Imperial Treasure
Chapter 208 - 154: True or False_2

Chapter 208: Chapter 154: True or False_2

Inside the Classical Chinese Museum.

Boss Qian said with a chuckle, "This is fake, an imitation!"

Boss Quan also nodded in agreement.

As for the other merchants, naturally, they all said the same, and there were even one or two who had previously heard Lv Haobai’s opinions in his store, such as some students’ parents, who now started chattering away.

Upon hearing these comments, the man looked towards Lv Haobai.

"Heh, it seems everyone is saying that this piece of ink is fake... Boss Lv, what do you think?"

Lv Haobai’s expression hesitated, and after a moment of melancholy, he finally said, "This is not fake... Ah, to be precise, it’s an imitation."

Go to hell!

Isn’t that still fake?

As for Lv Haobai’s honesty, Elder Tang and the others felt helpless. After all, it seemed the object couldn’t withstand scrutiny, so what exactly did Sui Yi mean by her earlier words?

She shouldn’t have been so rash.

Everyone looked towards Sui Yi.

Under all their gazes, Sui Yi placed her teacup on the table, picked up the Jiang Zhengxuan Jade Ink, and asked towards Elder Tang and the others, "Could someone fetch a basin of water?"

Water, what did she need water for?

Though it didn’t make sense, Elder Tang still instructed Li Jingyan to fetch a basin of water.

Soon, a basin of water was placed on the table.

The crowd only saw Sui Yi casually drop the Jiang Zhengxuan Jade Ink into the water.

Honestly, when they saw this scene, not just that man, but many of the surrounding merchants laughed.

What is the girl trying to do? Grind ink?

"Ha, this isn’t grinding ink, it’s soaking ink," Boss Qian mocked without any reservation.

Sui Yi didn’t like to argue with people, nor did she speak, but just withdrew her hand, letting the ink soak in the water.

Soon, the clear water began to leach out ink color, which diffused out, gradually turning the whole basin of water black.

There were still many people in the audience discussing the quality of this ink, commenting on how inferior and bad it was.

Yi Chilian was sitting casually off to the side, occasionally glancing at Sui Yi’s profile that was facing the outside exhibit hall.

They seemed not to have known each other for long, but each time he looked at her, he felt she had changed a lot, yet upon closer inspection, it seemed like nothing had changed at all.

It was as if the essence flowing through her bones had been there since birth.

It was a strange feeling.

It was the first time he had met someone like that.

——————

After a moment, the man grew impatient and was about to say something when Boss Qian already sneered, "Sui Yi, do you really want to tell us that just because it can leach ink, it’s the authentic Jiang Zhengxuan Jade Ink? Heh, Elder Tang, what an excellent disciple you’ve taught!"

Elder Tang huffed coldly but looked towards Sui Yi with concern.

Sui Yi, what exactly are you trying to do?

At this moment, Sui Yi had already diverted her gaze from the exhibit hall outside, turned her body, and slowly extended her delicate, fair fingers into the basin.

Her hand was incredibly beautiful, so beautiful that many people couldn’t help but have their attention diverted slightly, focusing on her hand for a moment.

Elegant as jade, grace like tendrils, as if the world’s most wonderful snow had solidified, soaked with the softest of waters, the joints slightly prominent, contours distinct, as her hand entered the black ink, there was a sort of ascetic beauty to it.

The surroundings became somewhat quiet.

After a while, accompanied by faint sounds of water, her hand lifted the Jiang Zhengxuan Jade Ink out.

Perhaps due to soaking in the water, the Jiang Zhengxuan Jade Ink now looked even blacker and shinier than usual.

Extremely black!

Black to the point of shining...

Shining?

Huh, that’s not right!

"What is that!"

"What?"

People standing close by all widened their eyes, wanting to lean in but not daring to.

Meanwhile, Sui Yi had already looked down and said faintly, "All the gentlemen present should know about the story behind the Jiang Zhengxuan Jade Ink. Back then, Hangong Square’s master craftsmen in Jiangnan were commissioned by the owners to help preserve the Jiang Zhengxuan Jade Ink. However, the head of Hangong Square liked this ink so much that he privately replicated this model and produced several similar pieces... "

"We know this," someone said.

"This story is quite famous; we all know it. So, Miss Sui, what was your intention with that action just now? Is there a connection?"

Ink still clung to Sui Yi’s fingers, trailing over them and entwining around the Jiang Zhengxuan Jade Ink.

Her tone was light.

"What I’m saying is, back then, Hangong Square’s head wasn’t just fond of the Jiang Zhengxuan Jade Ink," she continued.

"It was more about greedy possession," she added.

The crowd was taken aback.

Then someone tremulously asked, "You mean..."

"The so-called imitations, confusing the fake with the real, were actually the originals replacing the real thing and being returned without anyone being the wiser, and what Hangong Square left behind was indeed the real Jiang Zhengxuan Jade Ink," Sui Yi stated, stirring up a storm of astonishment among the crowd.

"How is that possible!"

"Is it true!"

"Miss Sui, do you have any proof for such a claim!"

After all, you’re just talking off the cuff about something that happened so many years ago. Who knows if it’s true or not!

The man was particularly incredulous, even chuckling lightly, "Interesting, quite interesting, an interesting story indeed. You’re not going to tell us that this piece you’re holding is the actual Jiang Zhengxuan Jade Ink, are you?"

Sui Yi glanced at him and said, "The genuine item has the words ’Xuan Yu’ in positive script seal characters on the back, the side of the ink bears the inscription ’Jiajing Gengzi Sunny River Jiang Zheng Made’, while the imitations have Hangong Square written on them, correct?"

Others eagerly agreed.

"Yes, the back of the piece of ink in your hand just now had Hangong Square on it. How could it possibly be genuine, Miss Sui? It looks like you are..."

Before they could finish, they saw Sui Yi turn the piece of Jiang Zhengxuan Jade Ink in her hand around to face everyone.

The back of the ink bore the words ’Xuan Yu’ in positive script seal characters, the side of the ink was not inscribed with the original Hangong Square, but instead...

"Jiajing Gengzi Sunny River Jiang Zheng Made... How could it be!" Someone murmured the words inscribed on it, suddenly shocked! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it, as well as monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)