Her Entire Court Reborn with Her in the Modern World

Chapter 200: Chapter 199: The Peerless State Preceptor Xuantong, She Is Your Ancestor!

Xu Zhao Yu collected her emotions and left the Old Xu Mansion.

***

In the private dining room, the meal concluded in a harmonious atmosphere between the sovereign and her four subjects. ree

Shi Changying suddenly asked, "Jinghan, what about you?"

Cui Jinghan paused. "Me?"

Shi Changying hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Four hundred years ago, did you..."

Instantly, Cui Jinghan understood what she was trying to ask. "Your Majesty, I didn’t die at the hands of the Hong Clan people."

Ning Liuyu’s expression grew solemn. "Historical records state that Mr. Cui used his blood as ink to write the *Sorrow of Nine States* and died of exhaustion right after. Is that actually true?"

After a very long silence, Cui Jinghan softly replied, "Yes, it’s true."

Even reborn into a new life, he was still trapped in that heavy snowstorm from four hundred years ago. Without the martial ability to fight on the front lines, his only choice had been to return to Nanling and defend the city alongside the Cui family.

In just a few short years, the Wei brothers and sisters, as well as Pei Xuan, fell in battle one after another. There were no longer any capable generals left to resist the Four Barbarians who were driving deep into their territory. Bones piled up like mountains, and blood flowed like oceans. He saw it all, yet he was completely powerless.

He had never agreed with the saying that "a scholar is useless in times of crisis," but in that moment, he resigned himself to fate. In such a turbulent and war-torn era, what could he possibly do? Dying was actually the easiest thing; dying a worthy death was what was truly difficult.

Nanling was just like Linsu; it didn’t have heavy troops stationed to guard it like Jianghuai did. The entire Cui family defended the city for forty-nine days, but in the end, they couldn’t escape the city’s breach. In the final few days, let alone paper, ink, brushes, and inkstones, even finding food was a struggle. Without his weapons, he felt all the more useless.

And so, he chose to take a knife and slice open his arms and legs. Blood poured out, mixing with his tears—this was the finest ink. With ink, he could finally write essays again. However, toward the end, his tears had run dry, leaving only blood. Later, when even the blood wasn’t enough, he continued to carve new gashes into his body, allowing more crimson blood to seep out.

At that time, it was as if he couldn’t feel any pain at all. He only knew that he had to finish writing this piece. With the final stroke of the last character, the breath that had been sustaining him finally gave out. The light faded from his eyes, and he plunged into endless darkness.

As a mere scholar, he had caused great disasters, committed grave crimes, gone to prison, and served in the imperial court. Dying in that moment wasn’t a bad end. It was just that, ultimately, he had broken his promise to Empress Taichu. They had agreed back then that he would write the greatest running script in the world, letting everyone witness the prosperity of Da Xuan.

But he had failed to do so.

Cui Jinghan spoke, his voice hoarse, "At that time, I didn’t actually write the *Sorrow of Nine States* with the intention of creating the greatest running script in the world. I just..."

It was just that it was a moment of life and death, the very end of the road. He had to leave something behind for Jiuzhou, yet he never expected to accidentally earn the title of the world’s greatest running script. When he found out about this, he wasn’t pleasantly surprised; rather, he found it somewhat absurd.

Shi Changying remained silent.

"Fortunately, I still got to see it," Shi Changying said. "During the winter break, I’ll take a trip down to Nanling to see the authentic *Sorrow of Nine States*, and I’ll pay my respects with some incense for you while I’m at it."

Cui Jinghan was speechless.

That last sentence was completely unnecessary, wasn’t it? He wasn’t as shameless as Pei Xuan, who specifically went to his own tomb just to watch tourists from all over the world come to pay their respects to him. He certainly wouldn’t stare at every single person to see exactly what offerings they brought.

"Your Majesty, as the supreme ruler, there’s absolutely no need for you to do such a thing." Cui Jinghan weighed his words for a moment before continuing, "There’s nothing much to see at my tomb anyway. After all, it was built after my death. The Nanling Cui family had already been annihilated, so I don’t even know who built the tomb."

