Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 359 - 39: Secret News (4 Updates)
Susu didn’t expect that just tracking some people’s whereabouts would take the Rat Guard nearly three months to return, even with the cooperation of the Song Family’s Dark Department.
Late at night, when everything was silent, Shu Xin reported back to Susu. Looking at the now emaciated Shu Xin, Susu honestly felt that the silver she asked Long Jiao to bring was probably not enough.
"Shu Xin, you..." Before Susu could finish, Pig Sister jumped down from the ceiling beam, patting Shu Xin and laughing, "Buddy, how did you lose weight? Share with us!"
Forgot to mention, Pig Sister is a genuine Northeastern girl, while Shu Xin is a big bloke from Shanxi.
Aside from Shu Xin and Long Jiao, who are conveniently childhood (Rat) friends (with) pony (cats), everyone else is from different regions, unfamiliar with one another.
After all, more than 150 years have passed, and it’s truly a miracle that the Youye Twelve Guards could gather again.
Upon hearing this, Shu Xin, in a rather unmanly manner, rolled his eyes and bared his very white teeth at Pig Sister.
"Haven’t seen you in months, Pig Sister lives up to her name even more now. If you want to lose weight, it’s simple, we should swap places!"
Though naive, Pig Sister isn’t foolish. She smiled and said to Shu Xin, "Could we have been mistaken? Are you actually a girl?"
Then she had a sudden epiphany, "I finally understand, no wonder..."
Shu Xin felt like Pig Sister led him astray. What on earth did you understand?
Seeing this, Susu laughed, "Pig Pig, Shu Xin is about to become a skeleton, he’s been through a lot, so don’t tease him!"
Pig Sister made a face at Shu Xin and then agilely climbed back up to the beam.
Only then did Susu say, "Shu Xin, how did you end up like this!"
Shu Xin wiped away his tears of bitterness, "Master, it’s like a child without a mother, it’s a long story. If it weren’t for my wits, I wouldn’t be seeing you now!"
When it came to serious matters, Shu Xin became serious for once.
This time, Shu Xin and the others have truly discovered something significant.
It turns out that after meeting with the Qin Family’s Hidden Guard in Shanxi, they found this matter quite tricky.
The Qin Family’s Hidden Guard losing track of the target wasn’t a big deal. For the Rat Guard, finding people, whether alive or dead, is pretty simple. With the order from Susu, the White Tiger Secret Department was always ready to support.
When the Rat Guards arrived in Shanxi, it took less than a day to track the movements of those Bai Family clerks who temporarily left the team.
After arriving in Shanxi, they disguised themselves and set off from various counties and rural areas, all heading towards Chang’an.
The Qin Family’s Hidden Guard lost them because they weren’t local, and the disguised clerks seemed to have deep roots in the area, with large families and friends.
Upon hearing this, Susu realized that this was not a task to be accomplished overnight, and the Bai Family was indeed unfathomable.
Those clerks left home under the pretext of taking short-term jobs and then went to Chang’an to find work.
When speaking of this, Shu Xin sighed, "Once they arrived in the Capital, they could do any dirty and tiring work, and the dock bosses especially liked them! I must admit, they truly love their work!"
Susu was speechless, having known Shu Xin was chatty and not serious before, but at this point, don’t reveal your true self too quickly!
Shu Xin only glanced at the stunning, otherworldly Master Susu, who looked mildly at him, and felt a bit unsettled. Not good, he was losing control, so he quickly continued.
"Because they worked so well, they were soon noticed by a quarry and invited over. Though the work was hard and tiring, the silver was indeed large.
These people were extremely cautious; if it weren’t for my awareness of their issues, who could have thought their real target was this quarry!"
Chang’an is located in the northern part of the Qinling Mountains, with numerous peaks, including known ones like Zhongnan Mountain, Lishan, Cuihua Mountain, and countless unknown ones.
The quarry the clerks went to was in a small valley not far from Lishan.
Although the Rat Guard sensed their target was the mountain, what they intended to do upon reaching it was unclear.
Furthermore, there are numerous legitimate ways to go up the mountain. You could say you’re just sightseeing, and no one could question you. Why specifically enter a quarry?
It happened that the quarry was hiring stone miners, so Shu Xin left others outside to support, while he and a Qin Family Hidden Guard successfully infiltrated.
