Chapter Eighteen: The Water Infiltration Incident

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Shen Jifeng sent Zhang Lao Han and Thin Monkey away.
“Princess, since he’s not ordinary, allowing him into the mine worries me—it might be like inviting a wolf into the house.”
Since the riot at the mine, Dong Yang had grown suspicious of everyone, seeing villains everywhere.
Shen Jifeng’s mind was in turmoil—the mistaken mine map, the severed veins, and the elusive figure seemingly directing Feng Da from behind, all collided in her head like a string of question marks.
“Better to keep the wolf right before our eyes than let him hide in the shadows, waiting to bite us unexpectedly. Watch him closely and report any abnormalities immediately.”
“Has the coroner’s report come back? What exactly caused Feng Da’s death?”
“The coroner said it was heart disease.”
Shen Jifeng’s intuition rebelled. “Did those closest to him know he had heart disease?”
“I asked around. Before this, Feng Da showed no symptoms nor spoke of any illness. The coroner mentioned some heart conditions only reveal themselves during an episode; otherwise, the person appears normal.”
Shen Jifeng didn’t believe in such coincidence—someone was definitely behind him. Recalling that day carefully, she realized Feng Da was not afraid of death.
A man unafraid of death usually falls into two categories: either highly skilled and fearless, having long accepted life and death as fate—such people existed, but Feng Da clearly was not one of them; or he knew his fate in advance and was perhaps even willing to die.
What could make a notorious criminal willingly face death?
“Send someone to investigate whether Feng Da had parents, a wife, or children, and if there has been anything unusual lately.”
Dong Yang took the order and left, leaving Shen Jifeng alone in the guardroom. The leather mine map before her seemed like a giant mouth ready to devour her alive.
The mine map had been personally handed to her by Emperor Yuanchang. Presenting a map known to be flawed to the emperor was tantamount to deceiving the sovereign. The Ministry of Works wouldn’t dare such a brazen act, so the map’s error must have been a mistake, not a deliberate trap.
But who was behind Feng Da? Ma Yao had appeared out of nowhere, seemingly skilled yet content to act as a mere guard. What was his motive? And the most important question—the main vein of the mine—how long would Zhang Lao Han need to find it?
One problem after another weighed heavily on Shen Jifeng’s chest, making it hard to breathe.
“If only A’Pu were here—his mind was always sharper than mine.”
Thinking of A’Pu, a faint smile broke through Shen Jifeng’s tension, easing her anxiety somewhat.
If Feng Da had someone backing him, there would surely be more moves. When the enemy’s identity was unknown, defense was the best offense. With Dong Yang watching Ma Yao, no major disturbance could arise.

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Shen Jifeng slammed her hand on the table, reigniting her fighting spirit. Seven days had passed—regardless of whether Zhang Lao Han could find the main vein, the mine had to resume operation. Even if it meant smelting a couple of furnaces with tailings and waste rock, she would try!
The dawn in Xijing always came early. As the sky just began to lighten, Shen Jifeng stood in the small courtyard outside the guardroom. The May breeze carried the scent of the flora from Tianmeng Mountain, dispelling the last vestiges of sleep and invigorating her spirit.
“Princess, you didn’t sleep well again?” Jin Chai approached with a cup of hot tea, frowning at the dark circles beneath Shen Jifeng’s eyes.
Shen Jifeng accepted the cup, feeling the warmth through the porcelain. “When your mind is troubled, sleep won’t come.” She sipped the tea. “Any news from Zhang Lao Han?”
Dong Yang shook his head. “They searched until midnight yesterday. We’ll be going down again shortly.”
“Three days...,” Shen Jifeng murmured, absentmindedly tracing circles on the cup’s rim, “If they can’t find it, send more groups down.”
“Princess, after leaving the mine last night, Ma Yao didn’t return to the work quarters. I followed him and saw him enter an ordinary residence in Xijing city.”
“Anything unusual?”
Dong Yang looked slightly disappointed. “Just a normal household—a mother and her daughter. The mother is ill, and Ma Yao brought her some medicine.”
Shen Jifeng choked slightly on her tea. Such a mother and daughter actually existed? She had always thought Ma Yao was lying to her.
He looked sharp, but apparently he was all brawn and no brains.
“Have you noticed anything strange about him during these past few days underground?”
“No.” Dong Yang thought for a moment, then said calmly, “He’s been very diligent lately. I don’t think he has any ill intent.”
“Maybe I misjudged him.” Shen Jifeng smiled wryly, then shook her head. “Good and evil aren’t so easily discerned.”
She put down the cup, tapping her fingers on the table. “Keep watching Ma Yao, but don’t alert that mother and daughter.”
“Creak—creak—” The pulley turned, lowering the four of them into the mine. Wei Xiao closed his eyes, feeling the light dim until it vanished completely.
Even after dozens of trips in and out, he was still not fully accustomed.
“Creak—creak,” the rope scraped against the shaft wall, growing louder until a jolt beneath their feet. The wicker basket touched the mine floor. Wei Xiao opened his eyes to darkness, with only the faint flicker of an oil lamp ahead.
The mine smelled damp and earthy; occasionally the drip of water hitting stone echoed softly. Wei Xiao followed closely behind Zhang Lao Han, bending to fit the low tunnel.
Zhang Lao Han glanced back at him. Over these days, he had observed Wei Xiao closely—few words, lively eyes, no airs, and his skills surpassed even Dong Yang’s. What was rarest of all was his lack of complaint about the grueling, dirty work underground. Which noble family’s son was this, who would endure so much for the princess? Truly rare.

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This was a previously unexplored tunnel. Moss covered the walls, slippery and cold; the geology here was clearly different from before.
Zhang Lao Han stopped. The oil lamp’s light fell on a spot on the rock wall. He raised his pickaxe and struck down.
“Clang!” A palm-sized stone fell to the ground. Zhang Lao Han bent to pick it up and examined the faint veins on it under the weak light.
“Splash!”
A gush of icy cold water burst from a crack, pushing him back with force. Wei Xiao reacted swiftly, grabbing his collar to pull him back, but the flood poured out like a breached dam, quickly rising over their ankles.
“The tunnel’s flooding!” Thin Monkey’s face went pale as he turned and ran back. “Quick! Follow me!”
He darted ahead, his soaked straw sandals slipping in the mud. “This way!” he shouted hoarsely, turning into a side passage almost submerged.
“It’s all water—how do we get through?” Dong Yang panicked.
“Trust me. Ten zhang ahead is a junction leading back to the main vein.”
Wei Xiao pulled Zhang Lao Han along. The cold water had risen to their waists, the roar behind them growing louder, mixed with the crack of breaking wooden beams.
Suddenly Thin Monkey stumbled and fell into the water. Wei Xiao caught him around the waist.
“The junction is just ahead!” Thin Monkey spat out mud and pointed to a nearly submerged entrance on the right front. “But we have to dive through!”
Dong Yang’s face was deathly pale. “The current’s so strong—can we make it?”
Without hesitation, Wei Xiao untied his belt and tied the three of them together. “Take a deep breath. Stay close to me!”
As they plunged underwater, a loud crash came from behind—the old tunnel had collapsed completely. The icy water surged forward, carrying rubble. Wei Xiao held tight to the belt, groping through the darkness. Suddenly, he felt the current shift—it was an upward passage!
The three fought to swim and finally broke the surface. The main vein was right before them!