Professor Zou stared at Gu Yanyan in disbelief.
Not only him, but everyone else in the office looked at Gu Yanyan in surprise. They never expected that Gu Yanyan would have such a bold guess. However, this guess inexplicably made people feel that it might be the truth.
They all knew that history: Empress Zhenrui and Emperor Wuzong were deeply in love. Empress Zhenrui had no children, and Emperor Wuzong, despite the criticism from the court officials and the people, did not take a single concubine.
The two did indeed rule together, which was unprecedented in history. As a result, this is the history that directors and screenwriters love the most. There are already dozens of versions of Empress Zhenrui on television, with all sorts of imaginative interpretations.
Even so, most accounts still portray Empress Zhenrui as a woman in the imperial harem who was just particularly favored by the emperor. But what Gu Yanyan is saying now is clearly that Empress Zhenrui was the second emperor of the Great Jing Dynasty, and a female emperor who wore a dragon robe, which is quite unbelievable.
Professor Zou felt a little annoyed. He said, "This is just your guess and it is not convincing. Moreover, Princess Mijia is just a princess. Even if Emperor Wuzong did not pursue the matter with her, it is impossible for him to put her in the phoenix robe."
Gu Yanyan paused for a moment. The most direct evidence was of course her, but ironically, it was also the most useless evidence.
She sighed silently and said in a low voice, "At that time, the late emperor was deposed and Emperor Wuzong was in power, but His Majesty did not have a harem. Therefore, many of Emperor Jing's concubines, Mu Qianzhong's concubines, continued to live in the harem and were not all exterminated. Emperor Wuzong simply divided the palace into two parts and did not allow Emperor Jing's concubines to come to the other side. However, in order to restrain Emperor Jing's power in the harem, and because Empress Zhenrui had no interest in harem affairs, she entrusted all harem affairs to Princess Mijia. It is not unreasonable to say that Princess Mijia was the head of the harem at that time. Therefore, it was only natural for her to be crowned with the phoenix robe."
"Moreover, Princess Mijia and Empress Zhenrui have always had a good relationship. The reason why Princess Mijia was able to marry Empress Xianyu was entirely due to Empress Zhenrui's matchmaking. The correspondence between Princess Mijia and Empress Yanqing also first reached Empress Zhenrui through merchant caravans before being delivered to Empress Yanqing. His Majesty Emperor Wuzong and Empress Zhenrui treat Princess Mijia like their own daughter, so what's wrong with letting her wear a phoenix robe?"
"What I said may not have any evidence, but it is all true. If I have lied, I am willing to suffer the torment of being struck by lightning."
Her words were very pleasant to hear and her tone was very sincere. Even Professor Zou, who was full of skepticism, was moved by what she said.
Most importantly, she described things in great detail, as if she had witnessed them firsthand. She recounted these things in detail, but they could not be verified in history.
Zhang Yang calmly said, "Professor Zou, although Gu Yanyan is young, she is indeed an expert in the field of the Great Jing Dynasty. My father also thinks so."
Professor Zou then looked Gu Yanyan up and down, a sudden thought flashing through his mind, and said, "Are you the girl who was dug out of Yangling Tomb?"
Everyone was shocked by these words.
The story of Professor Zhang digging up a living person from a cemetery is known to only a small number of people, and most of those people who heard about it thought it was nonsense.
Most importantly, they later learned that the person who supposedly dug it out was just a young girl who had gone mad with the desire for fame. She had somehow entered the ancient tomb through some strange path and was deliberately waiting for Professor Zhang and his group to dig it up so that she could become famous overnight.
After all, there are just too many people who want to be famous these days, so it's not surprising that they come up with all sorts of dirty tricks and weird methods.
But when someone pointed out that the person was Gu Yanyan.
Gu Yanyan stood in front of them again and spoke eloquently.
Such a girl with an elegant demeanor, a beautiful face, delicate features, lively eyes, and a pure and clean temperament—every aspect of her seemed to indicate that she was qualified to emerge from an ancient tomb.
Such a person could only emerge from a place of scenic beauty and natural beauty.
As everyone's thoughts wandered, their expressions became incredibly complex.
But the one with the most complicated feelings was Gu Yanyan. She felt like she had a fishbone stuck in her throat, and she was so frightened that she took two steps back and hid behind Zhang Yang. Her guilty look clearly indicated that she had admitted it.
