Among the residents of Shangyun Mountain, Chen Emperor Li is the most detested by the mountain spirits.
Gong Jun was already past the age of forty.
Although his internal martial arts skills made him appear much younger, possibly around thirty, he deliberately made himself look older.
He often frowned, causing wrinkles on his forehead, and used a fine brush to draw lines at the corners of his eyes each day before leaving the house, similar to how women apply makeup.
He grew a beard and used a special formula to dye his hair gray, making him look almost fifty to the unknowing eye.
Gong Jun has reasons for this disguise.
At forty, one might already be a grandfather among commoners, stepping back from the vigor of youth. However, in the officialdom, forty was still relatively young.
Younger military officers are common, but comparing to civilian officials, those around thirty who passed the imperial exams are seen as having great potential. They might spend several years in the Hanlin Academy, followed by a stint in the Zhongshu Province, and then serve in local governments for about a decade. Upon return, they often attain high ranks. By the time they reached the position of a prime minister, they are usually quite old.
Experience and seniority were crucial in the bureaucracy.
Being young often led to being underestimated, and it could mean slower career progression.
One’s apparent age could be significant since colleagues and superiors don’t directly ask one’s age unless match-making was involved.
Another reason for Gong Jun’s aged appearance was the nature of his position.
As a Deputy Commander of the Jinyiwei, he is a trusted confidant of the emperor.
The emperor, being old himself, might not mind seeing a forty-something confidant looking older due to constant toil. However, appearing too youthful and vigorous might be displeasing to the emperor. Can a disliked confidant by the emperor expect good days ahead?
Gong Jun, who has been an official for over a decade, rose slowly to his current position.
Having served as Deputy Commander of the Jinyiwei for five years, he had outlasted any of his predecessors in this role.
Gong Jun ensured he is neither too incompetent nor too capable.
He didn’t want ambitious subordinates to see him as an easy target to replace, nor did he want to be viewed as an insurmountable obstacle to their advancement.
Appearing old served as an excellent excuse.
Add to that the pretense of illness – a Deputy Commander of the Jinyiwei loyal to the emperor but fallen ill due to his duties. Being older and sickly, he posed no threat and could honorably retire.
Given the current situation, unless the current Commander suddenly died, Gong Jun’s career as Deputy Commander has reached its peak. Knowing too many secrets, his future seemed uncertain. Unlike civilian officials who can retire to their hometowns, a high-ranking Jinyiwei officer retiring peacefully was rare.
Gong Jun only paid lip service to loyalty. The Commander of the Jinyiwei is always contemplating his exit strategy, so why wouldn’t Gong Jun be prepared?
However, unlike the Commander who’s constantly considering which prince to support, Gong Jun remained indifferent
– none of the princes impressed him.
The princes were either incapable, weak, or self-righteous.
The Crown Prince seemed promising but in poor health. Gong Jun doubted he’d outlive the emperor.
Unable to pursue the path of “following the dragon” (serving the next emperor), Gong Jun sought an alternative route: a significant achievement.
Not just saving the emperor but something that would make the Qi Dynasty’s royal family indebted to him, allowing him to retire in peace.
What could be such an achievement? The whereabouts of the imperial jade seal!
Emperor Lu Zhang and the Commander of the Jinyiwei believed part of the Chu Dynasty’s treasures, including the jade seal, were taken by Meng Qi. But Gong Jun disagree.
After studying the history of the previous dynasties, including Chu and Chen, he saw things differently.
Lu Zhang thought Meng Qi, having a fallout with the Chu Emperor, stole the seal. The Commander believed Meng Qi swapped the seal during the early days of the Chu Dynasty while pursuing the Chen Dynasty’s royal family. Gong Jun, however, viewed the relationship between the Chu Dynasty’s founding emperor and his ministers as harmonious initially. Although those ministers had tit-for-tat quarrels in the court, they were all practical people.
Unlike today’s factions among civil and military officials, who opposed each other just for the sake of opposition without considering the people’s welfare.
