Mysteries of the Great Zhou Dynasty

Chapter 204 Blindfold

“I remember there was a hemp rope over there! Here it is!” Rong Wanyin picked up the hemp rope from the corner of the tower and began to examine it.

"These thick hemp ropes have always been kept here in case of emergency. Is there a problem with that?" Rong Junye was a little puzzled. Aren't these hemp ropes just ordinary ropes?
"Big brother, look!" Rong Wanyin picked up a hemp rope and laid it back on the ground. One end of the rope was tied into a loop, and the size of the loop was just about the same as the crenellation on the palace wall, except that the loop had been cut off.

“Look at this break, it’s very clean, it was cut by a sharp weapon.” Yan Mingzhang picked up the hemp rope and walked to the edge of the stack where the mark had been. Rong Wanyin cooperated by pulling up the rope, and it was the perfect size!
Rong Wanyin grabbed another hemp rope, intending to tie it around her body: "My lord, I'll go down and take a look!"

"No!" Yan Mingzhang and Rong Junye said in unison.

The two were speaking very loudly, which startled Rong Wanyin.

Rong Wanyin was a little stunned: "Huh? Why?"

Yan Mingzhang was somewhat embarrassed: "These palace walls are so high, it's too dangerous for you to just tie a rope and go down, especially since it's so dark now..."

"Isn't it better to be black? That way, no one can see it!" Rong Wanyin was a little puzzled, after all, the Sixth Prince had quite a few spies.

Rong Junye echoed, "Yes, it's too dangerous!"

Yan Mingzhang looked calmly at Rong Junye, who was momentarily taken aback: "...Why are you looking at me like that?"

Rong Junye pointed to himself with his index finger: "I...I'll go down?"

Yan Mingzhang smiled warmly: "General Rong, you've had a hard time. Please be careful!"

Rong Junye felt that something was wrong, but couldn't quite put his finger on it: "Fine, I'll go then."
-
"Lower it, lower it a little more!" The rope was lowered bit by bit, and Rong Junye's voice came from outside the city wall, "Wait! Go up a little!"

"Big brother, what did you find?" Rong Wanyin asked, peering down from the city wall.

"Pull me up first!" Rong Junye shouted upwards.

The thick hemp rope made Rong Junye's back ache. As he untied the rope, he said, "There is a drainage ditch below. If you are petite, it can accommodate two people! And there are drag marks on the ground where heavy objects were dragged."

The three were certain of their earlier guess: clearly, Yu Nishang had tied herself up with a rope, jumped off the palace wall, hid at the entrance of this hidden ditch, and then pushed down a heavy object that she had hidden there beforehand, creating the illusion that she had fallen into the water.

“But if it’s a heavy object, like a stone, it’s very difficult to move. Even if I have martial arts skills, it would be difficult for me to do it while I’m suspended by a rope.” Rong Wanyin pondered for a moment and shook her head.

“It’s this!” Rong Junye took out a handkerchief from his pocket, opened it, and inside was a small clump of white particles.

Rong Wanyin took a sniff, and her eyes widened instantly: "It's salt!"

“Yes! It’s salt!” Rong Junye handed the handkerchief to Yan Mingzhang to check.

Yan Mingzhang had a sudden flash of inspiration, and all the clues connected: "If it's salt, then everything makes sense. Actually, Miss Yu didn't necessarily have to carry the same weight of salt as herself; she only needed something heavy enough to make a sound. And the missing jade seal was also made of salt!" "Ah? How did they do that?" Rong Junye's mouth dropped open. How come he hadn't thought of that when they had the same information?

"We can first wrap the stone with the inscription in salt, then press it to the size of an imperial seal, and finally wrap it in yellow cloth. When the package falls into the river and the salt dissolves, the stone will be revealed without the package being opened," Yan Mingzhang deduced.

"Then the red dress is the same?" Rong Junye stroked his chin, seemingly understanding. As long as Miss Yu lived well, there was still hope.

"Yes, because the red garment cannot be sewn shut, that's why salt grains are falling out," Yan Mingzhang explained, pinching the salt inside the handkerchief.

"This matter definitely cannot be accomplished in a day. I wonder how long Miss Yu has been planning this." Rong Junye felt a pang of sympathy. Even in such a desperate situation, she hadn't thought of asking him for help. Perhaps she was afraid of putting him in a difficult position!
“Yes, and it can’t be done by one person alone.” Yan Mingzhang became more and more certain of his judgment.

"Huh? It's not just her, who else could it be?" Rong Junye was still a little confused.

"Who benefits from Miss Yu's disappearance?" Yan Mingzhang prompted. "And who was the last person to see Miss Yu?"

"You mean... the Khitan princess?" Rong Junye's eyes instantly turned sharp. If she really was cooperating with the Khitan princess, and the imperial seal was in Miss Yu's hands, then she would only have one fate—to be silenced!

“Yes, if it weren’t for cooperating with the Khitan princess, I can’t imagine how Miss Yu could have obtained so much salt, or how she could have come up from the underground culvert. Even if she could manage those two things on her own, how would she have gotten out of this heavily guarded palace? So when all the impossibilities are eliminated, what remains is the truth.” Yan Mingzhang’s voice was very firm.

"Then... after she came out, she fell into the hands of the Khitan princess. How could she possibly escape? The Khitan princess is no kind person. She must have done this for her own purposes. Now that she has achieved her purpose, Miss Yu is no longer of any value. Isn't she doomed to die?" Rong Junye's heart, which had just been at ease, was filled with anxiety again.

"Not necessarily... Miss Yu is so clever, she must have kept something in reserve," Yan Mingzhang advised.

"My lord, you mean—the Imperial Seal?" Rong Wanyin pondered for a moment. Miss Yu only had one card left in her hand, which was the Imperial Seal, so she certainly wouldn't carry it with her like that. Judging from the Sixth Prince's reaction, the Imperial Seal was definitely lost.

So, where did Miss Yu hide the Imperial Seal?

But where is it hidden? She got off the carriage and went straight to the palace wall, so the imperial seal was along the way, or even on the palace wall!

Yan Mingzhang walked back and forth on the palace wall several times, then he stopped at one point and stared at an ordinary blue brick on the wall: "Do you remember what Miss Yu said?"

"Huh? Which sentence? She said a lot that day, which sentence are you referring to?" Rong Wanyin looked blank.

"It's that line, 'Your heart is harder than the blue bricks on this palace wall.'" Yan Mingzhang repeated Yu Nishang's words, even his tone was very similar.

Rong Wanyin instantly understood and gasped, "You mean... blue bricks?"

“Yes!” Yan Mingzhang nodded, and then tapped and knocked on the blue bricks on the palace wall.

"Huh? What blue bricks?" Rong Junye was completely lost again, utterly bewildered.

"The imperial seal may have been placed inside the blue bricks!" Rong Wanyin explained simply.