The Empire of Jin was one of the greatest and most refined empires in history. Renowned for its power, vast expanse, and the advancements it contributed to human civilization, its fame extended beyond its borders and endured through the ages. The story of the empire cannot be told without mentioning the legendary Emperor Jin Shi Roku, whose reign flooded the nation with unprecedented achievements, unmatched before or after his era, which spanned over a century. This was largely due to his unparalleled intelligence and fierce instincts, enabling him to establish numerous agreements and treaties with neighboring states.
Additionally, he formed military and economic alliances that allowed him to expand intelligently while minimizing the use of military force. Even more remarkable was his extraordinary ability to attract talent and skills, elevating the nation in diverse fields, including unconventional ones such as cooking, art, and particularly medicine. This mastery granted him subtle dominance over all sectors and cemented his control over the entire land of Jin Jiao Rong. Like most monarchs of his era, he fathered a considerable number of children, with his thirteen concubines bearing him thirteen sons and seven daughters, all of whom played significant roles in building and enhancing the empire. These are but a few of the accomplishments witnessed under the reign of Emperor Jin Xi Roku.
With these words, the history teacher concluded his lecture on the illustrious history of the Jin Empire just as the bell rang, signaling the end of the class. The students began packing up their belongings, preparing to leave the room.
"Hold on, students, no need to rush! Don't forget to prepare your tools and lunchboxes for tomorrow's field trip. It's a special visit to Emperor Jin Xi's palace, one of the most important and prestigious historical landmarks you might ever see. The palace has remained intact without being rebuilt by modern inhabitants, thanks to the architectural genius of that time."
The students nodded in agreement before quickly leaving the room. Their teacher shook his head slightly with a tired expression , before smiling warmly, watching their playful and enthusiastic departure. He was a kind-hearted and intelligent man with a warm but sharp personality. His appearance was simple yet comforting, and he was regarded as one of the youngest history teachers in the country, holding a Ph.D. in the subject. His name was Ming Xi.
After packing up his things, Ming returned home on foot, pondering what he should prepare for the next day's trip. Truth be told, Ming's residence was unlike any other. He lived in a guesthouse designated for tourists from other cities or villages who came to visit the renowned historical sites in their small town. This guesthouse was managed by Ming's grandmother, Xiao Min, who oversaw everything with the help of her elderly friends.
"Welcome back, Ming. How was your day?"
"I'm back, Grandma. It wasn't bad."
"Tell me, son, when are you going to quit your miserable job as an unlucky teacher and take over running the guesthouse from me?"
"We've discussed this before, Grandma. Why would I want to spend the rest of my life managing an old guesthouse? I love history. Let me teach history!"
"Nonsense! Do you think history will find you a good wife? Don't you know women only care about men with businesses and property, not poor, unlucky teachers? Wake up, Ming! Chasing after the ghosts of the past won't lead you anywhere and certainly won't give you a family."
"Grandma, don't you ever tire of trying to match me with someone? All you talk about is marriage and settling down."
"Why not? It's fun," ( she replied with a mischievous smile and raised eyebrows.)
Ming sighed softly :
"Anyway, I'll be taking the students to Jin Xi's palace tomorrow, so don't wait for me at lunch."
"Oh , I see … the old emperor's palace? Interesting. Alright, then…"
A sly smile spread across her face as she quipped sarcastically,
"Just be careful not to end up stuck in one of those famous nail coffins they had."
"Yes, yes. Whatever. Goodnight, Grandma."
Ming left the room as his grandmother polished her Go stones, humming her favorite tune. He went to his room, packed his things, and eagerly awaited the next day's trip.
---
Morning arrived quickly, and Ming headed to school to meet the students at the school bus stop. He smiled as soon as he saw them, brimming with excitement for the unique event. After all, it was the first time they would visit Jin Shi's palace—a site famous for its exceptional preservation and rarity in being almost entirely intact. Due to its historical significance, gaining access to explore it fully was extremely challenging, requiring great effort from Rong University to secure this opportunity, which explained the students' excitement.
