The construction of the imperial mausoleum was a matter of great national importance, requiring immense manpower and resources. Fortunately, Emperor Taizu had foresight and had long designated the dragon vein site, sparing the difficulty of selecting a location. Now that the underground palace was to be rebuilt, though the task of site selection was avoided, the scale of the project remained colossal and would undoubtedly demand tremendous effort.
"His Majesty summoned the Minister and other high-ranking officials for an urgent discussion yesterday, deciding to rebuild the imperial mausoleum's underground palace. This construction is no ordinary matter—it requires diverting water for the perimeter, with many intricate details to consider. His Majesty has ordered our Ministry of Works to submit the design within ten days. Our bureau's task is to search through these archives for records related to the mausoleum's construction."
Lu Chao gazed at the towering stacks of documents before him and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. No wonder Cen Chou looked utterly exhausted. He regretted not taking a few more days off.
"Ahem. Liu Jie, Cen Chou, continue searching the archives. Lu Chao, come here—I have another task for you."
Chief Clerk Zhang cleared his throat and beckoned Lu Chao over, his tone laced with concern.
"Lu Chao, you still don’t look well. These archives have been gathering dust for years, and if you bury yourself in them, you might fall ill again. Minister Lu specifically instructed us to take care of you."
He paused, lowering his voice.
"To be frank, His Majesty was in a foul mood yesterday. We’ve been assigned this task, and the slightest misstep could provoke his displeasure. With Prince Kang currently overseeing state affairs, I suggest you go to the palace and inquire with His Highness about what kind of design His Majesty truly desires. That way, we can proceed with clarity and present a solid plan as soon as possible."
Lu Chao nodded in acknowledgment.
"Understood, Chief Clerk. I will do my best."
Chief Clerk Zhang gave a satisfied nod and patted Lu Chao’s shoulder.
"You’ve always been reliable, so I’m not worried. But when entering the palace to meet Prince Kang, don’t neglect etiquette. Remember to bring our Ministry’s official documents as a pretext."
Holding Prince Kang’s token, Lu Chao entered the palace unimpeded. The moment he stepped into the hall, before he could even bow, Prince Kang looked up, his eyes glinting with understanding and a faint smile playing on his lips. He spoke first.
"You’ve come at just the right time. I was about to send someone to fetch you."
Lu Chao was momentarily taken aback, his expression turning puzzled.
"Oh? Does Your Highness possess foresight, or are we simply in sync?"
Prince Kang raised a brow and replied leisurely, "Is it about the mausoleum?"
Lu Chao quickly responded, "Yes. Chief Clerk Zhang sent me to inquire about the underground palace’s design."
Prince Kang shook his head.
"Father suddenly brought this up yesterday—even I wasn’t informed beforehand. However, I heard that Master Mingyue recently returned from his travels and was summoned to the palace a few days ago. This might be related."
Lu Chao understood but couldn’t help his curiosity.
"And who is Master Mingyue?"
"The esteemed abbot of Bodhi Temple, a master of celestial divination and astrology. It’s said he spends years traveling the Western Seas, spreading salvation. Father holds him in high regard."
Lu Chao gave a slight nod, not pressing further about the revered monk. He casually picked up a pastry and popped it into his mouth, his tone lazy.
"Seems like you don’t have any useful information either. Might as well loaf around here for half the day before heading back—spares me from digging through those tedious archives."
Prince Kang set down his brush and shook his head with a resigned sigh, his tone firm.
"You won’t get to slack off this time."
He met Lu Chao’s gaze, his expression serious.
"My mentor wishes to enter the imperial mausoleum’s underground palace, and I intend to entrust you with the design."
"Cough—cough—!"
Lu Chao choked on his pastry, coughing violently as he thumped his chest to clear his throat. He stared at Prince Kang in disbelief.
"Me?! Your Highness, you can’t be serious!"
Prince Kang chuckled at his reaction but remained composed.
"Do I look like I’m joking?"
Lu Chao finally caught his breath, though his shock lingered. He gave a bitter laugh.
"Your Highness, the design of the imperial mausoleum’s underground palace is no trivial matter—it concerns the fate of the nation! How can a mere clerk like me shoulder such responsibility? Even if you agree, His Majesty won’t! Besides, I studied Mohist mechanical traps, not imperial tomb construction!"
Prince Kang merely smiled in silence.
Lu Chao sighed.
Fine. Many ancient tombs did incorporate mechanical traps.
"The decision is already made. Just do your best. With my mentor overseeing this, what is there to fear? As for Father—don’t worry, he’ll agree. This matter is of utmost importance, and we must ensure perfection."
Lu Chao felt utterly defeated.
"Those who design imperial mausoleums tend to disappear quietly. Am I going to be… dealt with?"
He mimed a throat-slitting gesture.
Prince Kang chuckled lightly, his tone relaxed.
"Relax. I’ll still need you to design my own mausoleum someday. Why would I let anything happen to you?"
Lu Chao forced a dry laugh.
"Ha. No need. Given my health, I’ll probably go before you."
Now he saw it clearly—no wonder he’d been assigned to the Ministry of Works. This had been the plan all along. Those raised in the art of strategy truly played the long game. Even the old emperor had been outmaneuvered by his own son.
Lu Chao frowned, his doubts deepening. What exactly was hidden in that underground palace? Why was the old man so determined to enter?
Lu Chao stayed in the palace until the afternoon before returning to the Ministry of Works. The moment he stepped in, Chief Clerk Zhang eagerly approached, his eyes burning with anticipation.
Lu Chao shook his head, his expression grave, offering no explanation.
"Hmph!"
Liu Jie snorted, slamming a stack of documents onto the table, clearly displeased with Lu Chao’s fruitless trip and late return.
Chief Clerk Zhang frowned but pressed on in a hushed voice.
"Not even a scrap of information?"
Lu Chao glanced around before leaning in and whispering,
"A rumor—Master Mingyue."
Chief Clerk Zhang’s eyes widened in realization. That explained it.
Master Mingyue was known for deciphering celestial secrets but rarely appeared in public. If His Majesty was displeased, could it mean the nation’s fortune was at stake?
His expression turned solemn. He patted Lu Chao’s shoulder.
"You’ve worked hard today. Since you’re still recovering, go rest early."
With that, he swiftly turned and hurried toward Minister Lu’s study.
Lu Chao picked up his water flask and nodded slightly at Liu Jie.
"Thank you for your efforts, Clerk Cen and Clerk Liu."
Without another word, he strode out of the office.
He needed to hurry back and ask the old man—what exactly was in that underground palace? Why this sudden insistence on entering?
Liu Jie gaped at Lu Chao’s brazen early departure, nearly choking on his indignation. Remembering Heir Xiao’s fate, he swallowed his anger.
In the palace, candlelight flickered dimly.
Prince Kang stood by the desk, pressing a hidden mechanism. A compartment opened silently, revealing a yellowed scroll—a handwritten letter left to him by his Crown Prince Brother.
He carefully traced his fingers over the pages, as if he could still feel his elder brother's warmth lingering there, a flicker of complex emotions passing through his eyes.
"Brother... soon," he murmured under his breath, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible.
