Chapter 207

What is in Jinzhou?

Besides rebels, barbarians, and corrupt officials, Jinzhou also has a heavyweight figure: Prince Cheng.

The Prince Cheng Mansion is located in the Jinzhou prefectural city. When the rebels were at their most rampant, the Prince Cheng Mansion was still filled with wine and meat, living in a drunken dream every day.

When the rebels attacked the prefectural city, the Prince Cheng Mansion relied on the mansion's troops and the gathered remnants of the defeated army to stubbornly hold off the rebels for five full days, persisting until reinforcements arrived.

The previous Prince Cheng was the old Emperor's brother; the current Prince Cheng is the old Emperor's own nephew.

There is an unverified rumor that the throne originally belonged to Prince Cheng. The old Emperor used conspiratorial means, playing a big hand when the late Emperor passed away, and snatched the throne from Prince Cheng.

This rumor had a large market in the early years. As the old Emperor's throne became secure and he appeared wise and martial, similar claims gradually disappeared.

In recent years, as the old Emperor has become increasingly aged and muddled, this rumor has been brought up again, finding a new market.

The capital is suppressed by the great mountain that is the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Regarding imperial privacy, the commoners have discretion and won't go around blathering on the streets and alleys.

But in places outside the capital, especially the further away from the capital, the more market such rumors have. Everyone has a heart for gossip, especially gossip concerning the royal family; even if you blather a few words, the government can't manage it.

The place where this rumor spread most fiercely was Jinzhou.

However, because Jinzhou was plagued by rebels, it covered up the gossip about the Prince Cheng Mansion.

Imperial court officials naturally have all heard these rumors, and there are even rumors ten times more detailed than the civilian versions.

Like how on the night the late Emperor passed away, the previous Prince Cheng was tricked by the old Emperor and didn't arrive at the palace in time. By the time he came to his senses, the old Emperor had already controlled the entire capital, and the overall situation was settled. Prince Cheng was helpless and couldn't make up his mind to raise an army; one step slow meant every step was slow, and one wrong step meant every step was wrong. In the end, the throne fell into the old Emperor's hands. A few years later, even the military power in his hands was taken away by the old Emperor. Heartbroken, he went to Jinzhou to take up his fief, and because of excessive worry, he passed away at a young age.

Liu Daowen ruled out all possibilities; no matter how incredible it sounded, everything pointed only to the Prince Cheng Mansion.

He was terrified, his heart racing, with the illusion of being on the verge of death.

Why did the Prince Cheng Mansion contact him?

He is a famous, highly corrupt official, now trapped in prison, counting the days until his death, and will soon be finished off by a blade from above.

His only remaining value is money—a lot, a lot of money.

Liu Daowen subconsciously swallowed his saliva; his throat felt tight and dry, his lips were chapped, and his mouth was inflamed. No one knows exactly how much money he has, not even his closest steward.

No one knows exactly where his money is hidden; the steward only knows a part of the truth. The wealth in the mansion is only a small portion of what he has embezzled over the years.

Backed by Jiang Tu and working in the Ministry of Works, he would get his hands on any project that passed through him. For projects that didn't pass through him, he would also take kickbacks. The flattery and tributes from all sorts of people, especially those foreign merchants without connections, were extremely generous.

So much money, and he hasn't had the chance to enjoy it yet, and he's about to be beheaded; he is not reconciled.

Originally, he had resigned himself to his fate; if not for his own sake, he had to think for his elderly mother, wife, and children, and for his clan.

Now, with a slip of paper, the suppressed unwillingness has surged up again.

Not reconciled!

Don't want to die!

If Prince Cheng gives him a chance, should he seize it?

Liu Daowen became unusually quiet, saying nothing.

The prison guard reported to Chen Guanlou, and Chen Guanlou said, "It's normal for him to be like this now; it's hard to accept for a while. Let him think it over properly, and don't disturb him. If he has any requests, as long as they aren't excessive, try to satisfy them."

After all, he is a big wealthy man who gave five thousand taels; let's part on good terms and see him off on his final journey.

After work, Chen Guanlou changed his appearance to pick up the goods, then changed back to his original appearance to head to the Hou Fu to deliver them.

He went through the back door, and after being announced, he successfully met the Eldest Master.

It was still in the study, with three or four literary guests surrounding the Eldest Master, helping to appraise the goods he brought. Except for the solid gold Buddha, he brought all the other antiques and paintings, including the famous painting "Treading on Snow."

"Marquis, this painting?" one of the guests pointed to a painting of a lady among plum blossoms and whispered.

"Is there a problem?"

"There is no problem with the painting; it is indeed from the hand of the former dynasty's court painter, Master Liang. But the seal on this, Marquis, please look—this one, and this one... If it's not a forgery, then the origin of this painting..." The guest didn't continue the rest of his words; those who understand, understand.

Chen Guanlou didn't understand.

Before coming, he only did a preliminary check to ensure the goods were complete and undamaged. As for the seals on the painting, he really didn't study them; he didn't understand this stuff and couldn't tell the good from the bad.

Hearing the guest's words, he also shamelessly leaned in, staring at the seals, but couldn't see any problem at all.

So, he opened his mouth and asked, "What's the problem? Could it be that the seal is a forgery?"

Having been in and out of the Hou Fu a few times and dealt with the Eldest Master a few times, his courage had grown. He didn't have the caution he had the first time he came, and he appeared very familiar.

He didn't treat himself as a subordinate, but viewed everything with the attitude of doing business.

Business is business; naturally, it's give and take, a fair trade.

"No, no one in the world would dare to forge these two seals."

"Why?" Chen Guanlou was too curious.

The guest first glanced at the Eldest Master, and seeing that the Eldest Master didn't express an opinion—and no opinion meant no objection—he explained to Chen Guanlou: "Because this seal is the private seal frequently used by the Crown Prince in previous years, and the other seal is the Emperor's. The Emperor liked to use this seal for a period in his early years. If you flip through the memorials from the early years, you might still be able to see it. This seal of the Emperor's has been sealed for nearly thirty years; I didn't expect to see it on this painting of a lady among plum blossoms today."

"Ah!"

Chen Guanlou let out an exclamation; he was truly shocked.

Damn!

The Liu mansion steward bullied him for not understanding antiques and paintings and actually hid private goods among the items—what a move to shift the blame. Once the Liu mansion is raided and this painting of a lady among plum blossoms is found, seeing the seal on it, Liu Daowen's theft of the imperial palace's treasured famous painting will no longer be concealable.

By then, it won't just be his own head on the line.

From the imperial palace to the Lesser Treasury to the imperial guards, everyone will be implicated; I'm afraid hundreds of heads will fall. That would truly be heads rolling.

The Liu mansion steward knew deeply that this painting was a disaster, and he bullied Chen Guanlou for not understanding antiques and paintings, while also harboring the wishful thinking that the Marquis of Pingjiang had the ability to swallow this painting, so he secretly mixed this painting into the goods.

Master Du's knowledge was limited after all; he hadn't come into contact with antiques and paintings stamped by the old Emperor and the Crown Prince, so he also misjudged it.

Chen Guanlou's face turned red; he had actually suffered such a big loss and had been played.

He immediately said, "I'll go return the goods right now."

"No rush."

The Eldest Master appeared unhurried, handling the heavy as if it were light. It seemed that in his eyes, this matter was just like eating and drinking—a small matter.

Only hearing the Eldest Master say, "It's just a painting; no need to be so nervous."

Is it really a small matter?

Chen Guanlou, with an apologetic look and a hidden regret, asked in a low voice, "Do we really not need to return the goods?"