Chapter 393: My Family Really Has No Intention of Rebellion

Tong Tiehu had a troubled look on his face. “If I may, Your Highness, I truly do not know.”

“You don’t know? Hmm.” Yang Wang sneered. “Then, what relationship does your Tong family have with Prince Pingnan, Gu Yu?”

“That would be my father.” Tong Tiehu hesitated for a moment before honestly answering.

The retired emperor had been watching their monkey show for twenty years, there was no meaning in withholding the truth.

It would be best to answer honestly.

With the imperial decree protecting the Tong family as if it were his own, at least presently, neither Yang Wang nor Cen Hong would dare lay a finger on them.

“I see.” Yang Ye made a few appreciative clicks with his tongue. “However, since you are a descendant of Gu Yu, does your family safeguard the treasure vault?”

“Yes.”

“Where are the treasures then?”

“Your highness, I and my third brother are baffled and pained. Those are items my father risked his life to preserve, and yet they have disappeared now. We are filled with indescribable emotions.”

“Nonsensical!” Yang Wang scolded in a harsh voice after hearing this. “You claim not to know? Are you suggesting the treasures could have possibly grown legs and walked off?!”

“Your Highness, please calm your anger. I truly do not know.” Tong Tiehu had an anxious look on his face. “You have seen the underground vault as well. You should know how much treasure it held. My third brother and I are but ordinary men, how could we possibly have moved such a large hoard of treasure without a sound?”

“Obviously, mechanisms must have been exploited!” As Yang Wang spoke, he weighed and jingled the earthen brick in his hand. “Then what is the story behind these blood stains? It is clear that this blood is just a few days old!”

“I really don’t know about that.” Tong Tiehu continued shaking his head. “The last time my third brother and I entered that secret tunnel was ten years ago, the dust in the tunnel is more than enough proof of the truth of my claim.”

“Ha! So you’re implying that the person who moved the treasures appeared out of thin air?” Yang Wang mocked.

Tong Tiehu continued to shake his head. “Your Highness, I beg your pardon. My third brother and I truly have no knowledge of this.”

“Yet, given that you two are the descendants of Prince Pingnan, Gu Yu, protecting such a large hoard of treasures, what is it that you are planning? Perhaps, are you attempting to finish what Prince Pingnan couldn’t?” Cen Hong, who hadn’t spoken much, suddenly stated.

The question was piercing, straight to the core.

Upon hearing this, Tong Tiehu wore an utterly terrified expression on his face. “General, you are greatly mistaken! Our Tong family has absolutely no such intention!”

“No? Now that the treasures are hidden, what for if not to rebel?” Cen Hong continued to interrogate, his expression dark.

Tong Tiehu responded gravely, “General, my third brother and I truly know nothing about the whereabouts of the treasures. As for rebelling, that is categorically false.”

Even if there were such plans, he couldn’t admit to them in front of these men.

Besides, even if the retired emperor himself came, unless he could produce sufficient evidence, Tong Tiehu would not admit to it.

No matter how much the retired emperor knew, so long as no evidence was presented, he would deny any allegations of rebellion.

“As for the subject of hiding the treasures, yes, the Tong family has lived here, safeguarding these treasures for several decades. But throughout these decades, the Tong family has donated thirty million taels of silver to disaster relief. If we of the Tong family actually harbored thoughts of rebellion, why would we use our silver to aid the disaster-stricken populace?”

“What?!” Yang Wang’s eyes widened in shock.

Yang Ye also had his phoenix eyes wide open in disbelief while his mouth hung open.

His expression was identical to Qiao Xiaomai’s. One explosive revelation after another, he was finally dumbfounded.

Cen Hong also looked incredulous. The Tong family had actually donated so much silver for disaster relief?!

“Here is the ledger. The destination of every piece of silver is clearly recorded. You are welcome to examine it, Your Highnesses. We, the Tong family, truly harbor no thoughts of rebellion.” Tong Tiehu implored sincerely.