The group followed far behind Prince Yan and Gu Shixiong, frequently sending scouts ahead to confirm the correct direction. If they discovered the other party had stopped, their three-hundred-man convoy would also halt to avoid running into them on the road.

After traveling in this stop-and-go manner for four or five days, Pang Xiao had released over ten carrier pigeons in total.

You Meng initially would inquire, but when Pang Xiao coldly glanced over with a single phrase about “confidential reports ordered by His Majesty,” You Meng was dismissed. Later, You Meng grew accustomed to it and stopped asking altogether.

“Report!” Another scouting party returned from reconnaissance, their expressions somewhat excited as they approached You Meng’s horse and spoke in lowered voices, “General, they’ve entered a cave.”

“Oh?” You Meng’s eyes lit up with excitement in an instant. He immediately dismounted, saying, “Did you see clearly? You didn’t lose them? Are you certain it’s not them escaping through a tunnel?”

“General, we’ve been following from a distance all along without drawing their attention. We’ve now left several men standing guard nearby and are searching the surrounding area for other exits to the cave.”

“Very good, very good!” You Meng laughed heartily, then whispered instructions, “You’ve done well. Remember to keep your mouth shut.”

“Yes!” The scout composed himself and responded gruffly.

You Meng immediately returned to Pang Xiao’s carriage, “Your Highness! Good news!”

Hearing this, Pang Xiao descended from the carriage alone, “What good news has you so excited?”

You Meng’s eyes were full of excitement as he whispered, “We seem to have found the treasure!”

“What?”

“The scouts just reported that they personally watched Prince Yan’s group enter a cave. They’ve left men standing guard nearby and have ordered a search of the area for any other exits to the cave.”

Pang Xiao clapped his hands in great joy, “This truly resolves His Majesty’s urgent crisis! Excellent! The brothers’ hard work these days hasn’t been in vain. Come, let’s continue quietly following them.”

Seeing that Pang Xiao’s first reaction was joy at helping His Majesty resolve his concerns, You Meng silently noted this in his heart.

Pang Xiao returned to the carriage, wrote another note, and released a carrier pigeon.

Seeing the pigeon, You Meng smiled and ordered everyone to quietly set out.

The carriage swayed gently as Pang Xiao held Qin Yining while leaning against the large pillow, whispering, “Yi Jie’er, do you think what we’re doing is truly right?”

Qin Yining smiled slightly, “There’s nothing wrong with it. If that treasure falls into the hands of someone with ill intentions, it could very likely become a weapon for killing. It’s better to use it all for the people – that wouldn’t dishonor this treasure stained with the blood and tears of Great Yan’s common folk.”

“You’re right. But this way, aren’t you worried about Yuchi Yan having problems?” When Pang Xiao asked this question, he watched Qin Yining’s expression intently, as if wanting to see any clues from her face.

With her intelligence, Qin Yining found it quite amusing to hear Pang Xiao’s words tinged with jealousy.

Was her man still bothered by the fact that she had once nearly become Yuchi Yan’s empress?

“Prince Yan is indeed not completely evil, but first, we’re already on opposing sides, and second, since he chose to abandon his wife, he can’t blame others. His desire to restore the country and obtain the tyrant’s treasure is understandable, but he used the most despicable method.”

Thinking of the Yuchi Yan who had once devoted himself to studying the classics, carried a scholarly air, and was quite upright in character, Qin Yining couldn’t help but feel a sense of vicissitude.

Time and reality were both sharp tools for changing people.

She no longer knew when Yuchi Yan had become such an obsessed, stubborn person who disregarded family affection.

Pang Xiao held Qin Yining and kissed her cheeks several times, “Whatever my Yi Jie’er says is right.”

Qin Yining was both annoyed and amused by his words.

“What I said was factual to begin with. Why does your tone make it sound so reluctant?”

“Whatever my wife says is right.” Pang Xiao began restlessly exploring Qin Yining’s body again.

Qin Yining couldn’t help but sigh softly. After their marriage, Pang Xiao seemed to have opened the door to a new world, knowing only to take from her like someone who had tasted marrow and become addicted, and he especially loved clinging to her.

Sometimes Qin Yining even felt that Pang Xiao’s clingy behavior was like their family’s Da Hei.

“Your Highness, scouts report they’ve found the cave exit and have arranged for it to be guarded,” You Meng reported from outside the carriage.

Pang Xiao put away his inappropriate thoughts and gathered his spirits, “Very good. Then we should go take a look.”

Qin Yining lifted the carriage curtain and descended, looking around at the surrounding villages and fields, then looking up at the mountain before them that seemed very familiar, “Could this be Hat Mountain?”

Pang Xiao said, “It is indeed Hat Mountain. It’s rare that you still remember.”

This place was already very close to the old capital of Great Yan. Qin Yining often came out to walk around and naturally remembered this ownerless wild mountain.

However, what surprised Qin Yining wasn’t seeing the mountains of the Great Yan dynasty.

Rather, this mountain was exactly the one on the fake map she had casually drawn. After Lu Heng obtained her homemade treasure map, he had come out to search for treasure and was reportedly buried due to an earthquake.

But this was too coincidental!

Her random drawing had actually found the right mountain!

If Lu Heng really found treasure using her doodle, that would be quite interesting…

Yuchi Yan and Gu Shixiong carried lanterns, feeling along the uneven walls as they slowly moved forward.

Gu Shixiong’s aged voice carried excitement, creating a large echo in the cave.

“Don’t worry, I haven’t set any traps here. There won’t be any danger.”

“That puts me somewhat at ease.” Yuchi Yan patted his chest and gathered his spirits to continue deeper inside.

Yuchi Yan had been pampered since childhood – eating one grain of rice less or exercising for an extra hour would result in earnest admonishments from the supervising eunuchs.

Having conspired with Gu Shixiong to escape this time, he had followed this old man through what could be called crossing mountains and rivers to reach this treasure that had caused Li Qitian such great trouble. How could he sit down to rest?

The cave entrance grew increasingly spacious, and soon they reached a huge, open space.

The lanterns in their hands swayed in wind coming from some unknown passage, the orange-red candlelight flickering bright and dim. Though the light wasn’t very bright, both men could see how abundant the gold, silver, and precious stones piled in large boxes covering the ground were.

Yuchi Yan carried his lantern, somewhat dazed as he moved among the large wooden boxes, grabbing strings of pearls with neat rows of silver ingots placed below.

Looking back, there were at least twenty such large boxes, and some contained priceless gems.

“How much of the people’s fat and blood did Father Emperor plunder!”

Yuchi Yan slumped dejectedly against a large box, his gaze somewhat vacant. “No wonder everyone called Father Emperor a tyrant. What kind of lives were the people living then? Yet he hoarded such a vast sum of silver and refused to use it for the people. Great Yan’s fall wasn’t unjust, not unjust…”