"Steward Lu is looking for me on official business?"
Lin Qingge glanced around. A corner of her eye caught the memorial tablets enshrined in the ancestral hall, and the corner of her mouth twitched violently.
At this moment, Lu Sanniang stepped forward and said solemnly,
"Lord Lin, after much deliberation, I have decided to hand this item over to you."
Saying that, she took out a pouch from her bosom.
Lin Qingge immediately took two steps back in fright, "Steward Lu, this, this might not be appropriate."
Here, a woman giving a man a pouch carried a special meaning.
Seeing this, Lu Sanniang looked at the pouch in her hand and then smiled,
"Lord Lin, you misunderstand. I am not trying to give this to you in private. I merely wish to give you the item within the pouch."
"The item within the pouch?"
Lin Qingge watched as Lu Sanniang untied the pouch and took out a very familiar piece of sheepskin.
"This is..."
"Lord Lin, this was entrusted to me by my father before his death.
It is said that this item relates to the treasure of the former dynasty and is extremely important. Furthermore, a certain faction is secretly collecting these items, and I was instructed to keep it safe.
Not long after, my family suffered a disaster.
Fortunately, my master arrived in time and saved both Xiao Ming and me.
Otherwise, not only this treasure map, but even our lives would have been lost."
Lin Qingge, who had never heard of being saved rather than being a survivor, raised an eyebrow, "Master?"
"It's the master who raised Xiao Ming and me, and taught us our skills.
According to my master, he was originally a guardian of the former dynasty's treasure.
Because he discovered people were coveting the former dynasty's treasure, he had to intervene.
Unfortunately, my master was alone, and as time passed, the holders of the fragments of the treasure map had long since changed. Some had even been wiped out, making it impossible to trace.
Therefore, searching for them was extremely difficult.
My master said that he and my father were old acquaintances, which is why he rushed here after receiving my father's personal letter.
Alas, it was still too late.
My master also said that there were a total of seven fragments of the treasure map, and our Lu family only possessed one of them."
"Seven fragments?"
Lin Qingge quickly ran through it in her mind.
If she wasn't mistaken, including this one, she now possessed five fragments of the treasure map?
In other words, she was only two pieces away from unearthing the former dynasty's treasure?!
Feeling that such pleasant surprises could come more often, Lin Qingge, happy as she was, continued to press,
"Steward Lu, since your master is the guardian of the treasure, why didn't you directly give this treasure map fragment to your master?
This way, even if that faction racked their brains, it would be in vain."
"Lord Lin, I asked my master the same thing, but my master said that their clan had taken a solemn oath never to collect or possess the treasure map fragments privately. Those who violated it would not only meet a bad end but would also be hunted by the former dynasty's royal remnants."
"Former dynasty's royal remnants?"
Lin Qingge, hearing these words for the first time, couldn't help but murmur them. Lu Sanniang on the side nodded in agreement,
"Yes, according to my master, the former dynasty's emperor was quite far-sighted. Not only did he transfer most of the treasures, but he also secretly dispatched his descendants and the forces he had cultivated in secret out of the imperial palace.
This allowed the founding emperor of Great Xia to take the imperial city without any effort.
My master also said that these treasure map fragments are like hot potatoes. If I can no longer keep them safe or pass them down, I should entrust them to someone trustworthy.
As you know, Lord Lin, I am a rough person, constantly fighting and killing. Marriage is probably hopeless for me in this lifetime, and Xiao Ming is the only male descendant left in our Lu family.
Even to appease the spirits of my father and mother in heaven, I cannot leave these treasure map fragments to Xiao Ming.
As for you, Lord Lin, your character is beyond reproach, and you are a rare and good official.
Most importantly, I heard from Xiao Ming that the treasure map fragment from Wolong Villa is already in your hands.
Since one fragment is still a burden to keep, and two fragments are also a burden to keep, I will hand over this one to you as well."
"So, I'm like a louse that's no longer afraid of itching, or someone with too many hot potatoes to worry about, is that it?"
Despite her grumbling, Lin Qingge's hand truthfully accepted the treasure map fragment and tucked it into her bosom.
"By the way, Steward Lu, is your master still alive?"
"He should be."
Lu Mingxuan, who was guarding the door, turned around and replied,
"My master left a letter five years ago and disappeared without a trace, saying that he was tired and wanted to return to his hometown to enjoy a leisurely life in retirement, living a carefree and unfettered existence.
Although, in my eyes, my master's daily life already deserved the word 'free-spirited,' he was still not content.
After my sister and I separated, I initially intended to find my master.
However, my master's whereabouts have always been unpredictable. After I searched all the places my master might have gone to without success, I gave up."
"Since your master is the guardian of the treasure, does that mean your master knows where the treasure is hidden?"
"My master said that although he knows the general location of the treasure, there are many traps inside. Without the map, he would have lost his head before even finding the treasure."
"I never thought this treasure map would be so useful."
Upon hearing Lin Qingge's words, Lu Sanniang scratched her head and tried hard to recall,
"My master also said that besides the treasure map, something else is needed... what was it? Anyway, two items must be gathered to truly find the treasure."
Unexpectedly obtaining important clues about the treasure map from Lu Sanniang, Lin Qingge gave her a few more instructions before leaving the ancestral hall.
After a sumptuous lunch, everyone set off.
Perhaps it was because the servants sent by Lin Moyuan were too imposing, or perhaps the individuals who wanted her dead had run out of assassins to send.
In any case, the rest of the journey was as peaceful as a picnic.
A few days later.
The caravan finally arrived near the capital.
From a distance, they could see a vast crowd waiting at the city gate.
Most importantly, the leading rows were all dressed in official attire, which made Lin Qingge exclaim in astonishment,
"No, has the appointment of a Prefect become such a grand affair now?
And who spread the news of my arrival in the capital today?"
As she spoke, Lin Qingge glanced through the rolled-up curtain at the ostentatious peacock fanning himself in the adjacent carriage. The latter seemed to sense her gaze and turned his head, a faint smile playing on his lips,
"My lord, I merely sent the news to my friends.
Perhaps my friends missed me too much and eagerly waited at the city gate to welcome me~"
"Your friends?"
"There, the one standing proudly on the carriage shaft, looking eagerly ahead, is one of them."
Lin Qingge followed his gaze, and the upper lid of her eye twitched, "If I'm not mistaken, that person is wearing the official attire of a first-rank official."