Chapter 237: Chapter 158: Former Imperial Tutor
Chu Chengfeng laughed. "Spoken like a true scholar—so direct!"
"But why?"
Chu Chengfeng hesitated, giving Zheng Xiu a long, hard look. "Are you sure you want to know?"
Zheng Xiu had wanted to say that he wasn’t particularly interested; he was more curious about Xie Luohe. But at that moment, his mouth once again seemed to move on its own, replying, "Of course."
"Ah, fine. You’re just a scholar, not a martial artist. Even if I did have ill intentions, it would be difficult to drag you into this." Chu Chengfeng suddenly lowered his voice. "Have you heard of the treacherous courtier from the previous dynasty, Duke Nie?"
At this, Zheng Xiu let out a short laugh. "How could I not know? Duke Nie of the previous dynasty was practically the main culprit behind the fall of the Dasheng Dynasty. The court was corrupt and the people suffered—all because he manipulated politics, formed private factions, and amassed a fortune through extortion. He single-handedly threw the Dasheng lands into chaos. That’s what ultimately led to the founding emperor, Qian Taizong, and the Divine Martial Generals under General Zheng’s command, breaking through the city walls, restoring peace and prosperity to the world, and establishing the Daqian Dynasty."
Chu Chengfeng nodded. "And do you know how Duke Nie died?"
"According to the history books, when Emperor Qian Taizong led his army into the Imperial Palace, Emperor Sheng knew his fate was sealed. He met the reb— I mean, Emperor Qian Taizong, alone in the great hall. Right in front of him, he drank poisoned wine and took his own life. As for Duke Nie, he had already fled when he learned the Divine Martial Army had broken through. But he was intercepted on the road. Duke Nie tried to bribe Emperor Qian Taizong with his wealth to spare him, but the incorruptible Emperor Qian Taizong lopped off his head with a single slash, killing him on the spot."
Chu Chengfeng asked again, "And do you happen to know where all the wealth Duke Nie plundered from the people ended up?"
Zheng Xiu froze. "Weren’t vast amounts of gold, silver, jewels, Divine Weapons, strategy tomes, Sword Manuals, antiques, and jade artifacts discovered in the Nie Family home and confiscated for the Daqian National Treasury?"
Chu Chengfeng chuckled at that. "And what do the books say? That the Nie Family’s vaults were piled high with gold and jade, glittering so brightly that the moment they were opened, a pillar of golden light shot into the heavens, turning night into day and leaving the entire city dumbfounded..."
Zheng Xiu said, "That is indeed what’s written."
Chu Chengfeng leaned in conspiratorially. "Back then, in Duke Nie’s home, they found nine thousand taels of gold, ten thousand taels of silver, ten stone’s worth of jade artifacts, forty-five Divine Weapons, and one basket of Sword Manuals and ancient texts."
Zheng Xiu was stunned. "That much?"
Or so he said.
But in reality, Zheng Xiu was thinking, ’That’s it?’
"Much?" Sure enough, Chu Chengfeng’s response matched Zheng Xiu’s real thoughts. He scoffed, "Not even close! The wealth Duke Nie embezzled was far more than that! Far, far more! Duke Nie fled with nothing but the clothes on his back. Do you think he would have dared to run off like that if he didn’t have a fallback plan?"
Zheng Xiu slapped his forehead, blurting out the thought, "He had another treasure hoard!"
"Ha! Younger Brother Gongsun, you see things clearly!" Chu Chengfeng gave Zheng Xiu a thumbs-up in admiration. "In fact, there have long been rumors in the Jianghu that Duke Nie left behind ’Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault,’ which is filled with countless treasures—a fortune to rival a kingdom. It’s said to be even greater than the current Daqian National Treasury. Right now, Emperor Wei Jing has only just ascended the throne, and his foundation is shaky. If a fortune that staggering were to see the light of day, the very Heavens..."
Chu Chengfeng stopped talking and pointed upward. "I’m afraid they would tremble."
"You mean..." At that moment, Zheng Xiu seemed to be perfectly in sync with Gongsun Mo as he said, "Remnants of the old dynasty!"
"Ahem! Keep your voice down." Chu Chengfeng glanced around nervously. Seeing that no one was paying them any mind, he decided the mood was right and finally revealed the secret he had been building up to.
"A rumor started—I don’t know by whom—that the National Preceptor, who’d been in hiding for over thirty years, is still in this world. And a few days ago, that Former Imperial Tutor, who had changed his name and scraped by in hiding, was captured by the Court in the south. He was extremely close to Duke Nie back in the day. That National Preceptor, who has managed to survive for thirty years, very likely knows the secret of Nie Gong’s Treasure Vault!"
"The prison caravan escorting the Former Imperial Tutor is traveling from the south, heading north."
"A massive Court escort certainly won’t be taking a prison cart through treacherous mountain passes."
"Following their line of march, they’ll have to pass through here very soon."
Chu Chengfeng jabbed a finger hard onto the tabletop. The force of the impact made the cold tea in both their cups splash, sending out ripples.
"The Shu Region. Kang City!"
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