Chapter 49 Yunling Tomb: The Broken Box

The solution to this box lies within its interior.

The next day, at the first light of dawn.

Tang Yu barely slept last night. Now, she sat alone on the porch, looking up at the sky. The wind of last night had long since dispersed the dark clouds, and this morning the sky was clear and bright again, a clear blue expanse.

A few clear bird calls drifted from afar, which made the early morning less quiet and dull.

Tang Ge slept very soundly last night, and got up early this morning. He was rubbing his sleepy eyes as he walked out of the house, intending to go to the kitchen to find something to eat.

Just then, he saw Tang Yu sitting in front of the porch, his eyes lit up, and he quickly ran over.

"Sister Tang Yu!" He smiled and peeked in, asking curiously, "Why are you up so early?"

"Xiaoge." Tang Yu snapped out of her reverie, a gentle smile appearing in her eyes as she asked, "Did you sleep well last night?"

"It's fine." Tang Ge tilted his head and thought for a moment, then glanced at the newly bright sky and hurriedly explained, "Don't be fooled by my early start; I barely chatted with Yangyang last night before we both fell asleep without a sound sleep."

He stretched and laughed heartily, "I woke up early and feel refreshed."

Looking at his innocent expression, Tang Yu smiled slightly and said, "That's good."

"Should I stay with Yangyang again today? I saw he slept very soundly last night." Tang Ge winked smugly.

"No need." Tang Yu gently shook her head, and seeing his slightly disappointed expression, she smiled and comforted him, "Thank you so much, Xiao Ge. Thank you."

"Sister Tang Yu, don't be so polite." Tang Ge waved her hand, but was interrupted by a rumbling in her stomach. She scratched her head sheepishly, "Then I'll go have breakfast first!"

"Go ahead." Tang Yu chuckled and watched him leave.

The boy's figure appeared light and bright in the morning sun, but her gaze gradually dimmed, and a trace of sorrow even appeared in her eyes.

A gentle breeze swept across the eaves, ruffling the hair at her temples and carrying her thoughts back to last night.

Although the truth behind the "ghost story" has been revealed, the real unresolved issue remains a knot in everyone's hearts.

Although the aunt was unexpectedly found, she remembered nothing. It was a bittersweet reunion for the Tang Clan, a bittersweet experience.

However, the sorrow in the sect leader's eyes touched her somewhat.

Before they took their leave, the sect leader earnestly pleaded with them, "Please keep this a secret. Especially... don't let Tang Ge know."

Xie Xingzheng, Wang Shanyue, and Xiao Fangliang all silently agreed. After all, this was a matter for the Tang Clan, and they, as outsiders, had no right to interfere.

Tang Yu could understand the sect leader's decision.

No matter how many reasons my aunt had back then, or how much suffering she endured, she ultimately abandoned Tang Ge.

At the time, this was not only a hurt to the sect leader and his mother, but also a wound in Tang Ge's heart.

During the years he grew up in the Tang Clan, he was without his parents' company, which is why everyone in the Tang Clan poured more love into him, trying their best to make up for the lost warmth.

But Tang Yu still had doubts.

“It’s understandable that you want to keep it from Xiaoge and find another opportunity to tell him. But if he finds out the truth by accident one day, I’m afraid it will be even harder for him to bear.”

Being informed in advance and discovering it on your own are two completely different things.

Tang Yu looked at his aunt sleeping peacefully in the sect leader's arms and thought that perhaps letting Tang Ge know was better than hiding it, or even letting him misunderstand Bai Ying as a ghost and inexplicably hate his birth mother.

But she also understands that everyone has secrets, and reasons why they can't tell each other secrets.

She herself was no different.

Thinking of this, Tang Yu felt a slight stirring in her heart, a mix of emotions welling up inside her.

Regarding his origins in the Southern Frontier, and the speculation that he might be Yue Qimeng, should he continue to keep it a secret?

Shouldn't we find an opportunity to say it in person?

She felt troubled, yet she also felt that being so hesitant and indecisive was unlike herself.

Not wanting to think about it anymore, she composed herself, got up, and prepared to go to the small kitchen to find some food.

Suddenly, a small black shadow appeared in the sky, approaching from afar.

