Finest Servant

Chapter 493 Treasure Hunting

Lord Lin fired a cannon without warning, the thunderous explosion nearly rupturing everyone's eardrums. Lord Chen let out a frightened scream, quickly covering his ears, his legs trembling. "Lord Lin, how dare you fire a cannon within the royal mansion! You're audacious—"

Far away, the surface of the water surged with gigantic waves. Beautiful splashes slowly meandered in all directions before disappearing. Lin Wanrong appeared completely unfazed, as if he hadn't heard Lord Chen's words. He chuckled smugly, "Brother Gao, how did I do with that shot?"

"Excellent, truly excellent—" Gao Qiu gave a thumbs-up: "I've lived for many years and never have I seen anyone shoot as well as you. This shot was powerful and shook the heavens. Brother Lin, you are indeed brilliant and unparalleled in valor—"

"What valor?" Seeing Gao Qiu excessively flattering him, Lin Wanrong patted the dark cannon barrel and laughed, "The waterfowl flew too fast; I intended to shoot its behind, but I miscalculated and didn't even hit a feather. Ah, skills do rust without practice; seems like I'll have to find time to practice my cannon shooting more."

The two men laughed and talked, completely ignoring Chen Biqing. Gao Qiu was the chief of the palace guards and a man close to the Emperor. Why would he be afraid of a mere Imperial Censor?

Lord Lin randomly fired several more shots into the lake. Waterfowl scattered, waves roared, and dozens of white fish belly-up floated to the surface.

Gao Qiu sighed in admiration, "Lord Lin, you care for your soldiers like a father, personally firing cannons to catch fish for them. If this story gets out, it will surely be another splendid tale."

Having seen shameless people before, Chen Biqing couldn't bear it anymore: "Lord Lin, this royal mansion was personally chosen by the late Emperor as an auspicious place. You disregard the late Emperor's kindness by firing cannons within the mansion. How could you be so disrespectful? I will certainly report you to His Majesty—"

"Would you give it a rest, Lord Chen?" Lin Wanrong made a sour face, "Every day you talk about reporting this and that; I'm worried for you. Can't you do something else? Go home, hug your wife, play with your concubines; anything's better than this!"

Vulgar! Despicable! Chen Biqing was about to speak when Gao Qiu interjected with a strange tone, "Brother Lin, you don't understand. Lord Chen is specialized in writing petitions. Moreover, playing with one's own concubines never brings any novelty. Tormenting others is far more satisfying. Right, Lord Chen? Ha ha—"

Feeling ridiculed by the two, Chen Biqing was about to explode, but he remembered what the Emperor had told him before leaving. Reporting Lord Lin would likely be fruitless. Moreover, he was relying on Lord Lin for the investigation of Prince Cheng's case, so Lord Chen swallowed his anger with a grunt.

As soon as the announcement was posted, news of the royal mansion's treasure hunt spread like wildfire throughout the city.

The Emperor was recruiting people for a treasure hunt and promised a generous reward of thirty percent. This was an unheard-of good fortune, leaving the public both intrigued and skeptical. Later, soldiers "accidentally" leaked insider information that the person in charge of this treasure hunt was the highly regarded commoner-hero, Lord Lin. His deeds had long been compiled into books and widely disseminated; naturally, there wouldn't be any questions about his character.

With the allure of the gold-lettered sign, everyone was reassured. Within a short span of time, hundreds had already gathered at Gao Qiu's place to register, with the number of arrivals continuing to grow unabated.

Lin Wanrong, aware that time was of the essence, chose to stay at the royal mansion. Gao Qiu, perceptive as always, personally escorted Mr. Lin to the chamber once occupied by Sister An. "Brother Lin, I see you have taken quite a liking to this room. How about this? I'll send word to the ladies at your residence that you'll be tending to official matters here tonight. Does that sound alright to you?"

‘Gao Qiu truly knows how to get things done,’ thought Lin Wanrong. He chuckled, waving his hand to send Gao Qiu off to make the arrangements.