Gong Jun is not the type of official who serves the people, but he respects those who do.
Meng Qi, the national master, seeks neither fame nor wealth and was deeply trusted by the Chu Emperor. Why would he steal the imperial jade seal?
Given Meng Qi’s clear-cut nature, it’s more likely he would have beheaded the Emperor after the latter executed several high-ranking officials, rather than steal the seal.
Therefore, the whereabouts of the imperial seal probably have nothing to do with Meng Qi.
Regarding Xue Ting, the county magistrate unearthed from old records by the Jinyiwei, Gong Jun doesn’t believe the imperial seal has any connection with him either. As a fellow martial artist, Xue Ting’s actions are clear – seeing through the court’s intrigues, he chose to flee the complications.
Gong Jun loves money and the bustle of the capital city.
Unlike Xue Ting, he would never choose to flee.
He has expended considerable effort searching for the imperial seal, eventually suspecting something amiss at Liuhe Temple on Dragon Claw Peak of Shangyun Mountain.
As daylight broke, Gong Jun nonchalantly finished interrogating the martial artists and waved them away. He slowly paced in the temple’s backyard, while the old monk chanted Buddhist prayers nervously.
Gong Jun paused for a while, feeling no more chills on his back.
Was his earlier alarm just a delusion?
Meanwhile, when Gong Jun turned his gaze their way, Mo Li quickly pushed Meng Qi’s head down. Martial artists can sense hostile stares, and if stared at for too long, they would definitely be noticed.
Meng Qi, since seeing Gong Jun, had moved his hand three times, clearly itching for a fight.
“Stay calm, there will be opportunities,” Mo Li advised, suppressing a smile.
“Gong Jun is slippery like a timid rabbit, hiding at the slightest sign of trouble,” Meng Qi said discontentedly.
Mo Li was about to say that rabbits don’t live with cats, but then asked, “Does he know about your fear of civet cats?”
“I’m not…”
Meng Qi started to refute, then stopped himself as Mo Li explained.
“I know, there’s nothing to fear about civet cats; you just prefer not to encounter them. If there was a deep hatred, even a house full of civet cats wouldn’t stop you.”
True enough.
Civet cats are nothing. Just close your eyes, charge in, chop off Gong Jun’s head, and leave. Who could stop him?
“You really understand me.”
“Well, of course…”
Mo Li replied, not entirely comfortable with this implicit understanding.
Mo Li was curious about Gong Jun’s true nature. “If he doesn’t know your opinion on civet cats, keeping them must be a coincidence. If it’s all coincidental, how can we say that he habitually hides at home out of cowardice?”
Meng Qi moodily replied, “Gong Jun is a slick official, skilled at deceiving superiors and shirking responsibility. He’s also cunning and observant, always finding excuses to dodge danger and trouble. Now he’s heard about the treasure of Emperor Li’s tomb. If he captures martial artists from Yongzhou and hears ‘Meng Qi’s’ name, I assure you, he will immediately distance himself, regardless of whether the rumors are true or false.”
“What if Emperor Lu Zhang orders him to confront you? Can he still run?” Mo Li asked curiously.
“That depends on how he handles it,” Meng Qi said dismissively. “The worst strategy is to feign an old injury, the middle strategy is to guard the emperor in the palace, and the best is to find a bigger issue and diligently work on it. After all, whether it’s the Emperor’s tomb treasure or myself, these are minor matters unrelated to court affairs, and Emperor Lu Zhang will always have bigger troubles for the Jinyiwei.”
Mo Li thought, the court was indeed complex.
Understanding Gong Jun’s maneuvers, Meng Qi might have practiced similar tactics of avoidance himself.
Mo Li watched Gong Jun pacing in the temple, feeling like he was searching for something. The old monk also seemed overly nervous, his arms trembling as he held his prayer beads.
Previously, fearing the wrath of the Jinyiwei Commander against the monks was reasonable.
