Chapter 835: Chapter 671: To Steal
Lu Chenâs analysis is reasonable and well-founded. Although the Qu Family is somewhat more capable than the Yi Family, they are ultimately just a local force in Hejian Prefecture.
The last time the Qu Family sent people, there were significant casualties, and only a few days have passed before the Qu Family acts again.
Gu Chengyu knows Lu Chen has analyzed it sensibly. Sure enough, an aristocratic family has some depth, and Lu Chenâs information is even more comprehensive than his.
The last time the Qu Family acted, Gu Chengyuâs people didnât find out this matter.
However, Gu Chengyu had a sudden thought about why the Qu Family was in such a rush?
Previously, the Qu Family suffered a setback, indicating they did not have an alliance at that time. Yet, the Qu Family couldnât hold back and acted once.
Then, the Qu Family gained support from someone behind the scenes and acted again so quickly.
In comparison, the Yan Family remains inactive, making the Qu Familyâs urgency even more apparent.
Suddenly, Gu Chengyu recalled what Ding Ba said earlier, that the dart master had a previous conflict with the Qu Familyâs young master before the massacre.
Could it be that the young master grew increasingly furious afterward, seeking revenge? So he captured the dart master, only to discover the treasure map on him?
Of course, this is just Gu Chengyuâs speculation, and it needs to be verified by sending someone.
If this is true, then the Qu Familyâs urgency can be understood.
Because half of the treasure map is in the Qu Familyâs hands, they are naturally anxious to obtain the other half.
This realization made Gu Chengyu increasingly feel that they couldnât wait any longer.
Otherwise, once the Qu Family gets the Yi Familyâs other half of the treasure map, their task becomes more challenging.
Who knows whoâs behind the Qu Family? If itâs a major force, trying to grab the treasure map from them would be even more troublesome.
Gu Chengyu suddenly turned around, looking at Lu Chen, and smiled.
Lu Chen felt a shiver down his spine as Gu Chengyuâs gaze fell on him.
"Ahem! Did you think of some good strategy?" Lu Chen thought Gu Chengyuâs smile seemed somewhat cunning, as if he was being calculated against.
"Second Brother Lu, weâve been in the Hejian Prefecture for several days. I donât think itâs appropriate to wait any longer; we must take the initiative."
Gu Chengyu smiled kindly, looking at Lu Chen with a gentle gaze, yet it made Lu Chen shudder uncontrollably.
"Werenât you saying we should wait for the opportunity before?"
Lu Chen wondered why Gu Chengyu changed his mind, studying Gu Chengyu, thinking perhaps he had received information unknown to him.
"Previously, my plan was to hide in the shadows and strike when the moment was ripe. But now weâve been exposed, remaining still is naturally inappropriate."
In his heart, Gu Chengyu cursed Lu Chen, and if it werenât for Lu Chen being a burden, things would not have been so complicated.
Otherwise, he would have already snuck into the Yi Mansion to steal the treasure map.
Lu Chen felt somewhat at a loss after hearing Gu Chengyu say this.
"What do you mean? Do you suggest we act against the Yi Family? But if we do that, weâd become targets for those people. Even if we steal the treasure map, it will lead to endless trouble."
Lu Chen thought it was better to wait until the Qu Family exhausted the Yi Familyâs resources before they took action.
"Why resort to stealing? That wouldnât be good; we are court officials sent by the Emperor. We canât discredit the Emperorâs face!"
Gu Chengyu shook his head, disagreeing with this approach.
"So whatâs your plan? You donât mean to directly ask for it, do you?"
Lu Chen exclaimed in surprise, looking at Gu Chengyu in disbelief.
"Ask for it? Do you think the Yi Family will admit to it?"
Gu Chengyu rolled his eyes, wondering how Lu Chen had become so muddled at this critical time.
"Well, thatâs settled then! So letâs wait for other forces to act first, and then weâll join in. It will be easier to deal with."
Lu Chen found it funny witnessing Gu Chengyu rolling his eyes and responded in kind.
"Who knows when that will be? We donât have the luxury of time to wait it out with them."
Gu Chengyu shook his head and then uttered a sentence that made Lu Chen spit out his tea.
"Letâs go steal it!"
Lu Chen was dumbstruck, realizing that Gu Chengyuâs long speech was leading to this dreadful idea.
He had just said stealing would be disgraceful; was sneaking a theft more dignified than stealing?
"You might not know, but now the Yi Mansion is heavily guarded like a fortress. Even the other two groups canât break through their defense circle; do you think the few people I brought can succeed?"
Lu Chen thought of Gu Chengyu as a weak scholar who presumably oversimplified matters, unfathomable and somewhat fanciful.
Gu Chengyuâs eyes narrowed slightly, realizing Prince Jing was still wary of Lu Chen, not revealing his martial arts background to him.
Unfortunately, Lu Chen almost sacrificed his future for Prince Jing, but Prince Jing was still on guard against him. How would Lu Chen feel if he knew?
Thinking about this, Gu Chengyu stared at Lu Chen with some pity.
Lu Chen noticed Gu Chengyuâs odd expression, thinking he doubted his words, hurriedly explaining further.
"Though I have some skills, confronting those people and retreating unscathed wouldnât be easy. Besides, we donât know where the treasure map is hidden, searching impulsively will take time and be even harder."
"So, we must first explore the Yi Mansion. Didnât the Yan Family send an invitation?"
Gu Chengyu grinned, aware he couldnât reveal his hand with Lu Chen around.
It was better to work with Lu Chen, securing the treasure map first.
"What do you mean?"
Lu Chen was somewhat confused; what did the Yan Familyâs invitation have to do with the Yi Family?
"Since Hejian Prefecture knows we are the Emperorâs imperial envoys, and even the Yan Family has expressed their stance, whatâs the point of the Yi Family hiding? We can bring him out into the open."
As a court official and personally appointed imperial envoy by the Emperor, holding the Imperial Gold Medal, Gu Chengyu naturally wasnât afraid of being refused by those families.
Lu Chen realized, indeed! Even if the Yi Family was reluctant, would they dare refuse Gu Chengyu?
"But if the Yi Family isnât proactive, we canât just show up at their door, right? Whatâs the best pretext?"
Lu Chen glanced at Gu Chengyu, lazy to devise excuses.
"Why seek a pretext? Can they deny us entry if we show up directly? Besides, there are plenty of reasons, havenât you heard the Yi Family has planted many Wooden Lotus? We can go to admire them."
Gu Chengyu curled his lips with a smile, not finding it a difficult task at all.
"But even if we enter the Yi Mansion, they will surely keep a tight watch over us. Finding out the treasure mapâs whereabouts is still difficult."
Lu Chen felt that even entering the Yi Mansion wouldnât guarantee discovering the treasure mapâs whereabouts.