Lying on the soft bed, he was enveloped by a faint, pleasant aroma, as if Sister An's warmth lingered in the room. Memories of their intimate night came flooding back—every smile, every frown of hers vividly playing out before his eyes. He wondered if she, now living a luxurious life in Miao Village, even remembered him. Torn between joy and sorrow, Lin Wanrong grabbed the soft blanket, imagining it was Sister An's silky skin, and roughly kneaded it. "I pinch, I touch, I pinch and touch..."

Finally tiring of fantasizing about Sister An, he fell into a restless sleep. He didn't know how much time had passed when he suddenly felt a gentle breath near his ear. "Husband, Husband—"

Startled awake, he saw Miss Qin smiling at the bedside, blinking at him.

Lin Wanrong grabbed her hand. "Xian'er, where have you been? I didn't see you when I came back this afternoon!"

"I'm not telling you." Xian'er giggled, tapping him on the nose. "Husband, it's time to change the dressing."

"Oh!" Lin Wanrong sighed resignedly. These bone injuries were indeed troublesome; the externally applied salve couldn't be neglected and had to be changed every few hours.

Qin Xian'er took out a small bottle from her chest and slowly removed the cork, releasing a unique, mild fragrance. It was neither the scent of herbs nor flowers, yet it was incredibly soothing. She opened his clothes and applied some of the medicine onto his leg. Lin Wanrong felt a wave of coolness penetrating deep into his bones, making him sigh in relief. "Xian'er, where did you get this miraculous potion? It looks and smells so different from what Qingxuan uses."

Qin Xian'er smiled proudly. "Well, of course. This potion is incredibly magical, it's from the Miao—"

"Miao? Miao what?" Lin Wanrong looked at her, intrigued.

Qin Xian’er hurriedly corrected herself. "This medicine is made from herbs collected from the Great Snow Mountain behind the temple, so naturally, it's different. According to my Mast—uh, according to those who've tried it, you'll be able to walk in less than ten days. Husband, what do you think?"

"What temple has a Great Snow Mountain behind it?" Seeing Xian'er stammer, Lin Wanrong chuckled dismissively. "No need to comfort me about being able to walk in ten days. Qingxuan said the same thing when she applied her salve. In my view, when you sisters say I'll be able to walk in ten days, you probably mean I'll have to crawl!"

"How annoying," Xian'er giggled, giving him a playful glare. "If you don't believe me, don't you even trust my Mast—trust others?"

"Fine, fine, I believe you," Lin Wanrong said with a laugh as he pulled her beside him and lay down. "Xian'er, your timing is perfect. Come, lie with me for a while."

Xian'er hummed in agreement and slowly nestled into his arms. Suddenly, as if recalling something, she hastily raised her head and asked, "Husband, did you favor that little demon Luo Ning earlier?"

"Ah, that... I don't remember," Lord Lin hastily tried to brush it off.

Qin Xian’er's expression turned stern: "Husband, you are gravely injured and weak. If you recklessly expend your vitality, you risk further harm. This is no trifling matter."

Lord Lin broke into a cold sweat. "Yes, yes, Qingxuan has already admonished me. I will be careful from now on. Xian'er, I didn't know you understood these things!"

"Of course!" Qin Xian'er giggled, hugging his neck and burrowing further into his arms.

As Lin Wanrong took in the faint fragrance wafting off Xian'er, he was reminded of a passionate night he had spent there with Sister An. Despite trying, he couldn't fall asleep. He gently caressed Xian'er's smooth arm, sighing, "Xian'er, there's something I must tell you. Otherwise, I won't be able to ease my conscience. The truth is, Sister An and I have a little secret—Xian'er, Xian'er—"

He nudged Qin Xian'er lightly, only to find her breathing even, with a sweet smile on her lips, already lost in her dreams.

The next morning, Gao Qiu was shirtless, splashing about in the lake when he heard someone clap and laugh. "Brother Gao, good morning! So you're swimming this early?"

