After the cannon fodder father and daughter married into the family, the whole family regretted it

Chapter 899: Mechanism

Fang Nanzhi nodded modestly, put her hands behind her back, and looked through the emperor's private treasury.

It looks so lazy and contented, like a cat patrolling its territory.

There are six rooms in this hall. When she had seen most of them, Qing Yan took her out through the back door.

Qing Min and the others naturally stayed in the palace.

Qing Yan chose the two pillars at the back door, and his slender hands groped on one of the pillars and quickly found the place.

"Zhizhi, look on the pillar next to you, about the same position as me, do you feel a gap?"

Fang Nanzhi was quite interested. He looked at the place he touched and then went to look for it himself. He soon noticed something was different.

There really is a gap, a square gap, but it is made very finely. If you don’t look for it deliberately, you can’t see it even if you stand right in front of the pillar.

"Found it."

The little girl's voice was clear.

"Okay, I'll count to three, Zhizhi and I will press down together."

Qing Yan has grown a lot taller in the past few years, almost catching up with Fang Yin, and the mechanism is only at the level of his chest.

But Fang Nanzhi was still a short person, and she had to raise her wrist to reach it.

Because of this, it's difficult for her to exert force in this posture.

Don't press it for a while, Qing Yan pressed it, she hasn't done it yet.

"Wait, I need a stool."

As soon as she finished speaking, the clever palace servant brought a stable stool and placed it in front of her.

It has to be said that the servants in the palace are better at reading people's expressions than those brought up by their own family.

"Thank you." Fang Nanzhi said subconsciously.

But the palace maid was so frightened that she waved her hands repeatedly, saying that she was not worthy of it. She also secretly glanced at the prince's face and did not dare to kneel down.

Qing Yan just glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and saw that the little girl stood on the stool flexibly without anyone's help and found her position, which meant she was ready.

"three!"

"two!"

"one!"

Fang Nanzhi immediately exerted force on her hands, fearing that something bad might happen, so she used all her strength, but she didn't expect that the design of this mechanism didn't require too much force.

"Click!" A sound.

There was a square hole in the pillar.

Fang Nanzhi withdrew his hand only after he felt he had pressed it all the way down.

Looking at Qingyan, he had also finished. He walked over and wanted to help the little girl down.

Fang Nanzhi didn't understand his movements and jumped down directly, not taking it seriously. How high is it? As a country girl, climbing and jumping are normal things.

Only the palace maids were a little scared when they saw the Crown Prince's empty hands.

On the one hand, he was worried that Miss Fang would offend His Highness and that His Highness would vent his anger on them.

On the one hand, they were afraid that His Highness would feel that they had not served him well enough, so they did not go to help Miss Fang first.

Qing Yan just looked at him coldly and withdrew his hand.

The palace maid tactfully backed away and breathed a sigh of relief.

Fang Nanzhi didn't notice any of this at all and was looking at the palace with burning eyes.

There was a "creaking" sound in the palace, followed by two loud "clang!"

For a moment, Fang Nanzhi felt the ground shake. She turned her head in surprise and looked at Qingyan.

The latter was also looking at the palace with deep eyes, and no one knew what he was thinking.

"hold on."

Fang Nanzhi suppressed his curiosity, but couldn't help wondering: "The prince and the others..."

But he didn't come out.

"It'll be fine." Qing Yan said nonchalantly.

The two waited outside the palace for a while, and then they heard the third "clang."

This time, Fang Nanzhi looked down at the ground and saw some dust being stirred up. She was not wrong, the ground was really shaking, but the sound stopped and subsided.

"Let's go."

Qing Yan naturally pulled the little girl into the hall.

Because she was so curious about what happened, Fang Nanzhi forgot about the differences between men and women and hurried to keep up with him.

The palace door opened again. This time, when Fang Nanzhi went in, he almost dropped his jaw in shock.

The palace was empty, with only a blue floor. All the shelves, gold, silver and jewelry were gone.

Even Qingmin and the others were missing.

She went through several secret rooms and found that the largest hall was empty.

The little girl was quite surprised, but she had read a lot of books and guessed a little: "Is it a mechanism?"

In some knight-errant adventure books, she had seen the protagonist get caught in some kind of trap, and then struggle to solve it and escape.

But she thought that this part was mostly fabricated and there was no way it could have such a powerful mechanism.

I have learned a lot today.

Qing Yan nodded slightly: "The imperial teacher of the previous dynasty, on the surface, was proficient in divination and calculation, but secretly he was also a master of mechanical engineering who was at the peak of his career at that time."

"Behind the scenes?" Fang Nanzhi always pays attention to the key points.

"The Imperial Master is a man of foresight. How could he not hold back when he sold himself to the imperial family?"

The previous emperor had no idea that the imperial teacher was proficient in mechanical engineering.

