Lin Qingge, who felt that she couldn't rely on miracles and had to use her own brainpower, asked Leng Ningyue to close the window again.
Leng Ningyue good-naturedly accompanied Lin Qingge through her fussing, and then poured the latter a glass of clear water to rinse her mouth.
"Madam, did you bring the things I entrusted you to keep?"
Although the item was not explicitly mentioned, Leng Ningyue nodded as if she understood, and then reached to unbutton her clothes.
?!!!
"Madam, it's still early, is it too soon to rest..."
Lin Qingge, with wide eyes, didn't finish her sentence before seeing Leng Ningyue take out the other six sheepskin fragments from the lining of her undergarments.
"Good heavens, so you hid the things here, Madam?"
Having her horizons broadened, Lin Qingge instinctively cupped her hands and took the sheepskin fragments, which were still warm and exuded a faint fragrance.
"You said these things were very important."
After Leng Ningyue finished speaking, she added with a stern face:
"I didn't really intend to burn the bamboo tube just now; I just wanted you to learn your lesson.
Don't risk your life for these external possessions."
"I know, it was my fault, I shouldn't have made Sister Ningyue worry."
Lin Qingge said coquettishly with a smile, trying to get away with it.
Leng Ningyue, unable to do anything with this habitual offender who never reformed, could only sigh helplessly.
Lin Qingge, having collected all the treasure map fragments, tried to put the seven sheepskin fragments together, and then held the complete sheepskin at her eye level.
This time, she finally saw the full picture of the treasure map.
At the same time, she discovered the difference between the last sheepskin fragment she obtained and the other six.
The other six sheepskin fragments were all maps, while the last one she obtained not only had a map but also an additional circle drawn on it.
Could it be that the spot marked by the circle was where the treasure of the previous dynasty was buried?
Lin Qingge compared the maps of the Great Xia Kingdom she had seen with the map in her hand, and was stunned on the spot as if struck by lightning.
"This... how is this possible..."
Noticing Lin Qingge's abnormality, Leng Ningyue had not yet had time to ask, when Lu Mingxuan, who had returned, shouted from outside the door:
"Sir, Old Master Yan said that if you are unharmed, he has important matters and asks that you and Madam come over."
"Understood, we'll be right there."
Lin Qingge, who had snapped back to reality, handed the sheepskin fragments back to Leng Ningyue for safekeeping, then changed into clean clothes, and holding her arm, which was bandaged like a zongzi, arrived at the main hall of Wolong Villa.
Before entering the hall, she could hear Madam Yan's distinctive loud voice:
"You brats have eaten so much rice for nothing over the years.
Sir Lin fainted because he was injured, not because he died. Who are you all putting on a show for?
And, is Sir Lin's life not as important as others'?
What are you laughing at?
Be serious!
Especially you two, you're so crazy you'd even hurt your own people. I almost had a miscarriage from the stress!
And you, the dignified Emperor, are also making a fuss without regard for anything.
Don't let anything happen to you, even a minor scratch, and I'll never be able to face Sister Nalan again in this lifetime!"
"Auntie, you are right to scold us.
But as a brother-in-law, I certainly can't stand idly by when my sister-in-law is injured."
Lin Qingge, who had just reached the hall entrance and heard this sentence, immediately rushed in with her injured arm, glaring at the speaker and saying:
"Clarify who your sister-in-law is!?"
"Princess Changle, you and the Empress are like sisters, so naturally, you are my sister-in-law."
"Bah!"
Lin Qingge spat fiercely, her saliva spraying directly onto Lin Moyuan's face.
"Sir, are you alright?"
Yan Tinghao eagerly approached. Since both his hands and feet were tied with ropes, he could only hop.
Upon entering the hall, Lin Qingge discovered that everyone, including Lin Moyuan, was tied up and lined up neatly in the hall.
Finally, Lin Qingge's gaze fell on King Wucheng, who was also tied up, with his arms bent at an unnatural angle.
"This is...?"
"I took the opportunity to save him when your wife went berserk."
Madam Yan did not dare to look at her husband and explained with a slight shortness of breath:
"Ah Ze and I grew up together. If we weren't like siblings, we at least watched Ah Ze grow up. I couldn't bear to see him die like that, so I..."
"Madam did nothing wrong. The Prince indeed cannot die now.
Not only can he not die, but he must live well."
Old Master Yan, sitting there like a statue, finally spoke, but there was no hint of a smile in his words.
However, King Wucheng cursed loudly:
"Yan Xiuping, you insidious scoundrel!
You pretended to obey me on the surface, but in reality, you had your guards disguised and infiltrated Wolong Villa, and then captured me in the chaos. What a brilliant plan!
But judging by the looks of others, they seem unaware of your move.
Or perhaps, your move was not intended to be activated at that time.
Let me guess, you intended to make your move after I admitted defeat in the gamble and ordered the disbandment of the Northeast Great Camp?"
"Guards? What guards? Are they very skilled?"
Lu Mingxuan, standing beside Lin Qingge, poked his head out and explained vividly:
"Sir, you fainted at the time so you didn't see it. As soon as Old Master Yan gave an order, dozens of silver-masked men in tight-fitting clothes appeared.
Those silver-masked men are very powerful. Any one of them is no less than Ling Han!"
"That is indeed very powerful."
Lin Qingge was not overly surprised. After all, with Old Master Yan's strategies and status, it was not strange for him to have his own forces after decades of operation.
But silver-masked men?
Are you sure it wasn't because he was worried that Madam Yan would get infatuated with the strong guards and made them wear masks?
Feeling that she had uncovered the truth, Lin Qingge cleared her throat and, adopting a businesslike tone, said loudly:
"King Wucheng, a bet is a bet.
Since we won the seven-formation gamble, you should also fulfill your promise in the wager."
However, King Wucheng heard this and burst into laughter as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world.
"Hahaha! Hahaha!"
"King Wucheng, are you alright? Do you need Master Xuankong to examine you?"
"There's no need to trouble the驸马, I'm fine, I'm just so amused by Sir Lin's naivety that I can't stop laughing."
"What do you mean by that?"
Noticing the madness in King Wucheng's eyes, a hidden worry flashed across Lin Qingge's brow.
"You'll know soon enough."
Boom—
As soon as King Wucheng finished speaking, a ground-shaking roar suddenly came from outside.
Lin Qingge, whose head was still a bit dizzy, turned to look outside.
She saw that on the other side of Wolong Villa, fires were raging, bricks and tiles were flying, and it was enveloped in billowing smoke and flames.
"This..."
"Sir Lin, such a magnificent sight is not seen casually.
How is it, isn't it very spectacular?"