Then...
While monitoring them and "loving the work one does," Shu Xin was so exhausted that he couldn’t eat, and he admired the Bai Family clerks for their dedication, beyond most people’s dedication.
Of course, physical exhaustion couldn’t compare to mental strain. Whose "grain store clerks" are not only skilled in martial arts but can also deploy and array?
Knowing The Art of War by Sun Tzu and the Thirty-Six Stratagems is one thing, but they also mastered reconnaissance and anti-reconnaissance.
Fortunately, the wicked exceeded by an inch, while the righteous exceeded by a foot. He and the Qin Family Hidden Guard weren’t just any opponent, especially being a Rat Guard; only those in the Snake Guard might surpass him in stealth.
Despite their caution, after half a month’s surveillance, Shu Xin confirmed their target was somewhere in Lishan.
One of them carried a beast skin scroll that he often checked, presumably a map or...
A treasure map?
This was the consensus between Shu Xin and the Qin Family Hidden Guard leader, and it wasn’t an unlikely notion.
Considering Chang’an is an ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, and Lishan has been a famous sacred mountain throughout history.
To speak of the times from Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang, Lishan was always a royal sanctuary, with numerous palaces and villas. Under their feet was a massive treasure—the Emperor’s Mausoleum!
When Shu Xin speculated about a secret, his heart surged with waves, though he maintained composure before the Qin Family Hidden Guard.
Following half a month of stalking, they confirmed the beast skin scroll was indeed a map, though they couldn’t risk exposure so copying it wasn’t feasible.
These Bai Family clerks were ruthless, sewing the scroll into their bodies after use, and unsuturing it when needed.
Such a gruesome act startled Shu Xin, so he dared not mention it to his Master.
Nevertheless, the importance and authenticity of the beast skin map were manifest.
After half a month, Shu Xin orchestrated a minor accident deliberately to break his leg, allowing him to exit the quarry seamlessly, of course omitting these details from Susu.
Upon thinking this over, Shu Xin collected himself from his blabbering and nonsensical demeanor, speaking seriously, "Master, you know the Youye Twelve Guards have existed since the previous dynasty, with the Rat Guard being the most knowledgeable.
Our family has always lived in Chang’an, so we’re privy to some insider information.
If the Bai Family is truly Tartar spies, considering the previous dynasty had an Empress from a Tartar Princess background, I dare guess their target might be..."
"The previous dynasty’s underground palace!"
Shu Xin was surprised to find that Susu spoke in unison with him.
Could Lady Linlang have passed down some secrets?
Susu noted Shu Xin’s expression and knew what he was pondering, shaking her head.
"It’s not as you think. Lady Linlang’s ancestors never passed down any sayings to later generations, and if they did, I’m unaware.
I only know of an incense called Everlasting."
"Everlasting Lamp and Everlasting Incense, with Everlasting accompanying leading to the immortal trail, immortal soothing my worries, granting me longevity."
In the Thirteenth Lady’s memory, the Secret Fragrance Record mentions Everlasting Incense specifically used in the Royal Family’s underground palace, naturally including previous dynasty’s underground palace. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
When Shu Xin mentioned Lishan and brought up the treasure map, Susu had a feeling in her heart.
No wonder Prince Ke dared to collaborate with Prince Yong and the Bai Family despite the risk, the previous dynasty’s underground palace!
The previous dynasty was different from any before; the first emperor built an enormous underground palace and mandated that his descendants must be buried there, prohibiting large-scale funeral constructions.
Spanning 300 years, the previous dynasty’s palace entombed 15 Emperors, 20 Empresses, 103 Princes, and countless unknown Princes, Concubines, and Ladies.
The accompanying treasures are innumerable, truly a treasure trove without exaggeration. However, while everybody knows where the palace is, its opening mechanism remains a mystery; forcing entry would cause the palace to collapse and sink underground.
Thus, the Great Chu Royal Family has eyed it for over 150 years, yet it continues to occupy the best location on Lishan.
"This matter is beyond our interference now, I’ll inform the Qin Family. As for the underground palace, don’t mention it to anyone else."
Reflecting on Chaotic Heart, could the Bai Family not only be Tartar’s Prince Yin but also linked to the previous dynasty’s Tartar Empress?
The current situation is growing increasingly murky.