Zhang Yang frowned, but his handsome face remained calm and composed. "She is one of my father's students. You can call my father to confirm and hear her advice."
Professor Zou persisted. "You're the girl who came out of Yangling Tomb?"
Gu Yanyan was so frightened that she couldn't move, and her breathing became rapid with tension.
Zhang Yang frowned even more deeply. "Professor Zou, we live in a society governed by the rule of law."
Professor Zou's expression was somewhat complicated.
Archaeology is a very mysterious profession. It's normal to encounter all sorts of ghosts and monsters. Over the years, he has traveled all over the country excavating ancient tombs and has actually unearthed some things and seen some fantastical things.
He didn't believe that people could truly be reincarnated.
But now he suspects that Gu Yanyan has been possessed by someone from ancient times.
As for Gu Yanyan being immortal, he didn't dare to think about that possibility yet, since humans haven't broken through the lifespan limit.
He sighed deeply, and this time he became serious when dealing with Gu Yanyan. He said in a low voice, "I'll call your father to confirm."
He walked to his desk and made a phone call in front of everyone. The phone rang loudly in the quiet office.
The call was answered quickly.
Professor Zou quickly communicated with Professor Zhang on the other end of the phone. Professor Zou explained the situation in detail and then asked, "Is Gu Yanyan really your student?"
Professor Zhang chuckled. “She is both a student and a teacher. In terms of the history of Dajing, she is an absolute authority, without a doubt. If she says that the portrait of Empress Zhenrui is wrong, then she must be wrong.”
Are you so sure?
"Definitely, she's an expert, there's no doubt about that."
Professor Zou: "..."
He was filled with questions, but he couldn't ask Professor Zhang in front of everyone, because Professor Zhang would never tell him the real answer.
He could only sigh and say, "Alright then! I have some things I need to ask you about later, let's keep in touch by phone!"
I hung up the phone.
Professor Zou looked at Gu Yanyan with a complicated expression, and finally reluctantly agreed with her statement.
Although Gu Yanyan couldn't produce any evidence, it was because he knew that those who studied history often had to look for answers in various ancient books. There were many poems in the Great Jing Dynasty that seemed ambiguous, and it always felt like the promotion of Empress Zhenrui's talent and status was somewhat exaggerated. But if it were Gu Yanyan's statement, it would make perfect sense.
Gu Yanyan has provided them with a new approach to studying the history of the Great Jing Dynasty, which is excellent!
"We'll change the photos later. Thank you!"
Professor Zou's tone was calm, less forceful than before, but Gu Yanyan felt a chill run down her spine, terrified that she might suddenly be caught and turned into a research subject.
Zhang Yang gently grasped Gu Yanyan's trembling hand, met Professor Zou's gaze without flinching, nodded calmly, and then politely took his leave, pulling Gu Yanyan out of Yangling.
Gu Yanyan only breathed a sigh of relief after she stepped outside the door.
"Are you scared?" Zhang Yang breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn't afraid that Professor Zou and the others would keep her here. From any perspective, Gu Yanyan was a 23-year-old college graduate.
The only flaw is Gu Yanyan herself, but as long as she is unwilling to speak, almost no one can force her to do anything.
Gu Yanyan nodded, "I'm scared. I'm afraid they'll treat me like a guinea pig."
“We live in a society governed by the rule of law now.” Zhang Yang couldn’t help but laugh, then repeated, “Illegal detention is a crime.”
"Okay, I understand."
"Gu Yanyan!" Zhang Yang placed his hands on her shoulders, his dark, jade-like eyes fixed on Gu Yanyan's, and said earnestly, "Gu Yanyan, you have no flaws. You just have a lot of knowledge due to your family's academic background. If someone asks you about the history of the Great Jing Dynasty, you can tell them if you want to, or you can't. No one can force you, not even me or my father. Do you understand?"
Gu Yanyan's eyes stung a little; she was deeply moved.
Her identity is probably her second major concern.
The first one is a girl.
However, she was very happy. She liked this colorful world and felt more at ease here. The past world was indeed much more backward. To be able to live two lives was a great gift from heaven.
No, it was a gift from the girl.
Now, because of her identity, she is somewhat insecure, which makes her nervous.
Fortunately, Zhang Yang was always by her side; he was her guide in this world.
grateful!
