Chapter 247 Treasure
Things went beyond Emperor Jingming's expectations; he hadn't anticipated that Qiuqiu would be so straightforward.
"You already knew? No wonder everyone praises you for being so clever and charming. Now I believe you are different from other children."
Qiuqiu thought Emperor Jingming was a very considerate person; he even said a few nice words to make her happy before giving her the reward.
She couldn't even imagine how cheerful she would be after she got the money!
【Me, Chuchu, sending money!】
Emperor Jingming stopped beating around the bush: "Minister Su, is the key to unlocking the treasures of the previous dynasty with Qiuqiu?"
Su Junyao was shocked: "What treasure?!"
Chiu Chiu was dumbfounded: [You're asking me for money?!]
The two men's surprised expressions were genuine, but Emperor Jingming wouldn't believe them so easily: "Su Qing, Qiuqiu is just a child, she can't protect her."
The previous dynasty's army was dissolute and ruthless, plundering the people's wealth. However, when the country fell, the national treasury was empty. Successive emperors of the Great Zhou Dynasty searched in vain, but today they finally have some clues.
The key to unlocking the treasure is on Chuchu!
Su Junyao frowned, lifted his clothes and knelt down hard on the ground, kowtowing as he pressed Qiuqiu down and fell to the ground as well.
The father and daughter were both behaving humbly. One was trembling with fear, while the other was completely bewildered.
Chiu Chiu was like a fathead fish struggling on a chopping board, flapping twice before her father pressed her down so she couldn't move.
He's so heartless! He won't give me money, and he still wants more!
Hearing Qiuqiu's inner thoughts, Su Junyao couldn't help but use even more force, pressing so hard that Qiuqiu felt that if she didn't have a high nose bridge in the future, it would definitely be because of her father.
"Waaaaah, let me go!"
Su Junyao dared not let go; one wrong move and he would lose his life!
Money, money, money! All they care about is money!
"Your Majesty, please investigate thoroughly! My daughter and I truly do not know where the treasure of the previous dynasty is, nor do we know where the key is!"
Despite the dead of winter, Su Junyao was drenched in sweat. Emperor Jingming remained silent, simply sitting there watching the father and daughter shiver below.
Time seemed to stand still for a moment, the stagnant space actually teeming with undercurrents. The two, ruler and minister, clashed, as if whoever spoke first would lose.
Su Junyao really had no information about any treasure!
The Shao and Bai families were escorted to the capital five days ago. Emperor Jingming personally interrogated the two families, Shao Xin and Bai Shuyu, the father of Bai Wujin.
In Qiuqiu's words, the Shao family is a collection of lunatics, and Shao Xin is probably the most seriously ill one.
One moment he was cursing the heavens and the earth, refusing to utter a single word; the next he was frantically kowtowing to Emperor Jingming, even offering to exchange the treasures of the previous dynasty for his son's life.
After much hesitation, Emperor Jingming finally agreed to Shao Xin's request.
He spared the life of his son but didn't specify which son.
Su Gui's life was spared, wasn't it?
Shao Xin didn't know the exact location, only that the treasure was hidden in a mountain near the imperial tombs of the previous dynasty. The keys to unlock the treasure were divided into three and placed in different locations.
One of the keys was given by Bai Chengxiang as a token to Shao Xin's father. However, Shao Xin's father gave this key to Su Gui's mother.
After Su Gui's mother obtained the key, she conspired with outsiders to set up traps in the villa, so the key was not retrieved immediately. After her death, the key disappeared without a trace.
It is speculated that the key is on Su Gui. And Su Gui will most likely use this key to exchange for Su Junyao in exchange for a place to stay.
The remaining two keys are missing. One is in the Hundred Flowers Clan, left at the Hundred Flowers Clan's altar by the Hermit; the other key is unknown to Shao Xin.
