The servant of Yi Mansion wore common clothes, indicating he was not yet a trusted aide of the master, at least not now.
He looked about eighteen or nineteen years old, his appearance could only be considered average. But those eyes were bright and lively, although his actual disposition was still unknown.
Seeing those bright eyes, Gu Chengyu thought this person didn’t seem to have a bad character.
As for doing this for Yi Lanwen and their lot, that was sothing a re servant couldn’t contend with. The master gives orders, the servant rely follows them.
"Without you, I would still have ways to know where the treasure map is hidden, it just requires so effort!"
Gu Chengyu saw Yi Lanwen hesitating and knew he would eventually agree. However, he was pressed for ti and didn’t want to delay any longer.
Just like what Yi Lanwen feared, if too much ti passed, Yi Lanshan might send people over to look for him.
This beca the final straw that broke the cal’s back, Yi Lanwen’s face turned bleak, yet he finally spoke.
"I don’t know where the treasure map is."
As soon as he said that, he saw the youth’s face opposite him suddenly darken, and an imposing montum overwheld him.
His heart quivered, feeling that this must be the pressure from an upper person in power.
"My elder brother only trusts himself and told no one. However, I have my way; I know he hid the treasure map in the ancestral hall."
After saying this, Yi Lanwen gasped for breath, his face ashen.
He knew the Yi Family was dood, his brother’s long-laid plans were disrupted by him.
Whether the master behind this could forgive his brother, himself, and the Yi Family, he did not know.
However, forming an alliance with that person was done in secret. That person had said, even if they couldn’t help him get the treasure map, the Yi Family would still be under his protection.
What that person valued wasn’t the treasure map, but the potential of the Yi Family.
If Gu Chengyu knew what Yi Lanwen was thinking, he would surely laugh at Yi Lanwen’s naivety; it was just a common tactic of those in power to win people’s allegiance!
If they really lost the treasure map, what use would the Yi Family be?
Even if they valued the Yi Family’s developnt potential, how many years down the line would that be? To them, the Yi Family might be dispensable.
The fourth generation descendants of the Yi Family, even if they entered officialdom now, who knows how many years it would take to reach the Standard Fourth Rank?
Moreover, a Standard Fourth Rank is not considered a high official, with limited power.
"Oh? You better think clearly, if you’re lying, then there’ll be no antidote for you."
Gu Chengyu squinted slightly, inwardly cursing Yi Lanshan as a sly old fox.
Previously they had found out that there were at least two heavily guarded places in the mansion, but it turned out these places were just diversions.
And the treasure map was actually hidden in the ancestral hall, which generally isn’t opened except on important days.
"Every word is true!" Yi Lanwen didn’t lie, his little life was still in soone else’s hands!
A day ago at night, he wanted to inquire about that person’s affairs from his brother.
When he reached the ancestral hall, he suddenly saw his brother slip inside.
He thought it was strange, what was his brother doing in the ancestral hall in the middle of the night?
No family mber was punished to kneel in the ancestral hall, and it was night, making his brother’s visit all the more peculiar.
He watched curiously from the side, and when his brother ca out, seeing his brother’s cautious deanor, his curiosity beca even stronger.
He originally wanted to explore the ancestral hall, but only his brother and the doorman, Old Man Lian, had the key.
His brother definitely didn’t want him snooping into these affairs, and the doorman, being bought by his brother, wouldn’t dare disobey his brother.
So after just a few glances at the ancestral hall, he had to give up and return. Yet he tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep, thinking about this matter.
Later, he closely watched his brother, discovering that his brother visited the ancestral hall every five days.
A day ago, he subtly hinted to his brother, saying the treasure map wasn’t safe in the mansion.
His brother later said those people would never guess where the treasure map was hidden, and told him not to worry.
That’s when he realized his brother must have hidden the treasure map in the ancestral hall, otherwise why would he visit it every few days? He must be worried about the treasure map!
"Is there an ambush in the ancestral hall?" There were no guards outside the ancestral hall, but that didn’t an there weren’t any inside.
"Only an old man guarding the hall, but I haven’t been inside for a long ti. As for whether there are ambushes or traps inside, I don’t know."
Yi Lanwen shook his head, he indeed hadn’t been to the ancestral hall in ages.
While waiting for Ming Mo and the others to arrive, Gu Chengyu was contemplating how to get hold of the treasure map.
He glanced at a woman lying on the ground and asked, pointing at her, "Who is this woman?"
At this question, Yi Lanwen beca a bit embarrassed, and the servant scratched the back of his head, glanced at the woman, then turned away.
"Ahem! This is the niece-in-law of the third branch of the Yi Family, her husband has passed away, she is now a widow."
The servant, seeing Yi Lanwen not ntioning the antidote, felt anxious. He leaned close to Yi Lanwen, ready to remind his master.
"Oh? Is she still in mourning?" Gu Chengyu then noticed the white velvet flower pinned on the side of the woman’s head.
"Yes!" Yi Lanwen’s face was burning with embarrassnt, so he just briefly answered.
"Humph! Your Yi Family is truly ruthless! A widow who just lost her husband is pitiable enough, yet you treat her like this."
Gu Chengyu looked at Yi Lanwen with disdain, knowing that many n throughout history liked to use won to achieve their ends.
"Mr. Gu! May I ask about our antidote?" The servant saw his master still wasn’t in a hurry and, having no choice, asked on his own behalf.
After all, his life was on the line! Even as a servant, he could speak up, right?
Gu Chengyu tapped the table, "It’s not that I can’t give you the antidote, but not now. I still need you to help with sothing, and once it’s done, I guarantee the antidote will be provided."
Gu Chengyu thought that it was broad daylight, so he couldn’t just enter the ancestral hall, which would be outright robbery.
There were many experts in the Yi Mansion, and if they ganged up against him, it would certainly be a hassle.
"What? Mr. Gu, that’s not what you said earlier. You said if I told you where the treasure map was, you would give the antidote!"
Yi Lanwen was anxious, seeing Gu Chengyu about to go back on his word.
Gu Chengyu spread his hands, "I didn’t say that just now. Were those my exact words?"
Seeing the two n’s faces filled with grief as if they had lost their mother, Gu Chengyu chuckled, then took a porcelain bottle out from his sleeve.
"Ouch!"
Just as Gu Chengyu was about to speak, both n clutched their stomachs simultaneously, their faces contorted in pain.
Gu Chengyu knew the drug’s effect was kicking in, so he enticingly said, "This antidote here can only suppress the poison in you; to completely resolve it, as long as you help do one thing, I’m a man of my word."
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