King Lu Shang

**King Lu Shang** is a character in the television series The Lost Tomb and mentioned in Ultimate Note. He is involved with the Seven Star Palace tomb and is from the Warring States Period.

## History

### The Lost Tomb

King Lu Shang was a general from the State of Lu during the Warring States Period (475–221 BC). The name, King Lu Shang, was given to him by this ruler of the State, known as the Duke of Lu. He was a grave robber and had to conceal his identity so that he could rob tombs for the Duke of Lu to pay for the army's provisions while they were at war in the Central Plains. He left behind Yao Guang whom he was in love with. In his absence, she was forced to marry the Duke of Lu.

When he returned, he wanted to run away with Yao Guang. They made plans but were eventually discovered by the Duke of Lu who, in a fit of rage, accidentally killed Yao Guang. King Lu Shang, upset over her death, was told by his trusted advisor, the Iron-Masked Scholar, that the legendary Jade Burial Armor could bring her back to life. They figured out a way to hide from the Duke of Lu and planned to store food and supplies in the Western Zhou dynasty tomb (Seven Star Palace) and stay there for the rest of their lives.

They took the jade burial armor from the previous tomb owner and placed Yao Guang in it. King Lu Shang killed everyone that had accompanied him to the tomb besides the Iron-Masked Scholar. But the Iron-Masked Scholar had other plans and killed King Lu Shang taking the jade burial armor for himself.

King Lu Shang's body may be somewhere in the Seven Star Palace but its true fate is ultimately unknown.

#### Legends

One legend was written in a fake record that was in the coffin in the main tomb of the Seven Star Palace. It stated that when King Lu Shang was 20, he inherited his official position from his father. He robbed ancient tombs for the army of the state of Lu. One day, he entered a tomb of unknown dynasty and found a giant serpent lying in a coffin. He killed the snake and opened its belly to find a purple gold box. King Lu Shang later had a dream about the snake who wanted to take revenge. King Lu Shang was about to win against the snake again but the snake begged for mercy, it was worried it would not be able to reincarnate. In return, the serpent told King Lu Shang how to open the box and said that the two treasures in the gold box would guarantee him a high status. King Lu Shang thought this was a secret no mortal should know and so he killed the serpent. One of the treasures was the Ghost Seal but the other was unknown. King Lu Shang became worried about the secret of the box and killed his subordinates and even their families to keep it unknown. In the next decades, King Lu Shang was then known to be victorious in his battles.

Another legend was recorded in one of the rooms in the Seven Star Palace tomb. It stated that he was born with a Ghost Seal which could be used to borrow undead troops from the underworld. If he showed the ghost seal on the battlefield, troops would come out of the ground to take away people’s souls. He won many battles and was named **King Lu Shang** by the Duke of Lu. But one day, King Lu Shang had to return to the underworld to help and asked the Duke of Lu for permission. The other granted it and King Lu Shang kneeled before him and died. The Duke of Lu expected he would one day returned and built the Seven Star Palace and had his body preserved.

### Ultimate Note

King Lu Shang pursued immortality and wanted King Mu of Zhou's Jade Burial Armor for himself. He almost got it but the Iron-Masked Scholar stole the jade burial armor for himself instead.

## Divergence from the Novel

* Contrary to The Lost Tomb, King Lu Shang's romance with Yao Guang is never mentioned in the novel.
* Contrary to The Lost Tomb, King Lu Shang pursued the jade burial armor for selfish reasons, not for love.

## Appearances

### The Lost Tomb

* Episode 4 (mentioned)
* Episode 6
* Episode 7