Chapter 213: Wealth Sways The Heart
The next day after the morning court session ended, the Initial Emperor had just returned to Changle Palace when Du Hui reported that Zuo Yanqing sought an audience.
“Summon him.” The Initial Emperor said, involuntarily guessing what news this eunuch, who never visited without reason, would bring this time.
Before long, Zuo Yanqing entered the hall, knelt and paid respects, and the Initial Emperor asked in a deep voice: “Well, is there finally news on the Imperial Seal?”
“Your Majesty, the Imperial Seal hasn’t been found yet, but we unintentionally discovered this thing.” Zuo Yanqing said as he took the purple gold token from his sleeve and handed it to Du Hui.
Du Hui received it with both hands, glanced at the token, and his expression changed instantly before he hurriedly presented it to the Initial Emperor.
“This is…” The Initial Emperor had not participated in the operation to lure and capture Kou Xianzhi, nor had he seen the token with his own eyes, so he was momentarily unsure.
“Your Majesty, this is the Taiping Token forged by the Great Teacher of Benevolence Zhang Jiao of Taiping Dao seven hundred years ago.” Zuo Yanqing explained to the Emperor in a deep voice: “After Zhang Jiao’s death, this item belonged to his successor and became the Sect Leader token of Taiping Dao, passed down for twenty or thirty generations until it reached the previous Sect Leader Kou Xianzhi.”
Listening to Zuo Yanqing’s account, the Initial Emperor’s expression gradually grew solemn, his breathing even becoming more rapid.
“Twenty years ago, Kou Xianzhi was captured by the Founding Emperor, and this item along with the Nine-Section Staff also passed down from Zhang Jiao fell into the hands of the Imperial Family.” Zuo Yanqing glanced at Du Hui as he spoke: “Du Gonggong was present at the time and should have seen this item.”
“Yes.” Du Hui nodded and said softly: “This is indeed the Taiping Token.”
The Initial Emperor’s ears buzzed as he listened, and it took a good while before he regained his composure and said: “Wasn’t it said that this item was taken into our Imperial Family’s treasure by the Founding Emperor? Where did this one come from?”
“After seizing this token and the Nine-Section Staff from Kou Xianzhi, the Founding Emperor stored them in the inner palace secret vault,” Zuo Yanqing, as a firsthand witness, knew even more details than the Initial Emperor. “Several years later, the Founding Emperor secretly buried the inner palace secret vault somewhere. After that, this item, the Nine-Section Staff, and several treasures carried by Kou Xianzhi disappeared from the inner treasury.”
“So, this thing was indeed stored in the Imperial Family’s treasure?” The Initial Emperor’s palms sweated, his heart racing.
“Very likely, but not entirely certain.” Zuo Yanqing said softly: “The people who handled the matter at the time were all silenced, and as Your Majesty’s humble servant who is still alive, I naturally was not informed.”
“It must be so!” The Initial Emperor’s throat went dry, and he suddenly turned ashen-faced: “This item’s reappearance, doesn’t it mean that my treasure has already been found by someone?!” The Initial Emperor’s voice rose involuntarily; this was something he absolutely could not accept. He was still counting on the wealth and cultivation methods in the treasure to restore the Imperial Family’s prestige!
“The Investigative Bureau is already pursuing that grave robber with full force.” Zuo Yanqing said in a deep voice: “There should be news soon.”
“It must be fast! And it must be kept secret!” The Initial Emperor grew restless, standing up and pacing back and forth: “My Huangfu Family’s treasure must not fall into others’ hands, nor can the seven clans know!” Though he knew full well that the last part was just wishful thinking…
“This old servant will do his utmost.” Zuo Yanqing responded.
“You personally handle this matter; there must not be the slightest leak!” The Initial Emperor stared fixedly at Zuo Yanqing, emphasizing again: “The treasure must not fall into others’ hands!”
“Yes!” Zuo Yanqing had no choice but to reply in a deep voice.
.
There is no wall under heaven that does not leak wind, not even the tall and sturdy palace walls of Ziwei City.
Despite the Initial Emperor’s repeated warnings, by noon, news of the Investigative Bureau’s overnight arrest of the grave robber and Zuo Yanqing’s audience after morning court following the decree had spread to the various clans. These noble clans with vast networks quickly learned the reason—all from a report by a pawnshop owner!
By evening, the various clans had figured out exactly what had made the Initial Emperor and the Investigative Bureau so anxious!
Pei Fang, in the Pei Clan Ancestral Hall Iron Blood Hall.
