Exploring the Illusory Tomb Part 1 [Ancient Times Version] - Chapter 32: Your Grace's Face

Chapter 32: Your Grace’s Face

In the corridor, drunken men occasionally passed by with women in their arms. Their hazy eyes were casting glances in my direction. They reeked of alcohol that stung my nose and throat.

I frowned silently. I was trying to keep my distance. Every now and then, a pretty girl from one of the rooms would walk gracefully from the other end of the corridor. She was covering her mouth as she giggled past me. She left only a faint, alluring fragrance behind.

Each private room had an ambiguous red lantern hanging at its door. The dim red glow scattered all over the floor. It stretched endlessly ahead. This so-called place of pleasure was nothing but a bone-deep poison. The flirtatious laughter and whispering from within the rooms layered and overlapped. It urged my steps to hasten.

My heart was still unsettled from Yu Linxing’s earlier antics. I wished it were empty—free from thought—so these unfamiliar vines inside me would stop growing. I just hoped it would stop wrapping around me. It was making even breathing difficult.

When it came to matters between men and women, this pleasure house was the best witness.

But between women and women…

Lost in thought, two figures staggered toward me. One was burly and heavily drunk. His steps were unsteady. It was that rough man from before—He Lao Wu. The other was a gloomy-looking man supporting him. When he looked up, his sharp gaze—like a hawk’s—swept piercingly toward me.

He Lao Wu saw me. He then blinked drowsily, shook off the other man’s hand, and pointed at me with a finger. He mumbled, 

“Yo, pretty boy, why aren’t you… looking for a girl? Roaming around here alone… Aren’t you afraid your mouth will go tasteless?”

I answered awkwardly, 

“I felt stifled in the room, came out to get some fresh air.”

His eyes turned. And suddenly, he slapped my shoulder with his big palm. He was laughing heartily, 

“Stifled in the room, eh? Good lad, interesting! I pity… whichever unlucky girl is in your room!”

I sighed inwardly. Why does this man speak so crudely?

Earlier in the hall, we were far apart. So I didn’t notice. But now that we were close, I realized he carried a faint sinister aura. It was like something ancient rising from underground. The hawk-eyed man beside him radiated even colder air. At his waist hung a dark beast tooth, soaked in black dog’s bl00d—it was clear now. These two were tomb raiders too.

The sharp-eyed man tugged at He Lao Wu and whispered, 

“Third Brother, let’s not meddle. We’re in a rush.”

He Lao Wu scowled. He shook him off. 

“What’s the damn rush? Fourth, you nag like a woman. I’m just chatting with this pretty boy. That place isn’t going to grow legs and run!”

The man respected him deeply. So he said no more. Before leaving, though, he gave me a fierce glare. It was as if he was blaming me for the delay.

I ignored the cold man and bowed to He Lao Wu. 

“Brother, you’re generous. I admire you. May I ask, do you know where Miss Su Yuan’s ‘Su Yu Residence’ is? I’ve searched everywhere but can’t find it.”

He Lao Wu laughed loudly. 

“Ah, that’s why you’re feeling stifled! Thinking of that beauty, huh?” 

His expression darkened, and he muttered, 

“But didn’t your masked friend already beat you to it? Trying to steal love now? They’re in the second room from the end—or was it the first? Dammit, I forgot! Find it yourself!”

With that, he waved me off and stumbled away with the hawk-eyed man. I stood there, wiping the sweat from my brow. That guy really spouted nonsense.

Thanks to his hint, I followed the corridor to the end. Lifting my gaze, I saw an elegant room with a sign inscribed with three jade-like characters: Su Yu Residence. My heart stirred. After pacing briefly, I raised my hand to knock.

But my hand froze midair. The ornate patterns on the door rippled like woven silk. It was burning like fire, scorching my wrist.

I stood dazed for a moment. I then withdrew my hand and looked down.

Am I mad? What am I doing here?

After Yu Linxing’s teasing, I came out just to clear my head. So why did I end up here? Luo Shen is inside. She was probably discussing Liu Guizang with Su Yuan. It would be tactless of me to barge in now.

I sighed and turned to leave. But just then—*creak*—the door opened. And a graceful figure stepped out. She was a little taller than me. I didn’t have time to dodge, and my forehead brushed against something cold and hard—it was the smooth chill of jade. The coldness seemed to seep into my chest.

