Mysteries of the Great Zhou Dynasty

Chapter 205 Jade Seal
"Blue bricks? How could the imperial seal be inside blue bricks? These blue bricks are solid, look!" Rong Junye reached out and gently pried off a blue brick from the palace wall. Holding the brick, Rong Junye was dumbfounded. "How could it be so easy to break off? I didn't use any force, I really didn't use any force! What kind of quality is this palace wall!"

Yan Mingzhang and Rong Wanyin walked over quickly, took the blue brick, and were somewhat speechless. They had been searching for so long, but Rong Junye had found it just by picking it up casually.

“My lord, look, there’s a crack here!” Rong Wanyin held the blue brick close to the torch and pointed to the crack. “Moreover, this blue brick is grayish in color, which seems different from the others. It should not have been fired in the same batch.”

Yan Mingzhang pulled out a dagger from his boot, inserted it into the gap, and pried it off. A square blue brick slab, about an inch thick, was removed.

"This...this blue brick has actually been hollowed out!" Rong Junye was extremely shocked, his eyes widened, and he couldn't close his mouth for a long time.

A square hole was carved out in the middle of the blue brick, a hole just big enough to hold the imperial seal!
The imperial seal has been found!
“I heard from the Sixth Prince’s servants that she’s come here many times. Almost every time the Sixth Prince enters the palace, she comes here and stays for the whole day. I guess she had already measured the dimensions of the palace wall’s blue bricks back then, and had this brick cut out while she was at the Prince’s residence. When the time was right, she would replace it. I guess she came so many times to familiarize herself with the environment and to lower the servants’ guards’ guards,” Yan Mingzhang said, stroking the blue brick.

It seems Yan Mingzhang was right; this wasn't something that had been planned in a day or two, but rather something that had been premeditated for a long time.

"But if the goal is simply to escape from the Sixth Prince, why go through all this trouble?" Rong Junye scratched his head, utterly puzzled.

“You’re absolutely right. If she just wanted to escape, she could have simply planned her escape route or asked you for help. Why would she have left behind her clothes and the yellow cloth, spreading rumors? So her goal is definitely not as simple as escaping; her goal is revenge! Revenge against the Sixth Prince! She can’t let the Sixth Prince ascend the throne, even if it means sacrificing her own life!” Yan Mingzhang glanced at Rong Junye. “Moreover, it’s highly likely that Miss Yu is currently in the hands of the Khitan princess!”

"Wouldn't that be terrible? What the Khitan princess wants is for Miss Yu to relinquish her position as Crown Princess, leaving the Sixth Prince in a sorry state so she can offer him help in his time of need. She doesn't want the Sixth Prince to lose his position as Crown Prince. If the Sixth Prince loses his position, wouldn't the Khitan princess have worked for nothing?" Rong Junye thought to himself, feeling anxious. He wondered where Miss Yu was now and whether she was being treated cruelly.
“You’re absolutely right. So, the most urgent thing is for us to find Miss Yu and rescue her!” Rong Wanyin’s tone became urgent. “The capital is so big, where are we supposed to find her? It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.”

Yan Mingzhang smiled slightly and said, "Don't worry, someone will be anxious. We can just follow along."

"You mean the Khitan princess?" Rong Wanyin asked.

“Yes, the imperial seal is missing, and the prince she's set her sights on is embroiled in rumors. The benefits she was about to receive could very well slip away. If you were in her shoes, wouldn't you be anxious? She's definitely trying to find out the whereabouts of the imperial seal as soon as possible!” Yan Mingzhang analyzed.
"You mean, the Khitan princess also knew the imperial seal was missing?" Rong Junye asked, "This is a secret of the Great Zhou!"

"With such a large-scale salvage operation, it's hard not to know..." Yan Mingzhang stated a fact. "Besides, if I were Miss Yu, I would also let the Khitan princess know that only I know the whereabouts of the imperial seal. I'm not afraid of information being known; I'm afraid of being silenced because the information is worthless. Now, all we need to do is follow the Khitan princess to find Miss Yu!"

“Tracking? I’m an expert at that!” Rong Wanyin raised her hand high. She had just come down from the palace wall when her elder brother snatched it away. This time, she wasn’t going to let him have it!
-
In a secluded courtyard in the capital, a few noisy sounds emanated. Fortunately, the surrounding area was mostly abandoned, and apart from startling a few stray dogs, no one else heard them. Rong Wanyin and Rong Junye lay on the roof, carefully removing a tile and peering through the hole.

"Are you going to talk or not?" The Khitan princess stood with her left hand on her hip, one foot on a stool, and her right hand holding a riding whip, which was about to fall. "Is this how you Zhou people betray your promises? Is this what you call a land of propriety? How laughable!"

"I'll tell you, but only after I've reached a safe place." Yu Nishang sat at the octagonal table, leisurely poured herself a cup of hot tea, and began to sip it.

The Khitan princess was so angry she was practically fuming. She raised her whip and lashed out.

Rong Junye, unable to contain himself any longer, was about to go down and play the hero to save the damsel in distress when Rong Wanyin stopped him. Rong Wanyin raised her chin, urging him to look closely and listen to more information. It turned out that the whip hadn't hit Yu Nishang, but had struck the cup in her hand, shattering it in two.

Yu Ni Chang remained unfazed, put down the cup in her hand, took out a handkerchief, and wiped the water clean, finger by finger.

"Do you believe I'll kill you? Didn't we agree that I'd help you fake your death and escape, and you'd help me sabotage him so he wouldn't become crown prince too easily? Then I'd offer help in his time of need, he'd be grateful, and the marriage would naturally be finalized. But now, by doing this, he's practically become a pawn. The people of the Great Zhou have always believed in these prophecies. If those rumors spread, he'll never be crown prince! Then all my efforts will have been for nothing!" the Khitan princess roared. No one had ever dared to deceive her like this before!

"Of course I believe you would dare to kill me, but I know you won't. As long as I'm alive, you have a chance to turn the tables. Only I know where the Imperial Seal is. Once I'm in a safe place, I'll tell you." Yu Ni Chang looked calmly at the Khitan princess.

The Khitan princess gripped her riding whip tightly, wishing she could lash it out: "You think I'd let you go? Aren't you being incredibly naive?"

“You have no choice. As long as I don’t show up, that person won’t give you the imperial seal. If I’m even slightly injured, you won’t get the seal.” Yu Nishang’s tone became increasingly calm, and she had completely gained the upper hand in this negotiation.

The Khitan princess made this decision entirely on her own without consulting anyone else. Now that things have turned out this way, she is even less willing to ask anyone else for help, as she can't bear the shame!

But after all, she was a pampered princess, and she was still a bit impatient and too naive.

The Khitan princess flicked her sleeve and left. The door slammed shut with a "bang," followed by the sound of chains.