Chapter 183 Red Makeup [Modern World] Descendants of history, please don't forget me...
After heated discussions and the topic trending on major social media platforms for several days, state media released a video of an in-depth interview.
The news team interviewed one of the core leaders of the "Three Major Tombs of the Late Eastern Yuan Dynasty" archaeological project at the National Academy of History and Social Sciences, revealing the story behind the archaeological excavation work to the audience.
Xie Yunying came across this interview video on her way out of the teaching area after class that day.
The video has been released for ten hours, but the number of people watching the interview link online is still astonishing.
After the opening credits, the scene freezes on an ancient landscape painting. A young woman, who looks to be in her early thirties, sits opposite the host, who is dressed in a business suit. She has thin lips slightly pursed, wears frameless glasses, and exudes a calm and composed demeanor.
"Today, we have invited Professor Chen Yiran, a researcher at the National Academy of History and Social Sciences, and one of the main leaders of the recently much-discussed joint archaeological project on the 'Three Major Tombs from the Late Eastern Yuan Dynasty'," the host began with a smile. "Professor Chen, hello."
"I heard that after General He Chan's tomb was excavated, many experts from the research institute were transferred to form the current project team, and you were the first professor appointed to the team, as well as one of the youngest scholars. I believe everyone is curious about what prompted you to participate in this archaeological project?"
Chen Yiran nodded slightly and said slowly, "My main research direction during my postgraduate studies was the social structural changes from the end of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty to the beginning of the Northern Jin Dynasty. Until this year, I came to work at the Research Institute from the Museum. I have been studying the history of the end of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty for more than ten years."
“Previously, this period of history was generally regarded in academia as a century of chaos, with a lack of historical materials and few scholars engaged in specialized research. When the project team was established in the institute, I was the first person they transferred in because my research background was a good fit for the project.”
"Professor Chen is too modest. We interviewed many experts before, and they all said that you made outstanding contributions to this archaeological research. The reason why the research progressed so quickly is because of the hypothesis you put forward first, which pointed out the right direction for subsequent research work."
Unexpectedly, Chen Yiran did not take the credit, but instead said, "I just did the research work I was supposed to do step by step. The project's rapid progress cannot be attributed to me. Moreover, I didn't even propose this hypothesis in the first place."
After Chen Yiran finished speaking, the number of comments on the screen suddenly increased, densely covering the entire screen.
The host also seemed a bit surprised. "Oh? It seems like it was a misinterpretation. Is there some other story behind this?"
“It’s not really about a connection, it’s just that I’ve never had the chance to say it,” Chen Yiran said calmly. “After I joined the research institute, I took over the position of a researcher who had just left. He left in a hurry, so I organized a lot of the materials and manuscripts he left behind for the research institute. It was only during the reading process that I discovered that he was also a scholar who specialized in the history of the late Eastern Yuan Dynasty.”
Xie Yunying was walking down the street wearing headphones when she heard this and suddenly stopped in her tracks.
She stood motionless. On the phone screen, Chen Yiran's slender profile appeared sharp, and her eyes were as bright as blades. "It was also because of this opportunity that I later went and thoroughly reviewed all the research results left by the previous researcher."
"In his paper, he put forward a very bold hypothesis: he assumed that there was a woman whose name was deliberately erased in the history of the late Eastern Yuan Dynasty who participated in the struggle for succession at the end of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty and ultimately changed the political landscape of the late Eastern Yuan Dynasty."
"The evidence he presented was not sufficient, but his assumptions were entirely reasonable and could explain all the contradictions satisfactorily. Because I have also studied the history of the late Eastern Yuan Dynasty for many years, I am very clear about the academic difficulties faced in the study of the history of the late Eastern Yuan Dynasty, and I can quickly understand the key parts."
Chen Yiran said, "There are many historical contradictions in the official history of the late Eastern Yuan Dynasty that are difficult to distinguish between true and false. This is one of the main reasons why the academic community has been unable to conduct systematic research on this period of history for a long time. When I was distinguishing historical facts, I overturned dozens of pre-determined assumptions. The whole research process was very difficult. So when I saw his paper, I was really pleasantly surprised. It also had a very important impact on my later historical research."
The host nodded repeatedly, agreeing, "I see. It seems this researcher is also a scholar with a strong spirit of inquiry. You have been inspired by these valuable research findings."
“Yes.” Chen Yiran’s voice became more firm. “This researcher put in a tremendous amount of effort to build a very rigorous research framework and put forward many key hypotheses. After reading them, I was inspired and my thinking became clear. Afterwards, based on the hypotheses he put forward, I conducted a lot of follow-up research, verification and supplementation.”
"Although my research results have indeed helped the project team and paved the way for their archaeological work, I dare not take credit for it. I feel that my current achievements cannot be entirely attributed to myself, otherwise I would not be at peace with myself."
"I see," the host's voice came from the screen, tinged with approval. "Professor Chen's noble character is truly admirable."
"May I ask what this researcher's name is?"
“Xie Qingyu,” Chen Yiran said, “Xie as in thanking, Qing as in clear, and Yu as in jade.”
As the two were talking, a bunch of comments representing confusion scrolled across the screen:
【Xie Qingyu? I've never heard of that name before.】
[Professor Chen said he resigned? How could such a talented researcher suddenly resign?]
The host followed up on this topic, asking, "This scholar seems to be relatively unknown to the public. Could you talk more about him? And why wasn't such valuable research pursued further at the time?"
Chen Yiran's expression changed slightly. She lowered her eyes, seemingly intending to avoid the topic: "Professor Xie is a very knowledgeable and talented scholar, but I'm not quite sure why his research was interrupted."
"The advancement of any large-scale research project requires support and opportunities from multiple aspects. The research institute also has macro-level considerations in resource allocation and project approval."
The barrage of comments exploded once again.
[Something seems off about what I'm saying.]
What is all this about? Is there some hidden story behind it?
Professor Chen's tone gave me the impression that he didn't want to talk about this.
[And don't you find it strange? Some prominent history bloggers have previously stated that the initial excavation progress of He Chan's tomb was illogical, as if it was deliberately delayed.]
Yes! I've also seen some scholars and teachers say the same thing!
Anyone who's ever worked a regular job will understand; Professor Chen's reluctant expression is exactly like mine when I have to speak up for a boss I dislike.
You know what, it's true...
The host continued to guide the discussion, "So that's how it is. It seems that the excavation of General He Chan's tomb led to the advancement of a series of research efforts. It was truly a result of favorable timing, location, and human factors."
"It can be considered the result of the combined effect of multiple factors." Chen Yiran's tone became more relaxed, but his expression became serious. "After the discovery of He Chan's tomb in Qinghuai, the research institute had the most direct physical evidence, which allowed them to conduct systematic research to demonstrate whether the hypothesis was valid."
