Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 832 - 668: The Whereabouts of the Treasure Map
"If Miss Guo has any requests, feel free to mention them. I will do my best to fulfill them."
Gu Chengyu naturally didn’t believe people would work for him for free; if he could manage it, it was best to repay the favor first.
"It is already an honor for me to serve my benefactor..." Guo Moruo said hesitantly.
Gu Chengyu understood her unfinished meaning; she hadn’t decided yet, and wanted to keep this favor for later use.
"Then if Miss Guo encounters any difficulties in the future, just speak up. As long as it is within my power, I shall not decline."
Gu Chengyu clasped his hands, exchanged glances with Ming Mo, and then turned to leave the place.
Guo Moruo looked at the two figures disappearing in an instant and sighed softly.
Gu Chengyu and Ming Mo had just returned to the small courtyard they rented earlier in the day, only to find something amiss.
The trees planted in the courtyard were leaning askew, and several flower pots were shattered, as if a skirmish had taken place.
They entered the house and saw Ming Yan pacing anxiously in the courtyard, "What happened?"
"My lord! Someone broke into Lord Lu’s room just now. When I discovered them, I engaged in a fight. The intruder was highly skilled, and we were evenly matched. Later, when the intruder attempted to escape, I worried about Lord Lu’s safety and let them leave. However, I have already sent Ding Ba to follow the person."
Gu Chengyu and Ming Mo exchanged glances and hurriedly changed out of their nightwear.
"Is Lord Lu alright?" Gu Chengyu asked about Lu Chen’s safety while changing clothes.
He was unsure whether the intruder came to assassinate Lu Chen or to confer with him. If it was the latter, his situation would become precarious.
"Lord Lu is completely unharmed. The intruder didn’t seem to come for murder." Ming Yan shook his head. Recalling the time, the intruder did not draw a weapon upon entering the room.
It was only during the fight that the intruder pulled out a Nine-section Whip from their waist.
"It seems they were in cahoots with Lu Chen. Letting them go back might make Lu Chen suspicious of us acting independently tonight."
Gu Chengyu frowned. With such a commotion, Lu Chen didn’t wake up, which obviously meant he was drugged.
It was shockingly timely. They had just arrived at Hejian Prefecture, and those people couldn’t wait to make their move.
If Lu Chen eventually found out from others that he was drugged, he might report this to the Emperor.
And if the Guo Moruo siblings hiding in Hejian Prefecture got discovered, wouldn’t they be implicated?
Gu Chengyu really didn’t like others tracking his whereabouts. The Emperor sending Lu Chen to monitor him was indeed tying his hands.
As expected, ginger gets spicier as it gets older!
"My lord! It’s just that my skills were not honed enough; otherwise, the intruder surely wouldn’t have escaped."
Ming Yan felt anxious knowing he’d messed up the task.
Seeing Gu Chengyu deep in thought with a frown, Ming Mo glanced at Ming Yan and decided to say some good for him.
"My lord! Ding Ba’s Qinggong is quite good; we might still find out which family the intruder belongs to."
Gu Chengyu shook his head, "Let’s wait until Ding Ba returns to discuss it. I’ll first neutralize the drug on Lord Lu. You both tidy the courtyard. Find identical replacements for those flower pots."
As dawn broke, Lu Chen woke up startled, marveling at how deeply he’d slept the previous night.
He got up and moved around, finding nothing abnormal with his body, before lying back down on the bed.
"My lord! I lost track of the intruder." Ding Ba, face flushed with shame, dared not meet his master’s gaze.
Gu Chengyu, having stayed awake waiting for Ding Ba’s news, found the person still got away.
However, this was expected. Even Ming Yan could only manage a draw in the fight, so it was reasonable for Ding Ba to lose track.
"Report all events in Hejian Prefecture over the past few days in detail."
Gu Chengyu couldn’t overly blame them; after all, who is truly invincible? Opponents couldn’t all be incompetent.
Ding Ba looked up at Gu Chengyu, relieved upon seeing no blame on his master’s face.
"We only learned yesterday about the location of half the treasure map. Half is in the Yi Mansion, while the other half is missing. However, before the extermination, the escort agency’s dart master had a conflict with a young master from the Qu Family."
Gu Chengyu nodded; it was no easy feat to uncover so much in so little time, even more detailed than Guo Moruo’s findings.
He had thought he tasked them too late and that Ding Ba’s efforts would have been in vain.
"Has the Yi Family been in contact with anyone lately? What movements have the other two aristocratic families made?"
"The Yi Mansion is heavily guarded, with people only allowed in, not out. However, two teaching teachers were replaced there two days ago. The Qu Mansion has been lively these past two days, with lots of coming and going, seemingly preparing for the matriarch’s seventieth birthday. As for the Yan Family, nothing unusual lately."
Gu Chengyu found it odd; with half a treasure map in the Yi Family’s hands, the Yan and Qu Families didn’t seem anxious.
"No other forces have made a move?" Gu Chengyu thought of the Princes, wondering why it was so quiet!
"Three groups have already clashed with the Yi Mansion’s people, causing them to lose several experts, although none succeeded. Two days ago, the pressure inside the Yi Mansion was high, but those who broke in haven’t returned."
Having activity was normal; Gu Chengyu immediately suspected external aid for the Yi Family, making those two teaching teachers highly suspicious.
Not knowing which court figure allied with the Yi Family, Gu Chengyu recalled the Princes and high-ranking ministers, landing on a few candidates.
The Yi Family indeed held firm, managing to receive outside help, proving Gu Chengyu had underestimated them before.
"In these upcoming days, have someone investigate the Yi Mansion closely, particularly the backgrounds of those two teachers."
The Qu Family baffled Gu Chengyu; with their seventieth birthday celebrations, numerous visitors were expected.
If the Yi Family could collaborate, so could the Qu Family. These recent festivities could mean someone slipped inside unnoticed.
Patience was required; if the Qu Family found external support too, they’d undoubtedly oppose the Yi Family steadfastly.
"My lord! When should we make a move? Delay any longer, and the number of involved parties will only increase."
Ming Mo found the situation thorny, mainly due to the Princes.
Gu Chengyu decisively shook his head, "The time is not ripe!"
"For these next two days, keep a keen eye on the Qu Family’s movements; they might act soon. Don’t overlook the Yan Family either; being too quiet isn’t usual."
"Yes!"
"My lord! Lord Lu is coming!" A voice rang out in the room, interrupting their conversation.
Before the words settled, Gu Chengyu heard approaching footsteps outside growing nearer.