Tang Yu reached out her hand, and a black-bodied, blue-feathered crow landed lightly on her wrist. Its feathers shimmered with a unique dark blue in the sunlight, and a silver ring adorned its neck—a special communication device made by the Tang Clan.

And this blue raven was the one raised by his own father.

With a light touch of the fingertip, the silver ring automatically unlocks, and a roll of paper slowly slides out.

She unfolded it and examined it closely, a glint of light flashing in her eyes, and a smile appeared on her lips.

"It seems that what I discussed with Father has been settled."

Before she could finish speaking, she raised her hand and waved it.

The crows flapped their wings and took flight, uttering a few short, clear cries before disappearing into the sky in an instant, never to be seen again.

Sunlight streamed into the courtyard, illuminating her profile.

The sun is shining brightly today, it's a beautiful day. I think it would be a good time to invite some friends over to my home in Yunling Mountain for a visit.

*

Unlike the area below the mountain, Yunling Mountain is shrouded in mist year-round.

Sunlight filters through the dense forest, dappling the ground and creating an invisible net of light. Combined with the simple cottage nestled among the bamboo fence, it evokes a sense of seclusion.

Tea was being brewed on a charcoal stove in the courtyard, its fragrant aroma wafting through the air.

Tang Yu, Xie Xingzheng, and the other two sat around a stone table, on which were snacks and fruits prepared by Su Muzhi and his wife, creating a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.

A short while later, Su Muzhi came out from the inner room.

His expression was as gentle as ever, and he held a square iron box in his hand, the very one that Tang Yu had received from the emperor earlier, which was also one of their missions for this trip.

"You've come at the perfect time," Su Muzhi said with a gentle smile.

As he spoke, he first placed the iron box on the table, then picked up the teapot from the charcoal stove and personally poured tea for everyone.

"I roasted this tea myself, please try it."

Tang Yu, oblivious to the aroma of tea, immediately focused her gaze on the iron box and hurriedly asked, "Father, have you broken the mechanism of this box?"

Su Muzhi smiled, stroking the exquisite patterns on the box, feeling the coldness of the metal with his fingertips: "This item was not made in the Central Plains, but by a mechanical master from the Southern Frontier. It's normal that you didn't have any clue before."

After saying that, he actually placed the iron box on the charcoal fire stand.

Amidst the surprised looks of the crowd, he spoke calmly: "I have studied this carefully these past few days and have finally figured out some of the tricks. The reason I had Xiaoyu bring you all here today is to open this box so that I can personally hand over the contents to General Xie."

Xie Xingzheng clasped his hands in thanks: "Thank you for your trouble, senior."

Su Muzhi smiled faintly, his gaze still fixed on the iron box. Ah, the heat of the charcoal fire seemed to dispel some of the box's original coldness and gloom.

"There are indeed no mechanisms or locks on the surface of this iron box, and the strange patterns are just decorations. Therefore, its ingenuity lies in the fact that the way to unlock this box is inside."

"The inside?" Tang Yu was taken aback and couldn't help but ask, "But if we can't even open the outer shell, how can we start from the inside?"

Instead of answering directly, Su Muzhi asked, "Xiaoyu, have you noticed that this iron box has a three-layer structure?"

Tang Yu nodded: "I have examined it carefully. The outer layer is made of black iron. Although I haven't seen the innermost layer, I imagine it is also a small box made of black iron to protect the contents. The layer between the two is filled with mercury."

"Mercury?" Xie Xingzheng frowned slightly.

“That’s right,” Tang Yu added. “If it’s forcibly broken open from the outside, the mercury will seep into the inner box and corrode and destroy the contents.”

Su Muzhi nodded, his voice low: "Moreover, mercury is extremely poisonous. If one accidentally inhales it when it is broken open, one will either feel dizzy or die from poisoning. The person who designed this mechanism must have been extremely malicious."

Not only must we prevent people from stealing the items, but we must also kill those who try to open the box.

The firelight flickered, and the iron box, having been burning for a while, was too hot to handle. Su Muzhi then used a pair of tongs to carefully lift it and transfer it to a wooden bucket filled with clean water that had been prepared beforehand.

"Sizzle—!"

The hot iron sizzled as it met the cold air, and scalding white steam instantly billowed up, blinding everyone's eyes.

