People in the Qin Dynasty, entertained during the Warring States period

The philandering cat can't stay away from home. Madam Hu is frail and can't withstand his all-night antics. If Yingge were still here as a substitute, he could stay a little longer.

Madam Hu hesitated for a moment, then asked, "How is Nongyu doing lately?"

"Yes, it's very pleasant."

Cao Ze thought of how Nongyu repeatedly found various excuses to chat with him, and chuckled, "Nongyu seems to like me too."

"Ah..." Madam Hu exclaimed suddenly, and hurriedly said, "You can't do that to her."

Cao Ze teased, "What do you mean, sister-in-law?"

Madam Hu was so anxious that she broke out in a cold sweat, clutching the brocade quilt tightly with both hands. "We can't do that, you can't, Nongyu, Nongyu, you can't be like Nongyu."

Cao Ze rubbed Madam Hu's head. "Don't worry, I'm just guessing. Maybe Nongyu doesn't have those feelings for me."

Madam Hu calmed her breathing, but she was still on edge. "This is between us. Don't tell Nongyu. I've already told Yingge and my sister that you can't make any mistakes."

Cao Ze repeatedly assured her that Madam Hu was relieved. With her aching hands, she helped Cao Ze put on his clothes and whispered to him to be careful on the road.

In another room, Vulture pressed his knife against Liu Yi's back and said, "Now take me to that secret room."

Liu Yi was sweating profusely. He couldn't understand why the person behind him knew so much about him, even about things that only he knew from many years ago.

He had clearly silenced them, and even Bai Yifei was unaware that he had done this in secret.

Under the threat of the vulture, Liu Yi had no choice but to slowly walk towards a wall filled with books.

"The secret room is behind the wall."

The vulture suppressed his excitement and said coldly, "Open it."

"This..." Liu Yi panicked and trembled as he handed the empty box in the secret room to the thief behind him. He was not regretful, but he was very afraid that the thief behind him would kill him in a fit of rage when he saw that the box was empty.

Are you lying to me?

The vulture's deep voice made Liu Yi tremble. "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."

"Open it now, or I'll cut off your finger!"

Liu Yi swallowed hard, his hand trembling as he reached for a plain scroll and turned it around a few times.

The vulture's eyes lit up as it watched the secret chamber slowly unfold.

The treasure he had been longing for for over a decade was finally about to be his!

The night was dark and the wind was cold.

Cao Ze left Madam Hu's room and was about to leap over the wall when he caught a glimpse of several faint footprints on the wall, stretching towards the East Garden.

someone.

Cao Ze immediately had this thought.

After a moment's thought, I guessed that vultures might have arrived.

Thinking that Yingge had left today and that Madam Hu was not safe at night, Cao Ze evaded the patrols and went to Liu Yi's place.

Liu Yi's study was pitch black at the moment. Cao Ze peeked through the crack in the door and saw that the door to the secret room was wide open. He knew what was going on. He hadn't expected Wujiu to be so impatient. He hadn't even left Yingge before he made his move.

Inside the secret chamber, a vulture hissed, "Liu Yi, where's the treasure!"

He clearly remembered that back then, the Three Wolves with Broken Hair had looted several boxes of treasure from Fire Rain Manor, and they were quite substantial, definitely not the empty boxes in front of him.

If it weren't for the Baiyue oath symbols still inside the box, he would have thought Liu Yi was lying to him.

Liu Yi somewhat regretted making the soundproofing of the secret room so good.

Now he shouts until his throat is hoarse, but no sound comes out.

"I sold the treasure."

"They've all been sold off?" the vulture asked unwillingly.

"I've sold them all, not a single one left." Liu Yi couldn't help but beg for mercy, "Brother, if you're after money, I'm quite wealthy and can give you at least a thousand gold pieces. I just beg you to spare my life."

The vulture was already somewhat devastated; the treasure he had longed for for over a decade was gone, and all he wanted to do now was vent his frustration.

"Liu Yi, do you recognize me?"

The vulture removed its beak mask and looked at Liu Yi with a ferocious, savage grin.

Liu Yi paused, then suddenly shuddered, his finger trembling as he pointed at the vulture, "You, you're not, you're not dead?"

The vulture said somewhat maniacally, "You're not dead, so how could I be? Not only am I not dead, but your enemy Li Kai isn't dead either!"

Liu Yi exclaimed in horror, "Li Kai isn't dead? Yes, he sent you to kill me?"

"Heh..." The vulture gripped its short blade tightly, grinning maliciously, "Since the treasure is gone, then you..."

"Wait!" The short blade, half an inch deep in his body, caused Liu Yi's mind to collapse, but it also reminded him of something important.

Vultures have very steady hands; if their hands weren't steady, they couldn't kill anyone.

"Hmm?" The vulture narrowed its cold eyes: "What have you remembered? If it's of value, I'll spare your life."