Beneath the silver-hook iron-script plaque ‘Hundred Forgings Unbreakable,’ Pei Clan Leader Pei Qiu, Vice Sect Master Pei Jiao, Pei Bang, and Great Steward Pei Yuqiu were solemnly listening to the report from Steward of Observation Pei Yunan.
“Reporting to Clan Leader and the two Vice Sect Masters,” Pei Yunan reported in a deep voice: “The Observation Yard has confirmed that the grave robber pawned at Renhe Pawnshop a palm-sized purple gold token, with ‘Taiping Under Heaven’ on the front and ‘Great Teacher of Benevolence’ on the back, all eight characters in seal script.”
“That is…” Pei Qiu hesitated slightly before his gaze darkened, affirming with certainty: “Taiping Token!”
“Taiping Token?” None present had seen the item, but all had heard of it like thunder piercing the ear. Pei Jiao said in surprise: “Wasn’t that thing taken into the Imperial Family’s treasure vault by the Founding Emperor? How could it appear out of nowhere? Could it be a fake?” He would never doubt, nor dare to doubt, his older brother’s judgment.
“If it were a fake, would Your Majesty and Zuo Yanqing be so anxious?” Pei Qiu said slowly.
“Or perhaps they deliberately leaked the news to hook certain people?” Pei Bang, the youngest brother of Pei Qiu and Pei Jiao, was only three years older than Pei Yuqiu; both were on the Heavenly Rank List.
“That possibility can’t be ruled out.” Pei Qiu frowned: “But it’s equally possible that the Taiping Token has truly appeared.”
“Then…” Pei Jiao’s breathing grew labored: “Someone found the Imperial Family’s treasure?!”
“Mm.” Pei Qiu nodded and chuckled in disbelief: “The Imperial Family and Xiahou Clan searched for the Imperial Family’s treasure for ten years, only for a grave robber to get there first. If that’s truly the case, it’s laughably ironic.”
“Hey. Any movement from the Xiahou Clan?” Pei Jiao asked Pei Yunan.
“The Xiahou Clan has also mobilized, with Xiahou Bupo personally leading, seemingly intent on finding that grave robber before Your Majesty.” Pei Yunan replied softly.
“Interesting.” Pei Qiu stroked his neat beard and smiled: “It’s only been a few days of peace, and now another dragon-tiger struggle is about to unfold.”
“As long as dragon and tiger share the same lair, struggle is inevitable.” Pei Jiao also stroked his beard and smiled: “The question is, should we get involved this time?”
“We should.” Pei Qiu stated resolutely. Unlike the other clans, the Pei Clan had no Elder Council to check the Clan Leader, so Pei Qiu’s word was law in clan affairs. He looked at his brothers and nephews and said in a deep voice: “We’re not coveting the treasures in the treasure vault; that’s not for us to touch. But back then, the Founding Emperor collected the martial arts secret manuals, military books, and formations of the destroyed nations there. If we can obtain even one or two, the Pei Clan will grow much stronger.”
“Yes.” Pei Jiao nodded in deep agreement, bringing up the old matter with lingering resentment: “Back then, Eastern Qi’s God-Slaying Crossbow could kill Heavenly Rank Grandmasters! After attacking the Eastern Capital, I had just found the blueprint and hadn’t even figured it out when the Founding Emperor’s men forcibly took it.” He sighed heavily: “For these twenty years, I’ve racked my brains but couldn’t replicate the God-Slaying Crossbow’s heaven-shaking shot, only managing to make some half-baked things.”
Everyone present was a core member of the Pei Clan and naturally knew what Pei Jiao meant by half-baked things. Pei Bang couldn’t help but smile bitterly: “Second Brother, if the Xiahou Clan knew about those half-baked things you made, they’d spare no effort to get them.”
The others nodded in deep agreement.
“Heh heh,” Pei Jiao said with slight pride: “That’s because you haven’t seen the God-Slaying Crossbow in action with your own eyes.”
“Though we didn’t see it ourselves, Huangfu Juanran was so ferocious back then, yet killed by a single shot from Eastern Qi, so one can imagine its heaven-shaking might.” Pei Qiu said in a deep voice: “Eastern Qi’s God-Slaying Crossbow, Western Shu’s Zhuge Repeating Crossbow, Western Wei’s fierce fire chariot, and Southern Dynasties’ sky-shaking thunder… the secrets of these national treasures are all stored by the Founding Emperor in that treasure vault. We have no reason not to take the risk!”
“Yes!” Everyone responded in deep voices, all understanding the Clan Leader’s intentions.