"At the time, many people were paying close attention to and discussing this matter online. Our leaders and scholars realized the great value of this research and the public's expectations, and began to pay attention to the excavation of the three major tomb groups, which ultimately accelerated the pace of research."
"And then there's the perseverance of many scholars, including myself," Chen Yiran smiled and said. "Although we encountered many obstacles during the research process, because our group was determined and persistent enough, with a spirit of not giving up or backing down, we were able to overcome them all."
"I am truly grateful to Professor Chen. I believe everyone watching on the screen will remember your name."
“It’s not just about remembering my name,” Chen Yiran said. “I hope everyone can also remember the names of other historians who didn’t step into the limelight, who weren’t good at expressing themselves, but who just worked quietly behind the scenes. It’s not me, it’s us.”
As the interview drew to a close, the host asked, "The excavation and research of the three major tomb complexes have been a resounding success, achieving remarkable results that have attracted worldwide attention. Could you share some insights into future research directions?"
Chen Yiran said solemnly, "Indeed, the research team has restored the basic historical framework, but many details and facts about this history still require our efforts to explore. Apart from the truth that the public knows now, I believe there are many more important historical facts waiting for us to discover."
"In terms of direction, we have integrated the archaeological data of the three major tomb complexes and found that the tombs of several important historical figures mentioned have not yet been excavated, and there are currently no useful clues."
“One of the key figures is a female celestial master named Yue Yining, who is mentioned in the inscriptions of the three female rulers and in unearthed documents,” Chen Yiran said. “Based on historical records, it is speculated that she had already passed away ten years before the fall of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty. Neither official nor unofficial histories record such a figure. Logically speaking, her influence on the history of the late Eastern Yuan Dynasty should have been extremely limited.”
"But to our surprise, this female celestial master named Yue Yining left many traces in the history of the late Eastern Yuan Dynasty."
“For example, she extended a helping hand to General He Chan when He Chan’s first uprising failed and she was on the verge of despair. Without her help, He Chan might have been discouraged and never had the chance to launch a second uprising; she also seems to have played a very important role in Jin Lingxi’s consolidation of the Su Yang forces, with frequent records of correspondence between them; she even had a deep connection with Zhou Congyi, a trusted minister of Gu Qinglan and a former court lady who was deeply involved in the struggle for the throne between the two princes during the Jiahe era.” Chen Yiran said firmly, “I don’t think this is a coincidence at all.”
"However, since Yue Yining died at the young age of 23, had a short lifespan, and had no direct descendants, no trace of her tomb has been found, and direct historical materials about her are very scarce."
Facing the screen, Chen Yiran's eyes behind his glasses shone brightly. "Here, I would also like to take advantage of the program's influence to appeal to all sectors of society: If any person or organization has any material related to the late Eastern Yuan Dynasty, especially related to the name 'Yue Yining', whether it is family notes, letters, fragments of local chronicles, or even oral historical memories, please contact me and provide clues for the research institute."
“Even the smallest piece of information can help us piece together a more complete picture of history.”
"Finally, on behalf of the research institute, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the members of the public who have been closely following our archaeological research work from beginning to end."
Chen Yiran placed his palm on his chest, bowed towards the camera, and nodded in greeting.
The camera slowly zooms out, and the interview ends.
But the storm sparked by this interview has only just begun.
Xie Yunying opened the social media platform, and sure enough, topics such as #Interview video with Chen Yiran, researcher of the three major tomb complexes in the late Eastern Yuan Dynasty# and #Yue Yining, the female celestial master whose name is not recorded in history# had already topped the trending list.
The first topic focuses on the first half of Chen Yiran's interview.
Besides praising the hardships faced by historians and admiring Professor Chen Yiran, some netizens have also conducted in-depth analysis of Chen Yiran's words and actions, believing that she was not being sincere and may have been threatened or warned by the research institute, forcing her to conceal or downplay certain facts—such as the true experiences of her predecessor, Professor Xie Qingyu.
"No, that's strange! Why would Professor Xie, who was doing so well at his previous job, resign?"
“There’s something fishy going on here. If you put everything together, you’ll find out. First, the researcher who studied this part of history suddenly resigned. Then, the archaeological progress of the first tomb was unusually slow, and it only started moving forward after public opinion rose. Also, the internal staff kept silent about these matters and never responded directly. How can you not see the problem?”
"Wait a minute, let me summarize! So, when He Chan's tomb was first unearthed, the leadership of the research institute didn't want to continue this research?"
“I think it should have been even earlier. After Professor Xie proposed this hypothesis, there were no other research results in the institute. Would things have turned out this way if his research had been valued?”
“I studied behavioral psychology, and I really felt something was wrong. Professor Chen Yiran answered almost every question very seriously, but she answered this question very briefly, and her eyes were darting around and looking down. She also made a lot of small movements while speaking, which was very much like the subconscious reaction of a liar.”
"I'm not questioning anyone, but why are the higher-ups delaying the progress and preventing the research from moving forward? I don't understand their motives, and what benefit do they get from doing this?"
"The commentator above is probably a student, right? It's quite obvious. Professor Xie Qingyu's proposed historical assumptions are considered very outrageous in academia. Such theories are a great offense to academic authorities and veteran experts. Judging from his later departure, some leaders at the research institute must have been dissatisfied with him for a long time. They probably did something dirty to force him out."
"This left me, a high school student, completely stunned... Seriously, is the workplace really that treacherous??"
"Ahem, actually, what I'm trying to say is that if you work within the system, you'll find this kind of thing happening every day... They can't fire you, but it's incredibly easy for them to force you to resign voluntarily..."
"No wonder, now that makes sense! If the research continues, it will definitely mention Professor Xie's achievements, and it will inevitably bring up the matter of forcing people to resign. Those leaders are afraid that it will affect them, so the progress stopped after He Chan's tomb was unearthed. Even though the analysis of the tomb documents is not difficult, they have not started the excavation of the second and third important tombs for a long time. They deliberately treat the archaeological work passively in order to protect themselves!"
"I think Professor Chen was forced into it. After all, she will continue to work in the research institute in the future. If she speaks out and is resented by her superiors, she will be in big trouble later."
"Just because Professor Xie disagrees with them, he's going to be marginalized by those old fogies and forced to resign? Isn't this academic bullying?"
"If it weren't for this fortuitous discovery of General He Chan's tomb, and if Professor Chen and her team hadn't persisted in pushing forward, would this history have been buried forever?"
