“Don't forget, Bu Ting is a Tengshe Wei (Tengshe Guard)," Hei Ye Xiao said. "Although he lost the Tengshe Totem, he still has the ability to control snakes. Maybe he was controlling the snake guarding the entrance to Da Meng Xiang (Great Dream Village), creating that knot outside the coffin."

"Let's not talk about Bu Ting, let's talk about this wall first!"

"I suspect the sheet music on this wall is one of the five movements of the Di Hou (Empress) from that year, but I don't know which one it is."

I said, puzzled, "You're saying Bu Ting used the Di Hou's music to trap Zuo Xiang (Chief Minister)? That's a bit of a joke, right? Don't tell me there was something between them two?"

Hei Ye Xiao and Ye Yang rolled their eyes at the same time, and Qin Xin also scolded, "Can't you have anything serious in your head?"

"You guys talk, you guys talk..." I also knew that now wasn't the time to argue, and that finding a way to open the tomb was the real business.

Hei Ye Xiao said, "Actually, the Di Hou's disappearance has something to do with Pang Gu Fang."

"Back then, the Emperor and the Di Hou met because of a piece of music. As for the process, I don't know much about it. I only know that the Di Hou had four movements: 'Wind,' 'Flower,' 'Snow,' and 'Moon.' The Emperor's affection for the Di Hou also had a lot to do with these four movements."

"However, some people also say that Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon are actually four sword techniques. Of course, this is just a legend; no one has ever really verified it."

Hei Ye Xiao paused here and said, "I'm getting off track again!"

"Back then, the Emperor and the Di Hou were in perfect harmony, which was truly the envy of others."

"But Pang Gu Fang repeatedly advised the Emperor to take concubines."

I was dumbfounded. "Is she crazy? There are people who specialize in finding mistresses for others?"

Hei Ye Xiao said, "This isn't surprising. In the eyes of the ministers, the Emperor cannot be devoted to one woman, otherwise that woman will inevitably interfere in politics."

I later checked the information about this matter and found that the ministers in ancient times really thought this way.

For example, Emperor Xiaozong of Ming, Zhu You Tang, was only devoted to one person in his life and never took concubines. Although Emperor Xiaozong was the master of the Ming Dynasty's revival, the Empress never participated in politics. However, the ministers of Emperor Xiaozong never stopped advising the emperor to take concubines, and one of the reasons was similar to what Hei Ye Xiao said.

Hei Ye Xiao continued, "At first, the Emperor didn't adopt Pang Gu Fang's opinion. Later, however, he suddenly changed his temperament for some reason."

"First, he issued an edict to let Pang Gu Fang be in charge of internal affairs. Although the Emperor did not include Pang Gu Fang in the harem, he gave her the power to manage the harem, and all matters of the harem were decided by Pang Gu Fang."

"Later, Pang Gu Fang suddenly selected three concubines for the Emperor, who were the three palaces you know."

"The Emperor didn't know what he was thinking at the time. He neither agreed to take concubines nor said he would cancel the three palaces. He directly handed the three palaces over to Pang Gu Fang for management, and Pang Gu Fang became the de facto number one person in the harem."

I couldn't help but ask, "What about the Di Hou? Did she just acquiesce to this?"

Hei Ye Xiao said, "In the beginning, the Di Hou maintained an attitude of indifference towards these things, which can be regarded as a disguised compromise with Pang Gu Fang!"

"However, as the Di Hou took a step back, Pang Gu Fang took a step forward. From time to time, she would take the three palaces to find the Emperor."

"Think about it yourself, three beautiful women surrounding you, caring for you, and being attentive to you, can you say you're not even a little tempted?"

I thought for a while and said, "I really couldn't do it."

Hei Ye Xiao also nodded and said, "The Emperor was probably like this at the time!"

"One day, the Di Hou suddenly said: she wanted to play a new piece for the Emperor. The Emperor even summoned us to listen to the music together."

"I still remember the scene at that time. We all thought that the Di Hou wanted to win back the Emperor's heart, especially Pang Gu Fang."

"After the Di Hou played a piece that we had never heard before, she disappeared."

"That was the best piece of music I had ever heard. I can't describe the feeling, and maybe it can't be described in words!"

"That day, we listened so attentively that we were intoxicated, and even suspected that we were in heaven. Perhaps only heaven would have such music? We forgot everything and were immersed in that piece of music and couldn't extricate ourselves!"

"When we woke up, the Di Hou had quietly left, leaving behind only the Yaoqin (jade zither) that the Emperor had given her and a piece of music. I remember that the piece of music was written with the word 'Chan' (Zen)."

"The Emperor chased out of the palace to find the Di Hou, but he never caught up with her again."

"After that, Jiu Guan Dao Ren (Nine Coffin Taoist) found the Emperor, and the Emperor joined hands with the Jiu Guan Dao Ren to fight against the heavenly tribulation, so he didn't have time to look for the Di Hou. However, the Emperor never went to the three palaces again after that, and he didn't allow anyone to enter his study."

"It wasn't until he arranged the eight guards that he said he was going to find the Di Hou."

"The Emperor once said: After so many years, I have finally understood the meaning of this song. Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon—Zen. Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon represent love, while Zen represents enlightenment. Love also needs enlightenment. I never thought of that."

"Perhaps, I still have a chance to get her back!"