Zhao Canchen looked around at the dilapidated courtyard and found it hard to imagine what kind of treasure trove might be hidden there.
This courtyard is really too simple, with only three main rooms, making it look very shabby.
To the east of the backyard was a kitchen built of wooden planks, while to the west was a washroom made of stones. In the middle of the yard, a pile of wooden blocks was neatly stacked.
Lin Yajun walked up to the pile of wood blocks, stopped, and stared at them.
She muttered to herself, "This courtyard has been uninhabited for many years, how come there are still so many dry wood blocks?"
This is clearly contrary to common sense. Generally speaking, in a courtyard that has been uninhabited for a long time, the piled wood would become moldy and rotten after being wetted by rain, and might even grow mold.
This pile of wood is so neat and dry, it seems to have been placed here intentionally.
Lin Yajun stared at the pile of wood blocks, a surge of curiosity welling up within her, and she decided to investigate further.
She carefully took out a short sword from her bosom. Although the sword was short, it was extremely sharp.
Holding a short sword, Lin Yajun gently and carefully pried open the wooden blocks one by one.
As the wooden blocks were gradually moved aside, a worn-out little copper box was revealed. The copper box looked quite old, its surface covered with rust and scratches, giving it a very aged appearance.
Lin Yajun called softly to Zhao Canchen, "Achen, come and see what this is?"
Hearing the sound, Zhao Canchen quickly walked over. Upon closer inspection, a look of surprise appeared on his face. "Why is there a small copper box under the wooden block?"
He noticed a lock hanging on the bronze box. This lock looked rather unusual, unlike ordinary locks.
Zhao Canchen looked at Lin Yajun in surprise, and the two exchanged a glance.
Lin Yajun took out a key from her purse. She had just found the key by the bed. She didn't know if it could open the lock, but things had happened so coincidentally that she decided to give it a try.
She bent down, inserted the key into the lock, and turned it gently. With a click, the lock opened. Lin Yajun was overjoyed. She shielded Zhao Canchen with her hands, then slowly used her short sword to pry open the bronze box.
When the lid of the copper box was fully opened, Lin Yajun's eyes suddenly widened, and she gasped.
After Zhao Canchen saw what was inside, he was filled with horror.
Inside the copper box was a large seal carved from Lantian jade, about four inches in diameter, with five dragon knobs, and the inscription "By the mandate of Heaven, may your life be long and prosperous" on it.
Even though Lin Yajun was a time traveler, she had seen this thing in many movies and television shows and knew its name—the Imperial Seal of the State.
“This…” Zhao Canchen was speechless, unsure of what to say.
He never expected that the Imperial Clan Court would send him a dilapidated courtyard that concealed a shocking secret.
It turns out that the current emperor did not receive the Imperial Seal, meaning he is not considered the legitimate emperor.
After the initial shock, Lin Yajun quickly realized that the Imperial Seal of the State was not found here by chance; it was very likely that someone had deliberately placed it there so that they would find it.
Lin Yajun picked up the Imperial Seal of the State without any hesitation, took out a handkerchief from her bosom, carefully wrapped it up, and then put it into her purse.
She silently recited, "Move into space." Instantly, as if by magic, the Imperial Seal of the State steadily entered the space and was properly preserved.
Zhao Canchen watched Lin Yajun's actions and felt somewhat relieved, but he still looked around worriedly before lowering his voice to instruct Lin Yajun, "Ajun, this thing must be kept safe. If someone finds it, the consequences will be unimaginable."
Lin Yajun naturally understood the implications, and she replied softly, "I know, Achen." As she spoke, her gaze inadvertently fell on a tattered yellow piece of paper inside the copper box.
Out of curiosity, Lin Yajun bent down and picked up the yellow paper. When she unfolded it, she was struck dumb, as if by lightning. On the yellow paper, written in vermilion ink, was a line of words: "Half of the East Palace's treasures are hidden in the Qingliang Cave on the western peak outside the capital, and the other half are hidden beneath the main hall of the imperial mausoleum."
Lin Yajun was so astonished that she couldn't close her mouth. She quickly handed the yellow paper to Zhao Canchen so that he could also see what was on it.
Zhao Canchen took the yellow paper, and upon closer inspection, he was equally stunned by the words on it.
He wondered who was so audacious and capable as to move the Crown Prince's valuables and hide them beneath the main hall of the imperial mausoleum. This was a place no one dared to go to lightly.
Zhao Canchen's eyes gradually welled up with tears.
He never imagined that he wasn't always alone and helpless, but that someone had been silently protecting him and the possessions his father had left behind, just waiting for him to grow up so that they could hand them all over to him.
This sudden discovery made Zhao Canchen realize something. He thought of his wife, Lin Yajun, who was not only intelligent and quick-witted but also able to protect him in crucial moments.
Perhaps it was because of her that the person who had always been hiding behind him and protecting him felt comfortable entrusting these important things to him.
"Thank you..." Zhao Canchen murmured to himself, his heart filled with gratitude for that person.
The young couple looked around the courtyard again and realized that the more dilapidated a place was, the less likely it was to attract attention, and this was precisely where the biggest secret was hidden.
The two calmed themselves down a bit and tried to appear nonchalant. They walked out of the courtyard, and Zhao Canchen locked the gate behind him.
Looking at the passersby around her, Lin Yajun frowned and said somewhat unhappily, "This courtyard is too dilapidated and not suitable for living. You should continue to stay at our house."
Zhao Canchen quickly nodded and replied, "Okay." There seemed to be a hint of a sigh in his voice.
Thus, both of them were filled with immense joy; this unexpected discovery brought new hope and a turning point to their lives. They turned and walked towards the Lin family's house.
In a pitch-black room, not a single ray of light penetrated; the surroundings were utterly dark, as if they could swallow everything.
Suddenly, voices rang out from the darkness, sounding particularly abrupt in the quiet environment.
"Master, they've all discovered it, in just a moment." The voice was somewhat low, and seemed to carry a hint of surprise.
“That’s brilliant,” a hoarse voice replied, its tone revealing surprise.
"I'm looking forward to what's to come..." His voice gradually lowered and finally disappeared into the darkness, and the room returned to a deathly silence, as if no one had ever spoken there.
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