Handwritten letter from an old friend
Chu Yuan said, “To prevent others from taking or losing them, I stored these three bricks and this scroll here, and no one has asked about them since. At first, I often came here to unfold and look at Senior Brother An’s handwriting, but as time went by, I forgot about it. If you hadn’t brought it up today, I wouldn’t have remembered it either.”
Upon hearing this, A-Qiu's face lit up with joy, and she said, "Even you, the aunt who kept this item, don't remember this matter. Then no one else can find it. Aunt, quickly take the brick to me and report back. This will settle a major matter."
She dared not mention that her trip that night was at the behest of An Daoling. She had a vague feeling that if An Daoling and Chu Yuanyi had no grudges, An Daoling should have come to Qiwu Palace to investigate in person. After all, it was no secret that Yuanyi was here; even Consort Chen had known for many years.
Chu Yuanyi was not in her right mind at the moment, and she did not want to provoke her with old friends and past events.
Chu Yuan said, "Alright, the things are here, you can take them."
As she spoke, she actually took down a rather large wooden box. Chu Yuanyi's strength was astonishing; she held the box steadily with one hand without it wobbling at all.
Ah Qiu carefully climbed the ladder, reaching the box after only a few steps, and caught it with both hands.
But as soon as she took the wooden box in her hands, her expression changed.
My heart sank straight to the bottom of the earth.
The weight is incorrect.
If we calculate based on the weight of the half brick she obtained in the West Market, this wooden box would not be as light if it contained three bricks.
The lid of the box was covered in dust, which fell directly onto her. It seemed that no one had touched the box in recent years.
The box of Han Dynasty bricks went missing a long time ago. The longer something happened, the more difficult it becomes to investigate.
Seeing that she was just staring blankly after taking it, Chu Yuan urged, "You're urging me so much, but now that you have it, why don't you open it and take a look?"
A bitter smile appeared on A Qiu's face. He gently placed the wooden box on the ground, and then forcefully lifted the lid.
Chu Yuanyi also climbed down the ladder to see what the Han bricks, which had been sealed for nearly twenty years, looked like now.
She later reviewed An Daoling's rubbing notes many times, but never opened the box to look at the Han bricks again, because what she originally wanted to see was not these bricks, but the handwritten ink marks of An Shangzhi, the "master of the flute".
Furthermore, the boxes were placed high, making them quite cumbersome and inconvenient to move and open.
Upon seeing this, Chu Yuanyi was also dumbfounded and speechless.
Where there should have been three Han Dynasty bricks in the box, there is now only one.
There was a large, noticeable empty space at the top.
Judging from the dusty appearance of the box and the condition inside after opening it, it was clear that it was not stolen recently.
Chu Yuanyi's first words were: "Who would steal this?"
A Qiu carefully removed the last Han Dynasty brick from the bottom and dusted it off.
The four seal characters “Shanyu Heqin” faintly emerge, and the scene depicts guests and hosts in a row, musicians playing the sheng, and dancers dancing while stepping on drums and raising cups.
What's missing are the two pieces: "May you live a thousand autumns and ten thousand years" and "May you serve the heavens."
All the possibilities raced through A Qiu's mind.
She was extremely confident that the half-brick she had obtained in the West Market yesterday was one half of the "Long Live the Emperor" inscription.
Although it's not impossible to fake bricks, that's just her intuition.
But even so, where is the remaining piece, "Serving Heaven"?
Knowing it might be a pointless question, A-Qiu still couldn't help but ask, "Aunt, have any unusual people, or... martial arts masters, visited Qiwu Palace in recent years?"
To be able to take away two such large portrait stone bricks, one must either be a martial arts master or have someone else to help. But to specifically arrange for someone to help just for two worthless Han Dynasty bricks seems like going to too much trouble.
In a single moment, A-Qiu understood something.
At first, she wondered why the person who stole the bricks left one alone. Now she understood; it was probably because there was only one person who stole the bricks, and it wouldn't be convenient for him to carry too many with him.