“What brings Qingyi here?” 

A calm voice with a hint of cold fragrance floated from above. I quickly stepped back—only to meet Luo Shen’s deep, piercing eyes.

I scrambled for an explanation. I was pretending to be calm. 

“That… that witch Yu Linxing asked me to check on you. It’s getting late, we should be heading back. Just wondering if you’ve found any leads?” 

Even as I spoke, my face inexplicably grew hot.

Luo Shen didn’t answer immediately. She gazed at me for a long moment. She then finally said,

“Why is your face so red?”

I instinctively touched my cheek and waved it off. 

“Yu Linxing made me drink a bit earlier. I’m a little tipsy.”

“But… you don’t smell of alcohol.”

I cursed inwardly. Why is this ice block suddenly so chatty today? I had to lie, 

“Well… I didn’t drink much. Maybe I just got overwhelmed by the scent of wine from around here.”

Luo Shen stood there. A faint curve was at her lips. Her expression was unreadable. It was somewhere between amusement and indifference.

Under her gaze, I felt uneasy. When this ice block smiles, it’s never a good sign. I tried to change the subject. But then a teasing voice called from behind me, 

“What wine smells so good that just sniffing it turns your whole face red? Let me try some next time!”

The witch!

I turned and glared. Yu Linxing had appeared behind me. She was laughing so hard she could barely stand. Her peach blossom eyes sparkled with mischief.

Laugh all you want—just don’t laugh yourself to death.

I twitched my mouth and cleared my throat at Luo Shen. I forced a serious tone. 

“Enough joking—let’s talk business. What did Miss Su Yuan say?”

Luo Shen’s smile faded. It was replaced with her usual coolness. 

“She said that the Night Parade of the Mountain Demons painting was something she bought recently from a foreign man. She’s a passionate art lover, and was enchanted by the painting’s strangeness. But ever since, she’s been haunted by something unclean.”

I pondered aloud, 

“I couldn’t describe it before, but the painting made me uncomfortable. Then I remembered reading a file about the Mountain Demons—said to speak human tongue. They are vicious by nature, wandering at night. Ordinary people who encounter them could lose their souls.”

Luo Shen nodded. 

“Qingyi is right. I stayed a while to help her suppress the painting’s malevolence.”

Yu Linxing frowned. 

“So much talk, but you never said—did you give her the Prince’s token? And where did Liu Guizang end up?”

Luo Shen replied, 

“Of course. Liu Guizang… he went to the northern Numa Grasslands.”

Yu Linxing and I both turned pale.

So the annotated cloth we got from Dong Shaoqing wasn’t wrong. Both legendary tomb raiders are obsessed with the lush Numa Grasslands. What secret does that verdant land hold?

As dusk fell, we bid farewell to Su Yuan and prepared to leave.

On the jolting carriage ride back, we briefly discussed the Numa Grasslands and planned our next steps. As we talked, I lifted the curtain and looked outside. The twilight had deepened, and the streets were growing quiet. Lanterns hung under eaves. Their soft glow was mingling with the dimming sky—peaceful and still.

Night was approaching.

Back at the Prince’s mansion, Yu Linxing parted from us to dine with the Prince. She was negotiating with him. Her disciples from the Mo Yin Valley were camped outside the city. They were ready to act upon her command.

Luo Shen and Yu Linxing had been chasing these matters for a long time. Both were decisive. The plan was to leave for Numa Grasslands tomorrow. I had now been drawn into this. And even if I were reluctant to part from them, for Kunlun’s sake—and for my mother—I had to make this journey.

After a casual dinner, I strolled in the Changfeng Courtyard to aid digestion. At the gate, I saw Shao Jing carrying a food box. She was sighing repeatedly.

I stopped her. She turned to me with a faintly worried expression. 

“Miss Shi.”

I glanced at the box in her hands. 

“What’s this?”

She replied, 

“It’s Lady Luo’s dinner. I delivered it earlier. But when I went to retrieve the empty box later, it hadn’t been touched. So I brought it back.”

