Immortality begins in Goose City

Chapter 82 The Tomb of Prince Rong

"Gold and silver treasures, extraordinary items, secret techniques from previous dynasties—anything not what we want is yours."

She lowered her hand and softened her tone: "Cooperation is beneficial to both sides."

"You get the treasure, we'll take what we want. Of course, it would be even better if Young Master Huang were willing to share some of the gold and silver treasures with us, as the Salvation Society also needs funds to operate."

Huang Shujian remained silent, only glancing at Murong Xue and then at Lu Yu.

Lu Yu felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze and lowered her head, but soon she raised her head again, this time with a much firmer look in her eyes.

"All we need is one medicine," she said, her voice a little louder than before, "or a prescription."

"Back then, Prince Rong contracted a strange illness," Lu Yu said. "Records say that his body 'changed and he was no longer like a human.'"

"The specifics of the mutation were not explained in detail."

"But the accompanying medical team kept researching and, it is said, eventually developed a secret medicine that could suppress that mutation."

"However, Prince Rong was too weak and his vital energy was greatly depleted, so he eventually died."

Murong Xue continued, "The president of the National Salvation Society... also contracted a similar illness."

"We searched through medical books and consulted many famous doctors, but they all said there was no solution."

"Only the secret medicine that Prince Rong had back then might still offer hope."

"That's why we're taking this risk. If there's still that medicine or the prescription in the tomb, we have to get it. We don't care about anything else."

Huang Shujian remained silent, tapping his fingers lightly on the table—once, twice, three times.

Xiuer had already put down the brush and quietly moved to the desk to refill Huang Shujian's hot tea.

"Cooperation benefits both sides," Murong Xue concluded. "Besides, the entire Goose City is Huang family territory. Even if we wanted to back out, we couldn't escape your grasp. We have that much self-awareness."

After she finished speaking, she said no more. She had said everything she needed to say, and the rest was up to Huang Shujian to decide.

Time passed little by little.

The clock on the study wall ticked, its hands pointing to ten o'clock.

Huang Shujian finally stopped knocking and nodded.

"Three days later," he said, "bring the map."

Murong Xue's eyes suddenly lit up. She clenched her fists as if she wanted to cheer, but she restrained herself and just nodded heavily.

"It's a deal!"

Lu Yu also breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on her lips.

"Then we'll take our leave." Murong Xue took Lu Yu's hand. "Let's go back and quickly draw up a detailed map. See you in three days."

The two of them went out feeling refreshed.

As soon as the study door closed, Xiu'er leaned over and whispered, "Young Master, I think what they said... is probably true."

Huang Shujian looked at her: "Oh?"

"When Master Lu came to visit you before," Xiu'er said in a low voice, "that's what he was talking about."

"He wanted to cooperate with the master to excavate the tomb of Prince Rong."

"But the master wasn't interested, and after saying a few words, he sent him away."

Huang Shujian narrowed his eyes.

His father was a mysterious figure, rarely seen.

Huang Shujian would only see him a few times a month. When they did meet, he would always be vague and unwilling to say more when asked about something.

Now, hearing Xiuer say this, it's clear that her father already knew about Prince Rong's tomb, but had never told him.

"What else do you know?" Huang Shujian asked.

Xiuer smiled shyly: "These are all things that Daiyu and Qingwenzi told me."

Daiyu Qingwenzi is a head maid in the inner palace. She is deeply trusted by Huang Silang and manages dozens of maids in the Huang family manor. Her status is second only to the head steward Hu Qian and on par with Wu Zhichong and Hu Wanping.

"The estate is so big," Xiu'er explained, "even the servants have their own set of rules."

"If we share information and do each other a favor, everyone will be better off."

"But don't worry, young master, I haven't revealed everything about you!"

She held up three fingers: "I swear! Every time the master asked me to inquire about you, I did as you instructed beforehand—I told him what I should tell him, and I said I didn't know what I shouldn't tell him."

Huang Shujian laughed. This girl is quite clever.

Just as he was about to ask again, there was a soft knock on the door.

