Because of Wen Boli’s situation, the plan to go to Xingdong Commandery was delayed by two more days.
Chu Xiangtian’s men moved quickly, and by the next day, they had uncovered Wen Zeming’s petty, hopeless scheme.
“I have to say, Wen Zeming really knows how to play dirty,” Yang Dashi muttered.
“But that old man isn’t much better than his son. I heard there’s always the sound of women crying inside the Wen Family Manor. The neighbors say it’s Wen Boli beating them.”
Who the women were was obvious—the Wen Family had only one mistress. No wonder the mother and son were ready to kill.
“What exactly did they want when they tried to lure me over last time?” Fu Tian asked.
Yang Dashi scratched his head. He was only responsible for uncovering the facts and hadn’t figured out what the mother and son were really after.
From his perspective, both looked unhinged, their eyes filled with madness. It wouldn’t be surprising if they did something terrible.
“How’s Wen Boli doing?” Chu Xiangtian suddenly interjected.
“Not well at all. Feels like he could die any moment.”
“I see. You may leave now.” Chu Xiangtian tapped the back of his chair twice and waved Yang Dashi off.
Fu Tian frowned and hesitated. “Is Wen Zeming trying to frame me by luring me over?”
Wen Boli was on the brink of death.
If Fu Tian had gone that day and Wen Boli died shortly after, even without solid evidence of him murdering his biological father, the charge of causing his father’s death would be enough to trap him in a nightmare.
It was clear Wen Zeming hated him with a passion.
“That’s how it looks for now.” Chu Xiangtian’s brows knitted together, shadowed with a dark haze. “Don’t get involved in this. Leave it to me.”
Since it concerned Wen Boli, if Fu Tian appeared, no matter what he did, people would fabricate stories around it. Rather than being shackled, it was better to act as if he knew nothing at all.
Fu Tian obediently nodded. Seeing how compliant he was, Chu Xiangtian couldn’t help but pinch his cheek and plant a kiss before letting him handle the matter.
***
After everyone left, Chu Xiangtian’s smile faded. He said coldly, “Come in.”
Yang Dashi, who had just left moments ago, slipped back inside at the door.
“General.”
“You’re to keep a close watch on the Wen Family and gather all the evidence. When Wen Boli dies, send the proof to the authorities.”
No longer gentle when facing Fu Tian, Chu Xiangtian’s face was clouded with dark clouds.
Even Yang Dashi, usually thick-skinned, noticed the bad mood and didn’t dare to be relaxed anymore. He responded obediently.
“Once that mother and son are locked inside, don’t give them any chance to come out.”
Yang Dashi’s expression sharpened as he replied firmly.
“Good. Then go. When this is all done, call the others. It’s time to let them meet the eldest sister-in-law.”
Having finished the business, Chu Xiangtian’s expression softened, remembering what he had said to Fu Tian last time.
Yang Dashi and the others were his loyal guards who had followed him for years. They were brothers who had faced life and death together.
This time, they had just returned from the border. A few of them couldn’t sit still and came back with him, while the rest stayed behind to guard the frontier.
This was a good opportunity for them to meet the new addition.
Yang Dashi went to tail the Wen Family, while Fu Tian packed up to prepare for Xingdong Commandery.
Before leaving, Fu Tian took the Key to the Secret Vault and went alone to the warehouse.
Since Fu Youqin handed him the key, he hadn’t gone to check it out.
The Fu Family’s warehouse was outwardly filled with many valuable items, but no one would suspect that what was stored there was only a fraction of the real treasures.
He turned a large blue-and-white porcelain Flower Vase in the corner three times forward and three times backward.
After that, the Debao Shelf next to the vase slowly slid forward about two feet, revealing a pitch-black passage behind it.
Fu Tian held a candle and shone the light inside. The flickering flame indicated there must be some ventilation below, so going down directly shouldn’t be a problem.
The passage was narrow, with spiral steps leading down steeply. Holding the candle carefully, Fu Tian descended cautiously.
At the bottom, it was even darker than the corridor above—almost pitch black.
Fu Tian’s heart grew uneasy as he groped around in the darkness until he found a huge candleholder on the left side of the door.
