Chapter 127: Love Runs Deep

Chapter 127: Love Runs Deep

That night, Gongye Chu proved to Pei Yuanxi, with unwavering determination, that his name truly matched his strength. By the end, she felt as soft as water, melting within the luxurious quilt, without even the energy to lift her hand.

In her previous life, he had never been so brazen, nor had he ignored her pleas during intimate moments. With an extra lifetime's worth of memories, his facade had thickened, and his actions had become more ruthless.

She recalled the man he used to be - cold and distant, yet as vulnerable as an innocent youth when provoked. Unlike now, his unmasked gaze burned fiercely, like a ravenous wolf that could never be sated.

Still unsatisfied, the insatiable man's dark eyes smoldered with desire.

Unable to endure any longer, she gritted her teeth and said, "Brother DaLi, enough is enough."

Upon hearing the words 'Brother DaLi,' the flames in his eyes intensified. "Seems you still have some energy left. As Brother DaLi, I must work harder, or else I'd be doing injustice to this title."

This man had certainly learned some wicked ways.

"You live up to your name," she said, catching her breath, gently pushing him away. "Don't come near me anymore; otherwise, it would be quite embarrassing if I were to... pass away in bed."

"Never say that word." The word 'die' triggered his taboo, and the image of her lying motionless on the ice bed like she was asleep haunted him. "If you dare to die, I'll..."

"Enough, I was just joking." She quickly stopped him, fearing that he might utter something about slaughtering the world and trapping her in an endless cycle of reincarnation.

In this lifetime, she had no intention of seeking death on her own, unless fate itself denied her survival.

His eyes darkened, and he promptly got up to fetch hot water, personally helping her with it.

She raised her eyelids slightly before gently closing them again. With someone attending to her, she was more than happy to remain still; as two lifetimes of spouses, there was no need for bashfulness between them.

Perhaps exhausted, she let out a contented sigh as her eyes grew heavy. Drifting off into a daze, she fell asleep without realizing it. As her consciousness began to fade, her thoughts lingered on the whereabouts of the Cheng family's hidden treasure.

The night was still, dreams held their breath.

Endless flames seemed to dye the heavens crimson. All around was an eerie silence, with winds howling like the wails of vengeful spirits. Amidst the fiery red glow, she could see nothing but destruction.

She could not glimpse the sky, nor spot a single living soul. Lost and alone, she searched frantically, only to realize that she was the sole occupant here. There was no Gongye Chu, no sign of her son.

Suddenly, she thought she heard someone calling for 'Mother', the voice seemingly emanating from within the flames. Without hesitation, she rushed towards it, only to be halted by a towering wall.

Tears blurred her vision, yet she acted like a madwoman, attempting to topple that impenetrable barrier. For some inexplicable reason, she felt as if amidst that sea of fire, both her son Zhong'er and Gongye Chu were trapped.

"A Chu, Chong'er!"

She cried out, the raging fire obstructing her view. She desperately called their names, as if the most vital parts of her life were being torn away, an excruciating pain of separation that left her hopeless.

In both her past and present lives, she could no longer envision a existence without them. It would surely be an endless emptiness, akin to wandering as a lifeless entity.

Their love had taken root, penetrating deep into her bones and soul.

How could one console such profound affection? Only by sharing a lifetime together until their hair turned white.

She never wanted to return to her former world; she wished to remain in this timeline forever. Here lay her husband, her son, and her complete existence.

"A Chu, Chong'er!" Rushing towards the high wall, someone suddenly grabbed her. She slowly turned around, her blurred vision revealing a familiar face. "Thank goodness, you're both safe. That's wonderful. A Chu, Chong'er..."

"Xie'er, Xie'er," Gongye Chu called out to her.

She gradually opened her eyes, unaware when tears had already stained her cheeks. The gauzy curtains, the recognizable scent, and the person etched in her heart – she embraced Gongye Chu tightly. "I dreamt of a massive fire, and you and Chong'er were almost in danger. Thankfully, you're both unharmed. Thank goodness it was just a dream."

"Don't be afraid, I'm here," Gongye Chu gently stroked her disheveled black hair, his voice filled with the tenderness of soothing a child.

His deep voice was soothing, yet she clung to him even tighter. "Promise me you won't leave me, don't abandon our son and me as orphans and widows. I won't wait for you; if you dare to abandon us, I'll remarry and let another man be his father."

"Nonsense, you're clearly still scared." Remarry? Not in a million years. Despite her fright, she was still contemplating such matters. He pressed her into the covers. "Sleep!"

Her emotions had calmed significantly, and her voice was soft with lingering fear. "You're so fierce."

Although she complained about his sternness, her body nestled closer into his embrace. Closing her eyes again, the despair from her dream resurfaced.

The dream felt so real, it instilled a sense of dread. Perhaps it was because of her constant worry that Cheng Yu might do something that she had such a dream.

High walls, raging flames.

The fire was abnormally intense, not like an ordinary blaze. If it were that large, everyone would have been reduced to ashes, just like the fan that disintegrated in an instant.

Where exactly was the Cheng family's hidden treasure?

Given its enormous value, and the fact that it remained concealed without attracting attention, the best hiding place would be right under their noses. When the Cheng family was seized, Duke Yan's estate had been excavated down to its foundations. If it were buried beneath the Cheng residence, A Chu wouldn't have failed to find it.