As public opinion gradually fermented, a second voice soon emerged, attempting to clarify and defend itself, seemingly from interested parties and troublemakers who loved to play the role of rational and objective observers:
"Can't some people stop believing everything they hear? The research institute approves projects based on a comprehensive consideration. Resources are limited, so of course, we have to prioritize the mainstream research directions. Besides, it's a fact that Professor Xie has been absent from his post for a long time, isn't it?"
“I am an employee of the research institute. Xie Qingyu was indeed in poor mental condition at the time. His leave was excessively long, which affected the work progress. The job transfer was also done in accordance with the rules. How did it become that he was forced to leave?”
"That's right. No one forced him to resign. He resigned voluntarily. The research institute's only action against him was to transfer him to another position. He left because he was dissatisfied with the transfer. Now netizens are blaming the research institute again?"
"That's hilarious... Conspiracy theories are just for fun. Does anyone really think that senior leaders and professors in a research institute would be so petty as to deliberately bully a young professor in the workplace? Don't they even consider their status and position? Would they really need to do that?"
The two groups argued fiercely, each sticking to their own version of events.
When Xie Yunying clicked into Xiaohongshu, a post exposing a scandal was pushed to her homepage. The large, dark red text was printed on the picture, and she subconsciously clicked on it.
The poster's words were filled with indignation and resentment:
“I am Xie Qingyu’s colleague. I just left the company in the middle of this year, and I can testify for him! He is the most passionate person I have ever met when it comes to historical research! What do you mean by his long absence affecting work? He took a long leave during that period because his parents and sister’s whole family died in a car accident! He handled all the funeral arrangements by himself, which caused him to have a mental breakdown. He had to take psychiatric medication to maintain a normal life. He didn’t want to drag down the overall research work of the institute, so he asked for leave to recover before returning to work. He left without applying for a leave of absence without pay!”
"Not only did the leaders show no compassion, but they also kicked him when he was down, transferring him to a sinecure where he couldn't do front-line research work. Isn't that forcing him to resign?!"
The post included a group photo of the archaeological team from the National Academy of History. Xie Qingyu, dressed in a black team uniform, faced the camera, looking handsome and elegant with a gentle smile.
The post instantly became a trending topic. Xie Yunying swiped down and found comments marked "just posted," making it impossible to scroll to the bottom.
"Oh my god!! The whole family died in a car accident?! I can't believe how much pain he must have been in. If it were me, I would have been devastated..."
"Unbelievable! How could anyone be so hateful and vicious? To kick someone when they're at their lowest point—isn't that practically forcing them to their death?!"
"Professor Xie finally managed to get through the pain of losing a loved one and returned to work, only to have his research interrupted, his career collapse, and his ideals shattered... Just hearing about it makes my heart ache. This is just too tragic!"
"Do these damned leaders have no humanity left?!"
Xie Yunying stood on the path. The teaching building, which used to be full of students leaving get out of class, was now completely empty.
"Yun Ying?"
A familiar voice sounded behind her. Xie Yunying jolted awake, as if from a nightmare, and nearly dropped her phone.
She turned around and saw a senior she knew from a club.
Xie Yunying hastily turned off the screen, forcing a stiff smile: "Hello, senior."
The senior student, carrying several books, had clearly just come out of the teaching building. She asked with concern, "Why are you standing here in a daze? I've seen you standing there motionless for ages, are you alright?"
"It's nothing, it's nothing!" Xie Yunying quickly shook her head. "I was just replying to a friend's message and I was too focused on it."
"Did you just finish class, senior?"
"get out of class ended early, but I was kept behind to help out," the senior student complained slightly, then added, "Let's go, how are you getting back? I'll take the campus bus, want to come along?"
"Okay." Xie Yunying quickly followed her senior's footsteps, and the two walked side by side toward the school bus stop.
After chatting for a while about courses and assignments, Xie Yunying saw her senior take out her phone to reply to WeChat messages, so she quietly unlocked her phone and opened Xiaohongshu again.
The previous post that broke the news garnered over 10,000 likes in just ten minutes, escalating the public outcry once again.
Just then, another post went viral. The poster claimed to be Xie Qingyu's college classmate, and the content was more specific and even more heartbreaking:
"I am Xie Qingyu's college roommate. I didn't want to say these things online, but I can't stand it anymore when I see people defending his former boss!"
"Xie Qingyu has passed away. It was at the beginning of this year. He died suddenly and had no vital signs when he was found. I attended his funeral. It was organized by a distant uncle from his hometown with whom he had almost no contact. It was quiet and deserted. All of us college friends came, but very few of his relatives came. After his parents and sister passed away, he really had no relatives left in this world."
“Every time I think of him, I feel heartbroken and want to cry. He was the highest scorer admitted to the school that year. We were all transferred to other majors. Only he really liked this major and studied all the way to a doctorate. After graduation, he went to work in a research institute. I have known him for so many years and I have never heard anyone say anything bad about him. They either say he is a good person or praise him for being outstanding.”
"Such a good person, how could God treat him like this... I only found out online today that he might have been forced to resign. I'm speechless. I feel so heartbroken. His last year was so difficult. If I had gone through that, I would have jumped already."
"There's nothing I can do for him, but at least I can't stay silent! I won't say much more. Heaven is watching what people do. Who drove him to such a desperate situation? The people have eyes! I hope Qingyu can reunite with the person he loves in another world and have a happy and smooth life in his next life."
The post included a heavily blurred photo of the funeral scene and a group photo that was clearly taken in a four-person dormitory during their university days, which was far more impactful than the previous revelation.
Death is a serious matter. Upon learning that researcher Hsieh Ching-yu, who was suspected of being forced to resign, had passed away, public sentiment was instantly ignited.
Deep empathy and intense resentment were aroused, and the public opinion was rising at an incredible speed, quickly reaching its peak.
"I cried. How could this happen... Such a good and talented researcher, just like that, died..."
"Professor Xie is young and promising. He can stand firm in his opinions and remain steadfast in the face of pressure from academic authorities. This is the true spirit of a scholar! If he were alive today, a bright future and a promising career await him. What a pity!"
"Don't just cry, everyone! Remember that Professor Xie was driven to his death! The dead cannot be brought back to life, but we must seek justice for the deceased!"
“I am also a researcher who left the research institute two years ago. I can testify that the online allegations are true! I left because I couldn’t stand it anymore! Several senior experts, relying on their seniority, simply wouldn’t listen to different opinions. They would reject everything without even looking at it, and they often verbally suppressed us. They were in cahoots with the higher-ups, secretly colluding to kill many promising research projects! The insults they are receiving online now are what they deserve!”
"Executioners, a bunch of executioners!! I'm standing right here today, let's see who still speaks up for those old geezers and corrupt officials!!"