"I looked through the files left behind by the previous dynasty and discovered that the then Minister of Works' hometown was in the same place as the Imperial Preceptor. I then sent people to investigate and discovered that they were once fellow apprentices."

"They always pretend to be at odds in the court."

"This palace is the national treasury built by the Minister of Works himself."

In other words, if the brothers colluded with each other, it would be very easy for the national teacher to arrange some tricks here.

Fang Nanzhi was curious: "Are you also looking for treasures left behind by the previous dynasty?"

The Eastern Palace is not short of money, but who would complain about having little money?

Qing Yan turned his head, looked at the innocent-looking little girl, and nodded slowly.

"Yes, Father wants to find it."

"So where did the things here go?"

Fang Nanzhi couldn't understand what kind of mechanism could hide all the treasures so quickly.

Unless, others also have space, but her space is really limited and is only used to store the family’s money and property deeds.

And she and her brother have to cooperate, one putting it down and the other taking it out, which is quite troublesome.

Qingyan led the little girl along the wall and finally stopped on a bluestone brick.

"come over."

Fang Nanzhi took two steps forward and stood on the same bluestone brick with him.

Qing Yan sank his Qi into his Dantian, exerted force on his legs, and the bluestone brick suddenly sank.

Fang Nanzhi was caught off guard and subconsciously reached out to grab something, and happened to grab Qingyan's belt.

The bluestone bricks sank very quickly, and the two people almost fell down with them.

However, Qing Yan pulled the little girl in time and prevented her from falling.

When they stepped back on solid ground, Fang Nanzhi pulled Qingyan's belt with her hand and pushed it in unconsciously. She felt his strong waist through his clothes. It was hard, but Fang Nanzhi didn't feel anything.

But Qingyan only felt a warmth approaching.

His reaction was not joy, but frowning. His body had been a little out of control recently. They had had physical contact before, but never like this.

Qing Yan felt that the little girl was too young and they had to be "friends" for at least three years. He couldn't always be distracted and had to restrain himself appropriately, otherwise wouldn't it be disrespectful to the little girl?

When I get back, I’ll go to the Imperial Hospital and ask.

Qing Yan didn't know that this was just the restlessness of adolescence.

But he was the only one in this period, Fang Nanzhi's body and heart were still children.

Fang Nanzhi had no idea that he had thought so much and had already turned around and walked forward.

What caught her eye was an iron chain pressed against the wall. It was a very thick chain, as thick as her thigh, hanging down from the wall, passing through the ground, and it seemed that it had not yet ended.

Fang Nanzhi touched the wall, knocked it, and then looked at the middle. There were three very large windmills, but the windmills were also wrapped with iron chains.

Going further to the right, there was a platform, pitch black, and she couldn't recognize what it was.

"That's the main valve that controls the mechanism. Don't tamper with it. Be careful of a mechanism trap."

Fang Nanzhi retracted his outstretched foot and swallowed his saliva: "Is there a trap? What kind? The kind that shoots arrows from the dark, or releases poison gas?"

As she spoke, the little girl covered her mouth and nose with her hands, leaving only a pair of big black eyes exposed.

Qing Yan thought, it seems that the little girl reads a lot of novels.

"I don't know, but I can't just try."

Fang Nanzhi put down her hand and nodded obediently.

The two of them only stayed here for a moment, and Qingyan took her to find a bluestone slab again. With the same movements, the two of them fell down again.

This time Fang Nanzhi was prepared and stood very steadily.

Falling down again, Fang Nanzhi saw the candlelight lit in the corner and a vaguely visible figure standing under the candlelight.

It was Qing Min.

Looking around, there were people under all the candlelights, and this floor was where the emperor's private treasury was stored.

All those things that disappeared are here.

Fang Nanzhi suddenly realized: "The treasure of the previous dynasty just disappeared like this?"

"Hide it underground first, then dig a tunnel or something to transport it out?"

She speculated.

Qing Yan nodded: "That's right."

He led the little girl inside. The corner of the wall where Qing Min was guarding was a little thin, so he kicked it and a big hole appeared.

Obviously, this is the underground.

Fang Nanzhi stuck her head into the dark cave, eager to try and go in, but was stopped by Qingyan.

"I asked someone to check it out. This tunnel leads to an abandoned house in the capital."

Fang Nanzhi's eyes were full of interest. He had never been to a tunnel before and wanted to go.

Qing Yan said helplessly: "This tunnel may not have been dug well. It has collapsed over the years and is difficult to walk in. If you go in, I'm afraid your clothes will get dirty. Aunt Qian will scold you later."

What he didn't say was that the tunnel was too narrow and dark, and could only accommodate one person, not two people walking side by side. In the event of an accident or danger, it would be difficult for him to protect the little girl in time.

Fang Nanzhi could only regretfully give up his curiosity, but couldn't help but sigh.

