With sarcasm painting her face, Kong Huangwei continued, "I didn't have any treasures to begin with. Even if I did, I wouldn't give them to him. It was only for your safety that I gave him that purple jade pendant, telling him it would only be effective if you wore it for ten years."
"After that, he locked me in here, saying he'd release me once the jade pendant was useful."
"I waited for ten years, and everything was fine. But who knew that ten years ago, he suddenly flew into a rage, accusing me of deceiving him and making him wait ten years in vain. Then he claimed you had already killed him and demanded I hand over the real treasure quickly, or he would kill me."
"I am your mother. No one knows better than I do whether you are still alive. Although you had an accident, your life was never in danger. Therefore, I used my remaining spiritual energy to set up the barrier just now."
"Zheng Xiang couldn't get in, and I couldn't get out. This stalemate lasted for ten years."
"Originally, my spiritual energy was close to depletion today. If you hadn't come, I would have had to wait for death."
"Fortunately, you didn't disappoint your mother and truly arrived."
By the end, Kong Huangwei was filled with joy and satisfaction.
Zheng Wei, however, was stunned by Kong Huangwei's words.
After thinking for a moment, Zheng Wei continued to ask, "Then what about my father? Why were you pursued and ended up here from the Sacred Spirit Continent? Since you were alive, didn't those people come back?"
Perhaps having prepared himself mentally, Kong Huangwei gave a bitter smile after Zheng Wei's question. "I have no idea where your father went or what his fate is. As for why I was pursued, who the enemy is, I can't tell you. Your current abilities are too far from knowing these things."
Zheng Wei felt a slight sense of loss upon hearing this, but quickly felt at ease again.
He truly didn't have much power now, especially on the Sacred Spirit Continent. He was probably just a small ant there.
As Zheng Wei secretly resolved to cultivate diligently in the future.
Kong Huangwei, however, swept away her previous gloom and sorrow, saying excitedly, "Let's go quickly. I've been here for so long. Although I spent most of my time cultivating, I still found it boring and tedious. Let's go, let's go quickly. I want to explore properly."
As Kong Huangwei spoke, she pulled Zheng Wei's sleeve and walked towards the stone door.
Zheng Wei obediently followed Kong Huangwei forward, still harboring many doubts in his heart.
But since the most important matters had been clarified and his identity confirmed, he couldn't afford to delay any longer.
It was better for Zheng Xiang not to know his true capabilities for now.
After Zheng Wei opened the stone door, the two of them quickly moved forward.
Upon reaching the stone chamber where the rare treasures were kept, Kong Huangwei stopped Zheng Wei, telling him not to rush to leave.
Zheng Wei paused, looking at Kong Huangwei in confusion, not understanding what she wanted to do.
Without waiting for Zheng Wei to ask, Kong Huangwei proceeded to collect everything in the room in an instant, even taking the wooden shelves that held the rare treasures.
Seeing Kong Huangwei, who didn't act until she did, and when she did, left nothing for others, Zheng Wei's eyes flashed with a smile. He said, "This is quite similar."
Kong Huangwei, having just finished collecting things, heard Zheng Wei's words, raised an eyebrow, and looked at him, "What do you mean by that... Do you also like to take everything?"
Zheng Wei shook his head and said slowly, "I don't like it. Only my wife likes it."
"Wife?"
Kong Huangwei's eyes suddenly lit up.
He already had a wife?
As expected of her son, how old was he? Barely twenty years old, and he already had a wife.
"Do you have children?"
After thinking for a while, Kong Huangwei asked blankly again.
Zheng Wei didn't hide anything and nodded naturally, "Yes."
Kong Huangwei's eyes shone even brighter.
He even had children!
Excellent! Excellent!
Truly her son.
Zheng Wei kept an eye on Kong Huangwei's expression. Seeing her so happy, although he didn't know why she was pleased, he could clearly feel that she had no ill intentions.
Thinking that they had already delayed for a long time, and further delays could lead to problems, Zheng Wei said, "Let's go."
This time, Kong Huangwei didn't refuse. After Zheng Wei opened the door, they went up through the tunnel. In a short time, they emerged from the tunnel and returned to the study.
The luminous pearls in the study still emitted a soft glow. The scene, identical to before, eased Zheng Wei's worries considerably.
It seemed no one had been here.
In that case, it would be best to leave as soon as possible before anyone noticed.
Zheng Wei led Kong Huangwei out of the study and closed the study door. Before leaving, Zheng Wei didn't forget to pick up the lock nearby and lock the study door.
The sound of the lock clicking in the silent night was somewhat conspicuous. Zheng Wei's face stiffened upon hearing it.
He hadn't expected it to be so loud.
At this moment, the guards outside the courtyard must have heard it.
Zheng Wei quickly looked at Kong Huangwei in front of him and anxiously asked, "Can you fly?"
