Lu Wenru was stunned by Lu Heng’s question. After carefully considering His Majesty’s recent actions, he smiled bitterly: “Why do I feel His Majesty seems possessed – completely obsessed with the treasure and imperial mausoleum?”

Lu Heng nodded. “He has secured the throne and has high expectations for the future. Most people value posthumous honor, so naturally he’s eager to build his imperial mausoleum. But he’s too impatient and too confident in his absolute rule over the Great Zhou. He’s forgotten about the people’s hearts and what his ministers care about most.”

Ministers wanted promotions and wealth – this was human nature – but no one wanted to constantly serve beside a tyrant.

Even a distinguished noble with such military achievements as Prince Zhongshun was treated that way by His Majesty, let alone ordinary civil officials like them.

The emperor leaving the capital without cause had already unsettled court officials. Combined with news of Pang Xiao’s treatment and now this fire dragon incident at Jingang, the already unstable hearts would become even more unstable.

“If I’m not mistaken, His Majesty will set out to return to the capital soon.” Lu Heng sipped his tea and spoke slowly.

Lu Wenru’s heart skipped a beat as he worried: “My lord, when His Majesty returns to the capital, he’ll probably deal with the treasure matter. I wonder if His Majesty truly believes you. If Prince Zhongshun’s side finds some fault with us and His Majesty blames us, what should we do?”

Lu Heng smiled but didn’t immediately answer Lu Wenru’s question.

When he had implicated Pang Xiao that day, it was merely to use his family’s influence and His Majesty’s suspicions of Pang Xiao to buy himself some time.

“Should I stay here waiting to die?” Lu Heng smiled lightly and picked up his tea bowl to focus on drinking tea.

After a moment of confusion, Lu Wenru understood everything.

He was somewhat worried whether Lu Heng would abandon him at the crucial moment. After all, if they truly had to flee for their lives under heavy pursuit, Lu Heng probably couldn’t spare attention for others.

But Lu Wenru had served Lu Heng for years and felt he knew many of Lu Heng’s secrets. If Lu Heng didn’t take him along, wouldn’t he fear Lu Wenru might leak information?

Or perhaps he would kill him?

At this thought, all of Lu Wenru’s hair stood on end.

He only wanted to peacefully serve as an attendant – he didn’t want to be dragged into these matters!

Lu Heng seemed to see Lu Wenru’s concerns and smiled: “Prepare well these days for the journey.”

These words were too ambiguous and frightened Lu Wenru.

Seeing his reaction, Lu Heng couldn’t help laughing out loud. “What are you thinking? Do you think I’m the type to flee caring only for myself? Rest assured, even if I don’t bring Lady Bian, I’ll take you with me.”

Wiping cold sweat from his forehead, Lu Wenru smiled bitterly: “My lord, please stop teasing this humble servant.”

Lu Heng shook his head. “How is this teasing? It’s all for the Lu family’s future peaceful life. As the Lu family patriarch, I haven’t forgotten the family’s importance for a moment. By the way, how are you progressing with the matter I asked you to handle?”

Lu Wenru immediately became serious and lowered his voice: “It’s done – just waiting for news.”

“Good. Then stay by my side these days and await orders.” Lu Heng smiled and nodded.

News of a fire-breathing giant dragon flying to Jingang, burning the dock and destroying all the warships His Majesty needed for his imperial mausoleum seemed to grow wings – everyone in the capital knew about it.

However, Li Qitian still hadn’t calmed down. He continued receiving secret reports from various stone transport locations, with four places confirming they hadn’t found the treasure.

Of the ten directions in total, Li Qitian had personally intercepted one route. Of the remaining nine, four were confirmed to have no treasure. Li Qitian pinned his hopes on the remaining five routes yielding results. After all, both the national treasury and his private funds were now stretched thin.

The limited silver had already been allocated by the Ministry of Revenue to Lu Heng for purchasing new stone materials. Now with the warships destroyed and timber turned to ash, he needed to find good timber elsewhere – wouldn’t this add more expenses? With all that silver tied up in the stone quarries, if any major matter requiring silver arose now, he’d have nowhere to find money!

Li Qitian developed fever blisters on his lips overnight.

Worse yet, the capital was also becoming restless due to rumors of the Jingang fire dragon.

He knew the emperor leaving the capital was taboo and immediately ordered preparations to return to the capital.

Xiong Jinshui asked: “Your Majesty, Prince Zhongshun’s health hasn’t fully recovered. The physician says he truly shouldn’t travel now. Please instruct whether to bring Prince Zhongshun on this journey.”

“Can’t travel? Then have him carried.” Li Qitian sneered. “Even if he must be carried, bring him back to the capital for me. I still have matters to ask him! And Lu Heng – serve them all well and don’t let anything happen to Earl Lu.”

Xiong Jinshui quickly bowed: “Yes, this servant obeys your decree. This servant will handle it immediately.”

After leaving the rear office, Xiong Jinshui stood in the covered walkway taking several deep breaths before calming his inner panic. It wasn’t that he was cowardly – His Majesty had been in poor spirits recently, unpredictable in temperament. Just yesterday he had a young eunuch dragged out for twenty strokes of the rod merely for accidentally spilling a drop of water while pouring tea. Constantly attending His Majesty, he truly dared not act carelessly, fearing he too might be caught in some mistake and severely punished.

Xiong Jinshui felt his face was becoming as bitter as Imperial Physician Gao’s.

But he dared not let others see his worry – in public, he remained the steady, reliable head steward.

Walking to the rear courtyard, he requested an audience with Prince Zhongshun. Soon a servant respectfully invited him in.

Xiong Jinshui naturally dared not act presumptuous before Pang Xiao. Even though this man had been beaten by His Majesty, he still feared him greatly.

“This servant greets Your Highness. Your Highness looks much better.”

Pang Xiao had loose hair and wore a dark blue outer robe over his snow-white inner garment. Upon hearing this, he weakly coughed twice and, with Tang Xiu’s assistance, shifted from lying prone against a large pillow to sitting on his side.

“Eunuch Xiong, no need for formalities. This prince’s body has probably developed complications and won’t recover quickly. Since you’ve come specially, does His Majesty have instructions?”

Seeing Pang Xiao’s pale complexion and colorless lips, Xiong Jinshui gritted his teeth: “Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered preparations to return to the capital, likely departing tomorrow or the day after. He specifically ordered this servant to inform you.” He paused to observe Pang Xiao’s expression, then added: “The capital has many imperial physicians with superior medical skills. Your Highness can recover more quickly there and resume serving His Majesty.”

Pang Xiao naturally knew this last sentence was Xiong Jinshui’s own addition. Though Xiong Jinshui served Li Qitian, he didn’t want to condemn everyone together or make things difficult unnecessarily, so he smiled: “Thank you, Eunuch Xiong. Since it’s His Majesty’s decree, this prince will certainly comply. I’ll have people prepare immediately to return to the capital with His Majesty.”

Xiong Jinshui hadn’t expected Pang Xiao to be so agreeable.

Greatly pleased, he secretly thought Prince Zhongshun might not be as dangerous as His Majesty imagined. He joyfully accepted and then went to deliver the decree to the Lu residence.

After Xiong Jinshui left, Tang Xiu asked Pang Xiao: “Your Highness, are we really returning to the capital with His Majesty?”