"That Imperial Master is truly amazing. This mechanism is so well designed that it's leak-proof."

She didn't understand the principle, but she basically understood that after the mechanism was started, there would be three vibrations.

The first was to cause the palace floor to cave in.

The second time is when the second floor they just went to will float up.

The third sound means the third layer emerges.

The specific operation should be related to those windmills and iron chains. Maybe it is not only the bluestone slabs on each floor that are moved, but also the surface layer of the wall?

In short, it's quite magical.

The Imperial Master used this method to take away the treasure, leaving the Last Emperor with nothing.

"There are many talented people in the world, and there are always some geniuses." As confident as Qingyan is, he does not think that he is the best in terms of intelligence.

"Just like the long moon that follows you."

Qing Yan's eyes fell on the empty space, his arms hanging down, but his fingers curled unconsciously, as if he was somewhat imperceptibly... nervous.

Fang Nanzhi blinked. How did Qingyan know Langyue? He had only been with her for one day.

Oh yes, he sent someone to protect her secretly, maybe to pass on the message to him.

Maybe it was because she was young, or maybe it was because she didn't feel there was any secret. In any case, she didn't feel like she was being watched, so she wasn't angry. She was simply curious about what he would say next.

"Lang Yue was born in Yitian Pavilion and was once an assassin for the Emperor. His greatest strengths, besides his martial arts, include bone shrinking."

Fang Nanzhi's eyes widened: "Bone shrinking skill?"

It was written in the storybook that some people could shrink their bodies to the size of their heads.

She always thought it was unreasonable.

Really?

Qing Yan glanced sideways and saw that the little girl's eyes were filled with excitement, as if she wanted to go back home and have someone perform for her.

"Well, there are no more than three people in the world who can shrink bones, so if Jin Yunting sends someone like this to you, you should be careful."

Qing Yan pointed it out directly.

"He's from an aristocratic family. He was raised to put his family first in everything he does. It should be said that children from aristocratic families all believe that family is more important than the court, and the court is more important than individuals."

In other words, even Jin Yunting himself has to give way to the interests of his family, so how could he change for his friends?

Fang Nanzhi heard a strong sense of vigilance.

"You don't like aristocratic families? Or do you dislike Jin Yunting?"

There was a conflict between the imperial power and the aristocratic families. Was it all for profit?

Qing Min, who had been silent all the time, couldn't help but look at her. How could this girl be so brave?

Even though the emperor is on guard against aristocratic families everywhere, he cannot say in public that he doesn't like aristocratic families.

"I admire Jin Yunting very much. If the Jin family falls into his hands in the future, perhaps it will have a long-term future."

Qing Yan changed his self-proclaimed name, indicating that he was expressing his admiration for Jin Yunting from his status as the crown prince, rather than as a person.

Fang Nanzhi didn't understand the meaning, he just thought it was a very high evaluation.

You have to know that the previous dynasty was the time when the aristocratic families were at their most powerful. There was not even an imperial examination at that time, and official positions were almost monopolized by aristocratic families of all sizes.

There was even a saying at that time that dynasties come and go, but families remain forever.

When the first emperor of this dynasty ascended the throne, he dealt a severe blow to the arrogance of the aristocratic families and destroyed two large clans, which at one point made them breathless.

As time went by, the aristocratic families would remain patient and dormant, and develop, and now they have become very powerful again.

But it no longer has the glory of the previous dynasty, at least no one dares to talk about the iron-clad family.

Qing Yan bluntly stated that Jin Yunting had the ability to lead the Jin family to continue its legacy, which was a very high evaluation.

"I admire him, but I also know the dangers of being a child of an aristocratic family."

Qing Yan lowered his eyes and looked at the little girl.

"Do you know how Chen Zijun gained such immense power when my father ascended the throne that he was able to suppress my father?"

Fang Nanzhi's heart suddenly tightened and he shook his head honestly.

“First, the late emperor’s trust gave him the power to assist the new emperor.

The second is the trust and support of some senior officials and veteran ministers.”

As the crown prince, he certainly knew more secrets than what was recorded in the files.

"The three talents are the most important. At that time, the aristocratic families were in retreat."

Fang Nanzhi frowned, not quite understanding.

"It was very strange at the time. When the late emperor was alive, he suppressed the aristocratic families, but it was only a check and balance. After his death, he divided the power among Chen Zijun, and those aristocratic family members either resigned or took sick leave. For some reason, during that six months, the aristocratic families rarely took any action and rarely participated in government affairs."

The aristocratic families were not suppressed and lost their spirit, but they took the initiative to retire. What was they trying to achieve?

"Did they do this on purpose? If the noble families do nothing, the only person the emperor will see upon ascending the throne will be my powerful uncle."

Fang Nanzhi's throat felt dry and his back felt cold.