Chapter One: The Ancient Capital of Thirteen Dynasties

November, the third day
Capital City

In a certain sense, the cultural heritage and atmosphere of Rongcheng and the Capital City were completely different, yet each boasted its own unique charm.

Upon arriving in the Capital City, Yue Qianling and Gu Anqi clamored to visit the world-renowned Terracotta Warriors and many other attractions. Even Qiu Nuo, whom Yue Qianling usually disliked, seemed to form an alliance with the other two girls at the mere mention of sightseeing. The three set off together early in the morning.

Xiao Lianshan did not come along; I deliberately kept him by Yue Leiting’s side. At this critical moment, the closer I felt to the Ming Tombs, the more dangerous Yue Leiting seemed.

I had little enthusiasm for sightseeing; frankly, being with someone as dull as Huo Qian made any activity seem tedious.

Come to think of it, it had been quite some time since I last saw Huo Qian. When Yue Leiting learned I was heading to the Capital City, his first instruction was for me to meet up with Huo Qian.

I didn’t ask a word about what Huo Qian was doing here. If Yue Leiting’s strategist was stationed in the Capital City, it must be for something important.

Standing atop the Bell Tower, the landmark of the Capital City, I knew it would be a pity not to visit it while here.

The Bell Tower rested on a square base, built from brick and wood, with three tiers of eaves and a hip-and-gable roof at each corner. Inside, a spiral staircase ascended upward.

The eaves were covered with deep green glazed tiles, the interior adorned with gold leaf and colorful paintings, with intricately carved beams and pillars. At the top sat a gilded treasure roof, magnificently radiant.

From this center radiated four main streets extending east, south, west, and north, each connecting to one of the four gates of the Ming city walls.

Standing on the Bell Tower, I vaguely felt the grandeur and majesty of this ancient capital that had witnessed thirteen dynasties. Beside me, Huo Qian calmly pointed to a building not far away.

“That’s the Drum Tower. The legend of the morning bell and evening drum comes from here.”

From the text deciphered on the white jade tofu, I had already told Huo Qian everything in detail. The Bell and Drum Towers stood less than half a mile apart, and the decrypted text only mentioned these two locations.

Zhu Yuanzhang was inherently suspicious; judging by his execution of founding ministers, he never trusted anyone. An emperor as capricious as him often acted unpredictably. I even wondered if he might have built the Bell and Drum Towers precisely to conceal the Ming Tombs.

Great secrets lie hidden in plain sight—such a thing was not entirely impossible.

“These two structures have withstood centuries of storms, multiple renovations and excavations. If the Ming Tombs were truly beneath them, they would have been discovered long ago,” Huo Qian calmly dismissed my bold theory.

“The decrypted text mentioned a time—December 7th, 3 p.m.—and a number related to height: seven!” I gazed faintly into the distance and said. “Counting the days, there isn’t much time left. From these fragmented clues, it seems that finding the Ming Tombs relates to this date and height.”

“You’ve seen it yourself. The Bell and Drum Towers aren’t that tall. If seven refers to height, neither building meets that requirement.”

I smiled helplessly and sighed.

“If it were that simple, it’d be great. But this can’t be rushed. At least now we know the Ming Tombs might be in the Capital City, and there’s still some time left. Let’s set this aside for now. When I arrived, Leiting specifically told me to meet you alone. I figure he wants to avoid Qianling. If I’m right, you must be involved in something big here, huh?”

“I planned to invite you earlier, but knowing you’re busy helping Leiting locate the Ming Tombs, it was hard to get you here. Now that you’ve come, I feel more confident,” Huo Qian lowered his voice as we descended the Bell Tower. “Let me take you somewhere.”

The place Huo Qian referred to was a warehouse on the outskirts, bearing a food company’s sign. I immediately suspected it was a front. Starting three kilometers outside, Huo Qian’s men were stationed at intervals, so any disturbance would be known instantly.

More men guarded the warehouse itself, all lean and quick, many with knives strapped to their waists. Upon seeing Huo Qian, several smoking men hastily stubbed out their cigarettes. It was clear the warehouse’s contents were far from ordinary.

Huo Qian ordered the warehouse door opened. I stepped inside, stunned to find neatly stacked boxes of food, sealed with export markings.

“Heh, Qian, could it be that Leiting plans to enter the food industry?” I joked.

Huo Qian smiled silently, signaling someone nearby. One box was unsealed, and beneath the wood shavings lay a vividly lifelike, palm-sized colored figurine.

I took it, examining it for a long while, shocked.

“Terracotta Warrior?!”

