"Princess, why is your face so pale? Are you sick?" Murong Qing touched Shangguan Fang'er's forehead, afraid she would fall ill from excessive anxiety.
Shangguan Fang'er pushed Murong Qing's hand away, her brow furrowed. "Qing'er, I've been having nightmares every night for the past few nights. It might not be a good omen. We can't wait any longer. Can we set off tomorrow?"
Murong Qing: "..."
What are you in such a hurry for? That thing is hidden very discreetly. Without the map, no one would find it in a lifetime. If you dig it up now, you'll only attract the enemy's attention.
"Your Highness, this servant does not recommend you go digging for treasure now. Although those bad guys haven't caught up, their informants are everywhere in Daliang. To be safe, let's wait until spring next year..." Murong Qing suggested.
In fact, even before the fall of Chen, the King had realized that Yan would invade and had sent people to prepare a batch of treasures, burying them somewhere in Daliang.
This was considered a fallback plan for himself.
Unexpectedly, the King of Chen failed before he could even set out. He was defeated by Yan and had nowhere to retreat. His princes were either dead or had fled, and there were very few trustworthy people left...
Helplessly, the King of Yan, before his death, handed the treasure map to Shangguan Fang'er. Its immense wealth was enough for her to squander for several lifetimes.
However, in times of chaos, traitors were inevitable. The news of Chen transporting a large amount of treasure quickly reached Yan. Thus, the King of Yan immediately dispatched a large number of elite assassins into Daliang, initiating a large-scale treasure hunt...
This was why Shangguan Fang'er had asked Murong Qing to go digging for treasure.
After the King of Chen died, Shangguan Fang'er was severely stimulated, causing her mind to become confused, half-awake and half-dazed. When she was lucid, she handed the treasure map to Murong Qing for safekeeping, fearing that she might accidentally use it as toilet paper...
"Qing'er, you should know the situation outside. The more we hesitate, the more arrogant those people become. So this time, why don't we take the initiative? After finding the treasure, we'll bring it to Dashui Village. I'll fund the villagers to open schools and cultivate the land, helping them to prosper!" Shangguan Fang'er said urgently.
Murong Qing: "..."
Your Highness, you're going to get all the villagers of Dashui Village killed!
As the saying goes, wealth should not be flaunted. If you were to transport all the gold and jewels at once, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Even if one person let slip a word, it would attract the Yan assassins. Then they would slaughter the civilians, and who could stop them?
"Your Highness, you should consider this matter carefully before making a decision..."
Murong Qing picked up the teapot and poured Shangguan Fang'er a cup of water, sighing softly. "This servant has thought it over carefully. The treasure is safest when buried in the earth. Even if Your Highness wants to retrieve it, you cannot dig it all up at once, or the secret will leak!"
As she spoke, Murong Qing picked up a towel, wet it in the basin, and wiped Shangguan Fang'er's face. "Moreover, Your Highness should know that the Yun family has treated you well, and Third Brother is also devoted to you. If you leave the old Yun family now, how will they feel? You can't just act on impulse!"
Shangguan Fang'er: "..."
What's wrong with me going to find my own treasure?
However, when Yun Sanman was mentioned, her heart felt particularly conflicted.
Shangguan Fang'er already knew that Guan Zhongbo had secretly treated her. Since her mind was becoming clearer day by day, she should sort out her relationship with Yun Sanman...
She was not a promiscuous woman, nor could she use her madness as an excuse to exploit and rely on Yun Sanman.
In the past, her mind was muddled, and she understood nothing, spending her days eating and sleeping.
But now it was different. She could think independently, knew Sanman's feelings for her, and the entire Yun family had never treated her unfairly...
If she left now, Sanman and Jingde would be the most heartbroken!~
"Does Qing'er mean that we should go treasure hunting when the weather warms up?" Shangguan Fang'er softened her tone.
Murong Qing smiled and nodded. "Yes, Your Highness. This servant has dared to look at the map before. That batch of treasure was buried in the northwest of Liang. Even traveling by carriage to search for it would take a month round trip. So, there's no need to rush. Even though those Yan assassins are fierce, as long as the treasure map is in our hands, they will only be running in circles and will never find the treasure in their lifetime..."
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Fang'er lay on the kang, her eyes staring at the ceiling beams, letting out a sigh of exhaustion. "Qing'er, I've troubled you. If it weren't for you back then, I might have died on the road!"
Speaking of Murong Qing, Shangguan Fang'er was full of pride. This girl was not only beautiful but also exceptionally capable...
When she was traveling outside the palace years ago, she accidentally met Murong Qing. They hit it off immediately and became friends.
But as they spent more time together, Shangguan Fang'er discovered that Murong Qing was an extremely intelligent and capable young woman, with strong practical skills and the ability to invent various small gadgets.
When the King of Chen learned of this, he personally summoned Murong Qing and even drafted an examination paper himself to test the young woman...
Murong Qing did not disappoint. No question could stump her. Fortunately, the King of Yan was an enlightened emperor, and he allowed her to teach at the Imperial Academy.
It should be known that in ancient times, women were not allowed to leave their homes, let alone hold official positions.
But Murong Qing not only served as an instructor at the Imperial Academy but was later transferred to the Ministry of Works, serving as a third-rank official, the Minister of Works, specifically responsible for inventing various advanced tools...
She was also the first female official in the history of Chen.
Due to her close relationship with Shangguan Fang'er, when the Yan army attacked, she fled with the princess of the fallen kingdom, and they ended up in this situation...
"Your Highness, you don't need to be polite with this servant. Chen is no more. From now on, we will live well in Daliang!" Murong Qing said with a smile.
In the past, she always referred to herself as 'subordinate' or 'official' in front of Shangguan Fang'er. Now that the country was gone, she referred to herself as 'servant'.
After speaking, Murong Qing stepped forward and covered Shangguan Fang'er with the quilt. "Your Highness needs to rest well. Tell me if you want to eat anything, and this servant will help you prepare it..."
"Qing'er, are you and Jin He...?"
"No!"
Before Shangguan Fang'er could finish her question, Murong Qing denied it unequivocally. "This servant is merely his study companion, and there are no other feelings involved!"
Shangguan Fang'er heard this and said, 'Oh.' Just as she was about to say something, the door was suddenly pushed open with a loud bang!