I frowned slightly. Shao Jing explained: Luo Shen preferred solitude, disliked dining with others, and wouldn’t let anyone into her Jade Garden. The servants would leave her meals on a stone table. And she’d fetch them herself.

But today, the food was left untouched. Shao Jing didn’t dare disturb her. So she took it back.

I wondered: Was Luo Shen just tired and went to bed early?

But that didn’t feel right. I said, 

“Shao Jing, leave the food with me. I’ll bring it to Luo Shen.”

She protested, 

“How can I trouble you, miss? Besides, Lady Luo strictly forbids people from entering her rooms.”

I smiled. 

“No worries. I’ve been to her Jade Garden a few times—she won’t mind.” 

I took the box and peeked inside—the food was indeed cold.

Shao Jing looked surprised. 

“Lady Luo… really treats you differently.”

I smiled and headed to the Jade Garden. Halfway there, I realized the food was too cold. I returned to the kitchen, borrowed a stove and ingredients, and quickly prepared a few hot dishes. I’d always handled Kunlun’s meals, so this wasn’t difficult.

That night, the moon was mostly veiled by clouds. It had only a few scattered stars visible. It was quiet. The Jade Garden was as tranquil as ever. It was hidden among blooming apricot trees. Their petals carpeted the ground. They were brighter than the faint moonlight.

At the steps outside Luo Shen’s quarters, I looked up. Her door was slightly ajar. And the room was pitch-black.

The door wasn’t closed—she likely wasn’t asleep.

I entered the hall and softly called her name in the dark. No response. I moved toward the inner chamber and gently pushed the door. It creaked open.

For some reason, I felt a little nervous. Quietly, I slipped inside. The room was unlit, and the window was half-open. It let in a stream of pale moonlight.

Inside the room, it was extremely quiet. There was only my breathing and the sound of my footsteps remaining.

“Luo Shen?” 

I called softly. But no one answered. After walking a few steps, my foot suddenly bumped into something hard. Under the moonlight, I looked and saw that it was a collapsed chair.

Startled, I put down the food box and quickly felt my way to a complete table. I lit the candle on it. The flickering yellow light instantly spread throughout the room, making it bright. And then I saw that chairs and tables were scattered everywhere. It was a total mess. It was as if some terrible force had crushed them into pieces.

The more I looked at the scene inside the room, the more shocked I felt. My eyes moved, and I saw a familiar slender figure leaning against the head of the bed. It was completely still.

I quickly walked over. I saw that Luo Shen had her eyes closed. The white jade hairband that once tied up her hair was gone. Her black hair was loose. It was flowing down from the edge of the bed. Her lips were frighteningly pale. A few strands of hair were wet with sweat. They were sticking to her porcelain-like neck. She was so fragile it was like a flower in the dark night, ready to wither at any moment.

This look—I was all too familiar with. So Luo Shen was having a relapse.

She must have been all alone in this room, struck by a cold illness. The unbearable pain made her feel worse than death. And the mess in this room was proof of how she had suffered. At the tomb of Consort Chu, I first felt that bone-chilling cold. It was like falling into an endless icy abyss. I only hoped never to face that again. Yet this normally cool and quiet woman had to experience it again every few days. How pitiful must that be?

I sighed. I gently laid the woman who had fallen asleep from exhaustion flat on the bed. I then covered her well with the blanket, lit the lamp, and sat by her side.

Under the dim candlelight, I closely examined her for the first time. Her eyes were usually as calm as a deep pool. They were now tightly closed. I noticed her eyelashes were actually very long. In the light, they made her look more delicate. Suddenly, an unexplainable feeling of pity rose up. I subconsciously reached out and traced the cold mask on her face. As my fingers moved over it, I felt a tingling numbness.

Lingering like that, a thought suddenly popped into my mind—right now, could I take a look at her face?

I trembled at the thought. Holding the candle close, I reached out and touched the knot next to her mask. I knew, just a light pull, and I would see her face.

At that moment, even I didn’t know how badly I wanted to see her face. She was like a riddle, and I was itching to know the answer.

Vaguely, I recalled a story from the Western Regions—there was a beautiful woman, long kept in her room. Her husband only came at night to stay with her but never allowed her to light a lamp. So, she had never seen her husband’s face. One night, she couldn’t hold back any longer and brought a candle close to look at her husband’s face. Her husband was awakened by a drop of candle wax. He looked in surprise at his beautiful wife. And then, because of the broken promise, he turned into smoke and disappeared.