“More precisely, it’s a Qin figurine, but crafted just like the Terracotta Warriors—only smaller, scaled down proportionally. Our people found this batch in the Capital City. The quantity and variety unearthed exceeded all expectations.”

“These are relics left by our ancestors thousands of years ago. Although these Qin figurines are small, their craftsmanship rivals that of the Terracotta Warriors from Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb,” I marveled, scrutinizing it repeatedly. “And astonishingly well-preserved. When the Terracotta Warriors were excavated, due to technical limitations, their original colors couldn’t be preserved. Yet this batch retains all its colors perfectly—this alone is extraordinary.”

“When I first saw them, I shared your thoughts. This discovery is basically a miniature version of the Terracotta Warriors, with incalculable value.”

“Looks like the seller’s been found. Who’s buying?”

“That’s the rule—our job is just to ship the goods, not ask questions. Whoever offers the highest price wins. Judging by the accent, the buyer is from Taiwan. They’re generous and didn’t haggle over price. But there’s one condition: every single Qin figurine excavated must be purchased, not one can be left behind.”

I set down the figurine, hesitating. Then said,

“Qian, these are relics left by our ancestors. Regardless of their value, from a cultural and historical perspective, this is akin to discovering the Terracotta Warriors. Selling them off just like that… doesn’t it feel like betraying our ancestors?”

“To be honest, I feel the same. If one day these artifacts resurface and people find out we smuggled them out, we’d be hated like Qin Hui, infamous forever—our backs broken by history,” Huo Qian said with a smile and calm tone. “That’s why only part of the collection is here. Most of the Qin figurines I’ve instructed my men not to pack up. They’re all kept for you.”

“Kept for me?!” I was stunned and glanced at Huo Qian, who suddenly smirked.

“So you see, the reason you had to come to the Capital City was for this. You’re the fall guy for this huge mess. You can’t talk to Leiting directly, so you’re the one who has to say it out loud.”

“Look at you—I treat you like a brother, not harm you. After following Leiting for over a decade, I know his nature well. If you try to make him give up this prize, it might cost him his life,” Huo Qian said, pushing up his glasses with a meaningful smile. “But there’s still someone around Leiting who can hold him accountable.”

“...” I understood immediately and smiled wryly. “Qianling.”

“Leiting fears nothing but that precious girl. If you accidentally let Qianling find out about this shipment…”

“You’re still digging me into a hole!”

“You’re almost part of the Yue family now. Do you think your future father-in-law will mind this?” Huo Qian patted my shoulder with a beaming grin. “First, you’re preserving the artifacts, a great merit. Second, Qianling will look at you differently—a win-win situation. See how thoughtful your big brother is?”

I shook my head helplessly, smiling bitterly, and waggled my thumb in front of Huo Qian.

“If I say anything wrong, please forgive me. Don’t take it to heart—you’re a master. I dare not offend you. I consider myself somewhat skilled in fate and destiny, not clairvoyant, but at least capable of knowing when to advance or retreat. Compared to you… haha, I’ve only been in the Capital City a day, and you’ve already arranged my way back. I don’t even have a reason to argue. Qian, I’m thoroughly impressed.”

“You flatter me, brother. No need for formalities among family.”

Huo Qian’s cheerful demeanor left me utterly powerless. I’d witnessed his cunning since the start—his skill in manipulating human hearts was already masterful.

Though this matter was basically Huo Qian finding someone to speak for him while staying out of it himself, I wasn’t angry. If these Qin figurines slipped through my hands, that would be a grave mistake. Besides, Huo Qian had prepared a fallback plan for me.

Ahead stood Yue Qianling. Even though Yue Leiting valued these artifacts, in his eyes, his precious daughter was worth more than ten piles of gold. No matter how this played out, Yue Leiting would have to swallow his frustration in silence.

“I’ve jumped into this pit. But if Leiting presses you, what will you do?”

“What can I do? Haha, I’ve got you ahead of me, and you’ve got Qianling ahead of you. If the sky falls, the tallest will bear it. It won’t be me. By the time it reaches me, the water will have flowed three seasons.”

Huo Qian’s frankness made me laugh and cry. He sold me out, and yet I willingly helped count the money. Such matters should never have fallen on me, but facing Huo Qian, I was helpless.

“I’d better stay away from places where you’re involved in the future.”

As I spoke, my eyes caught something covered by a cloth curtain in the corner of the warehouse. Curiously, I asked,

“What’s that?”

When Huo Qian ordered someone to pull back the curtain, I couldn’t help but lose my smile!