But now, after the inspection of the permits, and Gong Jun not troubling the martial artists, why should the old monk still be afraid?
Lost in thought, Mo Li suddenly heard Meng Qi softly exclaim, “The abbot might know something.”
“Hmm?”
Mo Li was puzzled.
If Liuhe Temple was built over Emperor Li’s tomb, could the abbot be a guardian of the tomb?
But that seemed unlikely. Emperor Li’s reign was two hundred years ago, and the Chen Dynasty began to decline under his rule, although there were several emperors after him. What kind of guardian could maintain such a legacy for two hundred years, living humbly as a monk, without ever revealing the secret?
Even if someone was fiercely loyal to the Chen Dynasty, or even to Emperor Li, what about their descendants?
Not even emperors can secure their descendants’ status forever. How could a mere guardian do so?
This wasn’t about loyalty to a noble cause but guarding a vast fortune, a secret that could be exchanged for money without effort.
Even if someone foolishly believed in the divine right of emperors, the Chen Dynasty had fallen, followed by the Chu Dynasty. Why maintain such dedication?
Meng Qi guessed Mo Li’s thoughts and shook his head, “There are no guardians for Emperor Li’s tomb. Why would Emperor Li, who wished no one knew the location of his tomb, leave guardians?”
“Have you met Chen Emperor Li?”
“Not exactly,” Meng Qi said with difficulty.
Meeting in non-human form doesn’t count as meeting.
“If I had the martial skills I possess now, I would have disrupted his tomb construction.”
What mountain spirit likes their home dug into a deep, large pit?
“Since the Qin Emperor, there have been over a dozen imperial tombs on Shangyun Mountain. Some were excavated by later dynasties, others remain. I’ve gotten used to it,” said Meng Qi with a sigh. “But other emperors just bury and that’s it. Emperor Li…”
If an emperor died, a hole would be dug.
Chen Emperor Li wanted to build several decoy tombs so they dug six pits within the Shangyun Mountain area alone, which was too much.
“The worst part is, these decoy tombs were eventually found and dug up… and then left open! Of all the emperors, Emperor Li has caused me the most trouble!” the dragon vein of Taijing lamented.
Mo Li felt relieved that Qimao Mountain was remote.
Ordinary tombs don’t bother mountain spirits much. Firstly, it’s small, and secondly, over time, it decays and turns into dust along with the coffin.
But royal tombs, due to their grand scale and longevity, are harder to ignore.
Mo Li patted Meng Qi’s back, offering comfort.
“You said the abbot knows about Emperor Li’s tomb?”
“Yes, because he looks a bit like someone,” said Meng Qi uncertainly.
“Who?”
“A monk from Baoguo Temple in Taijing. I haven’t seen him for about twenty years, so I’m not sure it’s him.”
Meng Qi didn’t want to dwell on his age, but it was always a reminder to Mo Li.
So heartbroken.
As they spoke, Gong Jun approached the old monk and asked him to lead to a secluded chamber.
The old monk, sweating and head bowed, led the way.
Gong Jun’s gaze seemed scrutinizing.
Meng Qi speculated, “It might be that monk, and Gong Jun may have discovered his identity.”
“Who is he? Is his identity a secret?” Mo Li asked, surprised.
“If it’s who I think, he’s a descendant of the Chen Dynasty, whose father, the Crown Prince, drowned himself.”
Mo Li was taken aback, “So, he’s intentionally hiding here?”
“Perhaps,” said Meng Qi, frowning in recollection. “At that time, Li Yuanzi did not kill all the descendants of the previous dynasty, especially the children. Although his father was a prince, he still survived. He was originally under house arrest in the old palace of the Chen Dynasty. Later, he voluntarily became a monk and entered Baoguo Temple in Taijing. No one in the Chen Dynasty thought about restoring the country, so he had been honest for many years. Later, when the Chu dynasty fell, he may have taken the opportunity to escape and fled to Liuhe Temple. Whether by coincidence or knowing that Emperor Li’s tomb is below, I’m not sure.”
