Chapter 369 - Chapter 369: Map of the Palace
Chapter 369: Map of the Palace
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
After some questioning, the two learned that the man in black was sent by Madam Xin.
“Looks like this woman still hasn’t given up!” Chu Qingzhi was a little annoyed. She had already made it so clear, but that stupid woman still insisted on courting death.
“Qingzhi, calm down. Prince Rui is no longer around. The sudden death of a concubine will not attract anyone’s attention.” Tang Jinghong held Chu Qingzhi’s hand.
“I’ll deal with her when we get back!” Chu Qingzhi was really angry.
“Okay,” Tang Jinghong agreed. Then, he waved the sword in his hand and dealt with the man in black.
The two of them continued to search for the map, but after searching for two hours, they did not even find anything. The two of them could not help but feel discouraged.
Tang Jinghong pulled Chu Qingzhi, who was about to go to the next hall to look for a map. “Qingzhi, let’s ask the abbot?”
“The abbot?” Chu Qingzhi thought about it. It was a reasonable approach. They were currently wandering like headless flies. At this rate, they might not find anything even by daybreak. “Let’s go.”
The abbot’s meditation room was still lit up. There were waves of peaceful chanting. The abbot was doing the evening class. After that, he would go to sleep.
Tang Jinghong went forward and knocked on the door gently. “Abbot, I’m Tang Jinghong. 1 have something to ask you.”
The abbot, showing some courtesy to Tang Jinghong, opened the door. “Wait a moment.”
He got up and opened the door. He walked out and bowed to the two of them. “What do you want to ask?”
Tang Jinghong asked in a low voice, “Do you know of a map?”
The abbot, renowned for his high status, had grown up in the Tiannan Temple. He wouldn’t undertake any action against the Dating Dynasty’s interests. “A map?” The abbot pondered, furrowing his brow. “I’ve heard mention of a map from my master, but only once, and that was decades ago.”
This dampened the hope that had flared in the hearts of the two.
Tang Jinghong asked anxiously, “Abbot, do you know where this map is now?”
The abbot shook his head. “When my master passed away, he didn’t say anything about it.”
Chu Qingzhi asked in another way, “Abbot, are your master’s belongings still here?”
The abbot glanced at Chu Qingzhi, a momentary surprise flashing in his eyes. This girl… was extraordinary. He then looked at Tang Jinghong and smiled. A compatible pair, indeed. “Follow me.”
With that, he turned and walked towards the right direction.
Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong looked at each other and followed.
They passed through a corridor, turned a corner, and arrived at the door of another meditation room.
The abbot pushed open the door, turning to the two. “This is where my master lived, and all his belongings are here. Come in and search.”
Tang Jinghong thanked him. “Thank you.”
The abbot, insightful, replied, “General Tang, you won’t visit late at night for a trivial matter. Although I am not an official, I am also concerned about the people. 1 hope 1 can help you a little.”
He walked in, lit a candle, dispelling the darkness in the room. “Let’s search together.”
The room was simple, with minimal furnishings—just a small bed, a layer of gray cloth on it, a set of tables and chairs beside the window. On the wall hung an image of Buddha, and on the floor rested a meditation cushion. In the corner, there was an empty, old wardrobe.
Chu Qingzhi swept the room with her divine sense, examining every corner, but found no trace of the map.
Chu Qingzhi frowned. Did she miss something? Or was the map the other party mentioned different from an ordinary map?
Chu Qingzhi pushed open the window. With her arms crossed in front of her chest, she looked out of the window quietly, deep in thought.
Tang Jinghong picked up a scripture book and was about to read it when he saw Chu Qingzhi pushing the window open. He looked at her. “Qingzhi, what’s wrong?”
Chu Qingzhi waved at him. “It’s fine. I’m just thinking. Continue searching.”
“Okay.” Tang Jinghong retracted his gaze and opened the scripture…
“Big Brother, we’ve already searched many places, but we can’t find it.”
“That’s right. Is the map really in Tiannan Temple?”
“Could she be lying to us?”
The one they called “Brother” did not speak. He frowned and thought for a moment. After a while, he asked, “Tang Jinghong is also looking for the map?”
Everyone nodded.
“Some of you, keep an eye on Tang Jinghong. If they find the map, snatch it.
The rest, continue searching.”
“Yes.”
Not long after, Chu Qingzhi saw many people flying over. She was very unhappy. She couldn’t even find the map, yet so many people came to covet it. Damn it!
She flew out of the window and killed everyone who came to snoop.
The abbot bowed. “Temple is sacred land. Miss, please don’t stain it with blood.”
Chu Qingzhi flew back from the window and clapped her hands with a smile. “Master, don’t worry. There’s no blood. It’s especially clean.”
The abbot didn’t know what to say.
Two hours later…
Tang Jinghong and the abbot had already turned the meditation room upside down. They were just short of digging three feet into the ground.
Three feet into the ground?
A thought flashed across Chu Qingzhi’s mind. Then, she squatted on the ground and searched. She found a tree branch and knocked on the ground bit by bit. Suddenly, there was a strange sound coming from a floor tile.
Tang Jinghong and the abbot heard it too…
Chu Qingzhi pried up the floor tiles, and oil paper appeared below. She looked again and saw that the oil paper was wrapped around something square.
Chu Qingzhi picked up the thing and quickly peeled off the oil paper. A sandalwood box appeared in her eyes. This box was hidden so well. Could the map be in this box?
She studied the box, then opened it.
There was a folded piece of paper in the box. The paper was yellowed and there were sporadic mold spots. It was obvious that it was very old.
Chu Qingzhi took out the paper and unfolded it. Her eyes lit up. “Jinghong, look.”
Tang Jinghong had already seen it. He said in surprise, “It’s really a map.”
Chu Qingzhi stood up and placed the map on the table. She moved the candle over to take a closer look…
The person who drew the map had a good foundation in drawing. The lines on the paper were dense, but they were not messy. The buildings, aisles, and pavilions were all clearly displayed.
Chu Qingzhi said, “Jinghong, this is not just the map of a corner, but the entire palace.”
Tang Jinghong’s eyes darkened. “It’s indeed the entire palace.”
“How bold. He actually dared to draw a map of the entire palace.” As Chu Qingzhi spoke, she searched for the secret passage that Madam Xin mentioned. After a while, Chu Qingzhi locked onto the Emperor’s bedroom… the Heart-nourishing Hall..