"Friends, I feel really heavy-hearted right now. Professor Xie's experience is the result of countless coincidences piling up to make it possible for us to see it. How many similar things are happening in places we can't see? How many young professors on the front lines are being squeezed by so-called academic authorities? How many opportunities to restore the truth of history have been ruined by these self-righteous old beasts?"
"We absolutely cannot let them get away with this! This is not just Professor Xie's personal tragedy, nor is it simply workplace bullying! Don't let them confuse the issue! This is a matter of national and historical importance!"
"We urge the National Academy of History to directly address the public's concerns! Is there any academic suppression, authoritarian oppression, or workplace bullying as rumored online? Is there any blurring of lines between public and private matters, or any discrimination against historical research projects from different backgrounds? The National Academy of History is staffed by government officials and funded by taxpayers; it is now imperative that a detailed clarification and explanation be provided promptly!"
"We demand that the National Academy of History immediately establish an investigation team to thoroughly investigate whether Researcher Xie Qingyu suffered unfair treatment and workplace bullying during her tenure, and make the investigation results public! If it is true, please dismiss the leader who made the wrong decision and forced Professor Xie to leave!"
"Arrogant academic cliques do not deserve to be in such an important national research institution!"
"If this petition from so many people also goes unanswered, I will truly lose all hope in this world..."
"@National Academy of History @Disciplinary Inspection Commission, a top talent has been driven to his death! How long are you going to pretend to be deaf and dumb?!"
These comments, like streams flowing into a river, quickly coalesced into a powerful wave of public opinion.
Topics such as "#Academic bullying at the National Academy of History drove a researcher to his death#" and "#Thorough investigation of the National Academy of History#" quickly rose to the top of the trending search lists on major platforms, with related discussion posts, analysis articles, and giveaways experiencing explosive growth in a short period of time.
Not only history enthusiasts, but also scholars from many other fields, ordinary office workers, and students joined the ranks of those in support. Xie Qingyu's experience has more or less touched people's common anxieties about social issues such as workplace injustice, academic stagnation, and the suppression of talent, and has aroused deep resonance.
The public outcry has never been so strong, with calls for a response from the research institute growing louder and louder, creating immense public pressure.
The two arrived at the bus stop together. The senior student noticed Xie Yunying staring intently at her phone and leaned closer: "You're looking at this?"
Xie Yunying suddenly came to her senses and quickly responded.
"I've been busy preparing for the civil service exam lately, but I've also been paying attention... This whole thing has caused quite a stir," the senior student sighed softly. "I really hope it will have a good outcome."
The senior student was speaking in her ear, but Xie Yunying barely heard a word. Her finger unconsciously swiped, and the interface switched back to the video page where she had previously watched Chen Yiran's interview.
The comments section remains lively, but the focus of the discussion has quietly diverged.
Besides the continued voices of indignation on Xie Qingyu's behalf, another discussion surrounding the second half of Chen Yiran's interview is also rapidly heating up. In just a short while, another topic, #Yue Yining, the female celestial master whose name is not recorded in history#, has also become popular.
The style of the posts under this topic is completely different from the grief and indignation in another topic; it's more like a large-scale immersive historical puzzle game.
"Who is this Yue Yining that Professor Chen Yiran mentioned? I've been studying history for so many years and I've never heard of this name before."
"I don't know, but Professor Chen said that she was involved in the key moments of the lives of He Chan, Jin Lingxi, and Gu Qinglan, the three founding empresses of the late Eastern Yuan Dynasty. She doesn't seem like an unknown nobody."
"But she died ten years before the fall of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty... No matter how powerful a person is, they couldn't have foreseen events so many years after their own death, could they?"
"Have you read Professor Xie's paper? I checked it on CNKI immediately after watching the interview, and I was deeply shocked! His conclusion is that the first strategist who assisted the third prince of Dongyuan, Wei Ye, in successfully seizing the throne and ascending the throne was Yue Yining!"
"Was it the third prince of Dongyuan, Wei Ye, who was the last to ascend the throne? I seem to remember that the last emperor of Dongyuan was the fourth prince of Emperor Chengwu, Wei Jing?"
"Upstairs, if you remember correctly, the last emperor of the country was indeed the fourth prince, Wei Jing, but Emperor Chengwu made him the crown prince, and the one who succeeded to the throne was the third prince, Wei Ye. Unless you're a hardcore history buff, most people don't know this part of history, because after the third prince, Wei Ye, ascended the throne, he quickly abdicated to the fourth prince, Wei Jing, and became a monk. It seems that his reign lasted less than three months, right?"
“I also read Professor Xie’s paper. His hypothesis seems a bit too bold at first glance, but upon closer examination, it all makes sense. For example, how could the Third Prince Wei Ye, who came from a humble background, succeed in seizing the throne without any powerful ministers siding with him? Since he had been competing with the Fourth Prince for four years, why did he ultimately relinquish the throne? Historically, Wei Ye and Wei Jing were sworn enemies. Even if Wei Ye suddenly lost his mind and didn’t want to be emperor anymore, the throne would have fallen to Wei Jing if he didn’t. Even if he wanted to prevent his enemy from getting what he wanted, it would be difficult for him to withdraw so decisively, right? Actually, upon closer examination, there are many suspicious points.”
"So, the Third Prince actually had a powerful strategist by his side? But that strategist's existence was erased?"
“What’s so strange about it? Many people don’t even know about the Third Prince Wei Ye. He was the Crown Prince who actually inherited the throne. The late Eastern Yuan period is not a well-known historical period. What followed was the Beijin Dynasty ruled by foreign people. Whether it was lost or deliberately concealed, the traces of a great man’s existence could be completely erased.”
"The large amount of documents and artifacts unearthed from the three major tomb complexes now corroborate this hypothesis. I think the most conclusive evidence is what Professor Chen said: Zhou Congyi, a female official who was deeply involved in the struggle for the throne at the end of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty and supported the third prince Wei Ye, mentioned Yue Yining many times in her burial silk scrolls, suggesting that they were very familiar with each other. If Yue Yining was the third prince's strategist, then everything makes sense, doesn't it?"
"Holy crap...you know what...it really is all interconnected!"
"Don't forget, everyone. Professor Chen said that Yue Yining is a Taoist master."
“Yes, the Celestial Masters of the Eastern Yuan period were not charlatans, but orthodox Xuanshu masters belonging to the state religion Yingtianmen. They practiced the Five Arts, could read faces and predict fate, and could calculate anything. Since Yue Yining is a Celestial Master, it means that she also understands the art of divination.”
"Is it possible that Yue Yining is actually a highly skilled celestial master? She foresaw the political landscape at the end of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty, which is why she was able to help every key historical figure and choose to assist the Third Prince?"
