"Young Master's husband!"
The servants were greatly surprised. Everyone knew that the eldest daughter, Long Lingling, was an extremely capable woman, a leader among leaders. Even for those outstanding young talents, the chance of winning her heart was slim. Yet, suddenly, a boyfriend appeared.
It was truly inconceivable.
"Mr. Li, hello. Would you like something to drink or eat? I'll go get it for you?"
"Thank you all for your enthusiasm. I'll just eat with Master Long," Li Yang said with a smile.
Long Jing Tian said, "That's right, I'm very hungry. Old Fan, personally go and cook, make me your best dishes."
"Yes, Master Long." Old Fan was the butler here, responsible for all matters, big and small. Without him, Master Long, living in such a large mansion, would truly be lost and face many troubles.
Although Old Fan was an excellent cook, due to his hard work, Master Long generally did not let him cook unless there were very important guests or during exceptionally significant festivals.
After the delicious dishes were served, and everyone had eaten their fill, the servants cleared away the tableware. Only then did Master Long dismiss everyone else, leaving only Old Fan. With a serious expression, he said, "Mr. Li, there were some things I couldn't ask you at the gambling stone field, but now I implore you to answer me: under what circumstances was I cursed?"
"To cast a curse, one must touch a medium," Li Yang said, looking at Master Long. "Master Long, before you fell ill, did you touch anything unfamiliar?"
"Do antiques count?" Master Long pondered for a moment and said thoughtfully. "A few days before the illness struck, a friend from Southern Myanmar gave me several gilded Guanyin and Buddha statues. They looked exquisitely crafted, so I couldn't resist playing with them for a while."
"Are these items still at home? I'd like to see them myself," Li Yang said.
Master Long looked at Old Fan and asked, "Are they all still here?"
"Yes, Master Long. Without your instructions, none of your treasures can be moved an inch. They are all well-preserved in the underground vault," Old Fan replied immediately. "If needed, I will go and retrieve them now."
"No need to trouble you. We've just finished eating, so let's go directly. It will also be a chance to stretch our legs," Master Long stood up and said to Li Yang, "Mr. Li, what do you think?"
"A hundred steps after a meal, live to ninety-nine. This suggestion is very healthy," Li Yang smiled and also stood up. "It will also give me an opportunity to witness the richness of Master Long's collection and broaden my horizons."
"Then I have several items to show you," Master Long said, smiling with a touch of pride when discussing his collection.
It seemed he had collected quite a few precious and rare treasures.
The underground basement, a space of six to seven hundred square meters, was filled with Master Long's collectibles. Furthermore, each collection was equipped with a custom-made constant temperature glass cabinet, ensuring the temperature remained within a range conducive to these items.
Only those few gilded Guanyin and Buddha statues, obtained before the onset of his illness, were placed in a large glass cabinet as they hadn't yet been custom-fitted.
Old Fan opened the glass cabinet door and reached out to take the items, but Li Yang stopped him. "Wait a moment, Steward Fan. If there's anything wrong with these things, there might be some residual harmful microorganisms on them. If you touch them with your hand, they might enter your body."
"Then please, Mr. Li, examine them first." Old Fan was startled and quickly withdrew his hand.
Although Master Long had previously said he had merely gone on a trip, Old Fan, as his butler, knew quite a bit about the actual situation.
Li Yang scanned the items with his eyes. Although there were still some residual traces, they were no longer of significant harm to humans.
"Mr. Li, what do you think? Are these items problematic?" Master Long asked.
Li Yang nodded and said, "It's because of these items. However, I cannot be sure if your friend is playing a trick."
"Perhaps your friend is also a victim, unknowingly passing the items on to you."
"Let's hope so," Master Long sneered. At his position, many people wished for his early demise so they could take his place.
However, without any evidence, he couldn't accuse anyone. "Old Fan, have someone thoroughly investigate this matter."
"Yes, Master Long."
"Well, Mr. Li, let me show you a few treasures." Master Long led him towards the most conspicuous glass cabinet and took out a small, white, jade-like porcelain bowl.
"See what this is?"
"Ru ware from the Song Dynasty." A glint flashed in Li Yang's eyes. The technical skill involved in Song Dynasty Ru ware was very high, and the production period was very short. The technique matured in the late Northern Song Dynasty, but the Northern Song was overthrown after only a few years of production. By the time of the Southern Song Dynasty, the method of firing this Ru ware was lost.
It wasn't until modern times that people began to trace back and restore it based on ancient texts and artifacts. But Song Ru remained Song Ru, still valuable, and even as the number of discovered Song Ru porcelain pieces increased worldwide, its value rose year after year!
Any piece, even if damaged, would not be priced below ten million yuan in the market.
It could be considered a national treasure-grade collectible!
And the small Song Ru bowl that Long Jing Tian showed him not only had no signs of damage but also featured gilded lotus flowers and a poem in the slender gold script.
In terms of preservation and rarity, it could be considered the finest Ru ware in the world today.
Such a piece, if put up for auction, would certainly fetch no less than one hundred million yuan.
Of course, compared to money, this unique collecting experience was what top collectors like Master Long enjoyed.
"Mr. Li, does this item deserve the description 'to show you'?"
"It absolutely does," Li Yang said with a smile and a nod. "Song Ru with gilded lotus flowers is already not common, and one with an inscribed poem on the outer wall is extremely rare."
"Master Long, your collectible is truly top-notch."
"Hahaha, I knew you were someone who appreciated fine things and had a discerning eye!" Master Long laughed happily.
When showing something to someone, if that person lacked insight and couldn't appreciate the quality of the item, the person showing it would feel frustrated.
"Let me show you another item. This one is even rarer and more precious than this piece of Ru porcelain!"
"Oh?" Li Yang's eyes slightly raised. There was something even better?
Master Long walked to a horizontal glass cabinet, pulled open the door, but did not reach in to take anything out. Instead, he shifted his body slightly, allowing Li Yang to see what was inside himself.
"Mr. Li, please take a look at this treasure."
"Alright." Li Yang smiled and looked down. Inside the horizontal glass cabinet lay a jade garment of a verdant green color. A suction force suddenly erupted from his palm!
This thing could absorb!