The 'female thief' in black clothes looked around warily for a while. She lowered her head, bent her waist, and crawled into the pitch-black hole.
"Phew!"
In the darkness, she exhaled lightly. Sparks flew, and a cluster of flame burned quietly.
The match emitted an orange halo, dispelling the surrounding darkness. She raised the match and looked at the cave wall. The traces of man-made excavation were very obvious.
The woman in black stretched her free hand to her waist, where there was a dagger.
The dagger was slowly unsheathed without making any sound. The fiery halo illuminated the blade, revealing a pitch-black darkness that swallowed the light.
This weapon was called Ink Fang. It was mainly made of black iron and the sharp teeth of the Ink Scale Beast. It took a month to refine. It was one of the proudest works of the Celestial Commissioner Song Qing.
In addition, the great Array Master Yang Qianhuan had personally carved arrays for Ink Fang, making it one of the top artifacts below the Peerless Godly Weapon.
Ink Fang had three layers of arrays. The first layer strengthened the blade, making it sharper and able to cut through iron like mud. The second layer strengthened the blade, increasing its toughness. Even a Fourth Rank Warrior couldn't easily damage it. The third layer allowed it to teleport a short distance. It could come and go without a trace, making it very suitable for close combat.
The woman in black held the match in one hand and the Ink Fang in the other as she walked forward slowly.
Along the way, she didn't encounter any ambushes. The tunnel wasn't long, so it didn't take her long to reach the end. At the end was a stone room.
The furnishings in this stone room were very simple. In the center, there was a stone plate that looked like a millstone. It was about two feet in diameter, and the stone plate was engraved with twisted runes. The stone wall was inlaid with bowls of oil.
Other than that, there was nothing else.
The woman in black carefully examined for a moment. Then, she walked around the wall and checked every bowl. The bowls were covered in dust, and the wick was dry. It had been a long time since someone added oil to them.
Every bowl could be easily picked up. There were no traps. When she knocked on the wall, there was a heavy echo. This proved that there were no traps in the wall.
After checking around, the woman in black approached the stone plate. She was very cautious and knocked on it.
After a quarter of an hour, the match burned out. She blew on the other match.
"Count Pingyuan's Mansion is a mansion bestowed by the emperor. The mansion built by the imperial family is very strict, so it must have the best Fengshui. In the capital, what place is better than the dragon vein? In the capital, what place is better than the dragon vein?
"Li Miaozhen said before that the Earth Escape Technique is difficult to cultivate, and it is impossible for both Count Pingyuan and Duke Huai's secret agents to grasp this secret technique. Thus, this stone plate is the Earth Escape Technique's teleportation formation, and it requires a special method to activate. After activation, it will teleport you to the corresponding place. Once activated, it will teleport you to the corresponding place.
"Back then, when Hengyuan barged into the mansion in a fit of rage, Count Pingyuan must have thought of escaping into this tunnel and teleporting away. However, he did not succeed. Perhaps he was killed by Heng Yuan as soon as he opened the secret passage.
"But Hengy Yuan doesn't know anything else. It's impossible for him to think too much from a single secret passage. Also, it's normal for a noble's mansion to build a secret passage. But... in his eyes, this is a huge flaw. So Hengy Yuan must die.
"Up until now, all my speculations have been verified, and there are no flaws. I don't know if Xu Qi 'an didn't think of it, or if he just ignored it. I feel like he knows more. For example, why does His Majesty collect a group of people regularly? What does he use those innocent people for? "
The woman in black fell into deep thought.
After a long time, she sighed and collected her thoughts. She stared at the stone plate and memorized it for ten minutes. She imprinted all the details into her mind.
Then, she held the match and quickly left the secret room.
… …
18th of June, the beginning of autumn!
After the three rituals, it was finally time for the army to set off.
Early in the morning, Wei Yuan led a group of generals and rode from the main road of the imperial city to the army camp outside the capital.
"Parading through the streets" was an essential process. Passing the imperial examinations and going to war were important matters of the country. They had to be paraded through the streets and publicized.
Among the hundreds of people, Wei Yuan was at the front. He was still dressed in green. His temples were white, and he looked elegant and handsome.
Just like in the past.
Both sides of the main road were filled with commoners. After such a long period of publicity and warm-up, the commoners had already accepted the fact that war was going to happen. They silently watched the troops set off.
