Tap-tap~
Three sets of footsteps landed in the secluded tunnel that had been sealed for a hundred years.
The deep stone tunnel buried underground was about two meters wide and high. It was built with stone bricks on both sides, and the top was arched, extremely sturdy.
Yejingtang picked up the palace lantern, carefully examined the bricks and stones of the tunnel, and gently knocked on the ground with the scabbard of his sword to determine the solidity and firmness of the bricks. It was evident that the tunnel was extremely solid and still seemed to be in normal use.
Dongfang Liren held a lantern in his hand and also examined the details of the entrance of the tunnel, walking slowly behind Yejingtang.
The Empress Dowager looked at the dark and deep tunnel, feeling a bit apprehensive. She followed behind Liren. But just a few steps into the tunnel, another figure landed at the entrance and called out:
"Empress Dowager."
Yejingtang turned around and saw that the person who came was a middle-aged female palace guard with an official sword hanging behind her waist. He had seen her when he first entered the palace. She was Yang Lan, the small leader of the imperial city's hidden guards, specifically in charge of the safety of the Empress Dowager's living quarters. It was because of her that he couldn't go to dig up the treasure left by his adoptive father under the ginkgo tree.
The Empress Dowager had been rather nervous at first. When she turned around and saw the follower running over, she felt a bit annoyed:
"This place hasn't been opened for two hundred years, and nothing will happen. With you around, I'm not nervous at all. Go and wait outside. Come and save me if something really happens."
Yang Lan inspected the situation at the entrance of the tunnel. She could tell that it was built as an escape passage. The way the walls were built and the way the ceiling was sealed made it difficult to hide traps, and it seemed quite safe.
However, just because the place was safe didn't mean the people were. Yejingtang was a man and very strong. Letting the Prince of Jing and the Empress Dowager run around with him, what if Yejingtang gave in to his animal instincts and did something inappropriate? The "The Secret History of the Beauty Queen" that the Empress Dowager had been holding and reading for half the night last night might just come true.
Yang Lan knew that the Empress Dowager had a dull life in the palace and wanted to seek some excitement. She didn't forcefully spoil the fun but just said:
"I'll wait behind. I'll come immediately if there's any situation."
The Empress Dowager waved her hand to signal, and then she grabbed Dongfang Liren's sleeve and followed him into the pitch-black tunnel.
Because the tunnel had to go around the lake and other environments, it wasn't a straight line. In some places, it would go down a few zhang (a unit of length) and then rise again, seemingly bypassing the foundation of the palace pavilions.
Yejingtang carried a small palace lantern and walked slowly on the floor tiles, being cautious with every step and checking the firmness of the ground and the walls.
Dongfang Liren followed about twenty steps behind. Perhaps influenced by Yejingtang's cautiousness, he was also carefully examining the slight traces on the walls.
The plump and graceful Empress Dowager, probably for the first time since entering the palace, was playing this kind of mysterious exploration game. Her cheeks were a bit tense, and her big eyes were looking around. From time to time, she would also look back at the shrinking light at the entrance. When she saw that Yang Lan was following behind like a ghost, she even waved her hand.
Because they were being too cautious, the three of them were moving as slowly as turtles. After entering for a quarter of an hour, they had only walked less than three hundred steps.
Dongfang Liren had been carefully examining the place for a long time and really didn't feel anything special about it. He said:
"The project of this tunnel is too large. It's too luxurious to be used for private meetings. I guess it was built as a retreat by an emperor of a certain dynasty."
The Empress Dowager retorted: "If it was a retreat built by an emperor, the entrance should be in Chen'an Hall. Empress Dowager Xuanyang was in power behind the curtain for seven or eight years. I reckon that this tunnel was secretly built by Empress Dowager Xuanyang in case the court officials forced her to abdicate, so that she could escape from the capital when necessary. When it was idle on normal days, she might also send some male concubines through here to the palace for her pleasure..."
Yejingtang responded: "The Empress Dowager's speculation is highly likely. Having private meetings with male concubines should just be an added bonus. The main purpose is to escape during times of war."
The Empress Dowager smiled with her eyes curved when she received the approval, and then she mumbled:
"Look at that empress dowager. She lived such a carefree life. She had total control over the court and could also summon handsome men into the palace for fun at any time... Woo~"
Her words suddenly stopped.
