Li glanced at the spherical ice crystal that had rolled to one side. The black, jade-like substance was still clearly visible inside. The character puzzle on the door still existed, and beneath that strange black jade was another layer of green jade. This time, Tan Ji Zhi had learned from Lin Doctor’s earlier lesson and didn’t touch the green jade surface with his fingers, instead taking out a dagger to slowly move the character blocks. The eight-character puzzle wasn’t difficult to begin with, and in no time Tan Ji Zhi had completed it. With two clicking sounds, the green jade split in half and fell to the ground. What was revealed was a strange keyhole – the white jade door had no lock, just a circular keyhole. Tan Ji Zhi turned back to look at Lin Doctor and said: “Father, please give me the key.”

Lin Doctor looked at him calmly and indifferently. “There is no key.”

Tan Ji Zhi frowned, his sinister face clearly showing displeasure. He certainly wouldn’t believe Lin Doctor had no key. If asked who in this world knew this tomb best besides himself, it would undoubtedly be his adoptive father who had raised him from childhood. Because everything he knew had been told to him bit by bit since he was young.

“Perhaps I could try?” Ye Li suddenly spoke up, seeing Tan Ji Zhi’s increasingly dark and ugly expression.

Both men in the confrontation were startled and looked at Ye Li together. Tan Ji Zhi’s gaze was surprised and suspicious, while Lin Doctor’s was puzzled and worried. Ye Li walked up casually, lowered her head to observe the keyhole on the door for a while, then lowered her head and chuckled. Lock-picking… was also once an essential skill. Especially for this kind of lock… Ye Li suddenly became curious about the founding emperor of the previous dynasty. Raising her hand to take out a plain copper hairpin from her hair, Ye Li carelessly began to fiddle with the keyhole. The two people behind her watched the woman before them with somewhat strange expressions. If being cultured and skilled in martial arts wasn’t anything special for Princess Ding, then being able to pick locks seemed very strange. Watching her practiced movements, Tan Ji Zhi thought that perhaps even the most skilled thieves and bandits in the jianghu might not match the woman before him. At least to enter this tomb, he had specially studied many mechanisms and locks, but this one before him left him somewhat confused.

After about a quarter of an hour, there was a click from inside, and Ye Li withdrew the copper hairpin and stepped back.

The white jade doors creaked, and after a moment, under the three people’s gaze, slowly retreated to both sides, revealing the very center of the imperial tomb before them.

Inside was a magnificent hall, clearly modeled after the main hall of the palace at that time. The eternal lamps in the hall still burned quietly, and the magnificent hall was resplendent with gold and jade, making people feel as if they were truly in a palace rather than in a gloomy ancient tomb. Looking around the hall, they didn’t see the previous dynasty’s founding emperor’s coffin that they thought should be there. There was only a sandalwood box placed on the imperial desk at the front, with a portrait of an emperor in court dress hanging directly in front. It was the founding emperor of the previous dynasty. Tan Ji Zhi was stunned for a moment, then walked forward and knelt before the portrait, respectfully kowtowing several times. Ye Li raised her eyebrows, looking toward Lin Doctor who was frowning deeply to one side – he had no intention of kneeling to worship the previous dynasty’s emperor either.

After finishing his worship of the ancestor, Tan Ji Zhi stood up and looked at Ye Li, saying: “Princess Ding, this is my ancestor, the founding emperor of the previous dynasty.” His words were full of admiration and longing for his ancestor, and his tone toward Ye Li also contained several parts showing off self-satisfaction. Ye Li nodded politely and smiled: “Congratulations, I’ve long admired him.” Tan Ji Zhi didn’t mind her perfunctory response and quickly walked up to the great hall, staring dazedly at the large rosewood box on the imperial desk, carefully holding his breath. That was the treasure he had been desperately seeking. Ye Li watched the sandalwood box with interest – she was indeed quite curious about what kind of treasure could compare to the mountains of gold, silver, jewels, and jade antiques outside.

