Lu Heng finally showed some panic, but as someone born to a noble family who had received proper upbringing and was no stranger to great storms, Lu Heng quickly regained his composure. Even though his attire was somewhat casual, his bearing remained dignified and noble.
“Since His Majesty has sent you all to ‘protect’ me, then I trouble you gentlemen. As for my wife, she naturally must stay with me. There are still many empty rooms in the mansion—please make yourselves comfortable.”
Having said this, Lu Heng turned toward the study. Displeased with the large hands placed on his shoulders, he shrugged several times. The soldiers, awed by his authority, naturally released him.
Ma Cheng was also made alert by Lu Heng’s words.
If His Majesty truly intended to punish Count Zhongyi, he probably wouldn’t have sent people to guard him but would have directly raided the household. Count Zhongyi came from the Lu noble family, the Lu family had deep roots, and their network of connections in court was intricate. He only needed to handle His Majesty’s assignment—there was no need to be aggressive.
Thinking of this, Ma Cheng smiled and cupped his hands: “The Count understands righteousness deeply. This general is merely following orders. There are many unavoidable circumstances—please understand, Count.”
Seeing Ma Cheng’s attitude soften, Lu Heng’s expression eased slightly. He grunted acknowledgment and entered the study.
Bian Ruohan naturally escaped being pushed around and followed into the study with a face full of anger and grievance.
The rest of the Lu household servants, including Lu Wenru, were all closely watched in the eastern side courtyard. Ma Cheng sat in the shade and downed a large bowl of tea before breathing a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Li Qitian led a thousand cavalry, racing at full speed toward Wanzhou Town. In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, they caught up with the caravan transporting large stones.
“Quickly! Intercept this convoy for me!”
“Yes!”
The Five Armies Camp cavalry were well-trained. At Li Qitian’s command, everyone swiftly moved.
The caravan’s accompanying guards and escort agency members were stunned by the sudden turn of events. Before they could even grab their weapons, they were swarmed and captured by the cavalry.
Li Qitian strode forward quickly, shouting loudly: “Inspect the stone materials!”
Zhu Meng immediately led a dozen men to check each ox cart.
More than ten ox carts had their ropes untied one by one. The men used sword sheaths to tap on the stones until they heard different sounds from the rocks.
“Your Majesty!” Zhu Meng pointed to a cart in the middle. “Please take a look at this!”
At the cry of “Your Majesty,” the hearts of the captured escorts and Lu Heng’s trusted men went cold.
Li Qitian quickly stepped forward, personally tapping with his sword sheath, finally exclaiming excitedly: “This is it! Quickly!”
Having received orders, everyone worked even more enthusiastically. Soon, they had found all the “stone boxes” hidden in the ten carts.
After laboriously finding the seams and breaking open the thin layer of stone, golden bars, jade pieces, agate gems sparkled brilliantly under the blazing sun.
Li Qitian’s eyes lit up with excitement. He stepped forward to grab a string of pearls, then a handful of gems, finally examining the gold bars. His heart was filled with relief—found them, found them!
It seemed he truly was the destined Son of Heaven. The treasure coveted by so many had been found by him! That Tianji Zi’s calculations were utterly worthless!
Overjoyed, Li Qitian immediately ordered people to return to the city to prepare ordinary chests and carts. He remained with his troops to guard the spot.
The escort agency members transporting the stones now wished they had gone blind. Having witnessed such secret affairs of the current Son of Heaven, they would probably be silenced, wouldn’t they?
Transporting chests, counting treasures, writing inventories—by the time they finished, evening clouds filled the sky.
Li Qitian looked at the treasures filling two large camphor wood chests and couldn’t help feeling somewhat dissatisfied.
“Though these are all genuine treasures, this seems rather few.”
Everyone lowered their eyes in silence.
This was still considered few?
Any one or two items from here could feed a family for ten or twenty years, and this was still considered few?
Zhu Meng understood Li Qitian’s thoughts and said timely: “Your Majesty, supposedly the granite Count Zhongyi transported went to more than ten different places.”
Upon hearing this, Li Qitian was startled, then his eyes blazed with light, his mind brightening.
That’s right!
This one location yielded so much treasure. With Lu Heng’s shrewdness, he definitely wouldn’t put all the treasure together. Among these ten routes, there must be more treasure hidden!
That Lu Heng!
Finding treasure and wanting to keep it all! Daring to play mind games with me!
Thinking of Lu Heng’s deception, Li Qitian immediately flared with anger, ordering in a deep voice for everyone to first transport these two chests of treasure to the capital. If anything went wrong, entire families would be executed.
How could anyone dare be the slightest bit negligent? For the sake of their whole families, they would watch each other to ensure not the tiniest mishap befell the treasure.
After assigning personnel to transport the treasure, Li Qitian led his men back to Huichuan County.
Near the seventh hour of the evening, the city gates were about to close. Li Qitian led his men racing back, and upon seeing that bright yellow figure, everyone at the city gate immediately knelt to welcome him respectfully.
Even the people on the streets, hearing the cries of “Long live the Emperor,” all knelt down.
Good heavens, this was incredible—the Son of Heaven had actually come to Huichuan County. Could it be to inspect the imperial tomb?
No wonder so many cavalry had come at noon, with troops surrounding all of Huichuan County. Now they understood the reason!
Li Qitian quickly rushed to the Lu residence and leaped from his horse before it had even stopped properly.
He too had led armies in battle for many years, but eight years of comfortable living had caused his former skills to deteriorate. When dismounting, he nearly threw out his back.
Standing in place with his riding whip, he caught his breath for a while, then glanced at the head eunuch Xiong Jinshui who was closely following him.
Xiong Jinshui immediately understood and announced inside.
“His Majesty arrives!”
The entire Lu household erupted in activity.
Ma Cheng immediately led his troops out to welcome him. The well-trained Five Armies Camp soldiers all knelt down, their cries of “Long live the Emperor” resounding through the air, even startling the surrounding residents.
Li Qitian steadied his mind and slowly raised his hand: “Rise.”
Not seeing Lu Heng among the crowd, Li Qitian raised an eyebrow and asked Ma Cheng after entering: “Where is Count Zhongyi?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, Count Zhongyi is in the outer courtyard study. This minister has ordered guards to watch him.”
As long as the man hadn’t fled, that was good.
Li Qitian breathed a sigh of relief and walked steadily toward the study.
Ma Cheng ordered the study door opened. Li Qitian looked inside to see Lu Heng and Madam Bian kneeling one behind the other on the floor.
“This minister respectfully welcomes Your Majesty.”
“This minister’s wife pays respects to Your Majesty.”
Lu Heng had changed into a silver-white outer robe embroidered with bamboo, his hair neatly arranged and secured with a green jade bamboo-section hairpin. He appeared calm and composed, showing no signs of guilt whatsoever.
Li Qitian’s face darkened as he sneered coldly, slowly entering the room and taking his seat. With a wave of his hand: “Madam Bian, withdraw.”
Bian Ruohan feared the Son of Heaven and naturally dared not show the slightest negligence. She hastily bowed and acknowledged the order, respectfully withdrawing with lowered head. At the moment the imperial guards closed the door, she looked at Lu Heng’s back with worried, tightly furrowed brows.