Chapter 2: The Beautiful Woman's Tomb in the Painting

  Mingying took the phone I handed over to her and looked at it too.

  I waited quietly for a moment and said, "I'd like to ask some questions."

  She raised her head and looked at me.

  "Firstly, why was I chosen?"

  Mingying smoothed out her hair by her ear and said, "Do you need a reason?"

  I fell silent. I had no idea what kind of organization she was from, how large it was, or how many capable people like Old Lady Yin were inside, and why they would choose someone as unknown as me, even going so far as to use a grave-robbing incident to drag me in.

  The answer might be on this woman's body. Maybe she said something to the organization about me. Could it be that she recommended me by patting her chest, saying I'm not as bad as she said? It seems that I'm not as unworthy in her eyes as she claimed.

  "Secondly, can I meet that historian?"

  "Why meet?"

  "I said, I just took a few pictures and you dragged me into this miserable task. I don't even know what's going on with this already sunken Concarneau, let alone expect me to decipher its secrets? Do you think that's possible?"

  "It's unnecessary to meet."

  "Why?"

  "We can't find him either." Mingying said with a slight bow of her head.

  "What? Has he passed away?"

  "This, you don't need to know."

  I didn't ask further and just said: "Alright, thirdly, what exactly are we going to look for?"

  "Shi Yi Guang."

  The vanilla flavor ice cream in my mouth almost sprayed onto Mingying's face.

  What's wrong with Xi Guang?

  What a joke! Does this person really exist? I'm not even sure.

  If you don't know who Shi Yiguang is, maybe it's forgivable. But if I tell you her other more well-known name and you still don't know, then I'm speechless.

  Her another name is:

  Xi Shi

  That's right, it was the first of the four great beauties of ancient times, who was given to King Fuchai of Wu by King Goujian of Yue, causing Fuchai to build the Spring Palace for her in Suzhou, constructing a large pool, setting up the Green Dragon Boat, the Pavilion of Dolls, the Spiritual Hall, and the Responding-to-Each-Other Corridor, among other palaces. She was also the one who made Fuchai drunk with love, indulging in sensual pleasures, neglecting state affairs, and eventually leading him down the path to national subjugation and personal death, all due to Goujian's grand plan for revenge.

  It is said that after the death of King Wu, she eloped with Fan Li, the first wise minister under King Goujian of Yue, and went to Shandong. Fan Li demonstrated his business talent, accumulated a huge fortune, and became a wealthy merchant - Tao Zhu Gong. Xi Shi also became a rich lady, and together with this great talented man, whose reputation was even more resounding than that of today's Li Ka-shing, they created a legendary love story between a talented scholar and a beautiful woman.

  However, why did Mingying mean that Xishi, the first of the four great beauties, was actually in the already submerged Kancheng?

  Mingying saw me staring blankly and coldly laughed, saying: "When it comes to beauties, you think of improper thoughts?"

  I shook my head and expressed my doubts.

  She snorted and said that you don't need to question this matter. We have thoroughly investigated over the past few days and have sufficient evidence to prove that Xishi's tomb is in Kangcheng. The person who painted this picture was a military officer from the Eastern Jin Dynasty, although he had swords and guns in his hands, he was a true elegant gentleman. He was good friends with Gu Kaizhi and Wang Xizhi. He greatly admired Xishi's extraordinary beauty and spirit, so he specially marked the location of Xishi's tomb on this painting in a secret way. After his death, his family moved to the north, and this painting was worshipped together with the family genealogy in the ancestral temple. Until the Republican era, the temple was destroyed, and this painting almost got lost in the war, but it was obtained by a professor of history from Southwest Associated University. This professor, who was already middle-aged at that time, was skilled in painting and proficient in history, and he studied this painting deeply, discovering the secret of Xishi's tomb. However, during the Cultural Revolution, the old professor was brutally persecuted, and this painting was burned by the Red Guards. With the help of friends, the old professor escaped to Hong Kong, where he painted a fake version from memory. In an auction in the late 1990s, this fake version was bought by a mainland businessman and brought back to China, but no one knew the secret of the painting. The old professor passed away in Hong Kong last year, mentioning this painting in his final words before passing away. Before the news spread, the mainland businessman's home was burglarized, and the painting was stolen, disappearing without a trace. For some reason, it appeared in a small shop in Lu Gong Postal Market.

  I sneered, "What do you mean by 'don't know why'? Your organization has been eyeing this painting for a long time. As soon as it was stolen, you must have set up a tight defense at every possible place where the loot could be sold. Once it appears, you will definitely find out."

  Mingying shook her head and said, "You're wrong about this."

  I saw her speak firmly and asked: "Your organization, aren't you also investigating Chen Ziqi?"

  She shook her head again, and as soon as she heard this name, a layer of angry color appeared on her face, saying: "It was I who investigated this bastard that accidentally entered the organization."

