Chapter 254: The True Reason

Nobody is allowed to move anything here; my temperament—Fang Zi Lun's—you all know, there naturally won't be any shortage of benefits for the brothers, got it? Fang Zi Lun glanced at the troop behind him, his eyes slightly narrowing, especially lingering a bit longer on two people.

Yes!

The Imperial Forest Army personnel clasped their fists, showing respect.

Go.

Fang Zi Lun led the group onward; upon reaching the second room, he and Xi Gong Gong exchanged a glance, and he said, "You stay outside and guard; without my order, do not advance a step."

Yes!

Fang Zi Lun and Xi Gong Gong entered the second Secret Room together; Xi Gong Gong didn't move, but those stacks of letters and ledgers were surely not a simple matter.

Someone has been here.

Fang Zi Lun's voice was low, yet carried a gritty tone; he felt that Xi Gong Gong knew everything, while he himself remained clueless and needed a bit of guesswork.

Yes.

Xi Gong Gong nodded, having not touched any of these things; he was just a dog lackey—people, the less you know, the longer you live.

"Aren't you going to leak anything, Grandfather?" Fang Zi Lun asked.

Xi Gong Gong looked up at Fang Zi Lun and said, "Chief, that person is the one protected from above; it was that person who told me about this place. What else do you want to know?"

……

Fang Zi Lun's words felt like they were stuck in his throat; what did he want to know? He didn't want to know anything at all.

Above……

Who could make a Chief Steward speak of those above? It certainly isn't the imperial harem!

Let's have them pack the boxes.

Fang Zi Lun sighed, realizing that Xi Gong Gong wouldn't be able to clear up any doubts.

As long as the Chief has it figured out.

The two emerged from the Secret Room, while the troop waited outside.

Pack them.

Yes!

At the command, everyone sprang into action, loading all the letters and ledgers into large wooden crates, though two people seemed to be searching for something……

One person, face covered, examined the writing on the letters, flipping through them one by one.

"Hurry up, you don't need to be so meticulous—others will sort it out later. After this job, we'll definitely get our share of benefits."

His partner urged him quickly.

"It's too chaotic, I'm not used to it—this is fine, this is fine."

Although he spoke nonchalantly, sweat already beaded on his forehead, "No, no, still no……"

What about those letters?

Where did the letters go? How could they have disappeared?

His gaze narrowed quickly, his movements speeding up; his partner, seeing him too slow, also sprang into action, tossing all the ledgers straight into the crates—as long as everything got packed, their task was done.

They weren't those scholars who needed meticulous sorting—what a hassle!

After the shock of the two previous Secret Rooms, Fang Zi Lun and Xi Gong Gong exchanged a glance, left the room, and continued onward.

This is……

War swords!

The war swords in that room—how much iron, how many blacksmiths……

This is Da Ning!

In that moment, both had the same thought as Jiang Yun Chu; not only Fang Zi Lun, but even Xi Gong Gong's back broke out in a cold sweat.

Silver! Not the reason.

Ledgers and letters, not the reason.

It turned out the Princess Consort's true reason for sending them on a covert mission lay in the weapons!

If they came openly, the sudden appearance of so many weapons in Da Ning's capital Jingdu would destabilize the country and unsettle the populace.

Da Ning would be unsettled!

This……

Xi Gong Gong's legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground.

Fang Zi Lun gazed at everything before him and said, "Xi Gong Gong, aren't you going to say something?"

So many weapons entering Ning Jing—it's as obvious as Sima Zhao's intentions, known to everyone on the street!

"What do you want me to say? Do I look like I know?" Xi Gong Gong's smile faded, his legs still weak, his voice taking on a distinctive tone—but when he said "I," his whole persona instantly exuded dominance.

……

Only six dots could represent Fang Zi Lun's current state of mind.

I……

Do you still have that ability?

However, after thinking over the murderous, heart‑cutting words, he still didn't utter them.

Seeing Xi Gong Gong's current state—someone usually adept at disguising himself—he now resembled a delicate, sickly white flower, tears glistening at the corners of his eyes……

Forget it!

Report to Your Majesty; let Your Majesty decide.

However, the arrangement of personnel ran into a problem.

Those two individuals could no longer be probed now; we could only send them away for the time being and test and examine them later.

Six months ago, he discovered that internal information had been leaked, but the mole was exceptionally crafty—every step seemed guided and designed by an expert, and each time they tried to capture him, he managed to evade.

But after many attempts, there was still only a rough range, and only then did today's probing occur.

"I will start arranging people; here I need Eunuch Xi to keep watch, absolutely no one must be allowed in, I'll go check the other secret rooms."

"Silver can be discarded, accounts and letters can even be lacking."

"Only the news of weapons must absolutely not be leaked."

"I will guard it."

"Eunuch Xi's expression turned angry, he directly wanted to stand up, but though willing, he lacked strength, only able to stretch out his hand, 'Chief Fang, pull me up.'"

……

"Fang Zilun resignedly pulled Eunuch Xi up, then left without a word."

"When he walked into the last secret room, he instinctively startled; although there was no one inside, the floor littered with iron chain fragments—whose inner strength could reach such a degree?"

"That pool full of worms, and those dark-colored iron chains—just how much wickedness does this room contain?"

"However, he merely searched around, found nothing useful, then directly left the room and returned to the third chamber."

"Xiao Erzi."

"Present!" a man clasped his hands, showing a respectful expression.

"Bring the boxes over; this room also contains silver, come and pack them." Fang Zilun ordered expressionlessly.

"Yes!"

Xiao Erzi had no doubt whatsoever; whatever the boss told him to do, he did.

But when he saw the weapons in that room, Xiao Erzi's gaze changed.

"Nothing you see here may be spoken of by anyone, understood?" Fang Zilun said solemnly.

"Yes."

Xiao Erzi's gaze became resolute, and without a word he began working.

That night, the secret rooms were bustling; in a manor, an old man in coarse hemp clothes directly knocked over a table of tea utensils.

"Trash, you can't even do this small thing, trash!"

"I've told you many times, the Congratulations Hall can be used, just a bit greedy; in the end it could still help you bear the disaster and aid you in escaping calamity."

"And you? When you plotted against him, why didn't you report to me earlier?"

"For a Congratulations Hall, you've sacrificed my stronghold built over many years, you're foolish!"

The old man's face turned ashen, looking at the person standing before him, full of disappointment.

He had painstakingly laid out plans for ten years, designed countless traps, never expecting to fall into the hands of his own junior!