Chapter 8: Burning the Treasury

Chapter 8: Burning the Treasury

After walking for about ten minutes, Mo Jiuye lifted his hand to open a hidden panel above them, and suddenly, they found themselves inside the treasury.

A treasury was indeed a treasury – spacious and filled with an array of dazzling items that seemed to be of immense value. Especially the two glowing pearls that illuminated the entire chamber like daylight, they were so bright they could blind one's eyes.

"Time is limited, we need to move quickly," Mo Jiuye reminded He Zhiran, noticing her wide-eyed admiration for everything around them.

At that moment, He Zhiran felt like an inexperienced country bumpkin, finding every item in this place fascinating. She knew, however, that this was not the time for sightseeing.

"I want you to hide for a while," Mo Jiuye understood her intention, which was simply to keep him from witnessing her actions.

"Alright," without hesitation, Mo Jiuye opened the floor panel and descended into it.

He Zhiran watched as the replica book cover closed seamlessly, only then did she begin to search for valuable items.

After all, the storage space had limited capacity, and with so many treasures in the treasury, it was impossible for her to take them all.

Scanning the room, He Zhiran used her mind to gather all the banknotes, silver ingots, and precious jewels into her space.

Then, using her mind again, she entered the space to inspect. Indeed, these items alone nearly filled the entire space.

However, she was not content.

So, He Zhiran rearranged the items mentally, trying to fit them more compactly. She piled smaller items into the kitchen and bathroom, freeing up some more space.

Estimating the remaining space, she collected a few calligraphy scrolls and paintings that didn't occupy much room, as well as several large chests of copper coins which she also stowed away.

Checking the space once more, He Zhiran was astounded.

The space was now jam-packed, leaving only enough room for her to enter.

Despite her reluctance, He Zhiran knew she couldn't take any more.

However, she couldn't let those two glittering pearl escape her grasp.

As she stowed the pearls away in her space, the treasury immediately fell into darkness.

He Zhiran tapped on the trapdoor. "I'm done. We can leave now."

No sooner had she spoken than the panel opened from inside.

He Zhiran supported Mo Jiuye's shoulder as they descended into the secret chamber.

She turned to survey the somewhat disarrayed treasury and an idea struck her.

"There's too much here for me to carry it all. There are still plenty of fine silks and satins left behind."

"You mean...?" Mo Jiuye seemed to have guessed her intention.

Taking advantage of the darkness, He Zhiran mentally summoned a bottle of alcohol from her space and scattered it around the treasury.

Mo Jiuye was in perfect sync with her. After the alcohol was dispersed, he pulled out a fire starter from his pocket, lit it, and tossed it in.

Alcohol met flame, and the treasury was instantly engulfed in a blazing inferno.

Mo Jiuye pulled He Zhiran away from the scene swiftly...

Though they didn't speak, both felt a sense of grim satisfaction at the sight of the burning treasury.

Especially Mo Jiuye, who seemed to derive a sense of revenge being served.

He even wished to witness the emperor's furious reaction upon learning of the treasury's destruction.

After arriving safely back at the Duke's residence, they changed out of their black attire. Mo Jiuye returned to his bed.

Keen-eyed He Zhiran noticed the bloodstains on the ground.

"You're bleeding. I need to tend to your wound."

One mustn't underestimate superficial injuries; many had perished in the past due to untreated infections.

Having done her utmost to save the lives of those in the Duke's household, how could she allow Mo Jiuye to be endangered by such a minor injury?

"No, my injuries aren't serious."

In reality, Mo Jiuye was well aware of the severity of his wounds. Despite the cushioning, fifty strokes of the cane couldn't have been gentle. However, the thought of He Zhiran seeing the injury on his buttocks made him feel uneasy.

To He Zhiran, a patient's gender didn't matter.

Thus, she reached out without hesitation to lift Mo Jiuye's clothing.

Mo Jiuye instinctively dodged.

"That won't do. The location of the injury isn't appropriate for a woman like you to see."

It was then that He Zhiran realized the reason behind his reluctance to let her treat him.

"I, a woman, have no qualms about it, yet you, a grown man, are worried about being at a disadvantage?"

She said this to alleviate Mo Jiuye's awkwardness and expedite the process of treating his wound so they could move on to the next task.

Mo Jiuye's face flushed crimson at the woman's words.

He continued to dodge awkwardly.

Helpless, He Zhiran said, "Don't forget, we're husband and wife. Do you understand what that means? We should be honest with each other."

She was solely focused on persuading Mo Jiuye to cooperate with her treatment, completely oblivious to the fact that she was in ancient times, speaking such liberal thoughts to someone with deeply ingrained feudal beliefs – it was like pouring oil on fire.

Mo Jiuye stared at her, speechless for a moment.

After all, she did have a point – they were already married.

But were these the kind of words a woman could casually utter?

Contemplating this, Mo Jiuye grew even more curious about He Zhiran.

What kind of mindset allowed her to speak such things without a hint of embarrassment?

While Mo Jiuye was lost in thought, He Zhiran had already efficiently lifted his outer garment.

Yesterday, He Zhiran and Mo Jiuye had their grand wedding, with Mo Jiuye dressed entirely in vibrant red.

Despite this, when she lifted his outer robe, the sight that met He Zhiran's eyes still left her deeply shaken.

Mo Jiuye's bright red undergarment was soaked in blood, the once vivid fabric now tinged a dark crimson.

Recalling how Mo Jiuye had just moments ago whisked her away to stealthily raid the national treasury using his martial arts skills, He Zhiran wondered with awe: How resilient must this man's will be to endure all this?

This thought caused her respect for Mo Jiuye to deepen even further.

Seeing that he couldn't persuade He Zhiran otherwise, Mo Jiuye reluctantly turned his head away, facing the wall with his eyes closed, adopting a resigned attitude.

With Mo Jiuye's gaze no longer on her, He Zhiran effortlessly retrieved a bottle of alcohol from her personal space.

However, she made a startling discovery.

If her memory served her right, there should originally have been three bottles of alcohol in her space. One had been used during the fire at the treasury, leaving two remaining.

But to her surprise, the number of alcohol bottles hadn't decreased; they were still three.

At this moment, she was not entirely certain if the space possessed regenerative capabilities.

Nevertheless, she meticulously examined the alcohol within the space, confirming that there were two bottles. After assisting Mo Jiuye with his wound, she would inspect again. If a third bottle appeared, it would signify that she had unlocked another function of the space.

Retracting her thoughts, He Zhiran retrieved tweezers, gauze, and other items from the space before gently sliding down Mo Jiuye's trousers.

The wound was a ghastly sight, evoking a sense of shock upon observation. Even He Zhiran, who had witnessed countless injuries, was not immune to its impact.