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墨書 Inktalez
It seems that I am just a brick in the revolution, moving wherever I am needed.
Mei Shuang smiled bitterly, "With such a big matter, will I just complicate things...?"
"You are not alone," Xiao Luo stated firmly.
The imperial decree has been issued; obeying orders is your duty.
Xiao Luo's condition was that as long as she went this time, regardless of the outcome, he would fulfill one of her requests, as long as it was within his power.
Undoubtedly, this condition was very tempting.
What Mei Shuang interpreted from Xiao Luo's words was that as long as she returned, freedom would be within reach. At the very least, she could control her own fate. The palace was not a safe place; she had already offended the most powerful concubine in the palace, who was previously the only one to rival Queen Meiru. How could she expect to have good days ahead? If this trend continued, she would either die or end up severely injured. Although the Empress Dowager intended to place her in the position of Empress, the palace played mind games; no matter how high her position, if she lacked wit, she would only end up suffering.
After Xiao Luo left, Mei Shuang carefully weighed the pros and cons. She had thoroughly had enough of the palace. Well then, even if it was a den of dragons and tigers, she had to venture in; at worst, she could close her eyes and perhaps return to the past.
What Mei Shuang never expected was that this mission was not just for her alone. She thought that besides herself, there would be an elite team selected from many candidates. She could even imagine a grand procession heading towards their destination.
To her surprise, when they gathered for departure, the number of people left Mei Shuang dumbfounded.
Besides her, there were Anriyan from Yamataikoku and one of Anriyan's attendants. That attendant was burly and stood like an iron tower; standing next to him gave a sense of security.
"No way?" Mei Shuang finally understood why the envoy from Yamataikoku had been lingering; damn it, this had all been prearranged. "Just the three of us?"
Were they really going to search for treasures that had been missing for decades with just three people? What an international joke! She could almost predict the outcome without even starting.
Anriyan smiled at Xiao Luo and said, "Miss Lin doesn't seem ready yet."
Xiao Luo looked at Mei Shuang and said, "You all go ahead; someone will meet you later."
"Ah, wait," Mei Shuang felt flustered. Just based on numbers alone, she was at a disadvantage—two on their side and one on hers—not to mention that both were men and one was a towering figure. She felt utterly insecure and could only plead, "Your Majesty, could you find someone familiar to accompany me?"
Xiao Luo frowned slightly; it was better for fewer people to know about this matter. However, he couldn't refuse Mei Shuang's request. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Who do you think is suitable?"
Mei Shuang instinctively wanted to name someone but upon seeing who she would be collaborating with this time, she swallowed her words silently. Yun Kong? Forget it; he had an irreconcilable feud with Yamataikoku—how could he possibly cooperate with them?
Lin Tian'er? After all, she is an outsider. Who else could it be? According to her thoughts, this person must be highly skilled in martial arts; secondly, it would be best if this person understands the language of the Eastern Kingdom; thirdly, they must be absolutely loyal; and fourth, there must be no conflict of interest with herself.
Undoubtedly, in terms of courage and martial skills, Kuranami Miyako is the best candidate, but Mei Shuang sighed and dismissed that idea.
After pondering for a while, Mei Shuang asked Xiao Luo, "What about Shijieyu?"
Xiao Luo appeared calm on the surface, but inside he couldn't help but admire Mei Shuang's ability to recognize talent. According to his plan, Shijieyu was supposed to be part of the second tier, a hidden backup who should not reveal themselves until a critical moment. He didn't expect Mei Shuang to easily identify them.
Since Mei Shuang mentioned it, he could only nod in agreement. "Having someone to look out for each other on the road is good."
Once the personnel were settled, they were ready to set off.
To be safe, Mei Shuang specifically reviewed all historical records related to treasures from the time of the Founding Ancestor, including the geographical locations, customs, population sizes, and local products of the small countries conquered by the Founding Ancestor. She even noted down specific dates. In addition to this information, she also documented the general route taken by the team escorting the treasure and any peculiar terms associated with it. Of course, the focus remained on Qishan.
Regarding Qishan, Mei Shuang put in considerable effort. She read everything written about Qishan, whether it was scenic descriptions by scholars or accounts of changes from the mouths of common people. She examined biographies and unofficial histories alike. She even sought to understand the weather and geographical trends within Qishan.
The saying goes that one should not engage in battle without preparation; thus, she gathered a wealth of information. Mei Shuang meticulously recorded anything she deemed useful or difficult to comprehend at first glance.
She studied these materials day and night, and even Xiao Luo, who occasionally passed by, was influenced by Mei Shuang's engrossed state.
It is said that women who are passionately dedicated to their work are the most beautiful; Xiao Luo wholeheartedly agreed. He often found himself unable to look away from her as she sometimes rested her chin on her hand in deep thought or quickly scribbled notes. He was deeply impressed by her frenzied work ethic.