Kong Huangwei's face flashed with embarrassment. "Um, my injuries haven't healed yet..."
Kong Huangwei's voice was a little low, but Zheng Wei still heard it clearly.
Since Kong Huangwei couldn't fly, and she was likely his mother, it was fine to carry her away.
With that thought, Zheng Wei didn't hesitate.
He reached out, picked up Kong Huangwei, and with a light step, he flew with her onto the roof.
Just as Zheng Wei and Kong Huangwei left the courtyard, the courtyard gate was quickly opened, and then dozens of people swarmed in.
These people were dressed in military uniforms, clearly soldiers under Prince Duan.
Their expressions were grim. Upon entering the courtyard, without being ordered, they fanned out and searched every possible hiding place.
After searching for a long time, they found nothing.
This made them somewhat puzzled and a little disheartened.
The Prince had only instructed them to guard the courtyard for two days, and now there was trouble within the courtyard.
If something truly serious happened, or something important was lost, their lives would not be enough to compensate.
Thinking of this, all of them had grim expressions, and they silently cursed who dared to provoke them and implicate them.
They turned the courtyard upside down, but still found nothing.
Finally, they stood in front of the study and looked at the tightly locked door, their hearts somewhat at ease.
It seemed that whoever had come earlier had likely been scared away by the heavy lock.
Just as they were about to turn and leave, someone let out a soft "hmm" and walked to the door, bending down to examine the lock carefully.
The others found his actions strange but waited in place for him.
Zhao San looked for a long time before finally looking up and saying to everyone, "This lock was opened just now."
Everyone was stunned upon hearing this. After they reacted, someone asked, "How do you know?"
Zhao San pointed to the lock hanging on the door. "When the Prince left, I specifically looked at this lock. The reverse side of the lock was facing outwards, but now, the front side of the lock is facing outwards."
When they heard him say this, everyone's face showed confusion.
It took a long time before they suddenly understood what Zhao San was saying.
Zhao San looked at the still somewhat dazed crowd and said anxiously, "What are you still standing around for? Hurry and invite the Prince!"
"Oh, oh, oh, I'm going right now."
A slightly clever young man agreed, turned around, and quickly ran out.
The remaining people stood in place, staring at the large lock on the door, as if trying to bore a hole through it.
When Zheng Xiang, who had been summoned, rushed over, he saw this scene.
These people were all standing there, stunned, their eyes all focused on the large lock on the study door.
Although he had already learned the gist of the matter on the way, Zheng Xiang, being meticulous, asked for a full account of the situation.
When he heard that the people outside had heard the sound of a lock being turned, coupled with Zhao San's memory of the lock's orientation, Zheng Xiang's face became extremely grim.
The matter was urgent and couldn't wait. Zheng Xiang took out his key and quickly opened the study door.
As Zheng Xiang quickly entered the study, Zhao San and the others did not follow.
Zheng Xiang was very satisfied with this.
As expected of the people he trusted, none of them had let him down.
After a swift scan of the study, finding nothing amiss, Zheng Wei felt a bit relieved.
He had initially thought that someone sent by a court official had come to steal important documents.
However, the study was now spotless, not at all like someone had stolen something and tidied up afterward.
Everything pointed to the fact that no one had been there.
Zheng Xiang gave a light laugh, the coldness on his face gradually receding.
He turned and walked out of the study, stopping at the door.
Zheng Wei smiled and said to Zhao San and the others outside, "It's nothing. You can all go back."
Zhao San and the others bowed to Zheng Xiang and then left.
At the same time, their hearts were relieved. Since the Prince said there was nothing, they no longer needed to worry.
Zhao San, walking at the end of the group, was somewhat perplexed. The lock had clearly been removed and then re-locked. Someone must have entered the study.
But why did the Prince say there was nothing?
Had something very important been lost, but they were not allowed to know?
Despite his constant curiosity, Zhao San's pace did not slow.
He followed the people ahead out of the courtyard and, after closing the gate, Zhao San felt very relieved. This meant that even if the Prince discovered something lost later, he wouldn't be too difficult on them.
After all, a Prince's word could not be disregarded.
As for Zheng Xiang in the courtyard, after seeing the main gate closed, he turned and entered the study, locking the door from the inside.
He quickly walked to the desk and paced back and forth behind it. He stopped only when he saw the wooden board under the desk being moved aside.
Even entering the tunnel felt somewhat gloomy.
This was not because there was a problem with the tunnel.
For Zheng Xiang at this moment, his entire mind had flown to the innermost part.
He quickened his pace. In a short while, Zheng Wei stood before the second stone door.
Looking at the tightly sealed stone door with no visible crack, Zheng Xiang hesitated to proceed further.
Taking a deep breath, Zheng Xiang still opened the stone door.
When the door was fully open, Zheng Xiang took a breath and quickly walked inside.