"No way, if she could foresee the future, how could she have died so young? And if we follow this logic, the person she chose to assist was the Third Prince, but in the end, it was the Fourth Prince who ascended the throne. This means that she actually failed, and was just one step behind. So, she can't really be considered that amazing, can she?"
"I wonder if there are any amateur enthusiasts like me who enjoy studying the history of the late Dongyuan period. Actually, I think there is another key figure besides Yue Yining, namely the eldest princess of the late Dongyuan period. She was the only biological daughter of Gu Qinglan, the later ruler of Dongyong, and the younger sister of Wei Jing, the last ruler of Dongyuan. This eldest princess is not even recorded by name in official history, but she has close connections with two important historical figures."
"My God, finally someone shares my thoughts! I think so too! Moreover, the documents unearthed from Gu Qinglan's tomb also mention this princess. Gu Qinglan praised her daughter as 'exceptionally talented' and 'skilled in both literature and martial arts.' Based on these contents, I deduce that this young princess may have also participated in the struggle for the throne, and the person she assisted was most likely her own brother, Wei Jing."
"If we could find the tomb of this eldest princess from the late Dongyuan era, I would be very fortunate. I feel that she is a very important breakthrough. If her tomb can be found and excavated, perhaps many mysteries can be solved."
"So, this eldest princess and Master Yue must be political rivals, right? One supports the third prince, and the other supports the fourth prince. Moreover, they are about the same age, so they are evenly matched!"
"Sorry, this yuri pairing of two powerful rivals is totally my type... I'll just have to take a quick bite out of this mess... Everyone, please continue..."
"I feel like there are still so many historical truths yet to be revealed! The mysteries surrounding these two people are even more fascinating than the stories of the three empresses!"
"Attractive as it may be, the research institute must be facing a bottleneck right now. I reckon they have absolutely no clue about the tombs of the Eldest Princess and Master Yue, otherwise Professor Chen wouldn't have come out to appeal to the public for clues."
"It's too difficult. Right now, we can only speculate. To find out the truth, we need to excavate the two people's graves or find direct historical evidence. Otherwise, it's just like the blind men touching an elephant or seeing only a part of the whole picture, which is pointless and a waste of time."
The school bus slowly pulled into the station, its exhaust pipe at the rear emitting a long, leisurely whistle.
Just as the senior student was about to leave, she saw Xie Yunying standing motionless in place and called out to her, "Yunying, the car is here."
Xie Yunying snapped out of her daze, put away her phone, and got into the car.
She found a seat by the window and sat down. The campus scenery rushing past outside the window gradually blurred into thousands of thin green threads. Amidst the lush greenery, her thoughts quietly grew and flourished.
On the other end of the phone screen, countless people are speaking out for this history.
Xie Yunying felt a surge of sorrow, and her eyes welled up with tears.
Seeing the debate surrounding Yue Yining, an unprecedented impulse surged within her.
Perhaps, she really can do something for them.
If Xie Yunying could do something too...
After getting off the school bus, Xie Yunying quickly ran out of the school gate.
Her steps grew increasingly hurried, until they almost became a run. She rushed into the apartment building and sprinted up the stairs.
Hearing the sound of the front door, Xie's mother, who was busy in the kitchen, peeked out and was surprised to see her usually slow and docile daughter sweep through the living room like a gust of wind.
"Yingying? Why are you back so early today?" To her surprise, Xie Yunying didn't even glance at her and ran straight into the bedroom. Xie's mother shouted after her, "Hey! Why are you running so fast? Have you eaten yet?!"
"I'll eat later!" Xie Yunying slammed the door shut.
She didn't even have time to put down her heavy schoolbag; she just tossed it aside on the bed, rushed to her desk, and turned on the computer screen.
Breathing rapidly, with no one around, Xie Yunying could finally hear her own heartbeat clearly, booming like a drum. She opened a blank document, her fingertips trembling slightly with excitement.
She spent three days writing a manuscript, repeatedly correcting its errors. In order to be as detailed as possible, Xie Yunying practically exhausted all her memories of Dongxi and wrote them down word for word.
Xie Yunying printed out these documents and mailed them to the National Academy of History, listing Chen Yiran as the recipient.
One day, two days, three days... ten days have passed.
There was no movement.
Even Xie Yunying herself felt that what she sent might have already been disposed of as waste paper. After all, she hadn't marked the sources of the historical materials, and the content she wrote down was chaotic and fragmented, more like a prank to interfere with research than a serious attempt to provide clues.
Xie Yunying was a little frustrated. Perhaps she had really been misunderstood, which was why she had disappeared without a trace.
Just when Xie Yunying was about to give up waiting completely, a call came into her phone from an unknown number.
Xie Yunying was on her way to class when she answered the phone. There was a pause on the other end for a second, followed by a gentle, magnetic voice, "Is this Miss Xie Yunying?"
Xie Yunying walked quickly down the corridor leading to the classroom when she suddenly heard a voice that was all too familiar to her, and she stopped abruptly.
"Yes, it's me!" Xie Yunying stammered nervously. "Hello!"
"Hello. Let me introduce myself. I am Chen Yiran, a researcher at the National Academy of History." The voice on the other end of the microphone was the same as the voice of Chen Yiran that Xie Yunying had been watching repeatedly in the interviews she had been watching these past few days. The young female professor smiled and said, "Don't be nervous. I called you specifically to thank you."
Xie Yunying was stunned. "Me? Me?...Are you going to thank me?"
“Yes,” Chen Yiran said. “Would it be convenient for you to meet with me in the next couple of days? Besides thanking you, I have some questions I’d like to ask you in person.”
After the phone call ended, Xie Yunying stood there stunned for several minutes until the sharp sound of the class bell woke her from her daze.
Because of this phone call, she was distracted throughout the entire class.
The next morning, Xie Yunying arrived at the coffee shop near the school fifteen minutes early, as agreed.
At exactly ten o'clock, the coffee shop door opened, and the wind chimes tinkled softly. A young woman dressed in a simple suit and wearing frameless glasses walked in. Her gaze swept around, quickly locking onto Xie Yunying, and a gentle smile appeared on her face.
"Xie Yunying?"
Xie Yunying quickly stood up, somewhat flustered: "Yes, it's me! Hello, Professor Chen!"
"Please sit down, no need to be so polite." Chen Yiran sat down opposite her and casually ordered an Americano. She looked at Xie Yunying, her gaze frank yet inquisitive, "First of all, I really want to thank you again. The manuscript you mailed was a great help to us."
"Really?" Xie Yunying's eyes lit up instantly, then she became a little nervous. "I... I wrote it a bit messily, and a lot of it was based on my memory..."
"Not at all. All the seemingly chaotic details are invaluable materials in the research process."
