Shangguan Zifeng had never imagined that his first solo venture away from his family, intended as a way to prove himself to those old antiques, would encounter such a predicament. The words of this anciently dressed woman made him feel as if he were watching a fantasy drama, as modern society surely couldn't contain such a defiance of nature. He had heard of ancient corpses that didn't decay for thousands of years, but how could there be an ancient person who was undying for a millennium?
But no matter how hard it was for Shangguan Zifeng to accept, this incredibly unlikely event had happened, unprecedentedly, and was unfolding right before his eyes. Shangguan Zifeng tried to calm himself and eventually regained his power of speech, stammering, "So, um, you say you are also from the Shangguan Family? The jade pendant on you was given by your mother, and you've never been without it, is that correct?"
"Didn't I make myself clear just now? What doubts do you have? Could it be you're questioning my integrity?" she said.
Now freed, Shangguan Linlang's mood was not too pleasant. Shangguan Zifeng dared to keep asking questions, which irritated the Empress. Having not interacted with outsiders for a long time, her temper was even more unpredictable, and she felt the urge to hit someone whenever she disagreed—how was she to resolve this?
"Erm, I didn't mean it that way. It's just that, suddenly encountering an ancestor like you, it's inevitable to be somewhat flustered. Don't be angry; I won't ask any more. As for your questions, I really don't know how to answer because I'm just a junior member of the Shangguan Family. I'm not very clear about these ancient matters. If you want to understand the connection between yourself and our family, the only way is to go back with me to the Shangguan Residence to see my grandfather. So, what do you say?"
Shangguan Linlang, carrying herself like a true Empress, nonchalantly crushed a heavy stone table with a single motion of her hand. Witnessing such prowess left Shangguan Zifeng stunned, but he knew better than to provoke this formidable ancestor; he might lose his life in this ancient tomb. He managed a wry smile and, wracking his brains, began communicating with Shangguan Linlang using an ancient dialect. Now, all Shangguan Zifeng wanted was to pass this hot potato to those old fossils of his family as soon as possible.
"Very well, then lead the way. We shall go to the Shangguan Residence immediately."
Shangguan Zifeng's words were met with some dissatisfaction from the Empress, who was unpleased that the man before her was so ignorant. Fortunately, he offered a more helpful clue, which spared the Empress from potentially cutting him down in her rage. Just the thought of her descendants stooping to tomb-robbing—a despised trade—infuriated her.
"Ah, very well, please follow me this way, Ancestor." Upon hearing Shangguan Linlang's words, Shangguan Zifeng felt his head throb with bewilderment, never having anticipated a day when he'd relate to an ancient being.
"Where is our carriage parked?"
Shangguan Linlang, stepping out from the dark Underground Palace, was greeted by the first rays of sunlight after a thousand years of sleep. The sensation made the Empress feel as if she had been reborn, although the world before her seemed different from the era she had known. The young man's fashion and shorn hair were utterly foreign to her. Although not one to cling to the past, she tolerated the unfamiliar sight; however, after looking around for a while and not seeing any carriage, she inquired of Shangguan Zifeng.
"Nowadays, we don't use carriages anymore. I came here by car. Ancestor, please wait here for a moment; I'll be right back." Shangguan Zifeng held back a smile, patiently explaining to this figure out of time.
"You needn't refer to me as 'Ancestor' every time; I was but sixteen when I went to sleep, younger than you. You can address me as 'Empress' directly. I am the only Empress of Han Ziye, the Monarch of Yulong Country."
Shangguan Linlang didn't want to be addressed as 'Ancestor' by Shangguan Zifeng; she found it uncomfortable, thus bringing up her title. However, uttering the name Han Ziye sparked a surge of emotions, twisting her expression as Shangguan Zifeng's mouth twitched—he surmised there must be a tragic history between the royal couple. But now wasn't the time for wild speculation. The beautiful woman before him was no easy foe, and should she become displeased, his life could be at stake. He certainly wasn't foolish enough to incur her wrath.