Among the residents of Shangyun Mountain, Chen Emperor Li is the most detested by the mountain spirits.
Gong Jun was already past the age of forty.
Although his internal martial arts skills made him appear much younger, possibly around thirty, he deliberately made himself look older.
He often frowned, causing wrinkles on his forehead, and used a fine brush to draw lines at the corners of his eyes each day before leaving the house, similar to how women apply makeup.
He grew a beard and used a special formula to dye his hair gray, making him look almost fifty to the unknowing eye.
Gong Jun has reasons for this disguise.
At forty, one might already be a grandfather among commoners, stepping back from the vigor of youth. However, in the officialdom, forty was still relatively young.
Younger military officers are common, but comparing to civilian officials, those around thirty who passed the imperial exams are seen as having great potential. They might spend several years in the Hanlin Academy, followed by a stint in the Zhongshu Province, and then serve in local governments for about a decade. Upon return, they often attain high ranks. By the time they reached the position of a prime minister, they are usually quite old.
Experience and seniority were crucial in the bureaucracy.
Being young often led to being underestimated, and it could mean slower career progression.
One’s apparent age could be significant since colleagues and superiors don’t directly ask one’s age unless match-making was involved.
Another reason for Gong Jun’s aged appearance was the nature of his position.
As a Deputy Commander of the Jinyiwei, he is a trusted confidant of the emperor.
The emperor, being old himself, might not mind seeing a forty-something confidant looking older due to constant toil. However, appearing too youthful and vigorous might be displeasing to the emperor. Can a disliked confidant by the emperor expect good days ahead?
Gong Jun, who has been an official for over a decade, rose slowly to his current position.
Having served as Deputy Commander of the Jinyiwei for five years, he had outlasted any of his predecessors in this role.
Gong Jun ensured he is neither too incompetent nor too capable.
He didn’t want ambitious subordinates to see him as an easy target to replace, nor did he want to be viewed as an insurmountable obstacle to their advancement.
Appearing old served as an excellent excuse.
Add to that the pretense of illness – a Deputy Commander of the Jinyiwei loyal to the emperor but fallen ill due to his duties. Being older and sickly, he posed no threat and could honorably retire.
Given the current situation, unless the current Commander suddenly died, Gong Jun’s career as Deputy Commander has reached its peak. Knowing too many secrets, his future seemed uncertain. Unlike civilian officials who can retire to their hometowns, a high-ranking Jinyiwei officer retiring peacefully was rare.
Gong Jun only paid lip service to loyalty. The Commander of the Jinyiwei is always contemplating his exit strategy, so why wouldn’t Gong Jun be prepared?
However, unlike the Commander who’s constantly considering which prince to support, Gong Jun remained indifferent
– none of the princes impressed him.
The princes were either incapable, weak, or self-righteous.
The Crown Prince seemed promising but in poor health. Gong Jun doubted he’d outlive the emperor.
Unable to pursue the path of “following the dragon” (serving the next emperor), Gong Jun sought an alternative route: a significant achievement.
Not just saving the emperor but something that would make the Qi Dynasty’s royal family indebted to him, allowing him to retire in peace.
What could be such an achievement? The whereabouts of the imperial jade seal!
Emperor Lu Zhang and the Commander of the Jinyiwei believed part of the Chu Dynasty’s treasures, including the jade seal, were taken by Meng Qi. But Gong Jun disagree.
After studying the history of the previous dynasties, including Chu and Chen, he saw things differently.
Lu Zhang thought Meng Qi, having a fallout with the Chu Emperor, stole the seal. The Commander believed Meng Qi swapped the seal during the early days of the Chu Dynasty while pursuing the Chen Dynasty’s royal family. Gong Jun, however, viewed the relationship between the Chu Dynasty’s founding emperor and his ministers as harmonious initially. Although those ministers had tit-for-tat quarrels in the court, they were all practical people.
Unlike today’s factions among civil and military officials, who opposed each other just for the sake of opposition without considering the people’s welfare.