I sighed in sorrow. I wondered—if I looked at her face, would this wonderful woman turn into smoke just like that story, and I would never be able to hold on to her again?

I hesitated. And in the end, I withdrew my hand.

I couldn’t help but remember something she had said days ago in the tomb: 

“In life, whether beautiful or ugly, it’s just a shell. When you die, it turns into piles of white bones—what is there left to say?”

Turn into piles of white bones, huh? I muttered, 

“What white bones, let them think what they want. I… I just… just want to look at you once.”

As I murmured and lifted my head, I met a pair of quiet eyes.

Luo Shen’s eyes were hidden in the firelight. They calmly locked onto me.

“I… I didn’t do anything!” 

I quickly shifted away when I saw her suddenly open her eyes. She was staring at me without blinking. But then I realized, my excuse just made it more obvious.

Luo Shen softly said, 

“Do what?” 

Her voice carried a trace of exhaustion. She propped herself up with her hands to sit up. I quickly supported her waist and helped her lean back against the headboard.

“Are you feeling better now?” 

I didn’t dare look into her eyes and continued, 

“I made some food. Just eat a little. It’s still warm. It’ll help warm your body.”

“I don’t have the strength,” 

Luo Shen glanced at me lazily and said.

“Then, then I’ll feed you,” 

I hesitated for a while. I then opened the food box beside me and brought out a blue and white porcelain soup bowl. 

“Drink some shredded chicken and ginger porridge first. The taste is mild. Ginger and chicken are warming foods—they’ll be good for you.”

Through the porcelain bowl, I could feel the warmth in my palm. I scooped a small spoonful and handed it over. Luo Shen leaned forward slightly, took a small sip, and quietly swallowed it.

After that, I fed one spoonful, and Luo Shen ate one spoonful. Like this, back and forth, half the bowl of porridge was gone. But to me, time seemed to move so slowly. Staring at her lips so close, my hand holding the silver spoon began to tremble. My back was already sweaty. It was burning hot.

“I’m done. Thank you, Qingyi,” 

Luo Shen slightly turned her head. She was showing she didn’t want more. I put the bowl back into the box and said, 

“Then how about something else? Like lotus fish soup? Kunlun really likes that one I make.”

Luo Shen shook her head and stayed silent for a long while. Before she suddenly said, 

“Just now, did you want to remove my mask?”

My face turned red instantly. And I denied it, 

“No such thing. The sky… it’s getting late. I should go back. I’ll leave the food here. I’ll come tomorrow to clean up… make sure you eat.”

As I spoke, I stood up. I wanted to flee the embarrassment. But just as I got up, my hand was firmly held by a soft, cold touch from behind.

I turned back and looked at her.

“If you want to see, then just see. It’s fine.”

Then, Luo Shen leaned forward slightly. She took my hand. And under my surprised gaze, she guided it to the side of her ear. She was leading me to undo the knot that held her mask.

As the knot loosened, that cold white jade mask fell onto the bed. It then rolled to the floor, making a clear sound.

The air around us seemed to freeze. I was so nervous I couldn’t breathe. And then, in that sound, I saw the most unforgettable face in the world.

I had imagined her face so many times in my heart and in my dreams—always extremely beautiful. But now, I realized, no matter how I imagined, nothing compared to the real thing before me. The eyes I knew so well were still calm under the candlelight. Her brows were light, her nose high and delicate, her beauty like ice and snow, her face like polished jade. All the splendor of the world was gathered in her. One bit more would be too much, one bit less would be a pity.

Between her crystal-clear brows was a touch of red. It was like a drop of bl00d hidden in fine jade, or a red plum blossom in snow.

White so pure, red so enchanting.

I realized I couldn’t describe her face. No matter how beautiful the words, they couldn’t match her. Anything that could describe her—was no longer her.

The soft light in the room seemed to surround her. The candlelight scattered like stars. All of them were circling around her. She was sunk in the dim glow. It was like an illusion in a mirror, like the moon reflected in water—untouchable. One touch, and she would disappear.

I stood frozen there. It was as if my body had grown roots.