Reborn As Super Heiress

Chapter 1401: Chapter 1386: Jiaoren on the Stone Pillars

”This Yingzong did not acknowledge his brother Zhu Qiyu as the emperor, so after restoring his position, he destroyed the tomb that Zhu Qiyu had built in the Tianshou Mountain region. Then he buried Zhu Qiyu with the status of a ’king’ in the Western Suburbs of the Imperial Capital, at Yuquan Mountain. Therefore, Zhu Qiyu is not in the imperial tomb.”

After speaking, Su Qingqing looked at Huo Sining with a face full of pride, clearly seeking praise.

Huo Sining couldn’t help but sigh, looking at Su Qingqing with a half-smile: ”That’s it?”

Su Qingqing was taken aback: ”What else is there?”

Huo Sining shook her head helplessly: ”You missed someone!”

Su Qingqing was immediately confused: ”Who?”

Huo Sining couldn’t resist poking Su Qingqing’s forehead: ”Zhu Yunwen, sister. There were sixteen emperors in the Ming Dynasty, thirteen of whom were buried in Tianshou Mountain, hence the ’Thirteen Tombs of Ming’. Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Qiyu were buried elsewhere, but there’s another whose whereabouts are unknown, did you forget? Zhu Di attacked Nanjing under the pretext of ’Jingnan’, and Emperor Jianwen Zhu Yunwen’s fate remains a mystery. Some say he burned to death in the palace, others that he escaped and became a monk. How could you not mention him?”

Su Qingqing’s eyes widened, as if a sudden enlightenment hit her. She slapped her forehead fiercely: ”Oh, how could I forget him? I’ve even watched the drama ’Love Through Time and Space’ with Zhang Ting and Xu Zheng, which featured Zhu Yunwen! That TV show said Zhu Yunwen traveled to the future and lived in modern times with Xiao Wanzi...”

Talking about soap operas, Su Qingqing immediately became enthusiastic, chatting non-stop, while Huo Sining listened with exasperation, and her gaze began to wander, suddenly landing on the four giant supporting pillars in the main burial chamber.

The four supporting pillars were all made of Hanbaiyu, which testified to the noble status of the tomb’s owner. However, Huo Sining was soon intrigued by the carved texts and patterns on the Hanbaiyu, and the camera lens naturally focused on these pillars.

At a glance, Huo Sining’s heart jumped, and she was utterly stunned.

On these four Hanbaiyu pillars, besides the inscriptions which resembled the script on her Bagua Chart and Nautical Chart, were many strange images. Yet, all these images had one thing in common: each depicted Jiaoren (Merfolk) with human bodies and fish tails.

Some were confined underwater, bound in chains; others held silver plates, their tears forming pearls; some sat weaving Jiaoxiao at a loom; some were caught by fishing boats on the sea with nets; and some were even slaughtered, their eyes taken...

Seeing these images, Huo Sining felt an inexplicable surge of anger, and strange visions began flashing through her mind, as if she had seen those images firsthand.

Huo Sining’s face turned somewhat pale, suspecting that her unusual emotions stemmed from another soul within her body. Although Huo Sining had been reluctant to admit it, she remembered Su Lan’s words clearly.

Su Lan had once revealed her true form to her and told her personally that another soul resided within her body. This rage did not belong to her but to Su Lan’s sister.

The intense anger drove her to meticulously photograph everything on the stone pillars.

”Xiao Huo, what are you dawdling for? Come over here and film this sarcophagus carefully. We’ll need it when we go back up!”

At this moment, Xie Daoyuan, seeing Huo Sining dawdling around the pillars, couldn’t help but call out to her.

Huo Sining snapped back to reality, responded, and hurriedly ran over with the camera, following Xie Daoyuan’s instructions, circled the sarcophagus for a thorough shot, suddenly remembering what Xie Daoyuan had said earlier, feeling puzzled: ”Professor Xie, you said we’ll need this video when we go back up, are we not going to open it today?”

Xie Daoyuan’s gaze was fixed on the sarcophagus, nodding as he spoke: ”This is a significant matter. Initially, we didn’t consider this aspect. Once the owner of this sarcophagus is revealed, it will unravel a lingering historical mystery, so we must report this to the higher-ups first to see how the bureau plans to arrange it. Additionally, we might need to adjust some security measures. This tomb is too shocking; I’m afraid if the news leaks, someone might take reckless actions.”

At this point, Xie Daoyuan’s expression was filled with deep caution and concern.

Huo Sining thought Professor Xie was worrying unnecessarily. Given the scale of archaeological work, with the surrounding area cordoned off, how could anyone have the audacity to tamper with the tomb? But to her surprise, Xie Daoyuan’s words came true that night.

Due to various considerations, the experts decided that opening the sarcophagus should be postponed, so the matter was put on hold. Following Professor Xie’s plan, everyone began to inventory the burial items in the left and right chambers, while the accompanying graves and horse pits of the nobles in the back chamber, being isolated from the main burial chamber, remained untouched for now.

Items were cleaned and cataloged one by one, undergoing anti-oxidation isolation, numbered, and packed for storage. Outside, trainees and Cultural Relics Bureau staff were on standby, and everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.

By nine in the evening, the burial items in both auricle chambers were nearly completely cleared. Seeing everyone’s fatigue, Professor Xie waved his hand, allowing all staff to return to their dormitories to rest.

Because a villa resort was not far from the reservoir, the archaeological staff’s dormitories were arranged in villas this time. Compared to any previous archaeological work, the living conditions this time were unprecedentedly luxurious.

Huo Sining and Su Qingqing still stayed in the same villa they had stayed in during their previous excursion. However, due to the large number of people, they had to free up extra rooms.

After a long day, not just the others, even Huo Sining felt a bit tired. After dinner, she returned to the room to wash up and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Su Jinyuan had brought Heitan over and took him back after completing their tasks. However, the bear child Qibao refused to leave once he arrived, insisting on staying with Huo Sining. Unable to refuse, Huo Sining allowed Qibao to stay.

Unexpectedly, at around three in the morning, Qibao suddenly sprang up from bed, vigorously shaking Huo Sining’s body: ”Sister, wake up! Someone’s entered the ancient tomb!”