Gong Jun is not the type of official who serves the people, but he respects those who do.
Meng Qi, the national master, seeks neither fame nor wealth and was deeply trusted by the Chu Emperor. Why would he steal the imperial jade seal?
Given Meng Qi’s clear-cut nature, it’s more likely he would have beheaded the Emperor after the latter executed several high-ranking officials, rather than steal the seal.
Therefore, the whereabouts of the imperial seal probably have nothing to do with Meng Qi.
Regarding Xue Ting, the county magistrate unearthed from old records by the Jinyiwei, Gong Jun doesn’t believe the imperial seal has any connection with him either. As a fellow martial artist, Xue Ting’s actions are clear – seeing through the court’s intrigues, he chose to flee the complications.
Gong Jun loves money and the bustle of the capital city.
Unlike Xue Ting, he would never choose to flee.
He has expended considerable effort searching for the imperial seal, eventually suspecting something amiss at Liuhe Temple on Dragon Claw Peak of Shangyun Mountain.
As daylight broke, Gong Jun nonchalantly finished interrogating the martial artists and waved them away. He slowly paced in the temple’s backyard, while the old monk chanted Buddhist prayers nervously.
Gong Jun paused for a while, feeling no more chills on his back.
Was his earlier alarm just a delusion?
Meanwhile, when Gong Jun turned his gaze their way, Mo Li quickly pushed Meng Qi’s head down. Martial artists can sense hostile stares, and if stared at for too long, they would definitely be noticed.
Meng Qi, since seeing Gong Jun, had moved his hand three times, clearly itching for a fight.
“Stay calm, there will be opportunities,” Mo Li advised, suppressing a smile.
“Gong Jun is slippery like a timid rabbit, hiding at the slightest sign of trouble,” Meng Qi said discontentedly.
Mo Li was about to say that rabbits don’t live with cats, but then asked, “Does he know about your fear of civet cats?”
“I’m not…”
Meng Qi started to refute, then stopped himself as Mo Li explained.
“I know, there’s nothing to fear about civet cats; you just prefer not to encounter them. If there was a deep hatred, even a house full of civet cats wouldn’t stop you.”
True enough.
Civet cats are nothing. Just close your eyes, charge in, chop off Gong Jun’s head, and leave. Who could stop him?
“You really understand me.”
“Well, of course…”
Mo Li replied, not entirely comfortable with this implicit understanding.
Mo Li was curious about Gong Jun’s true nature. “If he doesn’t know your opinion on civet cats, keeping them must be a coincidence. If it’s all coincidental, how can we say that he habitually hides at home out of cowardice?”
Meng Qi moodily replied, “Gong Jun is a slick official, skilled at deceiving superiors and shirking responsibility. He’s also cunning and observant, always finding excuses to dodge danger and trouble. Now he’s heard about the treasure of Emperor Li’s tomb. If he captures martial artists from Yongzhou and hears ‘Meng Qi’s’ name, I assure you, he will immediately distance himself, regardless of whether the rumors are true or false.”
“What if Emperor Lu Zhang orders him to confront you? Can he still run?” Mo Li asked curiously.
“That depends on how he handles it,” Meng Qi said dismissively. “The worst strategy is to feign an old injury, the middle strategy is to guard the emperor in the palace, and the best is to find a bigger issue and diligently work on it. After all, whether it’s the Emperor’s tomb treasure or myself, these are minor matters unrelated to court affairs, and Emperor Lu Zhang will always have bigger troubles for the Jinyiwei.”
Mo Li thought, the court was indeed complex.
Understanding Gong Jun’s maneuvers, Meng Qi might have practiced similar tactics of avoidance himself.
Mo Li watched Gong Jun pacing in the temple, feeling like he was searching for something. The old monk also seemed overly nervous, his arms trembling as he held his prayer beads.
Previously, fearing the wrath of the Jinyiwei Commander against the monks was reasonable.
