Chapter 536 Entering the Imperial Mausoleum to Steal a Corpse
The mausoleum of the Zongzheng clan is located on Mount Li, about 100 li southeast of Nan'an City.
Back then, the yin-yang master who consulted divination to find auspicious burial sites for the Zongzheng clan had already predicted that Mount Li possessed the true aura of an imperial dragon vein.
Not only has the Zongzheng clan led the Great Chu Dynasty for two hundred years, but if they can nurture Shengze in this land, their descendants will have the opportunity to become the Holy Emperor, the ruler of the world.
The Zongzheng clan was overjoyed upon hearing this, and naturally regarded this place as more important than anything else in the world.
As early as the reign of Emperor Taizu, a powerful army was stationed in this area.
Therefore, they were tasked with guarding the imperial tombs.
Emperor Taizu granted this army immense power.
They need not obey the orders of any emperor.
In other words, no emperor after Emperor Taizu had the authority to command this army.
Unless another army reaches the imperial tomb, the army guarding the tomb cannot make a move.
They only need to follow the imperial edict of the founding emperor. Unless the entire Zongzheng Dynasty is about to collapse, all the guards of the imperial tomb are never allowed to leave the imperial tomb for generations.
They were outside the realm of imperial power, yet generation after generation had been imprisoned within this cage.
Even when it came to ancestral worship, emperors were not allowed to freely enter or leave the imperial mausoleum.
Not to mention anyone else, no one can approach them at will.
Unless it is placed in a coffin, it can be placed inside the imperial mausoleum that was built as early as the time of Emperor Taizu.
It is said that when the Chu Emperor was young, he wanted to snatch the body of his late empress.
However, his personal guards fought a battle with the army guarding the imperial tombs and suffered a crushing defeat.
The Chu emperor still wanted to be a wise ruler, so the commotion didn't become too big.
He secretly concealed the matter, and the army guarding the imperial tomb also prevented the matter from getting out. However, every few years, the Chu Emperor would send people to secretly spy on the imperial tomb.
Although his men never returned, he never gave up on the matter.
This time, he even brought along the young man he had just taken a liking to.
I also plan to go there myself.
They decided that if they failed again this time, they would fight to the death and, disregarding the imperial decree, send troops to directly suppress and take over the area.
What he sets his mind to, absolutely no one in this world can stop him!
Therefore, when Duan Rongshi learned that he was going to the imperial mausoleum, he was already prepared for a tough battle.
However, to his surprise, the Chu Emperor had brought Qingyangzi with him.
No wonder the Chu emperor suddenly became so interested in personally visiting the imperial mausoleum.
These past few days, Duan Rong has been imprisoned at Dali Temple, and Qingyangzi has not had time to explain the current situation to him.
But when the two met, a single glance was enough for them to pretend they were complete strangers.
Qingyangzi does possess some real skills.
His keen divination skills led him to discover a new path.
"Your Majesty, I have calculated it. If we take this path up the mountain, we will avoid at least half of the bloodshed today."
The Chu Emperor was very excited about personally inspecting the imperial tomb today.
Although it was a narrow, winding path, he took the lead: "Today, I must personally enter the imperial mausoleum!"
"If any of you can help me succeed, I will bestow official titles and generous rewards upon you all!"
The guards instantly roared with confidence: "Yes, Your Majesty!"
Qingyangzi: "Shh——"
These lunatics are truly unafraid of attracting the mountain's guards; they seem to think that no one who comes has died enough.
Qingyangzi secretly exchanged a glance with Duan Rongshi.
One of them walked at the front, while the other followed in the middle of the crowd.
Before long, they reached the end of the road, where there was nowhere left to go.
The Chu Emperor's body had been tormented by nightmares for years, leaving him weak and exhausted. He was already panting halfway through the journey.
Finally, he was carried up in a sedan chair made by his personal guards.
Upon reaching the mountain, they found it desolate. While everyone was still looking at each other in bewilderment, Qingyangzi had already found a cave.