  Mingying's words always made me feel dizzy, and I was annoyed by listening to her. So I said stiffly: "Miss, if you don't clarify the ins and outs of this matter, tell me how your organization is connected with this painting, I can only wash my hands of it!"

  Mingying looked at me a few times, took a sip of coffee, and slowly said: "A few days ago, that historian was strolling around Lugong Postal City and saw this painting. He had heard from a friend who knew the old professor about this painting, and at the time, he felt that there was something fishy about it, possibly the Kangcheng map, so he wanted to buy it. But the boss who opened the price of 100,000 yuan was still hesitant. He didn't have much money either, hesitated for a long time, and then asked the organization for help, revealing the Xishi Mausoleum incident. The organization sent me to visit that boss's store, coincidentally meeting you in the store, I was listening outside. But heard the shop owner mention Chen Ziqi's name, so I reported back to the organization. At the same time, also mentioned your matter. The organization then named and pulled you into the water together to investigate. I knew that you would definitely go to that store again today, although I didn't follow up with you and Chen's subordinate, but today the organization took advantage of your absence from home to test you a bit. Old Yin rarely praises anyone, today his evaluation of you is quite acceptable, it's rare."

  Hearing her say that, I still felt a little sense of accomplishment. But this sense of accomplishment was soon broken by annoyance, and I said: "You don't have to flatter me. I was dragged into the water by you guys, it's really helpless. You actually grabbed my Achilles' heel, coerced me, if... if..."

  "If it weren't for that woman, you wouldn't be coerced, would you?" Mingying sneered, "I heard from Old Yin that your family has a freezer at home with the corpse of a beautiful woman inside. How creative and what great luck!"

  "Hey, I seem to have detected a hint of jealousy in your tone? Quickly shaking my head, I dismissed this unreliable idea and said: "What's with the 'good fortune'? I've never even touched her.""

  Mingying lightly snorted and said: "You've all taken baths, how can you still say such a thing?"

  I was speechless for a moment. Suddenly I said, "How did you find my address? That old lady from this afternoon actually knew that I gave her a bath, when exactly did you start eavesdropping on me?"

  Mingying just coldly smiled and didn't say anything.

  I find it hard to determine whether Mingying followed Wang Yongshun, and when Wang Yongshun found my home address, she also coincidentally confirmed the location of my home, or if on that day I met her at the hospital by chance, she became suspicious of me and secretly followed me, or if after interacting with her at the seafood warehouse, she began to investigate me.

  Of course, the last of these three possibilities is the most likely; however, for me, it doesn't matter which one it is. The fact is, this organization has got its eyes on me.

  I sighed and felt helpless towards her indifferent attitude, all I could say was: "There's another question, this painting is now in Chen Ziqi's hands, with just these few photos on my phone, will it be enough?"

  Mingying heard what I said, pouted, glanced at me and said: "What else can we do? Do we have to go steal that painting back?"

  I was already very displeased with her attitude, but in order to give her face in public, I suppressed my anger and said: "Let's not talk about the stealing issue for now, let's just say are these few photos enough? If not, we'll think of another way."

  "What's the plan? What plan? Do you think with your skills, you can steal that painting out? You're overestimating yourself!" She said while crossing her legs and hugging her chest, with a disdainful expression.

  I also knew that the Western-style villa was very secretive and isolated, difficult to approach, and the space was not large. Once inside, it would be hard to find a place to hide, let alone with a bodyguard on guard. If he were a skilled fighter, my little bit of combat skills learned in school might not be enough to withstand him.

  But I don't know why, I always have a strong desire to not give up. Especially when others look down on me, this desire becomes even stronger. Maybe I have an impulse to prove myself and get recognized by others. Or maybe it's like the song "Sea and Sky" by Shin Hye-sung: "To those who looked down on me, thank you for making me not bow my head, for letting me live a more wonderful life, and for giving me good stories to tell..."

  For some reason, I thought of this song and also remembered the person who used to sing it with me - a colleague from my previous company, named Fu Lidong. He was the same age as me, 193cm tall, a former second-level national basketball player, an MBA graduate from Renmin University, and had even opened his own small restaurant in Beijing. Having seen the world, he was experienced in handling things, righteous, and very likable. We got along well, shared similar interests, often hung out together, sang songs, drank wine, and had a great time.

  When I was looked down upon by Mingying, for some reason, the images of Li Haibo, Fu Laidong, Huang Dongtang and Xia Yu, those good brothers, appeared in front of me. Perhaps, when people encounter troubles, they always involuntarily think of their closest friends first. The reason why I thought of them is that you know they are the most trustworthy friends who can stand by your side without asking for reasons.

  But this time, the task is probably only helped by the cold and frosty woman in front of me. Although I took on this task for Xiao Luqi's safety, I really don't know what I will face in the future.

  I felt this unknown fear and strong sense of helplessness, but in my heart a stronger will arose. Suddenly, my mouth uncontrollably said to Mingying: "You only need to tell me, is the original manuscript of this painting useful? Don't bother with anything else!"