In the crowd, a white-haired old man stared fixedly at the green robe. Suddenly, tears streamed down his old face and he burst into tears.
"Father, why are you crying?"
Beside the old man, a young man asked blankly.
"Duke Wei, Duke Wei is finally leading the army again..."
The old man grasped his son's hand tightly, sorrow and joy intertwined. "When I joined the army, I followed Duke Wei to the Shanhai Pass, and I also followed him back. In the blink of an eye, twenty-one years have passed. Duke Wei is still the same as before, except that his temples are white. At that time, I remember that it was His Majesty who stood on the city wall and personally beat the drums to send Duke Wei off. "
His Majesty beat the drums … The young son's eyes widened in disbelief.
Many of the older people, seeing the scene of the green robed scholar leading the army, recalled the battle of the Shanhai Pass.
They remembered that Daibun still had a god of war, and this green robed scholar who had suppressed the King of Zhenbei back then.
Especially the old people who had joined the army. When they saw the scene of Wei Qingyi leading the army again, they either shed silent tears, or were extremely excited, or had mixed feelings of sorrow and joy.
"Duke Wei, it's Duke Wei..."
"It's been twenty years, a whole twenty years. I finally see Duke Wei leading the army again."
"After so many years, I've almost forgotten the glory when Duke Wei led the army to the west. Duke Wei, why did you hide in the imperial court after the battle of the Shanhai Pass? Do you know how painful it was for us back then..."
It was difficult for the younger generation to understand the feelings of the older generation. It was difficult for them to understand how glorious the green robed scholar was in the past.
On the street, Xu Pingzhi, who was in charge of maintaining law and order, stared blankly with a long saber at his waist.
"Lord Baihu, you also fought in the battle of the Shanhai Pass, right? Is Duke Wei really that amazing?"
A young Imperial Blade Guard asked in a low voice.
"For our generation, as long as Duke Wei is there, the army's morale is there. He's the kind of person that people are willing to die for. "Xu Pingzhi sighed.
"It's difficult for the younger generation to understand us back then. But you'll experience it sooner or later. Yes, after the war with the Witchcraft Cult. "
"I heard that during the battle of the Shanhai Pass, His Majesty personally beat the drum at the top of the city wall?" another Imperial Blade Guard asked.
"The battle of the Shanhai Pass concerned the survival of the country. Of course, it's different. I won't be able to see it this time, "Xu Pingzhi said regretfully.
Behind Wei Yuan, Jiang Lvzhong and the other old men who had followed Wei Qingyi to the war heard the discussion of the people on the street and couldn't help but think of the past.
During the battle of the Shanhai Pass, when Daibun's entire army was involved in the war, Wei Qingyi personally stood at the top of the city wall and beat the drum to send them off.
It would be great if His Majesty could beat the drum to send him off again!
The group of old people from back then sincerely thought in their hearts.
It was just that His Majesty was not the wise monarch of the past. The Emperor Yuan Jing of that time was wise and powerful, diligent in government affairs, and swept away the illness of the previous emperor.
The current His Majesty was obsessed with cultivation and had been lazy for many years.
The people had changed a long time ago.
On the top of the city wall, the civil officials led by Wang Zhenwen, the generals led by the dukes, and the members of the royal family led by the Crown Prince stood in a line on the top of the city wall. They silently watched the troops coming slowly from the end of the wide main road below.
"Back then, when Wei Yuan went to war, His Majesty personally went to the top of the city wall and beat the drum to send him off. That was how the people of the capital were united, "Wang Zhenwen said with emotion.
The old officials who had experienced the battle of the Shanhai Pass were slightly dazed.
"I was wondering why no one beat the drum at the top of the city wall. It turns out that no one is qualified anymore," the Minister of War said in realization.
Twenty years ago, he was not an official in the capital and had been working in another place.
Hearing this, the Crown Prince, the Fourth Prince, and the others' eyes lit up. If they could imitate their father and beat the drum to send him off, they would be in the limelight.
However, most of the members of the royal family only thought about it and didn't dare to do it.
There were only two people present who could do it. One was the Crown Prince of the East Palace, and the other was the Fourth Prince of the Empress's first wife.