Shi Changying, however, was resolute. "I said I would visit and sweep the tombs of every single one of you. I won’t go back on my word."

Qingyuan and Ning Liuyu exchanged a glance. They actually felt fortunate that their tombs hadn’t been discovered yet. Or perhaps, they didn’t even have tombs to begin with.

Shi Changying pondered for a moment before asking, "Actually, I have another question. Do you guys know where my tomb is?"

As soon as she said this, the four of them looked at each other in dismay.

"Your Majesty’s tomb... was built by the State Preceptor," Xie Qingshi said. "Since you didn’t leave a body behind, only a cenotaph could be erected. However, other than the State Preceptor, no one knows its exact location."

Ning Liuyu added, "Sister Yingying, the State Preceptor said that the Heavenly Thunder was likely abnormal, and the enemy absolutely must not discover your tomb. After all, your tomb contains the complete set of the *Taichu Holy Scripture*."

The *Taichu Holy Scripture* was a massive encyclopedia compiling the pinnacle of Jiuzhou’s technology, art, and culture. It was co-compiled by twenty-three meritorious officials of the Ziwei Pavilion, led by Zhuge Mingyue, in collaboration with tens of thousands of officials and civilian artisans. When the Four Barbarians invaded, they had also been searching relentlessly for the *Taichu Holy Scripture*. But despite turning Jiuzhou upside down and digging three feet into the ground, they never found it. Naturally, historical records never documented the existence of the *Taichu Holy Scripture*, turning it into an unsolved mystery.

Shi Changying frowned. "Then where is he?"

Cui Jinghan slowly shook his head. "Not even Lord Ye knows where he went. He disappeared right after holding your funeral."

Shi Changying murmured, "Could it be that he returned to the Xuan Sect?"

The State Preceptor was the very first person she had met. He was proficient in divination and celestial phenomena, skilled in Feng Shui, and could summon the wind and rain. At that time, he hadn’t yet become the State Preceptor; he was an unparalleled genius of the Xuan Sect. When she left the Xuan Sect at the age of thirteen, he had followed her to Jiuzhou.

"The Mingjing Cultural Heritage Institute has also been looking for your tomb," Cui Jinghan said slowly. "My teacher believes that a tremendous secret is hidden within it—one significant enough to shock the entire world."

Qingyuan’s expression grew solemn. "In that case, it’s actually a good thing that the tomb hasn’t been discovered. If the *Taichu Holy Scripture* were really stolen, the consequences would be unimaginable. You think so too, right, Sister Ying?"

Shi Changying drawled lazily, "At first, I didn’t think that way because I was broke during those first few days after waking up. I just wanted to see if there were any antiques in my tomb that I could sell."

Her ministers were speechless.

As expected of you, His Majesty the Great Emperor.

Xie Qingshi asked, "Could Your Majesty’s tomb be in the Xuan Sect? Is that why there hasn’t been a single trace of it for four hundred years?"

"It’s possible." Shi Changying’s eyes darkened slightly. "But my martial arts haven’t recovered yet, so I can’t go to the Xuan Sect for the time being."

The Xuan Sect was far too treacherous. If she went right now, it would mean certain death. Aside from her studies, she couldn’t afford to slack off on her cultivation either.

***

After leaving the restaurant, Shi Changying went to buy some milk tea.

"Miss Shi? What a coincidence!" Yan Sinian was initially stunned but then pleasantly surprised. "What do you want to drink? It’s my treat."

"No need, I’ll treat you," Shi Changying replied. She had just received a thirty-thousand-yuan bonus; she had money.

"Miss Shi, you have no idea. Over the past couple of days, my Senior Brother suddenly bought dozens of outfits," Yan Sinian said enthusiastically. "I have no idea who he’s going to meet... Senior Brother?!"

Looking at Cui Jinghan, who had suddenly appeared, his brain short-circuited.

Cui Jinghan cast a sidelong glance at him and said coldly, "What ’Miss Shi’? Show some respect and call her Ancestor."