The group instinctively leaned back, but Tang Yu still heard a soft "crack" sound, as if something had broken.

A moment later, the white mist gradually dissipated.

The group held their breath and looked over, only to see a small crack in one corner of the iron box, from which mercury was slowly flowing out and sliding into the bottom of the bucket.

Before long, the outer box, which had been flawless, slowly opened on its own. And one of the smaller iron boxes floated to the surface of the water.

Su Muzhi took the pliers again, removed the inner box, and placed it steadily on the table, waiting for it to cool down.

Tang Yu leaned over and looked down into the bucket. Besides the mercury, she saw several transparent fragments scattered around, refracting tiny, seven-colored lights in the sunlight.

Her expression changed slightly, and she whispered, "Liuli?"

Su Muzhi nodded, "The secret of this mechanism lies in this glass bead."

He explained, “This bead seals the only outlet through which the mercury flows, both to isolate the inside from the outside and to keep the mercury at a specific level. I first heat it up, and the mercury expands, encasing the glass and pushing it to the outlet. Then I immediately put it into cold water, and the glass shatters upon cooling, allowing the mercury to corrode and open the outlet. Once the mercury has drained away, the internal structure becomes unbalanced, and the iron box naturally opens.”

Upon hearing this, Tang Yu couldn't help but exclaim, "It is indeed extremely ingenious."

She looked at her father, her gaze falling on the tin box that was still damp.

The tin box had cooled down. Su Muzhi picked up a handkerchief, carefully wiped away the remaining water droplets, and slowly pushed it in front of Xie Xingzheng.

“What is hidden in these mechanisms must be no ordinary object.”

His tone was gentle, yet earnest: "My wife and I have been far removed from the troubles of the world for a long time, so it is best if we don't look at it."

The charcoal fire crackled softly nearby, emitting wisps of white smoke—a serene, mountain-like scene that no one dared to disturb.

Xie Xingzheng remained silent for a moment, then finally cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, senior."

His eye injury had not yet healed, so he naturally could not see it and could only carefully put the box into his pocket.

The courtyard fell silent again, with only the rustling of the wind through the leaves.

After a moment, Tang Yu broke the silence with a smile: "Now that it's autumn, there are plenty of chestnuts in Yunling Mountain. While Father is busy cooking, why don't we go to the forest and pick a basketful?"

The group readily agreed.

Xiao Fangliang and Xie Xingzheng were worried about the inconvenience of staying in the courtyard, while Tang Yu and Wang Shanyue genuinely found it interesting.

Tang Yu and his companion led the way through the woods, and soon they had filled a small basket with their collected materials.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up as she saw several red fruits hanging on a branch in front of her.

She leaped a few steps forward, plucked the fruit, and gracefully landed beside Xie Xingzheng. Ignoring his own chaotic thoughts, she placed a red fruit in his palm.

Seeing this, Wang Shanyue immediately picked two red berries for A Liang and carefully took out a handkerchief to wipe them clean for him.

Xie Xingzheng touched the fruit in his palm. Although he knew Tang Yu wouldn't harm him, he couldn't guess what it was, so he hesitated.

"It's delicious," Tang Yu said with a smile. But when she saw Xiao Fangliang take the red fruit from Wang Shanyue's hand and was about to eat it, she gave him a crazy look.

Xie Xingzheng was blind, but on Tang Yu's recommendation, he carefully placed the red fruit to his lips and took a small bite.

Suddenly, a sour smell rushed straight to the top of his head, making him frown.

"Haha!" Tang Yu, who was standing to the side, was practically doubled over with laughter.

It was clear that Xie Xingzheng had endured the sourness of the fruit, only frowning slightly. Tang Yu, feeling pity, peeled a chestnut from the basket and brought it to his lips.

"This is sweet, I promise."

Xie Xingzheng smelled the chestnut aroma, tilted his head slightly, and took a bite.

His lips inevitably brushed against her fingertips. The sweet aroma of chestnuts spread across his tongue, and the faint warmth on his lips stirred his heart even more than the sweetness.

It's a little...too sweet.

[Author's Note]

I'm sick. I'll go through it again tomorrow when I feel better, but the plot won't change.