Tan Ji Zhi looked at her and smiled: “Is the Princess also interested? Why not come up and join me in unveiling the secret of this treasure?”

Meeting Tan Ji Zhi’s expression that seemed like he was bestowing grace, Ye Li pulled at the corner of her lips and smiled: “No need, Lord Tan please proceed as you wish.”

Her refusal gave him a slight disappointment, but the feeling of having treasure before him made him decide to ignore this small displeasure. Sitting down on the dragon throne behind the imperial desk, Tan Ji Zhi looked down at Ye Li and Lin Doctor below the hall with complete satisfaction, then slowly reached out to open the box. Fortunately, this time the box didn’t produce any troublesome things, and Tan Ji Zhi easily opened it. He carefully took out an imperial jade seal from inside. Ye Li’s delicate eyebrows raised slightly – this should be the Imperial Seal that had been made by that Emperor thousands of years ago. It was carved with eight large characters meaning “Receiving the Mandate of Heaven, May the Dynasty Last Forever.” It was said that the founding emperor of the previous dynasty had indeed obtained that seal, but none of the subsequent emperors had ever produced that seal. After the Da Chu founding emperor ascended to the throne, he turned the previous dynasty’s old palace upside down but couldn’t find it. So later historical records generally considered it just a rumor that the previous dynasty’s founding emperor had obtained the Imperial Seal. It only existed in unofficial histories.

Tan Ji Zhi joyfully held the Imperial Seal, his expression gaining several more traces of enchantment. He was so high and mighty as if he could now control life and death under heaven and unify the world.

When he had finally indulged enough, he began to carefully feel the seal in his hand. Gradually… his expression began to become somewhat rigid, then slowly revealed a look of horror. “How… how can this be?!”

Ye Li was confused, watching him turn the seal over and examine it for a while, until he suddenly stood up and casually swept everything off the imperial desk, then regretfully threw down the seal as well. “How can this be?!” Ye Li blinked, dodging the things falling from above, looking at the seal that had rolled to her feet. Carefully bending down to pick it up and look, it was indeed rare fine jade, carved with coiled dragons and those legendary eight characters. Whether in size or appearance, it matched the historical records perfectly. But… why was there such a large character meaning “replica” in the lower right corner of the seal?

Beside her, Lin Doctor had also picked up the rosewood box that Tan Ji Zhi had swept down. There was still a piece of silk fabric in the box. Ye Li glanced sideways and saw two lines of extremely arrogant writing on it: “To the unworthy descendant who dares to violate my tomb, would I tell you where the real Imperial Seal and treasure are?” Following were three even more arrogant large characters: “Ha! Ha! Ha!”

Ye Li finally couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her lips. If she didn’t understand the background of this founding emperor after seeing this, she might as well give up. However… while others tricked their fathers, this emperor emperor chose to trick his descendants.

Tan Ji Zhi above had naturally also seen the silk fabric in Lin Doctor’s hands and quickly leaped down from the hall steps to snatch it. But his expression afterward made even Ye Li feel somewhat unable to continue watching him. This hopeful descendant of the previous imperial family had truly been tricked miserably by his ancestor.

The silk fabric fell dejectedly from Tan Ji Zhi’s hands. Ye Li watched somewhat helplessly as he walked out in a daze. She turned to Lin Doctor and said: “Master, will he be alright going out like this? His psychological endurance seems a bit too poor.”

Lin Doctor let out a long sigh and followed after him. Ye Li gritted her teeth, somewhat reluctantly bent down to pick up the silk fabric, and looked at it, a faint smile appearing at the corner of her lips as she tucked it into her sleeve. Looking back one more time at the portrait of the emperor in court dress in the great hall, she turned and followed them out. If those two left, she wouldn’t be able to get out by herself. However… if Tan Ji Zhi hadn’t been driven crazy by his unreliable ancestor, he shouldn’t abandon her.