Xie Zhan's soul floated in mid-air, his handsome face showing a blank expression, but his eyes were filled with joyful light.
Wen Li remained silent, waiting quietly for Xie Zhan's reply.
After a long while, Xie Zhan stirred. He floated back to the bed, large tears streaming down his ghostly face: "That's wonderful, wonderful! She didn't die back then, she's still alive, it's good that she's alive..."
Ghosts rarely shed tears.
But at this moment, Xie Zhan's tears increased, bloody tears sliding down his cheeks to his Adam's apple, finally disappearing into his complicated clothes.
Wen Li didn't interrupt, and waited until Xie Zhan finished crying before continuing, "Since you're unwilling, then forget it..."
"No!" Xie Zhan stretched out his hand, his eyes filled with excitement: "I...I promise you."
After a pause, Xie Zhan said, "But I wasn't lying. I really haven't left the palace many times. However, before my beloved concubine entered the palace, she often went out to travel and told me a lot about the customs and culture of Dayong. But I'm stupid and don't know if I can help you."
"Just do your best." Wen Li finished discussing the work details, patted the gourd, and said, "I'm going to sleep now, you can go in."
Xie Zhan was a little reluctant. It was his first time "leaving the forest," and he wanted to see more of it. But Wen Li's words left no room for refusal, so Xie Zhan could only sigh and timidly crawl into the gourd.
As the time drew near, Xie Zhan asked, "Can I see her tomorrow?"
Wen Li closed her eyes wearily and lay down on the bed, whispering, "Okay."
Xie Zhan then fell silent.
When Wen Li woke up the next day, it was already broad daylight. The area within a few kilometers of Mangbei Mountain had been developed into a scenic spot, but due to the unpredictable weather, people were not allowed to enter the area.
The view from the window of Wen Li's room was beautiful; one could see the distant Mangbei Mountain shrouded in mist and teeming with life.
After having breakfast, Wen Li followed the villagers back into Mangbei Mountain.
Upon arriving at the mausoleum, many staff members had already begun their work.
In reality, archaeological work is very tedious. A group of people digging around in the No. 1 pit might not even find anything.
Fortunately, the Dayong Imperial Mausoleum was the best-preserved mausoleum they had encountered, and since they had just started working, everyone was full of enthusiasm.
After entering the main tomb chamber, Wen Li, at Xie Zhan's request, asked Xie Zhan to see the remains of the beloved concubine she spoke of.
The skeletons in the coffin remained untouched, simply because the joints had shifted over the course of a thousand years. Out of respect, Wen Li pieced the two skeletons together yesterday.
Upon seeing the skeleton, Xie Zhan hugged the coffin and burst into tears.
Everyone else was deaf, except for Wenli, who was the only victim.
Xie Zhan cried for most of the day, then pounded his chest and said, "This is my beloved consort!"
Wen Li didn't know how Xie Zhan could deduce that the person in the coffin was his beloved concubine based on just a skeleton. After he finished crying, Wen Li said, "If you want to know the truth of what happened back then, then work hard. After this is over, I can try my best to bring you and her back together."
Xie Zhan was feeling a bit down, but Wen Li's words seemed to have given him a goal.
Xie Zhan wiped away his tears, his tone becoming more serious, and said, "I understand. I'll tell you everything I know."
"Then let's start by talking about your relationship with your beloved concubine, and then give a general account of the local customs and traditions at that time."
Xie Zhan nodded and began to recount: "My beloved concubine... my wife's name is Jiang Yihuan. At that time, I was just a prince in the cold palace. Her father was a third-rank minister in the court, and her aunt was a noble concubine. Her family had been loyal and virtuous for generations..."
Xie Zhan slowly recounted his story with his wife, Jiang Yihuan. Wen Li listened quietly. She was somewhat surprised to learn that the only thing this cowardly emperor resisted was that Jiang Yihuan was the only woman in his harem.
"You're so tough?"
Xie Zhan immediately retorted, "Who do you look down on? Besides, my feelings for Huanhuan are as clear as day! In this life and the next, I will love her!"
Wen Li glanced at it, somewhat disbelieving: "According to you, how did those ministers agree to that?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Zhan's expression turned somewhat strange.
Wen Li raised an eyebrow, showing some interest, and gently kicked Xie Zhan: "Speak quickly."
“I…I told the minister that I couldn’t do it.”
Wenli:......
"I'm still quite capable," Xie Zhan quickly said, then changed the subject: "Actually, Yi Huan fell into the water when she was young, making it difficult for her to conceive. But the world is already very harsh on women. If I were to take the blame on Yi Huan, she would already be struggling because of marrying me. If she were to be criticized for her fertility issues, those ministers would not let her off the hook. It would be better to put all the blame on me."
“Those ministers are all ruthless. Knowing that I can’t have children, they are unwilling to send the women in their families to the harem.” Xie Zhan said with some pride, “They can’t possibly kick me off the throne.”
Wenli:......
Xie Zhan probably used all his intelligence in this area.
He was an emperor, yet he acted like it was all pure love.
Regardless of Xie Zhan's achievements, the fact that he, a man living in a feudal dynasty more than a thousand years ago, could understand the hardships women faced at that time shows that he was not beyond redemption. It's just a pity that the dynasty's lifespan had come to an end, and there was no way to reverse it.
Wen Li planned to compile Xie Zhan's words into information tonight and deliver it to Professor Mu.
Suddenly, someone spoke up from behind: "Wen Li, let's see how long you're going to keep slacking off."
The voice sounded unfamiliar, and Wen Li turned her head in confusion.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the man who had been criticizing him all day, whose name seemed to be Yue Lin.
Yue Lin's voice was loud, and everyone who was carefully excavating the burial objects in the main tomb chamber subconsciously looked at Wen Li.
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