Gao Qiu looked up and saw Lin Wanrong seated in a wheelchair, his eyes bloodshot and looking drained, clearly having had a restless night. Behind him, Princess Nishang looked radiant and full of life, like a celestial nymph.

Gao Qiu wondered if Lord Lin had been subjected to the princess's 'wiles' last night. ‘Poor man, down to four limbs from five,’ he thought sympathetically. Treading carefully, he asked, "Brother Lin, are you alright?"

"What could be wrong with me?" Lord Lin, oblivious to Gao Qiu's thoughts, chuckled at the sight of Gao Qiu's comical doggy-paddle. "Brother Gao, your swimming style is indeed unique."

Gao Qiu laughed heartily. "Don't mock me, brother. I was born in Cangzhou, a landlocked area. Today is my first time swimming. Look, these skilled swimmers are all here because of you. I'm just learning from them."

He gestured towards the shoreline, where hundreds had already gathered, their skin tanned and shirtless. When Lin Wanrong's gaze swept over them, they all saluted in unison, "Greetings, Lord Lin!"

"Ah, good, good," Lin Wanrong nodded and smiled. "Thank you for your hard work, brothers. I didn't expect so many of you to come. But rest assured, if I've promised you a share of the treasure, you will have it."

Seeing Lord Lin's magnanimity, the faces of the hundreds present lit up with joy. Lin Wanrong smiled and continued, "The specific requirements and rewards have already been made clear in the announcement, so I won't repeat them. All I ask is that you search thoroughly once underwater. Report anything unusual immediately. If we let even a single silver coin slip through our fingers—well, that would be a real shame."

Upon hearing Master Lin's alluring words, each and every one of the underwater experts had their eyes sparkling with anticipation, as if they couldn't wait to dig up every single underwater grass and mud in the lake.

The lake itself wasn't very large, but there were a good five to six hundred people assembled to seek treasures. With this many people diving in, overturning the lake wouldn't be a challenge at all.

"Alright, time is of the essence. Enough chit-chat," Lord Lin said, waving his hand and chuckling heartily. "Brother Gao, please arrange for a few strong men to take a preliminary feel and test the waters, just to see if I, Lord Lin, have been lying."

A preliminary feel? What did that mean? The crowd was puzzled, and even Qin Xian'er couldn't grasp his intentions. "Husband, what do you mean by 'a preliminary feel'? What scheme are you concocting now?"

"Just like this—" Seizing a moment when no one was looking, Lord Lin sneakily pinched Qin Xian'er's bottom and lewdly chuckled, "This is what I call a 'preliminary feel.'"

"You!" Qin Xian'er blushed and scolded him softly.

Meanwhile, Gao Qiu had already taken action. He demarcated various areas in the lake with colorful ropes, forming grids of similar sizes. Then he divided the treasure seekers into teams, each responsible for excavating within their designated grid. The arrangement was fair, and everyone was satisfied.

Gao Qiu picked a few random teams and selected one person from each, gathering around seven or eight people. He instructed them to stand in their allocated grids and then, clearing his throat, announced loudly, "What do we mean by a 'preliminary feel'? Master Lin has already mentioned that this lake hides treasures. Once found, thirty percent will belong to everyone. Now, I know some of you may doubt this, thinking that 'man does not live by pie in the sky.' But today, Master Lin is going to prove just that. These brave souls have been randomly selected—so let's find out if there's any pie after all!"

The crowd buzzed with anticipation. Gao Qiu grinned, "The auspicious time has come—Master Lin, please light the fuse!"

Master Lin, his expression serious, lit the fuse with a torch. A loud boom resonated, and the lake water erupted into a splash.

"Begin the 'preliminary feel!'" Master Lin exclaimed, and the selected divers plunged into the water, eager and competitive.

A momentary calm settled over the lake, disturbed only by startled water birds that flapped their wings. Those who remained above water held their breath, waiting for news from the underwater divers.

"Husband, what are you up to?" Qin Xian'er twisted Master Lin's arm, visibly annoyed.