On the night before their departure, Mei Shuang felt she had made significant progress in understanding Qishan. She carefully reviewed the Secret Edict once more and summarized some fragmented descriptions of the treasure from that time. Then she compiled a list for her maid to quickly find Li Gonggong and relevant personnel to secure what was needed.
When Xiao Luo entered, it was already close to midnight. After finishing everything, Mei Shuang, unable to resist her fatigue, fell asleep with her head resting on the table.
Xiao Luo walked over and draped a piece of clothing over Mei Shuang's shoulders.
Looking at a stack of papers filled with tiny handwriting on the table, he picked up a few sheets and couldn't help but admire Mei Shuang's meticulousness.
It is indeed wise not to engage in battle unprepared; however, judging from this woman's thorough and detailed preparations, she might have sensed the challenges this mission entails.
In poems and writings by scholars, words like majestic mountains and distant hills describe Qishan. However, it is not as peaceful as it appears on the surface; those who have not personally experienced Qishan can hardly understand the dangers and oddities hidden beneath its towering facade. The three thousand cavalrymen of the Founding Ancestor perished somewhere within Qishan.
Looking at Mei Shuang's clear forehead and the faint bluish tint under her eyes, Xiao Luo couldn't help but smile bitterly. This was a transaction where both sides had something to gain.
The other party had resolutely kept Queen Himiko's niece as a hostage, yet insisted on having Mei Shuang accompany them. The purpose was clear: mutual restraint.
They strongly demanded that Mei Shuang go, and as the Emperor of the Great Qin Empire, he could not afford to lose credibility. This treasure was of great significance; finding it would fulfill the wishes of the Founding Ancestor and reveal secrets of immense importance hidden within.
He certainly wouldn't tell anyone that over the years of battling at the borders, aside from stabilizing the frontier, one of his crucial missions had been to locate treasures, yet he had achieved nothing.
The emergence of the Secret Edict had greatly facilitated the positioning and search for the treasure, but it still required tremendous effort.
Now Chancellor Mei had gone mad, and Mei Shuang knew little about it. Her ability to decipher the Secret Edict was entirely due to her own strength; this was not something that could be accomplished by mere luck.
Exhausted, Mei Shuang lay on the table and soon fell into a deep sleep. In this dream, familiar visions began to blur back into focus.
In a dark space, pairs of blood-red eyes lurked in the shadows, staring at her like demons. It was bloody and terrifying; she stood there, unable to move her legs as they drew closer...
"Ah!" Mei Shuang cried out in terror as she opened her eyes. Drenched in sweat and gasping for breath, she saw Xiao Luo standing beside her.
After a moment of daze, she suddenly got up and hugged Xiao Luo tightly.
"Did you have a nightmare?" Xiao Luo gently stroked the trembling Mei Shuang, his tone soft as he allowed her to cry quietly on his shoulder.
It took a while for Mei Shuang to calm down. She lifted her head, her eyes glistening with tears as she asked in a dazed tone, "Your Majesty, have I... been to that place?"
Xiao Luo furrowed his brow slightly before comforting her. "What you think about during the day can affect your dreams. The things you've seen must have disturbed your rest."
He took Mei Shuang's hand and led her towards the bed, his voice warm like a spring breeze. "Get some rest early. Your task this time is just to assist them in locating the treasure; you don't need to worry about anything else. I will make arrangements; just ensure your safety."
For once, when they lay facing each other, there was no fiery passion. Mei Shuang pressed tightly against Xiao Luo's chest, feeling the strong heartbeat from his broad chest.
On such a night, only in such an embrace could one find a moment of peace. The room fell silent except for the occasional flicker of candlelight. Each held their thoughts until they could no longer resist sleepiness; Mei Shuang drifted off into a deep slumber amidst temporary comfort.
Gazing at her small face with tear stains still visible, her damp eyelashes fluttered lightly like butterflies taking flight. Occasionally, soft sobs caused her shoulders to tremble slightly, evoking a sense of tenderness in those who watched.
Seeing Mei Shuang asleep, Xiao Luo gently withdrew his arm, covered Mei Shuang with the blanket, and quietly stepped out.
The moon hung like a hook in the sky, illuminating the earth. What was originally a poetic night suddenly felt a bit desolate.
Xiao Luo hurried to the Hall of Governance, only to find Anriyan from Yamataikoku already waiting there.
Noticing the usually stoic Emperor of the Great Qin Empire had a gloomy expression and showed signs of fatigue, Anriyan could guess a few things.
"Is it definitely her?" Xiao Luo asked lightly as he sat down at the dragon table.
Anriyan nodded, "Your Majesty is worried that I might be unfavorable to her? Although she previously helped the Eastern Kingdom against my Yamataikoku, now that she is Your Majesty's person, we will naturally work together."
Seeing Xiao Luo's cold gaze, Anriyan added, "Could it be that she requested Your Majesty not to go?"
Xiao Luo remained silent, thinking that if she truly requested him not to go, he would indeed refuse her.
"I believe Miss Lin won't give up halfway," Anriyan said casually, but with confidence.
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