The candle on it was only half burned, showing that the previous generations of family heads seldom came here.
Fu Tian lit several thick candles with his arm, and the room finally brightened. Candlesticks stood in all four corners, and after lighting a few in each corner, the entire room was fully illuminated.
The space below was vast but messier than Fu Tian had expected.
It was one enormous empty room, cluttered with various wooden crates. The boxes were heavy and sealed tight.
Fu Tian randomly opened a few and found them neatly packed with Golden and Silver Ingots.
Some smaller crates held precious Mingzhu and other gems. Fu Tian didn’t examine them closely.
The crates were stacked haphazardly, filling the entire space like forgotten old possessions carelessly dumped down here.
It seemed the Fu family ancestors were even wealthier than he imagined. No wonder his mother always told him to keep their wealth hidden.
Countless gold, silver, and jade stones like these, if known by outsiders, could really bring fatal trouble.
After circling the tall stacks of crates, Fu Tian was ready to leave but suddenly felt something strange when passing one wall.
He paused and examined the wall. It was smooth and flat—wait, no.
Fu Tian’s eyes shifted, and in the candlelight’s shadow, he noticed one small difference from the other three walls.
Near the bottom left of this wall, roughly chest height, was a tiny hole. At first glance, it looked like long-term wall damage, but upon closer inspection, Fu Tian realized it was a keyhole.
He compared it with the Bronze Key—similar in shape, though slightly smaller.
Stepping back to study the entire wall, he found no seams or cracks. Without that small hole, the wall looked completely normal.
Fu Tian wasn’t sure if he was overthinking it, but since he had no key to test the hole, he decided to set it aside. He blew out the candle and headed back upstairs.
The next day after leaving the secret vault, Fu Tian set off for Xingdong Commandery with his men. Of course, Chu Xiangtian accompanied him.
Xingdong Commandery was separated from Nanming Commandery by mountains and rivers. Taking the official road around took a full day and night.
Riding horses through shortcuts was faster, but there was no urgent need to rush, so the Fu Family’s carriage leisurely traveled along the official road to Xingdong.
The road was smooth and easy, so the carriage barely jolted. Fu Tian leaned against the small table reading a book, with a small dish of melon seeds by his side.
Chu Xiangtian sat to his right, with a plate of melon seeds on the left and an empty plate of shells on the right. He was cracking seeds with a crisp sound.
Dai Fu sat up front, and he could easily glance back at them.
Fu Tian felt embarrassed being so close in front of others, so the two whispered quietly from time to time, and Fu Tian fed Chu Xiangtian a few seeds. Time passed quickly this way.
In the afternoon, a sudden downpour started. After the rain stopped, the delay cost them some travel time. Before reaching their stop for the night, darkness fell.
Traveling at night was unsafe, so Chu Xiangtian went out and found a small hill sheltered from the wind with good cover and visibility for the carriage driver to stop.
The storm came and went quickly. The ground where they stopped was mostly dry, only damp with lingering moisture.
Fu Tian waited in the carriage while Chu Xiangtian gathered some usable branches for a fire. He had the driver start one to dry them out, then ventured deeper into the woods alone.
Below the hill was a small forest where birds chirped and animals rustled. Chu Xiangtian returned shortly, carrying two birds and a wild rabbit.
Dai Fu had already started the fire, but the branches were damp and difficult to burn, producing choking smoke as they crackled.
Chu Xiangtian placed the remaining branches over the fire to dry. Once dry, he added them to the flames. When the smoke cleared, he let Fu Tian out of the carriage.
Perhaps because winter was near, the birds and rabbit were plump. Fu Tian played with the gray rabbit, which kicked its legs hard trying to escape.
He grabbed its long ears and gently stroked its soft fur twice before reluctantly handing it to Chu Xiangtian.
With a swift knife, Chu Xiangtian cleaned the rabbit and seasoned it before putting it on the fire to roast alongside the birds.
Soon, the strong aroma of roasting meat filled the air.
Fu Tian, who had just been feeling sorry for the little rabbit, swallowed hard at the smell.