Reborn as a Happy Wife in a Rural Family
Chapter 204: Cave

Chapter 204: Chapter 204: Cave

Gu Xicheng looked at the ministers who were still chattering and laughing, completely oblivious to the impending crisis, and he frowned.

If the Capital City were to be breached, there would be two outcomes. One, they would be recruited and still employed. After all, they were all important ministers of the nation. However, they wouldn’t be entrusted with significant power and would merely serve during a transitional phase. Once they were no longer needed, their fates would certainly not be happy. The other outcome was that they would be killed.

Gu Xicheng sighed heavily, looking up at the sky. Throughout history, no imperial city that has been breached has ever met a good end. Beneath a ruined nest, how can any egg remain intact?

With a heavy heart, Gu Xicheng walked towards the palace gate.

「In the Space.」

After two days of recuperation, everyone’s injuries had stabilized, and Gu Qingli finally breathed a sigh of relief. Only then did she have time to check on the Heavenly Mulberry Tree that had been moved into the Space. Seeing that the tree was still alive and no different from when it was outside, Gu Qingli decided to leave it for now and plant it after everyone had recovered. She took the Ice Silkworm chrysalises and placed them in the snow, wondering if they would hatch into Ice Silkworms.

In the following days, Gu Qingli mostly took care of Xiao Yunjing and the others. After ten days of rest, Xiao Yunjing’s body had fully recovered. Wuqing and her three companions had also largely recovered from their severe injuries. Only the eighty Yun guards were recovering more slowly, as their internal strength was much weaker; their survival was already a great fortune amidst misfortune. Another month of rest would likely see them fully recovered. Yun No. 20 and Yun No. 18 were already up and about, full of energy.

So, Xiao Yunjing decided it was time to leave the Space.

Gu Qingli’s belly had grown larger again. Though only nearly four months pregnant, she looked as if she were seven or eight months along, and even walking left her a little breathless.

It was still the same sedan chair, carried by Wushuang and Wuxin.

Once Gu Qingli was dressed and seated, Xiao Yunjing and the others stood by her side. With a mere thought from her, the group appeared in the mountain hollow.

Upon emerging, they found their path blocked by a natural chasm.

"Young Master, let me try to fly up," Yun No. 20 said, looking at the precipice.

Xiao Yunjing shook his head. "No need."

It’s so high, even I’m not confident I can fly up, let alone Yun No. 20 and the others.

While Xiao Yunjing and his group were contemplating a way across the chasm, Wuyou and Wuqing flew down to the base of the cliff. They began tapping here and there on the ice wall.

Gu Qingli watched them, laughing inwardly at the two silly girls. An ice wall that even a tornado couldn’t destroy, did they really think they could shatter it with a palm strike?

"Here! Young Master, Wuyou, Yun No. 20, quickly, come here!" Wuqing suddenly shouted in excitement, as if she had discovered something.

Xiao Yunjing’s eyes flickered, and he strode over quickly. He saw several of them strike the mountain face with a powerful palm.

CRASH!

As the block of ice fell away, a seemingly natural cave entrance was revealed.

"Hehe, I knew there was something strange here that day," Wuqing chuckled, pleased.

"Young Master, shall we go in and see what’s inside?" Yun No. 20 requested.

"Mm, go with Yun No. 18. Be careful," Xiao Yunjing said with a nod.

"Yes!"

Yun No. 20 and Yun No. 18 swiftly entered the cave.

"You two, come here," Xiao Yunjing said to Wuqing and Wuyou.

"Yes, Young Master," the two women replied, quickly moving to stand on either side of Gu Qingli.

Xiao Yunjing also darted into the cave.

"Come in."

After a moment, they heard Xiao Yunjing’s voice from within. Gu Qingli and the rest of the group then entered the cave.

As soon as she was inside, Gu Qingli took out a flashlight. Xiao Yunjing and the others could see in the dark due to their internal strength, but she could not.

Initially, the cave was all ice. As they ventured deeper, it became apparent that it was a man-made tunnel. This tunnel was much wider than the one beneath the Yanshan Mountain Range. It was wide enough for a carriage to pass through and was about two meters high.

"Miss, why is it so wide here? What was it built for?" Wuqing asked Gu Qingli curiously.

Gu Qingli looked at the tunnel and shook her head. She had never seen anything like it, much less understood its purpose, especially one deep within the Icefield. It was just like the tunnel under the Yanshan Mountain Range; she didn’t know who had dug it or for what reason.

After two hours, Yun No. 20 and Yun No. 18 returned.

"Young Master, there’s a stone door ahead. It’s blocked, and we can’t get through."

"Let’s go take a look," Xiao Yunjing said.

So, the group quickened their pace. Sure enough, when they reached the end of the tunnel, a stone door barred their way. Gu Qingli shone her flashlight on it. The door was arched, its edges carved with strange patterns. She couldn’t understand them.

Xiao Yunjing was already running his hands over the patterns. These patterns felt somewhat familiar, but he couldn’t recall where he had seen them before. He was certain he hadn’t seen them in this life, so it must have been in his past life. Xiao Yunjing kept trying to recall, but after thinking for a long time, he still couldn’t remember.

This was Tianshan, a mysterious place on the continent, surrounded by many legends. Legend had it that Tianshan was once a place where spring lasted all year round. However, in a single night, this verdant land had transformed into a vast Icefield. The original Tianshan Ancient City, which was the capital of the ancient Beixia Ancient Kingdom, was said to be buried beneath this Icefield.

Could this natural chasm be the location of the ancient city of the Beixia Ancient Kingdom? If so, what about this door and these patterns? Xiao Yunjing examined the carvings carefully. Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind. These patterns were very similar to those on the late Emperor’s coffin! He was only ten at the time and had seen them in the crowd during the late Emperor’s funeral procession. Although it was just a fleeting glimpse, the memory was still vivid, mainly because the pattern was so striking. However, they were still somewhat different from these.

Xiao Yunjing wondered, could this be an Emperor’s tomb? And could it be related to the Daqian Imperial Family?

Xiao Yunjing gently touched the patterns but found nothing unusual. Usually, places with mechanisms had a switch. There was obviously no such thing here, so they would have to resort to brute force.

"You two, step back," Xiao Yunjing instructed Wushuang and Wuxin. Then, calling to Yun No. 20, Yun No. 18, and Wuyou, he commanded, "You three, come here! Wuqing, protect Li’er!"

Everyone immediately followed his instructions.

"Let’s all push together," Xiao Yunjing said to the three of them.

They nodded.

The four of them gathered their strength simultaneously.

"Attack!"

With Xiao Yunjing’s shout, the four of them struck the stone door with all their might.

RUMBLE...

The stone door cracked under the force. _{free\we\bnov(e)(l).com}

SWISH, SWISH, SWISH...

At the same instant, countless arrows shot out from the breached doorway.

CLANG, CLANG, CLANG...

After a barrage of metallic clashes, everyone paused.

"That was close!" Yun No. 20 exclaimed, still holding his sword in a defensive posture.

"Is Li’er alright?" Xiao Yunjing asked, panting as he leaped over and clasped Gu Qingli’s hand.

"I’m fine. You blocked all the arrows at the front," Gu Qingli replied. "Besides, Wushuang and Wuxin retreated quickly as soon as they heard the sound, and Wuqing was in front blocking any stray arrows."

"That’s good." Xiao Yunjing picked up an arrow from the ground and examined it.