After I got into the drama, I led the plot astray

Captain Chen stood up, and his attitude towards me changed 180 degrees immediately. He asked respectfully, "What arrangements does Lord Zhao have?"

I looked around and said, "West Mountain is so big that it would be dangerous if we dispersed to search individually. Why not form a group of three, with the remaining two people looking after Father and Mother Su. If there is an accident or they are found, they can immediately fire a signal flare to notify the others to join us. Captain Chen, what do you think of this arrangement?"

Captain Chen thought for a moment and said, "This is a good arrangement. Sir Zhao, please join me in a group and I will protect you."

I waved my hand and said, "No, I'll be in a group by myself."

Before I could finish my words, Captain Chen said, "How can this be possible? The West Mountain is very large, and to the west is the royal ranch, where many cattle and sheep are raised. Every winter, the beasts are extremely hungry and will look for food around the ranch. If Lord Zhao encounters a beast, I'm afraid he won't be able to fight back."

Captain Chen saw that I was so thin that I could be blown away by the wind, and I looked sick. I didn’t look like someone who could protect myself. If something happened to me, he would have a hard time explaining himself when he returned.

I originally wanted to say that I would walk around the hilltops and if I could meet any Imperial Guards, I would call a few of them to help me search. More hands would help us search a wider area, but Captain Chen said that, so as to avoid making things difficult for him, I had no choice but to say, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Captain Chen."

When Captain Chen saw that I agreed, he said happily, "It is my duty to protect you. Please wait here, Master Zhao. I will be back soon."

I nodded.

Captain Chen went over to arrange the men and quickly divided them into teams. They all had horses, and if they didn't bring Su's father and mother with them, the action would be much faster.

After being divided into teams, the two teams left, one heading west and the other heading north.

Captain Chen came over with the remaining four men. Two of them stayed behind to escort Su's father and mother south, while our team of four searched eastward.

After Captain Chen gave the instructions, he took the three of us on horseback and galloped eastward.

Xishan is really big. We crossed one hill after another. It was almost noon, but we still hadn’t found the cave that Su Bowen mentioned.

The other teams did not send out flares, and it seemed that they did not find it either.

Because it was too cold, both the men and the horses could not bear it, so Captain Chen found a sheltered place for us to rest there.

There were several jugs of wine hanging on the heads of the horses of Captain Chen and his men. They took down a jug, poured a sip into the horse's mouth, then tilted their heads back and drank in big gulps.

After they finished drinking, they realized that I didn't bring any wine. Captain Chen quickly took a pot and handed it to me. I smiled and shook my head, saying, "I can't drink. I will fall down if I drink, which will delay things."

Seeing that I didn't want to, Captain Chen didn't force me. He stared at my face, which was almost whiter than the snow on the ground. I looked like I was about to die. He said with some concern: "Master Zhao, it's cold in the mountains. How about I send someone to escort you back to the city? If we find Su Bowen's body, I will send someone to tell you."

I gathered my clothes, shook my head and said, "Let's look for it again. I can't hold on any longer."

Another yamen runner saw that I didn't drink, so he took a piece of dried meat from his horse bag and handed it to me, saying, "Even if you don't want to drink, eat something. The weather is really too cold."

I took it and said with a smile, "Thank you. The food I brought is all on the carriage. In such cold weather, I'm afraid it will all be frozen into ice and inedible. You've worked hard today. I'll invite you to have a drink at Wangyue Tower after we get down the mountain."

When several people heard this, their eyes lit up and they said in unison: "Thank you, Master Zhao."

I was secretly happy in my heart, because it was not my money that was being spent, I was just borrowing the flowers to pay tribute to the Buddha.

We took a short rest and then continued on our journey.

Along the way, I met many groups of imperial guards patrolling the mountains. After seeing the gold medal on my neck, they all took a detour without exception.

Since Su Bowen himself didn't know the exact location, we could only run around the mountain.

By the end, both the men and the horses were exhausted, hungry and tired, and planned to search the area again. If they still couldn't find the target, they would go down the mountain.

As everyone was tired, we slowed down our horses and walked slowly.

We passed through a forest and suddenly the view in front of us opened up. Everywhere we looked was leveled. In the middle of the flat land stood a huge round building, with many small bumps scattered around it.

Moreover, there are many royal guards patrolling around this big round "pot lid".

It is really strange that there is such a peculiar building in this deep mountain forest, and there are people guarding it. It looks like a secret base of aliens.

I was just daydreaming when I suddenly heard a faint voice shouting, "You're finally here?"

I was so scared that I turned my head and looked around, but I didn't see anyone calling me.

I was in doubt when the voice rang in my ears again: "I've been waiting for you for a long time, come find me."

This time I heard it very clearly, it was a woman's voice!

My heart was beating so fast, and I felt like the sound was coming from those little drums.

I took a long breath, couldn't help but pull the reins, turned the horse's head and wanted to run towards the col.

Captain Chen suddenly grabbed my arm and said, "Sir Zhao, wait a minute. That is the imperial mausoleum. Strangers must stay away. Anyone who dares to enter will be killed without mercy. If you don't have the emperor's order, you are absolutely not allowed to approach."

I frowned and pointed down and said, "I heard someone calling me."

"Someone is calling you?" Captain Chen and the two yamen runners' faces changed.

This place is located in the belly of Xishan Mountain. Since the establishment of Dayu Kingdom, all royal family members have been buried here after their death.

Over the years, countless royal family members have been buried here. With so many dead people, the negative energy is naturally heavy. It is said that some hunters who hunt nearby often encounter ghosts and can't find their way home. The imperial guards sent to guard the place have to have their horoscopes calculated, and only those with strong luck dare to be sent here.

I actually said someone was calling me, so I must have encountered a ghost.

Captain Chen and the other two were so scared that they immediately surrounded me and wouldn't let me take another step forward.

Captain Chen said, "Sir Zhao, we should get away from this place as soon as possible. Although it is the imperial mausoleum, it is a troubled place."

I asked in confusion: “Why do you say that?”

Captain Chen said: "Whenever an emperor passed away, his concubines would be buried with him. Some of them were willing, but most of them were unwilling. Regardless of whether they were willing or not, they were all given a cup of poisoned wine, and after death, they were wrapped in white silk, without a coffin, and buried beside the emperor's mausoleum."

I didn't expect that the emperor would drag people to be buried with him after his death. That's really immoral.