"No, your Majesty, that is not what I meant!"
"Then what do you mean?" Xie Qianmo's lips curved upwards.
Qin Yun said awkwardly, "Your Majesty, this treasure is too precious, I cannot accept it!"
Xie Qianmo frowned. "You don't like it?"
She truly didn't like it, but did she dare to refuse?
"I like it very much. I never expected Your Majesty to bestow such a valuable treasure upon me. I am overjoyed!" Qin Yun forced a smile.
"Since you like it, take it."
"Thank you for Your Majesty's gift." Qin Yun kowtowed to express her gratitude!
She was very curious as to why Xie Qianmo would think of giving her the Zi Jin Hu Lu?
The Zi Jin Hu Lu appearing in her hands at this time was a hot potato!
During this period, that fellow Xie Zixuan was investigating the matter of the Zi Jin Hu Lu!
If it were discovered to be in her possession, it would be troublesome!
She needed to find a way!
"Your Majesty, may I take my leave now?" Qin Yun turned to leave after speaking, but was stopped by Xie Qianmo's words.
"The imperial examinations are less than two months away. I eagerly await your performance!"
"I will do my utmost, strive to reach the imperial court soon, and openly assist Your Majesty!"
Xie Qianmo nodded, indicating his satisfaction. "Very good, you may go now!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
After watching Qin Yun leave, Xie Qianmo turned to Fang Jing beside him. "Did you notice just now, the red marks on her face seem to have faded considerably?"
Have they?
Fang Jing was puzzled in his heart... He didn't seem to have looked closely!
"Yes, the red marks on Young Master Qin's face have indeed faded a lot!" Fang Jing said humbly.
If His Majesty said they had faded considerably, then they had.
Xie Qianmo nodded in agreement!
Li Wang Manor!
"Your Highness, this Zi Jin Hu Lu is indeed fake. My subordinate has investigated an unknown small tribe, and the patterns on the Zi Jin Hu Lu are a specialty craft from that region." The hidden guard knelt before Xie Zixuan, respectfully on one knee.
Upon hearing this news, Xie Zixuan's forehead veins bulged, and his fists clenched.
"This King knows. You may go."
"Yes, Your Highness!" The hidden guard vanished.
"Li Fengsheng, how dare you deceive this King?" Xie Zixuan angrily crushed the teacup in his hand!
It was the first time he had experienced deception!
Xie Zixuan rose in anger, then led the servant beside him directly to Li Manor!
Upon arriving at Li Manor!
After alighting from the carriage, Xie Zixuan saw Li Fengsheng and Li Tingting approaching him.
"Your Highness Li, what wind brings you here today?" Li Fengsheng said with a smile, and Li Tingting followed suit.
"Your Highness Li has finally arrived. Please come inside quickly!" Li Tingting's peach blossom eyes appraised Xie Zixuan from top to bottom.
She found him more pleasing to the eye the more she looked!
Rumors said His Highness Li was handsome, and seeing him today indeed lived up to his reputation!
Looking back at Li Fengsheng, Li Tingting felt a trace of disdain!
But she quickly regained her composure!
Xie Zixuan also noticed that Li Tingting was looking at him with affectionate eyes!
Xie Zixuan felt awkward!
This Li Fengsheng was not a good person, and neither was this Li Tingting. What kind of people were in this household?
He rubbed his forehead, and Xie Zixuan felt a splitting headache!
After Xie Zixuan entered Li Manor, he instructed the servants to take his carriage to the back courtyard, then looked around and cautiously closed the manor gate!
Recently, due to Qin Yun's instigation, many people suspected him of colluding with Li Wang, so he had to be extremely careful at this time!
Xie Zixuan arrived at the front hall and unceremoniously took the seat of honor!
Li Fengsheng hurriedly ordered the finest Longjing tea to be served!
"Your Highness Li, what brings you to my humble abode today?" Li Fengsheng asked with a smile!
Xie Zixuan smiled without warmth and said slowly, "Lord Li, do you think this King is amusing? Or do you think this King is ignorant of quality?" Xie Zixuan got straight to the point, without any hesitation!
His face was filled with disdain, showing no respect for Li Fengsheng!
Seeing Xie Zixuan's displeased expression, it seemed he was here to accuse him!
Li Fengsheng was bewildered! "Your Highness Li? Where has this subordinate gone wrong? Please enlighten me, Your Highness!"
Xie Zixuan put down his teacup and threw the Zi Jin Hu Lu into Li Fengsheng's hands! Li Fengsheng quickly caught it!
"Your Highness? What is the meaning of this?" Li Fengsheng was full of question marks!
"Lord Li doesn't know? You know very well in your heart, why ask this King?"
"Your Highness Li, is it possible that you no longer like this treasure?" Li Fengsheng exchanged glances with Li Tingting beside him, feeling suspicious. What exactly did Xie Zixuan want?
"If Lord Li truly has sincerity, then bring out the real Zi Jin Hu Lu. Do you think it's amusing to fool this King with such a worthless item?" Xie Zixuan stated directly.
"Your Highness, how would this subordinate dare to deceive you? At the auction banquet that day, Your Highness personally saw this subordinate bid for the treasure and present it to you. This is absolutely not false!"
"There must be some misunderstanding!" Li Fengsheng was unwilling. He had spent so much money to bid for the treasure, only to be told it was fake. This was a thankless task! He was not happy about it!
"Lord Li, stop pretending. This Zi Jin Hu Lu has been appraised by people I sent. It is merely a common folk handicraft, an artistic creation! It is not the treasure sent from the Western Regions."
"This... How could this be?" Li Fengsheng's legs trembled, and his body swayed!
This Zi Jin Hu Lu had cost him thirty-five thousand taels!
If this was a fake treasure...!
Li Fengsheng dared not think further!
"Are you blaming this King for wrongly accusing you?" Xie Zixuan stood up in anger! He snorted, "Lord Li, take care of yourself!" After saying that, Xie Zixuan left!
"Your Highness Li, Your Highness... Please hear me out. This matter, this subordinate was also deceived. Please believe me!" Li Fengsheng hurriedly approached Xie Zixuan and knelt, his attitude sincere.
"Your Highness Li, at that time, this subordinate was with you. I believe Your Highness knows very well that this subordinate spent thirty-five thousand taels of silver to bid for this gourd!"
Upon hearing this, Xie Zixuan stopped. "Where is the real Zi Jin Hu Lu now? I want you to find it!"
Li Fengsheng looked somewhat troubled. "Your Highness Li, this subordinate can only do his utmost to search. If I can find it, I will definitely deliver it to your manor!"
Xie Zixuan pushed Li Fengsheng away and snorted, "I hope you will not deceive this King this time. Otherwise, do not blame this King for being impolite!"
Looking at Xie Zixuan's departing back, Li Fengsheng felt helpless, yet also resentful!
If it weren't for Duke Duan's power greatly diminishing, he would not have sought out Xie Zixuan for favor!
As for the Emperor's side!
Although he appeared to be a favored confidant of the Emperor, in reality, the Emperor did not entrust him with many important tasks. This was one of the reasons he wanted to win over Duke Duan!
Unexpectedly, he tried to steal a chicken but ended up losing the rice!
What was going on?
Li Fengsheng frowned slightly, glancing at the Zi Jin Hu Lu in his hand!
How could such an exquisite treasure be a fake?
However, the urgent matter at hand was to find the real Zi Jin Hu Lu! Otherwise, he could not explain himself to Li Wang!
Seeing Li Wang's attitude just now, he was certainly filled with hatred for him. If he couldn't find the real Zi Jin Hu Lu! He might have ruined a good deed!