After leaving Yangling, the two went straight to the hotel. After eating and drinking for a while, they felt much better.
We've already explored Yangling, but haven't found any useful clues.
Gu Yanyan was somewhat discouraged. She really hoped that a miracle would happen in Yangling, but she didn't know what kind of miracle it was.
After resting for a day, the two headed to their next destination the next day.
The two had made up their minds to visit all the attractions related to Empress Zhenrui. If they still found nothing after visiting them, Gu Yanyan would give up.
Three months is neither a short nor a long time.
Gu Yanyan and Zhang Yang had already traveled through more than twenty cities, staying in each city for no more than a week before moving on to the next. This kind of high-intensity travel and constant movement was extremely tiring.
Gu Yanyan and Zhang Yang gritted their teeth and persevered.
This day.
The two arrived in Guangwu City. In Fuping Town, which is under Guangwu City, there is a temple called Niangniang Temple, also known as the Empress Temple. It is said that the statue of Empress Zhenrui is enshrined inside.
"According to what I know, the reason why the local people built such a temple was entirely because Empress Zhenrui was the richest person in the country at that time, so the enemy worshipped her as a god of wealth."
Gu Yanyan couldn't help but laugh. "Indeed, Miss... When Empress Zhenrui passed away, she left Emperor Jing a treasure map. That treasure map contained the wealth that Empress Zhenrui had accumulated throughout her life, and those gold and silver treasures were comparable to the national treasury."
Zhang Yang laughed. "So, these people have prayed to the right deity. Let's go pray to the God of Wealth tomorrow too."
Gu Yanyan nodded, and the two rested at their hotel.
The smile on her face gradually faded. She had traveled to many cities and seen dozens of strange and wonderful places related to Empress Jeong-rye, but she had not gained anything.
She didn't find the kind of girl she imagined should exist in real society. Instead, she discovered that tourist attractions are too "chaotic" these days. They just take any story, attribute it to a celebrity, and dare to call themselves tourist attractions and start selling tickets.
They had seen the Phoenix-themed washbasin, which, according to legend, was where the Empress washed her hands during a private visit, hence the name "Empress's Washbasin."
There is also a mountain called Couple Mountain, which is said to resemble Empress Zhenrui and Emperor Wuzong, with one mountain looking like Empress Zhenrui and the other like Emperor Wuzong. Moreover, the two mountains are in a kissing position, which is the place where Empress Zhenrui and Emperor Wuzong pledged their love for three lifetimes.
There are countless classic examples of such fabricated stories.
Gu Yanyan initially tried to argue, but later realized that her attitude was too difficult to correct, so she simply listened quietly.
She dares to vouch for herself that the girl never went to those far-fetched tourist attractions, and those stories of her using someone else's power to intimidate others were complete fabrications.
Zhang Yang laughed and said, "You should take these kinds of things less seriously; there will be more and more of these kinds of things in the future."
Gu Yanyan: "..."
Deep down, she's still a traditional person and not very interested in these kinds of deceptive things.
The two of them spent the whole night making corrections.
The next day, I got up very early, got in the car, and headed to the Niangniang Temple.
The driver, knowing the two were going to the Niangniang Temple, started chatting. "You're tourists from out of town? Going to the Niangniang Temple was the right decision. The deities there are incredibly accurate. I once prayed to a friend there, and sure enough, his fortunes improved. He made a lot of money in the stock market. The goddess at the Niangniang Temple is a true deity."
Gu Yanyan was quite interested in such gossip. She asked, "And you? Did you make money too?"
The driver seemed a little embarrassed. "I begged for help too, and of course I made money. Our house was demolished for redevelopment, and they gave me a house as compensation..."
Zhang Yang: "..."
Gu Yanyan: "..."
The two looked at each other, their eyes filled with helplessness. They never expected to be showered with money while walking down the street. The feeling was one of envy, jealousy, and resentment!
The driver chuckled as he said that since he was allocated a house, his back no longer aches, his legs no longer hurt, and he has more energy to walk. Now he only drives occasionally to earn some extra money. He doesn't care how much he earns; he just cares about finding a job so he doesn't become a couch potato, because it's just too boring at home.
Zhang Yang and Gu Yanyan didn't want to talk at all; they just hoped the car would go faster.
And so, we finally arrived at the Niangniang Temple.
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