Yejingtang turned around and saw that the audacious and silly fellow actually covered the Empress Dowager's mouth with his hand. When he saw Yejingtang turn around, he even gave him a fierce look:
"You focus on exploring the way ahead. The prince and the Empress Dowager are talking. Why are you butting in?"
Yejingtang secretly shook his head and honestly explored the way ahead, no longer interrupting the two of them.
The Empress Dowager felt that it was beneath her dignity to be covered her mouth in front of the guard. She lightly patted Dongfang Liren's shoulder with her hand:
"I was just sighing. I didn't say I would follow her example. I didn't even mention keeping male concubines. When I want to leave the palace to relax, you keep making excuses. It's just that I'm reasonable and won't cause trouble with you. If I really did something outrageous, do you think you could stop me?"
Dongfang Liren didn't refute this. After all, the Empress Dowager wasn't just a decorative figure. Behind her stood the Jiangzhou Navy and the Southeast Meritorious Group. Although she didn't have the means to interfere in politics from the harem, she did have the conditions to depose and install an emperor.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager was unhappy, Dongfang Liren gently soothed her:
"I know the Empress Dowager is reasonable. I'm not making excuses. It's just that there are undercurrents surging outside, and the risks are too great. Even when I go out myself, I have to be very careful..."
The Empress Dowager was just about to snort unhappily when she saw Yejingtang in front of her. When he reached a corner, his figure paused slightly, and then he suddenly took half a step back and grasped the handle of his sword.
Whoosh——
The tunnel was already deep and silent, so the sound seemed very loud.
The Empress Dowager was a bit nervous, which was why she was chatting aimlessly. When she saw this reaction as if he had seen a ghost, she was so scared that her whole body shrank, and her breath caught in her throat.
Dongfang Liren's courage depended on how many guards were around him. Seeing Yejingtang's strong reaction, he was naturally nervous. He didn't know what was behind the corner and asked anxiously:
"What's wrong?"
"Squeak-squeak-squeak~"
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, a strange cry came from the corner. Then a dark shadow rushed out from the corner towards the two of them. All they could see were a pair of greenish-yellow small eyes.
"Ah——!"
Two exclamations.
The Empress Dowager's face turned pale with fright, and she quickly hugged Dongfang Liren's arm.
Dongfang Liren was caught off guard and was also greatly startled. He even dropped the lantern in his hand and pulled the Empress Dowager to dodge to the side.
"Squeak-squeak-squeak~~"
Amid the strange cries, the dark shadow was already in front of them in the blink of an eye.
Fortunately, the personal guard in front wasn't useless. He flashed forward and stepped on the dark shadow.
Tap~
The dark shadow stopped immediately.
But the two noble ladies from the royal family hadn't relaxed yet. By the light of the lantern, they saw clearly what the dark shadow was—a big black rat with fluffy fur. After its tail was stepped on, it bared its teeth at them and rolled and wriggled on the spot, just a short distance from their feet!!
Seeing such a terrifying scene, the Empress Dowager's face turned white with fear. She directly jumped in front of Yejingtang, hugged his arm, and patted his shoulder:
"Hurry, hurry, hurry!"
Dongfang Liren was a bit more composed, but he was also a bit flustered by the sudden appearance of the big rat. He dodged behind Yejingtang and urged:
"Get it away quickly..."
Yejingtang noticed that the Empress Dowager with a pale face was hugging his arm and even trying to burrow into his arms. He quickly soothed her:
"Don't panic, don't panic. It's just a rat."
Because he was afraid of soiling his shoes, he didn't step on the rat to death. Instead, he just kicked it forward and sent the rat flying.
"Squeak-squeak-squeak..."
The big rat that got away immediately scurried into the depths of the dark tunnel. Then there was a "bang~" sound, as if it had been kicked against the wall, and it immediately fell silent.
The Empress Dowager still had lingering fear. She moved the arm in her embrace and then realized it. She quickly let go:
"It scared me to death. This place has been sealed for two hundred years. How could there be a rat..."
As she spoke, she glanced at Yejingtang and saw that Yejingtang was seriously examining the surroundings and didn't seem to notice her improper behavior. She secretly heaved a sigh of relief.
