The Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor scenic area is built on the legendary tomb mound of Qin Shi Huang. The highest point of the mound reaches over seventy meters, with an untouched underground palace below. The surface features two layers of city walls, each ten meters high.
The legendary underground palace is said to have celestial bodies made of pearls on its ceiling and rivers and seas made of mercury underground. It is rumored that Qin Shi Huang's massive bronze coffin floats on this mercury-filled expanse, constantly swaying, patrolling the lands day and night.
Yan Shouyi has no way of knowing if these legends are true, as he has never actually entered the underground palace.
As for the Ma siblings, who have been to the underground palace, Ma Xingping was previously cursed, and Ma Jinxuan was pursued by evil spirits. Although Yan Shouyi had inquired about the underground palace of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor from Ma Jinxuan on their way to Chang'an, she could only describe it with fear in her eyes, unable to articulate it completely.
As an experienced Mojin Xiaowei, Ma Jinxuan witnessed too many incredible sights within the underground palace, causing her memories to become jumbled.
However, it is certain that the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor does exist beneath their feet at this moment, and it is likely even more magnificent than historical records suggest.
Furthermore, Yan Shouyi also asked Ma Jinxuan if she had seen the so-called "rivers and seas made of mercury" underground.
According to the "Records of the Grand Historian": "They dug through three layers of earth, poured bronze, and placed the coffin. Palaces and offices, strange artifacts, and rare treasures were moved and filled within. Mercury was used to create a hundred rivers, streams, and seas, flowing and circulating. The heavens were depicted above, the earth below, and fish-oil lamps were used as candles, designed to burn indefinitely."
Later experts, through investigations, discovered different plant growth patterns on the tomb mound of the First Qin Emperor and measured varying mercury content within the mound. In particular, one area showed an astonishingly high mercury content, leading to the general confirmation that there was indeed a body of water filled with mercury in the underground palace.
Unfortunately, Ma Jinxuan did not see it at the time, as her tomb-robbing shaft led directly into the palace.
The reason for asking this question is that the legendary bronze coffin of Qin Shi Huang is said to be above the mercury lakes and seas. Yan Shouyi even wanted to confirm whether the coffin contained Qin Shi Huang himself or the national preceptor of the Qingjiang Kingdom.
After spending a full day touring the scenic area, everyone was tired. The young tour guide, Chen Xi, led them to the restaurant.
The weather was gradually getting warmer, and it wasn't a holiday, so there weren't many tourists in the restaurant.
Long Feicheng sat down and happily declared, "When you come to Chang'an, how can you not eat noodles? And when you eat noodles, how can you not eat garlic? Have you heard a Chang'an saying: 'Eating noodles without garlic is like not eating noodles at all'!"
Everyone was taken aback.
Weng Qianxiang slowly said, "The last time I heard that saying was the time before."
Chen Xi chuckled, amused by their nonsensical banter, and immediately added, "As long as what you say has something to do with Chang'an, it wouldn't be so completely unrelated."
This peculiar communication style of the younger generation left Wei Changqing bewildered.
He frowned and asked Yan Shouyi, "Are they uneducated? Why can't I understand what they're saying?"
"Uncle, don't mind them. The last time I felt this speechless was the time before," Yan Shouyi comforted him.
Wei Changqing was on the verge of losing his temper. The group of "bratty kids" quickly reverted to normal communication.
For dinner, everyone ate the most authentic roujiamo, making the trip to Chang'an worthwhile.
During dinner, they discussed the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor again. Long Feicheng even requested a scenic map and openly studied how to enter the tomb.
The little tour guide listened, unfazed. The Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor was under strict protection with twenty-four-hour security monitoring. Unless grave robbers dug from kilometers away, it would be impossible to evade security and enter the underground palace.
Therefore, she assumed Long Feicheng and his group were joking. After all, anyone who came here and knew there was a grand tomb beneath their feet, yet remained sealed, would develop such a morbid curiosity.
After dinner, it was already dark, and the scenic area was about to close.
Seeing that everyone still looked unsatisfied, Chen Xi suggested, "Although the scenic area is closed, the square outside is open. Many locals in Chang'an like to hang out in the square at night, and you can also buy many authentic souvenirs there. Do you want to go?"
Weng Qianxiang asked, "Are you going?"
Chen Xi shook her head, "I have a date with my boyfriend."
"Here's your pay for today. Go on, now."
"Ah?"
Chen Xi had experienced the sudden mood changes of Long Feicheng and Weng Qianxiang twice in one day, bearing pressure far beyond her years.
After finally seeing Chen Xi off, Long Feicheng jokingly said, "Sixth Master was too inconsiderate. He knew we were all single and arranged such a young girl as a guide. The most outrageous thing is that she has a boyfriend!"
Weng Qianxiang sighed, "I intended to use my stunning looks to poach her, but her taste seems to be lacking. She didn't appreciate my handsomeness."
"You two should stop. Don't act like hooligans," Yan Shouyi admonished. "Have you forgotten the trouble you caused in the Ghost Market a couple of days ago?"
Long Feicheng chuckled, "Wasn't it also by chance that Sister-in-law ended up with a ghost king maid?"
Speaking of the ghost king maid, it was now dark. Lin Zhitong released Taohuaying.
Taohuaying was both surprised and curious to see such a lively atmosphere, but out of fear, she stayed close behind Lin Zhitong.
It was rare to see a centuries-old female ghost king appear so timid.
The square outside the scenic area was, as Chen Xi had said, very lively. There were stalls selling trinkets, food vendors, families with children, and skateboarders.
Of course, in such a spacious square, there were also the dancing grannies.
Long Feicheng watched for a while and murmured, "This must be the legendary 'graveyard rave,' and dancing right in front of Qin Shi Huang's tomb. That's seriously wild."
Yan Shouyi laughed heartily, "It's rare to have such a lively scene. Everyone feel free to wander around and see if you can discover anything."
This suggestion was met with everyone's support, and they split up, each heading in their preferred direction.
Yan Shouyi, holding Lin Zhitong's hand and accompanied by Taohuaying, strolled through the bustling square.
Lin Zhitong couldn't help but sigh, "We haven't gone shopping together in so long."
Yan Shouyi nodded, "Yes, when I first arrived in Rongcheng, I still had time to accompany you. Now, it's all fighting and killing every day. We've both changed so much."
The memories felt distant, but upon reflection, it was only last year.
In less than a year, everyone's lives had undergone earth-shattering changes.
Yan Shouyi thought he had grasped this transformation, but in reality, he hadn't.
Lin Zhitong touched her flat abdomen and thought to herself: My silly darling, you still don't know you're already a father.