Chu Yuanyi said in bewilderment, "I don't remember. There are many experts in the palace who come and go frequently. When the Empress died, there were even outside experts who broke in... It's been too long, I don't remember, I don't remember!"
Seeing her expression, A-Qiu knew that she wouldn't get anything out of her by asking any more questions. She picked up a piece of cloth from the side, quickly wrapped the brick in it, tied it in a knot, and held it in her hand, saying, "Auntie, I'm taking this brick with me now, is that alright?"
Chu Yuanyi remained listless and said, "There are things in the palace that you cannot take. Take them, just leave this scroll with me."
A Qiu thanked them and was about to leave when she suddenly heard a clear, beautiful female voice drifting from outside the palace gates, like a night breeze blowing through the Guanghan Palace.
"Is Senior Chu, the 'Wind and Thunder Slash' master, here? This junior, Shangguan Yuqi, has taken the liberty of visiting Qiwu Palace at night. Please allow me to enter."
Upon hearing this, A-Qiu raised her eyebrows in surprise.
Shangguan Yuqi is the head of the Royal Flying Phoenix Guard. He should be on duty at the East Palace at this moment, but his visit to Qiwu Palace under the cover of night is obviously very unusual.
After all, everyone in the palace knows that Qiwu Palace is an abandoned palace and a forbidden area, which is not to be entered. Although A Qiu was ordered by Duke An and had known Chu Yuanyi since childhood, she only dared to come secretly.
Miss Shangguan Yuqi has always been upright and unrestrained, like a celestial being; she doesn't seem like the kind of person who would do something to deceive others.
A Qiu was unsure whether she should go out and greet Shangguan Yuqi.
She had a very good impression of Shangguan Yuqi. Although the other party was the first lady of the Shangguan family, a family with a history of hundreds of years, she never looked down on her, a dancer who was originally a courtesan. She once went with her to the post station to "recruit" Princess Wansui.
While she was in prison, Shangguan Yuqi and her senior brother Gongyi Xiu knocked on her door to check on her. This act of loyalty not only moved her but also surprised her, considering they had only met a few times.
But at the time, A Qiu thought that it might be that Consort Chen had ordered Shangguan Yuqi to come. Even so, she was already extremely grateful that Shangguan Yuqi was willing to make this trip.
But if she went out now, not only would it expose her relationship with Chu Yuanyi, but Shangguan Yuqi might not even need to know about these things.
Their positions are different, and Shangguan Yuqi is now a member of the Eastern Palace Flying Phoenix Guard. Knowing too much about A Qiu might not be a good thing for her.
A Qiu was still hesitating when she saw Chu Yuanyi's single eye widen, its fierceness instantly rising within it, and he coldly shouted, "You lowly woman from the Shangguan family! Get as far away as you can! You're not worthy of being in this palace!"
The stern shout carried far and wide. Before A Qiu could react, she had already leaped out of the main hall and headed straight for the palace gate.
Upon hearing Chu Yuanyi's sharp shout, A Qiu was so startled that he felt as if his soul had left his head and his spirit had fled.
Chu Yuanyi is currently mentally unstable, so it's normal for her to curse Shangguan Yuqi. However, A Qiu never imagined that someone in the world could use the word "bitch" to describe the ethereal Shangguan Yuqi.
Chu Yuanyi's use of "the lowly woman from the Shangguan family" and "you're not fit to be in this palace!" was clearly not unfounded. It wasn't that she didn't know who Shangguan Yuqi was; rather, it seemed to be aimed directly at Shangguan Yuqi.
Although A Qiu was in a difficult situation, and given that she had lost her martial arts skills, she knew that she absolutely could not stand idly by and watch this happen.
Having lost her martial arts skills, and carrying the Han Dynasty brick in her hand, her speed in running forward was far slower than Chu Yuanyi's. Before she even reached the front garden, she could already hear the sound of the wind whistling through the air as Chu Yuanyi and Shangguan Yuqi fought.
