Ye Ningjie still felt shocked. It turned out that the map really kept a secret. No wonder Zhou Wanwu reminded her to take good care of it and not let others know.
So, that's the reason.
The map shows the state of the empire nakedly. The eight residences of these high officials turned out to have their secrets and duties. The red ink has delivered it all.
Really, this map can't fall into the wrong hands. However, Ye Ningjie herself also didn't seem like a good people. Does that mean the map has fallen to the wrong person?
Ah, to hell with that.
Ye Ningjie observed the secret route that was displayed. There are two secret paths to enter the imperial palace. Each of those routes was far from each other, and it was in an unexpected place.
One of those secret passages is in the Zhonglei temple. It is located on the outskirts of the southern city of Jin An. It was a quiet place. In the south of Jin An city, people say there are many bamboo forest.
Maybe the temple is near those bamboo forest, Ye Ningjie thought.
There is another secret path that is in a resident's house. Ye Ningjie, who saw that, was immediately stunned. How could a resident's house be the entrance to a secret passage leading to the imperial palace?
There is no further information about this resident's house. However, a family that could be so trusted as such was definitely not ordinary. Perhaps the family had a hidden master who possessed extraordinary power. Who knows?
After observing the two roads, the Zhonglei temple is more suitable for Ye Ningjie's target. It was in a quiet place. Although there was a tight guard, she had more chances to infiltrate.
After all, Ye Ningjie would have an excuse if she came to the temple. First, of course, to pray.
Finally, Ye Ningjie had a plan. Soon she will go to the Zhonglei temple, looking for an opportunity to enter the secret passage to the imperial palace secretly.
Is that a good plan? Ye Ningjie didn't know. She didn't want to disguise herself as an imperial maid or an imperial worker because she wasn't willing to serve anything under Huang Feiyu.
It's better for her to infiltrate like this than to be the underling of that stupid emperor.
Ye Ningjie's attention turned to a red circle near the Hui river, the river that divides the city of Jin An. Again her eyes widened. There is a note stating that the circle's location is an armoury.
She researched again and found that such circles were not the only ones. Several more circles are separated from each other.
"So, they also collect weapons outside the palace?"
Ye Ningjie chuckled. It was unexpected. Maybe the goal is to keep a spare weapon if needed at any time.
Then she saw there was a picture of a red square elsewhere. Records there stated that the box symbolised imperial assets such as gold and gems.
That's crazy stuff! Wouldn't the empire be at a significant loss if the place was broken? However, the treasure storehouse was so secret and hidden that ordinary people wouldn't know.
Ye Ningjie spent a while until the red ink on the map's surface began to fade little by little. The secret ink that can be raised with a hot temperature, can disappear if the temperature is cold again.
After all the red ink had disappeared, Ye Ningjie smiled in relief. But, inwardly, she wondered, did the other person who had the map also know the secret behind it? Or do they think it's just an ordinary map?
In fact, not all officials know the secret. The people who know about the mystery of the map are primarily seniors and ancestors.
Just like Zhou Wanwu. He knew about the secret, but his two sons didn't know the details. They only knew that the map had a vital secret they didn't know how to unlock.
If the officials knew of the secret, surely the empire would be in danger. Humans are greedy creatures. Who knows what they will do? They could break into treasure vaults or infiltrate palaces to commit crimes.
Ye Ningjie was one of the luckiest girls. She was allowed to keep the map and even reveal its secret. However, if the officials found out about this, they might feel jealous or even force her to tell the secret.
She kept the map carefully and then surveyed the evening sky. Soon it will be dark. She had to clean up and get ready for dinner.
***
Meanwhile, Huang Feiyu was still in the Yongheng Palace in the imperial palace. It was the emperor's particular room was used to work on government affairs.
He was currently waiting for General Li's arrival. There was something he wanted to ask his friend. Their relationship was indeed not just an imperial affair.
A few moments later, the person he had been waiting for finally came. General Li greeted, making Huang Feiyu sigh and wave his hand.
"Your Imperial Majesty, do you have anything to say?"
Huang Feiyu closed the scroll on the table. "Recently, did any foreigner enter the official's residence?"
"Your Majesty, there are many officials in Jin An. And every day, there are also going in and out," replied General Li honestly. He was a little surprised by the question. Why should their emperor ask such a thing?
"Whose residence?" asked Huang Feiyu again.
Before General Li could answer, Eunuch Wei suddenly asked permission to enter. The older man timidly lowered his head. "Your Imperial Majesty, Official Tang is outside. He… he urgently wants to see you."
Huang Feiyu narrowed his eyes. "Tang Duchun? Why would he come at this hour?"
"He said it was urgent business. I have tried to restrain him, but he seems impatient to wait."
"Let him in." Huang Feiyu said.
"All right, Your Imperial Majesty."
Eunuch Wei came out of the room, then not long after, a burly middle-aged man stepped in with hasty steps. He was Tang Duchun, Tang Yue and Tang Yin's father.
"Your Imperial Majesty, General Li, sorry if my arrival has disturbed," said Tang Duchun after saluting him.
"Hmm. What makes Official Tang look like a ghost is chasing him?" asked Huang Feiyu in a sarcastic tone.
"Your Imperial Majesty, this… is not the business of the empire." Tang Duchun looked a little doubtful. "It's about my second daughter."
Huang Feiyu snorted after hearing that. "What about your second daughter?"
Tang Duchun suddenly fell to his knees. His hands were brought together in front.
"Your Majesty, I would like you to grant a marriage to Tang Yin and Young Master Zhou. My daughter likes Young Master Zhou, but we are too embarrassed to have started first."
"Oh?" Huang Feiyu raised the corners of his eyebrows. Usually, officials asked the emperor's blessing for marriage so that no party dared to refuse the marriage. So what was the reason for the Tang family to do this?
"Why so sudden?" asked Huang Feiyu.
"Your Imperial Majesty, a foreign girl has entered the Zhou residence today. I am afraid the Zhou family will set the girl up with Young Master Zhou Yan," Tang Duchun replied with his head down.
"Foreign girl? Who is that?"
"I do not know for sure. However, I heard that she is from Jinshi."
Huang Feiyu looked at General Li mysteriously. Then he said, "Alright. Marriage is not a simple matter. I cannot decide unilaterally. Tomorrow I will ask Officer Zhou to speak."
"Thank you very much! Your Imperial Majesty is indeed wise!" Tang Duchun kowtowed respectfully. After that, he immediately stood up.
"Then I will not disturb Your Imperial Majesty any further," said Tang Duchun, who then bid his farewell before finally leaving the room.
After Tang Duchun left, General Li immediately approached the emperor again, then said, "Your Imperial Majesty, it is indeed true. This afternoon Zhou Yan entered the capital with a girl."
"You know how she looks and how old she is?"
"She is a pretty girl. She is probably 17 or 18."
Huang Fei Yu suddenly smirked. This Zhou Yan's figure was similar to the youth who pointed a sword in the ancestral hall of Xianqi palace. If it was him, the girl he was with must be the one he was waiting for.
"Li Hongyi, keep an eye on that girl! What a little traitor! It turns out she is good at finding hiding places."
General Li immediately nodded. "All right, Your Imperial Majesty."