Liu Yi was drenched in sweat, his pajamas were soaked through.

"The treasure in the box is not the Baiyue treasure, but only the treasure of Huoyu Manor. The real treasure is not in the box."

In this life-or-death situation, Liu Yi spoke very quickly.

The vulture was overjoyed, "Continue!"

Liu Yi hesitated and said, "Li Kai, he..."

"He's been captured and is now a prisoner. If you tell me about the treasure, I'll kill him for you and let you live."

The vulture now only wants the treasure; he doesn't care about revenge or anyone's life.

Liu Yi felt a little relieved, but at the same time secretly resented Li Kai for it all!

If the wife had been given to him back then, why would he have sought refuge with Bai Yifei!

"When I was drinking at Zilan Pavilion, I saw a fire rain agate being worn by a girl. I guessed that she might be the lady's long-lost daughter..."

Liu Yi made up stories as she spoke.

He wasn't sure if the girl named Nongyu was the lady's daughter, but all he needed to do now was lure the vulture away so he could take control.

Afterwards, he will surely tear Wujiu apart to vent his anger, and he will also torture Li Kai, who was captured by Wujiu, and make fun of him in front of Li Kai...

"Uh--"

Liu Yi's mouth was agape, blood gushing from his throat. "You, you broke your promise..."

Looking at Liu Yi's unwilling eyes, the vulture coldly asked, "Did you keep your promise back then?"

The light in Liu Yi's eyes slowly dimmed.

The vulture glanced reluctantly at the empty treasure chest. Now he could only stay in Xinzheng for two more days to get the exact location of the treasure from the Qin Ji (a female musician) named Nongyu.

With this thought in mind, the vulture dragged Liu Yi out of the secret room, faked the scene, and gave himself time to find the treasure.

Cao Ze heard and saw all of this.

Cao Ze glanced at Liu Yi, who was staring wide-eyed in the study, and clicked his tongue twice, sounding quite regretful.

He hadn't even had a chance to show affection to Madam Hu in front of Liu Yi.

After a moment's hesitation, Cao Ze neither stopped Wujiu from leaving nor informed Madam Hu.

His brother-in-law is very shrewd; he'll probably notice Madam Hu's unusual behavior when he comes over tomorrow.

Sorrowful~

He had to set up the illusion.

After leaving Liu Yi's residence, Cao Ze did not return to Zilan Pavilion, but instead went to the dungeon where the Poison Scorpion Sect imprisoned Li Kai.

The dungeon was damp and cold as Cao Ze walked down step by step.

At this moment, the vulture was interrogating Li Kai, whose eyes were dim and whose breath was weak as he said, "I don't know who Nongyu is..."

The vulture laughed cruelly, "Don't know? Very well, wait a couple of days, I'll catch her and throw her in front of you, then we'll see if you still know."

"You—" Li Kai glared angrily, "You dare!"

The vulture said coldly, "It seems you're still hiding something from me. I'll give you one more chance. Where is the Baiyue treasure? You'd better think more about your wife and daughter!"

Li Kai lowered his head and remained silent. Helpless, he could only tell Wu Jiu the information he had previously given to Cao Ze.

The vulture frowned deeply. How could he possibly verify such ethereal things as the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon, even if he was very interested in them?

"That's it? Is Fire Rain Agate really the key to unlocking the treasures of the Baiyue people?"

Li Kai shook his head and said, "Impossible. I personally commissioned the crafting of the Fire Rain Agate. How could it be the key to unlocking the Baiyue treasure?"

The vulture suddenly said, "The person you're looking for is Liu Yi."

Li Kai remained silent; at that time, Liu Yi was practically a trusted comrade-in-arms.

"Did Fire Rain Agate give you the raw stone from Fire Rain Bus?" Vulture continued to ask.

"Yes……"

Cao Ze, who was standing in the shadows, paused slightly. Could the Fire Rain Agate really be the key to unlocking the treasure of Baiyue?

The vulture fell into deep thought. Now, apart from not knowing the location of the Baiyue treasure, everything else was clear, but it was of no use.

He stamped his foot in frustration. The only thing he could do now was to get his hands on the Fire Rain Agate.

After the vulture left the dungeon, Cao Ze revealed himself.

"Li Kai, it's been a long time."

Li Kai struggled to lift his head and chuckled bitterly, "If I had known you would come, I wouldn't have said anything."

He dared not gamble with the lives of his wife and daughters on whether Cao Ze would come to see him.

Li Kai added, "Now that you're here, I feel relieved."

Cao Ze pondered for a moment and said, "You need to leave Xinzheng."

“I understand. But I want to see my daughter and her one last time before I leave.”

Li Kai's voice was hoarse, as if his throat had burst.

Cao Ze nodded slightly. "Your request is not excessive."