Master Lin flashed a mysterious smile. "Patience, you'll find out soon."

Just as he finished speaking, a splash broke the stillness as one of the divers emerged. Everyone's anxious gaze immediately focused on him.

The man lifted a small wooden box out of the water and announced, "Master, I found a silver box in the underwater silt."

"Ah?" Master Lin was overjoyed, "Quickly check its contents!"

Gao Qiu rowed a small boat over and took a quick glance before excitedly reporting, "Master Lin, this man has found a hundred taels of silver!"

"Excellent!" Master Lin slapped his thigh and burst into laughter. "According to the rules, thirty taels of that silver will belong to this brave man."

"Sir," another man emerged from the water, brimming with joy, "I've found twenty taels of gold—"

"I've found three pieces of agate—"

"I've found sixty taels of silver—"

One after another, good news poured in. Every man who had gone underwater came up with something, with the least finding a piece of silk fabric. It seemed that Master Lin's promises had indeed come true: the lakebed was full of treasure. Those who remained on the surface grew impatient, their eyes pleading for Master Lin to give the signal.

Master Lin straightened his expression and sternly declared, "Before you all dive, let me make one thing clear. You'll get thirty percent of whatever you find. I've been generous, and I expect no less from you. Should anyone attempt to pocket any of these treasures illicitly, they will be considered as robbing the state treasury! And report immediately if you find anything unusual underwater. Understood?"

"Understood!" With the motivation of personal gain, the men responded loudly.

"Very well, the treasure hunt officially begins!" Master Lin waved his hand grandly, and the remaining hundreds of men plunged into the water like dumplings tossed into a pot, sending ripples across the lake.

"Brother Gao, how much silver did you send down?" Master Lin hastily inquired as Gao Qiu approached him.

Gao Qiu replied, "Wasn't it you who instructed to spread as much as possible? Considering the size of this lake, at least a thousand taels of silver would be needed. I also scattered some gold leaves, pearls that glow in the dark, and silk. In some spots, I even hid boxes of top-grade Bi Luo Chun tea and Longjing tea—"

Master Lin felt dizzy listening to Gao Qiu; the man had taken it too seriously, as if organizing a treasure appraisal event. "Brother Gao, just tell me, how much did we spend in total?"

Gao Qiu counted on his fingers, "Around two thousand taels! Don't worry, I had the Xiao family handle all the purchases. The old Zhao family in the east of the city also wanted the contract and promised me a ten percent kickback, but I sternly refused. We let the Xiao family make all the money and didn't favor anyone else—"

Damn it, my two thousand taels are gone! Master Lin felt as if his flesh had been cut off. He grunted a few times without speaking.

Qin Xian’er suddenly realized, "Ah, I understand now. Husband, you were the one who threw the silver into the lake—"

"Shh—" Master Lin hurriedly glanced around to see if anyone was watching, then grimaced, "Me, throw silver? Am I insane?! Xian'er, your husband is losing money on this venture, all for my future father-in-law! Speaking of which, Brother Gao, how much budget did the Emperor give for this?"

"Budget? It seems the Emperor never mentioned it!" Gao Qiu pondered, then added, "However, from my many years of experience serving in the palace, when you're working for the Emperor, it's always about picking the expensive over the economical. As for expenses— it's all reimbursement!"

What a wonderful word, reimbursement, Master Lin thought cheerfully. He slowly raised three fingers, "Brother Gao, what did you say we've spent so far?!"

"Two thousand, oh, no, three thousand—"

"Look again!" Master Lin waved his three fingers before Gao Qiu.

"—Oh, no, that's wrong, it's thirty thousand! My, my memory! I clearly threw thirty thousand taels into the lake!" Gao Qiu slapped his palm and feigned a sudden realization.

‘This old Gao is too crafty,’ Master Lin thought, wishing he could give the man a good kick in the rear. "Brother Gao, one should be honest. How could you speak so carelessly? I clearly only used three times the two thousand taels—just six thousand taels!"

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