Ming boarded the bus with his students, and they set off. The students chatted and laughed animatedly, their enthusiasm evident. Ming, however, sat at the front next to the driver, observing his students with a hint of concealed excitement. His love for Jin Empire history, particularly the era of Jin Shi Roku, made this trip particularly meaningful. Among countless historical eras, this was one of the longest and most eventful, filled with battles, intrigues, and captivating stories. Ming had worked tirelessly to convince the university of this trip and win over the students, ensuring they'd propose him as their supervisor. Yet, as a teacher, he maintained a composed demeanor to preserve his professional image. Suppressing his excitement, he cleared his throat, adjusted his posture, and closed his eyes in an effort to contain his growing anticipation.
---
After two hours, they arrived in front of a grand, ancient palace. The students eagerly disembarked, one after another. Upon descending, they were greeted by a security guard and a guide, who collected their phones before leading them inside. Ming followed the group alongside the security guard, ensuring no damage or trouble occurred.
As they toured the palace, listening to the guide, Ming noticed a radiant beam of light emanating from one of the rooms. His steps faltered as he found himself drawn to the doorway, where the light suddenly vanished. Realizing he had unintentionally fallen behind, he turned left and right, only to discover he had lost sight of both the guide and the students. They had moved to the next hall, leaving him behind without any means of contact. Scratching his head in frustration, he decided to step into the room, hoping it might lead him back to his group.
The room was filled with fascinating artifacts and intricate wall paintings, captivating Ming's historical curiosity. As he explored further, the same golden light reappeared, drawing him toward a grand, ornate coffin covered in dust. Excitement surged through him as he brushed off the dust, revealing the inscription of Jin Shi Roku's name in ancient Chinese script. His eyes widened in disbelief as he realized he was standing before the legendary emperor's tomb.
He hurriedly opened the coffin, noticing its lid adorned with hundreds of nails and needles. For a brief moment, his grandmother's warning about the "famous nail coffins" echoed in his mind, but he dismissed it with a scoff, refocusing on the discovery before him. However, as he pushed the heavy lid further open, it suddenly slipped from his grasp, causing him to lose balance and fall backward onto the sharp nails. Pain seared through his back, panic gripping his heart as he exclaimed in shock,
"Potatoes! Did Grandma curse me?!"
As he contemplated his fate, lamenting leaving his grandmother behind (though secretly cursing her ominous prediction), his vision blurred, and the surroundings darkened. He felt his senses fade momentarily before reopening his eyes, finding himself lying face down on a soft bed. The sharp pain in his back persisted, though it had lessened to a strange but soothing sensation. Feeling oddly relaxed, he muttered absentmindedly,
"Put another one near the left rib, close to the neck."
A trembling voice replied, "As you wish, Your Majesty."
"Yes, yes. Just hurry," Ming responded instinctively.
Moments later, clarity struck him like a lightning bolt. Startled by the unfamiliar voice, he bolted upright, locking eyes with an old man kneeling before him.
"Have I displeased Your Majesty?" the man stammered.
Ignoring the old man's words, Ming scanned the luxurious room, designed in a traditional Chinese style. Anxiety gripped him as the man repeated, trembling,
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty. Emperor Jin…"
"Jin?!" Ming's eyes widened in disbelief.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty! I am old and frail; I meant no disrespect!"
Ming, his voice calm yet laced with inner turmoil, asked, "No… just repeat what you said."
The old man, sweating profusely, replied, "Your name, Your Majesty, Jin Shi Roku. Are you feeling unwell?"
Collapsing onto the floor in shock, Ming whispered, "Get out."
"What?"
"I said, get out!" Ming shouted.
The old man scurried away in terror as Ming sat in stunned silence. "Jin Shi Roku… Have I become the most famous emperor in history?!"
he muttered, not believe his own words .