Why did Cheng Yu insist on returning to the Eastern Capital City, knowing full well how dangerous it was? This meant the items couldn't be outside the city walls; they must be hidden somewhere within.

The Cheng family had flourished since the founding of the Ling Dynasty, and no one knew when their wealth had begun to accumulate or how many properties they had managed over the generations, leaving the location of their hidden treasures a mystery.

If A Chu could think of these things, so could he. Perhaps they were barking up the wrong tree, or perhaps the treasures were not even within the city walls.

If they were outside the city, the search would be even more challenging.

Lost in her thoughts, she nestled closer to the man beside her, feeling a growing sense of reassurance. She told herself that even without the Cheng family's treasure, she had the means to secure a future for her son.

But even if they didn't search for the Cheng family's wealth, they needed to find Cheng Yu. Since childhood, he had been known for his intelligence and cunning. Now that he was operating in the shadows while they were in plain sight, who knew what he might do?

Power often drove people to take desperate risks, and hatred could strip one of reason.

Before they went to the Chen residence that day, they had received a letter from Aunt He. Otherwise, they would have continued to feign ignorance, waiting for Cheng Yu to expose himself first.

Now that Cheng Yu had made a move, there was no point in waiting any longer. By revealing his whereabouts, his intentions likely went beyond simply ensuring safety for Aunt He and her daughter.

Cheng Shizi, once the refined and accomplished heir to Duke Yan, was compared by the world to the Pillars of the Four Directions. Such a man...

The Pillars of the Four Directions?

She abruptly sat up, muttering, "A Chu, do you think there might be an underground palace beneath the Tongtian Terrace?"

Gongye Chu opened his eyes at her words. "When the Shang dynasty first established the Ling Dynasty to demonstrate their might, they ordered the construction of the Tongtian Terrace. The first Duke Yan was in charge of overseeing its construction."

The couple gazed into each other's eyes, both now wide awake.

The Tongtian Terrace was a symbol of the Ling Dynasty. Every monarch from the Shang lineage would ascend the terrace to worship the heavens and their ancestors. In just five days, the grand ceremony of celestial worship would take place. Not only would the emperor attend, but Gongye Chu, as a high-ranking official, would also be present.

If Cheng Yu had any plans, then...

Pei Yuanxi's breaths grew shallow, for she knew this possibility could indeed be true.

Majestic and imposing, the Tongtian Terrace was heavily guarded, serving not only as a site for rituals but also as the repository of the Shang family's ancestral temple. From below, it resembled a ladder to the clouds, with stairs leading up to the four divine pillars that secured the terrace.

Each pillar stood at one of the terrace's four cardinal directions, corresponding to the Four Symbols of Chinese astrology. Towering into the sky, these columns were the pride of the citizens of the Eastern Capital City. It was commonly believed that they not only safeguarded the palaces and altars within but also the fortune of the entire realm.

As a royal sacrificial platform, access was naturally restricted. If there truly was an underground palace beneath the terrace, its entrance wouldn't be located on the terrace itself.

Standing below the elevated platform, one could see for miles around.

If she were the ancestor of the Cheng family, this secret would undoubtedly be guarded by trusted confidants, ensuring the entrance to the underground palace remained concealed yet accessible. The entryway had to be both hidden from public knowledge and convenient for entry and exit.

Her gaze fell on the nearest inhabited area to the Tongtian Terrace. "What place is that?"

"That's Little Long Street."

The Eastern Capital City's most bustling district was Long Street, whose pavilions and shops extended all the way to Robu Well. Robu Well was renowned for its foreign goods stores; just a few days ago, she had picked out several shops there, planning to open them as soon as Meng Huai's ship docked.

Aside from Long Street and Robu Well, the city had a few other moderately famous marketplaces, with Little Long Street being one of them. Its name derived from its attempt to associate itself with the prestige of Long Street.

Given that it was a gathering place for merchants, the area naturally attracted a mix of characters. Thus, any unusual behavior among the residents wouldn't arouse suspicion from outsiders.

Gongye Chu gently tapped her forehead. "How does your mind work?"

Liu Wei was impressively swift. Not only did he quietly discover three houses on that street that had never changed ownership or been leased, but he also found a hidden passage in the house at the very edge without alerting the local residents. The secret tunnel was located within the study of that residence, which was now unoccupied – the family, it seemed, had left the city two days prior to return to their hometown for ancestral worship.

It was unlikely that this family would ever come back.

It was precisely because of this that Pei Yuanxi felt a heavy weight in her heart.

Cheng Yu's decision to cut off his own escape route indicated that he was staking everything on this one last effort.

The dark entrance seemed to lead to an endless abyss, with dampness from the secret tunnel seeping out. She heard Gongye Chu instruct Liu Ze to guard the outside and order those who stayed behind to protect her.

Half of Liu Wei's men were chosen to enter the secret passage.

She tugged at his sleeve. "I'll go with you."

"You stay outside," he said.

She couldn't quite put her finger on why she had suddenly felt a wave of panic. "There might be traps inside that I didn't draw on the map. I'm afraid I missed something."

He looked at her and then held her hand tightly. "Alright, then we'll go together."