However, he wanted to preserve a bloodline for the Shao family, so he had no choice but to fabricate a story. The owners of these two keys had the highest overlap, and the only one who frustrated Emperor Jingming the most was this little girl, Qiuqiu, who couldn't even speak clearly. When pressed, this brat couldn't explain herself!
To everyone's surprise, Shao Xin actually guessed correctly by sheer chance.
The third key was actually on Chuchu!
It turns out that those three silver whistles were actually the keys to unlock the treasure!
This overwhelming wealth... Chiu Chiu finds it terrifying just thinking about it!
[To love money, you must first be alive!]
Chiu Chiu struggled a couple of times, trying to get her dad to let go. The whistle was hanging around her neck; how could she get it out if he didn't let go?
"Let go! I'm taking the keys. Aren't you going to be ungrateful? What if they kill us both?"
"Dad, please stop!"
Su Junyao obediently let go, but Qiuqiu still couldn't get up immediately because she twisted her neck!
She's a fragile shark, both vulnerable and deadly!
Emperor Jingming asked Su Junyao, "Oh, haven't you decided yet?"
Su Junyao glanced at Qiuqiu, struggling to find the right words. How could he possibly tell an emperor that they, as his subjects, truly possessed the keys to the treasures of the previous dynasty?
No matter how you look at it, this statement sounds like a death wish.
But in Chiu Chiu's eyes, his hesitation meant he didn't want to!
Life is more important!
She's read far too many novels. There are countless emperors who are all barbarians in human form. She's willing to chat with them now, but who knows, next time she might just take action.
Ignoring her own neck, Qiuqiu quickly pulled out the silver whistle from her neck and gestured for Emperor Jingming to take it away.
[Damn it, this whistle is burning my neck!]
Chirp's will to survive reached its peak at this moment. The little one was both panicked and frightened, "Give, give..."
Su Junyao explained the origins of the three keys to her. The wariness in Emperor Jingming's eyes did not dissipate; he knew that from this day forward, the Wenyang Marquis's residence would be in an extremely awkward position.
"Your Majesty, I truly had no idea that these three whistles could be used in this way!"
"Heh." Emperor Jingming picked up his teacup and took a sip of the now-cold tea, seemingly unintentionally yet also as if giving a hint. "I believe in you. Junyao, I know what kind of person you are after all these years of friendship. But this matter is of utmost importance, which is why I summoned Qiuqiu into the palace."
"Chiu Chiu has done a good job presenting the key. I wonder if there is anything Su Qing would like?"
A common tactic is to give a stick a sweet treat after a beating.
Su Junyao refused, saying, "It is my daughter's blessing to be able to share His Majesty's burdens. I dare not accept any reward."
Get rid of this hot potato right away! Their little chick doesn't want it!
Chiu Chiu had already thrown the key away not far away, and curled up into a little ball without making a sound.
Emperor Jingming admitted that he was not a good person, but in recent years the Great Zhou Dynasty had been beset by internal and external troubles and the national treasury was empty. He needed the treasures of the previous dynasty!
What does Chiu Chiu want?
Chiu Chiu was stunned and asked her what was wrong, "Can't you just let her go home?"
The survival guide told her that to survive, she had to answer the emperor's questions.
Chirp chirped weakly in her trembling little voice, "Be safe, be safe."
After speaking, she tilted her head and tried her best to show off her cuteness.
No one can harbor ill intentions towards a cute baby, not even the emperor!
[Waaaaah, Your Majesty, please spare my whole family!]
Emperor Jingming felt refreshed after receiving the key, but his mood changed faster than the weather in June. Suddenly, he asked Su Junyao affectionately, as if nothing had happened, with a hint of teasing, "What is your daughter saying?"
Su Junyao replied in a serious tone, "Chiu Chiu said she wants her family to be safe and sound, free from disasters and hardships."
Chiu Chiu nodded vigorously: "Yes!"
May you be safe and sound, free from disasters and hardships!
Emperor Jingming fell silent, a struggle flashing in his eyes. After a moment, he closed his eyes and said with a sigh of relief, "I grant your permission!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
