Tomb robbing: I was Buried alive in the Mausoleum of the First Emperor, I Get Stronger by Looting Corpses - Chapter 24

Chapter 24: A Meal’s Grace—A Life Devoted!

Meng Jiangnv’s voice rang softly beside him as she pointed ahead. “Husband, someone is up ahead.” Yang Yi had already noticed the frail silhouette in the distance. His sharp gaze focused on the approaching figure, and with a calm tone, he responded, “I see her too. She looks like a palace maid, but I don’t understand why she’s outside the inner palace.”

His eyes carefully examined her, searching for any system classification or attributes, but nothing appeared. This confirmed she was not a special character, just another ordinary soul lost in the vast tomb of Qin Shi Huang. “Let’s go and take a look.” With that, Yang Yi strode forward confidently, closing the distance between them.

The palace maid seemed shocked to see them, her eyes flickering with a mix of confusion and panic. She hesitated for a brief moment before attempting to turn and flee, but her body was too weak to support her sudden movement. She stumbled and fell, landing hard on the cold stone floor.

Tears instantly welled up in her eyes, whether from pain, fear, or sheer exhaustion, Yang Yi wasn’t sure. But in that moment, she looked utterly pitiful.

Kneeling down beside her, he extended a warm yet commanding presence. “You must be starving.” His deep voice resonated in the quiet corridor, steady yet filled with understanding. Without hesitation, he retrieved a flatbread from his system storage, holding it out to her. The palace maid froze, staring at the food in disbelief. Then, as though awakening from a daze, she snatched the flatbread from his hand and devoured it without hesitation. There was no trace of grace or manners—only the raw desperation of survival. Even the dry, crumbly texture of the bread didn’t slow her down. She ate as though it were the most delicious thing she had ever tasted.

Yang Yi’s brows furrowed slightly as he observed her. Why is she in such a dire state?

The inner palace, where the emperor’s concubines and attendants were sealed, should have had enough food supplies—at least enough to last through their period of mourning. Yet this girl was starving to such an extreme degree. Something wasn’t right. Fetching another flatbread and a bowl of water, he handed them to her. “Eat slowly, or you’ll choke.”

The palace maid barely registered his words as she eagerly accepted the second portion. Only after a few more frantic bites did she finally slow down, chewing more carefully. As she ate, her hollow eyes gradually regained clarity, and she seemed to remember where she was and who she was with. Her trembling hands reached for the bowl, and as she gulped down the water, a relieved sigh escaped her lips.

“Thank you…” she whispered, her voice hoarse from disuse. Even though her words were muffled by the food still in her mouth, they carried a deep sincerity. Taking the final sip of water, she exhaled sharply, finally feeling like she was alive again. By the time she reached for the third flatbread, she hesitated. Her gaze lifted, tears brimming as she looked at Yang Yi. “…I’m full.”

Even though she wanted to eat more, she didn’t dare to accept further generosity. She understood the value of food in a place like this, and to have received so much already was beyond belief.

Her hands clenched into fists as emotion overwhelmed her. In such a hopeless, wretched place, where survival was a luxury, someone had not only spared her but given her life-saving food without demanding anything in return. If at that moment, he ordered her to kill or die, she would do so without hesitation.

……………………………………………………………………………

“I am Yang Yi,” he introduced himself at last, tucking away the remaining food. “A disciple of the Mohist School.”

However, his breath hitched slightly when he glanced at her loyalty level in the system. It was at the maximum value—100. A single meal?

That was all it took for her to pledge absolute, unwavering devotion. His mind struggled to process it. Is her gratitude truly so boundless or has she suffered such unspeakable desperation that even the smallest kindness is enough to claim her unwavering loyalty?

Perhaps she had already given up hope, and this single act of generosity was more than she had ever dared to dream of.

Lowering her head slightly, she finally spoke, “My name is Qing Lian.” Her voice carried the elegance of a trained court servant. “I was originally from Chu. After the kingdom fell, I was taken to Xianyang Palace as a concubine’s maid.”

Yang Yi nodded, his thoughts turning briefly to history. After unifying the six states, Qin Shi Huang did not exterminate the nobility of the fallen kingdoms. Instead, he kept them under close watch in the capital, providing them with comfortable living conditions while ensuring they posed no threat. Many noblewomen from the conquered states were absorbed into the royal court as maids and concubines, a common strategy to pacify potential rebellion.

It was a bold move, but one only someone as powerful as Qin Shi Huang could make without fear. Had he lived another twenty or thirty years, the last remnants of the six kingdoms would have fully assimilated into Qin’s rule, leaving no factions capable of rebellion.

“You were in the inner palace, weren’t you?”

“Weren’t the concubines meant to keep vigil for the First Emperor?”

“How did you escape?”

His voice was calm but curious.

Qing Lian’s expression darkened, and for a moment, her lips quivered. Her fingernails dug into her palms, and then, her voice trembled as she spoke. “They’ve all gone mad.” Her words were not metaphorical. “The imperial concubines have lost their minds, fighting over food and water like wild beasts.”

“The stronger ones hoard the supplies, leaving the weaker ones to starve. If it weren’t for the generals maintaining order, they would have already begun killing each other. I was terrified. I knew I would either starve to death or be trampled in the chaos. So, I ran.” I expected to be killed by the tomb guardians the moment I left the inner palace. But they didn’t stop me.”

Her voice broke into a whisper, as though she still couldn’t believe it herself.

“They just… let me leave.”

Then, she turned her tear-filled eyes to Yang Yi, her body trembling. “Master Yang, you saved me. I have nothing left to give, except my body. Before I die, let me at least repay you with what little I have left.”

She reached for her waist sash, her hands shaking as she attempted to undo the binding of her robes. But before she could, Yang Yi firmly stopped her, his grip steady but gentle.

“You’re not going to die.” His voice was calm, confident, and unwavering. “You’ve already pledged yourself to me. From now on, you will serve me—not as a final act before death, but as a living soul under my protection.”

Qing Lian froze, her breath catching in her throat. A moment later, her knees gave way, and she collapsed to the ground, sobbing silently.

Yang Yi let out a deep sigh. He hadn’t expected her loyalty to be so absolute, so unbreakable, all over a single meal. Yet, what truly disturbed him was the situation in the inner palace. The imperial consorts had already descended into madness.

If things continued this way will it truly be long before they turn to cannibalism?