Beside the Crown Prince, Lin An, who was dressed in a fiery red palace robe, pursed his lips and imagined the scene.
"Father must have been unparalleled in the past."
He really wanted to see the scene of his father beating the drum to send him off.
Huaiqing also looked forward to it. What did it mean to be in the limelight and be the center of attention?
Being the top scorer in the imperial examination and parading through the streets on horseback was one. Making a masterpiece at a poetry competition was another. Wei Yuan at this time was one. Father wearing the dragon robe and going to the top of the city wall to beat the drum for the army was also one.
The Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince were a little tempted.
"Since father won't come, I will beat the drum myself. How can there be no one beating the drum when the army is going to war?" the Crown Prince said excitedly.
He knew that this would be overstepping his authority, but it was not a taboo in the etiquette system. Even if his father knew it, he would at most be displeased. And he could gain great prestige.
After weighing the pros and cons, the Crown Prince was a little eager.
The Fourth Prince frowned and was about to refute when he heard Huaiqing's voice, "Fourth Brother, you are not qualified."
The Fourth Prince said angrily, "Then who else is qualified?"
Speaking of which, the Fourth Prince was considered quite outstanding among the princes. He was a seventh-grade martial artist.
Huaiqing shook her head and did not answer.
"Your Royal Highness!"
Wang Zhenwen blocked the Crown Prince's way to the drum and said warmly,
"In terms of status, it is not appropriate for you to do this. It will make His Majesty unhappy. In terms of prestige, you lack some qualifications. In terms of Wei Yuan, you still lack some qualifications. "
The Crown Prince frowned. "Then in the opinion of the Grand Secretary, who is qualified?"
Wang Zhenwen's gaze swept over his shoulder and looked at the steps. He smiled. "The qualified person is here."
Everyone suddenly turned around and saw a young man with a long saber at his waist. His steps were very slow. The guards on both sides were as if they were facing a great enemy. They trembled all over and tried to draw their sabers, but they could not.
The beautiful eyes of Huaiqing and Lin An flashed with light at the same time.
"Xu Qi'an!"
Among the nobles, someone spoke through gritted teeth.
Xu Qi'an ignored them. He only nodded at Wang Zhenwen and walked straight to the drum.
The Fourth Prince's gaze moved slightly. He remained silent.
The Crown Prince stared at him with sharp eyes and stood in front of him, blocking his way.
"Brother Crown Prince, get out of the way." Lin An pushed him with his elbow.
In terms of status, he did not have to worry about his father. In terms of prestige, the people of the capital cheered and sang praises for him. In terms of Wei Yuan, he was too qualified … The Crown Prince snorted and walked to the side.
Xu Qi'an took out the drumsticks and beat the drum with force.
…
"Dong!"
"Dong, dong, dong!"
"Dong, dong, dong …"
The sound of drums came from the top of the city wall. First, there was a dull sound, followed by two, and then the drum sounds were as dense as rain, echoing in the sky.
Everyone, including Wei Yuan, raised their heads or glanced sideways at the city wall.
On the city wall, someone was beating the drum!
"Look, it's Xu Yinluo!"
In the crowd, there was a shout of surprise.
"It's Xu Yinluo beating the drum."
"Xu Yinluo is beating the drum to send the army off."
The people's mood suddenly rose. They shouted loudly and were full of enthusiasm.
Lin An sometimes looked at the people below, and sometimes looked at Xu Qi'an's back. She smiled brightly and innocently.
The corner of Huaiqing's mouth curled up slightly.
Jiang Lvzhong and the others narrowed their eyes, looking at the young and tall figure on the city wall. Listening to the people's excited cheers, they were inexplicably in a trance.
Back then, the person in the dragon robe beat the drum on the city wall, and the people in the city cheered.
Twenty years passed in a flash. The person beating the drum had changed, and the people were still cheering.
They were silent for a moment, and suddenly smiled from the bottom of their hearts.
Wei Yuan raised his head and stared at the young man on the city wall. A trace of relief flashed in his eyes that contained vicissitudes of life.
Twenty years ago, there was Wei Yuan. Twenty years later, there was Xu Qi'an.
Very good!
At this time, it would be even better if there was another poem.
So, Wei Yuan laughed loudly and said, "Xu Qi'an, do you have a farewell poem?"
