Fortunately, both Xiao Jingxi and Ren Yaoqi were extremely patient. There was no sign of impatience. Xiao Jingxi was just about to ask Ren Yaoqi if he wanted to walk around when a sudden mechanical click came from the rockery, followed by a slight "boom boom" vibration as something was activated.
Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jingxi couldn't help but look at each other.
Xiao Hua quickly emerged from the rockery and reported, "Master, there is indeed a secret passage inside. It has been opened according to the method you described. For safety reasons, I will go down and investigate first. You and the young lady can go down later."
Xiao Jingxi thought about it and nodded. If he were alone, he wouldn't be afraid of any traps, but if he went in with Ren Yaoqi, he'd better be careful.
Xiao Hua went back into the rockery without saying a word. This time, he didn't come out until half a minute later.
"Master, there is no mechanism."
Xiao Jingxi nodded and took Ren Yaoqi into the rockery.
Ren Yaoqi was naturally familiar with this rockery. When she was young, she and her sisters often came here to play. The center of the rockery was hollow and the space was not small. Since there was a light hole on the top of the rockery, it was still bright inside during the day.
However, when Ren Yaoqi went in, he found that there was a hole about six or seven feet deep dug in this rockery, and he couldn't help but laugh.
"The secret passage hasn't been discovered?"
Xiao Jingxi glanced at Ren Yaoqi, then gently held her face with his hands and asked her to turn her head. Ren Yaoqi then saw that the stone wall behind her, near the pond on the rockery, had opened. Xiao Jingxi pulled her over to take a look and saw that under the stone wall was a staircase that was only wide enough for one person to pass, and it actually slanted down to the bottom of the lotus pond.
Ren Yaoqi was surprised and said, "How could this be? This lotus pond is very deep, and the bottom is full of soft mud."
Xiao Jingxi smiled and winked, saying, "Go down and take a look, and you'll know."
Xiao Jingxi walked down the secret passage, and Ren Yaoqi hurriedly followed. Since the secret passage was only wide enough for one person to pass through, Xiao Jingxi put his right hand behind his back and held her hand carefully, reminding her not to hit her head. In his left hand, he was holding a fire starter that could provide light, just in case.
This secret passage was very narrow, and Xiao Jingxi had to bend down slightly to pass through.
Ren Yaoqi discovered that the secret passage was not only narrow but also very long. The air around it was very moist and cold, and there was a smell of rotten mud that penetrated his nose. If it weren't for Xiao Jingxi, Ren Yaoqi would not have thought of going down to take a look even if he had discovered such a secret passage.
Xiao Jingxi reminded Ren Yaoqi to be careful while smiling: "Do you know why Xiao Hua just opened this secret passage for nearly a quarter of an hour?" The elegant voice rang out in the narrow and long enclosed space. It seemed to echo.
Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment and asked, "Is this secret passage difficult to open?"
Xiao Jingxi said, "Hmm, they actually used mechanical techniques. If someone tried to dig this passage open by force, the stone steps of this secret passage would collapse, blocking the entrance to the secret room inside."
Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but frown. "Logically speaking, the Zhai family is just an ordinary wealthy family. Why would they spend so much effort to build such a secret room? Could it be that they really have hidden some rare treasure?"
Xiao Jingxi smiled and said, "We'll know if there are any rare treasures if we go down and take a look."
Because they had to take care of Ren Yaoqi, they didn't go down very quickly, but they finally stepped on flat ground. Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. This was already the bottom of the pond. Because the underground air had been stagnant for years, she felt a little uncomfortable.
Xiao Jingxi looked back at her and frowned: "Not feeling well? Why don't you go up? I'm not careful."
Ren Yaoqi held Xiao Jingxi and said with a smile: "I'm already down. I won't be willing to go in and see the rare treasures. I'm fine. I just need to adapt."
Xiao Jingxi was relieved to see that Ren Yaoqi was indeed fine.
There was an opened stone door in front of them, but it was still only wide enough for one person to pass through.
Xiao Jingxi used a tinder to light a grease lamp hanging on the stone wall, then held the lamp and led Ren Yaoqi into the secret room.
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