Chapter 98 The Mystery of My Origins
After Lin Wan'er was imprisoned, life at the Regent's Palace finally became peaceful.
Without the backstabbing and intrigue, without the manipulative and scheming women, Jiang Mianmian felt as if she had entered retirement life ahead of schedule. Every day, besides eating, drinking, and sleeping, she spent her time counting money until her hands cramped.
The sun was shining brightly that day.
Jiang Mianmian was directing several maids in a "treasure hunt" activity called "big cleaning" in the storeroom of the main courtyard.
"Be careful with that vase! It's a unique piece from the previous dynasty. If you break it, you couldn't afford to pay for it even if you sold yourself!"
"Open that box and see if it contains the ginseng that the Empress Dowager sent last time."
Jiang Mianmian sat amidst a pile of gold and silver jewelry, holding the half-broken jade pendant she had taken from Lin Wan'er, lost in thought.
This thing... why does it look so familiar?
Lin Wan'er said this was one of the keys to unlocking the treasures of the previous dynasty. But there's only half a piece; where's the other half?
[Could it be... in Shen Jin's hands? No, if Shen Jin had it, he would have gone treasure hunting long ago. Why would he wait until now?]
Just then, the butler in charge of sorting through the old things came over carrying a small, dusty mahogany box.
"Your Highness, this was sent from the Prime Minister's residence. They say it's the bottom of your mother's dowry chest, which has been kept untouched in a corner of the storeroom. The Master said... perhaps you would like to take a look."
"My mother's belongings?"
Jiang Mianmian was stunned for a moment.
The original owner's mother was Jiang Zhan's first wife. She came from a wealthy merchant family in Jiangnan, but unfortunately, she died young, shortly after giving birth to Jiang Mianmian. The original owner's memories of her were almost entirely blank.
"Bring it here."
Jiang Mianmian took the small box with some chipped paint.
There was no lock, just a rusty brass buckle.
"Clatter".
The box was opened.
There was no valuable jewelry inside, only a few yellowed account books, a faded rattle drum, and...
Something wrapped in layers of silk handkerchiefs.
Jiang Mianmian's heart skipped a beat.
She slowly unveiled the silk handkerchief.
As the last layer of fabric fell away, a semi-circular jade pendant, entirely emerald green and carved with intricate dragon patterns, lay quietly in her palm.
In that instant, Jiang Mianmian's pupils contracted sharply.
[Holy crap?!]
She quickly picked up the jade pendant she had obtained from Lin Wan'er in her other hand.
Two jade pendants, one on the left and one on the right.
The cross-section is perfectly fitted, and the texture is seamlessly connected.
"Crack".
With a soft sound, the two pieces of jade merged into one, becoming a complete, round jade disc with dragon patterns that radiated a faint glow!
[They managed to put it together?!]
My mother's belongings are actually the other half of the key to a treasure from the previous dynasty?!
[This script isn't right! Isn't my mother the daughter of a wealthy merchant? How could she have things from the previous dynasty's royal family? Could it be...]
Jiang Mianmian's imagination ran wild: "Could it be that my mother was actually a princess of the previous dynasty? Then wouldn't I be a descendant of the remnants of that dynasty? And if I marry Shen Jin… is this Romeo and Juliet? Or a tragic love story filled with national and personal vendettas?"
"What is the Princess Consort thinking about?"
A familiar voice sounded from behind.
When Shen Jin returned from court, he saw Jiang Mianmian staring blankly at a jade pendant as soon as she entered the room, her mind still replaying a dramatic "torturous love story".
He walked over, glanced at the reunited jade pendant, and his eyes narrowed slightly.
"This is……"
"The Panlong Jade, a token of the former imperial family."
Shen Jin recognized it at a glance. "It is said that this is the only key to unlocking the 'treasure trove' of the previous dynasty. I never expected... that it would actually exist."
He looked at Jiang Mianmian, his gaze complex: "Who...is your mother?"
How would I know?
Jiang Mianmian shrugged. "My dad said she's the daughter of a wealthy businessman. But now it seems... this businessman has some connections."
Who cares who she is! She's gone anyway.
The focus now is—the treasure! Oh, the treasure, Shen Jin!
Jiang Mianmian's eyes lit up like light bulbs. "Now that the jade pendant is pieced together, does that mean we can go treasure hunting? Where's the map? Although Lin Wan'er's map is of an armory, maybe the real treasure is nearby?"
Looking at her "as long as you have money, your background doesn't matter" attitude, Shen Jin's somewhat heavy mood instantly dissipated.
yes.
Regardless of who her mother is, she is now simply his queen.
"The map... is in this jade pendant."
Shen Jin picked up the jade pendant and examined it in the sunlight.
Inside the originally emerald green jade, fine lines were faintly emerging, resembling a miniature map of mountains and rivers.
"Light and shadow refraction?"
Jiang Mianmian exclaimed in amazement, "The wisdom of the ancients is truly amazing! Their anti-counterfeiting technology is top-notch!"
“Shadow One,” Shen Jin called out.
"exist."
"Go and fetch paper and pen. I want to draw this picture."
...
Half an hour later.
A detailed topographic map is displayed on the desktop.
"This is... Wolong Mountain?"
Yingyi identified it and said, "It's located in the deep mountains, three hundred miles west of the capital. It's shrouded in mist all year round, and legend has it that ferocious beasts roam there. It's a place rarely visited by humans."
"Wolong Mountain..."
Shen Jin tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "It seems that Lin Wan'er's armory was just a decoy. The real treasure is hidden deeper in the mountains."
"Then what are we waiting for?"
Jiang Mianmian had already started packing her bags. "Let's go now! What if someone else poachs us if we're late?"
This is the wealth accumulated by the previous dynasty's royal family over hundreds of years! Mountains of gold and silver! Here I come!
[I'm going to use this money to replace all the floor tiles in the Regent's Palace with gold! I'm going to buy the entire Suzaku Avenue! I'm going to become the richest woman in the world!]
Shen Jin looked at her, who seemed to wish she could sprout wings and fly over, and shook his head helplessly.
"Going is fine."
Shen Jin pressed down on her busy hands, "But the terrain there is complex and full of traps. We must be fully prepared."
"rest assured!"
Jiang Mianmian patted her chest, "I have a magical artifact! Traps and mechanisms are nothing compared to me!"
[I have space! I have explosives! And if all else fails, I have a frying pan!]
[Besides... don't we still have you, the pinnacle of combat power? When we're of one mind, our strength can break metal (and I mean truly break metal)!]
Shen Jin looked at her, a hint of doting smile flashing in his eyes.
"good."
"Then let's go."
"I also want to see just how happy this so-called 'treasure that could bring down a nation' will be to the Queen Consort."
Early the next morning.
Regent Shen Jin, under the pretext of "taking the princess out of the city to pray for blessings," quietly left the capital with a team of elite guards.
Although she claimed it was for praying for blessings, judging from Jiang Mianmian's large bags and the way she seemed to be going on a picnic, it looked more like she was going to...
Tomb raiding?
Oh no, it's—a treasure hunt adventure!
Inside the carriage, Jiang Mianmian hugged the dragon-patterned jade disc, laughing like a fool.
Meanwhile, Shen Jin silently peeled oranges for her, while secretly plotting in his mind:
If we really do find a treasure, shouldn't we... first help her build a bigger warehouse?
After all, the current warehouse is probably no longer able to contain her ambition.
A new journey, drawn by the promise of money, has officially begun.
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