After Chen Yiran finished speaking, he leaned forward slightly and looked directly at her: "Yun Ying, may I ask where you obtained these records about the end of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty, especially about Celestial Master Yue Yining and Princess Wei Yihua?"
"Because you didn't cite the sources of the historical materials, but that's very important to us."
It's here!
Xie Yunying's heart skipped a beat.
She took a deep breath and, following her prepared speech, tried to make her voice sound natural: "Yes... it was found in my family's old house."
“Some time ago, I went back to my hometown to help my parents sort through their old things. In a box, I found some scattered notes and manuscripts. I didn’t pay much attention to them at first, but later I saw online discussions about General He Chan and Yue Yining, and I remembered that they might be related, so I went back and found them to look through.”
Xie Yunying clenched her fists and lied, "...My parents once told me that our family ancestors were a branch of the Xie family of Yanjing in the Eastern Yuan Dynasty. I thought that I might be able to find some clues in the family relics, so I went to look for them with that in mind, and I didn't expect that there really were some."
“The Xie family of Yanjing…” Chen Yiran nodded thoughtfully, seemingly accepting this explanation. After a moment of contemplation, she suddenly looked up at Xie Yunying and asked an unexpected question, “So, you don’t know Professor Xie Qingyu?”
Xie Yunying's heart felt like it was being gripped by an invisible hand, and she quickly shook her head: "No, I don't know him!"
"I... I'm just an ordinary student, how could I know a researcher at the research institute?"
Chen Yiran looked at her quietly, and after a few seconds, she suddenly smiled softly, "Don't be nervous."
"I don't know why, but when I first saw the manuscript you sent, the way you wrote it and the angles you used reminded me a bit of Professor Xie."
"Seeing you today has made this feeling even stronger," Chen Yiran said with a gentle smile. "And you both share the surname Xie. I always feel like you're his little sister."
younger sister.
Xie Yunying felt a sudden pang of sadness in her nose, and her eyes involuntarily burned.
She hurriedly lowered her head, pretending to choke on her coffee, and coughed a few times to cover up her momentary sob.
She desperately wanted to tell Chen Yiran that she really knew Xie Qingyu and had truly been his sister.
Xie Yunying steadied her breathing and swallowed the bitter taste that rose to her throat.
She looked up, her voice filled with cautious anticipation, and asked, "Professor Chen, how's things at the research institute? Those...those people who made things difficult for Researcher Xie back then..."
She asked the question haltingly, her nervousness evident.
Chen Yiran's expression turned serious, and his tone became steady: "Don't worry. Public opinion has already attracted the attention of higher authorities, and the research institute has also set up a special investigation team."
"Several leaders who deliberately abused their power in Professor Xie's resignation and subsequently delayed the research on He Chan's tomb have been suspended from their posts and are under investigation by the research institute. If the investigation confirms that they engaged in deliberate exclusion or academic suppression, they will not only lose their positions but also face further disciplinary action."
Xie Yunying breathed a long sigh of relief. An indescribable sense of comfort flowed through her heart, and a heavy stone that had been pressing down on her for so long was finally removed.
"Then... were the materials I provided really useful?" Xie Yunying asked again, with a hint of uncertainty.
“Very helpful.” Chen Yiran nodded affirmatively, his eyes gleaming with the unique light of a scholar. “Some of the details mentioned in the manuscript, even the trivial records, have provided us with entirely new entry points for cross-verification.”
"The project team has been extremely busy lately because we've made new breakthroughs based on the leads you provided. I'm only contacting you so late because I rarely have time, so I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you in person."
"No, no, no, I didn't do anything! I just did what I could, it's really nothing..." Xie Yunying waved her hands repeatedly, a strange warmth burning in her heart. She couldn't help but smile sincerely, her eyes brightened by the light, and she murmured, "It's so good to be able to help you..."
Chen Yiran glanced at his watch and suddenly asked, "Yun Ying, do you have any other plans for today?"
"If it's convenient, I'd like to take you to meet someone."
"Meet someone?" Xie Yunying was taken aback.
"Yes," Chen Yiran said with a smile, "You'll be very happy to see her."
Xie Yunying followed Chen Yiran onto the car heading to the outskirts of Beijing.
More than an hour later, the taxi gradually drove into a quiet villa area.
The two got out of the car in front of an elegant little villa.
Xie Yunying followed behind Chen Yiran, secretly glancing at the surrounding scenery. The exterior of the villa was painted off-white, and the small, exquisite courtyard was well-maintained by its owner, planted with camellias and oleanders, with birdsong occasionally ringing out.
Chen Yiran stepped forward and rang the doorbell.
A moment later, the door opened, and a woman wearing a light purple cheongsam stood inside.
She was around forty years old, with a beautiful face and a cool temperament. She seemed to be made of clouds and snow, and her eyes held a deep pool.
She seemed to have anticipated their arrival.
Her voice, like her temperament, was faint and somewhat aloof.
"Professor Chen, it's been a long time."
“Ms. Wei, I’m sorry to bother you.” Chen Yiran replied with a smile, “This is Xie Yunying, whom I mentioned to you on the phone.”
Xie Yunying quickly greeted her, but inwardly she was curious about the identity of this "Miss Wei".
Miss Wei stepped aside to let them into the house.
The living room is decorated with a scholarly atmosphere, with a wall-to-ceiling bookcase filled with all kinds of books, many of which are ancient thread-bound books. The air is filled with a faint scent of ink and tea.
After they were seated, Ms. Wei poured them the prepared tea.
Chen Yiran then formally introduced Xie Yunying: "Yunying, this is Miss Wei Zi. She is the author of the novel 'Yining' that Professor Xie mentioned in his thesis."
Xie Yunying's eyes widened instantly, and she almost cried out in surprise:
"You are the author of 'Yining'?!"
She never expected that Chen Yiran would bring her to meet such an important person!
Seeing Xie Yunying's surprised expression, Wei Zi nodded slightly in response.
“Professor Chen has contacted me many times before. It’s because Professor Xie mentioned me in the materials he left behind, and his hypotheses and inferences are closely related to the content of my novel.” Wei Zi spoke slowly, her voice still calm. “My ancestors were descendants of Su Yue, the personal maid of Princess Wei Yihua, who lived at the end of the Dongyuan era.”
"Before her death, the eldest princess, grateful for the loyalty of her maid Suyue, bestowed upon her the royal surname 'Wei'. Therefore, our branch of the clan can be considered to have inherited this lineage."
“I wrote ‘Yining’ out of my own selfish reasons. My ancestors have kept this truth in silence for generations. When it came to my generation, I was determined to make a different choice from my ancestors, so I wrote the novel ‘Yining’.”