Dongfang Liren had been hiding behind Yejingtang. Now that the crisis was over, perhaps feeling that his reaction was beneath the dignity of a prince, he stood up straight again, put on an air of calmness, and looked up as if nothing had happened:
"There must be ventilation openings in the tunnel. It's not surprising that there are rats coming in."
Yejingtang felt rather complicated. He felt that they weren't really checking the tunnel now but were accompanying two beautiful and timid ladies to play in a haunted house. Just a rat had caused such a reaction. He didn't even dare to think about what would happen if they continued walking.
Yejingtang picked up the dropped lantern from the ground and persuaded:
"Why don't you go back? I'll go in and check. There are rats in here. If the Empress Dowager is frightened..."
Yang Lan, the hidden guard, also walked out from behind and persuaded:
"Empress Dowager, this place isn't clean. Your precious body..."
The Empress Dowager patted her chest. She was still feeling scared, but when she heard that they were going to leave, she was a bit reluctant.
She had been cooped up in the palace for ten years. Her daily life was as dull as stagnant water, and it was not easy to encounter even a small disturbance. An exciting exploration like this was something she had never experienced since she was a child. If she went back now, who would accompany her to do such a thing next time?
The Empress Dowager looked at the deep corner and pretended to be calm:
"It's okay. Let's keep going. I wasn't prepared just now. I'll be more careful this time. Yang Lan, stay farther away. There was nothing in the tunnel originally, but with you following behind, I always feel a chill behind me, as if something is staring at me."
Yang Lan looked helpless when she saw this and had to step back and hide in the darkness, continuing to accompany the Empress Dowager in this childish game.
Dongfang Liren felt that his reaction just now was a bit embarrassing. He seriously ordered:
"Yejingtang, you go ahead and explore the way. Be more steady. Don't be so jumpy. It was just a rat. I thought you had encountered a ghost. You even scared me..."
Yejingtang hadn't expected there to be living creatures in the tunnel, and his reaction was indeed a bit excessive. Since the silly fellow shifted the blame onto him, he naturally didn't say anything and continued to explore the way with the lantern in his hand.
The next part of the journey was much more peaceful. Although they encountered a few more rats, with some psychological preparation, they didn't make a fuss again.
The Empress Dowager and Dongfang Liren walked together, chatting occasionally, and their actions were very cautious, looking very engaged.
The group walked along the tunnel, turning left and right. They didn't know how long they had walked, and they felt that they had already left the palace.
And this tunnel, as they had expected, wasn't just for private meetings. After turning a corner, an underground room appeared.
The room was about four zhang square. There were some pieces of furniture inside, but because of the long time, most of them had rotted. There were storage compartments on the walls, and there was even a small well in the corner.
Yejingtang carried the lantern and carefully inspected the stone room:
"This should be a transfer place. If there is great chaos in the capital and one can't leave the city, one can stay here for a while and then leave when the situation calms down..."
Dongfang Liren stood in front of the storage compartments chiseled into the wall with his hands behind his back and nodded slightly:
"It was really well-prepared. But it seems that it wasn't used in the end. According to the records, Empress Dowager Xuanyang committed suicide by taking poison after losing her power..."
The Empress Dowager had seriously read "The Secret History of the Beauty Queen" yesterday. After thinking for a while, she said:
"The mausoleum was built by the order of Empress Dowager Xuanyang. Since she could secretly dig such a tunnel, it wouldn't be difficult to tamper with the mausoleum. Maybe after returning power to the emperor, she faked her death and escaped, eloping and living in seclusion with her lover..."
As she spoke, the Empress Dowager came to the corridor and reached out to touch a stone pillar at the door.
Yejingtang quickly came over and raised his hand to stop her:
"This is the stone used to block the pursuers. Once the door is moved, it will be sealed. Empress Dowager, be careful."
The Empress Dowager withdrew her hand, looked around, and then looked at the exit at the other end:
"Shall we continue walking in?"
Yejingtang definitely had to find the exit of the tunnel. However, just in case, he still moved a stone pier that could be used as a stool from the stone room and placed it under the door-blocking stone to prop it up. Then he carried the palace lantern and walked towards the depths...