AUBTN -Chapter 73 The Other Half of the Key

Shen Jue spoke softly to explain:

“That fool Jiang Huai only knows how to set up a fake secret chamber in his study to look impressive. He thinks he’s clever! Usually, the real secret room is somewhere you’d never imagine.”

In fact, Jiang Huai had no idea that the true secret chamber in this mansion was designed by a master of the Mo family for his grandfather—a hidden refuge.

A tunnel led straight beneath his study.

“Oh, so that’s the idea!” Su Hewan didn’t expose his clumsy lie.

The two of them descended along the stone steps.

The tunnel wasn’t dark; long-burning lamps were embedded in the walls. Though faint, they were enough to illuminate the path ahead.

After about the time it took for an incense stick to burn, a massive stone door appeared in front of them.

The entire door was forged from black iron, unimaginably heavy.

At its center was a circular recess.

Inside the recess were two intertwined yin-yang fish carved in relief.

One protruded, the other recessed.

Su Hewan’s expression instantly darkened.

“This… is a Mo family double-dragon lock?”

Shen Jue glanced sideways. “You recognize it?”

Su Hewan stepped forward quickly, studying the intricate pattern with furrowed brows.

“I’ve seen it in ancient texts. This kind of lock is the pinnacle of Mo family mechanical techniques, said to be flawless.”

She pointed at the two yin-yang fish.

“To open it, you need two keys.”

“One yang key, one yin key.”

“And both keys must be inserted and turned simultaneously, perfectly in sync, for the stone door to open.”

“If someone forces the door, or only inserts one key, the self-destruct mechanism inside will activate, instantly releasing poison gas and flammable oil, reducing everything within to ashes.”

Su Hewan turned to Shen Jue, her tone grave.

“Song Zhaoyuan said opening the mechanism requires Jiang Huai’s key. So it seems the one Jiang Huai holds is one of them.”

“But…”

She paused. “Where’s the other key?”

“Since it’s a double-key lock, Jiang Huai wouldn’t be able to enter with only one—unless…”

Shen Jue remained silent.

He reached out, slowly tracing the cold black iron door with his fingers.

When his fingertips touched the recessed yin fish, his movement suddenly froze.

Childhood memories surged into his mind.

It was the night before their family was raided.

His father hung a cold jade pendant around his neck—a shape he had never seen before, half-circle like a fish, entirely black.

His father had said, “Jue’er, this is the Shen family’s life.”

Later, he was enslaved in the palace, suffering countless torments.

That jade pendant had been snatched by the old eunuch during a bath. He risked half his life to retrieve it, only to lose track of it in the chaos…

Wait.

No.

It hadn’t been lost.

Shen Jue closed his eyes tightly.

He remembered.

To protect this one remaining heirloom, he had secretly buried the jade pendant…

Shen Jue’s eyes snapped open. “And the other key…”

His voice was hoarse, carrying a trace of wild laughter.

“I know where it is.”

Su Hewan froze. “Where?”

Shen Jue slowly turned, his gaze piercing through the dim tunnel toward the front courtyard of the Jiang Mansion.

“In this world, besides the one Jiang Huai has…”

“The other has long been lost.”

Su Hewan was dumbstruck.

【Lost? Then how do you know where it is? You’re messing with me, big brother!】

A curve appeared at the corner of Shen Jue’s mouth.

“No.”

“There’s still one person who might know.”

“Or rather, there’s someone who might be holding that lost key without even realizing it.”

At that moment, faint commotion echoed from above the tunnel.

It seemed Lu Yan’s side of the play had reached its climax.

Jiang Huai was being driven to desperation.

Jiang Mansion, Main Hall.

The atmosphere was tense, like a drawn sword ready to strike.

Lu Yan sat in the main seat, twirling the embroidered spring knife in his hand.

Jiang Huai stood below, his forehead slick with cold sweat, yet he forced a smile.

“Lord Lu, you’ve searched and investigated thoroughly. The accounts of the Salt Transport Office are perfectly clear, without a single discrepancy.”

“As for your accusation of secretly storing weapons—that’s utterly absurd! I am just a merchant; why would I need weapons?”

Lu Yan snorted coldly and slammed the external account book onto the table.

“How does Boss Jiang explain this account book?”

The moment Jiang Huai saw the book, his pupils constricted sharply.

That was… the stolen one!

Damn it! How did it end up in the hands of the Jinyiwei?

His heart pounded wildly, but he quickly composed himself.

This was only the external accounts.

It could only prove bribery, not treason.

As long as the master Yin-Yang ledger couldn’t be found, he still had a chance!

“This… this is someone framing me!” Jiang Huai shouted in protest.

“Lord Lu, this is forged! I am innocent!”

Lu Yan rose to his feet and strode toward Jiang Huai.

He was a head taller, his oppressive presence towering over Jiang Huai, almost suffocating him.

“Whether it’s a false accusation, the imperial prison will tell us soon enough.”

“Guards! Take him away!”

Two Jinyiwei stepped forward immediately, flanking Jiang Huai on either side.

Jiang Huai struggled desperately, but his gaze involuntarily drifted toward the study.

If only he could buy time for Prince Ning’s men to come rescue him…

At that moment, a messenger hurried in and whispered a few words into Lu Yan’s ear.

Lu Yan raised an eyebrow, a faint, subtle smile tugging at his lips.

They had found the secret chamber—Double Dragon Lock—but one key was missing.

Lu Yan waved his hand, signaling his men to pause.

He lowered his head, looking at the terrified Jiang Huai, and suddenly changed his tone.

“Boss Jiang, I am a reasonable man.”

“As long as you hand over the privately forged weapons, I can guarantee, before the emperor himself, your corpse remains intact.”

Jiang Huai’s eyes flickered. “My lord, I really don’t understand what you mean.”

Lu Yan’s smile was filled with meaning.

“Not understanding is fine.”

“I heard there’s a stone door in your mansion that simply cannot be opened…”

Leaning closer, he spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear:

“Jiang Huai, do you think you’ve hidden it well?”

“Unfortunately for you, that door is missing half a key—you can’t get in, right?”

Jiang Huai froze as if struck by lightning.

They had actually found the entrance to that secret chamber!

And… it seemed Shen Jue had arrived as well!

But he quickly noticed a flaw in Lu Yan’s words.

Missing half a key…

That’s right!

It’s the Double Dragon Lock!

Back when he seized the Shen Mansion, he had only found the yang key.

The yin key had disappeared without a trace!

For all these years, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t open that door. He had to create a fake secret room outside the door, hide the weapons elsewhere, and shove the most crucial master ledger through the door’s crack…

Wait!

Jiang Huai suddenly looked up, a glint of madness flashing in his eyes.

Since even the Jinyiwei couldn’t open the door, the evidence was safe!

As long as the evidence couldn’t be retrieved, no one could sentence him to death!

“Ha ha ha ha!”

Jiang Huai laughed wildly.

“Lord Lu! You’ve seriously underestimated me!”

“Since you’ve found the door, go ahead and open it!”

“I want to see how you’ll get the so-called evidence without the key!”

Lu Yan’s expression darkened slightly as he watched Jiang Huai’s reckless confidence.