Wei Zi looked at them and said, “I told people that this is just a fictional novel, and I tacitly allowed some people to see this book as an original fan fiction story with the background of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty. However, I know that what I am writing is the real history, the truth that has been sealed away and buried in the past thousand years.”
"Ten years have passed since this book was published. I have been waiting for someone destined to understand it."
Through Wei Zi and Chen Yiran's back-and-forth narration, Xie Yunying gradually understood the whole story.
It turns out that after thoroughly studying the materials left by Xie Qingyu, Chen Yiran keenly realized the key role played by the novel "Yining" and went to great lengths to find the author of the original novel, Wei Zi.
At first, Wei Zi was very cautious and did not fully disclose the truth, nor did she hand over the historical artifacts and related documents that had been passed down in her family for generations.
Later, through Chen Yiran's daily visits and letters of concern, Wei Zi was gradually moved by his persistent efforts and finally relented.
Wei Zi put forward only one condition: she could only provide clues about the tomb if the National Academy of History officially launched a research project on the history of the late Eastern Yuan Dynasty.
To this end, Chen Yiran has been lobbying extensively within the research institute, striving to advance the research on the history of the late Eastern Yuan Dynasty, hoping to gain the support and attention of high-ranking figures within the institute. Unfortunately, there are numerous obstacles; those old fogies at the top are not giving in, and the research project has not been approved, nor can it be further advanced.
Until that torrential rain fell on earth, He Chan's tomb was brought back to light.
The time has finally come.
Xie Yunying looked at Wei Zi nervously: "So, what exactly happened at the end of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty? What is the truth of history...?"
Wei Zi's eyes were dark, her gaze serene yet distant, and upon closer inspection, a hint of profound emotion lingered within them.
"The truth of history..."
Amidst the rising steam of tea, the woman began her story in a gentle, flowing manner.
In the twenty-fifth year of the Jiahe era of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty, the great man who should have been remembered in history, the Celestial Master Yue Yining, passed away.
As Yue Yining's closest relative, the maid Fu Yao did not take any action after Yue Yining was imprisoned. However, this was not because she was indifferent and watched, but because she knew that Yue Yining would use the method of faking her death to escape.
Wei Zi's voice was low and clear, "...but no one expected that the cup of non-poisonous wine would be secretly replaced."
Yue Yining is really dead.
It wasn't until Fu Yao saw Yue Yining's handwritten suicide note that she realized Yue Yining already knew he was nearing his end.
She knew that neither the Xie nor the Wang families would let her go, and even if she managed to escape with the poison-free wine, it would be difficult for her to leave Yanjing City.
"Yue Yining had long anticipated her death in the last two years of her life. She calmly accepted this destined end and, in her will, revealed to her maid Fu Yao the most important scheme she had painstakingly devised throughout her life."
Xie Yunying held her breath.
"That is the scheme of the three empresses."
Wei Zi said, "My ancestors left behind few documents, but they roughly recorded the origin of this plan."
"In the twenty-fourth year of Jiahe, Yue Yining foresaw that the great cause would ultimately fail and the Eastern Yuan royal family was destined to perish."
The will of Heaven is irreversible. At that time, Yue Yining, who had been assisting the Third Prince Wei Ye for two years, once again used tortoise shell divination. This time, she saw the future and the ending: the collapse of the Dongyuan Dynasty was unstoppable, and the people of the world would eventually fall into a long period of chaos.
The so-called salvation is a complete and utter deception by the will of Heaven.
She alone was powerless to reverse the decline of the empire.
Wei Zi said, "Yue Yining stayed indoors and sat in the palace for seven days and seven nights. In the end, she came up with a way to break the deadlock. That was to stop trying to stop the fall of the Dongyuan Dynasty and instead, after the chaos of the end of the Dongyuan Dynasty, divide the world into three parts and hand them over to three monarchs who truly loved their people like their own children."
She wants to steal the day and turn the century of chaos destined by fate into a century of peace.
Yue Yining sacrificed fifty years of his own lifespan to forcibly calculate fate, thus giving the people a glimmer of hope.
Since the Eastern Yuan royal family is destined to perish, then let it perish.
What Yue Yining wanted was never for the dynasty to last forever, but for the peace and safety of all people.
Through thousands of divinations, she deduced the three most suitable people to become the rulers: Jin Lingxi, the daughter of the Jin family, who was born into a wealthy and powerful clan in Suyang and was destined for great wealth and honor; He Chan, the daughter of a butcher, who was born into a poor family in Qinghuai and was destined to win the hearts of the people and was an unparalleled general; and Princess Wei Yihua, who was known as the most talented woman in Yanjing, whose beauty was unparalleled in the capital, who was proficient in both literature and martial arts, and who was kind, loyal and brave, and who was born with a phoenix destiny.
"So, the third ruler originally chosen by Yue Yining was not Consort Li Gu Qinglan, but Princess Wei Yihua?!" Xie Yunying exclaimed.
“Yes.” Wei Zi nodded, a complex look flashing in her eyes. “Yue Yining instructed Fu Yao to give this crucial true will to Wei Yihua after she finished reading it, to explain the situation and the plan, so that she could accumulate strength and become the ruler of the third country when the chaos arrives ten years later.”
"However, despite all of Yue Yining's calculations, he did not anticipate that Fu Yao's resentment towards Wei Yihua had run deep."
Fu Yao believes that Princess Wei Yihua, who has long been an enemy of Yue Yining, has repeatedly disregarded Yue Yining's good intentions based on her own prejudices, and has always deliberately targeted her, is not worthy of the legacy that Yue Yining laid out with his life.
So, Fu Yao imitated Yue Yining's handwriting and rewrote a fake suicide note.
In this fake suicide note, she omitted the first half, which contained Yue Yining's schemes to Wei Yihua and the plan for the future tripartite division of power, and only retained the second half, which contained Yue Yining's honest confession and genuine feelings.
Fu Yao gave the fake will to the Eldest Princess, and with the real will in hand, she left the capital and returned to Luoshui, where she first met Yue Yining, intending to drown herself in the river and follow her former master.
However, fate played a cruel trick on us.
Wei Zi said, "Fu Yao was swept by the river to Qinghuai, downstream of the Luo River. Not only did she not drown, but she was also rescued by the female soldiers in the uprising army led by He Chan."
"After learning He Chan's identity, she felt that there was a divine will at play. Even the Heavenly Ancestor did not allow her to die, which meant that she still had an unfinished mission to complete. Of course, it is also possible that because Fu Yao had died once, she had come to understand many things. After weighing the pros and cons, she chose to grit her teeth and live on."
Ten years later, Fu Yao became a general under He Chan and followed He Chan's rebel army into the capital.