"Young Master." It was Zhao Ming's voice. "Daiyu and Qingwenzi have arrived. They say the Master requests your presence."

Huang Shujian and Xiuer exchanged a glance.

Said that Cao Cao Cao Cao arrived.

……

On the top floor of Huang Family Manor, surrounded by bluestone railings, one can see the sunset over Goose City beyond the railings.

As the lights of countless homes gradually illuminated, the Swan River, shimmering with golden light, flowed quietly eastward beyond the city walls.

Huang Silang sat in a rattan rocking chair with a brass telescope in front of him.

The telescope was pointed towards the city, the lens cap was open, but no one was looking at it at the moment.

On the small mahogany table next to it, a set of purple clay teaware was neatly arranged, and the aroma of Tieguanyin tea wafted in the wind.

Daiyu and Qingwenzi led Huang Shujian to the balcony door, bowed slightly, and withdrew.

Huang Shujian walked onto the open-air balcony. Huang Silang didn't turn around, but pointed to the side and said, "Sit."

The voice was flat, revealing no emotion.

Huang Shujian sat down on another rattan chair, which was very soft and padded with thick cotton cushions.

He looked at Huang Silang, who was wearing a dark gray long gown with a black mandarin jacket over it, and cloth shoes with multi-layered soles. His hair was neatly combed, and his temples were already gray, but his back was straight, like an old pine tree.

"Have some tea." Huang Silang picked up the purple clay teapot and filled the empty cup in front of Huang Shujian.

The tea soup was golden yellow, with wisps of steam rising gently.

"You handled the acrobatic troupe matter well," Huang Silang suddenly said.

He didn't drink tea; he placed his hands folded on his knees and looked at the Goose River in the distance.

"Now the whole of Goose City is talking about it," Huang Silang continued, "that the eldest son of the Huang family has changed his ways, is no longer a spoiled brat, and has instead rid the people of a menace."

"The storytellers in the teahouse all turned your story into jokes and told them three times a day."

Huang Shujian didn't speak; he knew Huang Silang hadn't finished speaking.

Huang Silang turned his head and looked at him. His eyes were sharp, like an eagle's, and still shone brightly even in the dim light.

"I know you did it on purpose," Huang Silang said. "You deliberately created this image to win people's hearts. It's not a stupid method, but it's unnecessary."

He paused, his tone still calm: "The common people below, in the end, are nothing more than weeds, they're incredibly resilient."

"You can cut one crop and it will grow back. You risk your life for them, and they'll be grateful to you today, but if something happens tomorrow, they'll still curse you. There's no need to sacrifice yourself for that little bit of empty fame."

Huang Shujian ran his fingers along the edge of the teacup; the porcelain was smooth and warm from the tea.

"For example, the matter of the acrobatic troupe," Huang Silang said again.

"Wait a minute, wait until Wu Zhichong arrives with his men. Dozens of guns will be pointed at them, and all sorts of demons and monsters will die. Why bother going in personally?"

"That kidnapped child, he's dead, so be it. In this world, people die every day."

He said this with no expression on his face, as if he were saying that the weather was nice today.

Huang Shujian remained silent.

He knew that Huang Silang thought this way. The Huang family had run Goose City for generations, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them local tyrants.

In Huang Silang's eyes, the people are like crops in the field. They need watering and fertilizing when needed, and when not needed, they are left to grow or die on their own. What the crops think is not important.

This is also one of the reasons why the Huang family ultimately lost to Zhang Muzhi in my past life memories: they didn't understand the people's hearts, or rather, they disdained to understand them.

"Don't be shy around me." Huang Silang suddenly smiled, a faint smile. "Anyone who didn't know better would think we weren't father and son, given how distant we are."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and slowly swallowed.

"In Goose City, as long as you're not in mortal danger, you can do whatever you want."

"You can say whatever you want. I also want to see if my son has really changed."

He looked at Huang Shujian with a probing gaze.

"Water can carry a boat," Huang Shujian said softly, "but it can also capsize it."