She had witnessed Chu Yuanyi's skill firsthand, and if they were to fight to the death at that time, it was still uncertain who would emerge victorious.
But in her eyes, Shangguan Yuqi was truly ethereal and serene, her realm could only be described as unfathomable.
A Qiu was anxious, so he quickened his pace and rushed over.
While blocking the way, Shangguan Yuqi humbly and politely said, "This junior only wishes to enter Qiwu Palace for a visit. I will not touch anything or take anything away. Why must you make things difficult for me, senior?"
She was called a "bitch" by Chu Yuanyi by name, yet she didn't get angry at all, which shows that her self-cultivation is far superior to that of ordinary people.
Chu Yuanyi sneered, "Give me a break! Even when Shangguan Jin was alive, he couldn't even think about getting close to Qiwu Palace, let alone you. There's no other reason why your Shangguan family isn't worthy! It's that simple!"
Her responses were clear-headed and logically sound.
In her words, she even mentioned Shangguan Jin, the former Grand Secretary of the dynasty, a man of "reclusive elegance in green robes, a sword of unparalleled grace." Chu Yuanyi probably thought of Shangguan Jin because he saw the gentleman's sword "Binghuang" in Shangguan Yuqi's hand, since the previous owner of "Binghuang" was Shangguan Jin.
When Shangguan Yuqi heard her mention her uncle with no respect, her usually composed expression finally showed displeasure.
She flicked her wrist and brandished her sword, the tip emitting bright sword flowers. At the same time, the sword tip emitted a clear whistling sound, and she said in a deep voice, "Senior, if you don't move aside, don't blame Yuqi for using heavy force!"
Chu Yuanyi opened his single eye wide and said in a sinister tone, "You little bitch, even if you can kill me, there are still three of the Four Constellations of Tianji who won't let you go. I advise you to give up on the idea of entering Qiwu Palace!"
Under the moonlight, Shangguan Yuqi stood with her sword drawn, gathering her sword intent. Upon hearing this, she calmly said, "The other three would never be as persistent as you, senior. Yuqi only wants to enter my aunt's old palace to see the old artifacts, not to do anything rebellious. Why do you bother, senior?"
When A Qiu heard her mention the word "aunt," she suddenly remembered something.
Empress Shangguan Yanxiu of the previous dynasty was actually Shangguan Yuqi's aunt. So, Shangguan Yuqi's visit tonight is most likely because the Shangguan family has heard rumors about the Han bricks and cannot tolerate others arbitrarily slandering their ancestors, so they have come to investigate the facts.
No one expected that if she hadn't mentioned her aunt, Empress Shangguan, things would have been fine. But as soon as she did, Chu Yuanyi's expression changed immediately, and the wrinkles on her face seemed to twist as if they were about to contort.
She gathered her palms into a net-like formation and shouted sharply, "When did Qiwu Palace become your Shangguan family's old residence, where you can come and go as you please? That vixen Shangguan Yanxiu is dead, and Qiwu Palace has finally been clean for so many years, and now you want to come again?"
A-Qiu became increasingly alarmed as she listened. She had only guessed that someone disliked the once-famous former empress, but she never expected that Aunt Yuan Yi was also one of those who hated Empress Wen.
This is quite unusual. It's because Aunt Yuan Yi was always in Qiwu Palace; she was once Empress Wen's attendant. How could Empress Wen be so hated by those close to her?
A glint of excitement finally appeared in Shangguan Yuqi's beautiful eyes. Aqiu knew she was about to draw her sword and knew it would be too late if she didn't interrupt her. She quickly called out, "Miss Shangguan! Aunt Yuanyi!"
The tense atmosphere between the two eased slightly because of A-Qiu's shout.
However, Shangguan Yuqi did not sheathe her sword. Instead, she subtly shifted the direction of her sword strike and calmly asked, "Why is Dian Le here?"
Upon hearing this, A Qiu felt it was inappropriate.
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