Shen Tingjiao paced into the tent, a leather whip gripped in his hand. Yin Zhuli gave a dry cough. "Better trace the map first. It’s hard to do once there’s blood."
With no one else around, Shen Tingjiao didn't waste words. He raised his hand and lashed her once. Yin Zhuli winced. Seeing his eyes were rimmed with red, her expression softened into a slight gloom. "I say, you’re the one whipping me, not the other way around. Can’t you at least look a bit happier?"
Shen Tingjiao remained silent, lashing her several more times with savage force. Yin Zhuli cried out in pain. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, Shen Tingjiao threw the whip aside and sat on a low stool, his head bowed. Seeing his dejected state, Yin Zhuli nudged him with the tip of her foot. "Alright, alright, I was just teasing. Your whipping is far worse than my Muma’s; it didn't hurt at all. Get up and keep going. Once you’re satisfied, we can get to the tracing sooner."
Shen Tingjiao swatted her foot away forcefully, still refusing to speak. Yin Zhuli nudged him again. "Get up. You’re the sovereign of a nation now; you can’t keep acting like a child."
Shen Tingjiao stood abruptly, stepped forward, and pulled her into a crushing embrace. "Is it really so hard for you to stay with me? We’ve known each other for thirteen years. Do you not have even a shred of sincerity for me?"
He pressed himself tightly against her. Yin Zhuli couldn't see his face. She wanted to reach out and touch him, but her hands were bound. She could only offer a smiling counsel: "Ninth Lord, since you have taken your seat upon that Dragon Throne, you must get used to being alone. Your concubines are not meant for love, and neither is your Empress. One day, when you can stand firmly at the peak of power, you will understand that there is nothing in this world that cannot be discarded. Including me, Yin Zhuli."
The journey from Tianshui Commandery to Changbai Mountain took a month and a half. Along the way, Yin Zhuli maintained a leisurely air, seemingly finding solace in the mountains and rivers. When they camped at night, she even competed in horse racing and archery with the soldiers. Xie Chengyi sneered, "Death is at her doorstep, yet she still has the leisure for such whims."
Shen Tingjiao watched her as well, but he paid the remark no mind. In all these years, he had only seen Yin Zhuli lose her composure once—the day Tang Yin died.
In the depths of winter, the snow on Changbai Mountain lay feet deep. Fu Chaoying frowned. Having been a general for many years, he was naturally suspicious. "In this weather, even if we locate the treasure, I fear it will be difficult to excavate."
In contrast, Xie Chengyi was growing restless. With the prize so close, how could he wait? He huffed, "If the General is afraid to ascend the mountain, he might as well stay below to protect His Majesty. This Marquis will lead the men up to secure the treasure for the King."
Fu Chaoying gave him no quarter, mocking him instantly: "If the Marquis of Anchang goes up and secures the treasure, I fear it won't be for His Majesty’s sake, will it?"
His intentions exposed, Xie Chengyi’s face darkened immediately. "Fu Chaoying, what did you say?"
Seeing the two in an endless dispute, Shen Tingjiao finally spoke. "We are near the border of the Great Yuezhi. Words are useless. Ascend the mountain."
Yin Zhuli had been sharing a carriage with Yin-shi. Having lived a life of pampered luxury since childhood, Yin-shi could not withstand the bitter cold of the mountains. Fortunately, as this was an imperial expedition, the army was well-equipped, and the carriage was quite warm. Yin-shi held Yin Zhuli’s hand, her face etched with worry. "Zhuli, you... what exactly are your plans?"
Yin Zhuli pulled her mother to her chest and patted her back. "Rest easy, Muma."
As they ascended, the terrain grew steep, making it impossible for carriages and horses. Shen Tingjiao ordered the men to abandon the vehicles and proceed on foot. Yin Zhuli supported Yin-shi, surrounded by watchful soldiers. Though they moved slowly, they eventually reached Heaven Lake.
The surface of the lake was frozen solid. Fu Chaoying and Xie Chengyi led their men to scout the area, using the map to determine the treasure's location. Yin-shi stayed with Shen Tingjiao while the soldiers built a fire to boil dried meat. Yin Zhuli used the Yellow Spring Requiem to cut through the thick ice on the lake. The weather was so cold that the fish were frozen stiff; she easily scooped several out, cleaned them, and began roasting them over the fire.
After a while, Fu Chaoying and Xie Chengyi approached together. Though their expressions were calm, they could not hide the excitement in their eyes. "Your Majesty, we have found the entrance. However, treasure vaults are often filled with traps and mechanisms. We fear we must trouble the Great Head of the Yin family and Your Majesty to accompany us inside."
Shen Tingjiao kept his hands tucked into his fox-fur robe, his eyes downcast and silent. Yin Zhuli’s expression shifted slightly. "I will go with you, and that should be enough. But my Muma is elderly; she absolutely cannot go in!"
Fu and Xie exchanged a glance and spoke almost in unison: "No! The Old Madam Yin must come as well."
Both men shared the same thought—Yin Zhuli was cunning. If she didn't want Yin-shi to go, then they absolutely had to bring her along. Unable to sway them, Yin Zhuli was forced to lead Yin-shi inside with great reluctance.
The treasure was located on a cliffside bordering Heaven Lake. Had the water level not dropped, it would have been submerged. Changbai Mountain was already a desolate place; without a map, it would have been impossible to find even if one were looking for it.