"Right here!"
"As I predicted, tomb raiders have indeed been here!"
Tomb raiders!
It turns out that even the assassins guarding the imperial tombs could go blind.
These tomb raiders managed to exploit the loophole.
The Chu Emperor was overjoyed and immediately called out that he wanted to go down.
Upon seeing this, the guards immediately knelt down and pleaded, "Your Majesty, please reconsider."
"This cave is so small and cramped, how can we trouble Your Majesty to walk through this narrow passage?"
"Moreover, we don't know what the situation is like here. I implore Your Majesty to reconsider for your own safety!"
Emperor Chu: "Get out of my way! I have said that I will personally enter the imperial mausoleum today!"
"I want to go down myself!"
Just then, Duan Rongshi stepped forward: "I humbly request Your Majesty to allow this humble subject to scout ahead first. Once it is confirmed that the path is passable, Your Majesty may then enter."
After some hesitation, the Emperor of Chu agreed to the plan.
The guards' expressions brightened, and they began to treat Duan Rongshi with more kindness.
Duan Rongshi was quick, but even when he sneaked into the thief's cave, it took him several hours to come out again.
The Chu Emperor and the others had long since lost their patience.
Just as he was about to turn on his friend and decide to bury the cave entrance, Qingyangzi suddenly opened his eyes and said, "Your Majesty, you've arrived."
Sure enough, Duan Rongshi climbed out of the cave.
By then, night had fallen.
They didn't even dare to light a fire.
Everyone was shocked to see him crawl out.
If Qingyangzi hadn't given a warning first, everyone would have thought he was some kind of evil spirit that crawled out from underground.
When Duan Rongshi came out, he was covered in dust and dirt, but he said to the Chu Emperor, "Your Majesty, I have cleared away the obstacles inside. You may leave now."
Is it really that simple to go down?
When the guards tried to stop him again, the Chu Emperor had already descended into the cave under Duan Rongshi's personal escort.
"you--!"
"If anything happens to His Majesty, watch your dog's life!"
The guards who accompanied us today were General Chen Yi, the commander of the Imperial Guard.
He glared fiercely at Duan Rongshi, feeling deeply disgusted by his indulgence of the Chu Emperor's willful and reckless behavior.
Duan Rongshi stared at him with a chilling gaze.
Chen Yi, who had climbed to his current position through countless bloodshed, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
This person is no ordinary individual.
In the future, it will surely become a stumbling block for oneself.
A murderous glint flashed in his eyes, but he could only watch helplessly as Duan Rongshi followed the Chu Emperor down into the tomb.
However, Duan Rongshi stopped writing at this point.
Li Qingluo was watching with great interest when it suddenly stopped.
Granny Zheng advised her, "Miss, why don't you eat first? It's already very late."
Li Qingluo could only regretfully drop the stack of papers in her hand.
He had just sat down and picked up his chopsticks when he heard Sparrow's voice from outside: "Master, you're back."
Li Qingluo was overjoyed.
"Ah Shi, you're finally back! I've been waiting for your story!"
She got up and went to greet him personally.
Granny Zheng quickly waved her hand, and Que'er and Bao Xia followed her out of Tangdi Residence.
Soon, only the couple remained in the courtyard.
When Duan Rongshi changed into his casual clothes and came out, Li Qingluo had already eagerly pricked up her ears.
Seeing her sitting there obediently, he couldn't help but smile.
"My lady, may I have a few bites of food first?"
Li Qinglu urged, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's eat together!"
Having finally filled her stomach, and having already lost all sleepiness, Li Qingluo pulled Duan Rongshi back to sit on the low couch by the window.
"Tell me quickly, what exactly happened after you entered the tomb?"
"Why do you have so many welts on your back that look like whip marks... or like wounds from being beaten with a stick?"
"You previously said that you entered the imperial tomb to steal the corpse."
"Whose corpse was stolen?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