But now, after the inspection of the permits, and Gong Jun not troubling the martial artists, why should the old monk still be afraid?
Lost in thought, Mo Li suddenly heard Meng Qi softly exclaim, “The abbot might know something.”
“Hmm?”
Mo Li was puzzled.
If Liuhe Temple was built over Emperor Li’s tomb, could the abbot be a guardian of the tomb?
But that seemed unlikely. Emperor Li’s reign was two hundred years ago, and the Chen Dynasty began to decline under his rule, although there were several emperors after him. What kind of guardian could maintain such a legacy for two hundred years, living humbly as a monk, without ever revealing the secret?
Even if someone was fiercely loyal to the Chen Dynasty, or even to Emperor Li, what about their descendants?
Not even emperors can secure their descendants’ status forever. How could a mere guardian do so?
This wasn’t about loyalty to a noble cause but guarding a vast fortune, a secret that could be exchanged for money without effort.
Even if someone foolishly believed in the divine right of emperors, the Chen Dynasty had fallen, followed by the Chu Dynasty. Why maintain such dedication?
Meng Qi guessed Mo Li’s thoughts and shook his head, “There are no guardians for Emperor Li’s tomb. Why would Emperor Li, who wished no one knew the location of his tomb, leave guardians?”
“Have you met Chen Emperor Li?”
“Not exactly,” Meng Qi said with difficulty.
Meeting in non-human form doesn’t count as meeting.
“If I had the martial skills I possess now, I would have disrupted his tomb construction.”
What mountain spirit likes their home dug into a deep, large pit?
“Since the Qin Emperor, there have been over a dozen imperial tombs on Shangyun Mountain. Some were excavated by later dynasties, others remain. I’ve gotten used to it,” said Meng Qi with a sigh. “But other emperors just bury and that’s it. Emperor Li…”
If an emperor died, a hole would be dug.
Chen Emperor Li wanted to build several decoy tombs so they dug six pits within the Shangyun Mountain area alone, which was too much.
“The worst part is, these decoy tombs were eventually found and dug up… and then left open! Of all the emperors, Emperor Li has caused me the most trouble!” the dragon vein of Taijing lamented.
Mo Li felt relieved that Qimao Mountain was remote.
Ordinary tombs don’t bother mountain spirits much. Firstly, it’s small, and secondly, over time, it decays and turns into dust along with the coffin.
But royal tombs, due to their grand scale and longevity, are harder to ignore.
Mo Li patted Meng Qi’s back, offering comfort.
“You said the abbot knows about Emperor Li’s tomb?”
“Yes, because he looks a bit like someone,” said Meng Qi uncertainly.
“Who?”
“A monk from Baoguo Temple in Taijing. I haven’t seen him for about twenty years, so I’m not sure it’s him.”
Meng Qi didn’t want to dwell on his age, but it was always a reminder to Mo Li.
So heartbroken.
As they spoke, Gong Jun approached the old monk and asked him to lead to a secluded chamber.
The old monk, sweating and head bowed, led the way.
Gong Jun’s gaze seemed scrutinizing.
Meng Qi speculated, “It might be that monk, and Gong Jun may have discovered his identity.”
“Who is he? Is his identity a secret?” Mo Li asked, surprised.
“If it’s who I think, he’s a descendant of the Chen Dynasty, whose father, the Crown Prince, drowned himself.”
Mo Li was taken aback, “So, he’s intentionally hiding here?”
“Perhaps,” said Meng Qi, frowning in recollection. “At that time, Li Yuanzi did not kill all the descendants of the previous dynasty, especially the children. Although his father was a prince, he still survived. He was originally under house arrest in the old palace of the Chen Dynasty. Later, he voluntarily became a monk and entered Baoguo Temple in Taijing. No one in the Chen Dynasty thought about restoring the country, so he had been honest for many years. Later, when the Chu dynasty fell, he may have taken the opportunity to escape and fled to Liuhe Temple. Whether by coincidence or knowing that Emperor Li’s tomb is below, I’m not sure.”
