Xia Qi and Yan Shouyi, having the connection of Xia Zhi, cared more about the safety of Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong than others.
Coupled with her genuine envy of Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong as a celestial couple, her yearning for love made her wish for them to be well. She even looked forward to Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong growing old together more than she anticipated her own Prince Charming.
"Brother Yan, Sister-in-law, you must return safely!" Xia Zhi prayed silently in her heart.
As if her prayer had worked, rhythmic hoofbeats sounded from outside the door.
The hoofbeats were light and powerful, like the sound of a triumphant return.
Soon, a tall figure rushed into the courtyard, it was Treading Snow, and on Treading Snow's back were Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong.
"Brother Yan! Sister-in-law!"
Xia Qi exclaimed with joy.
Taohua Ying glanced at Xia Qi with a hint of jealousy. Why was this girl acting more like a maid than me?
Shouldn't I be the one to welcome the young lady and young master!
Born in a feudal era, Taohua Ying was more accepting of the identity of a maid than modern women, and even found a certain enjoyment in fulfilling her role.
What's wrong with being a maid? What's wrong with following a prodigy? Doesn't everyone know that when one person achieves success, their entire household prospers? Da Feng Novel Network.
Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong dismounted and stood outside the door, saying, "The four folk masters have been dealt with by us. The inner city is now safe."
Taohua Ying nodded. No wonder she hadn't sensed the presence of zombies or malevolent spirits since earlier.
She removed the formation's barrier, but Liang Yinqiu and the experts still hesitated to step out of the house.
Yan Shouyi did not try to persuade them. It would take time for these elderly scholars focused on science and academics to accept such things.
Fortunately, the experts had woken up, preventing them from hindering Wang Sihui and the others.
Wang Sihui stepped forward, asking with concern, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, but my wife has suffered some minor injuries," Yan Shouyi said, looking at Lin Zitong with a trace of heartache.
Wang Sihui quickly ordered his team to fetch the medical kit, but Yan Shouyi stopped them. Their medical kit could only stop bleeding and reduce inflammation; such treatment would be of little use to Lin Zitong.
Unlike Yan Shouyi and Luo Ning, Lin Zitong was a genuine cultivator. She had often chanted scriptures and meditated, altering her physique through breathing and circulation exercises.
Her physique was many times stronger than that of an ordinary person. Although her recovery ability was not as monstrous as Yan Shouyi's, it was still quite good.
Coupled with Old Jin's unique formula, ordinary minor injuries could be healed within three days, leaving no scar.
Seeing that Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong were unharmed, Wang Sihui led them further in, to where Hu Hai was.
Hu Hai, possessing Li Yang's body, had an expression that was different from Li Yang's usual scholarly arrogance. He appeared somewhat timid and subservient.
Yan Shouyi tore off the talisman from Hu Hai's body, then took out four key fragments and asked, "Are these the keys?"
Hu Hai nodded, "Yes. If you piece them together, they can be fitted into the grooves of the Imperial City gate, and then the Imperial City gate will open automatically."
"Well, then you shall be the one to open the gate," Yan Shouyi said casually.
Hu Hai's expression changed, "W-why?"
"The imperial mausoleum is your home; you are familiar with it, so naturally, you, the owner, should open the gate. Are you expecting us outsiders to do it?" Yan Shouyi said matter-of-factly, "We are very well-behaved."
Hu Hai cursed inwardly: You bunch of scoundrels and lowlifes, you've already intruded into the imperial mausoleum, and you still talk about being well-behaved?
Seeing Hu Hai's reluctant expression, Yan Shouyi's lips curved upwards as he asked, "What, you're unwilling?"
Hu Hai swallowed, contemplating how to shirk this task.
However, the more Hu Hai hesitated and remained silent, the more suspicious Yan Shouyi became that there was something wrong with the city gate.
So, he simply grabbed Hu Hai's wrist, dragging him out, and said, "It's decided. There's no time to delay, let's go open the city gate!"
Hu Hai was greatly frightened and struggled desperately, "I'm not going! If you want to go, go yourself!"
"Why not?" Yan Shouyi pressed.
Hu Hai blurted out, "There is danger inside the Imperial City!"
Yan Shouyi fell silent, and Hu Hai realized he had let it slip. He subconsciously covered his mouth but then lowered his hand.
Damn it!
These commoners of later generations are so cunning!
Lin Zitong's voice, clear and cold, asked, "What other traps are there in the Imperial City?"
The mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang was bound to become more dangerous with each passing level; this was a consensus among everyone.
Therefore, Lin Zitong did not find it surprising. However, if they could extract even twenty to thirty percent of the information from Hu Hai, it would significantly reduce the danger.
Seeing that he could no longer conceal it, Hu Hai sighed and said,
"You are people from later generations. Have you heard of Epang Nü?"
"Epang Nü?"
Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong exchanged a look. He intended to explain, but considering the presence of more professional individuals, he invited Liang Yinqiu to enlighten them.
Upon hearing the name "Epang Nü," Liang Yinqiu's eyes lit up, and he hurried over to ask Hu Hai, "Did Epang Nü really exist?"
Hu Hai nodded, wondering if, according to later records, Epang Nü did not exist.
After Liang Yinqiu's explanation, everyone gained a preliminary understanding of Epang Nü.
In folk legends, when Qin King Ying Zheng was a child, he lived in Handan city and fell in love with a Handan woman, who was Epang Nü.
Epang Nü was not the daughter of a wealthy family. She was merely a common herb-gathering girl by birth.
After Qin Shi Huang unified the empire, he wanted to make her his empress, but this was opposed by many ministers and palace maids, solely because she was a woman from the state of Zhao and of humble origins.
To avoid troubling Ying Zheng, Epang Nü committed suicide.
In memory of this woman whom he deeply loved, the Qin Emperor then built Epang Palace.
That's right, Epang Palace was built for Epang Nü, but unfortunately, it was later set ablaze by Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu.
Xia Qi commented, "If there were 'white moonlight' figures in ancient times, Epang Nü would likely be Qin Shi Huang's white moonlight."
Childhood affections are the purest. Even the brutal Qin Shi Huang had a corner of his heart reserved for his white moonlight.
However, what connection did the dangers of the Imperial City have with this Epang Nü?
Everyone's gaze converged on Hu Hai again.
The eighteenth son of Qin Shi Huang did not mind being stared at by so many people. He said,
"After Epang Nü's death, Father Emperor could never let go and could not accept it, so he ordered Xu Fu to find a way to revive Epang Nü."
This Xu Fu was a famous alchemist in the Qin Dynasty. Legend has it that he was the final disciple of Master Guiguzi and was highly regarded by Qin Shi Huang. Qin Shi Huang even later sent him with three thousand young boys and girls to sail east to the legendary Penglai Immortal Island to seek the elixir of immortality.
However, if Xu Fu truly possessed the ability to revive the dead, there would be no need for him to go to such lengths to find the elixir of immortality.
Therefore, Yan Shouyi could almost guess what fate awaited Epang Nü in the end.