"Before killing Wei Jing, Fu Yao learned the true cause of Yue Yining's death from him. In a fit of rage, she led her personal guards to slaughter the heads of powerful families such as Xie and Wang, who were causing trouble in the court, and avenged Yue Yining."
"It was also from Wei Jing that Fu Yao learned that Wei Yihua had been depressed and tormented by guilt for ten years after Yue Yining's death, filled with remorse. She often prayed for Yue Yining in secret, and had long been seriously ill due to worry and depression."
At that time, Fu Yao finally felt completely at peace with what Princess Wei Yihua had done.
Fu Yao remembered Yue Yining's true plan, and she immediately took the divine physician Jiang Chiyin to the princess's fiefdom, intending to save Wei Yihua, help Wei Yihua become the third king, and fulfill Yue Yining's last wish.
Unfortunately, they were too late.
After learning of the fall of her country and the destruction of her family, the eldest princess chose to commit suicide.
When Fu Yao arrived, all she saw was a still-warm corpse.
Hearing this, Xie Yunying was completely stunned.
...It turns out, it was just a little short.
The twists and turns of fate in this world are truly lamentable.
“You all know what happened after that,” Chen Yiran continued, his tone calm. “Fu Yao told my ancestor, Su Yue, the maid of the eldest princess, about these things. That’s why our family has written records and knows this little-known historical truth.”
Through the machinations of Zhou Congyi and others, Consort Li, Gu Qinglan, ultimately replaced Wei Yihua and became the monarch of the Third Kingdom.
"According to the inscription unearthed from Fu Yao's tomb, the real suicide note that recorded the whole truth was lost after she drowned herself in the Luo River. The jade box containing Yue Yining's suicide note was most likely washed away by the river or sunk to the bottom and buried in the silt of the riverbed," Chen Yiran said. "This is also why we found nothing when we explored Fu Yao's tomb."
"These truths have not yet been made public. The research institute's initial plan is to first locate the tomb of Princess Wei Yihua and obtain more direct evidence before revealing this complex history to the public and giving all those who are concerned about this matter a complete explanation."
Wei Zi's face also showed a hint of helplessness: "It's a pity that the book in our family's ancient books that records the location of the eldest princess's tomb has been lost. I have no way to provide any more specific clues, and I am very ashamed."
"It's alright." Chen Yiran looked at Xie Yunying with a smile in his eyes. "The clues Yunying provided are very valuable. They mention many little-known details that are worth studying in depth."
"Perhaps, by combining existing archaeological findings with these new clues, we will soon be able to decipher the true location of Princess Wei Yihua's tomb."
Perhaps it was the composure and certainty in Chen Yiran's eyes that made Xie Yunying inexplicably trust her. For the past two months, she had been closely following the announcements released by the Institute of History.
Xie Yunying had finally waited for this day.
At the end of the year, the National Academy of History announced that it had located the tomb of Princess Wei Yihua, who lived at the end of the Eastern Yuan Dynasty, and that archaeological excavation work would soon begin in full swing.
Out of respect for the event's popularity and to respond to public expectations, the research institute directly contacted major official media outlets to broadcast the archaeological excavation site live for three days and three nights.
When Xie Yunying was at home, she would sit in front of the TV to watch the live broadcast. When she was at school, even during the ten-minute break between classes, she would open her phone to watch the live broadcast.
Finally, after three days and three nights of archaeological work, many cultural relics hidden in the tomb of Princess Wei Yihua began to be unearthed one after another.
That day, Xie Yunying happened to be at home. After observing her daughter for the past six months, Xie's mother knew that she was very concerned about the progress of this archaeological excavation. She took the initiative to turn on the TV for her, switched to this channel, and then went to cook.
While Xie's mother was busy in the kitchen, Xie Yunying sat on the carpet watching the live stream.
The scene flashes by, the camera takes a bird's-eye view of the huge pit in the center of the archaeological site, then cuts to a close-up view of the archaeological staff coming and going and the baskets of bamboo covered in mud.
The camera happened to focus on a pile of cultural relics.
Xie Yunying suddenly froze.
It was a pair of female figures, sculpted into ordinary little figures, both with their hair tied in glossy black buns. One's dress was painted with a bright and even vermilion red, while the other's dress was dyed with a soft, sky-blue hue.
Two girls held hands, one of them with two rosy cheeks, looking bright and cheerful.
It is a white clay figurine, now covered in yellow soil and ash. Its former pristine appearance has been replaced by stains, but it still smiles with its eyes curved.
According to ancient legends, those who are sculpted into a pair of clay figurines by hand will be blessed by the two gods of harmony and become best friends for all eternity, and will not miss each other even in reincarnation.
That was the first time a princess who had never believed in magic bowed to a god.
When Xie's mother came out with the food, she saw Xie Yunying sitting motionless in the spot. Just as she was about to call her daughter over to eat, she saw a tear slide down her cheek.
Mrs. Xie looked surprised: "Hey! What's wrong? Why are you crying all of a sudden?"
Xie Yunying couldn't hear anything anymore.
On the screen, the pair of clay figurines are quietly basking in the sunlight of thirteen hundred years later.
"Followers of history, please do not forget us, and do not forget that I applied two patches of rouge to the cheeks of her clay figurine."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Here it is!
The clay figurine of a lady was inspired by the sister figurines in the Luoyang Museum, with slight modifications to the figurine's appearance.
In both timelines, Yi Hua personally sculpted this double clay figurine. In the actual history, she took the figurine to her grave; in the novel, she personally gave it to Ning Ning.
No matter how fate plays tricks on them, how it reverses their course, or how their paths intertwine, their friendship will remain forever unchanged.
The appearance of this clay figurine will shatter the world's misunderstandings and speculations about them. The two women, regarded as sworn enemies by others, also cherished each other in obscurity. "The world has guessed wrong, how could I hate you?"
Do not question the courage of a lone individual, but observe the might of the masses. When heaven and earth are turned upside down, the true nature of the matter will be revealed.
When I first conceived this novel, I actually wanted to write a story about a strong female protagonist. However, as the pen worked its magic, during the year-long serialization, I gradually turned it into a story about a group of women.
Initially, I decided to let Yue Yining, as the protagonist, save the world on her own, but now I've chosen to make her an important "connector".
My heroine single-handedly strategized to establish the world, sacrificing her life to build the framework for the late Eastern Yuan Dynasty and lay the foundation for the Three Kingdoms period. However, this century-long golden age was not solely due to her efforts; every important female historical figure was a contributor to this glorious era. It was through their collective efforts that the world ushered in an unprecedented period of peace and prosperity.
The next chapter will be the last chapter of the present world arc! I'll be going on a long trip soon, and the next update will be on the 10th [shy]. Ningning's will and Yunying's highlight will be in the next chapter!
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