Fu Chaoying ordered Yin Zhuli to lead the way. The path was extremely narrow, the walls made of permafrost. In some places, there were piles of rotted wooden debris and vessels, evidence of the haste with which it had been constructed.
Yin Zhuli held a torch as she moved forward, followed by over a hundred men—all trusted confidants of Fu and Xie. Fu Chaoying, fearing a trap, kept Yin Zhuli at a distance, placing Shen Tingjiao and Yin-shi at the very end of the line. He reasoned that Yin Zhuli felt something for Shen Tingjiao; even if they fell into her trap, he would still have hostages.
Furthermore, Shen Tingjiao was his own flesh and blood. He did not want the King to take unnecessary risks unless absolutely necessary.
Xie Chengyi, however, was less composed. He followed Yin Zhuli closely, terrified she might slip away. Yin Zhuli showed no intention of escaping. As she led the way, she warned the men behind her to avoid various traps.
Before long, they entered a small chamber. Inside sat a massive mound of gold sand. The brilliance of the gold dazzled everyone. The soldiers gasped, and some rushed forward to touch the fine grains, throwing the line into disorder.
Fu Chaoying remained vigilant. Seeing Yin Zhuli try to move toward Shen Tingjiao, he immediately drew his sword to block her. "This pile of gold sand is valuable, but to call it 'the treasure' seems a bit of a stretch, doesn't it?"
Yin Zhuli gave a low laugh and tilted her chin toward the space behind the gold sand. Fu Chaoying and Xie Chengyi turned their gazes toward the mound. Only Shen Tingjiao’s brow twitched slightly before he lowered his eyes again, remaining silent.
While Fu Chaoying was still pondering, Xie Chengyi shoved Yin Zhuli forward. "You go first."
At this moment, there was not a shred of respect left for the Empress. The lure of the unknown treasure had completely clouded his mind. Yin Zhuli cleared away the gold sand. Behind it was a stone wall sealed by frozen earth. She traced a pattern on the wall with her hand, and after a moment, the wall groaned and creaked, revealing a small door. As she pulled it open, the radiant glow of jewels spilled out.
By now, the soldiers had finished bagging all the gold sand. Seeing this new sight, their eyes filled with greed. Fu Chaoying’s throat moved slightly. Yin Zhuli said immediately, "I’ll go in first."
The door was only wide enough for one person at a time. Just as she was about to crawl through, Xie Chengyi barked, "Wait."
He looked around and pointed to two of his lieutenants. "You two, go in first."
Yin Zhuli knew they were there to monitor her, but she didn't care. As the two soldiers entered, they let out cries of shock. The room was filled with neatly stacked bars of solid gold.
Fu Chaoying watched Yin Zhuli coldly. She complied and crawled through the small door. He and Xie Chengyi exchanged a look; Xie grit his teeth and followed her inside.
Once the hundred or so soldiers had mostly entered, they immediately scrambled for the gold bars. Xie Chengyi shouted for them to stop, but in the face of such wealth, everyone was mad with greed, ignoring his orders. Countless men stuffed gold bricks and bars into their robes, eventually even stripping off their outer garments to tie them into bundles.
Xie Chengyi drew his blade to threaten the soldiers, while Fu Chaoying ordered Shen Tingjiao and Yin-shi to be brought inside. He was truly wary of Yin Zhuli and feared she was playing a trick. Yin Zhuli stood quietly in the center of the vault, watching the frantic looting with a faint, enigmatic smile.
Suddenly, someone cried out that they were itching. He collapsed to the ground, scratching his body frantically. He was the one carrying the most gold sand; as he scratched, the sand spilled everywhere, carpeting the floor in gold. Following his cry, everyone began to itch. The sensation seemed to bore through the skin into the very heart, leaving them bloody from scratching yet finding no relief.
Shen Tingjiao pulled Yin-shi back toward Yin Zhuli. Fu Chaoying and Xie Chengyi were also suffering from the unbearable itch. They still gripped their blades, but Yin Zhuli only watched them with a smile. "Marquis Anchang, General Fu—my skills are lacking, but in this state, even if you joined forces, you would have no chance of winning a fight against me."
Fu Chaoying had already scratched several bloody furrows into his face. "It’s the gold sand... the sand is poisoned?"
Yin Zhuli smiled thinly. "Not just the sand. It’s merely the sap of Itching Grass. I thought you would use silver needles to test for poison and wouldn't dare use anything lethal—I truly failed your trust, General. Had I known the Marquis and the General were so courageous, I certainly wouldn't have spared any expense to use some unique, deadly toxin."
Because the door was behind the gold sand, everyone who entered had come into contact with it. Most were now on the ground, covered in horrific bloody scratches. Xie Chengyi still couldn't believe it, even as the agonizing itch pierced his heart. His words came in gasps: "Impossible... the King and the Old Madam... they came in too..."
Yin Zhuli walked to Shen Tingjiao and Yin-shi’s side, her voice low and soft. "Your Majesty, who is guarding the outside?"
Shen Tingjiao remained calm and unruffled. "Zhang Qing. Xie and Fu believe he is my confidant and did not allow him inside."
Yin Zhuli nodded. "Very good."
She led Shen Tingjiao and Yin-
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Becoming the Queen by Serving as Prime Minister | Chapter 69 | The Final Parting | Novela.app | Novela.app
